Our Story

Townshend's Tea Company began as a college project at the University of Oregon in 2002. Owner Matt Thomas has been working in the tea industry since then and founded the company in 2006. The idea was to bring together a casual college campus-style coffeehouse atmosphere with top-grade loose leaf tea. That idea has grown into two teahouses where everyone feels welcome. Warm lighting, good music and friendly service make the teahouses gathering places for people of all ages. First to open was Townshend's Alberta Street Teahouse, in April of 2006. Wood floors below and wood beams overhead, together with colorful furniture, lighting and art give the Alberta Street Teahouse a unique look and feel. Alberta Street is one of those wonderful Portland districts full of shops and restaurants that are all individually-owned and operated by Portland locals. It's a special place to visit that has been highlighted by multiple media sources including The New York Times.

Toward the end of 2007, owner Matt Thomas moved to Bend, Oregon for a few months to build-out the company's second location. Opened in January 2008, Townshend's Bend Teahouse is situated in the city's downtown corridor. The teahouse itself combines the same formula that makes the Portland store unique with a larger space featuring concrete floors and a brick wall down one side. It has become a favorite meeting and study space, and has been voted into the "Best of Bend."

In December of 2010 the Whole Foods Market located in the Hollywood District of NE Portland invited Townshend's to convert their coffee bar into a Townshend's Tea Bar. The space is truly unique and right at home inside the beautiful store, which opened only a year previous. All 100+ of our teas are available there, in addition to locally-made Ruby Jewel Ice Cream. There is a small "Townshend's-style" seating area, free wireless Internet, and of course all the amazing foods offered by the market. The pace at the Tea Bar is mellower than at our teahouses, so this is a great spot to visit if you would like to chat about tea with one of our knowledgeable TeaTenders.