Lisa Li, Founder & Owner of The Qi
Apr 23, 2025
Meet Lisa Li, founder and owner of The Qi, a flower tea wellness brand located at 27 West 20th Street, Suite 602 in Flatiron.
1. Tell us about your company The Qi and why you chose to open your business in the neighborhood.
The Qi is a time-honored flower tea wellness brand for the modern frantic stressful times, centered around the ritual of drinking ceremonial whole flower teas for beauty and selfcare. I work directly with small family farms across Asia to bring the highest-quality, single-origin flower teas to life—like Shangri-La Rose, Royal Chrysanthemum, and Blue Lotus. I chose to open our tea studio here because Flatiron & NoMad has this beautiful balance of creative energy and lived-in residential feel. It’s a neighborhood filled with beautiful shops, wellness businesses, cafes, and intentional living—everything The Qi stands for. I also live in the area so I truly LOVE the neighborhood.
2. You earned a BA in Marketing at Bentley University before working in the fashion industry. What led you to become an entrepreneur and create your own wellness brand?
After over a decade in fashion, I felt deeply burnout and disconnected—from myself, what I want to do in life, and my own health. I was diagnosed with a thyroid disease in my late 20s, which became the catalyst for my healing journey. I was very lucky as I knew to seek out alternative healing options as the doctor at the hospital told me he only had one solution for me was to cut out my thyroid and put me on hormone pills for the rest of my life. I saw a Chinese Medicine Doctor who helped heal my thyroid disease and saved me. I also realized after living in the US for over 2 decades where a lot of Americans don’t have access or are not aware how dynamic tea is. The different kinds of Tea is SO VAST. Most people only knew the lowest qualities of tea in the tea bag forms. I had a mission to share how tea can help people with whatever problem they had in life. There is probably a tea for that. So I started The Qi, started with the beautiful and unique whole flower tea rituals to help others feel more joy, beauty, connection, and calm.
3. What aspect of being a small business owner excites you the most?
The ability to create something meaningful from nothing and watch it bloom. I love turning ideas into experiences that bring people joy—whether it’s a new tea blend, a beautiful unboxing, or a tea-tasting event in our studio. The direct connection with our community and seeing how our teas become part of someone’s daily ritual is truly the most rewarding part.
4. When developing new teas and products, where do you draw inspiration from?
I draw a lot of inspiration from Traditional Chinese Medicine herbalism, my childhood memories, nature, and our community/customers’ requests. Their needs and rituals often guide the next product or blend we create. Everything we do is rooted in intentionality, beauty, and the power of flowers to heal, beautify, and connect.
5. What are your current tea recommendations?
Right now, I’m loving our Shangri-la Rose Tea for calm and beauty—perfect for winding down at night or entering my flow state during the day. Our Shangri-La Rose is always a go-to for heart-opening and glowing skin. And if you’re feeling like a gentle reset, the 27-Day Blooming Spring Reset Bundle is a beautiful way to reconnect with yourself and the season.
6. You’re also a resident of the neighborhood. How do you like to spend your time in Flatiron & NoMad? What do you like most about these vibrant communities?
I love starting my mornings with a walk through Gramercy Park with my dog Peanut or Madison Square Park, followed by a flower tea at our studio before I open my laptop. There’s a calm elegance to this area that makes space for creativity. I also adore popping into indie shops and grabbing fresh produce at Eataly and pastries from cafes like Lysée. I love getting snacks from Ten Ichi Mart. My current favorite lunch spot is INDAY. What I love most is how community-minded this neighborhood is—there’s always something inspiring happening nearby.
7. Finally, choose three words to describe Flatiron & NoMad.
Creative. Iconic. Inspiring.
Header & Thumbnail Photo Credit: The Qi
