Hi! I'm Elizabeth Bretko, I'm a kitchen witch & flower farmer.

 

In 2014, with the help of over 300 people via Kickstarter, I opened a manufacturing space & tea shop in Grants Pass, Oregon.

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But it all started in 2000 at ashland's Bloomsbury Coffeehouse with the magical Heartsong Chai. This cardamom rich, spicy, masala chai turned my life's path from social worker to chai business entrepreneur.

 

In the early days, I brewed chai at the legendary Evo's Cafe at night once they closed. Then by day, I delivered to cafes & restaurants by bicycle! This lead us to create our bicycle grinder, that we still use today to crush our chai spices.

 

In 2002 I turned the garage of my home into a commercial kitchen, then grew distribution up the I-5, Eugene & Portland. This was also the year we introduced the Habanero Honey Brew. #habanerohoneybrewforever #ifyouknowyouknow

 

In 2007, together with a team of ambitious players, we expanded production capacity, transforming Ashland's former Pizza Hut into a Chai Hut! a 200 gallon capacity tea brewery, tasting room & cafe. 

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In that time, Heartsong Chai atteneded the Oregon Country Fair, Burning Man, PickAthon & High Sierra Music Festival. We served so much chai to so many people & I'm forever grateful for those epic life experiences!

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Sadly, the US economy tanked in 2008, just as the chai hut was up & running! we expanded our distribution into Seattle & with rising fuel costs, It was just too much, too fast. we closed the Chai Hut closed.

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For three years I worked odd jobs, launched myself into motherhood & learned how to grow marigolds. And in 2013 I did a Kickstarter project that launched this business & built a kitchen/brick & mortar shop downtown Grants Pass. (thanks to all our contributors! woot! woot!)

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The global pandemic brought so many changes for all of us! I stopped keeping regular hours at the shop but continue to be open by appointment. It's still our production space so if the lights are on, come in! Meanwhile, I Pivoted focus to farmers markets, events & online sales.

 

In July 2020 I bought a 1973 Miley horse trailer & along with dear friends, renovated it into a pop up shop. It's the cutest! Thanks for reading all this & Follow along on instagram or facebook: (@uberherbal) as this herbal journey continues! Be well.

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