Our Story

Laurie Jackson

Welcome to Todd & Holland Tea Merchants

After almost thirty years owners, Bill and Janet Todd, decided it was time to retire. As the new owner, Laurie Jackson, I am proud to be continuing the story of Todd & Holland. Let’s start from the beginning.

For the serious tea drinker, once introduced to fine teas, there is no turning back! As a child growing up, Bill Todd often drank iced tea with his English grandmother. She liked her tea strong. It wasn't a proper iced tea until the spoon would stand up straight in the glass. For young Bill sugar was the answer. Spoonfuls of sugar made the tea go down and tea of choice for many years.

In the late 80’s, Bill tasted choice rare teas for the first time. He couldn't believe the difference. These fine teas needed no sugar to make them enjoyable. The teas were full-bodied. Their aromas were superb and their astringency was pleasant and refreshing, not harsh and bitter as were the teas of his youth. Thus began one person’s adventure exploring the wonderful world of tea. After several years of seriously studying tea, Bill launched Todd & Holland Tea Merchants in 1994 with a web site and a mail list.

In 1996 Todd & Holland moved into a charming white brick building in River Forest. The store had a quaint kitchen for cupping and preparing teas, floor to ceiling tea shelves and room for many functional tea accessories.

During his time, Bill has made many tea pilgrimages to China, Taiwan, Tibet, and Japan. Janet (his wife) and Marianne enjoyed attending shows in several countries looking for new and different teaware. This journey continues as we work with trusted suppliers and forge new relationships to bring to market unique teas and teaware for your delight.

Newly Opened Store on Madison Street

In 2005 Todd &Holland packed up the wall of tea, all the teas, teapots, and teacups and led the employees and customers to bustling Madison Street in Forest Park to a newly renovated store.

Big windows on three sides make evening window shopping after hours a treat and a destination where you will be greeted warmly, you can talk tea, and gather some news.

Madison Street in Forest Park is a happening place. There are street festivals and fun events planned throughout the year. Some of the biggest crowds come for the Holiday Walk, held first week of December.

To many people the sheer number and variety of teas is at first overwhelming. We carry on a regular basis about 250 different teas and tisanes. We source organic and sustainably harvested teas when available with no additional sugars added to blends. To keep things fresh, each year we also add limited time seasonal teas as well as air freighted first flush teas (first tea harvesting of the season).

One of our tasks as tea merchants is to demystify loose leaf tea so that our customers will find themselves well on their way to a good understanding of tea in all its varieties. We are enthusiastic and passionate about our fine teas and try to take every opportunity to ‘infect’ our customers with our contagious love and enthusiasm for choice, rare teas. It is, however, the tea that does the talking. For it is in the tasting of fine tea that one begins to understand why we are so excited about tea.

Sniffing jars, teas to sample, and the courteous knowledgeable staff will welcome you to our world of tea. Please visit the store if you are in Chicago. We are close to the Green and Blue El lines and the west line commuter train.

The Future

Our goal is to continue to honor the legacy created by Bill and Janet while moving towards the future. We look forward to bringing you new experiences and events and to continuing to delight the senses and taste buds alike.

Looking forward to seeing you in store or online and ‘spillin’ the tea.