Teri Gelber runs her tea business, T Project Teas, in synchronicity with the Japanese philosophy of “Sampo Yoshi,” roughly meaning “good for seller, good for buyer, good for community.” This three-way satisfaction business model is setting Gelber and T Project Teas apart in the coffee-dominate Northwest. The restaurant-vet and former cookbook author is establishing relationships and building connections with some of the area’s biggest sustainable food movers and shakers—you’ll see her teas at the sonorously successful restaurants of chef/restauranteur Matt Dillon in Seattle and at the delectable Little T Baker locations in Portland to name a few. With eye-catching, locally-made, low-impact packaging, carefully sourced organic teas, spices, herbs and flowers for the blends and named for Gelber’s son, Theo, T Project Teas is keeping its footprint small and its Northwest impression large. Top seller Cherry Oh Baby is a ripe example—using artwork from Portland-inspired artist Anya Spielman and producing only 150 in this limited edition artist canister, this organic tea pulls the expected rich and nutty characteristics from the Mao Feng green tealeaves while a tangy, brightness lifts the aromas in the mug.
