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The Tea Infused Skincare You Never Knew You Needed

January 10, 2022

We drink it. We use it in recipes. And now we’re adding it to our skincare routine. Tea is not only great to sip on, but has so many incredible benefits for our skin, too! It’s no wonder that all the benefits from drinking tea can also apply to putting in onto your skin. From earl grey tea to green tea to matcha and everything in between, tea is the it ingredient skin care right now.

Innisfree Green Tea Hydrating Sleeping Mask

Innisfree is a company that puts in the work to make sure that all of their products are clean and organic. That includes their Green Tea Sleep Mask. This mask is a hydration-boosting overnight mask infused with green tea that quenches skin and provides antioxidant protection while you snooze. Just remember that when using sleep masks to apply after your moisturizer.

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask

We’re hitting you with another sleep mask (because frankly, they are powerhouses in your skincare routine). Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask is an intensely moisturizing treatment that lifts your nighttime ritual to new heights. This sleeping mask acts like a corset for your complexion, giving you a lifted, firmer look by morning. This mask is made with a mix of kombucha (black tea ferment), black tea extract, blackberry leaf extract, and lychee seed extract which is proven to inhibit damaging free radicals and helps improve the appearance of skin elasticity.

Herbivore Jasmine Green Tea Oil Control Toner

Possibly the most well known of clean beauty brands is Herbivore Botanicals. It can be found everywhere from big retailers like Urban Outfitters to small curated shops like Follain– and for good reason. All of their products are made from food-grade ingredients because after all, you shouldn’t put something on your skin that you wouldn’t put in your body, right? Their Jasmine Green Tea Toner has the powers of antioxidant-rich green tea infused into luxurious jasmine flower water. It’s formulated to reduce oiliness, fight blemishes, and treat combination, oily, and blemish-prone complexions.

Winky Lux Matcha Sugared Lip Scrub

When it comes to skincare, we often forget about giving love to our lips! Lip care is especially important in the dry, cold winter months of the year. This Matcha Sugared Lip Scrub by Winky Lux will smooth and soften to help even the most chapped of lips. Blended with sugar, green tea extract and natural vanilla to gently exfoliate, moisturize, and recharge lips. Your lips will love you so matcha!

CREMORLAB Herb Tea Pure Calming Mask

Everyone knows that Korean beauty products are top notch and this herb tea calming sheet mask does not disappoint. Infused with aloe vera, rosewater and thermal water, this mask contains black tea and chamomile extracts. The tannins and polyphenols inside the black tea extract purify and soothe your skin whilst hydrating the dermis. There is a reason this brand has a cult following!

COOLA Classic Sport Face Sunscreen with White Tea

If there is one thing that you take away from this blogpost, please let it be that you NEED to be wearing sunscreen everyday (yes, even when you are indoors!) They state that this is a “Farm to Face” organic sunscreen with white tea that features fortified sun protection that’s unbelievably light, non-greasy, and sheer on any skin tone. This sunscreen is designed for those long, active days in the sun but light enough for everyday use. Board certified Dr. Bindu Sthalekar says, “White tea contains high amounts of anti-bacterial and anti-aging properties that help prevent wrinkles and sagging skin”. Sounds like a win win all around!

Whamisa by Glow Studio Chai Tea Eye Cream

Who knew that your daily glass of chai latte can give some extra skincare benefits? Known to increase blood circulation, chai combats puffiness and dark circles. Blended with flavanoid-rich rooibos, this chai tea eye cream by Whamisa will fill in wrinkles and curb fine lines. Formulated without any parabens, mineral oils and fragrances, you will get the best pick-me-up that you never knew you needed.

Tea has been around for thousands and thousands of years and it is no surprise that we are now adding it to our skincare routine. From hydration to clearing blemishes, tea does it all. Weather consuming orally or topically, it is sure to keep your skin glowing.

If you try out any of these products, let us know! Be sure to follow us on Instagram @theteakitchen for daily posts on all things related to tea!

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Tea Guides

Top 7 Teapots You Can Enjoy All Year Long (Buying Guide)

December 15, 2021

The holidays are upon us ⸺ and that means ‘tis the season to cozy up with your favorite cup of tea and enjoy the simpler moments of the season. Teapots can make the perfect gift for a tea lover in your life (or you…but we won’t tell anyone!) With so many options available, it can feel impossible to decide which is the best pot for your use. We’ve made it simple and evaluated the top options on the market, creating a top 10 list that you can refer to for all of your gifting needs this holiday season…and beyond. In this article, we cover 10 of the top teapot options that you can purchase for a tea aficionado in your life.

