The Rituals That Carry Us
In conversation with Kate Dalton, founder of Mayde Tea.
Long before Haus of Calm existed, Mayde Tea was part of my own little ritual.
After I had my first baby, I was really struggling with the shift into motherhood. Everything had changed overnight and, if I'm being real, some days just felt like a lot.
My mum had a jar of Mayde Tea on her kitchen bench, a beautiful rooibos chai, and she would make it for me every day. It became this little moment of comfort in what was a really big transition period for me. A warm cup of tea, made by my mum, and a few minutes to just sit.
It sounds like such a small thing, but at the time it really wasn't.
Those little moments of rest carried me through a huge season of change. And I think, without knowing it then, they taught me something about the power of ritual. It doesn't have to be elaborate or take an hour. Sometimes it's simply making something you love and giving yourself a moment to actually enjoy it.
So to now have Haus of Calm, a brand built around so many of those same ideas, and to be sitting down with Kate to talk about ritual, motherhood, presence and living well feels like a pretty special full circle moment for me.
Mayde Tea was part of my ritual long before I ever dreamed I'd create one of my own.
Here’s our conversation.
Mayde Tea has always felt like more than tea. What was the feeling you wanted people to experience when you first created the brand?
I wanted Mayde Tea to be different to what was already on the market. Tea has always been so much more than the drink itself for me. It’s the ritual of making it, sitting down and taking a moment for yourself. When I started Mayde Tea, I wanted to create something that made looking after yourself feel simple and enjoyable, rather than like another thing on your to do list. It also had to go back to where tea originated, in its purest form as loose leaf.
We often talk about ritual at Haus of Calm. Is there a small daily ritual that helps you return to yourself, no matter how full life feels?
My morning tea is probably my most consistent ritual. Before the day gets busy, I love making something warm and having even five minutes where I’m not rushing into the next thing. What I drink changes depending on what I feel like my body needs that day. I’m a huge fan of English Breakfast!
As founders, it’s easy to become caught in constant movement. What reminds you to slow down?
Running a business means there is genuinely always something else you could be doing, so over the years I’ve had to learn discipline. I always carve out time in my day for the gym and make sure I take a lunch break to eat mindfully instead of multitasking. At the moment I’m pregnant and have two little kids, so it’s actually becoming impossible not to slow down, which is a bit of a blessing.
Both tea and scent invite us to become more present. Why do you think we instinctively seek out these quiet sensory rituals?
I’ve always loved incense and burning essential oils. The smell of something beautiful, the warmth of a cup in your hands. It doesn’t take much for a really beautiful mindful moment. In a world where we’re constantly consuming information and moving between things, I know I’m personally craving more of those moments.
Home has such a powerful influence on how we feel. Are there simple ways you create an atmosphere of calm in your own space?
I’m quite sensitive to my environment, so I love keeping our home uncluttered. Fresh air and natural light. Things that make it feel like home, like our teapots and favourite mugs. I’m a fan of dim lamps over ceiling lights.
There seems to be a shift away from chasing more and towards living with greater intention. Have you noticed that in your own life or through the Mayde Tea community?
Definitely. I think people are becoming much more conscious of what they bring into their lives, what they consume, where it comes from and whether it genuinely adds something. I see that within the Mayde Tea community too. There seems to be more appreciation for simple daily rituals and choosing fewer, better things. I’ve always valued quality over quantity.
If you could encourage someone to begin just one small ritual today, what would it be?
Make yourself a cup of tea and drink it without your phone. Even if it’s only five minutes. Sit somewhere you enjoy, actually taste it and let yourself do nothing else at the same time. I personally have to keep reminding myself to give those moments to myself, not the world inside my phone.
Finally, what does living well mean to you right now?
Living well for me right now is really about not overcomplicating things. Eating good, nourishing food, keeping my skincare simple, moving my body, getting outside and being really present when I’m spending time with my family. I think I used to feel like wellness had to involve doing more, whereas now it’s almost the opposite.
There is something reassuring about hearing that the rituals we often think matter most are also the simplest.
A cup of tea enjoyed without distraction. Natural light through the windows. A lunch break taken slowly. Time with family. Choosing quality over quantity.
Perhaps living well isn’t about adding more to our days, but returning to what has always been enough.
Thank you, Kate, for inviting us into your world.