Everyone seems to be looking for the Spice of Life — that little something that makes each day a little more flavorful. Colleen Messner found hers when she took over ownership of Old Florida Spice Traders at 59 Hypolita Street in March of 2008.
“Shortly after I joined we became Spice & Tea Exchange,” says Messner. Today, Spice & Tea Exchange offers a wide variety of teas, spices, blends, and rubs at 56 locations in multiple states from Florida all the way to Alaska. Thanks to her and her knowledgeable staff, the two Ancient City locations are able to provide customers with a variety of custom spice blends.
“We listen to our customers inputs and feedbacks. When they come in looking for a certain flavor, we can work with them to blend what they are looking for. We also use customer feedback to increase our variety of stock that we carry,” Messner elaborates. With over 85 in stock spice blends and dry rubs, Spice & Tea Exchange is sure to have the flavor you are looking for.
Much like the way they provide spices to enhance the enjoyment of food, over the years Spice & Tea Exchange has provided support to the community to benefit the lives of others. “We have donated time and money to organizations like Dining With Dignity, Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol, and I’m currently involved with the St. Augustine Rotary Club,” Messner says of her team’s philanthropic efforts.
Messner says “I never thought of myself as a creative, but Spice & Tea Exchange has nurtured my creativity. I have had a lot of fun and seen a lot of growth in our brand over the years….My philosophy is to share with people the kindness and compassion I have received throughout my life. That, along with our product expertise is what we want our customers to experience when they come in.”
Spice & Tea Exchange • 59 Hypolita Street • (904) 826-3770
167 San Marco Ave. • (904) 495-4493 • Visit their website
