056: San Diego Design Week: Exploring Inspiration & Smell with Amy of Paru Tea

In this special San Diego Design Week episode, I welcome back Amy Truong of Paru Tea to talk about inspiration and smell. Smell is a sense that is often overlooked, but it can be so powerful in the associations and memories it can bring up for us. Amy and I talk about the role scent plays in inspiring her unique tea blends, and she shares with us some behind-the-scenes details about her process for creating new blends. She also explains the best ways we as tea drinkers can use our sense of smell to experience and enjoy tea.If you want to learn more about Amy and her story with Paru, listen to Episode 4 of Bewitching the Home. You can also get the story behind the design of her tea shop in Episode 40 with Miki Iwasaki.Guest Bio After earning a degree in International Business from UC Irvine and a decade of working in consulting, tech, and wellness, Amy took the leap and started PARU in 2017. The idea quickly grew from a pop-up with tea educational workshops to a full-time business, operating both two locations in-store and online.In addition to leading the team, Amy serves as the primary tea educator, buyer, and master blender. She enjoys working with her hands and creating nostalgia-inspired teas like our Blue Chamomile and Pandan Waffle. Featured in this episodeFeatured candle: Beeswax candle from Mithras CandleFeatured brew: Honey Orchid from Paru Tea BarFeatured Tarot deck: Rider-Waite Colman Smith TarotConnect with Paru TeaLinks:WebsiteInstagramAre you an interior designer or are you interested in Holistic Interior Design? Check out my membership program, the Design Coven! This program is a real-world industry mentorship for Holistic Interior Designers that has everything you won't find in traditional design school curriculum. You'll learn from practicing interior designers working on real life projects, and get access to cutting edge vendors, suppliers, furniture makers, textile designers, and design resources that I've curated over my 17 years of design experience. As a member, you'll have the opportunity to build valuable relationships of your own. Learn more.Connect with Rachel LarraineWebsiteInstagramPatreonInterior Design Services