The Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that The Chai House has joined as a new member.
According to information released by the chamber: The Chai House, a new business in the Fort Atkinson area, is an importer and online retailer of loose-leaf tea and related tea products from the Republic of Georgia, Nepal, and Southeast Asia.
The company also makes a handcrafted proprietary line of signature spice blends, including masala, used for making masala chai, and golden milk.
Sharing a love of tea and travel, Mary Lowisz and Jack Herbert started the business as partners.
Lowisz, a Fort Atkinson resident and mother of two grown children, noted that she and her husband had been developing the concept of The Chai House together for many years. In 2001, she stated in the release, during a bicycle accident, her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury. Today he lives in an assisted living facility. Lowisz works as a critical care nurse and was thinking about developing a retirement plan.
While attending a church in Madison, Lowisz met Herbert, a corporate sales and marketing executive with ties to the Republic of Georgia, according to the release.
“Before Mary introduced me to real masala chai and high-quality, loose-leaf teas, I was a confirmed coffee drinker. Once the door to high-quality teas was opened, I became aware of the nuances among tea types and varieties. I found I really enjoy discovering new teas,” Herbert said within the release.
The Chai House concept is developed around streamlining tea processing from crop to cup.
An advantage of working directly with family farm tea growers, the release continued, is developing transparency of source, which ensures The Chia House teas are grown by farmers dedicated to sustainable practices.
According to the release, approximately 85% of tea is sold by a few multinational companies, making it difficult for family tea farms to compete in the global tea market.
Further, the release continued, the COVID pandemic resulted in dramatic increases in tea consumption.
The Chai House plans to provide consumers with an authentic masala chai product to compete in the broader U.S. tea marketplace.
“The mission of The Chai House is to spread the joy of tea while creating good for people and good for the planet. We will turn our personal enjoyment of tea and travel into a business model that uses tea and tea-related products as a force for good in the world, encouraging everyone to take time, brew tea and enjoy the company of others or some quiet time alone,” Lowisz said.
The Chai House products will be offered to customers online. To learn more, visit ChaiHouseLLC.com, or call: 920-542-0602, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The company can also be contacted by email: info@chaihousellc.com.
Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Jeff Scheuerell, at left, presents The Chai House owners, Mary Lowisz and Jack Herbert, with a chamber membership plaque. Contributed photo.
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