The idea of mysTEAry was born in the small town of Belleterre, Quebec, fueled by a simple yet powerful realization: a desire for more out of life. As the former Director of Education, I found myself being stirred from within to break down professional barriers and pursue a deep-seated passion for TEA! The journey from the classroom to e-commerce, shared with friends James Ocean, Neal Allan, and Keith Robinson, began with a commitment to a new path.

To pursue this passion seriously, I decided to enroll in the Tea Academy and became a certified Tea Sommelier. The knowledge and confidence gained through this certification, guided by my instructor Tracie, was the first concrete step towards making mysTEAry a reality. Given the prohibitive costs of a physical storefront, I made a strategic decision to launch an e-commerce platform—preferring to invest my own savings rather than taking on loans and interest rates before the journey even began.

The name "mysTEAry" itself is a fusion of my two great loves: tea and books. As an educator and a lover of the classics, the name felt right—a "nerdy" connection I proudly shared with my friend and colleague, Katari Rodgers. It embodies the essence of the brand: a mysterious and comforting blend of literary charm and the sensory appeal of fine teas.

Then came the true "leap of faith." I quit my full-time job in June, investing all my saved money entirely in the venture. With prayers for wisdom and a vision for the future, I connected with an excellent e-commerce platform builder, SALTTECHNO, and their team (Sujay, Deepak, and Karan), allowing the experts to build the online store.

To stock the store with unique, "tea-themed" handmade soaps and candles for the launch and the holiday season, I sought out local talent. I was fortunate to find and contract with Canadian artisans Sandra and Kim, whose shared passion enabled us to seamlessly stock the online store with my creatively complex ideas.