Camellia Tea Society was born from the belief that beautiful gatherings have the power to slow us down, bring us together, and remind us of the wonder hidden within everyday life.
While inspired by vintage tea culture, our celebrations are about far more than tea. They are invitations to dress up, gather with intention, celebrate the people we love, and create memories that linger long after the last toast.
At the heart of Camellia is a love for detail—the soft clink of porcelain, the layering of textures and florals, the quiet magic of a table set with care. These elements are not just aesthetic choices, but expressions of thoughtfulness and hospitality, designed to make every guest feel seen and cherished.
We believe that celebration does not need to wait for a milestone. There is beauty in honoring the everyday: friendships, seasons of life, small victories, and simply being together. Camellia exists to create space for those moments—to turn ordinary afternoons into something unforgettable.
Every table we set is designed with the hope that guests leave feeling a little lighter, a little more connected, and reminded that joy is always worth celebrating.
tea, flowers, dress-up, antiques, hospitality, and magic
The Camellia tea society Story
tea is just the excuse, it's magic we're after
Our story
I've spent my entire life creating experiences.
As a little girl, I built imaginary worlds, hosted elaborate treasure hunts, collected tiny treasures, and found endless joy in fairy tales, dress-up, and beautiful old things. As I grew, that same fascination found new expression through restaurants, culinary school, private chef work, immersive retreats, and over a decade of hospitality on Maui.
When cancer made me step back from my work in the kitchen, I turned back to overseeing events remotely, and I came back to a simple fact that brought me to this work in the beginning: people rarely remember every detail of a gathering—but they always remember how it made them feel.
For me, tea has never simply been about the drink itself. It's an invitation. A reason to slow down, gather around a beautiful table, celebrate one another, and become fully present. Whether sharing afternoon tea, raising a champagne glass, or lingering over conversation long after dessert, hospitality has the remarkable ability to transform ordinary moments into lasting memories.
Camellia Tea Society is the natural home for everything I love: vintage treasures, thoughtful details, imaginative storytelling, meaningful rituals, and the joy of bringing people together. Every gathering is thoughtfully designed with one hope—that you leave feeling lighter, inspired, deeply connected, and reminded that wonder isn't reserved for childhood.
Thank you for allowing us to become part of your story.
— Kyra
from the author of this ridiculous tale
One of the greatest joys of Camellia Tea Society is searching for beautiful things that still have stories left to tell.
Our vintage teacups, champagne coupes, lace linens, serving pieces, books, and decorative treasures are thoughtfully collected one piece at a time from antique stores, estate sales, church rummage sales, and forgotten corners where craftsmanship quietly waits to be rediscovered.
Some are hand-painted. Some hide delicate artwork inside the cup itself, revealing their beauty only when held in your hands. No two pieces are exactly alike, and that's exactly the point.
In a world increasingly designed for convenience and mass production, we believe handmade objects deserve to be admired, used, and celebrated. Rather than sitting untouched on a shelf, these heirlooms become part of new stories, new conversations, and new traditions.
Every guest receives a different cup because every guest brings a different story to the table.
every piece... and every guest... has their own story
The Art of Collecting
Camellia Tea Society is proudly brought to life by the women of Lotus Chefs, our all-women private chef collective based on Maui.
For years, Lotus Chefs has welcomed families, retreats, and celebrations into homes across the island, creating meals centered around warmth, connection, and thoughtful hospitality. As our work evolved, we found ourselves increasingly drawn to the spaces surrounding the food—the beautifully set table, the flowers, the vintage china, the little details that invite people to linger just a little longer.
Over time, it became clear that those creative ideas deserved a home of their own.
Camellia Tea Society was born not to replace Lotus Chefs, but to complement it.
While Lotus Chefs focuses on exceptional food and heartfelt hospitality, Camellia focuses on the atmosphere that surrounds the meal—the styling, the storytelling, the rituals of gathering, and the experiences that transform a celebration into a lasting memory.
