In The Spotlight: Apolis Tea
Welcome to the first edition of In The Spotlight, a new series where we showcase the amazing makers, artists, and small businesses whose products grace the shelves here at Mountain Hollow.
Pour yourself a cup of tea (or coffee if you really must), sit back, and read along as we share with you our interview with Audrey and Alex of Apolis Tea.
1. Question [How would you describe your business and what you do?]
Answer: We are a small-batch tea company that specializes in unique blends with a focus on organics. All of our recipe development, blending and packing happens under one roof at our Sumner (WA) warehouse.
2. Question [When did you first start your journey? Was there anything in particular that sparked your interest and led to you getting started?]
Answer: Audrey- After I graduated from college, I moved back to Alaska and started working at a local spice and tea store. The owner told the staff she wanted to sell the store and Alex and I decided that sounded like more fun than grad school. After a couple of years, our main tea supplier went out of business and we lost access to over half our teas overnight so we decided to bring all production in-house. After selling our original business in Alaska and moving to Washington, we decided that we wanted to create a new company using everything we had learned over the past decade. Apolis Tea is a reflection of the care, dedication, and love we feel for tea, the producers, and the person holding the cup.
3. Question [What inspires you and your creative process?]
Answer: A lot of our inspiration comes from desserts and favorite cocktails! (Find their recipe for Thai Basil Grapefruit Iced Tea Cooler shown below here). 
4. Question [Do you have any formal training or are you self-taught? How has this shaped your approach to making]
Answer: We are self-taught but have a lot of experience in the food industry. With regard to tea, we don't feel constrained by a specific tea tradition - who cares if our Coconut Chai isn't "traditional"? It tastes amazing! The name "Apolis" reflects our willingness to color outside the lines: it is a blend of two Greek words that together mean "without a place".
5. Question [Do you have a unique skill, technique, ingredient, etc. you use that sets you apart from others?]
Answer: The history of tea is as much about innovation as it is about tradition. We are always looking for new ingredients and make a point to work with producers who grow interesting cultivars and use biodynamic or organic farming techniques. We promise that every tea holds true to tradition but also brings a little something special.
6. Question [Do you have a favorite product? What makes it special to you?]
Answer: Audrey: Blackberry Bergamot! It was inspired by one of our first trips to Seattle when I had Molly Moon's bergamot iced cream with blackberry sauce, overlooking downtown from the top of Queen Anne.
Alex: Honeymint. As a little kid I would drink Moroccan Mint tea while listening to Prairie Home Companion on the radio and it made me feel so sophisticated! Honeymint is like Moroccan Mint but with orange flowers and osmanthus so it feels a bit more summery.
7. Question [What advice would you give to aspiring makers?]
Answer: It has to taste as good as it looks! Keep it real: people are awash in choices of pretty-looking stuff that can drop-ship in two hours from anywhere on planet Earth so make sure 1) your stuff is awesome, and 2) your customers know that there are real people behind the product.
8. Question [What's the biggest challenge you've faced as a maker and/or small business owner?]
Answer: We started a few months before COVID and that nearly sunk us - we were such a new business we didn't qualify for a lot of the loans and grants available to small businesses. In addition to being on a shoestring budget, we have international supply chains for most of our ingredients and materials so delays and shortages were incredibly difficult to navigate.
9. Question [What have you accomplished that you're most proud of and why?]
Answer: We love knowing that our teas are in cabinets and desk drawers across the United States. Every time we hear from someone who has a favorite blend or received our tea as a gift, it makes us so happy to know that we are part of someone’s day!
10. Question [What are you currently working on or excited to make next?]
Answer: New blends, as always! And some packaging updates.
...From the moment we decided to bring in teas, we started searching for a brand that checked off our boxes and we knew would become a mainstay in the shop. Apolis Tea stood out among the rest. We especially loved how they think outside the box and aren’t afraid to put their unique stamp on the growing tea market. Whether it's the traditional single origin, or a house blend with flavors and notes you wouldn't think go together, we’re certain they have a tea to suit all tastes. Yes, even YOU with that cup of coffee :).
Are you a tea fan? Do you have an idea for a new flavor combo? Comment below and let us know! We'd love to hear what you have to say...and just maybe Audrey and Alex will consider your idea for one of their new blends!
For more information and the check out the rest of the Apolis Tea offerings, click here to be brought to their website.
A big thank you to Audrey and Alex for taking the time to answer our questions and giving us the opportunity to feature them! Stay tuned for the next edition …
-J
*All photos courtesy of Apolis Tea