Keria Teas

Keria Teas

Written by Mandy Hobby Wednesday, 07 March 2007

Downtown shop cultivates local taste for tea

As a one-time licensed attorney, Kristen Schneider says she traded her depositions for a tea cup because of her interest in the international tradition’s history and serenity. Now a master tea blender, Kristen opened one of the first tea houses in Central Texas a little more than two years ago in downtown Round Rock.

She, along with her husband, Steven wanted to have an inviting, intimate place for people to come and unwind over a hot cup of specialty tea.

Using their daughter’s name, Kiera, and the Italian word “aria,” Keria Teas translates into “a beautiful woman’s song.”

“A lot of people who come in are just looking for peace,” Kristen said. “That is the real beauty of life, the introspection. Tea has always been used as a connection between people to spend time and reflect on what’s important.”

Being the first tea house in Round Rock, Kristen said people were hesitant at first and did not quite know what to do inside a tea house.

“We didn’t realize how lost people might feel, and we made a real effort to meet people at the door and explain what a tea house is.”

Once inside the tall wooden double doors, classical music echoes from the high ceilings, creating a serene environment for visitors to relax at one of the many tables and enjoy a cup of tea in a delicate porcelain teacup or nibble on a chocolate truffle.

Kristen carries more than 150 loose leaf black, green, white and herbal teas from all over the world and is certified by the Specialty Tea Institute. Keria Teas displays and sells china tea sets from different countries to offer the same true tea experience others countries take pleasure in daily.

“Tea is an old tradition that is sort of forgotten in the U.S.,” Kristen said. “It is an intricate part of the past. It’s not just about drinking it. It’s something you sit down and savor.”

Kristen gives the community an opportunity to savor the experience by hosting Nights of Culture every few months, the next being a Night of India at the end of April. She will import different Indian teas and hire Indian dancers in order to have an authentic Indian tea ceremony.

Along with introduction to tea classes and classes on specific kinds of teas, Kristen will speak about the legalities of owning a tea house in June at the World Tea Expo in Atlanta.

Keria Teas, 204 E. Main St., Round Rock, TX 78664, 512-255-3742 • keriateas.com