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| The Tea Licious store, now closed |
Running a tea room can be rather stressful, and many do not last long. Some who think about opening a tea room decide instead to open a tea shop, having far fewer regulations to deal with. But even tea shops are tricky business, subject to a number of things, including the ups and downs of the economy in general. So, switching to selling online is often the best alternative.
I bring this up because to some extent that has been the saga of Carol Inch of Tea Licious. She started with a tea shop in the city of Layton, Utah. According to an article highlighting local businesses, she carried:
“…a range of teas including black, oolong green and white, flavored blends, flowering teas, yerba mate, rooibos and phytotherapy teas. In addition, you can also pick up tea chocolates, tea jellies and jams, chai apple butter, tea mints, agave nectar, green and red tea smoothies, matcha green tea lattes, tea accessories and books about tea.”
She also served afternoon tea and crumpets. (I love crumpets, toasted with some butter and jam!)
Then, the economy went squish or boom or bust or kaplooey… whatever. So, renting store space and paying all the utility bills was a bit much. Time to switch her efforts to the company’s online store.
Originally from Nantucket, Massachusetts, where hot tea gets them through the cold winters, Carol now hangs out in Syracuse (just north of Salt Lake City, Utah) and focuses on being a great source for those who like both premium teas as well as flavored teas. A number of her herbals and some of the teas listed tout health benefits. I personally don’t pay attention to all the claims being made these days, so much of them being unsubstantiated. Many vendors include this information in part because customers ask for it.
What makes me happy is the bunch of straight teas she carries, including Houjicha, Yin Zhen, Royal Yunnan, Formosa Oolong, and Dragon Well, all at prices that seem most reasonable. That irascible little teapot buddy of mine and his Tea Gang will be reviewing a whole bunch of these and a few flavored teas over the next couple of months.
Here’s hoping that her online venture will be a huge success! Check out her listings for teapots and other accessories.
Take a few moments to read her informative About Us page on the company site.
Website:
http://www.tealiciousllc.com/
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/TeaLicious06
© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text
The time is near to line up those tea resolutions. Like the commonly made resolutions of losing weight, studying harder, being nicer to people, etc., tea resolutions are goals we set for the New Year in the hope of getting more enjoyment from the tea we drink.
Tea loose is for many people totally passé. Fine… people want convenience… sounds good to me. However, the “bags” that tea is now being put in for steeping is turning into fancy sachets in various shapes, and sometimes these are, in turn, packaged in special paper containers or other wrappers. Are we getting “packaging overkill” here? My Pioneer Spirit says, “Yes!” 
Santa gets his milk and cookies, but what does a “Tea Princess” get for Christmas? That’s easy: anything she wants!
Your gift list is as long as Santa’s list is (or at least as long as your arm). The malls are crowded and your shopping time is limited. You didn’t dare brave the Black Friday crowds and so were not able to take advantage of those “door buster deals.” Now, time is getting short. Gifts of tea can speed up the process, especially when you order online!
While the kids are hoping for the latest must-have toy under the Christmas tree, tea lovers are putting their list of teas and related items in their letters to Santa (with copies laying around for their friends and family to find just in case). Nothing can bring that twinkle to their eyes like that tea gift on Christmas morning!
Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.
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