The Spice & Tea Exchange

About

At The Spice & Tea Exchange of New Canaan, Connecticut we offer a variety of fine spices, handcrafted seasonings, loose-leaf teas, salts, sugars, gifts, and more! Explore some of the best New Canaan gifts and accessories in town. Whether you're new to the culinary scene, own your own food service business, or are simply looking to add a bit of spice to your life, our friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you find the perfect menu additions! We're known for our over 85 handcrafted seasonings, which we hand-mix in store daily. Visit us now at one of the best New Canaan Gift Shops - plus, watch our Spice Masters at work as you sip from a freshly brewed hot or iced tea from the Tea Bar!

Meet the owner

Pam and John Robinson — Owners

Pam and John Robinson are the proud owners of our local The Spice & Tea Exchange franchise. After many shopping visits to the Newport, RI location, Pam and John saw a need for this unique culinary and tea destination in Fairfield County. In 2023, Pam left the legal field after 25 years, to return to her culinary roots. With over 30 years in the wine business, this was an easy transition for John. Tea is wine’s sober cousin. While John is still in the wine business, you can find him at our store a couple of days a week. Next time you are in, ask him what his favorite BBQ rubs are. Pam is the owner/operator. She loves being the face of our business.

Questions and answers

What inspired you to join or start this business?

Pam has a culinary background, and John has been in the wine business for close to 30 years. We are both foodies who after many expensive shopping visits to the Newport, RI location, came to the realization that this type of culinary shop is what is missing in Fairfield County.

What makes your business different?

With over 80 loose-leaf teas and custom blends, you are bound to find something you like. We hand-blend many of our teas, salts, sugars, and custom blends at our blending counter. Our highly trained and friendly staff will guide you through our many products to help you find the perfect product.

What should a first-time customer know?

Our store can be overwhelming when you come in. That is why we love our concept. You can open any of our large jars and smell any of our products. Most days you can sample a tea and/or a spice blend.

What do customers value most about working with or visiting you?

They like that we are the experts in our niche. Especially if they are new to tea. We guide them through our tea selection, help them pick out a tea steeper that meets their needs, and teach them the proper steeping technique. If you are a cook, there is a good chance that we will have that hard-to-find pepper or spice blend that your recipe calls for.

Is there a product, service, or part of the experience you especially want to highlight?

We want people to know that we are more than just a gift shop. Yes, we are a fantastic shop for all your holiday gift shopping, but we are also here for your everyday spice and tea needs. Did you know that our herb and spice prices are on par with the supermarket? They are, and our products are significantly fresher and higher quality.

Why did you pick New Canaan?

We picked New Canaan for 2 reasons. 1. It has a beautiful walkable downtown. There are very few walkable downtowns in CT that have this many mom-and-pop small businesses. 2. John was previously the General Manager for Stewart’s Wine & Spirits for many years. With as many people John knows in town, it is nice to see his prior customers seeking him out again.

Plan your visit

Downtown parking locations and time limits · Business map · New Canaan visitor guides

More Food & Drink businesses

• Craftbottlz — 1 Morse Court, New Canaan, CT 06840
• Francos Wine Merchants — 130 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT 06840
• Gofer Ice Cream — 103 Main Street, New Canaan, CT 06840