Eighty Degrees – Issue 09

Yellow Tea – Rare, Mysterious, Underappreciated

We dive into the elusive world of yellow tea, one of the rarest and most misunderstood categories of Chinese tea. Explore its history, unique processing techniques, flavour profile, and the regions where it continues to be quietly cultivated.

Craig Mod – Walking Japan, Reclaiming Attention

Writer and photographer Craig Mod shares reflections from his long walks across Japan — from bustling megacities to quiet mountain towns.
Through these journeys, he explores how slowness, solitude, and tea helped him reconnect with the world and himself.

Fermentation vs Oxidation – Debunking the Terms

Are fermentation and oxidation really the same? Not quite.
We clarify the most misused terms in tea production, breaking down what they mean, why they matter, and how they affect the taste and character of your tea.

Czech Ceramics – The Craft Behind the Clay

Meet the master potters of the Czech Republic, artists who have shaped their lives around form, fire, and function. We explore how ceramic tradition, technique, and innovation meet in the hands of those who turn earth into tea art.

Reviving Rural Japan – Onomichi’s Tea Renaissance

While Japan’s rural towns face population decline, a new generation of tea farmers and micro-entrepreneurs are leading a quiet revival. We visit Onomichi to learn how passion, perseverance, and tea are bringing forgotten places back to life.

Morel Doucet – Art, Identity & Ancestral Memory

Artist Morel Doucet speaks on how his Haitian roots, cultural memory, and ancestral rituals influence both his creative process and personal connection to tea. An honest conversation on representation, perception, and purpose.

Senchadō, Diaspora & The Power of Resilience

From a traditional Japanese senchadō ceremony to a post-pandemic reflection on the Asian diaspora in NYC, we examine how tea continues to foster community and cultural continuity. We also meet a Washington DC teahouse owner whose strength and vision helped her create a place of refuge and resilience in a highly competitive world.