We had the good fortune of connecting with Tea Kingley and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tea, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my food blog came first and foremost from a passion for food and desire to share it with the world.
I grew up an extremely picky eater, but when I studied abroad in college I wanted to try famous dishes from every city/country I visited in an effort to more fully experience each culture. Over that semester, my sensitive tastebuds transformed from stinging with every strong flavor to appreciating the nuances and intricacies of each dish.
With a successful background in social media and a desire to try everything I could after 20 years of missing out, of course my next move was to create a food review page on Instagram (and, later, TikTok and YouTube too). I was studying film and marketing in college — shooting photos, editing videos, and finding the hook that made each restaurant stand out allowed me to apply what I was learning and hone my skills in the real world.
Four years and almost 20,000 followers later, I’m able to work with local businesses in my community and share my passions for food, photography/videography, and writing with a larger audience than I ever expected. A sweet ending indeed!
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Starting out on social media is never easy. At the beginning, I invested a lot of my own time and money into my account without getting much in return. Thanks to the support of my community, I hit 10,000 followers, and that led to more opportunities to work with brands and restaurants for my content.
Besides financial and time investment, another major challenge I faced was the rise of TikTok and the push for short form video content on Instagram as well. At first, I was hesitant to change. I was happy with my content, and I didn’t know what I could do in a video that I couldn’t in a photo and caption. I also never wanted my food blogging to take away from my actual enjoyment of the food, and shooting videos seemed like a lot more time and effort than photos were.
Once I recognized that short form video content wasn’t going anywhere, and that it was the best way to reach an audience, I finally decided to pivot. Though I wasn’t an early adapter, I spent time perfecting my craft and used my knowledge of filming and editing as a film student and of writing compelling material as a marketing student that helped me stand out from the crowd.
I also learned that algorithms and likes/views aren’t everything. For the first year I was creating short form content, I struggled to find any real traction, averaging only a couple thousand views per post. But, throughout that time, I never gave up and continued honing my craft into content that I was truly proud of. Then, the views and likes and followers finally came rolling in! If you make content that you’re proud of and that’s genuinely good, success will follow — even if it doesn’t come immediately.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living in Los Angeles, there’s no shortage of places to go and things to do. I’ll always recommend classics like The Grove and The Original Farmer’s Market, Din Tai Fung, Jon & Vinny’s, and, yes, even Sugarfish (is anything more LA than that?!). Some newer spots that are at the top of my list include Here’s Looking At You, a modern Korean restaurant with an excellent cocktail program in Koreatown, and Colapasta for the best (and most underrated) pasta in Santa Monica. Cafe hopping and trying unique lattes and pastries in Koreatown is also a must, with my hit list including RNY Coffee Studio, 3Thyme, Damo, Memorylook, and Harucake. To visit, everyone should check out Venice, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Koreatown, and Downtown LA at least once to see all the flavors and diversity LA has to offer. The Broad and Hammer are some of my favorite museums, and All Season Brewing Co. is my favorite bar!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to thank my friends and partner for encouraging me to start my account even when I didn’t think anyone would care and for helping me shoot (and eat!) all the delicious food I post. I’d also like to thank all the local businesses who work with me!
Instagram: @teaseats (instagram.com/teaseats)
Youtube: @teaseats (youtube.com/@teaseats)
Other: TikTok: @teaseats (tiktok.com/@teaseats)