Tealeaves Tea Tasting Bar

Specialties

Tea Leaves is Canada’s leading purveyor of fine loose-​leaf teas, and the creation of KAREN HARTWICK, Canada’s tea sommelier.

TEA LEAVES is three things:

* a local tea tasting bar

and boutique

* an online community and

internet tea boutique

* a tea sommelier

consulting service

History

Established in 2003.

Karen created Tea Leaves to make fine teas accessible by sourcing and sharing the finest loose-​leaf teas from around the world. This led to the launch of TEA LEAVES TEA TASTING BAR in April, 2002, in Stratford, Ontario, the internationally renowned home of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and Mecca for lovers of theatre, fine food and shopping. The tea tasting bar offers a hundred teas and tea experiences for up to 12 people at a time, as well as a range of handpicked specialty items like cups, pots, trays and more.

Meet the Business Owner

Karen H.

Business Owner

Karen has studied with many of the world’s top experts on tea. She is well versed on the processing, preparation and the health benefits of tea. Her most recent studies included training in the Chinese tea ceremony. She is an active member and has top certification with the Specialty Tea Institute in New York. Education is an ongoing activity for Karen. She also frequently conducts lectures, tea tastings and is a published writer and tea consultant. Her business has expanded to include blending and tea programs for restaurants, bed and breakfasts and spa/​yoga studios.

Karen’s mission is to revolutionize the contemporary tea experience. By drawing on the tea traditions and rituals of the original tea-​producing countries and combining that with the needs and wants of today’s consumer, Karen is teaching, practising and living The New Tea Tradition.