May 5, 2026
As chamomile, elderflower, and lavender bloom in Connecticut this spring, tea purveyor Sebastian Beckwith and his business partner Ana Dane bring bright floral and citrus notes to herbal tea.
In Pursuit of Tea brings ethically sourced, single-origin teas and herbal infusions from Cornwall to curious drinkers.In Pursuit of Tea operates between Cornwall and New York and is known for ethically sourced, single origin teas. Beckwith and Dane are passionate about building personal relationships with tea farmers and preserving ancient hand-picked harvesting traditions, along with the subtle flavor nuances they produce. For that reason, they rarely blend teas or add flavors—a trait that sets them apart from many other U.S. tea companies.
The company began in 1999, after Beckwith, who grew up in Cornwall, made several journeys through the Himalayas as a trekking guide and became fascinated with the tea gardens there.
“There was so much complexity of flavor and aroma,” he says. All that complexity comes from just one plant. Camellia sinensis is the source of all six types of true tea: white, yellow, green, oolong, black, and dark. The differences come from how the leaves are harvested and prepared.
Herbal tea, Beckwith explains, is separate from true tea—more accurately called an infusion or tisane. For those new to tea, herbal infusions can be an inviting place to start. Unlike true teas, which are sensitive to water temperature, herbals are more forgiving.
Beckwith encourages people to step outside their comfort zones and explore beyond familiar favorites like chamomile and mint.
“I love lemon verbena; it’s amazing,” he says. He also recommends elderflower, linden, and a Greek mountain flower tea called Mount Olympus, describing their flavors as “unexpected.” Infusing the herbs into cocktails, cakes, or ice creams can add even more variety.
Despite their expertise, Beckwith and Dane are far from pretentious. Instead, they take joy in connecting with others over a cup of tea.
“We really get to have that experience of sitting down with someone and introducing them to a new flavor, which is pretty fun to do. And you get to do that over and over again,” says Dane. “Just being able to have that shared connection over, ‘Wow, this is amazing; I’ve never tasted anything like this’—we hear that a lot.”
Tea can be purchased online and in local stores such as the Cornwall Market, Warren General Store, or John Robshaw in Falls Village.
For those interested in trying something new or connecting with others over tea, In Pursuit of Tea will host tea sits in Cornwall twice a month, as well as a tea-and-ice cream event at The Pink House this summer. Private tastings are also available.
“We just enjoy the process and the culture, and seeing these different regions, and then introducing that a little bit to people here in whatever way that we can. Tea is sort of a bridge to a culture or a flavor,” says Beckwith. Start with an herbal infusion or a tea tasting, and see where that bridge might lead.–inpursuitoftea.com
(Clockwise starting from top left) Chamomile, Elderflower, Lavender Mint, Mt. Olympus, Mint, and Linden herbal teas, or infusions, from In Pursuit of Tea. These are made from flowers and other plants beyond the regular Camellia Sinensis tea plant and thus are naturally caffeine-free and less sensitive to temperature and steep time. Simply infuse in boiling water and enjoy.
