Todd & Holland Tea Merchants

Todd & Holland Tea Merchants Supplying Chicagoland with quality loose leaf tea and tea accessories for over 30 years.

Nothing works better to stir sugar into your iced tea than an iced tea spoon, but where did iced tea spoons come from? I...
07/29/2026

Nothing works better to stir sugar into your iced tea than an iced tea spoon, but where did iced tea spoons come from? It seems that flatware manufacturers saw a way to rebrand parfait spoons used to eat a popular late 1800’s desert from France made with layers of ice cream, fruit syrup and whipped cream. In the early 1900’s Americans, having ‘discovered’ the pleasures of iced tea, began to buy specialized tall glasses for the beverage as this ad from the 1950’s suggests and the need for longer spoons followed. We have our own spin on iced tea spoons with a selection of designs and colors.

The lyrics of an old Seals & Croft summer song goes, “Summer breeze makes me feel fine, Blowin' through the jasmine in m...
07/22/2026

The lyrics of an old Seals & Croft summer song goes, “Summer breeze makes me feel fine, Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind.” And one of our Steep & Sip Summer teas is Aladdin’s Love, an enticing mixture of black & green tea with jasmine flowers. Our half-gallon pouches come in a variety of flavors and are perfect for making a pitcher of iced tea to enjoy as you linger in the summer breeze.

Mosquitoes are everywhere this summer; the media suggests that Chicago is one of the worst cities in the U.S. for mosqu...
07/16/2026

Mosquitoes are everywhere this summer; the media suggests that Chicago is one of the worst cities in the U.S. for mosquito activity. Whether you use an insect spray, a portable fan, or a citronella candle, you will end up with a bite. But, you may have an itch-relieving item in your kitchen.

Teas (black and green) contain tannic acid, an anti-inflammatory compound that can restrict blood flow and relieve the itch. Simply place the tea bag on the bite for relief. Store a few used tea bags in a container in your fridge, and you can enhance the soothing effect. If you regularly drink chamomile tea, those flowers also have antioxidant and antihistamine properties and can be used in a similar way.

Tea canisters have been a part of Japanese tea culture for centuries. Often used in Japanese tea ceremonies, they are c...
07/09/2026

Tea canisters have been a part of Japanese tea culture for centuries. Often used in Japanese tea ceremonies, they are considered to play a role in the aesthetics of the ceremony. We offer an amazing variety of airtight containers, perfect for storing tea to prevent exposure to light, air, or moisture, and ensuring that your tea retains its quality while also preventing oxidation. Opening the container allows you to inhale the aroma of the tea leaves and adds a special ritual preparing your first cup of tea each day.

Happy 4th of July! One of the foods associated with this holiday is the watermelon. Watermelons hit their peak harvest i...
07/01/2026

Happy 4th of July! One of the foods associated with this holiday is the watermelon. Watermelons hit their peak harvest in July and, because they are 90% water, they provide an easy refreshing treat at picnics and barbecues. We offer a variety of summer teas including our Watermelon Sunrise with white tea and watermelon, strawberry and orange flavors, perfect for a pitcher of iced tea. We will be closed July 3 through July 5 so enjoy your 4th of July celebrations.

It is said that a Zen Buddhist monk returned from China in the 13th C with tea seeds and planted them on the hills above...
06/25/2026

It is said that a Zen Buddhist monk returned from China in the 13th C with tea seeds and planted them on the hills above Uji. By the 16th C, the growers had discovered cover cultivation, a technique that shades the tea plants and allows a more intense umami flavor to develop as well as an emerald green color. When harvested, the tea leaves are steamed, air-dried, de-stemmed and deveined. This leaves the softest parts called tencha. This is then ground into a fine powder producing Uji matcha. The word matcha translates into ground tea. Matcha is believed to bring calmness and help the drinker to be centered. We offer several Matcha teas that used for tea, smoothies and even ice cream.

Brew yourself a cup of tea and pick up a book this summer. The New York Times has recommendations, from a new crime nove...
06/17/2026

Brew yourself a cup of tea and pick up a book this summer. The New York Times has recommendations, from a new crime novel (The Keeper) by Tana French to humorist David Sedaris’s new book The Land and Its People. The Forest Park Library has a book challenge and its own list of summer reads including Monster of a Land: On the Road in Search of Modern America by Lauren Hough, “…an update of John Steinbeck’s trip in Travels with Charley.” There is even a nonfiction recommendation, The wreck of the Mentor: a true story of death, despair, and deliverance in the age of sail. Whatever you chose, we have the perfect tea. Try our Summer Solstice, a combination of black & green teas mixed with lemon, hibiscus and fruit.

Farmer’s markets have opened and you can catch the scent of freshly picked strawberries. Our caffeine free Strawberry Fi...
06/10/2026

Farmer’s markets have opened and you can catch the scent of freshly picked strawberries. Our caffeine free Strawberry Fields tea offers that same fruity smell. It contains apple, kiwi and strawberry bits along with rosehip peels and hibiscus. It is perfect hot or cold. Add a piece of toast (sourdough from the farmers’ market perhaps) with our amazing Colorado Strawberry Jam for a perfect mid-morning treat. Check out the fresh fruit, produce and breads at the Oak Park’s Farmer’s Market, open Saturday 7 am to 1 pm at 460 Lake St.

Let’s bring back the 1840’s. Why? Because in or around 1840, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, Anna Maria Russell, created the...
06/03/2026

Let’s bring back the 1840’s. Why? Because in or around 1840, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, Anna Maria Russell, created the practice of high tea. And it was not based on idle time; she was hungry! The Industrial Revolution had created jobs that lengthened the work day with dinner served later in the evening; this gap between meals caused her to have a ‘sinking feeling’ in late afternoon. And tea and sweets were an answer to her problem. Today, many of us could use the same break in our day. As summer approaches, a glass of iced tea and a shortbread cookie in the afternoon is a perfect pick-me-up and you can call it high tea.

Flowers are beginning to bloom and with flowers come pollinating insects including bees. Our favorite is the Honeybee (A...
05/27/2026

Flowers are beginning to bloom and with flowers come pollinating insects including bees. Our favorite is the Honeybee (Apis mellifera). Honeybees are social creatures that can live up to 5 years. Worker bees collect pollen and nectar from flowers and produce honey while also playing a vital role in pollinating much of our fruit, vegetable and nut crops. The honey that bees produce can vary in flavor depending upon where they live and the nectar they gather. We offer 100% wildflower honey, and Orange Blossom honey from orange groves in Florida as well as our Sourwood Tree blossom honey from the Appalachian Mountains.

Address

7311 Madison Street
Forest Park, IL
60130

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(708) 488-1136

Website

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