Happy Valley Tea-Our Story
Welcome Friend,
I'm Zack, the founder of Happy Valley Tea, inspired by my favorite cocktails; providing you healthy drinks, moments of joy, and connections in every cup.
Growing up in a small Midwest town, I was captivated by stories of adventures beyond my map dot town! In 2016, after graduating from college, I seized the opportunity to explore the USA for three weeks before embarking on my career. During this adventure, I forged a lasting friendship with a remarkable man who became a mentor, my Gandalf, or an Obi-Wan Kenobi in my life.
He shared a story of when he was a young man in the army on a special assignment in Berlin and a Britt introduced him to this special drink and to add cream and sugar. I was so captivated by the story, looking for something to be my thing, I knew this would be it. I took a sip of the Smokey flavor, the smoke and bitter was balanced out by the cream and sugar. In this moment I knew this would be my thing, like Bond with a martini, and Indiana Jones with his iconic hat, Sherlock with his Pipe, mine would be this Lapsang Tea with cream and sugar. Over the next 10 years I would travel and try different teas but Lapsang has always been my thing.
Until then, I had never been a tea enthusiast, as I found it often bitter and uninspiring. However, loose leaf tea opened my palate to a universe of delightful flavors. As I continued my travels, I eagerly sampled various tea blends, each one expanding my appreciation for this wonderful beverage for the variety and diversity tea brings.
Fast forward to 2022, during a visit to Alaska for a friend's 30th birthday celebration, I encountered a tea that didn't require sweeteners and was simply wonderful. It was during this season that my best friend introduced me to Lemon Drops and cocktails, finally leading me to discover an alcoholic drink I genuinely enjoyed. After a year of indulgence, I began to notice some weight gain and became more health-conscious about the toxins I was consuming. I decided it was time to cut back on alcohol, and soda while still enjoying the pleasure of drinks, socially, and privately.
On January 17th, 2023, as I sipped tea while gazing out my window looking over the Happy Valley from my office, I had a zen moment, a light bulb idea. What if there were tea flavors inspired by cocktails? What if I could create a beverage that captured the essence of the drinks I had fallen in love with while incorporating the health benefits of tea? This idea took root within me, and I knew it was a calling I had to pursue.
I embarked on my next adventure to craft these unique tea blends, partnering with a skilled tea artisan. Together, we meticulously sourced the finest ingredients and collaborated with an FDA/Agricultural tea manufacturer to bring my vision to life.
If you've read this far, I invite you to join me on this adventure, drink less Garbage and drink more TEA!
Try my Craft Tea's inspired by Cocktails.
Cheers,
Zack B.
