Tea Research Booklet

Tea Research Kevin Luna, Sy Hyin Wong DSID 128 - Advs Project in ID

1

Index User Interviews

04

Cultural Customs

22

Functionality

26

Competitive Analysis

32

Analysis of Comparable System

42

Empathetic Research

48

Materials

56

Problems & Opportunities

62

3

User Interviews To get a better understanding of people’s tea ritual, we interviewed eight tea drinkers from different background.

Participants

User Interviews

Charlotte

Tonantzin

- Business owner - Tea expertise level:

- Artist/Designer - Tea expertise level:

Cindy

Gabrielle

- High end tea place employee - Tea expertise level:

- College Student - Tea expertise level:

Chris

Sherrie

- Industrial designer - Tea expertise level:

- College Student - Tea expertise level:

Patty

Jasbin

- College Student - Tea expertise level:

- College Student - Tea expertise level:

How often do you drink tea?

2-3 times/day

<1 time/week

3 times/week

2 times/day

2 times/day

Less

More 2-3 times/week

2 times/day

2-3 times/day

When does that happen during your day/week?

Morning

Noon

Afternoon

Evening

Night

7

Can you tell us your experience?

Drinking it

Making it

Charlotte

• • • • • •

•

Cindy

• • • • • •

Chris

• •

• •

Patty •

User Interviews

Warms water to ideal temp.

Warms gaiwan with water.

Pours water over tea leaves in gaiwan, and rinses tea.

Pours water into gaiwan, steeps tea.

Heats up the server Pours tea into server then into cups.

•

Warms 3x filtered water in a electric kettle to ideal temp (180-185 deg).

Warms gaiwan with water.

Pours water over tea leaves in gaiwan, and rinse tea.

Pours water into gaiwan, steeps tea.

Heats up the server & pours tea.

• • •

• • •

• •

Cleaning it

She drinks alone on a com- • fortable daybed for about an hour.

Drinks out of bone china and glass cups.

Solely drinks tea on her own.

Leaves tea leaves in pot and enjoys later.

Rinses cups and pots and air dries them. (avoids using soap)

During daytime, drinks with • customer during tea tasting.

Drinks tea with friends in the evening.

Drinks out of porcelain cups, not accompanied by food.

Rinses cups and pots and air dries them. (avoids using soap)

(At work) Places tea into a • tea strainer over a mug.

• Dispenses hot water into the mug.

Dips strainer a few times and let it steep for 3-4 minutes.

(At home) Combines hot water, ginger slices and honey.

Mixes with milk and sugar.

Enjoys with pastry.

•

Rinses and washes the cup with soap. Air dries.

Parents prepare tea.

• Pour hot water from hot water dispenser into tea pot • with a mesh strainer containing leaves.

• Brew for 5 to 10 minutes

Drinks tea with breakfast (rice porridge) At dinner, drinks tea with desserts or fruits.

Enjoys tea with the family.

•

Dumps tea from strainer by knocking into trash can.

Rinses and washes the cup with soap. Air dries.

•

Making it •

Tonantzin

• •

•

Gabrielle

•

•

Sherrie

• •

•

Jasbin

• •

Drinking it

Cleaning it

Heat water in a cup in micro- • wave.

Add the tea strainer with tea • leaves into the cup.

• Let it steep.

•

Drinks without consuming food.

Sometimes adds honey.

During summer, adds ice into tea.

Does work while drinking tea.

•

Tea pot with strainer - Puts leaves into tea pot and adds hot water Mugs - Boils water in a electric kettle. Puts tea into a tea strainer, places into a cup filled with hot water.

•

Enjoys tea alone without food if drinking Asian tea.

Enjoys tea with pastries if drinking British-style tea.

Sometimes enjoys tea from tea bags in the couch.

•

Rinses cups and pots and air dries them. (avoids using soap)

Puts loose leaves into tea bag.

Boils water on stove top.

Pours water into cup containing tea bag.

•

Mixes oat milk into tea sometimes.

