When Angela and Dominic Valdes founded Tea Chai Te together in 2003, it was a way for them to create a space where they could share their love for tea with others.
Twenty years later, the couple now wants to expand their product line and rebrand so they can include more people in their original mission.
Portland’s first boba tea maker, Tea Chai Te, is out, and Portal Tea is in.
Angela said she and Dominic named their company this initially because they thought “tea” in three languages was cute and quirky. Over the years, though, they’ve realized that was confusing to some, and a name change felt natural with the other changes.
The shift comes at a time when the couple realized they needed to expand their offerings to customers to be more than just an in-shop experience, Angela said.
“When the pandemic hit and we had to close the shops for a while because everyone was very scared. We took stock of that and realized that we've been a very heavily retail-focused business for so long that if we don't safeguard this business with a good online and wholesale side, then it would put us in this fear mode,” she said.
That’s why they’re coming out with chai concentrates and nitro teas customers can enjoy at home.
Nitro teas are something that haven't really been done before, Dominic said, adding that their samples were well received by industry experts at the recent Specialty Coffee Expo.
“Nitro bubbles are much smaller than the CO2 bubbles, so it's not as harsh as drinking a carbonated drink. It gives it a little bit different viscosity, I would say a little bit of thickness,” Dominic said.
The new products and the rebrand have expanded Portal’s warehouse team from just three, including Angela and Dominic, to nine employees with roles including graphic designer and website, sales and inventory manager.
The value of this investment is in the six figures, Dominic said, which is close to them wagering all the chips they have.
Though Portal’s branding will be different, nothing is changing about its menu or three cafes in Portland. All the rebrand is going to do, Angela said, is ensure customers can access their teas in new, different ways outside of a cafe experience.
“We feel very confident. We put all the work in. People are going to love it,” Angela said. “The shops aren't changing though, it was really important to us to focus on new stuff rather than trying to reinvent what we've already been successful at.”
Portal’s social media is still under its original name for now as it works to update its website and other back-end systems. The 32 ounce chai concentrates are already available for purchase online and in stores, and the nitro teas will be available later in the summer.