What To Consider When Purchasing Your Teapot

When you purchase your teapot, there are a variety of factors that you may consider prior to deciding. For example, you’ll want a teapot that appeals to your unique design aesthetic, and you’ll want a reliable vessel that can withstand the test of time even against repeated use and heat. Other factors that may contribute to your decision include:

Location of manufacturer
Accessories affiliated
Material used
Capacity

No matter what your preferences are for your next teapot purchase, you can rest assured that there is a design and type for you to enjoy. The market offers thousands of different pots that you can enjoy and incorporate into your daily tea routine.

Top Tier Cast Iron Japanese Style Teapot (Diamond Design)

This pot offers a modern-day upgrade to your kitchen’s aesthetic and has a boiling capacity of 24 fluid ounces, which is approximately 3-4 cups of perfectly brewed tea. The cast-iron design offers the additional benefits of heat retention and the addition of iron into the water, which can act as a nutritional benefit and supplement to your body’s ability to absorb and utilize the element effectively.

The teapot features an included infuser that is ideal for all tea types: loose-leaf, bagged teas, or blooming teas. It is easy to clean and can be cleaned with soap and water without damaging the pot. The geometric and minimalist design can easily add an air of sophistication to your kitchen.

Primula Half-Moon Teapot and Infuser Set

This teapot and infuser set features a unique design that is sure to catch the eye of your fellow tea lover! The half-moon design comes in a complementary color triad, including blush, teal, and slate gray. The other half of the pot is crafted from heat-resistant borosilicate glass that lends itself to ultimate durability and longevity. The easy-to-grip handle makes every pour a breeze and is also treated to be heat-resistant, stopping injuries in their tracks. The design and esthetic make this the perfect gift for any tea fan in your life.

Grosche Aberdeen Perfect Tea Maker Tea Pot + Coaster Set

This set offers a more unconventional design, inviting the user to a bottom dispensing tea pour experience. This tea maker has an easy-to-clean design and is the perfect thing to start your tea drinking journey with, offering you the versatile capability of bagged brewing or loose-leaf brewing. It is considered to be shatterproof and features a BPA-free plastic construction that is easy to use and simpler to maintain than other brewers.

T2 Tea Stainless Steel Flask Brewer

This flask brewing system allows users to enjoy a unique tea brewing experience that gives the drinkers the ability to brew on the go ⸺ something rarely found in loose-leaf brewing systems. The flask is designed to be completely leakproof, and can effectively brew both cold tea and hot teas. This brewer is crafted from insulated stainless steel, preserving the taste and quality of your tea without compromising any of its temperatures no matter what environment you find yourself in. If you know a tea drinker who loves going on adventures, or camping, this is the ideal gift for them.

Ceramic Tea Infuser Mug With Lid (16 Ounces)

This tea infuser mug offers your loved one the gift of ease and versatility. The capacity allows for the perfect cup of tea that you can brew on the go, and enjoy for longer periods of time thanks to the insulated design. The cup is dishwasher safe and is safe for a variety of other use cases. To use for coffee, tea, water, cereal, or more, simply remove the infuser component of the cup. The handle is ergonomically designed and all elements used in the construction of the cup are lead and cadmium-free. This is perfect for a tea lover in your life who is always on the go!

Home Craft Stainless Steel Iced Tea System

Iced tea lovers… this one is for you! The Home Craft stainless steel iced tea system has a three-quart capacity and a proprietary filter design that is meant to extract the most vibrant, deep flavors possible from your blends. You can utilize the strength selector dial to enjoy the perfect cup of tea, every time. The energy-efficient model is set to shut off upon brew completion, so you never have to worry or wonder about prolonged use dangers or costs.

Primula Press & Go Portable Tea Strainer

This tea strainer is constructed from high-quality Tritan plastic and features a double-walled design that enhances the ability of the brewer to hold temperatures for a longer period of time. You can also enjoy the spillproof design and sleek, easy-to-use handle and construction that can elevate your tea time with every sip.

