We have some news that's making us emotional. Tea & Turmeric has been voted a Readers' Choice Award Winner for Best Place to Buy Gifts in Laguna Beach.
What makes this award so meaningful is that it came directly from our community. The Readers' Choice Award isn't something we applied for or campaigned for. It's based on votes from real people in Laguna Beach who took time to recognize the shops and businesses that matter to them. When we learned we'd been chosen, it felt like the community was saying, we see what you're doing here, and it matters.
When we first opened our doors on South Coast Highway, we never imagined this. We simply wanted to create a space where people could discover the teas and spices that shaped our family traditions. The kind of gifts that carry intention, warmth, and care.
Over time, something beautiful happened. People began coming in not just for themselves, but for the people they love.
That's how Tea & Turmeric became part of Laguna Beach's gift-giving culture.
What This Award Really Means
This recognition isn't about packaging or product displays. It's about trust.
Customers walk into the shop looking for the perfect gift during meaningful moments. A yoga teacher recovering from surgery. A parent going through chemo. A friend navigating heartbreak. A coworker celebrating a promotion. A neighbor who showed kindness.
You've asked us to help you say things that can be hard to put into words.
"I see you." "I'm proud of you." "You deserve rest." "I'm thinking of you."
And we've gotten to be part of those moments, one thoughtful gift at a time.
That's the real honor behind this award.
How Tea & Turmeric Became a Gift Destination
Gift-giving wasn't part of a business plan. It grew from everyday conversations in the shop.
Someone would taste a tea and say their sister would love it. Another customer would pick up a spice kit as a housewarming gift. Visitors to Laguna Beach began stopping in before heading home, looking for something meaningful to bring back with them.
We listened.
Curated tea gift sets, Ayurvedic spice kits, saffron collections, and custom gift boxes began to take shape because customers kept asking for thoughtful gifts that felt personal and useful.
We also started offering gift wrapping, handwritten notes, and shipping directly to recipients. Because sometimes the most meaningful gift is the one that arrives unexpectedly with a note that says “thinking of you.”
Today, Tea & Turmeric is a place people trust when they want to give something intentional.
Many visitors discover us while searching for a gift shop in Laguna Beach, a tea shop on Pacific Coast Highway, or wellness gifts in Orange County. Others simply walk in and find something they didn’t know they were looking for.
Why Tea and Spices Make Meaningful Gifts
Over the years, we've learned something simple. The best gifts aren't things that sit on a shelf. They become part of daily life.
A nightly cup of herbal tea for sleep. Morning chai shared with family. Cooking with spices that remind someone of home. Saffron used for a special meal.
These small rituals stay with people.
That's why Tea & Turmeric gifts focus on things people actually use. Wellness teas that support stress, sleep, digestion, and immunity. Ayurvedic spice kits that make cooking approachable. Saffron products that feel rare but welcoming.
Every product in the shop is something we would give to our own family.
A Community Shop in Laguna Beach
Tea & Turmeric is located at 1175 S Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, where we've become part of everyday life in the community.
We've helped customers choose holiday gifts, birthday gifts, thank-you gifts, and "just because" gifts. We've shipped tea boxes across the country and helped visitors bring home a small piece of Laguna Beach.
Some customers stop in every week. Others visit once a year during the holidays. Many bring friends and family when they're in town, saying, “you have to see this place.”
Those small moments, repeated day after day, are what built this shop.
How We Help People Choose Gifts
When people shop here, they're not just browsing shelves. They're having conversations.
Someone will come in and say, “my friend is going through a hard time and I don't know what to do.” We'll talk about what might bring comfort. A calming tea. A grounding ritual. Something that says “I'm here.”
Or they'll say, “my sister just had a baby and I want to give her something she'll actually use.” We'll talk about caffeine-free options, stress support, and simple wellness rituals for new parents.
Or “I need a hostess gift for tonight.” We'll ask a few questions and find something beautiful that works.
This is what customers tell us they value most. In a world of fast online shopping and gift cards, there's something meaningful about walking into a local shop and having a real conversation.
Find your next ritual in-store or online at teaandturmeric.com, we can’t wait to help you find the perfect gift for yourself or someone you love.
Thank You, Laguna Beach
Being named a Readers' Choice Award Winner for Best Place to Buy Gifts in Laguna Beach reminds us why we opened Tea & Turmeric in the first place. We wanted to create a space where people could find something meaningful to share with others, something rooted in warmth, tradition, and everyday wellness.
Tea & Turmeric was also named Best Tea Store in Greater Los Angeles, and recognitions like these remind us how fortunate we are to serve both our local community and customers beyond Laguna Beach.
Thank you for supporting our small family business and making Tea & Turmeric part of this community.
With gratitude, Vidya & Kavita
