Maker Stories

This Just In-spiration: Meet Sashee Chandran

April 20, 2015

Our makers never fail to motivate us, encourage our creativity, and fill us with inspiration. So, when a new design enters our assortment, we’re always excited to learn more about the person behind the product.

What gets an artist going and keeps them creating is certainly worth sharing, and every great connection starts with a simple introduction. Meet Sashee Chandran, the maker behind our new Tea Drop Sampler.

Sashee Chandran | UncommonGoods

Photo by Diego Jimenez/@dejota3

When did you know you wanted to work in tea?
I was always drawn to the intimate and communal nature of tea, and its ability to strengthen the bonds of friends and strangers alike. Throughout my life, I have fantasized about owning a tea shop. I even kept a little booklet on hand for when I felt inspired to write down what my tea shop would serve. Later, through my natural inclination to make, share and talk tea with others, I came across many who found the traditional tea rituals too daunting or time consuming. With these challenges to overcome, Tea Drops was born. It would be the first tea to create an all encompassing experience with the rich taste and tradition of loose tea, and a pinch of raw organic sugar for a no-fuss preparation.

What was the most exciting thing about becoming an entrepreneur?
The most exciting part is knowing that on a daily basis, I am tackling the challenge of making tea more accessible and enjoyable to people, and little by little I’m making progress on that goal. It isn’t about meeting one huge goal, it’s really about accomplishing small victories along the way. My team and I use the hashtag #smallvictories a lot, to celebrate something as simple as an easy craft fair set up to gaining a new retail account.

What does your typical day in your workspace look like?
I’m incredibly lucky to work out of a certified kitchen in the beautiful hills of Los Gatos, California. We peer out our kitchen window and have a stunning view of deer, trees, and other natural beauty as we grind our organic tea and spices. We are embraced by the delcious scents of tea and spices all day. We also have a packaging area where we prep and wrap all of our teas by hand so they are ready to be shipped and enjoyed by you!

Shashee Chandran | UncommonGoods

Photo by Diego Jimenez/@dejota3

Is there a trinket, talisman, or other inspirational object you keep near? If so, what is it and what does it mean to you?
I take my Khordz Mug everywhere with me. I drink an insane amount of tea per day (10-15 cups), so it’s critical I have a portable tea cup that can go anywhere with me, no matter what the activity. It’s like my blanky.

Imagine you just showed your work to a kindergartner for the first time. What do you think he/she would say?
“Oooooh. How coool. YUMMMY, too.”

We actually have a lot of kids who come up to our booth at various craft shows, and we always demo how our Tea Drops dissolve in hot water. They are both amazed, intrigued, and love the taste as well. It’s wonderful to see parents sharing the love of tea so early on.

Sashee Chandran | UncommonGoods

Right photo by Diego Jimenez/@dejota3

 

What quote or mantra keeps you motivated?
I actually have many. Here are a few of my favorites:

“As you walk, the way appears.”Rumi, Persian poet and Sufi master

Fear is obviously a huge factor that can hold you back. I always love being reminded that I do not need to have all of the answers when I continue on my journey. I have to have faith that guidance will appear the more entrenched I become in my path/work.

“I don’t want no mediocre.” –T.I., Rapper

My small team and I often blast this song when prepping for a show or order, because quite frankly, we can’t tolerate medicore.

“Nothing in this world will take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Genius will not. Education will not. Persistence and dedication alone are omnipotent.” – President Calvin Coolidge

It’s pretty self-explanatory – persistence is key. Especially when I feel intimidated, I always have to remember that.

Video courtesy of Ezra Productions

Buy the Tea Sampler | UncommonGoods

11 Comments

  • Reply Frank Juliano November 10, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    Are the tea drops available in stores in New York City?
    Thanks.
    F

  • Reply Cassie November 11, 2015 at 10:49 am

    Hi Frank,

    We don’t have any physical stores, but the Tea Drops are available online here:
    http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/tea-drop-sampler

    • Reply ArgusHD January 14, 2017 at 4:14 pm

      Hi, Cassie

      Have you started large tea drop sets, and is there any kind of discount on bulk orders….?

      • Reply Emily G. January 17, 2017 at 11:16 am

        Hi there,

        We still have the standard set of tea drops (containing 25 drops) available. If you’d like to learn more about bulk orders, check out this page.

        Thanks for reading!

  • Reply Victoria Sarzeny November 11, 2015 at 6:41 pm

    How many calories and/or how much sugar is in each tea drop? Do you make sugar free tea drops?

    • Reply Cassie November 16, 2015 at 5:26 pm

      Thanks for asking, Victoria. Each Tea Drop has 25-30 calories and anywhere from 6-8 grams of sugar, depending on the drop. We do not carry any sugar free tea drops.

  • Reply Francine December 6, 2015 at 8:07 am

    Hi i was wondering about your large Tea drops. Are they available?

    • Reply Cassie December 10, 2015 at 3:23 pm

      Hi Francine,

      The large Tea Drops set isn’t available right now, but we do plan to bring it into our assortment early next year.

      Cassie

  • Reply Maria February 22, 2016 at 8:19 pm

    Are your teas caffeine free?

    • Reply Marisa February 24, 2016 at 4:48 pm

      Hello, Maria!
      Thank you for your question. The answer is no. These teas do naturally contain caffeine.

  • Reply Mother's Day Gift Guide | Taste And See April 22, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    […] #3 – Tea Drop Organic Sampler Set of 25,c/o UncommonGoods Genius!!! No tea bag, no infuser – no problem!  These handy Tea Drops are full of finely-sourced organic tea, sugar, & spices. I am so loving the Sweet Peppermint & Citrus Ginger flavors!  Beautifully packaged in a cute wooden box, this is really the perfect mother’s day gift for any tea-loving mom.  UncommonGoods carries so many unique, hand-crafted items… The story behind Tea Drops is pretty cool, read it here. […]

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