Hi, my name is Giedrė!
What does tea mean to me? Tea is my way of life.
My tea journey started more than 10 years ago, while I was still in high-school. Deep interest in tea culture led me to the university studies of Asian cultures and languages. While studying, I spent a year living in Japan, learning the subtleties of Japanese culture, the tea ceremony and the art of Japanese pottery in practice.
I have also lived in Australia, where I was making tea for locals, completed Certified Tea Master and Tea Blending Courses, held by Australian Tea Masters. I then had the opportunity to spend three remarkable spring months at the tea farm in Uji region in Japan where I had hands-on experience on the process of growing and making tea.
During my stay in Uji I realized that some of the sweetest moments of my life came with a cup of tea in my hands. Therefore, coming back to my homeland Lithuania, I am eager to share the tea stories and the most delicious cups of tea with you. Having discovered many extraordinary teas, I think it is unfair to keep all of it to myself.
The idea of Yugen Tea was born while walking through the countless fields of tea. I am excited to see how the seed of an online store I planted grew into my long dreamed of tea bar – studio – a place where I can make you cups of exquisite tea and introduce you to the history and mystery of the tea world and its culture. I happily look forward to meeting you there!
While visiting Japan, I have met Japanese farmers who love tea from the bottom of their hearts, making authentic, great tasting teas – yet undiscovered for the most part of Europe. That is when I decided to create a Yugen Tea online store – a bridge between you and small Japanese tea farms. I believe that the tea of every farmer I have met is a piece of art that reflects his worldview and passion. These wonderful tea farmers love tea immeasurably. Each of them can tell an extraordinary story and is as unique as the tea they make. Out of tons of delicious teas, the teas selected for the Yugen Tea collection are the favorites of the masters themselves and have been chosen to reveal each farmer’s approach and identity.
Giedrė
What is Yugen?
Yugen [jp. Yūgen] is a Japanese aesthetics concept to describe a moment of a deep sense of subtle beauty of this world, experienced while observing the small details of our daily life.. Tea usually brings these moments – it is the moment you watch through the window as a gust of wind blows the leaves off the trees and they glide elegantly in the air. It is the sense of aesthetics you observe when watching unfolding tea leaves and finding small yet fascinating imperfections in your cup of tea.
Our values
Quality
Quality in every detail is our greatest goal. We want to offer you tea and the products that we sincerely believe in.
Uniqueness
I met wonderful tea farmers who love tea immeasurably. Each of them can tell an extraordinary story and is as unique as the tea they make. Out of tons of delicious teas, the teas selected for the Yugen Tea collection are the favorites of the masters themselves and have been chosen to reveal each farmer’s approach and identity.
Innovation
Like everything around us, tea culture is constantly changing. We believe that traditional tea-making methods and expressions are time-tested, but we also aim to contribute to the modernization of tea culture and the forms it may take.
Sincerity
Sincere communication is what connects people and creates mutual understanding. Everything we do – we do sincerely and from the bottom of our hearts.
Aesthetics
A moment of Japanese lifestyle and yugen aesthetics.
Sustainability
Through our practice, we want to create the best experience possible with the least amount of waste.