Čajanka ( tea party)

Čajanka (tea party)

A Sip of Nostalgia in a World of BlandnessWhat if making tea could feel like coming home? That’s the story I set out to tell with Čajanka – a brand brewed from childhood memories, Sunday afternoons at grandma’s table, and the quiet ritual of steeping real tea leaves (never microwaving a sad teabag).

In a market overflowing with sterile minimalism and one-size-fits-all wellness tea brands, Čajanka needed to stand apart – warm, comforting, and full of character. The objective? To bottle up that feeling of simpler times: mismatched retro cups, homemade tablecloths, and the unhurried joy of conversation over a steaming pot.

The challenge was twofold: revive old-school charm without drifting into kitsch or political nostalgia, and craft a visual and verbal identity that feels at once familiar and fresh – a modern tribute to the comforting ritual of tea, made the way it should be.

The Story Behind the Logo

At the heart of Čajanka is the letter Č – pronounced “ch”, just like the start of čaj (tea). I brought it to life with a subtle but meaningful twist: a tea leaf delicately shapes the accent, while the negative space inside the C forms a tiny spoon.

It’s simple yet memorable, a nod to homemade tea rituals and classic retro design. One clever mark says it all – leaves, spoon, and a name you won’t forget. Just like the tea: warm, familiar, and always a little special.

The Unboxing Experience

Opening a box of Čajanka tea should feel like pulling up a chair at your grandmother’s kitchen table. Gingham patterns peek out like her favourite tablecloth – the same one that soaked up laughter, crumbs, and whispered secrets over countless cups of tea.

Inside, nostalgic colour palettes of warm creams, soft browns and gentle pops of red and green instantly wrap you in comfort. Every label and note is set in Gopher, a friendly, retro-inspired typeface that feels as inviting as the tea itself.

No sterile minimalism here – just thoughtful details and a familiar vibe that says: take a breath, pour a cup, stay awhile. It’s more than unboxing tea – it’s unwrapping a memory.

What’s Inside – and How It Works

We kicked things off with doypacks – the perfect blend of practicality and charm for a tea brand with a huge rotating menu. One of the biggest challenges? Čajanka stocks hundreds of teas, and those names and ingredient lists change all the time.

To make life easier (and save them endless back-and-forth emails with a designer), I created Canva-ready, print-friendly templates. Every label can be updated in minutes – from the tea name to the ingredient list – and the team got a simple offboarding tutorial so they feel confident doing it themselves.

And, of course, that signature gingham pattern shows up here too – a subtle nod to grandma’s tablecloth that ties every product back to the heart of the brand. Colour coordinated for each type of tea. Practical, nostalgic, and empowering — exactly how good packaging should feel.

For the Tins, Gift Sets & Wedding Favours

When it comes to gift sets, round tins, and wedding favours, we leaned all the way into that retro charm. A flowing pattern of tea leaves wraps around each tin – it’s warm, nostalgic, and just the right amount of playful.

The idea? Packaging so pretty you actually want to keep it on your kitchen counter, not hide it in the cupboard. It feels special enough for a gift, but familiar enough to reach for every day. A little daily dose of remember when… with every cup.