Types of Tea - The Tea Kitchen

3 Teas to Enjoy this Fall

November 9, 2022

Even for people who consider themselves to be tea drinkers all year round and sachet connoisseurs, there is something indisputably special about sipping from a steaming mug during the fall and winter months. It’s possible that the evident connection between cold weather and hot drinks is what causes tea to work its magic on us. In addition to this, one of our favorite things about this time of year is the abundance of delicious tins with flavors that are appropriate for the season. The possibilities range from unique interpretations on some of our most beloved holiday sweets to spices and seasonings that perfectly encapsulate the essence of autumn.

It’s the most delightful time of the year to be merry and bright! Not the winter holidays; it’s autumn!

The start of cooler weather is something that we here at The Tea Kitchen couldn’t be happier about. Even while we enjoy passing the warm summer days by the lake or on our front porch with a glass of iced tea in hand, there is nothing quite like wrapping yourself in a cozy sweater and wrapping your hands around a mug of your favorite fall-flavored tea as the temperature begins to drop. A cup of a hot drink is an essential accessory for cold weather attire, such as sweaters, blankets, and rainy days. To get the most out of a cup of tea, you should drink it in the fall. It’s time to switch things up from your usual chamomile and honey infusion and find a new fall-flavored tea that quickly becomes your go-to beverage. We have compiled a list of the most unique tastes of tea to enjoy during the fall season.

Apple Spice Black Tea

Our Apple spice black tea delightfully fresh and sweet, with hints of lovely cinnamon spice. Cinnamon and red wine can be used to create your own Gluwein at home. Apple Cinnamon is a soothing blend of black loose leaf tea that is reminiscent of the autumn season in New England. This tea was made to honor the beauty and flavors of fall, and if you prefer sipping on a glass of warm apple cider, you’re going to absolutely adore this tea. This particular tea is best enjoyed on days and nights that are cool, wet, and cloudy. Apple Cinnamon herbal tea is perfect for cinnamon enthusiasts since it satisfies all of their cravings: double apples, double cinnamon, a touch of rooibos, and a sprinkling of marigold flowers. This tea has a flavor that is truly traditional for the fall season.

Holiday Fruit & Spice Blend

Our Holiday Fruit & Spice Blend is the perfect tea for this holiday season. A great cup of tea is the perfect way to warm up on a chilly day or night, and it also has the added benefit of soothing. A fan favorite throughout the colder months, our Holiday Fruit & Spice Blend is the ideal beverage to share with your loved ones over the holiday season. This energizing tea is a mixture of select black tea leaves from India, chunks of sweet orange, small bits of tart cranberries, small bits of spicy ginger, and warming cinnamon sticks. It is a concoction that is sure to wake you up. Our Holiday Fruit & Spice Blend is going to become one of your favorites very fast because of the careful blending that went into it.

Cinnamon Orange Spice

The South Indian black tea, orange peels, cinnamon, and cloves that go into our Cinnamon Orange Spice Tea help give it its signature flavor. This tea’s popularity as a hot beverage as well as an iced beverage can be attributed in part to its enticing aroma, which is accompanied with a pleasant taste that is reminiscent of orange and spices. Even the chilliest winter night can be made more bearable with a cup of this tea, as well as any tropical evening! The zesty and invigorating Cinnamon Orange Spice tea is perfect for a warming pick-me-up first thing in the morning or as an afternoon pick-me-upper.

We are ardent believers that tea may be enjoyed throughout the whole year, from calming hot teas in the depths of winter to reviving iced teas in the middle of summer and any season in between. There is, however, nothing that quite hits the spot like a good cup of tea, particularly during the beginning of fall when the temps begin to turn and the leaves change color. We wish you the best of luck in savoring these flavors of autumn while also taking pleasure in the changing of the seasons and everything that October has to offer.

