Local blend gets to Oscars
By Jim Schlosser Staff Writer

A little background music, please. "Tea for Two" will do, altered to "Tea for Hugh." Lisa Wynn calls the famous actor by his first name. He sometimes calls her 'Lovey' and 'Teahead'. This cyber-relationship between Wynn of Greensboro and English actor -- and sometimes "bad" boy -- Hugh Grant doesn't get as steamy as a teapot. The two tea-lovers just enjoy exchanging e-mails.

Leap ahead to Sunday's Oscars presentations.

Grant wasn't nominated, but thanks to his influence, Wynn's business product will look dazzling at the show in a silver bag bearing the name of her business, Teas by Design.

Oscar organizers give gifts; A-list celebrities get the most expensive stuff. An extension of the A-list gifts goes to so-called B-list celebrities who attend the Academy Awards festivities. This year, 20 products were selected for the extended list, including Teas by Design.

When Wynn wondered how she was chosen, she e-mailed Grant to ask if he'd been an influence. He slyly said "Yes ... glad you're happy."

When celebrities enter a room at a Beverly Hills hotel for their gifts next week, they'll face one obligation: stand for a photograph with the product.

Wynn can use the photos for promotional purposes.

Her Oscar blend is called Carolina Spice, which can either be green or black, but for this occasion will be black, with the usual flavoring of vanilla, cranberry and orange.  "It's my absolute best seller,'' Wynn said from her kitchen, which she had to build at a cost of $30,000 before health inspectors would let her blend tea there.
She, her husband, Scott, and their three teenagers moved to Adams Farm in Greensboro two years ago from Minnesota after her husband took a job here.

She gave up her tearoom restaurant in Minnesota. Here, she decided to try something new: Custom blending teas to be sold over the Internet. She concocts blends to fit the specifications of customers. The cost: $8.50 a bag.

She recently created "Amanda's Bridal" for a young bride. It included peach flavoring and rose petals. For sad occasions, families ask Wynn to make a custom blend to honor a departed loved one.
Wynn archives blends to allow for refill orders later.

Once, she posted on an Internet bulletin read by tea aficionados what she called a "celebra-tea." The one she advertised that day was Earl Grey, which was concocted and billed as "Hugh Grant's blend."  It was black tea with oil of bergamot.  Two orders came in.

But she also received an e-mail from Grant, and his editor Laine, saying he got a "kick out of the posting."
After that came more e-mails from Grant. The rest is history ...