Som’s Café

Ukraine Tea Blend

Country of Origin:
South Africa / Turkey / Kenya / China / Ukraine/Albania / Egypt/India

Ingredients:
Ceylon tea, Green tea, Rooibos, Apple pieces, Wild Rose buds, Jasmine, Cornflower, Calendula petals, Elderberries, Currants, Hibiscus petals, Hawthorn fruits, Black & Red sparrows, Rosehip peel, Natural flavors.

Description
A beautiful black and green tea blend with fruit forward flavors and a floral finish. It contains forest fruits from Ukraine’s Carpathian mountains and was inspired by a popular Ukrainian tea. 50% of the proceeds from this blend will support emergency relief to Ukrainians.

About Us

Our goal is to use our resources to be an instrument for transformation locally and globally in the countries of origin of our coffee and tea.

Lance Odvody, Owner, Coffee Roaster

Lance has been working in the restaurant industry since he was 17. Paying his way through school at American University in Washington, DC he moved to the Triangle area in 2002 with Maggiano’s.

He worked at the Angus Barn for nearly 14 years in multiple positions and was a member of the Wine Cellar staff there, receiving his Court of Master Sommeliers certification (2nd level) in 2011.

He started Bethesda Roasting Company, a wholesale coffee roasting company (www.bethesdacoffee.com) in 2013. Weekends at a local farmer’s market built the company while relying heavily on the training he received in the sommelier program to create coffee roast profiles. He started Som’s Café in 2017 but had to close the physical location due to COVID-19. He and his wife Ashley re-launched Som’s Café as an online cafe in 2020.

Outside of work Lance also helps with his sons’ cub scout pack, loves gardening, and helps with Financial Peace University, a personal finance program.

Ashley Odvody, Owner, Tea Director

Ashley’s love of tea began through a mentoring relationship twenty years ago. As a campus pastor at UNC-Chapel Hill, NYU, and the University of Zambia for nine years, she shared many cups of tea with students.

Her love of tea grew as she traveled and worked with international students and experienced tea traditions from other cultures. She worked in non-profits and hospitality as well before coming home to nurture three boys in their little years and to help Lance start Bethesda Roasting Company. In 2017 Ashley’s life dream for a tea shop came true through Som’s Café. She was sad to loose the brick and mortar shop due to COVID-19, but excited to expand past the four walls by re-inventing themselves through an internet cafe. She also works part time as a coach helping women with heart & trauma healing through Dr. Barbara Ministries using faith & psychology tools https://drbarbaralowe.com/.

Her background in non-profit fuels her passion for social entrepreneurship and love for customers.

Ashley is a worship leader and loves music and the arts. She throws the best tea parties.

Our Mission, Vision, & Values

Mission:
To bring a Sommelier’s standard of service and beverage expertise to our coffee and tea and to equip customers to experience cafe quality at home.

Vision:
To use our resources to be an instrument for transformation locally and globally in the countries of origin of our coffee and tea.