The Interview —

Adi Arezzini, Co-founder and CEO of Teami Blends

While serving in the Israeli army as a combat fitness instructor for artillery soldiers, I started having terrible digestive issues. My body wasn't absorbing the nutrients from food properly, which led to terrible stomach bloating. I tried everything to solve it—including changing my diet, fitness routine, sleep regiment, etc. and nothing worked. I began to research digestive issues and holistic solutions and found tea! Utilizing the benefits of tea, I was able to get my gut health back on track, and that’s when I saw the potential to help others improve their health.

I love being able to make products that help change people's lives for the better. Getting messages, reviews and, dm's from customers who use our products to improve their own health is what I live for. Additionally, I enjoy seeing how people with different health concerns, can see changes to their digestion, mood, energy level, and skin complexion, simply by adding our natural products into their routines.

The biggest challenge I faced when starting Teami was doing everything myself! When I started the brand, I was the accountant, the warehouse packer, the marketer, the customer service rep, the copywriter, the product designer, and art director! It was a lot for one person to do! By realizing I needed support and hiring a team, I was able to start delegating work and really focus on the areas that only I could do!

I wake up and workout between 7:00-8:00 a.m. at my home gym and then head to work, aiming to arrive by 9:00 a.m. Once I arrive, the rest of my morning is usually filled with team meetings and going through my inbox. Once this is complete, I check in with the fulfillment team to make sure all orders are still on track, and then I segway into marketing and overseeing the current projects. With so many different departments and projects, no two days look the same. Once everyone goes home and the office is quiet, I tend to work on bigger projects.

Keep it simple! Drink water (1/2 -1 gallon per day), exercise (3-5 times per week) and eat real foods (not packaged foods). However, in order to be successful and truly see a change in your health and happiness, you need to be consistent with your wellness routine. It usually takes 3 months to see major changes, so don’t give up!

I’m currently obsessed with Body by Loud Luxury.

I love weight lifting and spin classes to stay fit! Through lifting heavy weights, I am able to see immediate changes in my physique, and I love spinning to get in a good cardio sesh!

My biggest guilty pleasure would have to be ice cream. I could eat it anytime, which is a problem since my favorite ice cream shop, What’s the Scoop, is on my street in Portland!

Hmm... I only drink red wine. ;)

Formulating amazing new tea-infused skincare products that will launch later this year! I LOVE making products that are different than anything else on the market!