Entrepreneur Spotlight: Sashee Chandran of Tea Drops
Founded in 2015 by Sashee Chandran, Tea Drops is a woman and minority-owned, innovative tea company with a mission to inspire human connection through tea. Based in Los Angeles, Tea Drops ethically sources all of their organic teas and sheds about 20% less waste than traditional tea bag packaging. Tea Drops has become a favorite among new and experienced tea drinkers alike, launching innovative tea experiences that merge flavorful blends, food art, and edgy design. A favorite of Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States, Tea Drops are also loved by Oprah Magazine, Forbes, and the Tory Burch Foundation.
Interview questions:
What inspired you to start Tea Drops?
Being an avid tea lover, I realized while working in a corporate office that it is really difficult to make loose leaf tea on-the-go. You need an arsenal of equipment including a kettle, the tea leaves, plus a strainer and then you have to wait 3-7 minutes for your tea to brew. I rarely had time for that and thought there had to be an easier way that didn’t sacrifice the integrity of loose leaf tea.
How can tea fit into a wellness routine?
Taking tea is one of the most timeless forms of self-care and wellness - no wonder that second to water it is the most consumed beverage in the world. Tea is known to contain antioxidants to combat typical ailments and enhance your skin, naturally.
When you drink Tea Drops, you are drinking loose leaf tea. Loose leaf tea is better than tea bags -- because there is less processing from picking to steeping. There is no chemical alteration in the production of our organic teas. You'll notice natural tea leaves (sediment) at the bottom of your cup which is meant for consumption, giving you a full dose of nutrients with every cup.
What advice would you give an up and coming entrepreneur?
Very few other things actually matter except persistence.
You're a Tory Burch honoree, how has that changed your business?
Being a Tory Burch Fellow afforded me the opportunity to learn from thought leaders across many business and creative disciplines. The foundation has also helped me forge relationships with other amazing entrepreneurs.
With the $100,000 Tory Burch Fellowship grant, we are able to expand our online
presence (through digital marketing and impactful content) and co-build a community on and offline. I’m so excited about the impact we are making bridging connections and creating magical tea moments with these new resources.
What does success mean to you?
Honestly, I’m still figuring it out. But more and more it means being happy moment to moment, no matter what the conditions are.
What's your power word?
Persist
