Grandpa Gui: Tea Packaging Celebrates Eastern Elegance

Jinxin Liu’s design blends tradition, beauty, and sustainability in tea packaging.

Grandpa Gui’s tea packaging draws inspiration from the visual and cultural richness of Eastern tea traditions. Jinxin Liu’s approach centers on embodying the essence of lightness and beautification, both in the tea’s effects and its visual identity. The design incorporates traditional Chinese winding techniques, delicately illustrated herbs and flowers, and a palette of light, airy colors. These elements work together to evoke a sense of purity and elegance, reflecting the product’s focus on promoting wellness and beauty.

What sets Grandpa Gui apart is its innovative use of materials and methods. The packaging utilizes matte special paper, enhanced with Pantone colors and embossing, giving the box a refined, textured feel. The structure itself is based on an improved airplane box, further elevated by the unique winding form. This not only adds a tactile and visual distinction but also keeps production costs low, making the design both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

Functionality and sustainability are at the heart of the design. The recyclable materials and reduced printing align with contemporary demands for eco-friendly packaging. Market research and customer interviews guided the development process, ensuring the packaging resonates with consumers seeking health-conscious and culturally meaningful products. The illustrations of herbs and flowers directly reference the tea’s ingredients, creating a transparent and inviting experience for the consumer.

The design process was not without its challenges. Capturing the essence of Chinese tea culture while highlighting the product’s slimming and beautifying features required extensive research, including consultations of ancient texts and traditional packaging forms. The result is a harmonious blend of heritage and innovation, where each detail—from the winding technique to the light color scheme—serves to reinforce the product’s unique qualities.

Grandpa Gui’s packaging has garnered recognition for its creativity and technical excellence, winning the Bronze A’ Packaging Design Award in 2025. This accolade underscores the design’s contribution to quality of life improvements and its role in elevating everyday rituals through thoughtful design. By marrying tradition with modern sensibilities, Jinxin Liu’s creation offers a fresh perspective on how packaging can both honor cultural heritage and appeal to contemporary tastes.

Grandpa Gui stands as a testament to the power of design in shaping consumer experiences—inviting tea lovers to savor not only the flavor but also the artistry and intention behind every package.