Our Story

A message to our tea drinking friends...

My love affair with tea started in the 70’s when I first became more aware of green tea and its reputed health benefits. My infatuation with tea quickly moved from health interest to pleasure and on to a passionate dedication.

I became a life-long student of tea, and ultimately decided to spend my life working with tea and the global tea community every day. My wife Judy and I created a mission of helping our tea friends around the world by “Improving Lives with Tea…One Sip at a Time”.

We travel the tea gardens of Asia looking for regionally famous, very special micro-climate teas, grown by family farms and small growers using techniques developed over centuries. I’ve selected all of our teas. The variety and quality are exceptional, and are a treat for those that want to experience authentic flavor from unique tea gardens throughout the world.

The Creation of Savvy Tea Gourmet...Our Renowned Teashop

Savvy Tea Gourmet was created by husband & wife team, Phil and Judy Parda in 2008.  Their love affair of tea began decades earlier.  In fact, they first started selling tea via tradeshows, fairs, and markets around the country.  Through this, they learned about what customers want and were excited to be able to show them beautiful teas from around the world.  This led them to their dream of opening a brick-and-mortar store, with an e-store to engage people across the country. 

 

Phil started drinking green tea in his college years.  He heard that green tea was healthy and was tempted to try it.  He was surprised that he enjoyed it and that started his keen interest in tea.  Since his career after college was in manufacturing, he was fortunate to travel to Asia many times a year.  It was here, in tea gardens, markets and stores, with growers and merchants, that he received a grounded education in tea.  Close to 30 years later, his knowledge and burning desire to talk about tea changed his life’s purpose.  This experience brought Phil to the level of expertise that he is renowned for in the tea industry, with his tea students and his customers.

 

 

Judy enjoyed tea with her family growing up and expanded her knowledge of tea after meeting Phil, traveling to tea gardens in China and Japan, and becoming certified by the Specialty Tea Institute in New York City.  Her career of 25 years, before starting their tea business, in marketing, education & training, event & conference planning for Fortune 100 companies was a major building block for their tea company.  Her focus on health & wellness, as well as herbal studies, continues to offer their customers healthier choices. 

 

Phil is the driving force behind educating their customers and the professional tea industry.  As a tea mentor & educator, he brings customers together for tea tastings and teaches professional certification courses to become Tea Sommelier and Tea Master via ITMA.

Through on-line & in-person & tea tastings & classes, their e-commerce site www.DrinkGreatTeaMarketPlace.com , & his blog, you will see Phil is most passionate about tea. 

See Tea Tasting Schedule Here

See Blog Posts Here

 

Teaching people about the health benefits and enjoyment in drinking tea is the very foundation of their business and what differentiates them from many tea shops and online tea businesses.  They are building “the most educated tea community, one sip at a time”. 

 

~ Philip Parda, Tea Advocate, Tea Educator & Student of Tea

 

Bio-Philip Parda...Student of Tea... 

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