Bees & Teas: What’s all the buzz about?
By Debbie L. Sklar
At the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market, two interconnected small businesses have quietly built a loyal following rooted in bees, herbs and a shared life story that blends entrepreneurship with sustainability.
Monique Grimaldi, founder of Bees and Teas Apothecary, describes her work as a natural extension of a journey that began after returning from the Peace Corps. With a background in agriculture and later studies in herbalism, she began experimenting with handmade salves, teas and botanical products around 2020 and 2021.
“At first, it was just friends and family asking for things,” Grimaldi said. “Can you make this? Can you show me how you did that?”
That informal beginning soon turned into a full-time pursuit after she participated in a small makers’ market at the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. The response, she said, changed everything.
“I realized, wow, I think I can actually do this,” she said.
What began as occasional seasonal markets quickly grew into a full schedule of appearances across Southern California, including weekly participation at the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market.
Today, she produces a wide range of goods, including honey-based products, loose-leaf herbal teas, fermented hot sauces, herbal vinegars and seasoning blends. While she once grew many of her own ingredients, increased demand has shifted her toward sourcing single herbs that she then blends into her own formulations.
Running parallel to her business is another venture rooted in a very different origin story: We Save Bees, a humane bee relocation service founded by her partner, Bee Man Dan Luong.
Luong’s entry into beekeeping began more than 15 years ago when bees swarmed into his shed in Escondido. After calling a friend for help, he watched the bees carefully removed and relocated.
“That moment really inspired him,” Grimaldi said. “He left his corporate job soon after and started learning everything he could about bees.”
What began as curiosity evolved into a full-service bee removal operation focused on safe, chemical-free relocation. The company now manages swarms in homes, trees and structures throughout the region, emphasizing non-lethal methods and preservation of pollinators.
Although the two busines-ses operate separately at markets – Grimaldi’s booth labeled Bees and Teas, and Luong’s work represented through We Save Bees – their operations often overlap. The couple, now engaged and planning a May wedding, also shares a small urban homestead in Mira Mesa.
Their home includes chickens, quail, rabbits, koi and tilapia, along with a dense front garden that has become something of a neighborhood landmark.
“We’ve kind of maxed out every square inch,” Grimaldi said with a laugh.
Both say they hope to expand in the coming years, ideally relocating to larger acreage. Their long-term vision includes a small farmstead with on-site sales, workshops, and possibly agritourism offerings such as farm tours or short-term stays.
For now, their focus remains on weekly markets, where they’ve built a steady base of returning customers.
“It’s very community-based,” Grimaldi said. “People come back every week. It feels like family.”
Visit Bees and Teas Apothecary at the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market, held each Thursday from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 10045 Carroll Canyon Road.