Shalva Tea was founded in 2014 by David Ross. While earning his master’s degree in Forestry from Yale University, with a focus on rainforest conservation in the tropics, David traveled to Israel after the devastating Mount Carmel wildfires of 2010. There, he spent a summer researching the causes of and potential solutions to these kinds of fires, including land regeneration, which promotes healthier plant diversity and, ultimately, safer forests.
Through his fieldwork and research, David would stumble across an abundance of native aromatic herbs which he would bring home to drink as relaxing teas after a day in the field. As an avid forager and herbal enthusiast, who could not seem to find any locally made herbal teas in the supermarkets, an idea started "brewing."
David went on to complete his master’s degree, only to return to Israel on a Fulbright scholarship to continue his research where he had left off. On the side, he continued experimenting with his concoctions until he realized that making herbal tea was his true passion and vision. Around the same time, David became convinced that he wanted to live in Israel, and in July 2014, he finally made Aliyah.
Gathering herbs straight from the field!
After moving to Israel, David started his own tea company with no prior business experience and began pursuing his passion for creating exceptional herbal teas. His vision for the future is to make Shalva Tea a household name throughout Israel, while continuing to contribute to the restoration work taking place in the land.
As a committed environmentalist, David wanted his tea company to reflect his values, which is why he emphasizes the use of native Israeli herbs. In addition, the packaging is manufactured in Israel rather than imported, and all ingredients are 100% natural, with no added flavors or aromas. Each tea blend he creates is inspired by the region from which the herbs are sourced.
David also believes in giving back to the community. He partners with Shekel—an organization dedicated to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities—to help package some of his teas.