1 week Ago By Kyra Gottesman
When Sarah Adams began renovating a 90-year old building on the corner of Park Avenue and East 15th Street in Chico in 2022, her intention was to create a new space for her chai manufacturing business, Chico Chai, plus a tea house where the community would be welcome and other small business would be supported.“My goal was to create a valuable, inclusive space for the neighborhood and wider community,” said Adams. “A space for relaxation and connection, a spot to enjoy a nice cup of tea and reflect or have a conversation with friends.
”Adams realized her dream when Chico Chai House opened in November. Since then customers in search of good tea, herbal blends and fresh, handcrafted chai have welcomed the new establishment with steadily growing patronage.Tea barista Caroline Smith prepares a turmeric latte for a customer at Chico Chai House on Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Chico, California.
(Kyra Gottesman/Mercury-Register)Now that the new business is on its feet, Adams is opening her space to support other small, businesses in connecting with the community.Today from noon to 4 p.m.
Chico Chai House is hosting a women-owned small business showcase pop-up event spotlighting 10 local businesses and live entertainment by Scout the Wise.“This kind of event adds another dimension to my goal of Chico Chai House being a place of connection,” said Adams. “I want to support other small businesses in expanding their success.
I see it as another way to grow community.”Working with her long-time friend Sammey Zangrilli — owner of TurkeyTail Farm and pop-up event producer — Adams said she’s excited about today’s event because she’s a “huge fan” of the featured vendors’ products.Among the vendors are TurkeyTail Farm, Claire Fong Jewelry, Field Day And Friends Clothing, Ghost Poppy candles and fragrances, Gypsy Gems Designs, Le Fey’s Bazaar, Bree Glass Studio, Morning Bird Craft, Adrianna’s Bakery and A Taste of Mikasa.
A cup of Chico Chai House chai of the day is ready to serve along with matcha crinkle and lemon curd shortbread cookies, left, achaar egg toast and masala toast on Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Chico, California. (Kyra Gottesman/Mercury-Register)These vendors offer everything from hand crafted jewelry, cold-pressed soap, facial creams, original design clothing and candles to tarot readings, vegan baked goods and Venezuelan empanadas.“Chico Chai House is a perfect venue for this event,” said Zangrilli.
“Showcasing woman owed businesses is not just about fostering a strong more diverse and more equitable economy for everyone. It has been shown women own biz contribute significantly to job creation and economic growth. Women entrepreneurs often prioritize social responsibility and community involvement.
We also bring a unique perspective and experiences to business which foster innovation and creativity. It’s for women to see other women in places of power. It’s inspirational and gives hope we can accomplish our dreams and goals.
Sarah is a great example of all of this.”Adams said today’s gathering won’t be a one-off. She has plans to host seasonal pop-up markets as well as other activities at Chico Chai House including tea meditation and yoga classes.
A reservation-only Mother’s Day tea is already in the works for 4 p.m. May 10.
“It will be a traditional afternoon tea with a variety of black and green teas,” said Adams. “We’ll serve each table with as much tea of their choice as they would like accompanied by English-style tea sandwiches and treats.”The tea houseDuring today’s event the light and welcoming tea house with its vaulted ceilings, skylight and banks of large windows and features a gallery corner with art by local artists and a kids corner with books and toys for the little ones is open to the public.
“We’d love to have people come in and have tea with us before or after shopping with our pop-up vendors,” said Adams. “Tea has the ability to improve your day and give you what you need. It can relax you, motivate you, help you focus, soothe you and comfort you, sometimes all at the same time.
From the thoughtful preparation of a cup of tea, to the enjoyment of the taste, to the properties of the plants used, the whole thing is magic.”Larissa Chraim takes time out of her busy day to knit while enjoying an iced cup of the “best matcha in town” at Chico Chai House on Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Chico, California. (Kyra Gottesman/Mercury-Register)The tea menu at Chico Chai House includes a variety of house blended loose leaf green, oolong, white and herbal teas including a Bayliss Botanicals lavender and chamomile blend that’s one of Adams’ favorites.
For those who need a pick-me-up the Butte Breakfast Blend offers a dark and brisk blend of assam and Ceylon black teas.Specialty teas include an unsweetened organic matcha tea latte and a caffeine-free turmeric latte made with Chico Chai’s own blend of turmeric, cardamon, cinnamon, a bit of black pepper and sweetened with local honey. And, of course, there is the house specialty masala chai.
“We’re also working on our own Earl Grey made with the zest of locally grown bergamot orange peels and black tea,” said Adams. “We’re also making a Pu’erh which is a fermented Chinese tea.”Adams has also developed a simple food menu of eight toast plates made with generous slices of Camina Bakery bread that pair well with house teas.
The avocado toast with microgreens gets its bright flavor from a drizzle of fresh lemon juice and olive oil and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. Peanut butter, a “go to comfort food,” said Adams, is paired with locally made jam or honey or with banana on three different toast offerings. Bananas also find a sweet and delightful spot on the Banana Bee toast which includes slices of the fruit on buttered toast served with local honey and sprinkled with fresh bee pollen and flaky sea salt.
The achaar egg toast includes a delicious tomato version of the spicy South Asian condiment, sliced egg, microgreens, olive oil and green onions.Baked treats including matcha crinkle cookies cookies and out-of-this-world lemon curd shortbread cookies from Vegan Babe Bakery are also served, and there’s a special kids menu.Adams said she opened Chico Chai in 2004 because she knew she couldn’t be the only person looking for a “better, fresher, handmade chai” than the readily available mass-produced beverage.
She was right. To meet customer demand, Chico Chai manufactures up to 500 gallons of chai concentrate a week that supplies 21 Chico cafes and 56 other cafes and coffee houses throughout the state with the product to serve their customers by the cup. The concentrate is also sold in five Chico markets as well as markets in Redding, Grass Valley, Sacramento and San Francisco.
With the success of the manufacturing and whole-sale business, Adams fulfilled her next dream — opening the Chico Chai House as a place where where “people can come to sit, relax, talk face to face or just have a moment of serene peace to themselves.”“It was a lot of work, expense and stress to get the tea house open,” said Adams. “But it’s great.
It feels a lot like having the baby you always dreamed of. It’s here now and it’s wonderful, better than I could have hoped for.”For more information about Chico Chai and Chico Chai House visit https://www.
chicochai.com.Reach Kyra Gottesman at kgottesman@chicoer.
com.
