09/15/2025
Congratulations to this week’s Member Monday Spotlight, TĂesha Venzen, Owner of The Tea House of Wellness! 🎉 .tthow Read all about TĂesha in our interview below.
Q: What is your name, business name and position in this business? (i.e. Founder, Owner, Associate)
A: I am TĂesha Venzen. Respectfully, this is pronounced TIE-EE-SHA VEN-ZEN. My business, which I am the sole owner of, is called The Tea House Of Wellness and can be referred to as “The Tea House”.
Q: How did you get started in your business?
A: I was a business owner years ago, but spent most of my career working for various agencies as a contract worker. In 2021, I became more aware that I wanted to be an entrepreneur again. However, I did not know what type of business I wanted to pursue. In February 2024, I received an advertisement about the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority (RRHA) of Virginia having a session for business owners. This session aimed to increase minority business contracting opportunities. Speakers from various agencies that attended explained their roles in aiding small businesses, to include, the Metropolitan Business League, VA Office of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, and Office of Minority Business Development, to name a few.
I inclined my ears to the priceless information and advice given to business owners on how business owners could properly prepare applications for grants for their business, how business owners can find workers for their business, how business owners could market their business, and so much more. The information presented at this session allowed me to realize that if I had my own business I would have needed support. I did not realize that I was concerned about support for running a business, until becoming aware that support is available through agencies who exist to help small businesses with their needs. Knowing that I could have support was the deal maker.
In addition to knowing operating aspects of my business would have coverage there's also the memory of enjoying preparing healthy foods and teas for my nephew and niece, who had more food allergies or food sensitivities than I do. After attending the RRHA session in Richmond, the vision for this business became more unambiguous, more concrete and more obtainable. I realized I can do what I love and enjoy - prepare and serve teas and low-processed, organic, paleo, plant-based, free-from foods.
Q: What products/services do you offer?
The Tea House pivots on the concepts of promoting wellness through tea consumption, exploring all likeness of tea, and engaging in a lifestyle of tea and etiquette. It promotes all things 'Tea'. Presently certified, international, loose leaf Teas are offered from five areas throughout the world; Low-processed, organic, paleo, plant-based, free-from foods that can be consumed at any time; and then there are complimentary etiquette trainings by the Tea Sommelier. These training sessions are offered because "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:". This is a scripture from Proverbs 23:7a. It indicates that thoughts held in their hearts, shape our character and ultimately our actions. There are many troubles in the world today due to unfavorable actions by individuals with unkind intentions. We can make better actions through training and having more beneficial moments of peace and even silence. Tea does this, and so much more for our thinking. As a man thinketh, so is his tea etiquette.
The services presently being offered are direct sales to individuals or catering for small-groups of up to 12 persons.
Q: What's one thing you’ve learned while being an entrepreneur/business owner?
A:The saying "choose the job you love and you will not work a day in your life", is projected through this business. I have learnt that I love tea and all things Tea, even more than I previously apprehended.
I attended the Colombo International Tea Convention in 2024, themed "Tea, A Lifestyle & A Livelihood", in Sri Lanka. Learning more about tea from farm to table, the climates effects on the development of tea, and being intimately present on the farm, observing tea leaves being harvested by workers has elevated my tea thinking. I can no longer see tea only from a bird's-eye view. I now stand in its journey from the farm to our tables to warm the gut. I care about the wellness of others and offering wellness tea is a powerful, yet simple means of expressing this.
Q: What is one fun fact about your business?
A:Fun-fact. Friends and family call me "T" using the first letter of my first name. My love for Tea appears to be perpetually entwined with my name.
Q: How can we find you and/or your business on social media? i.e Facebook, Instagram handles, twitter, etc?
A:You can find The Tea House Of Wellness at:
Web URL: https://www.theteahouseofwellness.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Tea-House-of-Wellness-61571442166650
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theteahouseofwellness.tthow
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/
