A changing of the doily at Point Loma Tea in Liberty Station has a former customer replacing the owner who started the business.
Sherryann Stevenson, a native of Grenada in the Caribbean and retired military, recently took over for previous owner Cheryl Graf, who has sold the business and retired to Arizona. Over the years the pair found they shared the same passion.
“My family always had tea in our house and we drank it on a daily basis,” said Graf, noting she worked in tea, in various capacities, for 20 years. Graf set up her own tea shop in Liberty Station in 2012.
“I grew up drinking tea in the morning, afternoons, and evenings, it was a staple,” concurred Stevenson. “It wasn’t uncommon for my mom to say, ‘Hey, go in the backyard and pick some mint leaves, lemongrass and ginger, cut that up, put it in a pot, and brew our tea.’ My love of tea started then as a little girl.”
Graf said the former Naval base was fertile ground for a new business.
“I got in on the ground floor with a small shop in the Arts District and word got out (about her shop) as people were enjoying the Arts District and the food (public) market,” Graf said. “We just continued to grow for the last decade. So I ended my tea career on a high note.”
Tea is an aromatic beverage with a stimulating effect from caffeine, which is brewed from an evergreen shrub native to China and other East Asian countries. After water, it is the most widely consumed drink in the world. There are many different types of tea with vastly different profiles including bitter, sweet, nutty, floral, or grassy notes.
Tea drinking dates back to the third century A.D. and the Chinese Tang dynasty. It subsequently spread to other East Asian countries. Portuguese priests and merchants introduced it to Europe during the 16th century. During the 17th century, drinking tea became fashionable among the English, who started to plant tea on a large scale in India.
Stevenson traveled the world over sampling teas. She then started doing her own tea tastings. “My original business was to sit and sip teas,” she said, adding she was trying to figure out what to do next after 26 years in the Navy.
Stevenson’s years-long friendship with Graf proved fortuitous.
“I told her I was seriously thinking of going into the tea business,” said Stevenson. “And she’s like, ‘I’m thinking about retiring.’ I said, ‘Well my retirement date is in November.’ And she said, ‘I’m thinking of retiring in November also.’ I’m looking for someone to take over my business.”
Graf was ready to hand over the reins of Point Loma Tea “to the right person to carry on their passion for good tea and service. Sherryann was a friend, a customer. And, it was her dream.”
Of Point Loma Tea, Graf said: “It was tough to walk away. I enjoyed it. It wasn’t work. It was a joy to go into the shop every day.”
Point Loma Tea has over 150 selections of teas. Stevenson intends to start having tea tasting workshops to educate the public. She also plans to upgrade the website at pointlomatea.com.
“I’m keeping the basic business model,” Stevenson said adding customers can order online and have products shipped directly to them. “We have our tea bar where you can have hot and cold teas,” she said adding, “We sell brewing mugs, teapots, sets, towels, cups, etc. And, we try to change the shop around according to the season.”
In May, Point Loma Tea will begin hosting small groups. “I’m also working with Liberty Station to see if we can host tea on the lawn,” added Stevenson.
Stevenson intends to carry on the tradition begun by Graf.
“The customers here are very friendly,” she noted. “Whenever they walk in the door they smile. That’s the kind of thing I want to continue, carry on that legacy.”
POINT LOMA TEA
Where: 2770 Historic Decatur Road, Barracks 14, Suite 103
Contact: www.pointlomatea.com, 619-523-2070.