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Tea Guides Types of Tea

The Health Benefits of Green Tea

August 20, 2021

Among health aficionados, green tea is becoming more and more popular as it boasts health benefits and other soothing properties and effects. Green tea is far more than just a drink. It is actually considered a superfood because of the amounts of antioxidants and healthy properties it contains. These antioxidants and other healthy properties can have a positive effect on your body and overall health.

Green tea can be associated with many benefits, but today we are going to focus on these 7 benefits that should convince you to start drinking green tea.

1- Promotes Brain Function

Green tea can be linked to promoting healthy cognitive function which can provide clarity and improve your focus. It combines both caffeine and l-theanine which makes for a potent combo to boost your energy levels and brain power. By boosting your brainpower, green tea can boost the function of your memory which has been linked to aiding in diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. A strong trend of improvement in memory has been linked with green tea consumption in these memory-affected diseases. The antioxidants in green tea can also help alleviate stress which can leave you with more clarity and the opportunity to use your brain in better ways. Green tea pairs with our working memory to boost the connectivity between our frontal and parietal cortex which can lead to improved brain performance.

2- Aid in Weight Loss

We all know there is no magic pill to help you lose weight. However, green tea can aid in weight loss as it increases fat burning, boosts your metabolism, and suppresses your appetite. The flavonoids and caffeine found in green tea can help elevate your metabolic rate which results in more calories being burned even if you are not working out. When you burn more calories, you are burning more fat which can lead to weight loss. We aren’t saying that green tea is the end all be all to weight loss, but we are saying it can help! Green tea can also help suppress your appetite which means you are less likely to add extra calories to your day. Caffeine is a well-known appetite suppressant that is found in green tea. According to a study discussed by WebMD, the International Journal of Obesity found that extract from green tea may increase calorie and fat burning that can lead to lose weight.

3- Promote Cardiovascular Health

Green tea can help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. According to an article posted on WebMD, “one large study in Japan followed 40,000 adult participants over 11 years, and found that daily green tea consumption was linked to lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.” (Read more of the article here.) The anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants found in green tea have been linked to lowering your cholesterol. Lowering your cholesterol means lowering your risk of heart disease and/or stroke. If consumed consciously and consistently, green tea can improve your cardiovascular health and leave you with fewer red flags such as high cholesterol.

4- Benefits Oral Health

Another benefit of green tea is that it can boost your dental health. Regularly consuming green tea can protect against bad breath, gum disease, and even cavities as it reduces oral bacteria. The bacteria-killing properties found in green tea can assist in lowering the acidity of your saliva which can protect your teeth from decaying.

5- Helps to Fight Certain Cancers

The consumption of green tea and cancer prevention have been linked as the predominant polyphenols found in green tea have been proven to activate enzymes that can detoxify your cells and prevent tumor development. Preventing tumor development can reduce the risk of cancer. Green tea can also benefit those battling cancer as it provides healthy nutrients to support their immune system and body. As found by the National Cancer Institute, the polyphenols found in tea can help protect in things such as tumor development and damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

6- May Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Green Tea consumption can reduce insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels. This allows your cells to better metabolize sugar. Sugar is a known enemy when it comes to Type 2 Diabetes. High sugar consumption leads to high levels of blood glucose. With Type 2 Diabetes, high blood glucose affects your body because your body does not react correctly to insulin therefore the blood glucose is not stored for energy in your cells. Green Tea can help your metabolic system serve your body properly and avoid some of these issues associated with Type 2 Diabetes. In a medically reviewed article by Everyday Health, it was suggested that green tea is a great beverage to add to a diabetic’s diet.

7- Protects Vision

Green tea can protect our eyes from UV damage, eye disease, and more with its powerful antioxidant properties. The tissues in our eyes are very vulnerable which means even the slightest bit of damage can impact our vision. The antioxidants and flavonoids found in green tea can promote healthy eyes and protect our eyes from being damaged. Gallocatechin, zeaxanthin, and lutein are 3 flavonoids found in green tea that promote healthy eyes. Gallocatechin is absorbed in the retina and can protect our retina from harmful blue light.

The bottom line is that Green Tea has a variety of different health benefits you may not know of. Learn about the health benefits that can impact your life, and start drinking green tea today. Browse our vast collection of loose-leaf teas on our website to kickstart your tea obsession today.

