Preview
Discover how a South Indian family kitchen filled with chai, turmeric, and tradition sparked a wellness movement in Laguna Beach, and became the heart of Tea & Turmeric, Orange County’s trusted sanctuary for holistic living.
Why This Episode Matters
If you’re searching for real wellness in Laguna Beach or Orange County, the kind rooted in food, spices, community, and ancestral wisdom, this episode is where it begins. I’m Vidya, co-founder of Tea & Turmeric, and today I’m sharing the story behind our shop, our mission, and why we believe tea and spices are some of the most powerful tools for healing.
In this debut episode of The Tea on Wellness, you’ll hear how my South Indian heritage, childhood kitchens in Canada and Kerala, and a lifelong belief in food as medicine shaped everything we do. You’ll also learn how my sister Kavita and I built Tea & Turmeric into Laguna Beach’s wellness destination for teas, spices, Ayurveda, and mindful living, and what you can expect from future episodes of this podcast.
This episode sets the tone for what’s coming: simple rituals, nervous system support, Ayurveda you can actually use, and the healing power of everyday ingredients.
The Story Behind Tea & Turmeric
Tea & Turmeric didn’t start as a business plan. It started as a family kitchen filled with chai, turmeric, cumin, and stories. It grew from the way our grandmother taught us to cook, the way our parents leaned on food as medicine, and the way we learned to connect with our bodies through the herbs and spices we used every day.
When my sister Kavita and I opened our doors in Laguna Beach, we wanted to create a small sanctuary, a place where people could slow down, explore Ayurvedic teas and spices, and feel held by community. That intention is at the heart of every blend, every class, and now, every episode of this podcast.
What You’ll Learn
• How Tea & Turmeric began as a family story of chai, turmeric, and ancestral healing
• How South Indian spices and Ayurveda shaped my childhood and my wellness philosophy
• The partnership between sisters, intuition and soul meets strategy and vision
• How we built Laguna Beach’s go-to space for loose leaf tea, spices, Ayurveda, and holistic wellness
• What this podcast will offer: recipes, rituals, tea education, and bite-sized guidance for modern life
• How to join a growing wellness community in Orange County
Takeaway
Every wellness journey starts somewhere, often in a kitchen, watching someone you love move with quiet confidence through ingredients that have been healing families for generations. Tea & Turmeric grew from exactly that place. If this episode reminded you that real wellness doesn't have to be complicated or expensive, just rooted and intentional, that's the whole point. Welcome to the community.
Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome to The Tea on Wellness
1:00 - Meet the Sisters: Vidya & Kavita
2:30 - Our Canadian Roots: Growing Up with Spices & Tea
4:40 - Following the Path of a Healer
6:35 - The Birth of Tea & Turmeric
8:20 - What to Expect on The Tea on Wellness Podcast
10:20 - Steep Into Something Beautiful Together
Transcript
Episode 1: The Beginning of The Tea on Wellness, Tea and Turmeric
Host: Vidya, Tea & Turmeric
Location: Laguna Beach, Orange County, California
Topics: South Indian Heritage, Food as Medicine, Sister Founders, Ayurveda and Everyday Rituals, Chai and Turmeric, Wellness in Laguna Beach, Family Traditions, Starting a Small Business, Holistic Living, Kitchen Healing Practices
0:00 – Welcome to The Tea on Wellness
[VIDYA]: Hello, and a truly warm welcome to the very first episode of The Tea on Wellness! I am so glad you're here. Ever wonder how a love for tea and spices can become, well, a living, breathing love note? That's our story, and I can't wait to share it with you.
I’m Vidya, your host and co-founder of Tea & Turmeric. My mission is to be your soulful guide to all things health and wellness. And honestly, this podcast is steeped in story, tradition, and transformation, just like a really good cup of tea.
1:00 – Our Story Begins
[VIDYA]: I thought I’d start this journey by sharing ours, the story of how Tea & Turmeric came to be. This isn’t just a shop; it’s a living, breathing love note to our ancestors, to each other, and to the healing power of spices, tea, and tradition.
