Local tea company is steeped in tradition

Sometimes you can rack your brain trying to come up with a name for your business. And really, names are easy, compared to the careful branding exercise that must follow. And then there are times when it all falls into place, like it was meant to be. The Clearview Tea Company, which will celebrate its first anniversary in April, is an example of the latter.

A tea drinker all her life, Rebecca Brown was laid up with a hip injury three years ago when she got to thinking – over a cup of tea, of course – what she might like to do with the rest of her life. Her daughter Maggie was about to finish high school, she and her husband Glenn were contemplating a move back to the country after a few years in Toronto, and it seemed like the right time to try something different.

Inspired by her longtime passion, she enrolled in the Tea Sommelier program at George Brown College, and soon after that she made a day trip to Creemore with Glenn and Maggie and they all fell in love. They bought an old house on Mill Street, and by the time they moved in Rebecca had decided to start her own tea company.

Recognizing similarities between her new home and the age-old ritual of drinking tea – “In a busy world, it’s an intentional thing to do… to boil the kettle, to have a cup of tea and to just pause. And coming to Creemore feels like that too – it’s got a bit of yesteryear to it, a bit of the old world,” she says – she originally contemplated calling her venture the Creemore Tea Company. But since there was already a Creemore Coffee Company, she cast her sights to the wider municipality.

“I think it’s perfect,” she said of the name that she chose. “When you sit down and have a cup of tea, you have time to think about your life – and if you’re lucky, or if the tea is really good, you might see things clearly for a few moments.”

So Clearview Tea Company it is, and the logo on the Victorian-looking labels she chose – another throwback to an older time – also fell into her lap. “When we bought this house, they gave us an antique key,” she said. Hence the logo – two keys crossed, a vintage image that also hints at the insights that your few moments of contemplation might unlock.

Rebecca incorporated the company in April 2012, after several conversations with Sarah Hallett of the Creemore Farmers’ Market. Hallett helped her through much of the branding, and encouraged her to set up shop on Saturday mornings at Station on the Green.

Maggie and Rebecca Brown of the Clearview Tea Company.

That’s where most people have got to know the product, at a booth manned by Rebecca and Maggie (who decided to take a year off between high school and university, and has thrown herself right into the company’s operations). Displayed in little “smell jars,” the large and eclectic display of teas has enchanted many a market-goer.

There’s the basic Creemore Market Blend, a Sri Lankan variation on Earl Grey that’s won many fans. There’s the Mad River Black Currant, a black tea from Ceylon mixed with black currant leaves that’s great with milk. There are three different green teas, one from Japan, one from China and one with Siberian ginseng mixed in for good measure. There are white teas, including the fantastic Purity White, which has flavours of vanilla and pomegranate. There’s the Lapsang Souchong, a tea that’s dried over pine fires in China and boasts an intense smoky fragrance and flavour. There’s Oolong and Pu-erh and Chai, and non-caffeinated Rooibos.

In all, there are more than 40 varieties, and Rebecca and Maggie can tell you the history of each one. “We’ve had a blast,” said Maggie of the past nine months. When the market’s not on, Clearview Tea can be purchased at the 100 Mile Store and the Bank Café, as well as a couple of small shops in Collingwood and Barrie. There’s also a great website, www.clearviewtea.ca, with a full online shop.

But more than anything, Rebecca and Maggie are looking forward to getting back to the market, where they can talk one-on-one with customers about their tea. “The best thing about starting this company is that we’ve managed to introduce ourselves to this community,” said Rebecca. “We’ve met so many great people, and we’re thrilled to be a part of Creemore.”