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Types of Tea

Best (Non Chamomile) Sleepy Time Teas

November 8, 2022

A better night’s sleep and high-quality sleep have been linked to drinking tea before bed. Given how many Americans experience sleep problems like insomnia, this is fairly important. Additionally, when you spend too much time on screens and don’t get enough exercise, sleep problems might get worse. A warm cup of tea, particularly at the end of a hard day, is said to help soothe the mind, according to some experts. In actuality, the deliberate process of making a cup of tea can also promote relaxation. There is something comforting about having a nice cup of tea before you wind down from the day and get ready for the next. It is impossible to put into words the warmth, affection, and comfort you have after brewing some tea before bed. With the modern world’s distractions, social media, and a hectic lifestyle, we are aware of how difficult it may be to fall asleep, but happily, we have a savior—or rather, a number of saviors. Let’s look at some teas that help you fall asleep; no, chamomile tea is not one of them.

Lavender Earl Grey

The lavender flower’s buds are steeped in water to make lavender tea, which results in a brilliant beverage with a distinctive flavor and aroma. In addition to being frequently consumed as a calming bedtime tea, a recent study suggests that lavender may also help with relaxation and improve the quality of sleep. For instance, a tiny study discovered that women who drank 1 cup (237 mL) of lavender tea every day for 2 weeks after giving birth felt less worn out than a control group. Aromatherapy with lavender is frequently thought to have hypnotic effects, calm moods, and increase mothers’ pleasant feelings for their infants. Lavender earl grey tea effectively reduced the signs of anxiety and despair in older persons, which could lead to insomnia. Another study on 79 college students who complained of having trouble sleeping found that maintaining good sleep hygiene and inhaling lavender enhanced sleep quality.

Evening Comfort

Everybody must benefit from some downtime and relaxation at night! Why not start the kettle and unwind with this special concoction of hand-picked peppermint leaves, chunks of ginger, and lemon peel? After a long day, this herbal nighttime tea can help you relax and regain focus. This herbal blend of mint is naturally caffeine-free and features prominent ginger and lemon aromas. Ideal for cuddling up with on a chilly night. Because it does not contain caffeine, it puts you in a state of relaxation in the first sip and allows you to enjoy some me-time while helping you prepare for an intense day ahead the next morning. Add some evening comfort to your evening, or even your day.

Purifying Tulsi

Ayurvedic Purifying Tulsi Herbal Tea is made of Holy Basil, spearmint, rosehips, lemon myrtle, and linden blossoms. It helps in cleansing your mind and spirit as well as improving the body’s immune system, due to its rich antioxidant and adaptogenic properties. Apart from the fact that it promotes sleep and gives you an utter sense of relaxation, there are numerous health benefits it comes with. The antioxidants in tulsi tea shield cells from the harm done by free radicals, which promote the development and spread of numerous diseases. The adaptogens in this herbal brew, also known as holy basil tea, act as potent anti-stress medications to shield your body from a variety of health issues.

For many people, having tea at night has become a ritual. It can be quite calming and thoughtful to boil the water, steep the tea, and wait for it to be ready to consume. It makes preparing the tea as calming as drinking it because it helps with relaxing both your mind and body after a hectic day. Ultimately, adding a little bit of tea to your bedtime routine could be helpful to both your sleep and overall health. Herbal teas, like the ones mentioned in this post, are less likely to wake you up in the middle of the night than caffeine-containing teas, and they also won’t keep you up as late. All of these teas have numerous health benefits and if you are someone like us, who needs better sleep, we highly recommend trying some of our other herbal loose leaf tea.

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Ditch Your Energy Drink for This Healthier Alternative

April 18, 2022

Energy drinks can generate side effects such as insomnia, nervousness and tachycardia; while the energizing effect from Yerba Mate is 100% natural and its many benefits come from nature itself. Yerba mate is a natural drink that increases your energy levels; but it’s far from being a commercial energy drink. This ancient, natural beverage is made from the leaves of the Yerba Mate tree. Although it also contains caffeine and other substances that act on the central nervous system; this energizing effect comes from nature itself, not from artificial manufacturing. Yerba mate can also be a great alternative to coffee, too!

What is Yerba Mate?

There are only a handful of plants in the world that produce caffeine and yerba mate is one of them! Along with tea, coffee, cacao, kola (or cola) and guarana, the yerba mate herb is used to produce a caffeinated beverage. While prepared as an infusion to create a tea-like beverage, yerba mate contains no actual tea leaves. Yerba mate is an herb native to South America and is used to make the national drink of Argentina, Paraguay, Uraguay and Southern Brazil. In fact, yerba mate is consumed 6 to 1 over coffee in these countries. Yerba mate is often described as earthy, vegetal, herbaceous and bittersweet. Imagine a fresh rainforest floor and you can likely picture the flavor of yerba mate.