Together, they share the same heart while allowing each to flourish with its own purpose, voice, and vision.
about our sister company, Lotus chefs
rooted in hospitality
Long before Camellia Tea Society existed, tea was already weaving its way through my life. While living in San Francisco, I worked in a tea lounge and spent countless afternoons exploring the tea alleys and herbal shops tucked throughout Chinatown. I was endlessly fascinated by the stories contained within each leaf—the landscapes they came from, the traditions that shaped them, and the rituals surrounding their preparation.
What captivated me most was the hospitality of tea. Across cultures and generations, tea has long been a reason to gather, to share conversation, to celebrate milestones, and to offer comfort during difficult times. Whether served in a humble clay pot or fine porcelain china, tea creates space for connection.
Camellia sinensis, the plant from which all true tea is made, represents that spirit. It reminds us that beauty often lives in simple rituals, that gathering around a table is an act of care, and that some of life’s most meaningful moments begin with a thoughtfully prepared cup shared among friends.
Camellia Sinensis is a symbol of hospitality, intention, and togetherness.
camellia sinensis
camellia japonica
My grandmother loved camellias. Years after her passing, I found myself wandering through a camellia garden in South Carolina before sitting down for my very first afternoon tea on the anniversary of her death. What began as a simple moment became the beginning of something much larger.
Two years later, I was diagnosed with melanoma. During that season, my grandmother became a constant source of strength in my heart. I promised her I would fight—and I did. Though the journey eventually led to a rare autoimmune disease that ended my career in the kitchen, it also led me somewhere unexpected.
Collecting vintage teacups began as a small project of healing and remembrance, an homage to my grandmother and the beauty she brought into my life. Over time, those teacups became symbols of hope, resilience, and joy.
Camellia japonica reminds us that beauty can carry us through difficult seasons, that memories can become traditions, and that gathering around a table has the power to bring comfort, connection, and light.
camellia sinensis
camellia japonica
My grandmother loved camellias. Years after her passing, I found myself wandering through a camellia garden in South Carolina before sitting down for my very first afternoon tea on the anniversary of her death. What began as a simple moment became the beginning of something much larger.
Two years later, I was diagnosed with melanoma. During that season, my grandmother became a constant source of strength in my heart. I promised her I would fight—and I did. Though the journey eventually led to a rare autoimmune disease that ended my career in the kitchen, it also led me somewhere unexpected.
Collecting vintage teacups began as a small project of healing and remembrance, an homage to my grandmother and the beauty she brought into my life. Over time, those teacups became symbols of hope, resilience, and joy.
Camellia japonica reminds us that beauty can carry us through difficult seasons, that memories can become traditions, and that gathering around a table has the power to bring comfort, connection, and light.
Long before Camellia Tea Society existed, tea was already weaving its way through my life. While living in San Francisco, I worked in a tea lounge and spent countless afternoons exploring the tea alleys and herbal shops tucked throughout Chinatown. I was endlessly fascinated by the stories contained within each leaf—the landscapes they came from, the traditions that shaped them, and the rituals surrounding their preparation.
What captivated me most was the hospitality of tea. Across cultures and generations, tea has long been a reason to gather, to share conversation, to celebrate milestones, and to offer comfort during difficult times. Whether served in a humble clay pot or fine porcelain china, tea creates space for connection.
Camellia sinensis, the plant from which all true tea is made, represents that spirit. It reminds us that beauty often lives in simple rituals, that gathering around a table is an act of care, and that some of life’s most meaningful moments begin with a thoughtfully prepared cup shared among friends.
Camellia Sinensis is a symbol of hospitality, intention, and togetherness.
camellia sinensis
camellia japonica
stories about two camellias
Every gathering tells a story
Themes & Inspirations
— Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
"It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."
Every event is custom-designed based on guest count, location, styling, refreshments, and curated enhancements.
Gatherings begin at $1,000
Whether you're envisioning an elegant champagne brunch, an intimate tea gathering, a whimsical Alice in Wonderland celebration, or something entirely your own, we'd love to help bring your vision to life.
let's create something beautiful