Does morning routine while drinking tea.

In the evening, drinks tea to relax. Consumes with pastries.

•

Dumps the tea bag into compost bin.

Rinses and washes the cup with soap. Air dries.

Uses a regular pot to boil water, and another pot for vegan milk.

Uses mortar and pestle to mash other ingredients.

Boils all the ingredients together.

•

Drinks tea with family at home or by herself.

Enjoys tea with toast with jam, indian lunch, and/or chocolate.

•

• •

• •

•

• •

•

Dumps tea from strainer into trash can.

Rinses cups and pots and air dries them.

Uses straw cleaner to clean the straw.

Rinses and washes the cup with soap. Air dries.

9

How does that experience make you feel?

Charlotte

“Tea is a big part of my identity. It’s an intimate experience. It’s way to connect to my inner self. ”

Jasbin

“It feels nice and I feel connected to my family and culture (Punjabi).

It also feels good to see my family enjoy the tea I make. ”

“Tea is the only familiar comfort when I was in China.”

Chris “Makes me feel soothed, relaxed, and calm.”

Sherrie

“It makes me appreciate family time. I feel warm and relaxed.”

Patty

Gabrielle

Tonantzin

User Interviews

“It helps with my thought process for art and design. I feel healthier drinking tea than coffee. Herbal tea makes feel cozy and relaxed.”

“I feel very connected to Scott, my older brother. I feel cozy holiday vibes with my family.”

Where do you buy your tea?

Store

Online

Travel

Gifts

• People get their • People buy tea • People travel to Asia • People sometimes tea from tea shops online for ease of acto get the premium receive tea as gifts because of their cuscess and accessibiltea (first or second from friends or tomer services and ity to harder to find flush) family. tea quality. teas (e.g. Lapsang • People buy tea when • People go to stores Souchong) they travel as souvethat offer a good nirs or gifts. variety and quality.

• People travel to Chi• People go to stores na, Taiwan and Japan for the convenience. to learn about and source tea.

11

Where do you store your tea?

Open Shelves

Metal Tins

Ceramic Containers

Single-use Container

User Interviews

Kitchen Cabitnet

Original Packaging

Resealable Bag

Tin Cannister

Tin Cannister

Refrigerator

What is your tea story?

How long have you been drinking tea?

Has it changed, if so how?

• Decades

• Unconciously picked it up from mum and grandma.

• Became exposed to good and different teas when she travelled

• Over 12 years

• Learned how to make tea while working at a Japanese tea company.

• Since childhood

• Through family, mainly dad • Tea is a part of breakfast in childhood

• The tools used have changed, the portions, and ingredients have also changed.

• Since childhood

• Through family tradition.

• The parents care more about the aesthetic of the tea pots and cups.

• 5 years ago

• Started drinking because of fitness and health • Used to drink tea for cafreason. feine, but it has become • Traveling to Argentina and more casual today. drinking it there.

Charlotte

Cindy

Chris

Patty

Tonantzin

How did you learn about tea?

13

How long have you been drinking tea?

How did you learn about tea?

• Since high school

• Asian tea - through her brother, Scott • British tea - through British tv shows

• Since high school

• Learned how to make tea while working at a Japanese tea company.

Gabrielle

Sherrie

• Since childhood Jasbin

User Interviews

• Through family tradition.

Has it changed, if so how?

• Used to do tea bags, brewing and cleaning process affected by environmental conciousness.

What would you change to make the experience better for yourself?

Cindy

“Get a gaiwan. Get a porcelain/ glass tea set. An easier way to access knowledge about tea.”

Jasbin

“Preparing ingredients for chai is difficult. Vegan milk seperates easily when boiling.”

“I want a stronger flavor cup of tea without the bitterness.”

Chris

Gabrielle

Patty

“A way to make cleaning easier.

Complex parts are hard to reach in to clean. The smaller teapots are hard to grab.”