What is Yerba Mate Made Of?

The yerba mate tea is brewed at home by adding hot water to the dried leaves from the Ilex Paraguariensis tree, which only grows in South America. It does not contain fat or sugar; and has very little calories, carbs and sodium. Beyond that, Yerba Mate is a wonderful source of vitamins (especially in the B group) minerals (potassium, magnesium, iron) and antioxidants (polyphenols, saponins, caffeoyl). Yerba mate also naturally contains stimulant agents like caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline; this is why it is a great source of natural energy.

Health Concerns with Commercial Energy Drinks

Energy drinks often contain five times the amount of caffeine as soft drinks. This amount of caffeine can cause nervousness, anxiety, headaches, stomachaches, hyperactivity, insomnia, dehydration, accelerated heart rates, and in extreme cases seizures and strokes. Most energy drinks contain an amount of sugar that exceeds the recommended daily allowance and potentially contributes to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity in sedentary individuals.

How to Prepare Yerba Mate

Mate is a versatile drink and there are many ways of preparing it, depending on the type of yerba mate and liquid you use. There is a huge variety of yerba: with or without stems, finely ground or roughly cut, flavored, sweetened, blended with other herbs. Mate can be drunk with water (hot or cold), milk or even juice. However, the most popular and traditional way of preparing mate is plain, with hot water. Here’s how to prepare yerba mate.

Yerba with stems: If you are a beginner or if you prefer a more mild flavor, yerba with stems is the way to go.
Yerba without stems: If you want a strong and more bitter flavor, this must be your choice. It holds the flavor longer and is the most popular type of yerba in Uruguay and South of Brazil.

What you need:

Yerba Mate
Bombilla (metal straw)
Mate gourd (or mug)
Lukewarm water and hot water
Thermometer for accuracy

Instructions:

The traditional way:

Fill gourd with yerba – Fill 2/3 to 3/4 of the gourd with yerba and slant it at 45-degree angle. If you are using yerba without stems, cover the top of the gourd and shake it up and down, to remove the small particles of the yerba before slanting it (45 degrees angle)
Add lukewarm water – Pour lukewarm water as close as the wall of the gourd on the lower half of the slant of yerba. Looking at the mate from above, you will see a half-filled with water, and half dry. Wait until the water is absorbed by the yerba (1 minute).
Repeat but with hot water – Repeat this process but this time with hot water – around 176 Fahrenheit or lower. It is not recommended to use water at a higher temperature than that because it could burn the yerba, affecting its taste and performance.
Put the bombilla –Put the bombilla (covering the top with thumb) on the same lower side of the yerba, on a digging motion, and pressing until you reach the bottom of the gourd.
Press the yerba with the bombilla – Press the yerba with the bombilla, creating two differentiated levels: one higher and dry, and other lower and wet.
Add hot water to the lower side – Add hot water to the lower side, aiming as close as possible to the bombilla to avoid the higher (and dry) part of the yerba slant to get wet.
Your mate is ready – Just drink it using the bombilla and repeat step 6 as many times as you want.

No gourd or bombilla? No problem!

First you will need a tea strainer, tea infuser, or teapot. If you have one at home, you can prepare yerba mate just like you would any other tea by filling it up with looseleaf yerba and steeping it in hot water (1 tablespoon per 8 ounces of water).

Tips:

Never use boiling water. Temperatures of around 140-170ºF work best
For every 8 ounces of fluid, use 1 tablespoon of yerba (add less or more to adjust to your own liking)

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Types of Tea

The Best Teas to Boost Your Immune System

January 14, 2022

Tea has been used in herbal medicine to treat minor illnesses for thousands of years. Tea is great for your immune system. It is high in antioxidants and is a great source of hydration! Many teas have antiviral and antibacterial properties that can help to prevent you from getting sick. If you’re afraid you’ve already caught a bug, tea can also help to soothe your body and ease symptoms while you recover. From ginger teas to herbal infusions that you can make at home, we’re breaking it down so that you can be ahead of the cold seasons!

