For Jing Chen, tea is more than a beverage. It is a way to slow down, reconnect with ourselves, and create meaningful moments with the people around us.
Chen began studying tea in 2017 after discovering a tea house that grew and processed its own wild-grown tea. She was drawn to its purity and to how she felt after drinking it.
“My physical and mental response was very good. I felt very comfortable,” she recalled.
She soon introduced the tea to her mother, sister, and children. Over time, she began to see tea as more than a drink—it could become part of a family’s daily life and a simple way to support overall well-being.
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From pharmaceutical research to tea
Chen’s path to tea was unexpected. She studied pharmaceutical sciences and worked in academia, specializing in computer-aided drug design.
“I never thought I would sell tea,” she said. “I am a teacher at heart, but I need clean, high-quality tea for my teaching. It all happened naturally.”
A former teacher who also worked in children’s education, Chen began teaching Tea Arts classes in 2018, introducing students to traditional tea preparation, sensory experience, and the cultural meaning of tea. After moving to Singapore with her two children in 2021, she eventually registered a company and began sharing and selling carefully selected teas. Now based in New York, Chen continues to teach Tea Arts, primarily through after-school programs for children.
For Chen, tea is not just about the product. She wants people to understand the culture and philosophy behind what they choose.
“You need to truly understand it, and then choose it consciously,” she said.
Slowing down in a busy world
Chen believes tea has become especially meaningful because modern life is often rushed and overwhelming.
“Modern life is very busy and chaotic, and it is difficult for people to quiet down,” she said. “But when you become quiet, you can begin to feel yourself again.”
Tea Arts is deeply rooted in sensory experience and can reach the human heart through its aroma, flavor, warmth, the arrangement of the tea space, and the simple act of preparation. Tea encourages people to slow down and pay attention to their own physical and emotional state.
“If you have 10 or 15 minutes a day to be with yourself, and perhaps an hour a week with your family, it feels like you are recharging your body and mind,” Chen said.
Tea can also bring families together. Sitting around a tea table can create time to talk, share food, and simply enjoy one another’s company.
Wellness for every family
Chen emphasizes that her approach to wellness is for everyone, including special needs families.
Caregivers often devote enormous energy to their children and families, sometimes forgetting their own well-being. Chen encourages families to think about wellness as part of everyday life—paying attention to food, drinks, stress, the environment, and the need for rest.
Her earlier work in children’s education also shaped her perspective on special needs children.
“Each child’s situation needs to be understood individually,” she said. “You have to find out what the child’s real needs are, truly understand them, meet those needs, and give them an opportunity to grow.”
Chen believes there is no single answer to the challenges a child or family may face. Her message is instead to create a healthier and more supportive environment while recognizing that every child is unique.
Returning to nature—and ourselves
One of Chen’s priorities is selecting clean, carefully produced tea. Cha Yuan offers individual teas and wellness blends inspired by traditional Chinese ideas of Yin-Yang and balance.
Chen hopes to make these concepts accessible to people who may not be familiar with Chinese wellness traditions.
From a scientific perspective, Chen notes that tea contains a rich combination of naturally occurring compounds, including L-theanine and polyphenols. Researchers are also increasingly interested in how tea compounds interact with the gut microbiome and may support overall well-being.
But her most important message is simple: become more aware of yourself.
“Leave a little time every day for yourself, to be with yourself and feel yourself,” she said.
When introducing newcomers to tea, Chen often invites them to sit in a calm tea setting and enjoy a few cups. Afterwards, she asks whether they feel more settled.
“Very often, they tell me they feel calmer than before,” she said.
For caregivers especially, Chen believes these small moments should not be overlooked.
While caring for others, she says, “Don’t forget to take care of yourself.”
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