The project Voices of Tea: Steeped Labels seeks to explore and challenge the labels and stereotypes imposed on women in contemporary society. Through a symbolic fusion of tea, its culture, and the age-old tradition of porcelain, this work delves into the gendered narratives that permeate both domestic and professional spheres. This artistic project, currently composed of five pieces, takes as its central figure a series of tea labels meticulously modeled in Russian porcelain and glue (adhesive). Each label bears an inscription of a comment or phrase commonly directed at women, reflecting gendered prejudices and expectations. From “You’re too old for that neckline” to “A mother shouldn’t think that way,” these phrases are engraved into the porcelain, sinking into it, wounding it, leaving a scar and symbolizing both the permanence and the weight and pressure that words can exert on women’s lives. These labels are attached to used tea bags contributed by the women in my immediate circle. The resulting artworks metaphorically represent how these verbal labels steep into the very fabric of women’s everyday lives, just as tea steeps into water. Likewise, the choice of porcelain and glue is not accidental; it embodies the complex interplay between perceived delicacy and inherent resilience—a parallel to women’s experience across diverse cultures. It is worth noting that the chosen phrases are engraved in the porcelain with glue that becomes translucent, giving them a subtle visibility, like a veiled message perceivable only to an attentive gaze. This decision reflects how stereotypes—often concealed or subtle in society—can be overlooked, but once illuminated, as by a discreet LED device on the back of each label, their presence is revealed more clearly, symbolizing the power of awareness and illumination in challenging these perceptions. The metaphor of tea This project not only offers critique; it also celebrates the role of women within the world of tea, a sector where their labor is fundamental yet often rendered invisible, embodying a lived experience marked by limiting labels and stereotypes. Historically, women have been key to tea production—from planting, pruning, and weeding to processing. In regions such as India and Sri Lanka, they constitute the majority of the plantation workforce, specializing in the meticulous, delicate task of picking the leaves (Egan, 2023). Yet, frequently located at the lowest levels of the labor hierarchy, they have been regarded as abundant and inexpensive labor, their contribution undervalued, with scant presence in leadership and decision-making roles (Gurung & Mukherjee, 2018). This dynamic is clearly manifested in Japanese tea culture (chanoyu), where, despite women now comprising the majority of practitioners and teachers, they rarely attain significant positions of authority within the main tea schools, historically dominated by patriarchal structures. Moreover, in Japanese society—especially since the Edo period—women’s public relationship to tea has often been confined to a means of learning the etiquette and manners of the elite, underscoring its role in feminine education and refinement (Corbett, 2018). However, despite the constraints that corporate structures and certain traditions within tea culture can impose on women, it is crucial to highlight that, in the sphere of consumption, tea has also served as a meaningful social and gathering space for us. Beyond being a mere beverage, tea has become a symbol of camaraderie and refuge, providing a locus for both social interaction and personal introspection. In this context, tea becomes a vehicle for connection and expression, where women can share experiences, ease tensions, and foster solidarity. These moments of gathering around tea offer respite from the constraints and expectations imposed in other areas of life, allowing for a safe space for dialogue and mutual support. Thus, while on one side of the scale tea culture may reflect and perpetuate the inequalities and limitations women face, on the other it emerges as a realm where female connection and empowerment can flourish. It is in this duality that the complexity—and also the beauty—of the relationship between women and the world of tea resides. In this sense, tea is not only a drink but also a symbol of resistance and communality, offering a space in which to redefine and rebuild women’s narratives.