Brief History - We Came, We Saw, We Made Tea

In the beginning (1982), John Martinson and Dan Schweiker went broke in the coffee business and created Restaurant Tea Service. In those early days, they blended teas for fresh-brew iced tea machines for the food-service industry. Until then, sour-tasting, flavorless and inconsistent tea dominated the food-service industry.

And John and Dan said, "Let there be gourmet iced tea," and the customers saw that it was good. John and Dan called the tea "Special Blend." They called the unflavored tea "Traditional," and the flavored tea "Passion Fruit." And sales and growth followed.

And John and Dan said, "Let there be preventative maintenance," and the customers saw it was good. John and Dan called the service "Tea-Loving Care®." And there was consistency and clean, fresh-tasting iced tea in restaurants and hotels.

And John and Dan said, "Let there be distributors," and it was so. John and Dan made the distributors successful and gave them territory and training.
Then John and Dan said, "Let there be a brand name," and the distributors saw that it was a good idea. John and Dan called the brand "China Mist®". And China Mist® grew and flourished throughout the land.

And John and Dan said, "Let there be sound fiscal management," and the advisors saw that is was essential. John and Dan called the management "Rommie." And the company grew and paid its taxes and bills.

And then John and Dan said, "Let there be a hot tea brand," and the customers saw that it was good. John and Dan acquired Leaves Pure Teas®, and the earth shook and brought forth Richard Guzauskas, a teasmith. And the SKUs and sales grew.

And then John and Dan said, "Let the one called 'Rommie' take the company into the future." And it was made so and the one called "Rommie" took the helm of China Mist as President and the advisors saw that it was good.

And twenty-five years hence, John and Dan saw all that they had made, and it was very, very good. But they never rest…