Community Highlights: Meet Jennifer Nowicki of Cultivate Taste Tea

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Nowicki. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Jennifer owned and operated a teahouse in Milwaukee for three years before relocating to Northeast Wisconsin. Having visited a plantation in South Carolina, witness the Japanese tea ceremony, saw the Korean women’s ceremony, was one of eight people to represent the USA tea industry in two world tea conferences in China, and having enjoyed a samovar in Russia, her dream is to travel the world visiting plantations in India, China, Taiwan, Japan, etc… She has contacts with small farms in origin countries and gets many of her teas directly from them with a focus on procuring high-quality teas that are organic, fair trade and ethically sourced.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. The Challenge is that my area does not really understand tea. Most people in my area have a tip of the iceberg idea about tea. I do have classes and tea tastings to develop their palate and to become educated, but for them it is just drinking the tea. I tend to get people across the country and the world who get my tea much better. I also felt like I found my people when I represented the US tea industry and at the NW Tea Festival where I had classes at the end of September 2023. I even got a nice letter with the tea festival saying how much people enjoyed my sold-out sessions and want me to be a part of it next year. and actually, wanted to do my Cheese & Tea Pairing two times. So, my area likes to tell me about tea, while most other places either want to learn or know that I already know a lot about tea and that is why they buy it from me, besides my excellent customer service.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Cultivate Taste Tea: Passionate purveyors of handcrafted & single origin loose leaf tea. No flavorings, candy, or sugar – just pure indulgence. Certified tea specialists from Specialty Tea Institute expertly source, blend, & offer international award-winning teas online, in our tea salon, & wholesale. High-grade organic & fair-trade ingredients elevate, not mask, the teas, fostering your palate’s growth & well-being. Eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging reflects our commitment to a healthier planet. Sip, savor, and embrace the art of tea with us. I specialize in oolong teas and have the largest selection in Wisconsin. I also specialize in hard to find and unusual teas like bancha goishicha, kamairicha, rice oolong, among others. I am proud of the customers I attract and people who love my oolong and rare teas.

This is something I am truly passionate about and have a deep knowledge of tea because I have over two decades in the industry, professionally trained, and literally representing the US tea industry in two world tea conferences…

I enjoyed representing the US tea industry and being a part of the NW Tea Festival. I truly try to find the highest quality tea and farms that treat the workers well.

I am part of the Wisconsin Business Sustainable Council, Travel Green Wisconsin, Green Master’s Program program. I guess I want people to know that I value integrity and hope it shows in my teas.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Stick to your principles and your vision of your company. There have been a few times that if I just listened to what others told me about my industry and what I should do with my brand that I would not have it still. I have gotten some really good advice too, but trust your gut, your data, your vision. I did not do that at my tearoom in Milwaukee and I probably had imposter syndrome. I have decades in my industry with many tea friends across the country and world plus my education. I have a feeling if I stuck to my guns on certain parts about my business in Milwaukee I would have it still. I can say I did stick to my guns on how my place should look. It looked fabulous, very solid, and was sustainably done. I loved how my design firm got my vision for my company so well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cultivatetaste.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultivatetastetea/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/culitvatetaste
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifernowicki/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultivateTaste1
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cultivatetastetea/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cultivatetaste