What do Taiwanese oolong and Eastern Slavic rap music have in common? For Iliija Aviarjanaŭ, tea is a conductor of culture and conversation. The creator of XianCha Tea — a tea shop dedicated to promoting Taiwanese tea culture across Germany and Europe is always on a search for new fun ideas and innovative approaches to both the craft and life.
A cozy living room chat with Ilja Aviarjanaŭ begins with a calming tea ritual led by Ilja, setting the tone for a deep and reflective dive into his passion for tea and the beginnings of his healing journey through tea drinking and a supportive community. Along the way, we delve into tea clubs — perhaps the successors to Soviet kvartirniki — as spaces for tea events and rituals, and for some, a safe environment to process collective trauma and find connection, especially in these precarious and uncertain times.In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, we explore tea rituals, babushka thermoses, and the surprising connection between oolong and rap music in Eastern Slavic countries.
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