Tonantzin

“The kettle is too big for me. It’s hard to estimate how much water I need to boil. Organization of tools and tea is a problem. I want to drink tea with other people.”

“Loose leaf is too complex to get people started. Buy variety packs from store. People should learn from other culture and slow down when they enjoy tea.”

15

Field Research Photos

Samovar Tea

User Interviews

Song Tea and Ceramic

17

Interview Photos

Pattyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tea Cabinet

User Interviews

Gabrielleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Teapots and Cups

19

Journey Map

Chinese / Traditional

English / Casual

Chinese / Social

Latin America / Social

User Interviews

Making Tea

Drinking Tea

Cleaning

English / Casual

Mix / Casual

Indian / Social

21

Cultural customs Every culture is unique in itself for various reasons. What we sought to know is what makes each major tea culture different and why those characteristics are important to the soul of drinking tea.

England:

India:

In England, tea has various roles it plays in the daily life of the English.

One one avenue it is important as part of breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening. It is also an agent for social activity in which it is served to guests at home or to friends and family during moments such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Afternoon teaâ&#x20AC;?.

In India, Chai is most commonly served to visitors at homes or elsewhere. Many people have at least two cups per day, once during breakfast and again in the evening.

Offering tea is a token of hospitality in India. Mothers and wives, make morning tea as a habitual practice and as a form of affection for family.

Cultural Customs

Japan:

China:

In Japan, drinking tea is done more so for its valued health benefits rather than for the pleasure of it. It serves as a symbol of hospitality.

Matcha however is different. It is more a product of ceremony, as the culture of it is much more traditional. Drawing from Wabi Sabi, it symbolizes a quiet and sober refinement of oneself.

In China, the culture that surrounds tea, focuses on it in two important ways. One being centered around health. The other on respect. There tea is served as a sign of respect and hospitality to visitors and family. It is also served by many to express grattitude to others like parents/grandparents and friendship between friends.

25

Functionality After studying four major tea cultures, we sought to study the tools and to show the similarities and differences in what is used in each culture.

English tea

Electric kettle: For heating water easily.

Tea pot: For housing tea.

Tea ladle: Aids in spooning tea into tea pot.

Tea cup: Plain or decorated vessel used to enjoy tea from.

Jug: Used in housing milk used for tea.

Sugar bowl: Houses a variety of sugars people prefer to drink tea with.

Functionality

Indian tea

Traditional Chai kettle: Made to serve chai from.

Chai pot: Pots made for brewing chai in.

Mortar and pestle: Used in manual grinding of chai ingredients.

Chai cups: Made to enjoy chai and are more resistant to high temps and durable.

Chai tea strainer: Strains ingredients used in brewing.

29

Japanese tea

Teapot: Yokode Kyusu, handle on side to allow lid to be held by thumb.

Hohin: No handle, only meant for lower temp teas, carried by both hands.

Straight form tea cups: Hold temperature in longer, better for higher steeping temperature teas.

Tapered tea cups: Form enhances the release of fragrances from teas.

Sami: Tea scoop, utilized in measuring tea leaves.

Chazutsu: Tea storage, different materials are suited for different storage length times.

Functionality

Chinese tea

Tea tray: Carries pots and cups.

Holds overflow water and discarted brewing water.

Tea scoop: Utilized in measuring tea leaves and vary in form and material.

Gaiwan: Lidded bowl that is used for the infusion of tea leaves.

Aroma cup: Placed upside down, holding tea over cup before being lifted, releasing aroma.

Tea cup: Vessel from which one drinks and enjoys their teas.

Tea funnel: Used to prevent overflow and aids in direct flow of tea into tea pot.

31

Competitive Analysis To know what is out there in the market and what can be done better.

