Guayaki Partners With Equilibrium Fund

Guayaki Yerba Mate Establishes Historic Direct-Marketing Partnership with a Community-Based Women's Business in Guatemala
(from a press release)

Ensuring that ingredients are sourced in an eco-friendly and socially responsible manner is of great importance to Guayaki Yerba Mate, an award-winning maker of invigorating organic drinks. The well-being of the people that supply their ingredients is also of paramount concern. So, when Guayaki learned about the Equilibrium Fund and their mission to support women in the impoverished region of Central America where Maya Nut is sourced for Guayaki's Java Mate beverages, the company worked with the non-profit on a paradigm-shifting project to purchase Maya Nut directly from an inspiring and pioneering women's business in Ixlu Peten, Guatemala. (more)

Image: Guayaki

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Stash Tea Offers Affordable and Healthy Holiday Gifts

Stash Tea Offers Affordable and Healthy Holiday Gifts
(from a press release)

The Stash Tea online store offers a great selection of items this holiday season - from teapots to tea accessories to all-natural cookies - for $25 or less.

One example of this great value is the Stash Tea Complete Holiday Teas Gift Collection with six boxes of holiday teas (a total of 108 tea bags). This collection is perfect for a tea lover and also makes a thoughtful hostess gift. It includes MerryMint, an organic green tea; aromatic and rich Holiday Chai; popular Decaf Pumpkin Spice; Christmas Morning with its wide-awake flavor; delicate White Christmas; and caffeine-free Christmas Eve Herbal.

As an added bonus, when you buy three of the Stash Tea Complete Holiday Teas Gift Collections, the fourth one is FREE. Visit the online store or the Stash Tea Holiday catalog for all 50 of the buy-three, get-one-free holiday items.

To request a free catalog, call 800-800-TEAS (8327) 24 hours a day, seven days a week or request online.

Image: Stash Tea

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Tea Room News

If you're looking for information on the ins and outs of running a tea room, Tea Room News might be of help. They're currently offering a free two-issue trial subscription for all new readers who sign up through the end of 2008.

From their Web site:

>>>The Tea Room News is the leading publishing company devoted to enriching the challenging lives of tea businesses owners and tea enthusiasts. Our community of experts is committed to educating, guiding, and inspiring with ideas that make business ownership more fulfilling, more purposeful, and more successful. We promote the elements of tea and business, infusing them with the pleasure and support that come from a growing knowledge we foster in our readers and ourselves.<<<

Tea Room News

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Mellow Monk Releases Two New Green Teas

Mellow Monk Releases Two New Green Teas--"Blissful Buds" and "Shaded Leaf"
(from a press release)

Mellow Monk is proud to announce two new additions to its lineup of family-farm green tea: Blissful Buds and Shaded Leaf.

Blissful Buds is a mecha ("bud tea"), made from only the most tender young buds. This is the same kind of premium tea served at the best sushi restaurants. The full-bodied flavor of Blissful Buds makes it the perfect tea for post-meal palate cleansing ... or for any time of the day.

Shaded Leaf is Mellow Monk's most premium tea ever: Three weeks before harvest, our growers shade these pampered tea plants with special woven covers. By blocking out just enough sunlight, this shading produces a simply exquisite flavor (by stopping the leaves from "baking" in the sun) and also stimulates the leaves to produce even more super-healthful catechins, including EGCG.

These two new teas were discovered during a recent tea-buying trip to rural Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands. This expedition was documented by a film crew from Europe's Arte.tv network, which will release a 1-hour feature in January 2009 titled "Kyushu--Wo Japans Grüner Tee Wächst" (Kyushu--Where Japan Grows Its Tea).

Like the rest of Mellow Monk's lineup, both Blissful Buds and Shaded Leaf are single-estate, unblended teas imported directly from family farms on Kyushu. These farms are family owned and operated: The growers own the land they work, and they work the land themselves. All of Mellow Monk's growers are certified eco-friendly under the Japanese government's Eco Farmer Program.

