People ask me this all the time:
“Leslie, how did you come up with the idea to open a tea house?”
The truth is, it didn’t start as a business plan. It started as a family story.
Tea is part of my ancestral story, a piece of my past that has prepared me for my future, and it’s also the thread that ties together legacy, love, and purpose.
My dream started as coffee
More than 25 years ago, my dream was to open a boutique coffee house. I wanted to create a warm, welcoming space where people could pause, connect, and enjoy a comforting cup of something special.
But life happened. Career happened. And yes, the Starbucks craze happened. The dream got pushed to the back burner.
The moment that changed everything
In 2005, my Dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer. That kind of news changes how you see everything.
During that season, Dad and I shared what he called our “good conversations.” We talked about family history, joy, and what truly matters.
We are of Caribbean descent, from the island of St. Croix, and during those talks I learned something that stopped me in my tracks.
Not only do I come from a family of tea drinkers, but my paternal grandfather worked at the Haviland china company in New York City. Suddenly, it made perfect sense why we had so many varieties of teacups, saucers, and plates at home. Our house wasn’t just filled with “dishes.” It was filled with tradition.
And that’s when the light bulb went on.
Maybe my dream was not to open a coffee house.
Maybe my dream was to open a boutique tea house, in honor of my Dad and our family’s connection to tea.
Choosing purpose after loss
Dad passed away in June 2006. And in the middle of grief, I made a decision that would change my life.
I left my full-time career in health care and pursued entrepreneurship.
Because of Dad, I realized something I couldn’t ignore anymore: life is too short to postpone purpose. If I wanted to honor my family’s tradition, I had to follow my heart and build something meaningful.
I didn’t just dream it, I studied it. I took this calling seriously.
My journey as a Black woman entrepreneur has been filled with passion, faith, support from family and friends, training, hard work, and perseverance.
But more than anything, it has been guided by purpose.
Because my mission has never been only to sell tea.
My mission is to create connection, educate people about tea and its wellness benefits, and invite others to experience the simple pleasure of slowing down, one cup at a time.
This is bigger than a beverage
Tea helped me slow down.
Tea helped me remember where I come from.
Tea helped me heal.
And tea gave me a way to serve others through comfort, ritual, and community.
I’m honored to share the story of how I transformed my father’s love of tea into a thriving tea business, one that serves delectable brews and carries forward a treasured family tradition.
Because when you know your “why,” you don’t just build a business.
You build a legacy.
Happy Black History Month.
With gratitude,
Leslie
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