Teapots

Loose Leaf Teapot Features: Has a lid strainer Material: Borosilicate glass, stainless steel lid Price: $20

Bottom-Dispensing Teapot Features: Simply place over cup and tea will drain from bottom Material: Tritan plastic body with stainless steel mesh Price: $20

Teapot Kettle with Infuser Features: Removable infuser and spill-free

Teapot with Teapot Warmer Features: Light a small tealight candle to keep

spout, can be used on stove top Material: Borosilicate glass, stainless steel lid Price: $33

the teapot heated Material: Borosilicate glass and stainless steel Price: $41

Competitive Analysis

Portable Teapot Features: Simply press the button to dispense tea from top to bottom Material: Glass teapot, double wall glass tea cup Price: $36

Good features:

One-Touch Tea Maker Features: 5 different temperature settings, mild, medium and strong brew strength options.Material: Glass, stainless steel and BPA-free plastic.

Price: $250

• • • • •

Tea pots with lesser parts Keep warm Portability Better spout that doesn’t drip Heat resistant lid or handle

35

Tea Infuser

Tea Infuser Basket Features: Dual-function lid retains heat and serves as a drip tray Material: Silicone, stainless steel Price: $13

Tea Infuser Basket Features: Lid works as a drip tray Material: stainless steel Price: $11

Mesh Tea Ball Features: Hang it to your cup with the hook Material: stainless steel Price: $5

Twisting Tea Ball Infuser Features: Soft, comfortable, non-slip grip Material: stainless steel Price: $10

Competitive Analysis

Silicone Tea Infuser Features: Fun and easy to use Material: food-grade silicone.Price: $10

Good features:

Tea Filter Bags Features: Fully biodegradable and environmental friendly Material: Natural wood pulp filter paper Price: $3

• Handle made with heat resistant material • Larger space for leaf to move around • Easy to open mechanism • Some fun • Ease to clean

37

Water Heater

Electric Kettle Features: 6 preset different temperature control Material: 304 stainless steel Price: $40

Fellow Stagg EKG Features: To-the-drop precision with no drip back, minimal and modern looking, 60-minute hold Material: Food grade silicone, stainless steel Price: $149

Pour Over Gooseneck Drip Kettle Features: High Precision Spout Water Flow and Increased Temperature Stability Material: stainless steel Price: $30

Stovetop Teakettle Features: Classic stainless steel design, a traditional whistle Material: stainless steel Price: $16

Competitive Analysis

Water Boiler And Warmer Features: 4 keep warm temperature, Vacuumelectric hybrid keep warm system Material: clear coated stainless steel body and non-stick interior Price: $180

Good features:

Instant Water Boiler Features: Boil Water Within 60 Seconds, one cup at a time, 8 adjustable temperature Material: PP, SAN, ABS Price: $160

• • • • • •

Different temperature setting Precision spout Ergonomic handle Water tank Quick boiling Keep warm

39

Tea Storage

Tea Tin Canister Features: Airtight double-lid Material: food-grade tinplate Price: $25/4 pc

Ceramic Jar Features: Clean aesthetic Material: ceramic jar, bamboo lid and silicone sealing Price: $11

Ceramic Tea Canister Features: Beautiful home decor Material: ceramic Price: $27

Loose-Leaf Tea Organizer Features: Spoon, steel infuser, 6 canisters, and a tray to keep creamer and sugar, with labeling Material: stainless steel canister, ABS plastic tray Price: $37 Competitive Analysis

Airtight Glass Tea Canister Features: Unique twin valve system to remove air Material: Borosilicate glass, stainless steel Price: $20

Good features:

Stelton Scoop Canister Features: A measuring spoon on the top of lid Material: stainless steel body, rubber wood lid Price: $60

• Change in size when tea becomes lesser.

• Beautiful aesthetic • Scoop is stored with or is part of the tin • Organizing different teas together • Labeling the tea

41

Parallel analysis We too wanted to know, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out there?

What can we draw new insights from to create a much more innovative solution?

Coffee like tea, carries its own beautiful process that is very unique to the cultures that pracitce the drink it all over the world. What parallels are seen are in the patience involved in brewing your own cup. One first rinses the paper filter to remove the papers taste (well like rinsing the gaiwan in tea to warm and cleanse the vessel). Adding water to let the coffee bloom and release its aroma, like letting tea steep in hot water to release its fragrances.