I run this shop with my sister, Kavita. Honestly, she’s my bestie, my opposite, my total balance. While I’m the voice behind the podcast, Kavita is the heart behind the scenes. With her high-tech background, she’s the brain behind our business, bringing structure and brilliance. That lets me be the intuitive healer and creative force. Together, we’re the yin and yang of Tea & Turmeric. A perfectly well-balanced blend, just like our favorite teas or spices.
2:00 – Roots in Eastern Canada and India
[VIDYA]: But our story doesn’t start here in California. It truly begins in a small town in Eastern Canada where our grandparents, who bravely immigrated from India, helped raise the three Reddy sisters.
Our house was always filled with incredible smells, chai brewing, mustard seeds popping in hot oil, and of course, haldi, turmeric, sprinkled in just about everything. Our Amma Amma, the Telugu word for grandmother, from the south of India where our family's from, had a magical way of using spices and teas to soothe, nourish, and heal.
One of our most treasured memories is coming home from school to a steaming cup of chai and delicious homemade snacks. That small moment meant everything. The comfort of that warm cup, the care in her eyes, the gentle clink of steel plates. It said, “You’re home, you’re safe, you’re loved.”
Our mother carries that same grace and wisdom, teaching us often without words how food should be medicine. Those simple rituals of sharing meals and tea created a beautiful rhythm.
4:00 – Tea and Spices in Our DNA
[VIDYA]: Tea and spices aren’t trends or recent hobbies. They are deep teachings passed down with love and intention. I once wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps as a medical doctor. But he saw something different in me and said, “Vidya amma, you’re a healer, not just a doctor.” Those words stayed with me.
I studied naturopathic health in Canada and then traveled to India for yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, and more. I learned to listen to the body’s innate wisdom and create harmony using simple ingredients like breath, natural herbs, pure intention, and presence.
5:30 – A Passion for Cooking
[VIDYA]: I also have a true passion for cooking! In my mind, I’m the next Padma Lakshmi. Cooking brings me joy and creativity, which is why I teach cooking classes at our store. Food is a powerful way to connect, heal, and express love. I’ll share cooking tips and tricks in future episodes.
6:30 – The Birth of Tea & Turmeric
[VIDYA]: Tea & Turmeric was quietly born, not just a business plan but a calling to express gratitude, preserve and share our rich heritage, and bring tradition, wellness, flavor, and healing into one beautiful place.
In 2021, Kavita and I opened Tea & Turmeric in Laguna Beach, California. It’s a sanctuary where people genuinely feel something. Every shelf tells stories. Every tea blend and spice jar is chosen with pure intention to nourish and heal.
We hand-blend many products in small batches and cherish sharing our knowledge. Many shop items are personal, like family recipes and treasures from our teachers and gurus. Wellness should be easy to access, beautiful, and deeply tied to culture and care.
8:30 – About This Podcast
[VIDYA]: This podcast extends that philosophy. On The Tea On Wellness, I’ll host solo episodes of five to ten minutes, sharing bite-sized info focused on one healing topic. Expect health benefits, usage tips, functional teas, powerful spice duos, mindful rituals, ancestral wisdom, and simple ways to live in harmony with your body, mind, and soul.
Some episodes will be cozy chats, others gentle lessons or guided practices, all grounded in real-life wellness starting in your kitchen and rippling out.
9:45 – Invitation: Steep Into Something Beautiful Together
[VIDYA]: Whether you’re sipping morning chai, cooking dinner, or taking a quiet moment, I invite you to join me. We’re honored to share our roots, rituals, and recipes with you. This is The Tea On Wellness. I’m Vidya, here to help you live well, feel better, and return to what’s always been true. From our family to yours, welcome. Let’s steep into something beautiful together.
Resources & Links
Visit Us:
Tea & Turmeric — Laguna Beach, California
https://teaandturmeric.com
Follow Us: Instagram: @teanturmeric
Email: hello@teaandturmeric.com
Episode Length: 11:15
Published: July 17, 2025
Category: Wellness, Food & Drink, Culture, Ayurveda
Location: Laguna Beach, Orange County, California
