Fava Suits Owner to a Tea

It's hard to say something that is thousands of years old is a trend, but tea seems to be making a new name for itself, and that would seem to be a perfect fit for owner of Fava Tea Company in Brookfield, Karen Slegar.

A mom of five daughters, she said she was ready to start anew and do something for herself. Call it "moxie."

"My youngest daughter is graduating from high school this year, and I figured this is my year. I have never owned my own business, but I saw this as a great opportunity, especially as I have enjoyed the product," Slegar said.

After losing weight earlier, she said tea was her treat during the process, and  a previous job with Penzey's Spices allowed her to understand the subtlety of blending flavors.

She spoke with the Fava franchise, whose trademark is "tea with moxie," and said "they really sold me on the product. I wanted to become a part of it because this is the tea of spices — I really get this."

Her decision to open in Brookfield mirrored exactly where Fava, which is based in the Fox Valley of Wisconsin, also wanted to branch out next. 

The shop features as many as 300-350 various blends of tea and "infusions," which are blends that don't contain tea leaves in them. The market for tea seems to be growing, perhaps out of some who are weary from coffee and are looking for the more holistic properties that the steeped beverage has said to contain.

"We don't 'prescribe' tea for various needs, but we will suggest those that are more suited for evening versus morning, and some do have caffeine where others don't," she said.

For tea "newbies" the selection can seem daunting, but there are generally nine blends ready for sampling and "sniffing tins" also allow you to catch the aroma of a particular blend that may appeal to you.

Instructions of how to prepare the tea — some like it hot, some not so much — are on the bags so the guesswork is kept to a minimum.

Fava Tea Company will have a ribbon cutting Thursday at 11:30 a.m., followed by an appearance on "The Morning Blend," which will likely mention their official grand opening on Saturday. 

The shop has been open since Feb. 15 and is located in the Plaza at the corner of Calhoun and Bluemound Road. Visit them Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Facebook or call 262-782-6750 for more information.