Driving Our Economy Forward: Chei-Man Tea
Chattanooga, TN (WDEF-TV) – It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy an ice cold lavender lemonade. What started out as a family recipe has blossomed into a family business.
Erika Steiman, Co-Founder, Chei-Man Tea, “So Chei-Man Tea is a chai latte blend, it’s a mix that we sell. Um we started about 6 years ago. We started selling it as a decaffeinated mix because when I was a kid my mom would make it for all of us. And she wanted a decaf blend so we could just go right to sleep afterwards; not be up all night. Um and from there she would give it away as Christmas gifts, to teachers, and teacher appreciation gifts, stuff like that. And about a week or two later people would come to us and say well where can I get more? Because people just loved it.”
“We started out just in our kitchen, that when we first started. We got this trailer about three or four years ago I believe. We realized that we kind of had a niche for Flower Farms. So, this lavender flower farm was actually the first farm that we did. And then from there, we were we were like what other Flower Farms are around.”
Jared Steiman, “For making our blueberry lavender lemonades, we use uh blueberry purees and lavender syrups for the cold brews. Uh for the iced tea that we do, um… gives it that hint of sweetness and that little freshness that the lavender brings that makes this um, which just a little different than the lemonades you’ll get down at Riverbend or any of the other big lemonade type events that Chattanooga has.”
Erika Steiman, “Now we go to about five or six different Flower Farms throughout the year with this trailer selling drinks to their customers. Then, we’re just enhancing their experience really just offering a service to their customers that are already coming.”
Deborah King, “This is the lavender uh lemonade and it is delicious; perfect amount of lavender and lemonade and blueberry.”
Michael King, “This is the lavender cold brew. And um it tastes good. The coffee taste is uh like I like it okay. It’s kind of like a mid-range. And the um, I like the sweetness.”
Erika Steiman, “We did just recently get a second coffee trailer. But it’s actually a mini truck; a mini K truck, the one’s imported from Japan. Um, and it’s got a full service bar on it. It’s got a espresso machine. Um and it can basically do everything that this truck can do but on a much smaller scale. So if you’re ever in the mood for a blueberry lavender lemonade or lavender ice chai tea, follow us at Chei-Man Tea on Instagram and Facebook. We’re always posting where we’re going to be at. You can come up here to Lookout Lavender farm for the next two weeks. But if you can’t find us here you’ll find us online.”
