Tucked down on NW 16th & Thurman, in the lower part of Portland's quiet, tree lined Northwest neighborhood stands a beautifully rustic old blacksmith building with a simple elegant sign hanging off the sign that reads: Steven Smith Teamakers. As you walk in the door you float comfortably into the warm sensual smell of teas lingering together. Natural light flows in the old large windows above the seating area, and a friendly knowledgeable face greets you at the counter. You can't help but be drawn in by the charm of the exposed brick or the large fishbowlesque window that allows you to peek into something magical.
I sat down with Amy and Tony, two of the eight person team that runs Smith Teamakers first hand, over a single pitcher of their speciality iced black tea and over an hour later was overflowing with awe at the amount of knowledge I had just consumed about the tea world.
Steven, teamaker and artisan, started his tea story as the co founder of Stash Tea Company, then later as the “master tea shaman” at TAZO and as the story goes “is one of the humblest leading figures in the global tea scene.”His entrepreneurial spirit led to the birth of Steven Smith Teamakers where simple beautiful ingredients are hand crafted into outstanding products.
All their teas are hand plucked from China, Sri Lanka, and India, while their botanicals come from different places all over the world, including here in Oregon. Everything is purchased in small quantities to maintain the freshness and integrity of the product -- thanks to Steve's ability to network and maintain friendships and professional relationships with the providers.
That mutual respect flows like water out of a tea pot into the craftsmanship of each tea filled sachet that is processed by their FOOSO at 30-40 bags per minute – as to not crush the leaves – and then hand checked and packaged into their gorgeous boxes.
33 blends, varietals, and single origins are available for purchase while 12 are available in cartons. They also sell delicious iced teas and fruit teas (teas that have been hand blended with fruit infused water).
For more information on Steven Smith Teas visit their awesome website SMITHTEA.COM where you can learn more about where you can purchase their teas and even enter the batch number (found on the bottom side of your tea carton) to see where your tea is from, who boxed it, and what was happening that day!
Papa Haydn is thrilled to not only be serving Steve Smith teas, but also to have such an intellectual and wonderful business partner based here in Portland, OR. Thanks for such an awesome visit, tea makers. We can't wait to see you in our neck of the woods soon!
