Sitting contently on his front porch on a brisk Friday afternoon, Chad Morris smiles as he pours himself a steaming cup of chai tea. “This is what’s so great about tea,” he says after taking a sip. “It forces you to slow everything down.”

Despite his unstressed demeanor, Morris’ life is anything but slow. As owner of Chad’s Chai & Tea Company, he spends most of his time brewing, creating, and tasting tea. When he’s not making tea, he’s filling orders for Finnegan’s Wake, Simplyummy, and a host of other spots in town. Add two young kids to the mix, and Morris’ life seems to be one big caffeinated blur.

That’s why these slowed-down, front-porch tea sessions are so near and dear to him. In fact, it’s where Chad’s Chai started.

It was during graduate school in South Carolina that Morris was introduced to chai. “The taste got me hooked, and the fact that it was good for me was an added bonus — like a double-good whammy.” Soon after, he started making his own chai to share with friends. “They loved it … I was amazed.”

After moving to Winston-Salem, Morris and a friend began meeting on his front porch every Friday morning, sharing a small pot of chai and a few hours’ worth of conversation. One particular Friday morning, his friend showed up with a pivotal request. He was getting married soon and wanted Morris to create a pot of his signature chai for the reception, along with some small tea bags for party favors.

The wedding came and went, and sure enough, the chai got rave reviews. It was then that Morris decided to devote his professional life to tea.

Since then, he’s created nearly a dozen loose-leaf teas in addition to his original black chai. Favorites include Green Peace (a mint/green tea), Finnegan’s Wakeup (an Irish breakfast tea), and Oh My Darjeeling (a black tea from India). While other tea makers may offer dozens of varieties, Morris prides himself on keeping a relatively low count. “I went to the work of trying hundreds of teas so I can bring people a few that are really special.”

For locations, brewing tips, and ordering information, go to chadschai.com