At Steven Smith Teamaker in Portland, Ore., a bag of tea is more than something thrown in a cup of hot water, stirred a few times and left to sit cold and half-consumed on a table. To the employees at Steven Smith Teamaker, tea is an experience that they pride themselves on bringing to people both internationally and right down the street. “We source super high-quality ingredients from 30 countries around the world,” said Darren Marshall, CEO of Steven Smith Teamaker. “We produce teas of the ultimate quality that are then distributed not only across the Pacific Northwest but across the United States and in many parts of the world.” Founder Steven Smith’s love for drinking tea started when he was a kid at his grandmother’s house in Portland. He co-founded Stash Tea, the world’s first specialty tea company. From there, he became inspired to create Tazo Tea Co., which would later be sold to Starbucks.

Facing retirement from the tea world, Smith moved his family to France, where he once again became inspired by the local bakers, chocolatiers and perfumiers in France. When he moved back to his hometown, he created Steven Smith Teamaker, known to most as Smith Tea, continuing his vision of small-batch, artisanal creations that are carefully crafted and tasted every time to ensure the highest quality product. According to Marshall, their well-established partnership with Schnitzer Properties and love of their Portland community helps them continue to grow. “Our partnership with Schnitzer Properties has been fantastic,” Marshall said. “We have been together for 10 years now in this location. We’re doubling down and continuing to be in this part of the city and with this partnership. It's a partnership that's built on trust and continuity.”

From flavor creation to bagging, boxing and shipping, everything is done with precision and care—including making sure each batch of tea is tasted to ensure the highest quality product. It is all done in their Southeast Portland Tasting Room location. Visitors can see each step of the process through the large glass windows as they enjoy a hot or iced tea and some locally sourced baked goods. “We've got deep roots here,” said Marshall. “People know us, we're a part of the community, and we want to continue to be right here. We're also very fortunate that our business continues to grow. The partnership with Schnitzer Properties is a fantastic way to continue that vibrant growth, not only of our community but of our business and our people as well.”