Most recently, she is the creator & chief formulator of Magic Hour Tea & Transformation (www.ClubMagicHour.com), based here in Ojai. Magic Hour was founded in Ojai, where, Zhena describes, "the sunset and sunrise create an electric pink Magic Hour, where the light illuminates the landscape and reminds us that through nature everything is possible."

Zhena began hosting tea events on the back porch at Nutmeg's Ojai House more than 25 years ago. She founded Zhena's Gypsy Teas, which she sold after it became a national sensation. Her latest venture brings all of her expertise together as an entrepreneur, author, speaker and transformational leader. 

When she started her business, she was a single mother with $6 to her name and grew it into a multimillion-dollar company revolving around the idea of "fair trade," sourcing her teas from small, committed tea growers in Sri Lanka.

Life by the Cup chronicled her experiences and is in development for a TV series by Mark Wahlberg’s production company, creators of HBO shows Boardwalk Empire, Entourage, Ballers, and In Treatment. 

Besides the fascinating role of tea in purposeful living, we talk about living in Ojai, the changes we've seen in our decades here, the challenges of self-employment, her innovative and healthful herbal tea blends, and how life gets better when we slow down and share our time with our friends and family. We did not talk about the second Opium War, Australian rabbit-proof fences or the electoral college.

You can learn more at ...

zhena.tv

clubmagichour.com