Enterprise
lady stages green tea demo
The Observer
Donšt believe what they tell you. You really can have your
tea, and eat it, too. An Enterprise woman has taken that
premise and run with it, creating a business around healthy
and versatile green tea.
Kiyomi Oliver, wife of Wallowa County Planner Bill Oliver,
is importing powdered green tea from her native Japan and
packaging it with a booklet that shows how to use the product
in foods ranging from nuts to prime rib. It all started
three years ago, when Bill Oliver was diagnosed with cancer.
Knowing that green tea is high in antioxidants, Kiyomi decided
to look into its value as a naturopathic adjunct.
Her research told her tea from ground leaves contains far
more health benefits than mass market tea that is steeped
in bags.
She began ordering an organic, powdered tea from Edible
Green, a supplier in Japanšs Miyazaki Province. She made
tea by the cup, and also experimented with green tea food
recipes.
Family including Bill, who continues his recovery and friends
liked what she made so well they encouraged her to go into
business.
She assembled her booklet, including a wealth of green tea
facts along with recipes. She formed Sei Mee Tea, a limited
liability corporation.
Myron Kirkpatrick of Wallowa County Business Facilitation
worked with her on a business plan and market research.
She now sells packets of Sei Mee Tea and a "starter kit"
that includes a packet and a book, at local outlets. Those
carrying the product in Wallowa County include the Common
Good in Enterprise, Lupine Annie's in Lostine and To Zion
and Anton's Home and Hearth in in Joseph.
Oliver is staging a green tea demonstration at Naturešs
Pantry in La Grande, 10 a.m. Thursday, March 3. Reach her
at (541) 426-4014. |
