about MOTEASA
originated as a way to pay homage to my ancestors of blood and spirit. an ever changing curation of fairly-sourced herbs, teas, and flowers that evolved out of my love for creating unique tastes, textures, and aromas.
communiTEA blends
signature products
tea partnership
ancestral blends
each blend is a prayer, a contemplation, a meditation. choose the blend that best suits this moment.
black moses
on the journey from slavery to freedom our ancestors survived on a diet of foraged herbs, plants, and berries. in her life as an abolitionist, she was also the first woman to lead a military operation. this herbal blend made of roasted chicory and dandelion with a special blend of spices, is in honor of Harriet Tubman. mimicking the taste of coffee, it’s not coffee, but close. black moses is a smooth caffeine-free blend, with a slight woody and nutty flavor.
open heart
legendary! medicine woman, nurse-midwife, and entrepreneur, Bridget “Biddy” Mason walked as many as 2000 miles behind the caravan of her enslaver. she freed herself and died a philanthropist (before that was a word) and as one of the wealthiest women in california. she gifted land and legacy to future generations of blood and spirit. invite your ancestors who were not able to rest along the way to be soothed with this blend of red raspberry leaf, hibiscus, and rose petals.
sweet + simple
i am the daughter of Mary Louise Ballard Shipman. my mama loved to start each day with a basic black tea (i dare not say the brand), with lemon (concentrate) and sugaah. lots of sugaah. toward the end of her life, i cared for my mother and prepared her tea every morning. as an expression of my love for her i used the best and freshest of all these ingredients. after several months she graciously said to me, “honee, i appreciate all that you’re doing for me but could i please have my cup of lipton with lemon concentrate, and white sugar?” she wasn’t having it! but for you i offer a twist on her favorite cuppa. start your day with sweet + simple, a blend of black tea, lemon peel, date sugar, and cardamom.
tea partnerships
steeped in collaboration, my tea blend partnerships with groups, organizations, and individuals is a co-creation with an end result: your own herbal blend. i want you to get what you need. the purpose of partnership is to bring forth what you want to manifest and your blend will be an expression of that. offer as fundraisers, gifts, and celebrations of all kinds, or enjoy at home. all blends are customized and handcrafted. you’ll receive yours about four to six weeks after we’ve confirmed the blend.
mindful tea drinking
taste the arc of flavors with each sip, as it builds, and finally, rest inside your body. appreciate the subtle and not-so-subtle differences.
boil your water (except for green tea)
select your cup or mug
sense exploration - what do you need in this moment?
add loose tea to a strainer, teapot, or directly to your cup
pour your hot water over the leaves
steep to your liking
sip, breathe deeply, smile
