Episode Summary
This week on The Tea Mind, I’m joined by Svetlana Kukharchuk, founder of The Cheese Lady and author of The Cheese Connoisseur’s Handbook. Her journey takes us from Siberia to Scotland, via cheese counters in New York and caves in France - but really, this is a story about trusting your senses, building from joy, and choosing progress over perfection.
Whether you're a fellow foodie or just trying to bring more presence and pleasure into your week, this conversation will ground you, inspire you, and maybe even change your next trip to the cheese aisle.
In this episode, we cover:
The surprising way Svetlana fell into the world of cheese
What affinage really is (and why it’s so much more than ageing)
Why she believes joy should not be saved for Christmas
Starting a business with a newborn - and why she did it anyway
How her childhood in Siberia shaped her resilience
The one blue cheese and baked cheese you need to try this winter
Why movement, breath, and cheese boards might be your new go-to rituals
Resources and Links
Follow Svetlana on LinkedIn and The Cheese Lady on Instagram
The Chocolate Tree (UK chocolatier)
Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our awesome teas, Valentine’s shop now live.
Thanks for pausing for tea with me today.
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Erica x
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