It’s a whole new cup of tea

Behold the wonder of a cup of tea and a warm chocolate chip scone.

Worn out after a day at Maude Trevvett Elementary School, a group of teachers dragged into colleague Linda Gobbi’s Henrico County home one recent Wednesday afternoon.

Within half an hour, the dozen or so women were tension-free and smiling.

“When you sit around a cup of tea, it’s all about relaxation,” said Beth Mennelle, vice president of sales and consultant care for Simple Graces.

Simple Graces sells specialty teas, tea accessories and tea-based personal care products in home shows, similar to a Pampered Chef or Tupperware party.

Fredericksburg entrepreneur Roger Booker and his wife, Lynn, founded the company in 2005.

The health benefits of tea are numerous and so, too, Booker hopes, will be the profits.

Entrepreneur magazine’s 2006 list of trend forecasts listed tea as an industry on track to reach $10 billion per year by 2010.

But even before that, Booker realized that the niche foods market — with tea in particular — was hot.

“The numbers intrigued me,” he said.

He did some research and was impressed at the potential.

“My wife was having a Pampered Chef party at home, and as I watched this unfold, I knew it was the format to address the rest of America.”

It didn’t hurt that Warren Buffett purchased Pampered Chef in 2002 for $1.5 billion.

In a little more than two years, Simple Graces has expanded into 15 states. It stages more than 500 parties a year.

A party host invites the guests to her home to try the products and hear the presentation by a Simple Graces representative. The hostess receives credits for merchandise based on the amount sold to guests.

Part of Mennelle’s job is to attend some of these parties, overseeing the tea rituals, educating guests and taking care of their merchandise orders. She passes out glossy catalogs and sets up displays of Simple Graces’ wares.

“Guests sit down at the dining room table. We have a pot of tea already made. I’ll pop some scones in the oven,” she explained.

Since many of the guests are friends, these tend to be relaxed affairs.

White gloves and party-perfect manners are not required.

“We’re losing the formality and keeping the air of friendship of a traditional tea party,” Mennelle said.

Mennelle, who lives in New Hampshire, enjoys explaining the health benefits of tea as well as selling teapots, loose tea, strainers and home accessories. She is a connoisseur of all things tea.

She explained the harvesting and processing of tea, brewing techniques and the benefits of drinking tea.

“Tea is very, very good for you,” she said.

For example, drinking 2 cups of green tea per day, she says, burns 78 calories. In addition, she said, it is loaded with fluoride. “I like to give it to my kids,” she said.

In addition to selling blacks, greens, whites and herbals, Simple Graces offers stress blockers, cold chasers, digestive helpers, and good night and refreshment teas.

Dessert tea flavors include caramel crème br?lée, cherry cheesecake and white chocolate mousse.

At Gobbi’s party, Mennelle brewed a variety of teas for guests to sample, instructing them in proper technique as she went along. The scent of a second batch of scones wafted from the kitchen.

“Tearooms are popping up all over the country,” she said. “This is an opportunity for people to make their home into a tearoom.”

his article was taken from: Rich.com