We had the good fortune of connecting with Cecilia Wichmann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cecilia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was actually talking to a coworker who had an idea of opening a cigar, coffee and beer bar. I don’t smoke cigar, I don’t drink coffee and I am allergic to beer so I told him I wouldn’t be his best customer. But my brain thought “I drink tea and there is no high quality tea company around here” and that’s how my research about it started.

What should our readers know about your business?
So we provide high quality loose leaf tea. We started off in 2023 with 12 blends and today we have 35 blends. Some we blend ourselves and some we buy. The challenge was that I didn’t have much knowledge at all about tea, the history and all that comes with it so it was a lot to learn and take in. But with a great support from the community that embraced my idea and products we have established us here quite well in East Texas.
From a business perspective – I am one who wants to do everything myself and despite not being a graphic designer I have been able to develop a recognizable brand and logo which was quite a challenge but very fun. Our new logo with Mr. T. Potts has become very popular.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We have a lot of museums in Dallas and Fort Worth that I haven’t seen myself so I would suggest we explore some of them. Also the harbor in Rockwall is very beautiful and I like all restaurants around there. Zoofari outside Terrell is also a wonderful place to visit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Guy Paranavitana with Empire Tea Services has helped me a lot providing me with his knowledge and expertise with anything related to tea. When I started this project, I basically knew how to go to the store and buy my tea bags and he has guided me through this first year!

Website: https://www.harlequintea.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/harlequintea

Facebook: https://facebook.com/harlequintea

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.