Muse: April Gargiulo
“I wanted to share my love for the botanical world with our beloved community in a different way. Our blend is one that may be enjoyed first thing in the morning and throughout the afternoon which is how I enjoy tea.”
When I am in my golden years, I hope that April Gargiulo is my neighbor and that we spend our days sharing our favorite teas and swapping our most loved seeds with each other. April was a kindred spirit from the moment we met, as her deep reverence for Mother Nature and the power of her healing plants mirrors my own. The creation of Oolong Radiance for her company, Vintner’s Daughter, was a dream project and one of collaborative magic!
In fact, the story of our connection is straight out of Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Big Magic…
In December of 2020, I was hiking at Radnor Lake in Nashville. Much like everyone else on Earth, I was in season of loss and feeling heavy with the weight of it all. Towards the top of the ridge, I ran into my old friend, Barbara. We caught up through masked faces and as we were saying goodbye, I said, “By the way, how is it that you never age? What is your secret?!” She said, “Well, I don’t stress, I drink a lot of water and I use good products.” When I asked her what she used, she said, “Vintner’s Daughter”.
I had heard of Vintner’s Daughter but had not yet fully dived into their products or brought them into my world. I filed the thought away with the intention of doing some research, but before I had the chance, I received an email inquiry from April about a bespoke formulation for her award-winning, whole plant skincare company! As her name might suggest, April was a sign of spring in the depth of winter.
Steep a cup of our Oolong Radiance tea and join me in conversation with mother, maker and muse, April Gargiulo!
ME: When did you fall in love with tea?
AG: I fell in love with tea as a kid with tea parties with my dolls and as a young adult I sought out the
fancy high tea moments at historic hotels throughout the world. I would say that tea has always been something I was drawn to.
I would say that tea has always been something I was drawn to.
ME: How would you describe the impact that tea has on your life?
AG: Tea provides a valued connection for me to the botanical world, to myself and to others who share the same passion. I love knowing that it has been appreciated and even revered by different cultures around the world and throughout time. That continuity is something that gives me deep peace.
ME: Do you have a way of ritualizing tea? How do you create space for it in your life?
AG: My morning pot of tea is what I most look forward to in the morning after seeing my family. I have several different tea pots that I have collected over the years that I rotate in and out depending on what I am enjoying. A friend sent me a gorgeous first flush Darjeeling recently that I am enjoying, but my normal go-to is a lighter oolong or our Radiance Blend.
ME: What was your intention in offering a custom tea? What is your hope for your customers as they experience our tea?
AG: I wanted to share my love for the botanical world with our beloved community in a different way.
Our blend is one that may be enjoyed first thing in the morning and throughout the afternoon which is how I enjoy tea. It has a subtle aromatic flavor from the spearmint and gorgeous green tea that is complemented by the more earthy notes of alfalfa and nettle. I love it so much.
