The Big Idea... Tea!?

The other day I wrote about starting this blog because I'm also trying to start a business, a spice business no less. Yes, I am a future purveyor of spices, one of the most historic and world-changing commodities on the face of the earth. Truly, not many people realize just how the quest for some savory spices changed the course of human history. Remember back to your elementary school days, when your teacher told you about Columbus' search for China and India.. are you starting to go back to 5^th grade yet? Skip the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria (although good for you for remembering that much, which is more than I can say for some people I've met), do you remember why Columbus set out from Spain for his journey across the Ocean Sea? Yes, it was so Spain could expand it's empire, and so the West could find a faster route to the East, but do you remember why?

Spices!!!!!! Well, spices and gold, jewels, coal, silk, and other valuable items that one could bring back to the Spanish king and queen. No doubt about it, spices have shaped world history, and now I'm trying shape the history of spices. I recently came across some inspiration from a woman with a similar business idea on an old YouTube video posted here.

Has anyone ever seen "The Big Idea" on CNBC? It's a great show if you haven't seen it, very inspiring. Host Donny Deutsch interviews three or four entreprenuers each episode about how they started their own businesses. One of the most interesting millionaires interviewed, in my opinion anyway, made her bucks in the tea business.

Tracy Stern of Salon Tea has done to tea what I hope to do for spices: given an old, historic, and undervalued commodity a new and modern facelift. Tracy has established a tea empire that spans the globe, with exciting tea salons in New York, London, Paris, Tokyo and Dubai (there are actually 11 stores worldwide, check out her website to see which salon is closest to you).

Check Tracy out on "The Big Idea", here!

{images via SalonTea}