Steve Schwartz’s journey to tea began after his mother passed away from cancer when he was 19 years old. He became fascinated with Eastern and preventative medicine as an alternative to the Western medicine that failed to save her, and while he was on this path of self-discovery, in 1996 Schwartz enrolled in the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico—an experience that transformed his life.

He traveled around the world to meet with farmers in Asia, India, Africa, and the Middle East to broaden his knowledge of tea, and learn how climate and terroir impacts its expression and flavor. In 2004, Schwartz founded Art of Tea—an award-winning tea importer and wholesaler that hand blends and custom crafts the finest organic teas and botanicals.

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“While I didn't initially plan to start a tea company, after moving back to Los Angeles, I began experimenting with blending different teas and botanicals in my living room,” says Schwartz. “The next thing I knew I was driving around the city making custom blends for local chefs and restaurants and it spiraled from there. Needless to say, I quickly outgrew the living room and we've been fortunate to grow to a team of 25, now hand-blending our teas in our facility in Monterey Park.”

Art of Tea’s extensive collection of tea ranges from loose leaf tea and teabag sachets to caffeine-free and matcha. It also retails teaware, accessories, and various gift items, in addition to offering a Tea Club to satisfy casual tea drinkers and tea fanatics alike, and a Tea Academy that educates people about the history of tea, how-tos, and more.

We chatted with master tea blender and founder Schwartz, who shared the inspiration behind the company, his favorite tea, and more.

When was Art of Tea founded and what’s the meaning behind the name?

Art of Tea was founded in 2004 in Los Angeles. Art of Tea is inspired by the beauty behind tea—not just its appearance, but its ability to impact the person consuming it.

Tell us about your line of teas and what makes them special.

Even though Art of Tea has grown a great deal since the days when I was hand blending tea in my living room in LA, our core values and commitment to quality is still foundational. We still hand blend and custom craft our organic teas and botanicals to order in our facility outside of Downtown LA. Our teas are carefully selected directly from growers, each one offering a unique story. In addition to our teas, we offer teaware, journals, tumblers, and other items that we hope will enhance our fans' tea-drinking experience and ritual.

What’s your most popular product?

Our matcha products, including our Matchasticks, continue to have a dedicated following. Our Matchasticks have been so popular that we debuted that specific Ceremonial Grade Matcha in a tin this past January. Other popular teas include our Earl Grey Creme, Rose Black, and blends from our Wellness Line, which were crafted based on Ayurvedic principles to support one's health.

What’s your favorite?

One of my favorite teas is our Happy Tea, which is part of our Wellness Line. We crafted this tea to inspire a feeling of euphoria through a blend of guayusa and green tea, among other herbs and botanicals. No matter how I'm feeling, whenever I brew a cup, it instantly transforms my mood...I can't help smiling.

Where are your products sold?

While you can find Art of Tea at hotels, restaurants, cafes, and spas both here in LA and beyond, you'll find our comprehensive product portfolio online at artoftea.com and on our app.

What's next for the brand?

This past year, we really focused on how we could best reach our fans, tea drinkers, and new audiences craving connection and comfort. We launched a new website, a Tea Academy, an app, and new products such as our Wellness Bundles, Earl Grey Creme Candle, and Matcha Fresca Tea that we hoped would resonate during this period of uncertainty and stress.

As we look ahead to the next year, we aspire to continue our mission of creating a positive impact through tea, debuting new blends and offerings that we hope inspire our fans to carve out time for themselves. Our next launches include a Chaga Chai Mushroom Tea and a Hojicha Powder.

For more information, visit artoftea.com and follow on Instagram: @artofteala

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk