HIGH VIBES HIGH TEA
“When the day becomes the night, and the sky becomes the sea when the clock strikes heavy, and there’s no time for tea, and in our darkest hour, before my final rhyme, she will come back home to Wonderland and turn back the hands of time.” - The Cheshire Cat
One hot and spicy night in Austin, smack dab in the middle of July, Kinship brought together some of the city’s most inspirational makers and doers for a feast of McDonald’s and milk tea tasting journey through the seasons. Inspired by the trippy/whimsical/fantastical world of Alice and Wonderland, the table was set with candlesticks, knick knacks and fine china. Serving fast food upon this tablescape was intentional; to celebrate the dichotomy of life. It’s messy and difficult and beautiful and joyful all at once, and we wanted to create a space to honor this here and within ourselves. Welcome to our High Vibes High Tea.
As the evening began and strangers became friends, milk tea was poured. Beginning in autumn, the party first tasted Kinship’s Wuyi Oolong milk tea, a roasty toasty fall-forward tea with notes of hazelnuts, butterscotch, and apricot jam, perfect for those crunchy leaf feels.
Then came the Lapsang Souchong for winter. It’s smoky, it’s got notes of palo santo, it’s got hints of ‘dads love it’. We call it the mezcal of tea - the perfect flavor profile to warm up on a chilly day. Tea party guests dug into their Big Macs as they sipped.
Springtime equals Earl Grey milk tea, Kinship’s OG flavor. It’s chock full of floral, perfumy goodness. Some say they taste lavender, orange peel, and shortbread cookies. To take the experience one step further, imagine Monsieur Gustave of the Grand Budapest Hotel pouring it for you.
And finally, we’ve come full circle. Summertime brings everyone’s tried and true tea, and the newest addition to Kinship’s lineup: English Breakfast. It’s classic, it’s smooth, it’s a no frills chilled milk tea with hints of honey and hugs.
We are so honored and inspired to be a part of the Austin’s vibrant, innovative, and supportive community, and are always looking to expand our circles and connect more deeply. It’s exactly what we put into every single bottle of Kinship that we send out into the world. Our brand was born from a collection of experiences gathered while traveling in tea forward countries. It’s a distillation of all of these experiences and people that we meet along our journey, and an ode to all of the experiences yet to come. Let’s slow down and take time to connect with others. Many thanks to everyone who attended. It was a magical time.
Endless, infinite thanks to: Ben, an old friend of Stelly Selways Interior Design firm, Olivia the badass food stylist that knocked it out of the park, Audrey, our prop stylist who was in charge of everything you see on the table except the food, Kelsey, a floral stylist that specializes in traditional ikebana floral arrangements. Amber, our creative director for the event, and Nicole, our photographer for the evening and biggest Kinship cheerleader.