20 Years of CHA CHA TEA 💚

This year, CHA CHA TEA is celebrating 20 years in Kingston.
Twenty years. Wow 🤩
Sometimes I still find it hard to believe.

It Started with Kingston

I first came to Kingston from Toronto in 2004.

My first impression was that it was such a small, beautiful city. There was the lake, the parks, and so much natural beauty. I remember thinking that I could imagine myself enjoying life here.

There was just one thing that surprised me. There wasn’t a tea shop in town. I had always loved tea, so I started thinking, maybe I could create one.

A Little Tea Shop That Feels Like Home

I didn’t imagine a big or fancy tea shop. I imagined something small, filled with teas that I loved. I wanted it to feel a little like my own living room. A comfortable and welcoming place where I could be surrounded by tea and share my love of tea with people.

And I wanted customers to feel like they could just drop by and say hello, almost like visiting a friend.

That was the idea behind CHA CHA TEA when I opened the shop in 2006.

A Little Piece of CHA CHA TEA History

There is also a little story behind the name CHA CHA TEA.

When my husband and I were thinking about what to call the tea shop, our daughters were still very young. At the time, they called me “Cha-cha.”

I still have the little note we made when we were thinking about the name.

Looking at it now, 20 years later, makes me smile.

It’s funny to think that we were sitting there, trying to come up with a name for this little tea shop, without knowing what the next 20 years would look like.

You can read the full story behind the name CHA CHA TEA here.

Twenty Years Later

And now, 20 years later, not much has really changed. I still love sharing good tea with people. I still love talking with my customers. Probably because I’m a pretty chatty and friendly person as you know! 😊

And I’ve been so lucky to have such wonderful customers over the years.

Some customers have become friends. Some have been coming in for years. And along the way, I’ve learned how special it is when a small business becomes part of people’s everyday lives.

Kingston is now my home.

Ha! I was young! 😆
Looking back, I also know that I couldn’t have done this on my own.

My daughters were still little when I opened CHA CHA TEA. My husband’s understanding and support, and my mother’s help, made it possible for me to do this.

There were so many things to balance, and I am so grateful that I had my family beside me. I was never really doing it alone.

CommuniTEA

That’s where the idea of CommuniTEA comes from. It’s simply about the people who have become part of CHA CHA TEA over the years.

The people who came in for tea.

The conversations we’ve shared.

The friendships that have grown along the way.

I never really planned for that. It just happened, one cup of tea and one conversation at a time. And I think that is one of the things I treasure most about these 20 years.

Affordable Luxury

There is also one thing that has never changed. From the beginning, I wanted CHA CHA TEA to offer affordable luxury teas. Tea can be something simple that we enjoy every day, but it can also feel a little special. That idea has stayed with me for 20 years, and it is still at the heart of what I do. And I think my love of talking, connecting, and sharing a good cup of tea hasn’t changed either.

Let’s Celebrate 20 Years!

Twenty years is a big milestone, and I would love to celebrate it with the people who have been part of this journey.
We’re planning two special events in Kingston:

💚 CHA CHA TEA 20th Anniversary Open House

Saturday, October 3, 2026
10:00 AM–4:00 PM
CHA CHA TEA, Kingston

Come by anytime for tea tasting, a little something sweet, and a chance to say hello and celebrate with us.

No tickets are required. Everyone is welcome.

🍵 20th Anniversary Secret Garden Afternoon Tea

Sunday, October 4, 2026
The Secret Garden Inn, Kingston

There will be two seatings, with limited spots available.

Thank You

When I look back at these 20 years, I realize that CHA CHA TEA is about so much more than tea.

It’s about my family, the people I’ve met, the friendships I’ve made, the conversations we’ve shared, and the community that has grown around this little tea shop.

Thank you to my family for believing in me and supporting me.

Thank you to everyone who has stopped by, bought tea, shared a conversation, brought a friend, or simply said hello.

Thank you for choosing CHA CHA TEA and for being part of my journey.

I’m so grateful that the little tea shop I imagined 20 years ago became part of my life.
And, I hope, part of yours too.

Here’s to 20 years of CHA CHA TEA, and to many more cups of tea together. 💚☕️

With gratitude,

Kaoru 😊