Ginger Tea

Ginger is a flowering plant that originated in Southeast Asia. It’s among the healthiest spices on the planet. Ginger teas contain antimicrobial properties that can help to boost your immune system and keep you safe and healthy. It’s also been shown that ginger can help reduce stress and we all know how stress can wreak havoc on our immune system! Ginger imparts a slightly sweet, slightly spicy flavor to tea blends, and is a popular ingredient in both caffeinated and herbal teas. Some of our favorites are lemon ginger herbal tea and our ginger black.

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint is an aromatic herb in the mint family that is a cross between watermint and spearmint. It is another popular herbal tea that can be consumed on its own or as an ingredient in both caffeinated and herbal blends. Peppermint is cool, minty, and soothing – the perfect thing when you’re feeling under the weather. Studies have shown that peppermint has antimicrobial and antiviral properties that can help ward off illness. It’s also high in antioxidants along with a variety of other health benefits such as improving energy and relieving headaches.

Cinnamon Tea

Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants fight off oxidation caused by free radicals, which are molecules that damage your cells and contribute to diseases. Compounds found in cinnamon tea can fight off bacteria and fungi. It controls blood sugar levels and blood pressure, promotes heart health and also reduces pain caused by menstrual cramps. Adding honey to your cinnamon tea infusion can not only add flavor, but also has antioxidants and enzymes that help one heal from within. It also has antibacterial properties that ward off infections and damaging cells from the body.

Lemongrass Tea

Lemon grass has anti-bacterial & anti-fungal properties that help you cope with cold, cough and flu and is loaded with vitamin c that strengthens immunity. Lemongrass also has antioxidant properties that kill free radicals that cause diseases in the body. Its antimicrobial functions treat oral infections and cavities. A cup of lemongrass tea can do wonders for an upset stomach, cramping, or other digestive issues. Our dragonfruit white is infused with lemongrass to create a one of a kind cup to sip on.

Green Tea

Green tea has been consumed for centuries for its beneficial properties. Green teas are rich in anti-oxidants called Polyphenols. Polyphenols are efficient infection fighters. They protect the body against potential viruses, infections and sickness. Green tea blended with Tulsi, Mulethi and Ginger help keep diseases like asthma, lung infection, cough etc at bay, while flavours like Ashwagandha and Nettle Leaves impede the growth of cancer cells in the body and stimulate the lymphatic system. The anti-oxidants of green tea help rid the body of free radicals, and make the liver healthy.

White Tea

The benefits of white tea are no secret. From chefs to medical researchers, everybody praises the sweet flavour and health benefits of this tea. Studies say that white teas are helpful in reducing risks of cancer and cardio vascular diseases. It is rich in polyphenols, tannin and flavonoids. The antioxidants work on protecting the various organs of the body, while also eliminate free radicals that can potentially damage blood cells, DNA and collagen. White tea may also provide some relief from diabetic symptoms by decreasing your plasma glucose levels and increase insulin secretion. Antibacterial properties of this tea can help fight against infections while it’s soothing effects aid in relief from insomnia, stress and fatigue. Incorporating white tea into our habitual morning rituals is a great way to reinforce your immune system and begin your day.

While tea is full of health benefits, it isn’t a replacement for professional medical treatment. You should always seek the help of a medical professional if you think you’re suffering from a serious illness. That said, tea has many benefits to help prevent you from getting sick and help you through the process when you are under the weather.

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Types of Tea

The Champagne of Teas: Darjeeling Tea

October 14, 2021

About Darjeeling Tea

Darjeeling tea is an incredible and complex tea. Grown in the Darjeeling region of West Bengal, India, it is unlike any other tea. With its unique natural flavor of Muscatel, it cannot be replicated anywhere else! Just as the word ‘Champagne’ signifies sparkling wines that come from the Champagne region of France, in the world of tea the word ‘Darjeeling’ denotes tea from the district of Darjeeling located high in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. There are 87 “tea-gardens” in this tiny region that create the tea equivalent of an appellation of French wine. The sub-tropical, high altitude conditions, the slightly acidic soil and the climate that alternates between sunny to frequent cloudy periods, all contribute to the unique taste of the tea in this area. Another reason Darjeeling Tea is considered the champagne of tea is because of its distinct aroma and taste of muscatel and floral notes, along with hints of stone fruit.