Image: Mellow Monk

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Bigelow Constant Comment Contest

Try saying that one three times fast. Or forget about it and just send your favorite story to Bigelow about their popular Constant Comment tea. Yes, it's a contest. Here's an excerpt from Bigelow's contest page:

>Please enter our Tell us your favorite "Constant Comment® Tea Story” Contest during November and December 2008. The story that either makes everyone laugh or cry the hardest wins a wonderful trip to visit our Tea Plantation in Charleston South Carolina.<

More here.

Image: Bigelow

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New Tea Gadgets

Here are a few new tea-related products, as well as some older ones that were new to me.

The Joyce sisters recently sent word of a new product they're referring to as the Tea-Mate. These are personalized tea mats. For a more coherent explanation than I can offer as to what makes them unique, refer to their Web site.

Basictea.com recently introduced what the do-it-yourself Chai Tea Kit. More in the press release or at their Web site.

If you're a tea bag user, perhaps you've grumbled about those unruly strings and tags floating in your beverage. If so, the Tea-Code tea cup might be the answer to your problem.

Continuing the cutesy tea gadget theme, here's a strawberry-shaped tea infuser.

Last up, handmade tea cozies from ElDonna.

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World Tea Champ Now Taking Online Sales

PeLi Teas, 'Super Category Green Tea Winner' at the 2008 World Tea Championship, Now Taking Online Sales
(from a press release)

PeLi Teas, LLC announces that its award-winning teas are available for the general public on its web site. PeLi Teas sells premium Chinese whole leaf teas. Peter Leonard, Managing Director of U.S. Operations stated, "We are noting trends shifting, as more people experience our wonderful teas, they prefer them over alternative blends, ready-to-drinks and other beverages."

PeLi Teas buys direct from select Chinese producers. Their teas are grown in remote, pristine areas of China, and produced using age-old orthodox methods.

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Rishi Tea's New Organic Eco-Friendly Tea Gift Sets

Rishi Tea's New Organic Eco-Friendly Tea Gift Sets
(from a press release)

Organic handcrafted loose-leaf teas best reveal their nuance and unique origin characteristics when prepared in appropriate teaware. Rishi Tea is proud to offer our Organic Tea Sets, each of which includes two best-selling teas, a teapot or infuser cup specially chosen to pair well with the teas. Each gift set is beautifully packaged in an environmentally friendly, hand woven gift box made of renewable bamboo.

Organic Black Tea Set includes a highly functional glass teapot with easy to clean removable stainless steel filter, Organic Fair Trade China Breakfast Black Tea and Organic Fair Trade Earl Grey Black Tea. Retail Price: $25

Organic Green Tea Set includes a handcrafted sky blue teacup with lid and infuser, Organic Fair Trade Jasmine Green Tea and Organic Fair Trade Jade Cloud Green Tea. Retail Price: $35

Organic White Tea Set includes a glass teapot with glass infuser, Organic White Peony and Organic Peach Blossom. Retail Price: $40

Available through select Whole Foods Markets, specialty retailers and direct from Rishi.

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Beverage Brands Adds To Maté Fusion Premium Tea Line

Beverage Brands Inc., Fastest Growing Beverage Manufacturer, is Proud to Announce the Impending Addition of a New Line of Flavors to its Maté Fusion Premium Tea Line
(from a press release)

Beverage Brands Inc., Long Island's fastest growing beverage manufacturer, is proud to announce the impending addition of a new line of flavors to its Maté fusion Premium Tea line. The Lemon, Raspberry, Mango, and Black Currant flavors will round out the Maté fusion assortment at an even eight different flavors.

The second installment will be available early in 2009 in addition to Maté fusion's popular Blueberry Açai, Peach, Asian Pear, and Pomegranate flavors.

Maté fusion is a 100% All-Natural Premium Tea, made without any preservatives, no artificial flavors or colors, or high fructose corn syrup. It is brewed naturally with the leaves of the South American Yerba Maté.

Maté Fusion

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Zhena's Gypsy Tea Brews Worldly Cup

Zhena's Gypsy Tea Brews Worldly Cup
(from a press release)

Zhena's Gypsy Tea, a brand recognized for fostering the growth of the Fair Trade, organic movement, is pleased to announce its new line of World Market Reserve Teas exclusively available at Cost Plus World Market.

