Why are you serving free tea?
Serving free tea is an experiment in service. The main thing that serving free tea does is bring people together. Community is not only a path, but a destination as well. We feel that community is the first step towards any kind of positive social or environmental change. See the About page for more info.

How long have you been serving tea?
The first tea servings started in January of 2006 on Hollywood Blvd. See our History page for more on this.

Are you selling tea?
No.

Why not?
The free tea concept is based on the idea that goods or services can be offered without expecting anything in return. This is known as the gift economy. We’re not down-playing the selfishness surrounding capitalism, we’re just up-playing the selflessness and compassion that come with gifting. Selling any tea, even if it were on our website like some people have suggested, is contrary the main concepts of the Free Tea Party.

Wow, this is so unique!
No, actually, not really. Free tea parties happen all over the world millions of times per day. We just don’t realize this in America because we’re not a tea culture. Head to England for afternoon tea, South America for a Maté session, or any part of Asia for, well, just about any occasion. Tea to these tea cultures represents connecting with friends and strangers, relaxing and shedding outside worries, slowing down, settling disputes, finding beauty in simple things, etc. We are just taking these aspects of tea and bringing them to the people of North America.

How is the tea bus sustained?
Most of our tea and tea supply costs are covered by our sponsors, donors, and people like you! Many people give back to the bus as it travels the land through monetary donations, hands on help, and resource sharing. Travel and other costs are covered by Guisepi.

Guisepi, what is your favorite kind of tea?
Well, that’s a good question, but I always answer it the same: It depends on the situation and how I feel. In the morning I like a good full-bodied green tea. If I am driving far, I like a thermos of hot water for Maté or Holy Maté. For a Zen tea serving session, I like Sense of Peace (white tea, mint, rose petals) because it has a light amount of caffeine and evokes what the title implies. One of my favorite non-caffeinated blends is called the Peace Blend, which is comprised of spearmint, chamomile, lavender, cinnamon, passionflower, and rose petals. I also enjoy brewing up and drinking concoctions for specific health and vitality related concerns.

Are you affiliated with the “Tea Parties” that are happening all over the country?
No, we are not political, although we do support people and movements that strive for positive social and environmental change. Politics is just an incidental aspect to this.

Is the Free Tea Party a non-profit?
In the legal sense, no, we are not a tax-deductible 501(c)3 as conferred by the IRS. Yet, in the sense that we don’t make money doing this, yes we are “non-profit.” However, we feel that the term non-profit implies that no good comes from the activities of these kinds of organizations. The term profit means much more than just the monetary sense. We believe that there is a lot of social, environmental, and personal profit that comes out of our activities. Our revolution is a ground up, grassroots approach that needs no permission from above.

Is it mushroom tea?
Well, no actually, it’s not. Yes, we are peace-loving school bus traveling folks, however we adhere to a strict no drugs or alcohol policy while serving tea.

Do you document any of this?
Yes, check out our Photos page. We are also doing some filming for a short video for this website.

Can I serve free tea too?
Yes! It is one of the most simple and easy things one can do to make positive change. Soon-to-come is a page on hosting your own free tea party. But don’t let this anticipation stop you. As tea master Sen no Rikyu once said: “The Way of Tea is naught but this: first you boil water, then you make the tea and drink it." It is easy. Just make it and share it.

Where can I learn more about tea?
We are working on an About Tea page, which you should find helpfu when completed. Also take a look at our Links and Sponsors pages.