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TotaliTea: Calgary Family Tea Boutique Since 2002

TotaliTea offers 14 flavored organic Grade A matcha varieties at its family-operated Calgary Farmers Market tea boutiques.
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Who is TotaliTea?

TotaliTea is a family-operated matcha boutique launched at Calgary Farmers’ Market in 2002, offering 14 flavored organic Grade A matcha varieties. Its signature Matcha Fusion lattes combine high-quality matcha with real fruit purees, balancing ceremonial-grade character with modern flavor innovation.

Harvest relies on manual plucking and ichibancha first flush in Uji, Japan for delicate ceremonial grades. The multi-generational operation, with family members joining in 2010, ensures continuity in hand-blending premium ingredients.

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TotaliTea in details

TotaliTea has been Calgary’s trusted source for premium loose-leaf tea and organic matcha since 2002. As an independent, family-operated tea boutique, this local business brings over two decades of expertise to tea lovers at both Calgary Farmers’ Market locations.

A Family Legacy of Quality

Owner Shelley built TotaliTea from the ground up with a clear vision: to inspire and educate people about the health benefits and pure pleasure of high-quality loose-leaf tea. Every aspect of the business reflects this hands-on approach—from curating the finest teas to hand-blending unique flavors with premium ingredients, all packaging and labeling happens right in Calgary.

Family remains at the heart of operations. Shelley’s children have worked alongside her in both the storefront and warehouse, while nieces, nephews, and family friends contribute to the team. This genuine family atmosphere creates a welcoming experience that customers notice immediately.

What Makes TotaliTea Different

The selection speaks for itself: over 200 loose-leaf teas and unique blends, plus 14 flavored organic Grade A matcha varieties in options like strawberry, peach, and pineapple. Each matcha pouch delivers 40 servings of versatile, health-focused energy.

Beyond tea, TotaliTea offers:

  • Handmade pottery from local Alberta, Manitoba, and BC artisans
  • Custom tea blends tailored to individual preferences
  • Specialty coffee beans, including their Mexican Medium Roast
  • Tea lattes, cold-brew iced teas, and matcha drinks to go
  • Wholesale and co-branding services for businesses

Community Connection

Find TotaliTea at Calgary Farmers’ Market South (Thursday-Sunday, 9am-5pm) and West (Wednesday-Saturday, 9am-7pm; Sunday 9am-5pm). The hashtag #makingteacool captures their approachable philosophy—tea drinking should be fun, accessible, and part of everyday wellness.

With free samples in every order and personalized service that helps customers discover their perfect blend, TotaliTea has built lasting relationships with Calgary’s tea community. Whether you’re a matcha beginner or a seasoned tea enthusiast, this family business offers the expertise, quality, and genuine care that only comes from 20+ years of dedication to the craft.

About the TotaliTea Matcha

TotaliTea offers organic, grade A matcha powders that pair traditional quality with inventive flavours. The collection runs to 14 distinct varieties, from classic ceremonial-grade matcha to creative fruit blends such as strawberry, peach and pineapple.

Fusion lattes

The signature Matcha Fusion lattes blend high-quality matcha with real fruit purees, creating unique flavour profiles that keep matcha's traditional character while appealing to modern tastes.

Blending approach

The selection reflects TotaliTea's broader philosophy of hand-blending premium ingredients and creating custom blends that cater to individual customer preferences, so each matcha balances flavour innovation with the qualities expected of a proper ceremonial powder.

Harvest location

TotaliTea's matcha quality stems from traditional harvesting practices refined over centuries. Leaf harvesting uses three techniques, each shaping the final product differently: manual plucking, knife harvesting and machine harvesting.

Manual plucking

Manual plucking is the highest-quality method, allowing careful selection of only the finest leaves. Styles include imperial (bud and one leaf), fine (bud and two leaves) and average (bud and three leaves), each shaping quality and flavor. Caffeine and polyphenols concentrate in the bud and decrease with leaf coarseness, making selective picking important.

Harvest timing and region

The first harvest, ichibancha, is most prized for ceremonial grade, yielding the most delicate flavor; picking recurs every 7 to 15 days in peak season. In Uji, Japan, traditional hand-picked methods predominate to maintain the highest standards.

TotaliTea History

TotaliTea was founded in 2002 by Shelley Fink at Calgary Farmers' Market, beginning over two decades as an independent, family-operated loose-leaf tea business serving the Calgary community.

Family involvement has remained central to the company. Around 2010 Shelley's children joined store and warehouse operations, and nieces, nephews and family friends formed part of the workforce, establishing a multi-generational business that continues today.

January 1, 2002

Shelley Fink established TotaliTea as an independent, family-operated loose-leaf tea business at Calgary Farmers' Market, beginning over two decades of serving handcrafted, ethically sourced teas to the Calgary community.

January 1, 2010

TotaliTea expanded its family-operated model by integrating Shelley's children into store and warehouse operations, while also employing nieces, nephews, and family friends, establishing a multi-generational workforce that continues today.

January 1, 2015

TotaliTea developed its specialized matcha program, offering organic, grade A matcha powders in innovative flavors including Strawberry, Peach, and Pineapple, positioning itself as a health-conscious alternative to traditional coffee offerings.

January 1, 2020

TotaliTea introduced its signature Matcha Fusion lattes, blending premium matcha with real fruit purees, demonstrating the company's commitment to flavor innovation while maintaining focus on health and wellness benefits for customers.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

What makes TotaliTea's Matcha Fusion lattes different from regular matcha drinks?

TotaliTea's Matcha Fusion lattes blend their grade A organic matcha with real fruit purees rather than artificial flavoring. This creates a unique combination that maintains the health benefits of traditional matcha while offering flavors like Strawberry, Peach, and Pineapple. The real fruit purees provide natural sweetness and authentic taste, setting these lattes apart from typical matcha beverages that rely on syrups or powdered flavorings.

Can I get custom tea blends made at TotaliTea's Calgary Farmers' Market location?

Yes, TotaliTea specializes in custom blends and special orders at their Calgary Farmers' Market locations. Since they focus on hand-blending premium ingredients, Shelley Fink and her family team can create personalized tea blends based on your specific preferences. This service reflects their commitment to individual customer needs and their expertise in tea curation that they've developed since 2002.

How many different matcha flavors does TotaliTea offer, and are they all organic?

TotaliTea offers 14 different matcha flavors, all made with grade A organic matcha powder. Their selection includes both classic matcha and inventive flavors such as:

  • Strawberry matcha
  • Peach matcha
  • Pineapple matcha
  • Plus 11 additional varieties

All varieties maintain the same grade A organic certification, ensuring consistent quality across their entire matcha line while providing options for different taste preferences.

Why does TotaliTea emphasize that their matcha provides calm energy with less caffeine than coffee?

TotaliTea positions their grade A matcha as a health-conscious alternative that delivers calm energy, immune support, and enhanced cognitive function with lower caffeine content than coffee. This reflects the unique properties of high-quality matcha, which contains L-theanine - an amino acid that promotes relaxation while maintaining alertness. Their emphasis on these benefits aligns with their commitment to wellness and their understanding of matcha's traditional health properties.

What role does Shelley Fink's family play in TotaliTea's daily operations?

Shelley Fink helms TotaliTea as a true family enterprise, with family members actively involved in both store and warehouse operations. This hands-on family involvement has been central to their success since 2002 and enables their personal approach to customer service. The family operation allows them to maintain quality control over their hand-blending processes and ensures the personal connection with the Calgary community that sets TotaliTea apart from larger commercial tea retailers.