Built from a van, built on rebellion.

No pinkies up. No flowers all around. Just real leaf, loud music and a van that wouldn't quit.

The Racer Tea van at night, its neon trim glowing as car lights streak past

2019 · Thailand & Vietnam

Over coffee.

Two months in Thailand and Vietnam turned Chad on to real loose-leaf tea. Back home, he couldn't find anything like it.

Personally, I'm over coffee. It always just tastes the same.
Chad Webber, in Southbay magazine

The Racer Tea van at night, glowing red, with its lit Tea House sign and a tea latte menu propped by the open door

Branson, Missouri

It started in a van.

Living out of his 1975 Dodge van, Chad started brewing his own blends from a little tea and spice shop. He wanted to show everyone that tea can be incredibly good. Friends kept asking for cups, and his oat milk lattes were a hit at the local farmers market.

…it's working in Missouri? I've lived in L.A. before—I've got my hands on something.
Chad Webber, in Southbay magazine

The Racer Tea van parked by the beach at golden hour, its door open, two people chatting beside it

2020 · Heading west

Sunset and tea.

The van rolled west to Venice, Santa Monica and Downtown L.A., then home to the South Bay, where Chad started "sunset and tea" on the Redondo Beach Esplanade.

I'd show up, and we'd all share a cup of tea at sunset.
Chad Webber, in Southbay magazine

Inside Racer Tea Bar: the Make Tea Not War neon over a wall of polaroids, the bar counter and a checkerboard floor

1611 S Catalina Ave

Then the van got a bar.

The buzz turned into a bar on Catalina Avenue: part speakeasy, part '50s diner, all motorcycles and rock 'n' roll.

I wanted to bring the rest of the world in here, so that way it feels like a little getaway.
Chad Webber, in Southbay magazine

Tea, misunderstood

America has tea all wrong.

Lacking flavor, no personality. I wanted to be bold. And to not have to drink it with my pinky up. How about with grease on my hands and holes in my jeans?
Chad Webber, founder

Tea has caffeine too. It just works differently.

It's a slower onset and a longer duration, so you don't get that spike and then crash.
Chad Webber, in Southbay magazine

Why "Racer"?

Named for the cafe racers.

In 1950s and '60s Britain, young riders called Rockers stripped their motorcycles down to go fast: low clip-on bars, a single seat, nothing extra. They raced between the all-night cafes on Britain's new roads, with London's Ace Cafe as home base. That's where the name comes from: cafe racers.

Hitting 100 mph was doing the ton. Legend says riders would drop a coin in the jukebox and try to race to a landmark and back before the record ended.

Racer Tea runs on the same idea: strip it down to what matters, build it yourself and do it loud.

Chad's silver Suzuki cafe racer with a black diamond-stitched seat, chrome exhaust and spoked wheels — Chad's Suzuki: the actual inspiration for Racer Tea.

Read the menu again.

Our blends are named after the riders and rebels of that world.

The Ton UpDoing the ton: 100 mph on a cafe racer.
The RockerThe leather-jacket riders of the British cafe scene.
The ModThe Rockers' sharp-dressed rivals on Italian scooters.
The TeddyThe Teddy Boys, Britain's first rock 'n' roll rebels.
The GreaserThe American cousin: slicked hair, hot rods and motorcycles.
Twist the ThrottleWhat you do when the light turns green.

That's the short version. Read the whole story in Southbay magazine.

Read the Southbay story

Make tea, not war.

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