We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zo Guthrie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zo below.
Zo, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
To encourage people to take time to enjoy being in the moment, to take in the environment around them and share in the company of others through focused tea tastings and incorporating tea as a practice in their daily lives. I also am passionate about supporting the continuation of the art and history behind tea and providing a space to support and encourage people to incorporate these arts into their daily life.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I grew up in Northern California with tea as a daily part of my life and my family had the custom of sharing tea with guests. I’ve been studying cultures from around the world as well as the centuries old craftsmanship behind the creation of teas since the late 90’s and officially started my company, Fox and Moon Tea in 2005 (@foxandmoontea www.
I source and curate a selection of specialty seasonal and small batch teas from around the world. At our tea lounge in the Arts District of Los Angeles, I feature teas that can be enjoyed at the height of their season. I provide focused tea tastings by reservation where guests at the Fox and Moon Tea Lounge can experience a flight of these teas first hand. During our tea tastings, I love to share stories of my tea travels and open up the conversation with my guests as we explore the tea experience together. I customize each tasting based on the season, the day and the interests of my guests, who may just be starting out their tea journey or are seasoned tea drinkers!
When I curate the teas, tea ware and tea gifts for my shop, I seek to represent the rich culture of tea and tea customs throughout the world. I offer teas that represent their traditional heritages as well as teas where the tea masters are evolving their craft. I source teas that support tea farms that practice sustainable agricultural practices. Whether for a focused tasting, a pot of tea or when choosing tea or tea ware, I learn what my customer is wanting to experience and I guide them in recommendations.
I also have my own line of Fox and Moon specialty blends and tea products that I continue to create and offer to my tea customers.
I am driven to continue the appreciation and understanding of the rich culture behind tea and provide a way for people to enjoy these teas as a part of their daily life.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Since 2005, I’ve had to constantly pivot how I am able to offer my business as an in-person experience. Starting out in San Francisco, although my ultimate goal was to have a consistent space in the community for people to enjoy and share tea, it was very difficult to get a brick and mortar space. I offered catered teas on site for a variety of public and private events. I hosted a series of traveling tea lounges that featured local makers and artists (a focus that I still am passionate about providing today at our shop in LA). I had a commercial kitchen where I created many tea inspired baked goods that I paired with teas during my events and I vended at Farmers markets in the Bay Area. I offered training and account support to restaurants and cafes that carried my tea, and I also sold to boutique shops throughout the West Coast. I have had my website as well as social media channels supporting my tea business since I started.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
In 2017 I met Ito (ito_888, ito888.com) and we realized we had a similar aesthetic; a cultural appreciation and passion for creating and providing spaces to celebrate art and the richness of life. It didn’t take long before we were co-hosting events together that featured immersive tea, art and avant-garde fashion. Although we operate our brands Ito and Fox and Moon Tea independently, we decided to move to Los Angeles in 2020 to start a store together where we could offer a permanent place in our community. We are delighted that we’ve been able to realize this with the shop we co-founded, Where Monsters Dream, recently relocated to our permanent home in the Arts District at 701 E. 3rd Street at the corner of Alameda.
I look forward to sharing tea with your readers at the Fox and Moon Tea Lounge!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.foxandmoontea.com
- Instagram: @foxandmoontea
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Foxandmoontea/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa_uacof3hHsY4Pi-OLBjpg
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fox-and-moon-tearoom-los-angeles?osq=Fox+and+Moon
- Other: Google Business Profile https://maps.app.goo.gl/vttEXez23npdre2z5?g_st=im
Image Credits
Zo Guthrie, Fox and Moon Tea Jerry Jacob, Ito Art Fashion