Wow, I can't believe it's been a year since the official launch of Bundts & Crumpets Specialty Tea. On this day, one year ago, we held our first official tea tasting at an event held for Bay Area entrepreneurs to showcase our unique goods and services. We had three teas on hand, Creamsicle Black Tea, Lemon Chiffon White Tea, and Island Nights Fruit Tisane to sample and share and the feedback we received was exciting because it was nothing like what people had experienced before or expected to experience with tea.
I started Bundts & Crumpets Specialty Tea off the suggestion of my husband. At the beginning of each year we set a goal for ourselves and last year we discussed the possibility of starting businesses based off of something we enjoyed to do. For me, it was hard to decide what I should do. I am skilled at doing many things and had previously had a baking business that I took a hiatus from due to a tragic event that killed my joy and enthusiasm for life. I had no drive or desire to do anything pertaining to baking, even though I loved to bake and cook. I walked away from a growing business to focus on the doom and gloom of law school and hadn't considered at that time to go back. But one day out of the blue my husband suggested that I should start a tea company since I loved tea so much and had a massive collection of loose-leaf tea that occupied it's own cabinet in our home. I thought GOD had spoken to me at that moment because my husband and I don't always see eye to eye on everything and most of the ideas that I present to him were shot down, lol. Not because they weren't good, but because they were safe and related to ventures I had worked in before but not quite enjoyed. He told me when you talk about tea your whole demeanor changes, your face lights up and Teavanna is getting all of our money! He was right. Tea was a constant in my life, it was my go to drink besides water and I absolutely loved it for more reasons then I knew at that point. Tea was a constant comfort in my life during good times and times of distress and emotion discomfort. I could always count on it to be there for me, to lift me up emotionally, to assure me that everything was going to be all right whether I was up late studying or having an emotional breakdown as I coped with the lost of a loved one. It was my everything! A magic beverage to soothe the soul when needed. The routine of brewing a hot cup of loose-leaf tea was soothing in more ways then I realized at that time and I needed it.
I knew absolutely nothing about the tea industry, so I thought the idea from conception to realization might be challenging but I am always down for a challenge. Looking back on this journey I felt like I was in the right place at the right time and everything just fell into place. I met the right people who have guided me through this process with their wisdom and love for the amber liquor that brews from the delicate leaves we all loved so much. This journey hasn't been easy, especially since I was still in law school during this time, but it's been enjoyable and my enthusiasm hasn't died. In fact, I'm so excited for what's to come I can hardly contain myself or study for the bar for that matter. I enjoy sharing my passion with others and seeing the joy on people's faces as they sip their way through our large selection of teas and tisanes that we offer.
This tea venture has also restored my love for baking. With the start of Bundts & Crumpets I decided I needed to bring my delicious sweet treats back into the mix, so with the launch of Bundts & Crumpets I relaunched my bakery as well. It was time for me to get back to doing the things that made me happy and being in the kitchen, whipping up baked treats was something I feel I was destined to do.
As we gear up for the second chapter in what I hope to be a long journey, I want to say thank you to all of you who have helped make Bundts & Crumpets Specialty Tea's first year a success. I am blessed to be surrounded by a supportive group of family and friends and am thankful for the tea friends that I have made during the year. Sharing a cup of tea has proven beneficial in getting to know people and I hope to share many more. Happy Anniversary Bundts & Crumpets!!!