Biography of Cynthia Yoshitomi, Proprietor of Tea by the Sea
Did you know that TEA is the most consumed beverage in the world after water? Did you know that the
People of Ireland consume more tea per capita than any other people in the world? These facts about Tea
inspires Cynthia to spread the good news about TEA.
Cynthia was born and raised in Los Angeles, the City of Angels. She currently lives in beautiful Hueneme
Beach, California which is approximately fifty miles north of Los Angeles with her husband, Jerry. Hueneme
means “resting place” in language of the native people of Southern California. It was in this resting place
that she remembered her dream about TEA:
While working as a VISTA Volunteer in Arizona in the 1970’s she experienced that having TEA with people
was one of the best ways to encourage them to do personal reflection as well as to engage in real
conversations with one another. It was a wonderful community organizational tool! She decided then and
there to open an International Tea store that would have a “world café” feel to it. It has only become a
dream come true in her bounty years. She believes that having TEA enhances the cre.a.tiv.i.tea of people
who desire to make the world a better place to live. Having TEA also encourages understanding,
forgiveness, and humor.
She is known to also enjoy an occasional cup of cowboy coffee in the mornings but always makes time to
have tea with her husband, Jerry and/or friends in the afternoon. Cindy and Jerry have two grown sons,
David and Joseph who both live in Los Angeles and also drink tea. Her 93 year old mother, Mary Driggs
White, has blessed this project and process of tea making. She truly was the first person to give Cindy a cup
of tea.
Cynthia has been Certified in Tea by the Specialty Tea Institute in New York and continues her education in
tea by listening to her customers, reading and continuing her education through tea education classes. She
has a Bachelor of Arts degree and Masters in Education degree from Arizona State University. She has spent
most of her professional life as an administrator and Campus Minister at various Colleges, Universities and
high schools in Southern California. She hopes you enjoy the tea selection and information contained in
TEA BY THE SEA, and encourages you to write her about your tea experiences.
Our contact information
| About Tea by the Sea |
