How did Passport to Tea get started

 

PASSPORT TO TEA 2023

I love tea. I always have. I think it came from my parents. They always drank tea. Even when my dad was serving in the Army in Germany, he would find the occasional tearoom to visit and sent his mom and my mom, his finance at the time, each a tea set. As a married couple, they would have garden tea parties for friends and neighbors. So I grew up loving tea.

      

A dream of mine was to start a tearoom. Working slowly, I began by having random teas in my home and later started a home tea-party business. While traveling on mission trips to places like Thailand, Malaysia, France and the Dominican Republic, I fell in love with their different and unique tea customs and experiences. From all of those experiences, Passport to Tea 2023 was born.

        

Each month I would focus on a different country. I would research their tea traditions, origins, and customs. I wanted everyone to feel like they were on a journey in that country with me. I got passports and printed small flags of each country. Each month, my guest list would range from three to more than 20. They would bring their passport, or receive a new one as first timers, and would get a “stamp” in their passport. One gal came ten times, traveling two hours each way to come -- now that is dedication.

For the Russian tea party, I ordered teacups from Ukraine. When we did India, I got 12 spices for making chai. For Thailand, I ordered a Thai tea pot. For Turkey, I had Turkish teacups and a samovar from Turkey. As we explored Morocco, we had the beautiful glass cups from Morocco. When I shared about Guinea, we used the tea set I picked up when I was on a mission trip there.           

            

I would prepare four to five teas for each guest to experience. I ordered teas from each country and also teas from the U.S. I would prepare teas the way the Americans usually drank them and the way each country traditionally makes their teas, and we would talk about the unique differences, tea notes, and flavors. During each class, I would demonstrate the way to make one of the teas as that country did. I watched lots of YouTube, Googled more than I ever thought I would, and talked to friends in those countries.

            

When we did chai from India, each person was given a mortar and pestle and a recipe card. After talking about spices and tasting different kinds of chai, they created their own blend. One guest said that the chai she created was the best chai she had ever had. The giggles, outright laughter, and ohhs and ahhs made it all worth the effort. As we explored China, each guest was given a Gawain to prepare their own eastern-style tea. This style of preparing tea was new to almost everyone, and although appreciated, I am not sure I converted anyone to preparing tea like this. While adventuring in Japan, everyone had their own matcha bowl and whisk. They loved trying out the different kinds of matcha and exploring it hot and cold.

The 12 months of tea classes made me fall in love with tea even more. Having a table full of men and women each month was a pure delight. Sharing stories, drinking tea, and being present with each other for even just an hour is precious time. My tag line became ‘Tea from around the world for the world.’  I don’t want distance, money, or anything to stop anyone from experiencing great tea.

Tea Lady, Afternoon Tea in Akron

I was in Akron the other day for an event and I had about 2 hours until the next activity, so I searched for teas and came across the Tea Lady.  It was 20 minutes from where I was, so I thought it would be a perfect fit for my time.

I was fortunate enough to get a parking spot right out front.  As you can see there is some outdoor seating as well as the ones indoor.

https://ohiotealady.com/

35 S Main St, Akron, OH 44308

The interior is very nice.  Every table seems to have a different theme- which is very fun.

She has a variety of tea items for sale as well.

This is the selection of teas I had to pick from.  Now, normally I would NOT want a bag tea, but these were good teas for the most part.   I have found if a tea company also makes a loose leaf tea then their bagged teas are not too bad- they know how to make tea taste good.  I always like Taylors of Harrogate,  Harney & Son and Pinky's Up, so I know I could easily pick one of them and be happy.

I came because I saw the tea was on sale.  I have to admit for the area that I am in, $35 plus the large gratuity that she is asking and sales tax I would not spend $45 for an afternoon tea like this.  But, $28 is more reasonable- still more than I would normally spend on tea in the area, but I thought I would try it.

She did sale the sale was over, but she would honor what the website said.  

There were several signs around the room and on the table about requesting 20% gratuity- which I was not really a fan of.  I base my tip on my service.

Here are other tea options.

The table setting was very nice.

