What the Pluck? Lindsay’s Common Grounds finds common cause with artisan tea maker

The owner of an independent specialty coffee shop in Kawartha Lakes, Common Grounds, is embracing a plucky tea upstart — becoming the exclusive provider of these teas in Lindsay.

Pluck Teas has been capturing the imagination of Toronto’s restaurant scene based on the tea founder’s vision of premium tea leaves sourced from ethical growers around the world.

Pluck founder, Jennifer Commins, takes things a step further though. She adds local Ontario flavours from nearby farms “inspired by the regions and cities she loves most,” according to Pluck’s website.

That’s how you’ll find tea blends like Muskoka Chai — dried Muskoka cranberries added to traditional Chai made with an organic Assam black tea, that also features whole cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper. There’s names like Ginger Snap, Fields of Green, and – wait for it — CTRL+ALT+DEL.

Other unique local ingredients include Prince Edward County Lavender and grape skins from Southbrook Vineyards in Niagara.

“We embraced the vision of this company right away,” says Common Grounds owner Jake Norris.

“The tea is ethically sourced, there’s local ingredients from Ontario, and each bag is handmade in Toronto in small batches – what’s not to like?” Norris says, who also carries organic, fair trade coffee blends.

That’s why he made sure Common Grounds jumped at the chance to be the only provider of the tea in Lindsay.

It’s an interesting addition to Common Ground’s laid back vibe. The coffee and tea with light fare is only one half of the business, with the other half reserved for Pita Pantry – something Norris has been doing for 23 years.

Norris’ dual pita-coffee business took over the property when the Lindsay Post ceased publication there in 2013.

The business is also known for its Coca-Cola collectibles, with it being recognized as a ‘curious collection’ destination to visit in Kawartha Lakes.