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Tea Guides

How to Store Loose Leaf Tea

June 22, 2017

Working with loose leaf tea requires some TLC. You’ll need some kind of infuser, but before you even think of getting close to a teacup, you’ll need to make sure you’re storing your tea properly. Improper tea storage can cause your tea to diminish in flavor or go stale. To avoid that tragedy, follow these rules:

1) Keep tea away from oxygen

This is the Golden Rule in tea storage. Teas are cultivated with very specific oxidation levels, and to keep your loose leaf the way it was intended, you want to make sure it’s as sheltered from the elements as possible. In the production process, green and white teas are the least oxidized varieties, so you’ll want to make absolutely certain these teas are exposed to as little oxygen as possible. Dark black and oolong teas are exposed to more oxygen in the production process, so oxygen exposure is less of a death sentence, but you’ll still want to keep these darker teas away from the elements so that they stay in pristine condition.

2) Keep tea dry

Keep your loose leaf away from moisture of any kind. Humidity and dampness can cause tea leaves to release their flavors ahead of schedule. You want to save all the flavor for your cup, so keep tea indoors in a dry place. If you’re storing tea leaves in a cabinet, make sure that cabinet isn’t close to any pipes.

3) Keep tea away from strong smells

Tea leaves can absorb the odors around them, so unless you want your tea to absorb the flavors in your coffee and spices, keep your tea stash far from competing characters. Also be sure that the container in which you’re storing your tea doesn’t have a strong odor itself. Teatulia recommends a container made of glass, tin, or aluminum.

4) Keep tea away from light

Light can cause tea to degrade, so make sure your container is not see-through!

5) Keep tea tightly packed with other tea

The more tea that’s packed into a small space, the less air there is between individual tea leaves. And since we’re trying to avoid oxidation, that’s good news.

With these rules in mind, here are some tea storage containers we recommend:

1) Prepara® Evak Fresh Saver

This container has a plunger that removes all the air from the container, so it’s perfect for storing loose leaf tea. It retails at Bed, Bath & Beyond for just $9.99.

2) Ankomn Savior Non-Electric Vacuum Food Storage Container

This container provides vacuum seal pressure without any pesky cords or electricity needed. It’s advanced, but at $64.99, it’s on the expensive side.

3) Rishi Tea Copper Tin

This container is double lidded, holds 150 grams of tea, and retails for $17.

4) Blue Vine Vacuum Seal Tea Canister

This container from Stash Tea holds 150 grams of loose leaf tea and vacuum seals itself everytime you close it. It’s yours for $11.50.

5) Washi Sashi Tea Storage Tin

These beautiful tins are covered in washi, traditional Japanese paper. They come from Japan and can be in your kitchen for just $8.

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How To Be An Eco-Friendly Tea Drinker

May 2, 2017

Earth Day has come and gone, but we need to keep Earth’s best interests in mind every single day. Luckily, there are many tea companies that value sustainability, making it possible for your tea habit to benefit the planet. Here are a few things you can do to be a responsible tea drinker:

1) Buy Tea With Compostable Packaging

We have a huge waste problem. Last year, the LA Times reported that the world produces 1.3 billion tons of waste each year, with the United States leading the way in trash production.

Arbor Teas delivers loose leaf tea in compostable packaging that can break down right in your backyard. The company packages tea in wood pulp cellulose film made from non-GMO, sustainably farmed trees. The company also prints accompanying labels on Fair Trade hemp- or sugar cane-based paper. Arbor’s packaging is special because most materials marketed as “compostable” only breakdown in industrial settings. Explains the company:

“Because of greater variation in moisture and temperature, backyard composting environments have historically been incapable of breaking down so-called “compostable” packaging materials, such as corn-based plastic cups and take-out containers. However, the material in Arbor Teas’ packages requires a less optimized environment for biodegradation, representing a major advance in low-impact packaging.”

Through its sustainability efforts, Arbor Teas reduced the weight of its packaging by over 60% and packed 27% more tea into packages, delivering more product with a lighter carbon footprint.

Moral of the story: Keep your eyes out for compostable packaging when buying tea.

