Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica And Ted Vasholz.
Hi Jessica and Ted, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My love for tea began in the most enchanting way, watching Beauty and the Beast as a little girl. There’s a moment when Belle lifts Chip, the tiny teacup with a chip on its rim, and takes a sip. He giggles because it tickles. That small, magical moment stayed with me my entire life and sparked a love for tea, comfort, and the simple joy found in a warm cup held close.
As I got older, tea became part of my everyday ritual. I fell in love with Tea Time in all its beautiful details, the warmth of the cup in my hands, the pause before the first sip, the feeling of slowing down for just a moment. Tea always felt comforting, grounding, and a little magical.
Years later, when my husband Ted and I wanted quality loose leaf tea, we realized the closest place to get it was nearly a 45-minute drive each way. It became something you had to plan your entire day around. One day Ted looked at me and said, “Why don’t you open a tea shop? There have to be other people tired of driving so far just to buy good tea.”
That simple conversation planted the seed for what would become The Tiny Tea Cup.
What started as a dream quickly became something much bigger than we imagined, a cozy space built around comfort, connection, wellness, and slowing down. We wanted to create more than just a tea shop. We wanted to create an experience where people could discover new teas, enjoy meaningful conversations, and find a little peace in the middle of busy lives.
Today, seeing people walk through our doors, discover a favorite tea, attend events, or simply relax with a warm cup has been incredibly rewarding. The community support has been overwhelming in the best way, and we’re deeply grateful for every person who has become part of this journey.
Our hope is that every cup from The Tiny Tea Cup brings a little comfort, warmth, and joy, and reminds people that even the smallest moments can still feel magical.
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?
Like most new businesses, one of our biggest challenges has simply been getting the word out and making people aware that we’re here. Even after being open for over a month, we still regularly have customers walk through the doors and say, “We just found out about you!”
Building awareness takes time, especially for a specialty shop like ours. Many people are surprised to learn they no longer have to drive 45 minutes or more just to find quality loose leaf tea. Part of our challenge has been helping people discover that there’s now a cozy local place right here in Blue Springs where they can explore tea, wellness blends, herbs, and community events.
Of course, with any small business, there are also the everyday challenges of growth, learning as we go, balancing inventory, managing costs, wearing many hats, and continuously improving the experience for our customers. But honestly, those challenges have also been incredibly rewarding because we’re building something we truly believe in.
The most encouraging part has been the community response. Word-of-mouth has been powerful for us, and seeing customers bring back friends and family or share us online has meant everything. Little by little, more people are discovering us, and that momentum keeps us excited for the future.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Tiny Tea Cup?
The Tiny Tea Cup is a cozy loose leaf tea shop located in Blue Springs, Missouri, created with the goal of bringing quality tea, comfort, and connection to our community. We specialize in premium loose leaf teas, wellness blends, herbs, matcha, and thoughtfully curated tea experiences designed to help people slow down and enjoy life’s quieter moments.
One thing that sets us apart is that we wanted The Tiny Tea Cup to feel more like an experience than simply a retail store. From the moment customers walk through the doors, we want them to feel welcomed, relaxed, and inspired to explore. Tea has a way of bringing people together, and we’ve built our shop around that feeling of warmth and community.
When COVID happened, so many places had to close their doors and people lost that sense of gathering, connection, and slowing down together. While everyone understood why it had to happen, it also changed the way people spent time with one another. One thing we truly believe is that people are craving those experiences again. We wanted to help bring back that feeling of connection and comfort, a place where people can sit, talk, laugh, discover something new, and simply enjoy being present with others again.
We currently offer a wide variety of teas including black, green, white, oolong, herbal, wellness, pu’erh, rooibos, honeybush, and matcha teas, along with seasonal offerings and educational tea events. We also focus heavily on helping customers discover teas that fit their lifestyle, whether they’re looking for comfort, wellness support, relaxation, or simply a new favorite flavor.
Brand-wise, we are most proud of the atmosphere and community we’ve created in such a short time. Seeing customers return with friends and family, hearing people say the shop feels peaceful and welcoming, and watching tea lovers connect over shared experiences has been incredibly rewarding.
At its heart, The Tiny Tea Cup is about more than tea leaves. It’s about slowing down, creating moments of comfort, and bringing a little magic and connection back into everyday life.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I believe one of the most important qualities behind our success has been genuine passion combined with authenticity. The Tiny Tea Cup was never created just to sell tea, it was created from something we truly love and wanted to share with others. People can feel when something comes from the heart, and I think that sincerity has helped us connect with our community in a meaningful way.
Another important quality has been perseverance. Starting a business is exciting, but it also comes with challenges, uncertainty, and a lot of learning along the way. There are long days, constant problem-solving, and moments where you have to simply keep believing in what you’re building even before everyone else sees the vision. We’ve learned to stay adaptable, continue growing, and keep moving forward one step at a time.
Most importantly, I think creating a welcoming atmosphere has played a huge role in our success. In today’s world, people are craving connection, comfort, and places where they can slow down and feel present again. After COVID, so many gathering places disappeared or changed, and I truly believe people miss those experiences. We wanted The Tiny Tea Cup to become a place where people could reconnect with others, with themselves, and with the simple comfort and peace that can come from slowing down with a warm cup of tea. At the end of the day, kindness, community, and creating genuine experiences matter deeply to us, and I think people naturally respond to that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thetinyteacup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_tiny_tea_cup_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585773792725