For centuries long, merchants from the remote and mysterious ports of India, Turkey, China and Sumatra depended on wandering bands of gypsy nomads who traveled from the Far East to Europe for their trade of exotic silks, aromatic oils and priceless spices and teas. From these same traveled paths, ports and world's most beautiful gardens, come fresh, pure, Fair Trade and organic, leaves, herbs, fruits, flowers, spices and essential oils that make up the unique varietals of health-enhancing World Market Reserve Teas.

World Market Reserve Teas collection includes, USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified(TM) Rainforest Acai Berry Red Tea, Vanilla Mandarin Black Tea and Chocolate Jasmine Green Tea, artisan crafted blends in eco-friendly tea sachets, beautifully packaged in recyclable, air-tight tea tins.

Image: Zhena's Gypsy Tea

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Green Tea Producer Offers Free eBooks

Aiya America Offers Free eBooks; World's Top Manufacturer of Matcha Tea Launches Free Online Series
(from a press release)

Aiya America, the world's number one producer of Matcha green tea, announced that it is releasing the first in its tea-themed educational eBooks. The series will inform consumers and industry professionals about such topics as the tea-making process, the health benefits of green tea, ingredient uses for Matcha, quality assurance, safety and other areas of the company's expertise.

The first eBook is currently available free of charge on Aiya America's Web site (free registration required).

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Journey Away with Kalahari’s New Tea Experience

Journey Away with Kalahari’s New Tea Experience
(from a press release)

The re-launch of Kalahari Limited’s distinctive e-commerce web site, comes just in time to help current and aspiring tea lovers journey away from the recession. Redesigned by Polar Design, the new site offers a visual journey on par with the smoothness of the South African red teas Kalahari offers. Whether your compass leads you to a relaxing cup of caffeine free, anti-oxidant rich Rooibos tea, or spicy, blended Oolong teas, the new website will help you find the right brew. Site travelers can enjoy an immersive flash presentation that links them to roadside assistance in the form of tea articles, tea tips, a links page with resources about South Africa, and a newsletter sign up option to stay in touch.

With the new site, Kalahari is also launching two new lines of tea: ChocoLatté tea and Safari Lullaby red tea. For any dessert lovers, the new ChocoLatté tea serves as a healthy treat blended with roasted cacao nibs adding a new rich flavor. The Safari Lullaby red tea provides a perfect blend of chamomile and spearmint, helping soothe any stressful day.

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Dilmah's Oatmeal Tea Muffins

Dilmah's Holiday Seasonal Baking Recipe
Oatmeal Tea Muffins

3/4 cup milk
3 contents of Dilmah Teabags (Preferably the English Breakfast Tea or
Ceylon Supreme from Dilmah's Gourmet Series)
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 cup raisins

In a small saucepan, heat milk just to the simmer. Off heat, add the teabags, submerging them completely. Set mixture aside to cool. When cool, remove teabags, squeezing them to remove liquid. Adjust rack to lower third of oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease and flour 12 muffin cups. In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the oats and brown sugar. In a small bowl, combine the steeped tea milk, oil, and eggs. With a rubber spatula, make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid mixture. Stir the ingredients together just to moisten and combine. Do not over mix or the muffins will be tough and coarse in texture. Spoon thick batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each one 3/4 full. Bake 20 minutes or until muffin springs back when lightly pressed in center. Cool on wire rack for about 5 minutes before carefully removing from pan. Serve warm, if desired.

Image: Dilmah

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Teavana to Debut 28 New Teas

(from a press release)

Teavana debuts their new collection of teas for 2009 beginning October 27, just in time for the holiday shopping season. From a rare Black Dragon Pearl tea to a unique Samurai Chai Maté, this collection of teas further extends the wonderful aromas and health benefits that make Teavana special. For a limited time, they are also offering special promotions on the new teas via coupons that can be obtained at the stores.

