Inspired by the suffragettes of the early 20th century and Sonoma County’s wine industry, UppercaseTea takes pride in being Sonoma’s artisan tea maker while continuing the tradition of bringing women together over tea to affect positive change.
Founder Alison Kilmer’s background as the co-owner of abranding agency put her in touch with entrepreneurs who had purpose-drivencompanies that used commerce for social good. “I always had an entrepreneurialspirit and I wanted to create a social venture of my own,” said Kilmer, whofell in love with rooibos tea during a cleanse and set out to modernize tea fortoday’s woman. She also wanted to support sisterhood and how women have united throughouthistory and in modern times to support each other.
“I started looking into the history of sisterhood. I learnedabout the suffragettes and the history of women coming together over tea attimes when they were oppressed. The things they were able to accomplish whengathering around this beverage were pretty remarkable,” said Kilmer. “Our rightto vote came from the women gathering in Seneca Falls and mobilizing behindclosed doors; they weren’t allowed to gather in public without their husbands.”Tea had a role in creating positive change for womenkind.
She founded UppercaseTea in 2018 and sees tea as a means ofuniting women from all walks of life, and a basis for creating aninter-generational sisterhood.
Tea can also be used as a mindful beverage to counterbalancedemanding lifestyles and assist in creating moments of clarity, as well aspositive change both on individual and collective levels, added Kilmer.
UppercaseTea offers the Me-Ceremony tea set to inspire womento stop for 10 minutes per day for self-care. Its design complements a modernwoman’s lifestyle by combining English refinement and Eastern Zen. The Me-Ceremonytea set incorporates the Me-Pot—an 8-ounce glass teapot and stainless-steel infuser—andan 8-ounce teacup and saucer made of reclaimed seashells. Two packets of eachof the company’s six organic single estate loose leaf teas (white tea, greentea, oolong tea, black tea, pu-erh tea and rooibos herbal tea) areincluded. Each Me-Pack contains 4 grams of tea—perfectly measured for theinfuser—and all twelve Me-Packs are contained in a reusable box. Accompanyingthe tea set is an app that perfectly times brewing for each type of tea.
While sipping tea, women can collect their thoughts andponder their own lives, the world around them and possibly things they can doto create positive change. “It’s just not part of our culture in the UnitedStates,” said Kilmer, “I wanted to find a way to make it a part of our dailyculture.” She also encourages people to gather with others with their Me-Ceremonysets.
UppercaseTea’s Sisterhood of Tea has two branches: aphilanthropic branch that champion’s women’s and children’s causes, and aclosed Facebook groupwhere current women’s issues are discussed.
UppercaseTea partners with Teen Services Sonoma and employs teenage girls to pack loose leaf tea and to hand steep
rooibos tea for the ready-to-drink line. Additionally, the company donates a portion of its proceeds to Teen Services Sonoma and other local organizations, including the Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club and Wine Women, a local non-profit, the Fred Finch Youth Center, which helps children survive trauma, and Voices Youth Center, which helps youth transition out of foster care.
“Our interest is in connecting very deeply with ourcommunity and letting it resonate out organically from there,” said Kilmer.“Where we are going to get our growth is through a deep connection withpeople,” which she finds more authentic and fulfilling than the typical capitalisticmarketing practices.
“The Sisterhood of Tea also represents a mindset of acollective of women. Anybody who interacts with our company or buys our productor is part of our Facebook group is part of the Sisterhood of Tea,” saidKilmer.
UppercaseTea supplies tea to the foodservice, hospitality andgrocery sectors in the area and can be purchased by consumers online wheresubscriptions are also offered. UppercaseTea also offers its signature blackand rooibos teas in 100% biodegradable pyramid tea bags. The line will beexpanded in the future to include other teas. All of the teas have a bold butsmooth taste.
The rooibos iced tea is currently sold in specialty grocery stores in Sonoma County. The rooibos iced tea will also be sold on draft at the Bottle Rock music, food and wine festival in Napa Valley May 24-26, 2019.