Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Forsyth.
Hi Lisa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
After a 30-year Army career I find myself in a place shared by grandparents. A place where there is always something to do. The daily rhythm is determined not by me but the weather, the land, and the boredom never isn’t a possibility because it’s a sign of laziness. Like my grandparents before me, agriculture and living a self-sustaining lifestyle is a part of my daily life. Everywhere is an atmosphere of hard work. It’s a necessity. But, it’s not work if you love it and look forward to it every day. My grandparents, great-grandparents and on and on were farmers. That way of life skipped a generation with my parents, aunts and uncles earning a living doing other things. Now I’m striving to live a self-sustaining lifestyle on my ranch. By no means is this a new concept rather a recycling of how my grandparents lived generations ago.
During my Army career, I had opportunities to visit various parts of the world where olives grew and were cultivated. It always fascinated me on the generation experience that olives represented. Once I retired from the Army, I completed a one year internship at a Texas based commercial olive orchard. Then over a four years period I researched and experimented with making olive leaf herbal tea. While perfecting the process, I drank a lot of bad herbal tea. The initial focus was on producing quality olive leaf tea that tastes great and is a healthy drink option. As my business and interest in my olive leaf tea grew, customers began suggesting various blends which we now make in our inspected herbal tea facility. We now have 14 different herbal tea products which are sold online and at various farmers markets in the San Antonio and Austin area.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been and continues to be challenges along the way. The biggest initial challenge was gaining knowledge in herbal tea. I worked with an independent, certified lab to perfect my olive leaf tea process. I researched and read a lot about scientific parameters of herbal tea. Infested in key scientific equipment, scale and moisture meter. Second, yet very important, was starting a business. Getting a bank account, required permits, training and such. It can be overwhelming but I have a great advisor at the Small Business Administration who got me going in the right direction. My current challenges have everything to do with expanding-getting good workers, sourcing quality raw materials that I do not grow myself, and marketing with the goal of expanding into more markets.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Oli Tea Company?
Oli Tea Company is a veteran-owned, woman-owned small business. Our Texas olive leaf tea and herbal tea blends are Go Texan and Homegrown by Heroes certified. We believe in eco-friendly, sustainable herbal teas that are healthy and tasty. Our artisan herbal teas are made in small batches to ensure quality and freshness. Available online at www.buyolitea.com and various farmer’s markets in and around San Antonio and Austin area.
Any big plans?
In 2022 we plan on expanding into retail, specifically specialty shops. We are also working with a social media consulting firm to expand our online presence. We will also be offering herbal tea sensory evaluation experiences at our tea room located on my ranch starting Winter 2022
Pricing:
- Tea Bag Packaging (20 single tea bags): $18
- Loose Leaf Tea Canisters (40g): $20
Contact Info:
- Email: lisa@buyolitea.com
- Website: www.buyolitea.com
- Instagram: @buyolitea
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buyolitea/
