033: The 3 H's of Tea: Harness Harmony, Hospitality and Healing Powers with Zhena Muzyka

<p><strong>Dine and Design Series Part VII</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Being naive is a gift because if you know what it takes, you're not going to do</span></em> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">it.”</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">-Zhena Muzyka</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Episode Description:</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From a single mother who had an infant badly in need of a life-saving surgery and only $6 in her wallet, Zhena started blending teas that would eventually become her multimillion-dollar fair trade tea brand, Zhena’s Gypsy Tea. Her vision extends not only to bring health and healing to the world but also to empower tea growers who lack the proper healthcare and recognition they deserve. Growing up with the land, Zhena has always been passionate about taking care of the environment. In fact, their teas are cultivated and harvested from the pristine Idulgashima Bio Tea Garden, the first tea garden to become Certified Organic and Biodynamic in the world! </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When we think about the food we eat, we often assume that the terms "organic" and "biodynamic" are interchangeable. However, biodynamic farming is a distinctly different approach to agriculture than organic farming. Biodynamic farming takes into account the whole farm as an ecosystem—not just individual plants or animals. This means that even when weeding or tilling, biodynamic farmers are aware of how their actions will affect everything else on their land. Biodynamic farmers interact with their ecosystem in a more thoughtful way—they're less focused on maximizing output and more on building resiliency and balance into their systems.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode, Justine, Bridget, and Zhena discuss how biodynamic practices takes farming to another level, how it benefits the earth and everything that depends on it, and how our choice of tea or any beverage for that matter can have a huge and lasting