Darjeeling Tea Flushes

_{From left to right: First Flush, Second Flush and Third Flush}

Darjeeling tea has three main flushes. What is a flush? A flush, simply put, is when the tea plants grow new leaves after a dormant period. Like most plants, Darjeeling tea goes through phases of growth and dormancy.

The first flush:

This is the first growth after dormancy. These are usually harvested from the end of February to mid April. This stages goes by “Spring Flush” or “Easter Flush”. This is typically the best flush of the growing season as the leaves are still tender and said to contain the most antioxidants. This flush of Darjeeling tea also has the shortest shelf life; a few months at most.

The second flush:

The second flush happens after the dormant stage following the first harvest. These tea leaves are picked from late May to mid June and produce an amazing, well rounded, mature and fruity flavor. This round of tea produces a flavor that pairs perfectly with afternoon tea snacks like scones and tea sandwiches. This flush is controversial to tea drinkers to where some say it is the lowest quality flush and to some, it is all they drink!

The third flush:

The third flush is referred to as the “Autumn Flush”. This flush has large leaves that are dark in color. Careful tending of the garden after the Second Flush is a must to prepare for this flush. Weeding is essential as is a good fertilizing since the tea plants will do most of their growth during Autumn. The leaves produce a very dark leaf that steeps up a full-bodied and naturally fruity flavored tea. This flush yields a nice round taste, quite suitable as a breakfast tea and stronger than the Second Flush.

Preparing Darjeeling Tea

What is the best way to prepare Darjeeling Tea?

Darjeeling tea falls under the black tea category. Darjeeling should be made with water brought to a rolling boil (205-212° F). Using one rounded teaspoon of loose tea for each cup required. Darjeeling should be steeped for 3 minutes. Once the ideal brewing time has been reached, the leaves should be removed to prevent further steeping.

Darjeeling tea is best enjoyed in the morning or early afternoon since it does have caffeine.

Decant and enjoy!

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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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Types of Tea

What is Navajo Tea?

September 21, 2017

This week in herbal teas you should try: Navajo Tea.

An herbal beverage made by the Navajo Native Americans for generations, Navajo tea is made by brewing the plant greenthread, known by its scientific name as Thelesperma.

A Thelesperma plant | by Andrey Zharkikh | Creative Commons 2.0

A member of the Aster family, Thelesperma is a perennial bulb that blooms a yellow flower from May to September. It can be found growing in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and parts of Canada:

Where you can find Thelesperma growing, in green | USDA

To make tea from this herb, the Navajo traditionally pluck the herb by its stem, keeping the roots intact and shaking the plant so that its seeds return to the soil and the lifecycle continues. The plucked herbs are rinsed and dried for 1 to 2 days, then boiled in hot water. Enjoyed hot or iced, Navajo tea is known for its earthy, mild flavor, which some choose to sweeten by adding sugar or honey.

The Navajo have used Navajo Tea medicinally for centuries, turning to the brew to alleviate joint pain, calm upset stomachs, and promote healthy kidney function. Modern research shows why this may have had success over the years: Thelesperma contains the flavonoid Luteolin, which boasts natural anti-inflammatory properties.

If you visit the Navajo Nation today, you will find Native Americans drinking Navajo Tea, using the beverage as a way to connect with their roots.

Some Navajo have made the tea available for commercial consumption:

100% Navajo-owned and operated company Yanabah sells Navajo Tea out of its Arizona headquarters. All the Navajo Tea comes from plants growing on the Cuska Mountains in Arizona, where it’s picked, dried, and packaged into three varieties:

Traditional

Navajo Tea & Mint

Navajo Tea & Green Tea

Each box contains 20 tea-bags of caffeine-free tea and costs $6.

For every sale Yanabah makes, a portion goes toward the Navajo National Scholarship Fund, which supports Navajo students working toward a college degree.

The Navajo Nation is the largest reservation for indigenous people in the United States. Covering 24,000 square miles over parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, the Navajo Nation is home to over 200,000 individuals.

