Our History: A Tea Celebration of 25 Years

Meet Our Founder, Veerinder S. Chawla

“I founded The Tao of Tea with the dream of bringing you the purest quality teas from around the world. My focus was to find teas grown with exceptional skill and without pesticides. I quickly learned that tea is a merchant’s craft best done with love for the craft itself. If you want to provide the best teas, it requires learning about the differing tea cultivars and processing methods, spending time at tea farms, and developing relationships with growers. It also requires a discerning sense of the freshest flavors and aromas, and the willingness to select teas based on quality over price. I have spent the last 25 years immersed in this craft as a passionate lover of tea. I hope you will taste the difference in our teas and enjoy.”

Portland’s Oldest Teahouse

The Original Tao of Tea teahouse was built in 1997 in Portland, Oregon, and still operates today. It was our first step as a tea company and took eight months of craftsmanship to build out the interior with black bamboo, old reclaimed wood, copper, and stone. The teahouse includes a rock waterfall, wooden tea chest tables, and bamboo shelves. The teahouse was awarded “best interior” among 600 restaurants in the Pacific Northwest in 2000 by Zagat restaurant guide. It is consistently rated among “Best Teahouses” in Portland and offers one of the largest varieties of teas in the country.

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