Tracy Stern has been a tea lover since her visits in college to Europe. An avid traveler, Tracy collects unique artifacts from all over the world. As an art history student abroad, she visited several elegant salons throughout Europe and became fascinated with the history of tea. It was this experience that inspired her collection of unique tea sets and a dream of having her own tearoom. That dream came true in 1994 when Tracy opened The Royal Tampa Tearoom & Gift Shop. In addition to creating and blending her own line of Royal Tea named after several royalty, she sold her paintings, decoupage and edible treats in the gift shop. Tracy's legacy continues to flourish today as the new owner has expanded the business while guarding its original recipes and traditions.