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• Love and Loss in India

If you were casting the role of Tea Lady, you might choose a soft woman with a doughy nature. Maybe you'd pick a spinster who has a serious passion for bone china and a pension for plushy chairs and quiet nights by the fire. Maybe she has cats, lots of cats.

Mrs. Kelly of Mrs. Kelly's Custom Teas would blow your Tea Lady right off the map. Not content to sit by the fire, Mindy Kelly is a driven individual with boundless energy who has created one of the most successful food companies around. With her husky voice she'll proudly tell you that it's actually a family affair, that she's sucked her husband and kids into the business along with her. They're the ones you see manning the farmer's market stalls week after week.

Chat with Mindy for five seconds and you'll see that she's not just passionate about tea and business, but about the reach it's afforded her. A few years ago, she traveled to India as part of an American tea delegation sponsored by the Specialty Tea Institute. She was amazed and humbled by the people whose tea she imports, and will expressively tell you how it changed her world view.

This weekend you can chat-up Mindy and her clan at the annual Tea Tasting. Held in the old Grain Belt Brewery which houses the company, this has become quite the festive event. While sampling over 100 of their specialty teas, you can stroll art galleries or check out products and seminars by local chocolate god B.T. McElrath, peruvian food princess Rachel Rubin, or bread master Klecko.

December 1-2 ... 9am - 4pm ... bring a non-perishable food donation or $2 for Second Harvest Heartland.