Brewing a business that's her cup of tea

Traveling trailer brings specialty drinks, pastries on the road

Like many people, Erin Green spent a lot of time at home during the pandemic. She was homeschooling her then-10-yearold son Nigel, working in her garden and baking — a lot. Little did she know then that her hobbies would intersect.

As the Oakley mom dabbled more into baking and gardening, growing herbs, vegetables and lettuce for fresh salads, her thoughts turned to future business ventures. First up was finding a natural fertilizer for her garden. She was frightened by chickens but delighted with the thought of ducks waddling around fertilizing her large backyard and eating any harmful garden slugs and snails. Ducks became her “pandemic pets.”

And from the ducks came eggs that were good for baking, Green said. It wasn't long before Green had a thriving garden and was busy experimenting with her favorite cakes and pastries while planning a business that would combine her interests. Green had worked briefly in marketing, but that job had ended and her son was back in public school, so she had more time to work on her own venture, she said.

Green also loved drinking tea. Her grandmother, Frances, who immigrated from Barbados, once a British colony, had instilled in her a love of fragrant teas, and she thought why not open a tea room? But costs were high for a brickand-mortar business, so Green decided to take a tea business, with a small trailer, on the road.

Her traveling tea room was born. We recently asked Green about The Hen and the Drake Modern Tearoom. Her answers were edited for length and clarity.

Q

How did you come up with the name for your business?

A

Of course, drake is the name for a male duck, and hence The Hen and the Drake (reflecting her love of ducks). And, I wanted to bring across that it is more elegant and elevated.

Q

Where did you host your first tea?

A

I did a tea for a mother and her pregnant daughter in my backyard.

PHOTOS BY ARIC CRABB — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Erin Green, center, of The Hen and Drake Modern Tearoom serves tea to Chelsea Nissinen, left, and Deborah Mckenzie in her backyard on March 19in Brentwood. Green started her business first baking pastries and brewing teas and later holding tea parties at her home.

Roobios tea is poured from a kettle into a cup by busines owner Erin Green.

There are a variety of teas available at The Hen and Drake Modern Tearoom.

Green started by serving pastries and has built her business from there.