The power of pop-up partnerships

If you've visited or seen photos of Tea Here Now, you know that our shop is tiny. Only about 125 square feet of sipping and service space. Such diminutive digs are no excuse to keep it all to ourselves and not share it with fellow passionate up-and-comer businesses. Recently, we've been fortunate enough to enjoy serving alongside Angel Cakes, Indie Cakes & Pastries, and Picnic Bakery, and what a treat it has been for us and our sweet sippers! We've also been able to offer wares from local businesses and bliss by our massage therapist neighbor, Hannah Raphael.

There is something very powerful in partnering with others trying to share their passion and art with our community. It's magical to introduce sippers to the artisans behind the treats they enjoy and to learn alongside them about the dedication they have to their craft and service. I'll admit that it's not a bad gig to always be on the lookout for new and amazing complements to a perfect cup of tea.

So, next time you visit the tea shop I hope you'll take extra pride in knowing that by supporting our tiny shop you are really cheering on a multitude of local entrepreneurs committed to making our community a better/sweeter/calmer place.

Following bliss may cause blisters

My teany tiny tea shop has now been open for about 45 days. 45 abundantly amazing/exhausting/inspiring/informative days. Every day, really every hour, I am gifted new lessons in building a business and serving my community and neighbors. There is nothing more heartwarming or encouraging than the support and response I have been given by those that have shared tea or treats in the shop. To witness the dreams and intentions I set before I could ever know what to expect unfold before me each day, makes the long "entrepreneur hours" of a new business owner possible. Not just possible, but nourishing and propelling.

I've been gifted an opportunity to find my place. My place to make those I encounter feel better or calm or comforted if even for the moment it takes to steep a cup of tea. I've found a space that I've been able to fill with laughter and joy, and the story of what it takes to bring those lovely leaves from amazing lands and hands around the world to sippers in Oakland, California. I've crossed paths with kindred company willing to share in my passion for sitting, sipping, and savoring. I've witnessed neighbors getting to know each other better, new beverage territories explored, strong community support of one little gal's dream, and the need we all have to slow down just a bit to connect and refresh in an ancient way in our modern day.

So here I am, following my bliss with gusto and gumption. At the end of extra long days I liken this journey to an amazing hike. Up before the sun each day I lace-up my boots and eagerly prepare for the adventures ahead. At the end of some days when I take those boots off I notice blisters from the day that remind me of what I encounterd along the way and how I grew from it and am better for it.

It is so satisfying and I am beyond grateful.

The ballet of building a business

This little ballerina has been a bad blogger. I've been informed that at least two (!) kind folks are reading these dispatches, so two apologies are issued for my lack of posting. Now, here we are.

Today was a big day. Up until this point I've put much time, love, blood, and sweat into the renovation of our tiny space. Today, the tears came. Proudly I can say that they were not the result of a breakdown at the end of one of the many long days of work I've been enjoying. Not because I questioned what the heck I was doing with my passion/time/money/etc. (not to mention that of my nearest and dearest, too). But, because all the hurdles to opening our door have been cleared. Plumbing, electric, health department, and finally building inspections passed. The kind city worker added his final signature to my permit card, shared his blessing, and continued on with his day. I was left in the shop, card in hand, heart pounding and overflowing with gratitude, and then they came. Joyful, hard earned, and celebratory. A big day, indeed. Moment savored, then I moved on to keep on with the to-do list of stuff that needs to be done to get things in ship-shape.

Much of this journey has felt like what I know ballet to be, immense effort presented with nothing short of grace and ease, done by an incredible troupe of talented artists. Doing something crazy hard in a way that makes it look super easy, collaboratively. So far, two of three of the main goals I set for myself at the offset of this project have been met-- I've learned so much about building a business, and I've done my best to approach every moment and decision mindfully. My dearest ones are still putting up with me, and I can say that I've squeezed every drop out of every day, most often with a smile and open heart. Goal three, to successfully operate this business built on passion and with a beginner's mind, still remains, but for now I savor the fortune I'm blessed with.

Tonight my sister arrives, tomorrow we work to put the finishing touches on our space, and this coming week with the help of my amazing husband, we'll open a few hours each day to introduce ourselves to the community. A week from Monday (November 5th) we'll be full steam ahead. My goals remain the same, but also turn to serving the community I so care for. I'll do my best to keep posting these little postcards and hope that I'll be able to share a cup of tea with you soon!

Dispatches from the dust cloud

Life at the shop has been a magnificent mess recently. Our "little project" has involved a great deal of tearing down and building up. New plumbing, new floors, new walls, and salvaging as much as possible of the 70+ year old character of our tiny space has been a lot of hard and fun work. 

At the same time we've been dancing through the tight corners of our construction space we've also been tasting new teas, testing new products, and getting increasing excited about sharing tea and treats with you.

As for an opening date... we've got our fingers crossed that we'll be pouring by mid-October. I'm almost afraid to tempt the inspector fates by even mentioning a date, but here's to all going well! You can be sure I'll post updates more frequently as we get closer.

I leave you with a photo that sums up this journey so far. An incredible adventure indeed, one that would not be nearly as fun, or at all possible, without the support and hard work of the handsome man pictured.

Our first tea order: from the oldest tea farmer in the world

Today we celebrate an exciting milestone: our first major tea order!

At the root of Tea Here Now is a mission to source high quality teas that promote sustainability in as many ways possible, while telling a beautiful story one cup at a time. It is only fitting then that our first order of tea for the shop comes from Royal Tea of Kenya (RTK), an extended family farm of 9 million tea bushes which are picked by 3,451 registered farmers.

I first met Joy Njunguna of RTK at the 2012 World Tea Expo during the origin tea tasting tour. The day was a non-stop whirlwind around the world by way of tea cup, and I'll admit that even I felt just a tiny bit exhausted by around the 20th tasting. Until, that is, Joy introduced herself, her story, and her family's amazing teas. She is the warm and passionate grand-daughter of the oldest tea farmer in the world (more on that soon) that thought she'd grow up to be a rockstar, not a tea farmer. Despite her best efforts she could not escape her fate and in her own time fell in love with all things tea and has come to fully embrace and embody the beauty of her family's rich tea history. It is impossible not to fall in love with Joy, her grand-father, the farmers they empower, and the amazing tea they share with the world.

Grandpa Arthur Njuguna Komo is 111 (or maybe 112) years young and still very involved in the business of producing amazing tea. Joy is most certainly doing him and his long life of hard and dedicated work proud by continuing the family business that revolves around farmer's rights, tea quality, and sustainability. The full story of her family is tremendous and worth reading more about.

I am honored and thrilled that we'll have a chance to share Royal Tea of Kenya's tea, history and passion at Tea Here Now very soon!