Locally owned and operated, our primary goal is to create a warm space for the community to relax with a cup of tea and have fellowship with friends old and new. Estero Bay Olive Oil and Tea provides a unique and tranquil setting to educate customers on the many health benefits of olive oil and the importance of being able to tell the difference between quality and fraudulent olive oil. We are working towards our blue zone certification, and consider health and wellness one of the central pillars of our business

With over 80 flavors of ultra-premium olive oil and balsamic vinegars, and over 160 loose teas, there are endless options and combinations. In house, we have wall to wall olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting bars and a local honey tasting bar featuring everything from mangrove to sea grape honey. We also carry a variety of flavored seas salts, spices, rubs, herbs, pasta, olives and olive wood dishes and utensils. 

All of our olive oils are of the finest quality and are UP Certified — the highest chemistry standard in the world. We also carry olive oils from the Melgarejo Estate, which is the most decorated producer in the world. 

Our shop hosts weekly parties, tastings and educational events on our products. Customers may also host their own parties and may bring their own salads, wines and cheeses etc. to experiment with a multitude of oils and balsamic. Estero Bay Olive Oil and Tea is a place where anyone can gather and feel at home while learning something new.

 About the Owners

Doug Thompson: 

My family and I have a long history in Southwest Florida – five generations worth. In fact, my great grandfather, Sam Thompson, ran the first telegraph office in downtown Ft. Myers. Fast forward a few generations, my parents, Oscar and Miladie Thompson, built Palm Beach Photo camera store and photography studio in Ft. Myers in 1978 and ran a successful business throughout the 80’s. 

I spent much of my childhood with my sister growing up in my parents’ camera store and spent long hours in the darkroom learning the craft.  Throughout all my years in the store, what stands out to me most is how my parents were with their customers; their warm, personal service set their business apart and kept people coming back again and again. 

After some time taking over my father’s business and working 13 years as a successful and commercial and architectural photographer, I decided to take a leap of faith and dive into the business world after I was inspired by a friend who opened an olive oil store in Blue Ridge, Georgia. 

In 2013, I opened Mount Dora Olive Oil Company, and after two years of hard work, the business was a success. Once again, I decided to take a chance, and I opened another olive oil store in Tarpon Springs. But Southwest Florida called to me again, and I knew I wanted to make a go of it in the place where I grew up.

 Diana Todorova: 

My life has been a series of adventures and Estero Bay Olive Oil and Tea is no exception. I grew up in a small town outside of Sofia, Bulgaria, and I always had big dreams – my first was to be a ballet dancer. By the time I was 15, I was admitted to Ballet Diva, the largest Ballet company in the country. For three years, I had the privilege of traveling Bulgaria and dancing with popular performers and singers. 

My biggest dream, however, was to be a television presenter, so I left dance to pursue a career in television. Growing up in a small town, many people had doubts about my ambitious goals, but I never let those doubts deter me from my passions. At 19, I was accepted to New Bulgarian University to study marketing and communications – but when I decided to apply for a two day casting for City TV, a new TV channel launching from the same company who ran the most popular radio station, City Radio, I happened to be one of the three people chosen for the host job! Thus, my television career took off at 19-years-old. 

After years of working for various stations, trying different kinds of journalism, traveling to 24 countries and meeting people from all over the world, I became inspired to try something new. I applied for the green card lottery in the U.S., and I won! After covering immigrant stories all over the world, I was excited to move to the country that inspired me so much as a little girl and to make my way in a new place. My new dream is the American Dream, and I can’t wait to see where this adventure takes me.