Teavana, known for procuring the finest loose leaf tea from around the world, debuts the 28 new teas, which include a combination of pure estate and flavored white, green, oolong, black and herbal teas. In conjunction with the debut, Teavana also announced an online contest at Teavana where guests can vote for their favorite tea from the new assortment and be entered into a drawing for a gift collection containing all 28 new selections.

more

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Adagio's United States of Tea

Is it an attempt to "unite our post-election nation by sending a gift of tea across the blue/red divide" or just a timely gimmick to sell more tea? You be the judge. Adagio Teas' current offer allows you to "mail a gift of tea between any blue and red states, selecting $19 or more and your shipping is free."

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Smoothie King Introduces Yerba Maté Smoothie

Smoothie King Unveils the Secret to Natural Energy: Introduces “Drink of the Gods” with Yerba Maté Smoothie
(from a press release)

Yerba maté (pronounced YER-ba MA-tay) has folks revved up as nature’s latest contribution to the highly functional “superfood” category. Following its mission to encourage more and more people to achieve healthy lifestyles, Smoothie King has made the ancient yerba maté plant available to mainstream America. Berry Stimulating Maté, a combination of blackberry, strawberry, blueberry, Guayaki organic yerba maté, turbinado and nonfat milk, is now available at Smoothie King’s more than 550 locations across the country.

Smoothie King’s supplier, Guayaki, was the first to offer certified organic, fairly traded and rainforest-grown yerba maté to the marketplace. Guayakí works with farmers in South America to promote sustainable growing practices, to preserve and reforest the land, and to create a renewable income stream — effectively bettering the lives of the local communities.

A 20-ounce blend of the new Berry Stimulating Maté smoothie contains caffeine equivalent to one cup of coffee, 348 calories (298 when made “skinny”), four grams of protein and six grams of fiber. For more information on the new yerba maté smoothie, click here.


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World Tea Expo Wins Again

World Tea Expo Wins Again
(from a press release)

For the second time in three years, World Tea Expo has been named one of TSW's Fastest 50, the annual list of the most vibrant events in North America.

The World Tea Expo is a robust marketplace that brings together hundreds of new products, the latest industry innovations and relevant, cutting-edge educational sessions, providing tea professionals with a one-stop opportunity to help drive their business, fuel industry growth and encourage further exploration of the art and science of tea. The Expo also hosts the World Tea Championship which is a global competition evaluating the best teas available in the marketplace. All entrants receive a World Tea Rating and are published in the World Tea Buyers' Guide.

From 2005 through 2007, the period measured for this year's awards, the Expo had compounded annual growth of 30 percent in attendance, 28 percent in exhibiting firms and 25 percent in exhibit space. It was also a Fastest 50 show in 2006. The Fastest 50 awards are given by Tradeshow Week magazine, a leading publication covering the trade and consumer event industry.

The next World Tea Expo will take place at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, May 2-4, 2009. For more information, click here.

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The Tea Drinker's Handbook

Hot off the press - from Abbeville Press - it's The Tea Drinker's Handbook. Look for a review, coming soon. Here's what the publisher has to say about it:

In a skinny-no-whip-mocha-latte world, The Tea Drinker’s Handbook is a refreshing return to America’s roots in tea-drinking. Though tea is one of the most-consumed beverages in the world, second only to water, it is far from mundane. For both the lifelong tea drinker and the recent convert, The Tea Drinker’s Handbook is an indispensable reference for anyone interested in all things tea. The founders of Le Palais des Thés, a retail chain known for the high quality of its selection of teas, have traveled for over twenty years to plantations all over the world in search of the rarest teas, and the result is this handsome and enlightening book.

This is the first guide written under the Le Palais des Thés brand. In addition to ten shops in France, there are stores in Brussels, Oslo, Tokyo, and Beverly Hills, and their products are sold at Bergdorf Goodman. In this impressive and comprehensive guide, we rediscover tea, its cultivation, and all of its richness and complexity.

In addition to being an informative resource, this book is also a true tasting guide for tea lovers. The authors open our eyes (and introduce our palates) to tea-tasting, as they list the top fifty teas of the world—complete with tasting sheets—and include comments and advice for each. And with 200 illustrations, The Tea Drinker’s Handbook informs and instructs with both fascinating text and alluring images.

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