Smuggling is one of the most fascinating and mysterious part of Cornish history, inspiring the likes of Daphne Du Maurier to children playing make believe. During the 18th century, when the tax on tea was at an all time hight, 'free traders' smuggled their contraband into the country, making it more accessible to the poor, helping to spread Btitain’s lasting love of tea.
Gen Galow, meaning ‘a light’ in Cornish, is inspired by the light signals used by smugglers. The light acted as a beacon to signal the coast was clear, finally, the smugglers could come to shore and make their way home, supplying the village with cheaper, more affordable tea.
The brand identity reflects this sense of home, warmth, and reliability, paralleling the comfort and ritual of tea with the feeling of returning safely from sea.
Each blend is named after a Cornish smuggling cove, with the waves reflecting its purpose: a calm sea for soothing chamomile, a rough sea for strong black tea to energise or recover after a long day.
University project
Photography/illustrations used in this project are not owned by me, they have been included solely to illustrate design intent as part of a student project.