Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak From $2,500 in Debt, to the World's Finest Tea Brand: Steve Schwartz on Building Art of Tea
In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Steve Schwartz, Master Tea Blender, best-selling author, and founder of Art of Tea—an award-winning tea brand based in Los Angeles. After dropping out of college to care for his mother, Steve discovered Ayurvedic medicine and began a journey that would take him across the globe sourcing and blending the world’s finest teas.
Starting with $2,500 in credit card debt, Steve built a vertically integrated company that now supplies iconic restaurants and hotels. He shares how he turned tragedy into purpose, created the U.S.’s first tea sommelier role, and built a legacy-focused business with intention and heart.
Chapters:
02:32 – Losing His Mother and the Awakening of Purpose
04:11 – Discovering Ayurveda and the Art of Botanical Blending
06:23 – The Truth About Supermarket Tea
07:12 – The Power of Ritual: Why Tea Is Not Just a Beverage
08:52 – Choosing Steady Growth Over the Hockey Stick
11:03 – Building with a Multi-Generational Vision
12:35 – American Flips vs. Eastern Longevity Thinking
14:40 – Why Art of Tea Avoids Supermarkets
16:03 – Creating the First Tea Sommelier Position in the U.S.
17:22 – Expanding Art of Tea to the East Coast
19:13 – Controlling Quality Through Vertical Integration
21:16 – Coaching vs. Babysitting: Leadership Lessons
22:12 – The Daily Work of Unlearning Scarcity
25:37 – Childhood Scarcity and the Roots of Limiting Beliefs
28:08 – From Rabbi Aspirations to Global Tea Advocate
30:00 – Smiling as Strategy
33:14 – The Power of Giving Before You Receive
36:44 – Parenting, Abundance, and Entrepreneurial Mindsets
39:58 – Why Entrepreneurship Is the Best Way to Live
43:30 – Creating Safe Spaces for Founders to Be Real
45:29 – Betting on Himself With a Baby on the Way
47:09 – Filling an Org Chart by Removing Himself
50:11 – DJ Fails and the Power of Vulnerability
53:01 – The Real Reason People Join Founder’s Club
54:06 – Building Grit in the Next Generation
55:46 – One Day a Week Off: Shabbat as a Business Advantage
57:12 – What His Late Mother Would Say Now
59:14 – A Message to His 20-Year-Old Self
1:00:33 – The Power of Trust Over Fear
1:03:19 – What He Wants to Be Remembered For
1:05:53 – Getting Out of Your Own Way
1:07:20 – What’s Actually Going On With Matcha
1:11:39 – Matcha Sourcing Crisis and the Japan Trip That Changed It
1:13:55 – The Matcha Trend Explained
1:18:06 – Closing Reflections on Legacy and Leadership
Guest Links:
Website: https://www.artoftea.com/
Instagram: @artofteala @steveschwarx
LinkedIn: Art Of Tea Steve Schwartz
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