2) BYOM: Bring Your Own Mug

We’ve gotten used to bringing our own bags to the grocery store; now it’s time to start toting your own mug around. Imagine if your mid-day tea break generated no trash… Starbucks alone hands out 4 billion to-go cups a year, and because these paper cups are lined with plastic on the inside, they’re difficult to recycle. The company is testing a recyclable cup in the United Kingdom, but for some people, having a cup that’s recyclable isn’t the problem—it’s the lack of recycling infrastructure that makes recycling impossible. So why not cut out all of these obstacles and bring your own cup to the tea parlor? With the Earth’s medical chart in mind, it’s time to pull the trigger on a reusable mug. Consider the Stojo Pocket Cup:It’s a collapsible travel mug that you can easily throw into your purse or backpack, and enlarge when you’re ready to fill it with your favorite tea. Eco-friendly and stylish, it’s a win-win.

3) Buy Organic

Organic farming practices have a number of benefits over conventional farming practices. Last year, Washington Post columnist Tamar Haspel set out to find if organic farming is really that much better for the earth than non-organic farming. While she wrote that, “There’s never a clear-cut answer to a question like that when you’re talking about something as complicated as farming,” as not all organic farming is the same and not all conventional farming is the same, she found that when comparing five kinds of agriculture—two conventional, three organic—at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s farm in Beltsville, Maryland, the following comparisons rang true:

So while organic food is not necessarily healthier, it is probably better for the environment overall. Do Mother Earth a favor and brew organic tea from companies like Numi Organic Tea, Arbor Teas, or The Little Red Tea Cup Tea Company.

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Tea Guides

Brew Buds: Beer & Tea

March 23, 2017

Like the tea industry, the beer market is enjoying a period of extreme creativity. Like tea drinkers, beer drinkers now expect a wide array of flavors that reflect a mixture of ethnic backgrounds, flavor profiles, and aromas. Both tea and craft beer consumption have been on the rise in recent years, so it only makes sense that brewers would put them together with inventive tea-beer hybrids. Here are a few beers infused with tea that we think are worth toasting:

1) Yogi Beer

This beer from Texas-based Rogness Brewing Company counts black tea among its ingredients, joining cinnamon, clove, ginger, cardamom, and black pepper to create an exotic, spicy, and bitter mix of flavors. The 5.2% ABV (Alcohol By Volume) beer comes in 22-ounce bottles or can be served on draught. Rogness suggests pairing this beer with “bold” Asian dishes such as curry and tandoori chicken. This Indian-inspired beverage also boasts notes of caramel, and judging by the name, we think it’s a great post-yoga treat.

2) Chamomile Wheat Beer

This beer from Beaver Brewing Company blends the calming power and lovely scent of chamomile flowers with cracked and torrified wheat, malt, fuggle, and hallertau hops to create a distinctive beer with 4.2% ABV. Made in a nanobrewery in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, each beer is crafted by hand in a 1.5 barrel system. You can try out this herbal tea-infused beer onsite at the brewery’s restaurant/brewpub in Pennsylvania, or email dan@beaverbrewingcompany.com to order your own batch of the artisan beverage.

3) Sah’tea

This beer from Dogfish puts a tea spin on a classic 9^th century Finnish beer known as sahti, combining black tea and juniper berries for a modern take on a beverage that Vikings enjoyed centuries ago. Dogfish promises, “The spicing is subtle and balanced, and Sah’tea is a highly-quaffable, truly unique brew with a full mouthfeel.” The New Yorker’s Burkhard Bilger wrote about Dogfish’s Sah’tea in his article “A Better Brew: The Rise of Extreme Beer,” describing Sah’tea as follows:

“…The tea and spices in it hovered politely in the background, leaving the yeast to run the show. Cloudy and golden, with a lush flowering of bananas and cloves, it tasted like something a trader might have sipped a century ago, standing in a colonial market in Ceylon, with open baskets of tea and spices all around. It wasn’t an extreme beer by any stretch, and it certainly didn’t taste Finnish. But it was a time capsule nonetheless.”

Try it for yourself and see if you agree!

4) Kombucha Beer

On-trend kombucha gets in on over-21 fun with this collection of kombucha-based Triple Goodness beers from United Vibration. Organic, gluten-free, and vegan, each beer is raw and contains 30-day brewed Kombucha. Flavors include: Raspberry, Ginger, Bourbon Peach, and K.P.A (Kombucha Pale Ale).

