• Our Story •

Our Story

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Our journey began in 1994, when I took maternity leave from teaching hospital nursing at a small college in the Mojave Desert of California. Between caring for my son Jack, I finally had the time to explore a long-held curiosity: herbal medicine. The more I read and studied, the more I became convinced of its meaningful potential.

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In 1995, I attended a medicinal herb class taught by herbalist Karen Sherwood. During that class, a book titled Calling of an Angel by Dr. Gary Glum was quietly passed around, along with a copy of what was said to be the original essiac recipe. To this day, I don’t know who first shared it—but it left a lasting impression on me.

 

I quickly obtained my own copy of the book and began researching essiac more deeply. Though life soon returned to its busy rhythm—my son learning to walk, my husband’s work intensifying, and my return to teaching—essiac stayed on my mind. Eventually, curiosity turned into action. I began sourcing the organic herbs from René Caisse’s original formula, hoping to one day brew it myself.

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She soon began sharing it with friends and family, and before long, I found myself driving tea to people’s homes. About a year later, I received a call from someone in San Francisco asking if I could ship it. After many iterations of packaging and preparation, we successfully sent out our first shipment—one that would eventually grow into hundreds of thousands more.

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With that, a purpose was born.

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I immersed myself in learning everything I could about essiac: its history, preparation, and preservation. I attended seminars, obtained my herbalist certification and even connected with Dr. Gary Glum and Sheila Snow, author of The Essence of Essiac, both of whom generously shared their knowledge.

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One evening, my husband and I realized something simple but powerful—we had something meaningful. Why not share it?

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In 1996, we transformed an old 1952 metal building in Tehachapi, California into a licensed commercial kitchen and retail space. It was a labor of love—long days of renovation, laughter with friends, and memories made as a family. Soon, Tehachapi Tea Co. & Nature Bookstore was born.

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The business flourished. We offered teas from around the world, opened a café, and served homemade meals that brought people together. But through it all, our commitment to essiac—its quality, freshness, and faithfulness to the original recipe—remained at the heart of everything we did.

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Eventually, life called us elsewhere. We moved to Texas for new opportunities and family needs, leasing our Tehachapi location to what would later become a renowned Native American restaurant. In Texas, we built another commercial kitchen and continued brewing, refining our craft while balancing family life and my work in a hospital geriatric ward.

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Years later, our journey evolved again. After our son Jack returned home to help with the business, we reimagined who we were and what we stood for. In 2022, after many years in Texas, we relocated to Colorado and embraced a new chapter under a new name: A Nurse’s Tea.

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Through every move and milestone, one thing has remained constant—our desire to share essiac with integrity, care, and purpose. We aim to be more than just a tea company. We want to foster connection, support healthier lifestyles, and grow alongside our customers.

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Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or are just discovering us now, we are deeply grateful you’re here.

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We encourage you to share our tea with others, explore natural wellness, and most importantly, take care of yourself. Tea is just one part of a balanced life. Get outside, stay active, nurture your relationships, and live fully.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. If you have any questions—or simply want to connect—we’re always here.

 

With gratitude,

Chris
A Nurse’s Tea