downtown fresno blog

Posted by Kim Leonard

Tomorrow is the last day to vote for your favorite downtown Fresno restaurant to win some seriously amazing prizes as part of the $25,000 prize package for Restaurant Makeover.

We visited Raizana Teas this morning and got seriously pumped up, not only on the new expansion of their shop, but also (and especially) on shots of matcha. In addition to a beautiful new tea room with reclaimed wood accents, they’re rolling out new drinks and treats in the very near future.

Within a month’s time they’ll be adding matcha drinks to their already delicious lineup of hand crafted tea blends. (I personally am a huge fan of the Lavender Vanilla Rooibus tea with cream and sugar. Hot or iced, this one always satisfies!)

Picture this: you’ll be able to sneak away from the office, order a tea and a snack and work from their tea room in peace instead of having to put up with that co-worker who types too noisily and skips from her desk to the copier. (That’s not a self description at all.  Nope.)

Sol Orozco, co-owner, was even talking about putting an epicurean twist on the classic comfort food: toast. Think chocolate + salt + olive oil, or cream cheese + herbs. I might cry if I don’t have some of that in front of me soon. There will also be a revolving door of pastries depending on the time of year- she mentioned pan from a Mexican bakery in the winter, or french pastries during warmer months. She’ll add a signature item she makes herself as well.

Raizana never fails to amaze us with the way they’re always looking two to three steps ahead of where they are. When pieces of one puzzle are all coming together, they’re already ripping open the next box and starting to sort the edge pieces.

We just love Raizana and are thrilled to have them participating in Restaurant Makeover!

Here’s a little more about Raizana. Prepare to fall in love!

” We loved the historic building, and have jumped on board the downtown revitalization effort.”

When Raizana co-owner Sol had insomnia, she used her culinary background to create a valerian sleepy-time tea inspired by her grandmother’s recipes (but that didn’t smell like sweaty socks). When friends and neighbors gave it a try, they encouraged the husband-wife team to start a business. Sol is the inspiration for the company; she creates the blends and is in charge of production and purchasing. Pablo has a masters in Business and manages business development, sales, and marketing. He loves finding creative solutions to business challenges.  Sol & Pablo are from Villahermosa & Mexicali and have lived in Fresno 8 yrs with daughter Victoria and Igor the pug. They enjoy traveling the world, learning languages (Eng, Spa, Fren, Port), supporting other entrepreneurs,  and (trying) to live healthier (fitness/nutrition)

“Our shop expansion WILL move forward and succeed. If we’re chosen for the Restaurant Makeover it will happen faster and with greater community involvement: We would have a greater awareness of the DFP’s vision to revitalize Downtown with business involvement through a successful tangible project that can serve as an example of the growth opportunity.”

What make’s Raizana unique?

“We manufacture & serve unique hand-crafted loose-leaf teas and brewed tea/iced tea + snacks and pastry.” 

Makeover wish-list

• We will improve the new space to make it a dedicated retail tea shop/lounge (separate from wholesale manufacturing).
• We will make it appealing for dine-in customers, business meetings and special events.
• Additional seating, additional counter/bar space,
• Updated menu with a matcha bar, macaroons and other fancy bites
• Sleek decor/design to match new retail packaging.

If they win, their signature item would be…

“The Revitalize Downtown Blueberry Matcha Shot:
Downtown will be rejuvenated + modernized (with antioxidants) and have sustained energy and focus for the work to come (slow-release caffeine) .”