All Available Editions Collection
A meditation on transformation, tension, and pause.
Issue 16 explores heat — not just as temperature, but as tension, energy, and change.
Born from a pause between waiting and action, this issue marks a shift in how we see tea and the world around it.
Within its pages, you’ll find echoes of warmth and pressure: in cloth being cut and worn, in resilience against a hostile world, in imagined journeys beyond Earth, in the slow drift of seasons, and in the small choices that reveal what it means to be human.
Tea remains the constant — a companion that steadies us while opening new ways of seeing.
Darjeeling, ikebana, synesthesia… and much more speciality goodness!
Did you know that more Darjeeling is sold every year than is produced? We chat with Nalin Modha about what makes this ‘Champagne of teas’ so unique.
Let’s take a walk through a forest and heighten our senses. What do you see? What do you smell? What are the colours around you? Watarai Toru tells us how he sees nature and what drives him to recreate it at his home through the art of ikebana.
We contemplate the perfection of our daily tea moments and how life very often gets in the way.
We savour chai in Tokyo, sit by a lake in China’ countryside to reminisce about the ancient ways of tea, and investigate a national treasure of many South American countries and its evolution across centuries.
Tea experts answer your most pressing questions about tea and its culture and we go on a journey across centuries to explore the changes Japanese tea bowls have experiences over time.
Last, but not least, we speak with Friday Elliott, a poly-synesthete, who can taste sounds and memories to create unique teas.
A meditation on transformation, tension, and pause.
Issue 16 explores heat — not just as temperature, but as tension, energy, and change.
Born from a pause between waiting and action, this issue marks a shift in how we see tea and the world around it.
Within its pages, you’ll find echoes of warmth and pressure: in cloth being cut and worn, in resilience against a hostile world, in imagined journeys beyond Earth, in the slow drift of seasons, and in the small choices that reveal what it means to be human.
Tea remains the constant — a companion that steadies us while opening new ways of seeing.
India & Thailand: Reimagining Tea Origins
Travel to India and beyond to understand the evolving identity of two of the world’s most iconic tea-growing regions. From Assam’s dynamic present to the unexpected presence of Darjeeling tea culture in Chiang Mai, Thailand, these features examine how place, people, and politics intersect in the cup.
The Quiet Radicalism of Chang Ching Yuan
Meet the ceramic artist who works without a plan or signature. In a world of overexposure and speed, his intuitive process and refusal to brand himself offer a rare, contemplative alternative — a philosophy as much as a practice.
Okakura Kakuzō & Boston’s Tea Legacy
Uncover the lesser-known story of The Book of Tea’s origins — not in Kyoto or Tokyo, but in Boston’s intellectual salons. This historical essay explores how East met West in a time of empire, art, and tea.
1660–2024: A Sculptural History of Teaware
A sweeping visual and historical survey of sculpted forms for tea from 1660 to 2024. Discover how objects designed for brewing and serving reflect shifts in aesthetics, ritual, and meaning over time — from minimalist Japanese clay to futuristic reinterpretations.
Tending Tanzania
Follow the story of Tanzanian tea from the fields to the factory, through the lens of local growers and producers. This feature brings visibility to a region often left out of global tea narratives, celebrating its resilience, ambition, and community.
Tea in Japanese Fiction
Explore the role of tea in Japanese fiction, from The Tale of Genji to Haruki Murakami. These literary echoes reveal how tea becomes a device of intimacy, melancholy, and time — both on the page and in life.
In this celebratory issue, we invite you to explore the captivating story of gyokuro, a rare and elusive Japanese tea.
Discover why water is not just water, as Martin Riese, a water sommelier, shares intriguing insights into water composition, sources, and the diverse flavours it can offer, and find out which is the best water that you should be drinking.
Join us as we dive into the world of heirloom and clonal tea trees with Shunan Teng. Understanding their differences will deepen your appreciation for tea and connect you with tea enthusiasts from generations past.
Embark on an exciting oceanic journey, racing to bring the first tea leaves to a thirsty market.
Uncover the secrets of blending tea with aromatics from an alchemist in Lisbon, as they reveal how to create delightful tea experiences that resonate with customers.
As a special treat, we invite you to explore a vast collection of tea paraphernalia, spanning continents and centuries, with twenty unique teaware pieces waiting to be discovered.
Immerse yourself in the soundscape of a tea experience set in a green oasis, occasionally interrupted by the gentle sounds of humans.
And to add to your enjoyment, we've curated a special soundtrack of 13 songs, each representing a topic from issue 10. So sit back, relax, and immerse yourself in the delightful words and sounds of this new issue.
Historical baggage is ready for a revival.