She brought out the tea.  It was one tea bag with about a 12-14 oz tea pot- so I think there should have been two tea bags, but she did mention it should steep 4 minutes.  I appreciate that she knew the steep time and that it was passed along to me.  That is not always the case at a tea room.

We started out with a cup of fresh fruit and whip cream.  It was very nice.

                 

The owner was attentive to my needs.  She was constantly checking on me.

                                  

The food was tasty (although my scone was dry), but I have to say it seemed sparce.  Maybe it was because it was on the big serving tray and it looked small.  And I really didn't need more food, it was an adequate amount, but for $28 I expected more.  If I got this amount of food for $22 even I think it would not have been bad.  I just felt I was paying for so much and I didn't feel it was worth it.  Maybe if I had been in a fancy hotel or having a super unique experience it would have felt differently, but it just didn't do much for me.  

I do understand that bills need to be paid, prices of food have gone up, and I am sure Akron is an expensive place to be located.  This just was a miss overall for me. 

She seems like a super sweet lady and I do wish her all the best!!!

And then the thing that really bothered me was when she offered to heat up my tea, she just added hot water to it.  Before I even knew what was happening hot water was added to the tea pot...and no tea bag was added.  I know- I should have asked questions.  I should have asked for another tea bag, but I was just so surprised that she did that.

                   

She stressed several times that everything was homemade.  

I am giving this afternoon tea 3 teacups.  The food was good, although, my scone was warmed, but dry- I can tell it was warmed in the microwave, but it was just dry.  The price was high and the overall experience was just okay. 

She does have lots of options for teas and classes, here is one of them below.

                    

I enjoyed this tea flavor so much, that I did purchase it.

This tea was really great!!!  I loved the white chocolate and raspberry flavors.  It was a home run for me!

Lavender Trails, Vendor Sunday 2024

I attended the Lavender Vendor days last year (as a customer) and I loved it.  I asked if I could be apart of it, they said sure!  I was surprised there were no lavender drink vendors...and since it was at the lavender trails and people were there for lavender, I did great.  I have to say it was one of my best pop up events!!

I made three lavender drinks:

Black tea steeped with a friends lavender from her garden.

Lavender Earl Grey- Twinings Earl Grey with Lavender Syrup

and the crowd favorite- Purple Palmer, aka, Butterfly Pea Tea.  This is spearmint, peppermint, lavender, lemon balm, chamomile, and green tea.  I have several batches that I make...it varies what tea I have on hand.

The night before I made concentrate of all the teas.

A beautiful but super hot day!  It got over 90 degrees, ugh!!  Thankfully there was a slight wind that would blow by every once in a while.

Lavender Trails is right off Rt 57 in Orrville.

https://lavendertrails.com/

Mom and dad were my taste testers.  They came before church and helped me get set up.  Man was it hot!!!

Flowers from my garden... and the hydrangea from the neighbors- but I did ask if I could take some, lol!

I sold 12 oz of tea for $4, mini Stanley cups for $5. and my ABCs of tea book for $20.  

They have so many wonderful lavender items

Here I am with Amy Duxbury- she and her husband Jim have done a fantastic job on turning this brownfield into a beautiful lavender field.

I love love love the their lavender Syrup!!!!

They have over 1 mile of lavender and 11 different varieties. 

They took a brownfield and turned it into beauty!!  It is just gorgeous out there.  Lots of photo opportunities as well.

Here is my view...

I have to say, I loved going over and rubbing my hands on the lavender!  They smelled heavenly.

There were over 20 vendors at this event.  Lots and lots of fun items.  They did two weekends of vendor days.  Be sure to look for them in 2025!

I am thankful for the tent cover that mom and dad bought me last year, it was perfect for this event.  Although a big gust of wind came by and it blew over... my neighbors helped me turn it over and stake it down.

Mr Duxbury enjoyed my butterfly pea tea and had several cups.  The mayor also had a cup.

My friend Laura brought her book for me to sign.  Other friends stopped in for tea.

We had about 10 minutes of rain, but then it passed.  It was a really nice day.

I ran out of butterfly tea and I had made 3 gallons.  And I was low on the other two, I was very excited about that.