What happens when you mix youthful ambition, French inspiration, and a sprinkle of resilience? You get Rachel Hanretty, the powerhouse behind Mademoiselle Macaron -an award-winning business that started at her kitchen table and now produces thousands of exquisite French macarons every week.

In this episode of The Tea Mind Podcast, Rachel shares her unexpected journey into entrepreneurship, the hard decisions behind scaling a business, and how she navigated the highs and lows of running both a bakery and a bricks-and-mortar shop. From closing a retail space to boost profitability to seeing her macarons make a surprise appearance in the Barbie movie, Rachel opens up about the realities of business ownership, resilience, and redefining success on her own terms.

But it’s not all about macarons… Rachel also dives into balancing business with motherhood, the importance of mental wellbeing, and the power of mindful moments (yes, even over a cup of tea).

Grab your favourite drink, settle in, and listen in as we explore how Rachel turned a moment of naivety into a thriving business… and what she’s got planned next.

Connect with Rachel 💬

Website: https://mademoisellemacaron.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelhanretty/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mademoiselle__rachel/

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching. Find out more about my tea business, eteaket, here: https://www.eteaket.co.uk/

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

For years, I only looked in the mirror to fix my hair or find flaws. I never really saw myself.

Then I tried mirror gazing. At first, it felt awkward - like I was staring at a stranger. But as I kept going, something shifted. I started to see me - not just my reflection, but the person behind it. The one who’s been through so much. The one who’s still standing.

Then I took it a step further… I gave myself a high five.

It felt ridiculous at first. But Mel Robbins’ High 5 Habit is built on science: A high-five is a neurological trigger for encouragement. Your brain can’t tell the difference between giving one and receiving one. It just registers: “I’m proud of you.”

So, here’s my challenge: Tomorrow morning, look at yourself. Really see yourself. Say something kind. And give yourself a high five.

Sounds small, but trust me - it changes everything.

Try it and tell me how you feel. Are you in?

Resources:

Mel Robbins The High 5 Habit: Take Control of Your Life with One Simple Habit

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching. Find out more about my tea business, eteaket, here: https://www.eteaket.co.uk/

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Ever felt stuck in routine? Like you're moving through life on autopilot?

In this episode of The Tea Mind Podcast, we explore the power of Shoshin, or Beginner’s Mind - a Zen Buddhist concept that invites us to approach life with curiosity, openness, and wonder.

Shunryu Suzuki, the Zen master who introduced Shoshin to the West, famously said:“In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s, there are few.”

What if your daily tea break could be a simple way to rediscover this mindset?

In this episode, we’ll explore:

* Why Beginner’s Mind matters in a world obsessed with certainty.

* How letting go of assumptions can unlock creativity and joy.

* A guided tea ritual to help you see, sip, and savour with fresh eyes.

* Simple ways to bring Shoshin into your daily life.

Every cup of tea is an opportunity to pause, reset, and rediscover the magic of not knowing.

🎧 Grab a cup, take a breath, and join me for this mindful journey.

Resources:

The Silver Needle I brew is here …

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching. Find out more about my tea business, eteaket, here: https://www.eteaket.co.uk/

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Life is full of noise. The endless scrolling, the ticking to-do list, the pull of responsibilities. But what if you had a space - a simple, sacred space - where time slowed, where a warm cup in your hands became an anchor, where you could exhale and return to yourself?

You don’t need a meditation room or a countryside retreat. Your tea space can be a corner of your kitchen, a chair by the window, a quiet moment on your balcony, even a pause in your parked car. What matters is intention.

A space to breathe. A space to sip. A space to come back to… again and again.

Start small:

* Choose a spot and make it yours.

* Clear the clutter - physically and mentally.

* Let music, scent, or a candle set the tone.

* Let tea be the ritual that holds you.

Because when you have a space for tea, you have a space for stillness.

And in stillness, you rebalance and thrive.

Where is your tea space? If you don’t have one yet, where could it be? Share below. 🍵✨

Resources:

You can find the Tea Station, Serving Board, Bubble Cup, Placemats and Gaiwan I refer to here …

And the GABA Oolong I brew is here …

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching. Find out more about my tea business, eteaket, here: https://www.eteaket.co.uk/

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

As more people embrace mindful drinking, the shift away from alcohol isn’t just about what we’re giving up—it’s about what we’re gaining. From better sleep and mental clarity to a deeper appreciation of flavour and ritual, the mindful drinking movement is reshaping social norms.

