Today we’d like to introduce you to Shahrzad Mitchell.
Hi Shahrzad, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Shahrzad Mitchell, and I came to the United States from Iran about 15 years ago. My professional background is in genetics, bioinformatics, healthcare, and data analytics, and for many years, I worked in the corporate world.
But ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always had a passion for tea. In Persian culture, tea—or as we call it, chai—is so much more than just a drink. We blend it with cardamom, rose petals, saffron, dried orange peel, and other herbs and spices. It’s part of our everyday life, our hospitality, and the way we bring people together. I’ve been creating my own tea blends for as long as I can remember.
That passion is what inspired me to start 1001 Nights Tea Company about a year ago.
The name comes from the famous collection of stories, One Thousand and One Nights. The main character is Shahrazad, who, coincidentally, shares my name. She kept telling stories night after night, and I like to think my journey is similar. Just like Shahrazad’s story unfolded one night at a time, my own story is still being written.
My goal was never just to sell tea. I wanted to introduce people to the culture of Persian chai and share the beautiful flavors, spices, and traditions behind every cup.
I rented a licensed commercial kitchen, obtained all the necessary permits, and started selling at farmers’ markets and holiday markets. From there, I grew into local retailers like Harvest Market and Agricole Farm Stop, and today I’ve been accepted into some of Michigan’s most prestigious art fairs and Vintage Market Days events.
For me, this business is about so much more than tea. It’s about sharing my culture, creating meaningful connections, and giving people an experience they can enjoy with every cup. Seeing someone discover Persian chai for the first time and fall in love with it reminds me why I started this journey in the first place.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s part of every entrepreneur’s journey.
One of the biggest challenges was starting something completely different after spending years in the corporate world. There was also a huge learning curve. I had to figure everything out from scratch, from developing my tea blends with various herbs and spices to designing packaging that could withstand Michigan’s cold winters and hot summers. At the same time, I had to learn food regulations, licensing, branding, marketing, and how to sell both online and through retail stores. Every step brought something new to learn.
Another challenge has been introducing Persian chai to people who may not be familiar with it. Many customers think of chai as masala chai with cinnamon and ginger, but in Persian culture, chai simply means tea. Our traditional Persian chai is black tea blended with cardamom, rose petals, and sometimes saffron and dried orange peel. My signature blends include Scent of Persia—a black tea infused with rose, cardamom, saffron, and orange peel; Persian Sunrise—a caffeine-free herbal blend of rose, cardamom, orange, and saffron; Persian Chai—a classic black tea with rose and cardamom; and Orange Cardamom—a robust black tea highlighting the pairing of citrus and spice.
I spend a lot of time sharing the story behind Persian tea, explaining the ingredients, and letting people experience the flavors. Cardamom gives the tea its signature aroma and is traditionally known to support healthy digestion. Saffron adds a delicate floral note and has been treasured for centuries for its antioxidant properties and its ability to help support a positive mood. Dried orange peel brings a bright citrus flavor while adding natural antioxidants and vitamin C.
Honestly, that’s become one of my favorite parts of the business. Once people taste it, they really connect with it. They realize they’re not just drinking tea, they’re experiencing a tradition that’s been part of Persian culture for generations.
Like any small business owner, there have been long days, setbacks, and moments of uncertainty. But every challenge has taught me something. Seeing customers come back, recommend my teas to their friends and family, and tell me how much they enjoy them makes all the hard work worthwhile. Those moments remind me why I started this journey in the first place.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What I do is much more than blending tea. I am sharing a piece of my home and my culture with every cup.
Creating tea is both an art and a science for me. I spend a lot of time choosing the right ingredients and finding the perfect balance of flavors, aromas, and wellness benefits. Every blend goes through many tastings until I feel the ingredients truly complement one another. My goal is to create teas that not only taste wonderful but also make people feel good.
At 1001 Nights Tea Company, I create handcrafted Persian teas, wellness teas, herbal teas, and unique blends using premium loose-leaf black tea, green tea, white tea, and oolong tea. I blend them with organic ingredients like cardamom, rose petals, saffron, dried orange peel, cinnamon, ginger, peppermint, turmeric, apples, raspberries, lemon peel, chamomile, mint, star anise, linden flowers, hibiscus, and many other herbs and spices. Every blend is made in small batches because I want every cup to deliver the same quality and experience.
What I’m most proud of isn’t getting into retailers or being accepted into art fairs, even though those milestones mean a lot to me. What I’m most proud of is watching someone taste one of my teas for the very first time. I love seeing their surprise when they smell the cardamom, star anise, linden flowers, hibiscus, and roses, or discover the delicate flavor of saffron. Then they start asking questions about Persia, our traditions, and why tea is such an important part of our culture.
One moment I’ll never forget was when a customer tried my Apple Raspberry Lemonade herbal tea. After taking the first sip, she smiled and said, “This is what heaven tastes like.” Moments like that remind me why I spend so much time perfecting every blend.
Another memory that means a lot to me happened during the three-day Art in the Park in Plymouth. A customer bought my Bohemian Raspberry blend, made with green tea, raspberry, mint, and chamomile, on the first day. On the last day of the festival, she came back just to buy more. She told me it was the best tea blend she had ever tasted. Hearing things like that is incredibly rewarding.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
First of all, thank you to Voyage for this wonderful opportunity to share my story.
If you’d like to experience our teas, I’d love to connect with you. Whether you’re looking for an authentic Persian chai like Persian Chai, Persian Sunrise, or Scent of Persia; a refreshing fruit tea like Apple Raspberry Lemonade, Pure Jasmine, The Tale of Green Pineapple, or Island of Papaya Peach; or one of our wellness blends such as Memory Potion, Relaxation, Lullaby Spells, or Digestion Ritual, there’s a tea for every mood, every season, and every moment.
You can explore our full collection at www.1001NightsTea.com or follow us on social media at @1001NightsTea. We ship nationwide, and you can also find our teas at Harvest Market in Ann Arbor and Agricole Farm Stop in Chelsea. Be sure to visit our website or follow us on social media to see where we’ll be next at farmers’ markets, art fairs, and other local events.
You can use the code “1001” and get 20% off on your first order. Free shipping over $50 orders.
When you brew one of our teas, take a moment to slow down. Pour yourself a cup, take a sip, and remember:
In Every Sip, A Story Unfolds.
Pricing:
- Apple Raspberry Lemonade $20
- Scent of Persia ( Saffron Rose Cardamom Black Tea) $30
- Organic White Tea and Oolong ($15)
- Memory Potion, Bohemian Raspberry ($12)
- Samplers ($6)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.1001NightsTea.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1001nightstea/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1001nightstea
