A Taste of Tea At Tea Lula

Sheila Duda's passion and love of tea have translated into a unique Park Ridge business.

Tea Lula, 11 S. Fairview Ave., began as a retail shop in March 2008 with a tasting counter. It has become a community gathering place and intriguing stop even for the non-tea drinker.

"It was very important to me that people could taste the tea," Duda said. "You can only get so much from smell."

Sheila Duda and her husband Fred visited the Glenburn Tea Estate in India earlier this month and both are certified tea specialists.

Duda's shop has a selection of 100 unique loose leaf teas "from gardens around the globe."

Over time the business has evolved, and although still primarily a retail shop, customers can now buy a cup of tea and enjoy it at the bar. Tea Lula sits about 10 customers.

Duda said that because loose leaf tea is relatively new to most people, she wanted to give customers a chance to sample it.

"It's not a matter of loose leaf tea being necessarily better," Duda said. "But it is a different flavor experience."