Vacuum sealing. Like Vacuum sealing, teas are preserved in containers that help them remain optimally fresh. Vacuum sealing does have the capability of limiting its footprint which is an intriguing plus.

Skincare as a parallel leads to interesting connections between itself and tea. Another use of tea leaves is for moisturizers, cleansing creams, e.t.c the list is massive, but knowing the use of leaves for their benefits opens up interesting avenues for innovation.

Aromatherapy oils are connected to the world of tea as parts of each product are used to provide relaxation and comfort for people.

Although, the seeds of the green tea plant are used for the oil and leaves used for tea, the relationship towards providing a healing effect for peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inner self is important.

45 Analysis of Comparable Systems

Pouring is a critically important experience for the person enjoying it. Newer integrations of geometries into everyday home faucets allow for more room to think more openly on the beauty of serving the tea itself.

Pace and everyday life make people move faster and faster which is understandable. Other industries like cake decorating give us insight as to how tea can be formed and served in a quick and effortless manner.

Self-heating hot pots require no external heat source (fire or electricity) in their preparationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;all that is needed is just a bottle of water. The bottom of the packet contains a packet of quicklime which, when mixed with water, releases heat adequate for cooking the product.

Could we also make tea without access to hot water?

This spices container allows user to get the exact amount needed without measuring spoons. You twist the dial for a perfect 1/4 tsp. We could incorporate this function to our tea canister to get precise amount of tea leaf and save time.

47 Analysis of Comparable Systems

Empathetic Research Understanding and experiencing the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feelings to find pain points and opportunities.

Tea Making 01

Open the tea packaging. The instruction sticker was torn in half.

Better packaging/ Ways to keep the brewing instruction.

Convert 6oz of water to cups.

Scoop tea. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a measuring spoon so I use a normal spoon I found.

Dispense hot water from water boiler. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know the volume of my cup so I simply pour by guess.

Measuring scoop can be provided by the tea company.

A boiler showing the volume you dispensed

Scoop can be stored with the tea

A mug with the volume guide

Opportunities

Wiggle the tea strainer basket to infuse the tea more.

Remove the strainer from the cup.

The stainless steel handle is hot.

Consider using other materials.

Clean up.

Make the process less messy so it requires lesser clean up

Store the tea. The original packaging is not resealable so I use a rubber band to secure it.

Design a good packaging/tea storage with the tea information label

51 Empathetic Research

Tea Making 02

Fill the kettle with filtered water. The volume mark on the kettle is unclear.

A better and clearer volume mark on the kettle

Turn it on.

There is no brewing instruction on the packaging. I turn to google.

Improve the packaging and instruction

Pour the leaf into the teapot. I decide to just go with my gut feeling.

Opportunities

Pour hot water into the teapot.

Cover and wait.

Could use a timer

Pour the tea into the cup/lid. The steam burns my hand a little when I pour

Refill the teapot. The design of this teapot makes it hard to refill from the boiler.

Design a better handle so the user wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get burn

The form and the handle can be designed better.

53 Empathetic Research

Key Findings

Kettle/Water Boiler

Teapot

•

•

Temperature is important. I made three different kinds of tea and

The experiece will be better if the

all of them requires different

teapot retains heat.

temperature. A kettle with variable •

•

A comfortable handle or heat

temperature is key.

resistant material is important

The kettle should be able to keep

when it comes to handling hot

warm for at least 30 minutes so

teapot.

people can refill the teapot without reboiling the water.

•

Tea drinking is a slow process.

The volume guide on the kettle should be clear to avoid waste of water.

Tea storage •

All three tea I have come with a non-resealable bag. The tea company should improve on that.

•

All three bags of tea have different packaging so it was hard to organize.

•

The tea brewing instruction is seperate from the tea packaging.

It’s hard to keep both tea and its instruction together.