5) Par-Tea Pale Ale

Prism Beer Company wanted to create a pale ale that was “approachable” and “not to bitter,” and turned to whole leaf Orange Peko tea to achieve the combination. With a modest 5.5% ABV, this Par-Tea Pale Ale is a flavorful alternative to a standard pale ale. Prism recommends combining this beer with lemonade for an extra sweet refreshment.

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The Best Chain Restaurants For Tea

January 19, 2017

Gone are the days when a restaurant offered you a cup of hot water and a black Lipton teabag after dinner. From fine dining to quick serve eateries, tea has become a signaturizing opportunity for restaurants across the country. The number of tea items offered at restaurants increased by 11.2% from 2008 to 2010. And you don’t have to go somewhere fancy to be treated to a unique, flavorful cup of tea. Chain restaurants have embraced the tea trend, offering up an impressive array of selections to satisfy your taste buds and your budget. Here’s 5 chains that we think are spinning impressive tea game:

1) Panda Express

Tea originated in China, so it’s only fitting that Chinese fast food joints embrace the beverage. Panda Express has done just that, rolling out Tea Bars at some of its outposts. Offerings include Panda Express’s best-known option, Milk Tea, which can be served hot or iced, with or without tapioca pearls. Panda Express also has several fruit teas and lemonade teas, infusing your tea with a unique shot of sweetness. If you’re not into what Panda Express has cooked up, you can build your own tea. Here’s how it works: Start by picking a tea base of black, green, or oolong. Then pick a style: milk, citrus, berry, or tropical. Continue by specifying how sweet you want your tea to be, and then finish things off with an add-on: honey boba, jelly, pudding, aloe vera, or chia seeds.

2) Panera

Panera serves hot teas from Republic of Tea, but it’s their iced beverages that have us dishing out the applause. Panera keeps it basic with iced green tea and an iced chai tea latte, but turns things up with its acai berry iced green tea (left) and its plum ginger hibiscus iced tea (right). The hibiscus tea includes pieces of apple, blackberry leaves, carob, ginger, and rosehips. How’s that for flavor?

3) Wendy’s

Wendy’s line of Fruitea Chillers™ highlights the burger chain’s enthusiasm for unique, tasty teas. The Blueberry Pineapple Fruitea Chiller (left) blends organic tropical green tea with blueberry puree and pineapple and pomegranate juices. And the Orange Mango Fruitea Chiller (right) pairs organic tropical green tea with mango puree, orange juice, and carrot juice.

For those craving something less sweet, Wendy’s keeps it simple with Honest Tropical Green Tea and Unsweetened Ice Tea.

Wendy’s launched a new slogan this year, calling its menu “deliciously different.” With these beverages, we have to agree.

4) Caribou Coffee

Caribou Coffee packs in the flavor on its tea menu, from pomegranate and mango to peach and mint. One of its most flavorful concoctions is the Pomegranate Vanilla Tea Latte, which pairs pomegranate oolong tea with sweet vanilla syrup and steamed milk. Its hot and iced tea selections include cinnamon spice, black mango, citron green, and mint varieties. The Minnesota-based chain also features a selection of sparkling teas, including green tea lemonade and peach black tea.

5) Starbucks

Starbucks may be the most famous coffee chain in the world, but it’s also become quite the destination for a good cup of hot or iced tea. The Seattle-based business features an impressive bevy of teas with rich flavor profiles that include mango, citrus hibiscus, papaya, cinnamon, and lemongrass—and that’s just in one drink, the Passion Tango™ Herbal Tea! Other tea offerings from Starbucks include: jade citrus mint green tea, mango black tea lemonade, and the Youthberry White Tea, which includes notes of acai berry, hibiscus, candied pineapple, mango, and Fuji apples. Starbucks even offers its own PG-version of sangria with the Teavana® Sparkling Berry Sangria Herbal Tea. The fruity mixture combines Passion Tango™ tea with apple juice, berry flavors, blackberries, and orange slices. Starbucks recently released its first coffee/alcohol mashup with the Espresso Cloud IPA. Tea and alcohol have been a hot new couple at restaurants in recent years…Will we see them hook up at Starbucks anytime soon? Stay tuned.

