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June 2008 Stories

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It Takes Tea to Tango

By Karen McCullough

Owner Amy Lee began Annapolis Tea Company, also known as ATeaCo, as an Internet-based company in January 2007. By September, she was serving tea in a kiosk at the Kirtland Air Force Base Exchange, while waiting for the finishing touches to be completed on her current location in the Albuquerque Heights.

Lee felt that the transition from Internet to store was an easy one. “It is much easier to sell tea face-to-face and let the customers experience the aromas and taste in person.”

Tea is second only to water as the world’s most popular beverage. In a busy world, whether we are looking for a way to wind up or wind down, we all enjoy relaxing with a beverage in hand. ATeaCo, in the Scottsdale Village Shopping Center near the intersection of Eubank and Candelaria, offers just this kind of atmosphere and relaxation.

The evolution of the business came about through Amy’s love of coffee. A self- proclaimed coffee lover—“I drank it three times a day for 20 years”—Lee found she couldn’t drive by a coffee store without stopping for a cup. But health concerns and a visit to the doctor made her aware that too much caffeine might be contributing to the migraines she was experiencing.

“The caffeine in coffee is different than the caffeine in tea. With coffee, you find yourself crashing after a period of time and needing more coffee. With tea, the caffeine acts as a stimulant but doesn’t cause the heavy crashes and jitters you experience with coffee. You are alert but calm.”

Lee lived in Japan between 1997 and 2000. During this time, she learned to love tea and appreciate the benefits of tea drinking. The Japanese tea ceremony captures all the elements of Japanese philosophy and artistic beauty, bringing harmony and tranquility to the participants. Lee returned to the states with a supply of tea that all too soon ran out. She began researching tea and where she could replenish her supply. From a long-time dream of someday owning her own café, she hit on the idea of owning her own teahouse. The coffee trend was stagnating, and the call for tea was being heard by others, including Lee.

To start her business, Lee spent many hours researching tea. She attended hours of class lectures that provided information on the benefits of tea and tea tasting offered by the Tea Council of the USA, Inc. She earned her certifica-tion as a level three tea specialist from the Tea Council. She then sought the advise of the Small Business Administra-tion (SBA) and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce (GACC). Her advice to anyone starting his or her own business is, “Do your research. Know your product. Be passion-ate about it.” Lee spent two years doing research before launching ATeaCo and several years of saving money before she was ready to take the plunge from Internet to kiosk to full-fledged shop.

Her current location, which opened in December 2007, stretched Lee’s budget, but she wanted to find a space that would provide a meeting room for patrons who wanted to gather as a group, as well as individual dining tables for those who wanted to relax and drink their tea while visiting with friends :or browsing the Internet. Lee’s offerings are not limited to tea; you can also order lunch and pastries. Her teas are of the finest quality from all over the world. Her menu is comprised of tasty but simple, healthy choices. She will soon be offering gluten-free selections and on June 16 will introduce a breakfast menu. Almost all of her food items are made in-house, including the dessert offerings. Chef Jon-Erik Golob, a recent arrival from Portland, Oregon, oversees kitchen activities.

Lee’s passion for the benefits of tea is obvious in her conversa-tion. When asked if she thought teahouses would replace coffee shops, she replied, “I hope so. Coffee isn’t good for you. Tea has so many health benefits. Parents even bring their kids in to pick out tea because certain properties can help with ADHD. Now when I drink coffee, I don’t feel good. I crash with coffee because it is an addiction. With tea, you can drink it five or six times a day and never crash. It is full of antioxidants, iron and vitamins.”

The motto at ATeaCo is that tea is for everyone, and anytime is teatime. Tea is the passion at ATeaCo. And it is the passion and happiness of its owner, Amy Lee. One she wants to share with everyone she meets.