55 Empathetic Research

Materials Studying and comparing current materials used in tea making.

Teas

In English tea, the core ingridient is a hearty black tea blend which is thick enough to withstand being mixed with milk and sugar which are two other add-ins which distiguish it from other cultures. Tea at “Afternoon tea time” varies from straight black to Earl grey with milk and sugar added by preference.

Focusing on Indias Chai, the tea’s ingredients commonly include, whole milk, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, cloves, nutmeg, pepper, and fennel. Plain white or unrefined cane sugar is also used in the making of it.

Japanese tea is simplistic in its essence. Being comprised of only the tea which the most popular in Japan is Sencha, a green tea.

Other derivatives of Sencha include, Bancha, Gyokuro, Houjicha, and Genmaicha. Matcha, is mostly used in traditional ceremonies and is made from finely ground green tea leaves.

Chinese tea is simplistic in what it requires. The crucial and usually only ingredient is the loose tea leaves.

Varying in the country from fragrant teas in the north, black teas in the south and green in the east.

59 Materials

Teapots

Ceramic

Porcelain

Retains heat the longest.

More suitable for black teas and puerhs because they are brewed at a higher temperature.

Great for tea service since the teapots are so delicate and refined. For making white and green teas

Glass

Clay

Nice for seeing the tea. For brewing display teas, such as floral teas.

Brew more oxidized teas such as the darker oolongs, red tea, black tea and the old pu-erhs.

Stainless steel

Silver

Suitable for brewing the fully oxidized tea such as the dark oolongs, darjeelings and puerhs.

Excellent fit for lightly oxidized teas such as white tea, green tea

Cast Iron

Glazed Ceramic

Stylist, holds heat very well

The glaze prevents the clay from absorbing the tea flavor.

61 Materials

Problems and Opportunities A summary of our research with the problems and opportunities we found.

Problem Statement How we do make it simpler for people to make a good cup of tea?

Opportunity Aiming to unify the entire tea making process while reducing its complexity for tea drinkers.

65 Problems & Opportunities

Handling hot water

Steeping tea

Pouring & Serving

•

•

•

Explore forms and materials that can prevent hot water

intimidating experience and

Establish a form of

one that feels comfortable

Reduce the contact between

information for various tea

for users of various physical

the user and the hot water

varieties and their steeping

capabilities.

needed for warming up

requirements.

vessels and other objects

•

Make pouring a less

most flavor out of tea.

injuries •

Explore ways to get the

•

•

•

How can we make an

Create a unique way of

experience that allows for

used in the preparation

letting users know when

easy movement of the teapot

process.

their tea has reached

between people?

Reduce the needed

optimum steep time.

movements of tea pouring

•

•

How might we encourage

Give users an opportunity

a more intimate interaction

vessels during the prep

to witness the reaction

between the user and their act

process.

of elements during the

of pouring?

steeping portion of the tea making process.

Social

Emotional

Others

•

•

•

Encourage social interaction

Reduce water waste during the

through a less formal yet

of the four major tea cultures

entire process of enjoying tea

qualitative experience that still

into the process of making and

such as during the warming of

gives users the full essence

sharing tea with others.

the cups.

of enjoying tea together with •

Apply the cultural customs

•

Create a powerful and intimate

•

Allow for people who are new

guests.

connection between the user

to the tea world to try various

Allowing users the freedom

and their tea set through

types of teas in a simple and

to interact with one another

avenues like culture, materials,

enjoyable manner.

and potentially show their

and involvement in the process.

appreciation for their friends/

•

•

Encourage users to enjoy

Organization of different teas in a clear and labeled system.

•

loved ones by creating a

the patience and attention it

“sharing culture”

requires to sit and enjoy a good

for scooping and distributing of

cup of tea.

loose tea leaves.

•

Build a strong connection for

•

Encourage new methodologies

How can we allow people to

the user to appreciate tea as

take their ritual with them to

part of their life through a

other locations easily?

thoughtul experience design.

67 Problems & Opportunities

End.