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Tea Guides

10 Teas That Are Basically Dessert

January 17, 2017

Looking for a dessert that satisfies your sweet tooth but doesn’t break the scale? These 10 teas hit all the right notes when you’re trying to stay healthy and treat your taste buds. Ditch the cheesecake and boil any of these teas when you get the urge to indulge:

1) Snowball Tea

This tea from Blue Bird Tea Company mixes chocolate, marshmallows, and coconut with Ceylon black tea to create a delectable dessert tea. Buy it bagged or loose leaf. Side effects include the urge to start an actual snowball fight.

2) Bananas & Custard Tea

This tea from Blue Bird Tea Company pairs green tea with freeze-dried bananas, cocoa, and licorice for a custard imitation that tastes great and goes down easy.

3) Mint Chocolate Rooibos Tea

Roobios tea gets cozy with chocolate sprinkles, cocoa, and vanilla to make this delicious dessert brew. With zero calories, this is a dieter’s delight.

4) Vicky’s Sponge Cake Tea

This tea from Blue Bird Tea Company gets its inspiration from Queen Victoria, who’s said to have enjoyed her cup of tea alongside a slice of cake. Why not combine the two? This blend marries Ceylon black tea with the flavors of vanilla cake and raspberry, with notes of coconut and strawberry along for the ride.

5) Strawberry Cuppa Chocolate Tea

This zero-calorie tea from The Republic of Tea uses rooibos tea as a base for strawberry and chocolate flavors to mingle. Featured on The Today Show as a Top 10 Skinny Food for dieters, this South African tea also features sweet blackberry leaves and bourbon vanilla beans for extra kick.

6) Almond Coconut Macaroon Red Tea

This tea from Republic of Tea will let you feel like you’re sipping a macaroon, and since it has zero calories, you’ll do so guilt-free. Red rooibos tea provides the base for almond, coconut, and macaroon flavors to thrive in this delicious concoction.

7) Cardamom Crème Brûlée Tea

This tea from Republic of Tea calls crème brûlée its muse. Black tea kicks things off and enters dessert territory with infusions of sweet blackberry leaves, caramel and vanilla flavors, and spicy cardamom seeds. Just add water, and this premium tea from Kenya is sure to satisfy.

8) Tiramisu Black Tea

This tea from Teavana delivers the classic Italian dessert to your cup. Black tea merges with flavors of mocha, mascarpone, and vanilla to bring the creamy, delectable flavors of tiramisu to every sip.

9) Apple Pie à la Mode Herbal Tea

There’s nothing as American as apple pie. But America could stand to get healthier, so reach for this apple pie-inspired tea from Teavana instead. This after-dinner treat is made from pieces of real apple, carob, rose hips, raisins, rooibos, caramel, white hibiscus, licorice root, cardamom, and marigold petals. You’ll taste fall in every sip.

10) Carrot Cake Rooibos Tea

This tea from Fusion Teas blends sweet and spicy flavors together for a satisfying cup of tea that emulates carrot cake. Organic rooibos provides the base, with maple, coconut, ginger, raisin, walnut, cinnamon, and carrots providing welcome bursts of flavor.

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Tea Guides

How To Be A Trendy Tea Drinker This Year

January 5, 2017

We told you what tea trends will be taking center stage in 2017: green tea, matcha, and easy packaging options like on-tap tea and bottled teas. Now we’re here to show you just how you can be a part of these trends. If your New Year’s resolution was to be cool, you’re in luck. Get ready to be ahead of the curve:

1) Green Tea

Green tea’s expected to perform very well in 2017 and beyond, especially as a bottled option for busy commuters in search of a healthy alternative to sugary sodas. Snapple, Lipton, Honest Tea, Arizona, and Tazo Tea all offer iced green bottled teas. Swipe one when you want to be trendy but you’re pressed for time. Or order an on-trend coffee-inspired green tea beverage, like a green tea latte from Starbucks or a green tea latte paired with vanilla or peppermint from Peet’s Coffee. Look for green tea to be offered at more and more locations, from highway rest stops and movie theaters to convenience stores and vending machines as it settles decidedly into the mainstream. Go big green!

2) Matcha

Matcha is on the rise. Look for it on tea menus as a beverage and as a flavor in dishes from breakfast and lunch to dinner and dessert. Scan your menu and you’ll probably find matcha waffles and French fries or matcha chicken and pork belly this year. This green powder is infiltrating all parts of the menu, and not just at fancy restaurants. Matcha’s made it to the Big Leagues: Haagen Dazs sells its matcha green tea ice cream by the pint in American grocery stores and Trader Joes sells a Matcha Green Tea Latte Mix. Don’t be surprised if Japanese products like Matcha Oreos and Matcha Kit Kats come to the United States sooner rather than later. Get ready to be singing “Break me off a piece of that matcha stick!” OK, the jingle may need work, but the point is: matcha will be rolling off more and more tongues.

