01 / Gather
Private Gong Fu Cha
A personal introduction to the art of brewing tea with care. Small vessels, successive infusions, and time to notice how every cup unfolds.
Plan a private experience
From origin
to experience.
Thoughtful tea experiences and hospitality consulting, rooted in a love of tea and bringing people together.
Explore the experiencesTea experiences & hospitality consulting · New York
The experiences
Gather over tea.
Each experience is shaped around your setting, your guests, and the occasion.
02 / Discover
Guided Tea Tastings
Explore the character of different teas through aroma, texture, and taste. A guided journey into origin, processing, and the craft behind the leaf.
Arrange a tasting03 / Connect
Events & Collaborations
Bring tea to an intimate celebration, a brand gathering, or a creative or wellness collaboration. A thoughtful shared experience designed for the occasion.
Create an occasion
Our philosophy
Tea is a passage.
To a place.
To a tradition.
To one another.
A cup of tea holds more than flavor. It carries the landscape where it grew, the hands that shaped it, and the traditions that give it meaning.
Leaf Passage invites people to explore these stories through attentive brewing, thoughtful curation, and the simple pleasure of sharing tea.
Hospitality Consulting
Tea, thoughtfully
part of the experience.
A considered tea offering can become a memorable part of a guest’s visit. Explore guidance on tea menus and service for cafés, restaurants, hotels, and wellness spaces.
Tea Selection & Menu Curation
Thoughtful guidance on tea styles, origins, and flavor profiles suited to your space and guests. Support can include menu descriptions, brewing guidance, and food pairings where relevant.
Team Education & Tea Service
Practical tastings and guidance on brewing, presentation, and recommendations, helping your team share tea with confidence.
The person behind Leaf Passage
Aileen ApuyCertified Tea Sommelier
Certified by ITMA · International Tea Masters Association
A love of tea.A connection to roots.A joy in bringing people together.
Aileen’s interest in tea began with memories of her father visiting Chinatown to buy his teas. Exploring her Chinese heritage led her to China, while formal tea education deepened her appreciation for the diversity of tea’s origins, flavors, and traditions.
Through tea gatherings in New York, she found a community and a sense of belonging—an experience that inspired her to create Leaf Passage and invite others to connect over tea.
Based in New York, she created Leaf Passage to offer private tastings, guided tea experiences, and collaborations. Her vision also extends to cafés, restaurants, and wellness spaces, where she hopes to share her knowledge through thoughtful tea selection, menu curation, and service.
At its heart, Leaf Passage is an invitation to slow down, discover the stories behind the leaf, and share a moment of connection, gratitude, and calm.
Begin a conversation
What would you
like to explore?
Tell us a little about your gathering, your space, or your idea. We’ll begin there.
[email protected]New York, NY