White Heron TEA began on paper in 2004 as a head full of ideas mulled over a pot full of tea. I have been a tea drinker since as early as my parents would let me dip a teabag of Celestial Seasonings into a cup of hot water (Sleepytime is my best guess).
At the age of 18, I was stationed in the US Coast Guard in Hokkaido, Japan. Although not a lot of tea was consumed aboard the Coast Guard station, I ventured out into the Japanese countryside as often as possible.
In many cases, I was on my own and I learned just enough Japanese to get by. On numerous occasions, I found myself invited for tea, which in most cases was served without ceremony. Even the simplest Sencha teabag was yards ahead of what was available in the US more often than not.
A couple years after returning to America, I moved to Seattle, where I became an almost everyday customer of Teahouse Kuan Yin. TKY was my very favorite neighborhood hangout, tucked neatly in between a travel bookstore and a half dozen other local favorites.
I spent hours sipping and reading. Almost ten years later, I moved to Portland, OR, where I discovered the Tao of Tea. I LOVED “the Tao”……the otherworldly atmosphere, the staff, the teas, drinking from a gaiwan. A few years later, I stepped into a position of cook at the Tao of Tea of Belmont (original shop), and fell in love with the world of tea from the inside.
The Tao kitchen had its share of challenges, but I enjoyed working with a worldy staff and cooking up Aloo Paratha and steamed dumplings. I later transferred into the “Leaf Room“, which I took great pride in. Schooled largely by my musician friend Jonathan Sielaff, I learned to taste, experiment, to make tea properly and most of all to enjoy tea. On more than one occasion, passersby after hours looked curiously into the Leaf Room…….lights dimmed, to see Jonathan S. playing bass clarinet while I played arco double bass quietly after our work shift.
At some point in 2004, despite my love of Portland, OR, I began to miss my New England family dearly.
In June, 2005, I left the Tao of Tea, sold off my belongings and small house and drove back home over the course of five hot days in a Volvo station wagon. A month later, I registered for a business license.
Within 6 months I completed my first tea import, established a rudimentary tea packing room and office, filed for organic certification and Fair Trade licensing. White Heron TEA had arrived (or at least begun).
Five years later, we offer 70 Organic & Fair Trade teas, a line of chai concentrate, have a small teashop, and a ton of farmer’s market friends. In June of 2009, I married Joelle Guerard, who I met at the Portsmouth, NH Farmer’s Market. Joelle and I have had a blast working together and I am proud to call White Heron TEA as family business!
Thanks for your continued support 
Jonathan & Joelle Blakeslee
