Our Story

ShalvaTea™ was founded in 2014 by David Ross. While earning his Master in Forestry from Yale University, where he focused on rainforest conservation in the tropics, David took a U-turn and decided to travel to Israel after the devastating Mt. Carmel wildfires of 2010. There he spent a summer researching the causes of, and potential solutions to, these kinds of fires, including how letting the land naturally regenerate will allow for a more healthy plant diversity and ultimately safer forests.

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Throughout his fieldwork, David would stumble across an abundance of native aromatic herbs, bringing them home to drink as relaxing teas after days in the field. As an avid forager and herbal enthusiast, who could not seem to find any locally made herbal teas in the supermarkets, an idea started brewing...

David went on to complete his masters, only to return to Israel on a Fulbright Fellowship to finish his research where he left off. On the side, he continued with his concoctions until he realized that this was his real passion, and herbal teas his new direction. In 2014, David moved to Jerusalem, and ShalvaTea™ was born!

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As a committed environmentalist, David wanted his tea company to reflect his values, which explains the emphasis on native herbs. You won’t find black or green teas in ShalvaTea™ blends, as these come from the Far East. Similarly, product packaging such as the tea and gift boxes are all printed and manufactured in Israel, rather than imported, while all ingredients are 100% natural (no added flavors or aromas). Perhaps most importantly, the pyramid teabags, while they might look like plastic, are not plastic! They are made out of a processed corn and are actually bio-degradable.  That's good for the environment, but it also means you won't be having any plastic in your cup of tea.

Today, ShalvaTea™ is sold in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and across Israel in restaurants, cafes, and health-food stores. It is also sold in select stores in the USA, Germany, and South Korea.

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