3) Tea On Tap

Get ready to see bartenders carrying kegs of tea or pulling a kombucha tap at the local watering hole this year. You can be part of this trend by ordering a tea keg for your next birthday party or installing a tea tap at your eatery. Full Service Restaurants said last year that, “Beverages on tap remain fresher for longer and offer a unique experience—bold flavors with an eye-catching presentation.” Several companies work to bring tea kegs and taps to restaurants and organizations, such as Joyride, who argues that a tap “is the perfect solution to serve non-alcoholic beverages, offering product consistency, streamlined workflow, reduction of waste, and a unique customer experience.” That’s a lot of benefits on both sides of the bar! Joyride offers Ceylon Iced Tea and Green Tea in kegs and kombucha on tap. Look for signs outside bars advertising the allocation of taps to kombucha and tea, perfect for tea lovers not in the mood for an alcoholic beverage or non-drinkers looking for a way to feel included by the bar hopping experience.

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Tea Guides

Teas to Sip This Hanukkah

December 20, 2016

This year, Hanukkah’s “eight crazy nights” fall from Saturday, December 24 to Sunday, January 1. If you’re looking for a tea to sip while you celebrate or a tea to gift someone observing the holiday, look no further. Here are our suggestions for a tea-filled Hanukkah:

1) Blue, White, and Silver Teas

If you’re in search of a tea that goes along with your blue, white, and silver Hanukkah decorations, we’ve got you covered. Consider these colorful creations when choosing what to brew:

Blue Teas

The True Blueberry tea from Celestial Seasonings is caffeine free, herbal, and packed with blueberry flavor thanks to blueberry leaves, wild blueberries, and natural blueberry flavors. Hibiscus, rosehips, orange peel, and blackberry leaves enhance the blue tea’s flavor profile. Added bonus: According to Livestrong, blueberry tea provides so many antioxidants that it can support brain function and lower your risk for developing type-2 diabetes. Also consider blue matcha from Blue Chai. This color-warped matcha comes in a cute bamboo tube. Plus, you can use it as a food dye for all sorts of culinary makeovers this holiday season. Or, opt for Blue Chai’s Butterfly Blue Pea Tea, made from sundried butterfly pea flowers native to South East Asia and India, also known as Asian Pigeonwing. For a fun party trick, you can turn this blue tea pink by adding lemon or lime juice to the liquid.

Silver and White Tea

The phrase “silver tea” is actually used to describe a tea party that doubles as a fundraiser, per Miriam Webster. If you want to throw a silver tea this Hanukkah, consider serving Teavana’s silver needle white tea. Teavana describes this white tea, which was once reserved only for the Imperial Family in China, as a “delicate and refreshing infusion with a sweet, silky ending.” White tea is made from Camellia sinensis plant buds that are not rolled or oxidized, making them the most minimally processed tea available. Try any of the many flavors added to white tea bags by Republic of Tea, from pineapple guava and honey mango to orange blossom and ginger peach.

2) Glow-In-The-Dark Tea

Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, celebrating a miracle in which oil that should have lasted the Jews who reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem for one night instead lasted for eight. Lighting the menorah each night emphasizes the importance of light to this holiday. If you’re craving more light than a menorah can supply, keep your eyes peeled for glow-in-the-dark tea bags. South Korean designer Wonsik Chae invented the Lighting Bag, essentially a glow-in-the-dark tea bag. The fluorescent molecules inside the tea bag react with the liquid to make it glow. There’s not actually any tea inside the bag, but we’re hopeful that Chae will keep working on his invention until that’s the case. If you want to drink glow-in-the-dark tea, we recommend you serve your favorite tea inside a glow-in-the-dark mug, of which many are on the market.

3) Flavorful Teas

Want your beverage to contain some classic Jewish flavors? Try this babka-flavored dessert tea from Black Teas by Petali, this Apple Strudel Tea from Capital Teas, or this certified kosher Pomegranate Tea from Wissotzky Tea.

Happy Hanukkah!

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