The Navajo Nation covers territory in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. | By Fred the Oyster, Creative Commons 3.0

The Navajo Nation flag | Public Domain

The Navajo are known for their pottery, jewelry, and weaving, and tea is now joining the list of Navajo products exported beyond the reservation. With a high unemployment rate and over half the Navajo population living below the poverty line, businesses like Yanabah are part of what The Economist described as “capitalism’s last frontier” and, as Indian Country Today reports, an important way for the Navajo to trade dependence on the US government for economic independence.

A new herbal tea to try and a great way to support the Navajo economy? We’re in!

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Get Ready for Fruit-Infused Iced Teas at Starbucks All Year Long

August 10, 2017

Courtesy Starbucks

In a world in which it feels like bad news hits us from every direction, here’s some good news for a change: Starbucks has announced that three new Shaken Iced Tea Infusions will be available at participating stores year-round.

The fruit-infused iced tea flavors are:

1) Pineapple Black Tea

2) Peach Citrus White Tea

3) Strawberry Green Tea

The beverages, developed in partnership with Starbucks-owned Teavana, are the brainchild of two main developers: Culinary Institute of America grad Melynda Cheng and food science degree-holder Megan Droz.

Inspired by the increasing number of Starbucks customers ordering unsweetened iced teas and their rising demand for customization, Cheng and Droz wanted to update the goliath chain’s iced tea menu to reflect evolving consumer preferences, turning to fruit to provide both flavor and a healthy dose of sweetness.

After five months of trial and error, the duo came up with the three Shaken Iced Tea Infusions that debuted on July 11.

Just 45 calories per Grande serving, each iced tea contains tea, botanical blends, and liquid cane sugar. Additionally, each contains no artificial sweeteners and no artificial flavor, answering consumers’ call for real, wholesome ingredients and nutritional transparency.

Said Droz in a Starbucks press release, “The fruit and botanical blends of pineapple, peach citrus and strawberry take the place of sweeteners for a lighter mouthfeel and more delicate flavor than other iced tea beverages.”

For guests that want to have it their way, they can now customize any iced tea with the new flavors. Pineapple, peach citrus, and strawberry are “all complementary to our core Teavana back, green, herbal and white teas,” explained Droz. Isn’t it nice to get exactly what you want?

The new iced teas have been launched with the “Good Feels Good” campaign.

Check out the inaugural ad below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7K4bh2qvDw

Wondering who all the folks in the ad are? Here’s a handy key from Starbucks:

Courtesy Starbucks

Good does indeed feel good, and Starbucks is hoping that tea can be a good part of getting you to feel that way. We hope so, too!

Starbucks acquired Teavana five years ago in a $620 million deal. Having solidified itself as the biggest name in coffee, it was time to expand to tea. With product releases like these three new iced teas, Starbucks is hoping to become the company you think of when you hear the word tea. Will that in fact transpire? Starbucks bet $620 million that it would. Stay tuned.

For more information and videos about these new iced teas, head to tea.starbucks.com.

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Get Free Iced Tea Mocktails This Summer from Teavana

June 6, 2017

Swimsuits, barbecues, and iced tea. Like the smell of sunscreen and the sound of the air conditioner blasting, they define summer. And this beach season, you can score free cocktail-inspired iced teas at Teavana stores every Friday between 3 and 7 pm.

With its “Summer Fri-YAYS” promotion, Teavana will offer customers who buy a 24-ounce featured iced tea, a second drink for free. The second beverage has to be of equal or lesser value, but the 2 for 1 deal has our mouths watering, especially after reading the featured tea descriptions:

Beach Bellini ™, has notes of papaya, pineapple, and citrus that make a bright, tropical splash.
Strawberry Daiquiri, combines sweet strawberry, smooth vanilla, and rose petals.
Piña Colada, brings you to paradise with coconut, pineapple, and vanilla-kissed tropical fruit.
Mandarin Mimosa, a breezy, citrus-brightened blend that combines mandarin orange, mango, papaya, and lemongrass.

