Design Origins: Amber Sunrise, Sun-dried Black Tea Cake
Previously, we shared the story behind the design of our first Teasenz-labeled white tea cake, Moon Garden. Today, we invite you to embark on another inspiring journey, exploring the design of our sun-dried black tea cake: Amber Sunrise.
Inspiration: Birds and Flower & Tea
The design of Amber Sunrise draws its soul from the elegance of traditional Chinese bird and flower paintings (花鸟画). These masterpieces, celebrated for their poetic symbolism, capture the harmony of nature through vivid depictions of birds, insects, flowers, and plants.
Adding another layer of inspiration, the design also pays homage to the art of tea paintings (茶画, Cha Hua). This lesser-known yet profound genre of literati painting celebrates the rituals and culture of tea. From the quiet moments of preparation to the joy of tea-tasting competitions like Doucha (斗茶) or Tea Competitions: a tradition that flourished among the literati and upper class during the Tang and Song Dynasties.
In Amber Sunrise, these two artistic traditions intertwine seamlessly. The wrapper design presents a scene where the grace of bird and flower painting meets the charm of tea culture. Fruits, a delicate incense burner, and a striking green, carp-shaped kettle come together to create a tableau that is both nostalgic and vibrant.
Taihu Rock, Fruits, Carp-Shaped Kettle & Vase
From the very first sip of this tea, we felt a warming sensation, like an Autumn afternoon spent sipping tea by the fire, surrounded by nature's quiet transformation. We aimed to mirror this feeling in the design by adding elements linked with Shuang Jiang (霜降), the solar term between 23 October and 7 November.
From left to right, you can see a frost-covered Taihu limestone rock, the persimmons laid out on a fruit display, and the stunning carp-shaped kettle over a matching stove, all of which express autumn's calm and comforting sensations.
On the other hand, we wanted to celebrate Spring, the season during which the tea leaves were picked. The blossoming branches behind the Tiahu stone and the white peonies displayed in a classic blue and white Chinese porcelain vase represent the essence of this season. If you look closely, you'll notice a beautiful symmetry: the vase's decoration mirrors the rock and branches opposite it, creating harmony between the two seasons.
The lychee and longan fruits subtly represent the tea's flavour profile with its sweet, layered, and evolving character. And finally, there's the curious kitten, completely absorbed in something just above its gaze, reflecting the playful aroma of Amber Sunrise.
Designer Suyi
This beautiful design was brought to life by Suyi, the talented artist who is behind the design of our Moon Garden tea cake design. With over a decade of experience and a degree in Art Design from Sichuan Normal University, Suyi is renowned for her Chinese-style illustrations. She has earned multiple design awards and now works as a senior landscape designer and certified illustrator with Visual China Group, Huajia, and Aiyuanwu. You can see her personal seal on the right side of the Amber Sunrise artwork, near the vase stand.
Did you know that our Amber Sunrise black tea is also delicious when cold-brewed? Learn more by reading this article.
