J. ALFRED RITTER
Co-Founder
A restaurant industry veteran, J. Alfred Ritter developed the concept for Zen Zoo Tea during an extended trip to Asia in 1995. It was in the streets of Taiwan that co-founder Linda Yu showed him the throngs of dynamic young people enjoying frothy beverages at bar-like teahouses. The sensational tastes, colors and scents of Bubble Tea as well as the relaxed ambience of these hip teahouses made an instant impression on Ritter. Dedicated to bringing Bubble Tea and the teahouse experience back to America, Ritter began a journey to develop the ideal teahouse for an upscale American audience.
Ritter sought out and studied with the world’s leading Bubble Tea master, Master Chen Zhong Liang, to perfect his drink-making skills and hone his taste buds. Then he and Yu, discovering no high quality fruit syrups available in the United States, developed their own real fruit syrups for use in their ZenFusion recipes. Ritter drew upon his extensive background in restaurant operations and business management to create Zen Zoo Tea, Inc., which operates Zen Zoo Tea located in Brentwood, California. Ritter brings to Zen Zoo Tea, Inc., more than a decade of experience in both successful restaurant start-ups as well as in leading establishments such as Market City Caffe and the Camelback Inn. He holds a degree in international business with a minor in economics from California State University, Los Angeles, where he graduated in the top five percent of his class.
Co-Founder
A restaurant industry veteran, J. Alfred Ritter developed the concept for Zen Zoo Tea during an extended trip to Asia in 1995. It was in the streets of Taiwan that co-founder Linda Yu showed him the throngs of dynamic young people enjoying frothy beverages at bar-like teahouses. The sensational tastes, colors and scents of Bubble Tea as well as the relaxed ambience of these hip teahouses made an instant impression on Ritter. Dedicated to bringing Bubble Tea and the teahouse experience back to America, Ritter began a journey to develop the ideal teahouse for an upscale American audience.
Ritter sought out and studied with the world’s leading Bubble Tea master, Master Chen Zhong Liang, to perfect his drink-making skills and hone his taste buds. Then he and Yu, discovering no high quality fruit syrups available in the United States, developed their own real fruit syrups for use in their ZenFusion recipes. Ritter drew upon his extensive background in restaurant operations and business management to create Zen Zoo Tea, Inc., which operates Zen Zoo Tea located in Brentwood, California. Ritter brings to Zen Zoo Tea, Inc., more than a decade of experience in both successful restaurant start-ups as well as in leading establishments such as Market City Caffe and the Camelback Inn. He holds a degree in international business with a minor in economics from California State University, Los Angeles, where he graduated in the top five percent of his class.
LINDA YU
Co-Founder
An expert in international business, Yu, a native of Taiwan, grew up watching her aunt perform ritual tea ceremonies. Her lifelong reverence for the symbolism of tea in Chinese culture gave Yu the insight to recognize the power of tea to bring people together in a social setting. She saw the Bubble Tea phenomenon spread from small street carts in the city center to large Bubble Teahouses on every corner of metropolitan Taipei, and later she was determined to bring to the United States a bit of what she missed most from her native country – a safe and comfortable place to gather, a place to enjoy each other’s company over a delicious cup of tea.
Together with co-founder J. Alfred Ritter, Yu was instrumental in developing the Zen Zoo Tea concept of a bar-like atmosphere, where customers educate each other about the drinks and food items in a true spirit of camaraderie. Yu’s dedication to tea ensures that each beverage and food item served at Zen Zoo Tea is made with authentic ingredients and served in its purest form while making it simple and easy to replicate at home. Yu brings to Zen Zoo Tea her prior experience as an executive of a multi-million dollar manufacturing company based in Malaysia, as well as her personal, sincere and lifelong devotion to the “art of tea.” Yu graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a major in community studies.
Co-Founder
An expert in international business, Yu, a native of Taiwan, grew up watching her aunt perform ritual tea ceremonies. Her lifelong reverence for the symbolism of tea in Chinese culture gave Yu the insight to recognize the power of tea to bring people together in a social setting. She saw the Bubble Tea phenomenon spread from small street carts in the city center to large Bubble Teahouses on every corner of metropolitan Taipei, and later she was determined to bring to the United States a bit of what she missed most from her native country – a safe and comfortable place to gather, a place to enjoy each other’s company over a delicious cup of tea.
Together with co-founder J. Alfred Ritter, Yu was instrumental in developing the Zen Zoo Tea concept of a bar-like atmosphere, where customers educate each other about the drinks and food items in a true spirit of camaraderie. Yu’s dedication to tea ensures that each beverage and food item served at Zen Zoo Tea is made with authentic ingredients and served in its purest form while making it simple and easy to replicate at home. Yu brings to Zen Zoo Tea her prior experience as an executive of a multi-million dollar manufacturing company based in Malaysia, as well as her personal, sincere and lifelong devotion to the “art of tea.” Yu graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a major in community studies.
Tea Café A Bit of Zen in the Zoo of Life TM