Understory Tea House Gives Chattanooga a Space to Slow Down
Right off Main Street beside Adelle’s Creperie is a concept new to Downtown Chattanooga. Understory Tea House offers a quiet space to slow down, unplug, and savor a variety of traditional teas and herbal infusions.
As we pass through the doors of Understory, the bustling sounds of downtown quickly fade into the clinking of tea ware and the rhythmic tapping of matcha whisks. Natural light filters in through tall windows, bathing the space in a golden glow. Warm wood and natural textiles contrast with brick walls, and our eyes are immediately drawn to a wooden platform lined with cushions, meant to emulate the floor seating of a chashitsu (traditional Japanese tearoom).
Traditional Tea Meets Appalachian Culture
Greeting us at the counter is Taylor Traglia Stephenson, the owner of Understory Tea House. Taylor offers us a cup of Mister Chen’s Honey Orchid, an aromatic oolong tea from Taiwan, accompanied by carrot cake and a tahini tart.
Taylor Traglia Stephenson, Owner of Understory Tea House | Photo by Tori Vintzel
Taylor, who relocated from Nashville two years ago, got her start in the specialty coffee industry. “Tea was always adjacent to coffee,” she says. Around the same time, she began studying Appalachian folk medicine. Word of Taylor’s herbal remedies spread, which led to the creation of her first business, Understory Herbals. “I wanted to bring tea and herbalism together and honor the roots of both. I chose Asian-inspired design to honor the rich history of tea culture. Having that Appalachian folk flair woven in was also important to me, because that’s where my own roots are from.” These two inspirations are present throughout the space—Japanese boro textiles, Appalachian quilts, handwoven baskets, and dried flowers adorn the walls.
Taylor says Chattanooga’s love of nature was a key reason for opening her business here. “It’s so wonderful that we’ve got the National Park City designation. People are interested in nature here. That told me my audience was already a part of Chattanooga, where there’s already a connection with and a passion for the natural world.”
Slowing Down in Chattanooga
Understory Tea House stands out from similar businesses by prioritizing connection over digital connectivity. Guests will find no public WiFi network. When asked about the concept, Taylor says, “My goal was to curate a space that slows people down and brings them together. Something we’re trying to do is encourage no or low use of devices in our space. We want people to quiet their mind instead of filling it with what’s on their screen.” She states that humanity is often dysregulated, which she believes is a direct product of being disconnected from each other and from nature. “You have to slow down to connect with each other, and tea is the perfect way to do that.”
Mister Chen’s Honey Orchid with carrot cake and a tahini tart
Gongfu tea provides the perfect amount of friction for slowing down. “Gongfu,” roughly translated to “making tea with skill,” is a traditional Chinese brewing method meant to showcase the complexity of loose-leaf tea. Tea leaves are brewed in a vessel called a gaiwan using a high leaf-to-water ratio. “It takes time to brew tea this way, which adds to the idea of slowing down,” Taylor says. “Folks really enjoy seeing the plants we are brewing, which is wonderful for our mission of connecting to nature. People can see the product and the plant matter it came from.” In addition to gongfu, guests can enjoy matcha and caffeine-free herbal blends, known as tisane.
Sourcing the Product
Everything sold at Understory Tea House is organic, wild-crafted, or naturally-grown. Taylor says it’s important to make sure the product is as close as it can be to its origins. She currently gets her stock through US-based tea purveyors, but she eventually wants to build relationships with tea farmers directly. Camellia sinensis, the species that produces the caffeinated tea leaves, is not native to the United States. High quality teas, particularly those used for gongfu, are primarily imported from China, Japan, and Taiwan.
Local partnerships also play a significant role in the business. Taylor works with Bird Fork Farm, Cedar Hill Homestead, and other regional growers to source herbs for tisane. All of the food is prepared by Southern Squeeze. Even the tea ware was made by a local artist.
Photo by Tori Vintzel
A Space for Community
Understory Tea House offers more than tea. Taylor says she wants it to be a third space where people can gather. Guests can look forward to a monthly lineup of events including meditations, sound baths, art events, and what she’s calling “Late Nights,” where people can enjoy live music alongside non-alcoholic drinks, tisane, or tea. Eventually, she hopes to offer a hi-fi listening room experience. All of these events contribute to Understory’s mission of slowing down and connecting as a community.
Understory Tea House provides a gentle counterbalance to a world that’s always asking us to move faster. Whether you are a longtime local or a first-time visitor, this space is a reminder that slowing down is both a meaningful and deeply restorative act.
Photo by Tori Vintzel
Esther Lovingood
Communication & Program Manager, River City Company