In 1986, Davinder Singh left political upheaval in Punjab, India, and moved to the Middle East. Later, he returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he had attended the University of Michigan back in the 1970’s. Leaving behind a prosperous import/export business in India, Davinder delivered pizzas to support his family upon their move to the United States.

Intent on giving his family a comfortable life in America, Davinder developed a business plan for a tea import business.

In 1996, he was named one of 12 preferred vendors by the Kroger Co. Today, Mackinlay Teas has expanded its product line to offer flavored teas, rice, lentils, beans and cappuccino syrups. Davinder’s products are sold in 42 states in nearly 3,000 locations. His expertise was sought to recreate a series of historic teas for the Henry Ford Museum and in 1996, Davinder proudly accepted the Business of the Year Award from the Ann Arbor Community Development Corp.

It is an accepted fact that teas from the same tea gardens show change in characteristics at different times of the year. The Tea Taster, using his unique expertise blends these “different” lots to produce a consistent quality of tea, year after year.

Experts would agree that the art of blending teas is difficult to teach. It is in-born, a gift of nature. Hence a Tea Taster can only translate a limited amount of his expertise or his experience into words since it is the sensitivity of his palate, faculties of taste and smell, along with sureness of proportions that by mixing the exact type and amount of different teas he creates the “right” blend and maintains the consistency of quality. MacKinlay Teas brings to your cup this gift of consistent quality through our selected Tea Imperial brand of teas.