Business steeped in love for tea

From direct sales and in-home parties, to a new brick-and-mortar location in Hillyard, Sherri Davey has found a way to provide income for her family while indulging her love for tea and her passion for baking.

She opened Heavenly Special Teas Shop, Cafe and Tea Room on Dec. 1.

Located on Market Street in the heart of Hillyard, the business features both a casual cafe and a formal tea room.

“Tea is a catalyst to make people slow down and relax while enjoying company and sipping a cup,” Davey said.

Ten years ago, she was an at-home mom of four, looking to supplement her husband’s income. She signed up to be a direct sales consultant with a company that sold loose leaf teas. Davey booked 10 parties, only to find the company went out of business.

“My husband said, ‘If they can do it, why can’t you?’ ” she recalled.

So, she contacted the company.

“They were so gracious,” she said. “I bought some of their inventory, and they just gave me their spreadsheets and contacts, and Heavenly Special Teas was born.”

Soon, she’d signed up over 100 consultants.

“The goal of our in-home parties was to teach people about loose leaf tea, how to brew it and the health benefits of tea,” Davey said. “We developed a large local customer base over the years selling the best selection of high quality teas in the area.”

When her husband suffered health problems and could no longer run his maintenance business, Heavenly Special Teas became the family’s sole income and Davey began looking for a storefront.

Her search was complicated because she wanted two distinct areas – a place for casual dining and a place for fancy parties.

“The fastest growing demographic for tea drinkers are college-age boys and they wouldn’t feel comfortable in a formal tea room,” she said. “The minute I walked through this front door, I knew this was exactly what I’d dreamed of. It was perfect down to the chandeliers in the tea room.”

Well, the original mustard yellow walls and red ceiling in the cafe had to go, but other than that the building that had housed dining establishments for more than 70 years was just what Davey was looking for.

Lace covered tables set with Depression glass plates and floral-patterned cups and saucers dominate the decidedly feminine tea room, and glittering chandeliers add an air of bygone elegance.

The tea cups come from Davey’s own collection.

“These are the ones that wouldn’t break my heart if they got broken, because they do get broken.”

The casual cafe features black bar stools and gray benches left by the previous eatery.

“I am so pink! My house is pink roses,” Davey said, laughing. “My daughter said, ‘Mom, leave it in the tea room.’ ”

The business is a family affair. Davey’s mom helps with the baking – pies are her specialty.

“Her sour cream lemon pie barely stays on the shelves,” Davey said.

Her aunt handles administrative duties and her daughter waits tables.

The tea room and cafe feature two separate menus. The cafe serves breakfast all day and also offers lunch.

“The cafe and bakery is a dream come true. Every recipe is my own creation. I love to bake and now I have an outlet to feed more people.”

Davey developed her own line of scone mixes which she sells in the small shop in the cafe.

“You just add whipping cream and water,” she explained. “I have 17 or 18 flavors. I love experimenting.”

She also created her own shortbread recipe. She said the rich, buttery Sea Salt Caramel shortbread is their biggest seller.

Of course, tea is a focal point. Customers can sip a cup and then buy a package to brew at home.

“We have three teas that we blend ourselves: Monkey Business, a coconut cream, banana blend; Scottish Breakfast, an organic black tea; and Tranquility, an herbal blend.”

The tea room seats up to 43. Reservations are preferred and recommended for High Tea or Dessert Tea, and the space can be booked for private parties like birthdays or bridal showers.

High Tea includes savory sandwiches, mini scones, several desserts and fruit, while Dessert Tea features scones and a sweet. Both come with endless pots of tea.

Davey also hosts special events in the tea room. She said the mother/daughter tea party sold out in February and the recent Mystery High Tea proved popular. A Bunco High Tea and Fashion Show Tea are already scheduled.

She feels her business has found a perfect niche in Hillyard.

“They’ve really worked hard to reshape this community,” she said. “Hillyard is an awesome place to come and shop.”

Already, regulars claim spots at the counter to savor from-scratch sourdough pancakes, and employees of nearby businesses stop in to grab a quick lunch.

Davey is in her element.

“I love serving people,” she said. “I always say do the best you can with what you’ve got and God will take care of the rest – and that’s just what’s been happening here. I believe this whole thing is a complete miracle.”