Lazy Bear Tea

At Taste of Tea, we believe that the tea world is richer and more inspiring than most people realize. Over the years, many fascinating brands have emerged — some small, some short-lived — but all of them contributing to the global tea story in unique ways. Through our Tea Heritage series, we highlight these brands not because they still operate, but because they once brought something special to the industry. We want to preserve and share their stories to celebrate the creativity, sustainability, and diversity that continue to shape tea culture.

Lazy Bear Tea was one of the most original voices in the modern tea space — a brand that brewed tea not from leaves, but from cascara, the dried husk of the coffee cherry. Founded in 2017 by Daniela Uribe, Erik Ornitz, and Drew Fink, the company offered a refreshing beverage that didn’t taste like coffee at all, but rather resembled a smooth, slightly fruity black tea. Their goal was clear: to create something delicious, functional, and sustainable — all while supporting coffee farmers and reducing agricultural waste.

The inspiration came from Daniela’s upbringing on Colombian coffee farms, where cascara was often discarded or dumped into rivers. Seeing a Starbucks cascara latte years later sparked the idea: could this overlooked byproduct become the base of a modern tea? Lazy Bear Tea answered yes — and introduced Americans to a centuries-old tradition that had never been bottled for mainstream markets.

With flavors like mint, lemon, and agave, and brewed in a shared kitchen in Boston, Lazy Bear Tea made its way into local stores and gained a loyal following. But beyond the product itself, the brand helped open a broader conversation about upcycling, farmer income, and the potential for tea to come from surprising origins.

At Taste of Tea, we highlight stories like these because they reflect the innovation and depth that define the tea world. Brands like Lazy Bear Tea remind us that tea isn’t limited to leaves — it’s a category shaped by people, purpose, and creative thinking.