In this episode, we explore the growing trend of people cutting back on alcohol, the rise of alcohol free brewing, mindful drinking and how all this may relate to your mindful pause for tea.

Today, I’m honoured to be joined by a true trailblazer in the world of alcohol free brewing—Sonja Mitchell. Sonja’s journey into beer began with a victorious rugby match, where she discovered that nothing beats the taste of a freshly poured pint. But as life got busier—balancing a career, three kids, and a dog—she found herself searching for a beer that delivered on flavour without the next-day regrets. Finding the options lacking, she did what any bold adventurer would do—she jumped ship from her day job and launched Scotland’s first dedicated alcohol-free brewing company, Jump Ship Brewing.

From brewing her first batch of Yardarm—an award-winning lager that beat global brands—to now supplying over 350 stockists worldwide, Sonja and her team are redefining what alcohol-free beer can be. With four core beers, exciting collaborations, and a commitment to sustainability and giving back, Jump Ship is proving that great beer doesn’t need alcohol to be world-class.

So, grab a brew—alcohol-free, of course—and get ready to be inspired by Sonja’s incredible journey!

Sonja’s links:

https://jumpship.beer/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonja-mitchell-6170b84/

https://www.instagram.com/jumpshipbeer/

References:

To make your own Tea Beer Spritzers click »here«

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode of The Tea Mind, Erica explores the art of achieving a flow state—a powerful mental space where focus, creativity, and enjoyment come effortlessly. She shares insights on how mindful tea routines and elements from the Chinese Five Elements system, particularly the Water element, can help cultivate this state.

Erica also discusses the balance between creativity and productivity, warning of the "creativity cul-de-sac" where endless dreaming can hinder action. With practical steps, personal anecdotes, and tea-infused wisdom, this episode invites listeners to pause, find clarity, and embrace the harmony between inspiration and discipline. Grab your favourite cup and tune in to learn how tea can be a gateway to flow and fulfilment.

So, grab your favourite mug, and let’s begin...

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode of The Tea Mind Podcast, we explore the profound impact of connection—why, despite living in an increasingly digital world, loneliness is at an all-time high. Drawing from traditional Chinese medicine and the Tea Mind system, we uncover how balancing the Water element can help manage stress, anxiety, and isolation.

Through personal reflections, tea rituals, and powerful insights, we dive into simple yet transformative ways to foster real human connections, whether through mindful tea moments, community engagement, or meaningful conversations. Plus, hear how small, intentional actions—like sharing tea with a friend or joining a supportive group—can create lasting bonds and boost overall well-being.

Pop the kettle on, take a mindful pause, and discover how even a single sip can bring us closer together.

References:

https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/facts-and-statistics/

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/unlock-loneliness/loneliness-young-people-research-briefing

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

After studying conservation and horticulture, Celia used her plant-based education to enter a career in tea. From salesperson to research and development specialist, she spent a decade learning the ins and outs of the tea industry. Inspired by her botanical research while creating blends, she returned to university to obtain an MSc in the Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants. Though she currently works in conifer conservation, her heart still belongs to Camellia sinensis. You will always find her with a mug of tea in hand and can occasionally find her offering consultations and tea courses in her spare time.

In this beautiful conversation over some Rose Petal Purify, we chat about Celia’s love for plants, trees and nature and how her love for tea leaves are threaded throughout her story so far.

We mention adenosine and the effects of caffeine first thing in the morning… Discover the science behind why your morning cuppa could be making you more tired.

Learn why tea is such an awesome beverage and discover some tea routines that you could start implementing in your own life today as you pause, rebalance and thrive.

Celia Aceae’s links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/celia-aceae-64975163/

https://www.instagram.com/celiaceae/

References:

Tamora Pierce (teenage fantasy fiction): https://www.tamora-pierce.net/

Qigong: https://www.burning-brightly.co.uk/what-is-qi-gong/ - more info on what Qigong is from my lovely teacher Suzi.

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.