From $2,500 in Debt, to the World's Finest Tea Brand: Steve Schwartz on Building Art of Tea

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Steve Schwartz, Master Tea Blender, best-selling author, and founder of Art of Tea—an award-winning tea brand based in Los Angeles. After dropping out of college to care for his mother, Steve discovered Ayurvedic medicine and began a journey that would take him across the globe sourcing and blending the world’s finest teas.Starting with $2,500 in credit card debt, Steve built a vertically integrated company that now supplies iconic restaurants and hotels. He shares how he turned tragedy into purpose, created the U.S.’s first tea sommelier role, and built a legacy-focused business with intention and heart.Chapters:02:32 – Losing His Mother and the Awakening of Purpose04:11 – Discovering Ayurveda and the Art of Botanical Blending06:23 – The Truth About Supermarket Tea07:12 – The Power of Ritual: Why Tea Is Not Just a Beverage08:52 – Choosing Steady Growth Over the Hockey Stick11:03 – Building with a Multi-Generational Vision12:35 – American Flips vs. Eastern Longevity Thinking14:40 – Why Art of Tea Avoids Supermarkets16:03 – Creating the First Tea Sommelier Position in the U.S.17:22 – Expanding Art of Tea to the East Coast19:13 – Controlling Quality Through Vertical Integration21:16 – Coaching vs. Babysitting: Leadership Lessons22:12 – The Daily Work of Unlearning Scarcity25:37 – Childhood Scarcity and the Roots of Limiting Beliefs28:08 – From Rabbi Aspirations to Global Tea Advocate30:00 – Smiling as Strategy33:14 – The Power of Giving Before You Receive36:44 – Parenting, Abundance, and Entrepreneurial Mindsets39:58 – Why Entrepreneurship Is the Best Way to Live43:30 – Creating Safe Spaces for Founders to Be Real45:29 – Betting on Himself With a Baby on the Way47:09 – Filling an Org Chart by Removing Himself50:11 – DJ Fails and the Power of Vulnerability53:01 – The Real Reason People Join Founder’s Club54:06 – Building Grit in the Next Generation55:46 – One Day a Week Off: Shabbat as a Business Advantage57:12 – What His Late Mother Would Say Now59:14 – A Message to His 20-Year-Old Self1:00:33 – The Power of Trust Over Fear1:03:19 – What He Wants to Be Remembered For1:05:53 – Getting Out of Your Own Way1:07:20 – What’s Actually Going On With Matcha1:11:39 – Matcha Sourcing Crisis and the Japan Trip That Changed It1:13:55 – The Matcha Trend Explained1:18:06 – Closing Reflections on Legacy and LeadershipGuest Links: Website: https://www.artoftea.com/Instagram: @artofteala  @steveschwarxLinkedIn: Art Of Tea   Steve SchwartzFERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaronStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:IG: @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubIG: @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast