New teahouse serves up Sisters specialties

It's been said that Oregon is a coffee-lovin' state, and though most coffee houses serve tea as well, sometimes tea drinkers just want to feel special. Indulged. Like they've got a little something of their own.

And with a new teahouse on Cascade Avenue, Sisters has got it covered.

Kit and Garth Tosello, owners of Suttle Tea, have lived in Sisters long enough to know that folks here have always enjoyed getting together somewhere, whether it's for business or pleasure. The Tosellos have always believed that communities need a place to gather.

"A teahouse is a venue designed for people to gather for the purpose of drinking tea," said Kit. "Tea is not just a soothing, enjoyable drink; it also has a health benefit, and it fits into the healthy lifestyle of Central Oregon."

Tea houses have become more and more popular around the world. Business has been conducted while sharing tea together, formal rituals and ceremonies have developed surrounding tea-drinking.

"We are really trying to keep things simple and easy so we can be quality consistent with our customers, to take a simple moment and slow down with an uncomplicated menu," said Tosello.

Before moving to Sisters in 2004 the Tosellos owned a coffee house in Santa Cruz County for 11 years.

"We transferred up to Sisters after we sold the coffee house, and Garth managed for Starbucks in Bend. We were also proprietors of a natural food store at one time, so health is important to us," Kit said.

Suttle Tea's staff consists of seven employees including the Tosellos' daughter Chelsea, who is a junior at Sisters High School.

Suttle Tea is reminiscent of the cozy cabins you'd find at Suttle Lake, one of the region's natural beauties.

"In order to brew tea properly, it takes time. We aren't a grab-and-go business. Tea gives us permission to take a moment and to savor," explained Tosello. "That's the reason we have the rustic lake theme, we wanted to create a relaxed environment, maybe that of your grandpa's lake cabin."

From the beginning, Garth Tosello's vision was to have a company that shares profits with the nonprofits in Sisters.

"Our focus is to be able to provide this teahouse for the community, keep our jobs and just allow the community to gather here. Our tag-line is: 'Be refreshed, refresh others,'" Tosello said. "This is our community and we raised our kids here and it has blessed us. It's very special for us to be able to interact this way with the community."

Suttle Tea carries Metolius Artisan Teas and collaborates with its owner, Amy Seidenverg, who is a local tea blender.

"Amy is amazing in helping us educate the staff about teas, and she mingles with the customers and answers questions about her tea blends," Kit said. "She is our tea maker."

From Ginger Chocolate Black to Rooibos Chai, Seidenberg hand-blends vibrant herbs, teas, and spices to delight tea-drinkers. There's a blend for everyone's taste buds. She sources from many small production farmers in local communities and around the world using fresh organic ingredients.

"Our new exclusive blend is Suttle Tea, a consistent high blended quality tea. We have about 34 different teas and blends here," Tosello said. "We offer cookies, scones and other delectable sweets from Angeline's and the Village Baker.

"We also have homemade crepes that you can make up any way you'd like with the ingredients we offer. We really wanted to have something that was unique and when we were in France in 1991, Garth tasted the popular crepes from street vendors and loved them. You can be playful with them and construct your own."

Suttle Tea will become another Sisters home for the arts.

"Our goal in the near future is to have live music in here, and we are working with our first artist for our gallery walls," Tosello said.

Suttle Tea opens at 8 a.m. and stays open until 9 p.m. Suttle Tea will be having their very first tea-blending demonstration on Tuesday, December 15 at 2 p.m.