Interview – Arianne-Wright Snowdon
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This week we spoke to the founder of Lucky Leaf Teas, Ari!
Ari creates beautiful blended teas to accompany TTRPGs and help make an even more immersive storytelling experience.
We heard all about building a TTRPG focussed business and how to incorporate teas into your games.
1. Tell us the origin story of Lucky Leaf Teas!
Lucky Leaf Teas is the culmination of my great loves in this world: Tea, Tabletop Games and Storytelling. But the actual call-to-adventure (har-har hero's journey), isn't all that glamorous! I had been loving the world of roleplaying since I was first taught Pathfinder by an upperclassman in my college years. There was (and is) something about collaborative storytelling and how a world can evolve in the loving hands of a group of people, which just had my heart from day one.
I'd worked for several other tea companies since those early days, but always had the lingering seeds of an idea in the back of my mind. A place where story and sense are celebrated, and those connections between the concepts are drawn to the fore. I mean, we light candles to set a mood, play some music, make sound-effects, and wear costumes. Why not something which immerses you by using the power of taste, texture and scent? So, when I was made redundant in 2022 and walked away with a fairly decent redundancy payout, I knew that it had to be now (both for financial reasons, and because working retail had become... a lot). I sat down and created Tis-Anne (my troublesome Teamon mascot), started looking into incredible artists, pulling on old contacts for supply, and filled my old notebooks of stories with concepts for blends and lists upon lists of names and ideas. I launched LLT in December of 2023, and since then Tis-Anne and I have been dancing around sharing our love of leaves and the tales behind them!
2. Your fabulous blends seem to be a celebration of storytelling. What inspires you when creating them?
Oh, well thank you for such kind words! It might seem like a dreadfully simple answer, but in short: the stories themselves! Storytellers put so much love into their worlds that they deserve something to complement their creation which is made with just as much love. My goal with each and every blend is to evoke the essence of that source. At time of writing, I've got two different ranges. The first are the Teas for Adventurers, featuring blends inspired by the Player Classes of D&D 5e, which was an enjoyable little thought experiment for me. Rather than going "I want to create a blend that tastes like...", I had to go "If a Warlock was a tea... what would they taste like?" The first step is distilling that class into some keywords that can be translated across to the flavours and textures found in a particular blend. A great example of this is the Fighter's Fuel! The Fighter is CLASSIC, RELIABLE, and VERSATILE, a class that can fill many roles in a party and is always a safe choice for that good ol' fantasy warrior vibe. This smoothly connected to a version of the classic English Breakfast, but introducing some lighter, smoother teas from highlands India and China created a blend that can be enjoyed at any time of day and still satisfy!
The other side of that are the Teas for Explorers, which are less system-focused and more about capturing a particular environment or setting. The Coven's Comfort is all about evoking a quiet, peaceful night out in the wilds, producing a cooling, bedtime-focused blend. The Undying Underground wants to call forth underground civilisations and cultures, using layered flavours of coffee and chocolate, with the earthy smoothness of aged Pu-erh. I wanted to create these blends that can immerse you in these locations when enjoying them at the table, in their scent and flavour. To get there, I would spend hours upon hours reading stories, listening to playlists and of course, watching and playing a whole lot of Tabletop! Not a bad way to develop a concept, if you ask me!
3. Are teas a big part of your own TTRPG sessions? And how can others incorporate tea into their games?
Without a doubt! I'm even drinking a cup of tea as I write this (mm, oolong)! My two closest companions before, during, or after a session are a cup of something warm and tasty, and my delightfully grumpy cat.
Let's start with the before! The ritual of making a cup or pot of loose-leaf tea is a joy unto itself. It's a fantastic way to step away from distractions and take a few minutes out to create something nice for yourself. I always find I cook up the best ideas for a session or a character while watching the leaves dance around and unfurl in a cup (make sure to get a good glass cup/pot for maximum visual enjoyment). It's a great way to get out of all the noise in the mind and focus on that little ritual, giving you some space to let clearer thoughts come to the fore. Fun fact, those movements and blooming of tea leaves as they steep is called "The Agony of the Leaves." Morbid, but cool!
As for during, I often try and see if I can find a blend which connects to a character/setting, which is a fun little adventure in-and-of itself! I think of it much like how you might make a playlist for a character (another favourite hobby of mine). Finding the right blend and enjoying it at the table helps you feel that little bit closer to who you're playing or the world you're playing in. I remember playing a knight-like character, and her theming was very much rose focused. You better believe I'd have a pot of rosebud tea by my side at each session! Plus, there's the practical side of things: a good cup of tea helps soothe your pipes when you've been yapping away at the table, as well as settling any nerves when performing.
And of course, a shared pot of tea around a table is the perfect way to settle down after a session. Especially if there are some good treats to go with them! I can only highly recommend to GMs and Players out there to take 20-30 minutes after a session and have a good chat, whether it's about the game or not. Shake out all those lingering tensions of hard-fought battles and intrigue with a nice warm cup of something tasty. It's a great opportunity to settle down, debrief and share your roses, thorns and buds. I always say that when tea is flowing, so will conversation!
4. Do you have any advice to other women out there, thinking of starting their own TTRPG focused business?
It's funny, I always struggle to think of myself as a person who can give advice! I'm just a li'l lady!But I started up LLT without any formal business training, so if I can do it, you sure as heck can! But, I do have a few things to share, absolutely. Firstly, you have to go in with passion. The Tabletop world is so beautifully full of heart and wielding your passion resonates all the stronger in a creative space like this. And while passion can be your driving light, it can also be your armor. There are a lot of challenges that women face in this space, even just as people who enjoy Tabletop as a hobby. My mum always says "people buy from people" and when you start a business, whether it is for a service, product or show, you are the face of that business. There can be people out there who might try and belittle what you are doing, under the assumption that your gender identity invalidates your ability to create in this space. Wear your Passion with pride, and their words will feel as empty as they are.
Which brings me to my second piece of advice: meet other businesses in this space! Running your own business can be a very vulnerable experience, especially with something close to your heart. I can't tell you enough of how important it is to connect with people in the same boat, who can lift you and be lifted by you in those vulnerable moments and celebrate your successes alongside you. Join Discord servers, chat with people on socials, or in-person if you're able. You aren't alone in forging this path, and there are so many incredible women-run small businesses in the TTRPG world. So when things get tough, reach out. Even if it's just for a simple heads-up on a new piece of legislation or regulation or best-practice, rather than something more emotive and esoteric. Remember: much like at the table, we aren't competing with each other. We're working together to make something safe, fun, and just plain awesome.
5. What's next for Lucky Leaf Teas?!
Onwards and upwards! I spent the first year laying the groundwork for the next steps for LLT. Most of our events last year weren't specifically in the tabletop sphere, but we've got some much bigger appearances planned for this year, right in the heart of the TTRPG space! Visitors to UKGE and beyond, keep your eyes peeled! Also please be gentle with me, I know there's going to be a whole lot of people. Still, I'm really excited to get our blends out in front of all you Tabletop-lovers out there!
Speaking of our blends, there's always more to add and expand. I plan to continue to add to Teas for Explorer's with blends inspired by settings from fantasy and sci-fi, while working with indie system designers to produce blends for their own systems! Plus, I've been quietly cooking up some concepts for a whole new line inspired by another system I love. It's a long way off yet, but I can't wait to show you all. Other than that, you might spot me popping up in the odd Actual Play here and there, because I have to rest and actually play at some point! See you soon, Teamons!
Thank you so much to Ari for speaking to us! We loved hearing about this woman owned TTRPG business. Make sure you go and give Lucky Leaf Teas a follow.