In a world that constantly demands more, a new space on Chattanooga’s Southside invites you to pause and savor the little moments. Understory Tea House fuses the art of traditional gongfu tea with a space to be present and connect with those around you.
“I knew from a young age that I was called to bring people together and create an experience,” says owner and operator Taylor Traglia Stephenson.
Stephenson began working in specialty coffee in Nashville in 2015, at the height of third- and fourth-wave coffee culture. Tea was adjacent on menus and in conversation; over time, curiosity turned into study. She immersed herself in the nuances of tea, which led to herbalism and plant medicine, particularly folk traditions. She started crafting herbal blends and custom formulas for friends and family, small-batch mixtures rooted in both tradition and intuition.
Those early blends became Understory Herbals, a line of packaged herbal teas and plant-based products. What began as personal remedies evolved into a growing business, wholesaled to cafes and yoga studios and sold at markets. For a time, a brick-and-mortar space seemed like the natural next step. But midway through a buildout, Stephenson made the difficult decision to walk away and relocate to Chattanooga with her partner. Understory Herbals continued in the background, but she had put the idea of a retail space to rest.
In Chattanooga, Stephenson joined Velo Coffee Roasters, supervising production and reconnecting with hands-on, collaborative work. New relationships formed quickly. When a location on Washington Street became available, she went to see it and immediately knew it was go time. Understory Tea House opened in January 2026, bringing Stephenson’s years of study, experimentation, and conviction into a space of their own.
At Understory, the ritual is as important as the drink itself. Many teas are prepared using the gongfu cha method: a high leaf-to-water ratio brewed in small, intentional steeps (up to 10 steeps for some varieties) from a single pot. The vessels used for service are specialty pieces crafted by a local artist. Each pour reveals something slightly different in the leaves, encouraging guests to slow down and notice the evolution of flavor.
Japanese green teas are handled with similar precision. Served in a traditional Japanese teapot, they’re steeped just three times. There will always be a few Japanese greens on the menu, alongside matcha and a rotating selection of tea lattes that bridge tradition and approachability.
Stephenson works with very small farms through trusted importers who maintain close relationships on the ground in each region of origin. Everything is organically grown, free from synthetic pesticides and sprays. Many of the herbs come from local purveyor Bird Fork Farm and Cedar Hill Homestead outside of Nashville.
“Teas are crops, too,” Stephenson says. “Things change over the seasons, so we’ll change our menu as seasonally as we can.”
Perhaps the biggest surprise since opening has been when people choose to come. With younger generations drinking less alcohol, more people are leaning into wellness and seeking alternatives for evening gathering spaces. “We’re creatures of connection, and we need these third spaces,” Stephenson says.
For Understory’s later-night grand opening events, people showed up in force, eager for a calmer, sober place to land after dark. The tea house has already become a natural home for book clubs, craft groups, and other mindful activities. There’s no public Wi-Fi, and the atmosphere intentionally discourages heavy device use. The goal is presence, not productivity.
In a culture that rarely pauses, Understory Tea House offers something quieter: an invitation to slow down and fill yourself back up.