Tea is a shape-shifter, adapting seamlessly from its ancient roots to modern reinvention. It remains both a constant and a changeable force, always echoing human connection, culture, and creativity.
Take matcha. Once reserved for spiritual ceremonies and guarded by the elites, it’s now reaching people everywhere. This green powder is no longer just a symbol of discipline and mindfulness; it’s a medium for innovation and creativity, proving how old traditions can inspire new ideas.
Herbs, though not tea, are its close cousin — often overlooked but essential to the conversation. In Egypt, hibiscus and mint have been integral for generations. These infusions carry the essence of the land and its legacy, linking past and present through the simple act of brewing, sipping, and sharing.
Across the Atlantic in Brazil, art through tea becomes an unlikely force for change. In a society grappling with prejudice, it offers an intriguing way forward — a chance to break boundaries and redefine identity. Here, it becomes a language of resilience and creativity, challenging societal norms and building bridges across divides.
And then, there are the spaces tea inhabits. In the teahouses of Sichuan, life unfolds quietly, sketched in small, everyday moments. It’s in the observation of the mundane — tea poured, laughter shared, time passing — that the true richness of these spaces emerges.
Even the teaware we use has a story, sometimes spanning centuries. Antique bowls, delicate cups, and historic pots anchor our modern practices in a long lineage of craftsmanship. Every vessel connects us to the past, giving even the most casual sip a sense of tradition and artistry.
In this issue, we embrace all these forms of tea, including that in fine dining, where it’s taking its place alongside the most revered culinary creations, proving that it can be as refined as any wine or spirit.
Through these stories, we hope to offer not just inspiration, but a deeper understanding of the many ways tea continues to shape our world.
Community. History. Mysticism.
For some, tea draws people together, forging connections and nurturing a shared sense of belonging. It becomes more than just a drink; it’s a purpose, a source of safety, a ritual that binds. In each cup, they don’t see just an infusion; they see the pulse of their community, the essence that brings them back together.
For others, tea is a gateway to the past, to distant lands, to the unfamiliar. Each sip evokes flavours of worlds they may never visit yet deeply want to understand. It’s a chance to touch history, to see through a lens that brings near the experiences of ancestors and reveals the stories that shaped those who came before us.
In other corners of the world, tea is revered as a divine touch — soothing conflicts, healing the spirit. It is venerated, honoured, and woven with meaning.
Tea is a paradox, after all: a ritual or a casual drink, elevated or plain, bound to ceremony or stripped of rules. But there’s something more — it challenges us, asks us to question our connections and explore our cultural boundaries.
Inside Issue 13
This issue takes you on a journey through tea’s rich history, culture, and artistry. From the smoky warmth of hōjicha to the warrior farmers of Thailand, each story offers a new perspective on tea’s connection to the world.
Discover how tea bridges cultures, as explored through Peter Granser’s lens and the craft of haiku .
Travel to Zimbabwe to uncover why tea is revered by Apostolic sects or dive into the untold story of Thailand’s warrior farmers.
Explore the artistry of tea from 1660 to today, where Chinese plants meet British silver, and visit unique spaces in Porto and Bratislava.
Whether it’s through history, poetry, or people, this issue invites you to experience tea as more than a drink—it’s a story that connects us all.
Darjeeling, ikebana, synesthesia… and much more speciality goodness!
Did you know that more Darjeeling is sold every year than is produced? We chat with Nalin Modha about what makes this ‘Champagne of teas’ so unique.
Let’s take a walk through a forest and heighten our senses. What do you see? What do you smell? What are the colours around you? Watarai Toru tells us how he sees nature and what drives him to recreate it at his home through the art of ikebana.
We contemplate the perfection of our daily tea moments and how life very often gets in the way.
We savour chai in Tokyo, sit by a lake in China’ countryside to reminisce about the ancient ways of tea, and investigate a national treasure of many South American countries and its evolution across centuries.
Tea experts answer your most pressing questions about tea and its culture and we go on a journey across centuries to explore the changes Japanese tea bowls have experiences over time.
Last, but not least, we speak with Friday Elliott, a poly-synesthete, who can taste sounds and memories to create unique teas.
For those who know.
Eighty is an independent print publication released three times per year.
Each issue examines tea as a cultural material — in restaurants, studios, workshops, private homes, and growing regions. We commission long-form interviews, field reports, and essays that place tea alongside design, craft, architecture, music, and daily work.
We do not publish brewing guides, product rankings, or trend coverage. Our focus is on how tea is used, where it appears, and who works with it.
Every issue is printed on heavy, tactile paper.
Founded in 2018. Created in Lisbon. Read internationally.