by loeyteaLOEYTEA: From the Beginning to Now
We live in a time of constant movement—where things are consumed quickly and forgotten even faster. Surrounded by an endless stream of images and information, it is easy to be distracted. And yet, what we return to, what lingers, are the things that are simple and essential. LOEYTEA exists in these moments. It does not ask for formality, nor does it demand stillness. Tea is not confined to a particular setting. It sits beside us while we work, as we glance out the window, as we read. It moves with us, settling into the rhythm of the everyday.
The name LOEY comes from the core message of Deuteronomy: LOVE & OBEY. There was a time when I was going through the hardest chapter of my life. I had lost family and was uncertain of what lay ahead. One evening, I stopped by a small neighborhood church. The verse I heard that night spoke of a land blessed by the rain from the heavens. The words stayed with me. They felt like reassurance—that perhaps something different, something new, awaited. A decade later, I realized that the life I was building, the place I now lived, reflected those very words. And so, the name LOEY was formed.
The beginning of LOEYTEA felt like filming a documentary on tea. In television, everything must be convincing—meticulously chosen, of the highest standard. That was the approach I knew best. I traveled, searching for the finest tea, interviewing people as I had done so many times before. Being turned away was not unfamiliar. Neither was persuading, and eventually, making things happen. But this time, there was no production crew, no cameras. It was just me.
The first shipment arrived: two cartons of black tea from Sri Lanka. I had made the decision, and that was all. There was no strategy, no network, no one to guide the next step. Every part of the beginning was difficult—securing supplies, figuring out logistics, understanding regulations. Everything took longer than expected, cost more than planned. It felt like starting from nothing, with no clear path forward. And yet, somehow, things moved.
Surprisingly, people started buying. I wanted to offer something in return. I recalled the paintings I had seen while traveling—works that left an impression long after I had walked away. I wanted to share that feeling. So I started including art postcards with each order, a small gift of appreciation. “Thank you for your support. I hope this brightens your space.” It was a simple gesture. Unexpectedly, people loved them. That response shaped what followed. The idea of gifting, of adding something beautiful to the experience of tea, became part of our identity. The series that remains one of our bestsellers today was born from that moment. This, too, is another side of what we mean by LOVE & OBEY.
LOEYTEA is made for modern life. The world is already complex enough. Choosing tea should be effortless. We design and select with that in mind—thoughtfully, intentionally, on behalf of those who drink it.
It began with just two cartons. Now, far more people find their way to us, and the range we offer has grown along with them. But it is still remarkable, still unexpected—to think that someone, somewhere, is choosing our tea. And then choosing it again. That is how we arrived here, one step at a time. And that is how we will continue, moving forward as we always have.
Clayton Tea Factory