Returning to nature, simply, authentically, with honesty and courage. This is the intent behind the stories told here on Bloom as you are—stories that, gently and step by step, are building a better, more inclusive, and authentic world, one that places the well-being and happiness of everyone and everything at its core. Like the story of Made Tea, a sustainable organic tea farm in Ubud, Bali. Made, the owner, through many difficulties, managed to realize her dream of building a farm and growing her own tea, which is now exported worldwide. In this interview, she reminds us that everything we give to the soil comes back to us and that nature has immense value for us and future generations. Through a tea of the highest quality, both in flavor and organically grown, precious for our body and soul, let’s discover together what we can do to feel like protagonists of this change and make choices that can truly make a difference for our lives and all the wonder that surrounds us.
What is the genesis of Made Tea?
I started in the hospitality industry 10 years ago. At the time, I was living in Dublin and wondering if I could continue like this forever. I worked in a restaurant and a bar, and when I made cocktails for customers, I felt it would be better to do it at home, without getting anyone drunk. So I decided to quit my job, return to Bali, my homeland, and use one of my bedrooms as a warehouse to start experimenting with new blends. I also went to India to learn about Chai and Ayurveda. After that trip, I started selling tea. I also looked for land in Ubud to build a farm and discovered that the family land I had chosen had been used to grow rice and was therefore contaminated with chemicals. It took a long time to clean it up, but now I can grow everything organically. We have cows, chickens, and ducks to compost and fertilize the soil, and we don’t use pesticides.
Do you produce everything here or also in other places?
This farm is not big enough so we also work with the villages around here. The women grow their own herbs in their villages all together and then we pay them. We have a similar concept also in Java. The housewives grow herbs and thanks to this work slowly they can become independent. We have our label and also we supply hotels in Bali. Also we started exporting in the US and in Europe to Lithuania and Poland. We are processing in Romania and Slovacchia as well. We are a small business and committed to what we do.
What does living a “healthy life” mean to you?
For me, healthy living is about intention, choosing ingredients grown with care, creating daily rituals that bring calm, and offering products that feel closer to nature. I choose to grow herbs in organically managed soil because I believe that whatever you put into the ground, and whatever you grow, eventually comes back to you. For me, it is about caring for our health and the wellbeing of everyone around us. I eat what we grow here, and so does my family. That is why I want to offer the same care and intention to all of my clients: products made from ingredients grown with thoughtfulness, quality, and respect for nature.
What is your connection with nature?
Nature gave me and still gives me so much. When I was working in Europe in a corporate company I decided to go back to nature and become a farmer. That decision healed me. I can think more clearly and I’m less stressed. I accept what nature gave me. The acceptance is the biggest lesson that I had since I was back to the farm, to nature.
Last year, you told me how effective papaya leaves are against dengue, and I was very impressed with your knowledge of plants. Society doesn’t teach us how to use them for well-being. How can we educate people about this knowledge?
It’s very personal. Everything starts from ourselves. I returned to nature to protect our traditions because I truly believe they have infinite value. I’d love to see the next generation do the same. It’s so important for us, for our Planet, for the ecosystem and so for our future to pass this knowledge. We don’t have to ask anyone to do it, it’s our responsibility. What we receive from nature will always be more than what we give it.
What do you do on your farm to make people aware of this responsibility?
We do some workshops to present our farm and to taste different tea. Also we have a special space dedicated to children with books. We’d love to see the people connected to nature when they are here and not look at the phone or be distracted. Just be present and stay in connection with all this beauty.
What’s the main teaching that you had from your family?
Be honest with yourself and others, and you will always be free. It’s all about honesty and respect. These are the foundations. My father always told me to focus on what I’m capable of, on my talents, and by doing so, you will succeed.
I can see so much honesty also in your tea… You created something to make the difference in our body and also in our environment, something full of benefits.
The organic tea that we made is super beneficial. You can become stronger and improve your immune system. So you work on prevention. We have “Healing Tea” for your throat health and “Calming Blue” to relax you for example and so many other super beneficial teas.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to expand the business and create tea retreats in the future. I also want to help women in every community by teaching them how to grow aromatic herbs at home. Furthermore, I believe that every home should have medicinal plants. We promote the concept of “growing everything in your own garden.” We need to rediscover nature and learn how to use it. You can grow anything for your health. For example, turmeric can be used to stop bleeding. Or ginger to improve digestion and circulation. Anyone can do it. People want to buy ready-made things, but it’s better to make them yourself. You can watch things grow on your land and learn something. The feeling of eating these things is different. It’s so important. And it’s so easy to do.
When I think of the cherry and apricot trees in my garden in Italy, the flowers blooming and then turning into fruit, it’s truly wonderful.
Reconnecting with nature has healed my life. And now I feel like I want to help others find this path, too, to experience this possibility. I live in a small house, with my own farm and organic tea production… I’m so happy to have realized my dream and to live in this way.
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