I first met Mother Cuppa at Mary Portas Thrive Street in London, October 2015.

We spent hours talking over that weekend, about our businesses, our backgrounds, and our love of hiking. Candice left with my walking socks, and I left with her herbal teas.

I’ve been hooked on her tea ever since. Always stocked up with Hydrate and Clarity at the studio and Relax at home.

They’re stocked in my studio and at home. Relaxing is the only thing that truly quietens my mind and gently drifts me to sleep.

Both lovers of walking, it felt only natural to come together for National Walking Month — hosting three hikes across Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire this May.

But first, Candice’s story.

I would love to hear what inspired and led you to start Mother Cuppa?

20 something years ago, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I had a very invasive surgery and was placed in a medically induced menopause, which was then reversed.  

What drew you to herbal tea for health benefits?

I was looking for ways to care for my body without medical intervention. My local library found a book all about endo (there was no social media back then!), and inside was a small chapter on medicinal plants. My local health food shop had an amazing lady who loved chatting about women's health, and she gave me all sorts of weird and wacky ingredients I’d never heard of and told me to imbibe them as a tea….. The rest so they say is history! 

What an incredible fact that you trained as a tea sommelier, really shows your dedication and knowledge and why your tea tastes and do so much good. What does that process involve, and how long did it take?

I trained as a tea sommelier as a hobby, and I went on to specialise in blending. I was really lucky to pick up an email with an offer to become a sommelier – it's all about the history of tea and identifying tea from around the world. You have to pass an exam to qualify, where they send you 50 different types of tea from around the world, and you have to blind taste test and identify if it is green, black, yellow or white tea, try and guess the country and the region! Traditional tea all comes from one plant, and depending on where it is grown, how it is picked, and how it is processed, it will really alter the flavour. Very much like wine all coming from one grape and not tatsing the same.

 When I got involved in blending. I was lucky enough to get to judge on some tea tasting awards, and this really helped me to fine-tune my own blends and turn them into what we have today.

Where do you find inspiration when you're developing a blend?

I was looking for herbs that would balance hormones, but I also really got drawn to how tea made me feel, and I was very keen to take caffeine out of my diet. There is something so comforting in herbal tea. I love that it makes me feel close to nature and that I am putting nothing but goodness into my body. I also think herbal tea can be such a sensory experience. Not just the taste but the aroma and the warmth you get from it.

Each of your four blends feels like it belongs to a very specific moment. Which do you reach for most often, and when? Or how should we enjoy them?

When I launched, I wanted to make enjoying herbal tea really easy for women. I wanted one tea for each step of the day. As the brand has grown and evolved, women are reaching for the blends their bodies are craving. It's like an internal signal, just lets you know what you need. I personally drink hydrate the most, its my absolute go t blend. But I couldn’t possibly choose a fav, they are like my children! 

You talk beautifully about tea as a daily ritual. What does your own tea ritual look like on a typical day?

For me, tea is the anchor in my day, it keeps me grounded. I start with energise, always end with relax, and I get drawn to clarity when life just gets very full on.

For women who are newly navigating natural remedies and herbal teas for wellness, how do you recommend they start?

I always recommend starting with our wellness collection, it’s a box of each of the blends and allows you to sample them all and find the ones that fit your own routine. There should be no pressure with this, it should be enjoyable and part of your own self-care routines.

And now to our favourite subject that we have loved chatting about together — walking!.......

What are your favourite hikes in the UK, and is there one you return to time and time again?

I LOVE the Lake District so much, it’s like I feel like I am going home. I am most at peace there. But that said, I am just happiest on the side of a mountain, I love the remoteness of it, the views, the lack of signal and feeling like I am on a different planet. I tend to avoid the popular hot spots and find the most remote locations! If ever I were to go missing I’d look for me somewhere near haystacks in the lakes or Glyder Fach in snowdownia

We're both based in Hertfordshire — do you have any hidden local walks you'd love to share?

 Gosh, we are so lucky where we are. I’m lucky enough to live almost on the Ridgeway, and I love the Chiltern hills.

What do you typically wear when you're heading out for a hike?

I LOVE shopping with female brands, so I shop for leggings from two lovely ladies and, of course, your socks. I live in my Salomons either boots or trail shoes, and for summer months I wear Brooks off-road shoes. I have the most gorgeous pair of leg warmers that were hand-knit by a lady on Etsy, which I love in the winter.

And for the more branded stuff, always Rab -sometimes I look like Rab threw up on me, hahah!

What’s your one hiking essential – not just a flask of tea and a good pair of socks?

My Osprey backpack – I always travel with a first aid kit, a head torch and a pack of cards! And plenty of tissues for the nature calls!!

Finally, what's next for Mother Cuppa, and is there anything exciting on the horizon you can share with us?

Ah yes! Great question. MC is growing its team of ambassadors which are women just like me, they love our blends and sevre and sell at events earning commission on every sale. This has honestly brought me so much joy. I love sharing my profits and building a community in this way.

 We also partner with MK Snap, a local charity that does a lot of my packing for me. They provide adults with learning difficulties real-life work experience – It's such an honour to have them as part of my team, and the more we grow, the more spaces they can offer to learners.

I can tease you, there is a new blend in the pipeline……

All new blends are designed by my customers; they get involved in choosing the type of blend and the ingredients, and they get to join a taste-testing team. We launch a new blend through crowdfunding so it’s been a super fun way to get my whole communiTEA involved in developing and growing the brand. I love it.

Discover Mother Cuppa Tea here.

To celebrate National Walking Month, we’re hosting three hikes across Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire — bringing together walking, conversation, and of course, tea.

Come and walk with us - its a free event, sign up here.