The promotion combines two things people love: iced tea and cocktails, taking out the buzz but keeping all the refreshing flavor. The flavors chosen for the featured iced teas reflect consumer preferences in the US. According to Business Insider, the pina colada was the 25th best-selling cocktail of 2016, while the daiquiri was the 4th most popular. No doubt, these stellar performances informed Teavana developers when finalizing the Summer Fri-YAYS menu, while the inclusion of mimosa and bellini-inspired teas will tantalize consumers familiar with these flavors from classic brunch menus. And since the Tea Association of the USA reports that 80% of the tea consumed in the country is iced, Summer Fri-YAYS seems likely to resonate with American consumers.

If you fall hopelessly in love with any of these featured iced tea flavors and want to whip up a glass at home, each is available in loose leaf. You can get your hands on a $40 sampler that includes 2 ounces of each variety. Teavana suggests this sampler will brew anywhere from 24 to 34 cups of iced tea.

Whether you enjoy one of these cocktail-inspired iced teas in a Teavana store or from a home-brewed pitcher, since they contain zero alcohol and zero caffeine, Happy Hour can be fun for the whole family. Plus, sober friends will appreciate being able to partake in Happy Hour stress-free.

To locate the Teavana store that’s closest to you and start your weekend off with a huge dose of flavor, click here.

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5 Modern Rituals Surrounding a Simple Cup of Tea

June 1, 2017

Just over 240 years have passed since the Sons of Liberty defiantly tossed an entire shipment of tea into the Boston harbor. And so began the Revolutionary War. In the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party, John Adams wrote letters to his wife that professed his love for tea, but admitted his reluctant switch over to coffee. Apparently, tea had become unpatriotic and lost its appeal. Thus, coffee began it’s reign.

Needless to say, we have a complicated relationship with tea in the States.

But regardless of where it’s being consumed, tea stands apart from coffee for a variety of reasons. One of the most interesting, perhaps, is the idea of “ritual” that seems to follow tea around like a pre-requisite. It may be an echo of rituals across the globe. It might also be the very nature of tea – the time it takes to brew and the variety of flavors that lend itself to a more sophisticated appreciation than a cup of coffee.

We could write an entire book on all of the ancient rituals surrounding tea. Instead, let’s explore the rituals that exist today that are often left overlooked:

1. The Children’s Tea Party

You’d be hard pressed to find a six year old who doesn’t know what a tea party is, let alone have organized one themselves. It’s almost a phenomenon – what other social event do kids regularly orchestrate on their own? Childhood tea parties are not only incredibly adorable, they are also surprisingly well thought out. The table is set, “guests” gather around, (imaginary) tea is poured and sometimes cookies even make an appearance. Thank you Ye Olde English children’s stories for keeping tea parties alive.

2. The Morning Cup of Tea

First things first, let’s be clear: tea in the morning requires an entirely different process than coffee. A (good) morning cup of tea requires that you heat water, steep your leaves, and wait. And wait…It’s kind of a zen experience, having to wait for your caffeine. Even if you decide to go to a cafe rather than brew at home, you never quite escape the patience that tea insists.

3. The Iced Black Tea and Lemonade

Or, as most people call them, Arnold Palmers (we have our own spin on that from National Lemonade Day). This drink has made a name for itself over the last several years. It started with a golf hero, but it’s fair to assume that few of the 20-something’s that regularly order the well-known beverage have a clue who the man actually is. The ritual lives in routine, and it’s always refreshing to know tea can seamlessly transition into warmer months and trendier libations.

4. The “Sick Day” Tea

“You should drink some tea.” How many times have you heard that advice when you had a runny nose or sore throat? It’s such common sense at this point, and yet you can’t get away from the suggestion. There is a conception, and a valid one, that tea has healing properties. We aren’t doctors, but the doctors we know tell us this is more or less true. Now just imagine that moment after a long day of work and a nasty head cold when you take your first sip of piping hot chamomile tea with lemon, breathing in the steam. It truly feels like you’re drinking a magical healing elixir.

5. The Pot of Tea

This always feels like a big one. A full pot of tea seems to separate the casual drinkers from the die hard. Tea, typically, is a sipping drink. A pot of tea is an hour of your life that you have dedicated to tea (and usually something else… We’re not crazy, we realize you’re probably reading a book or working on a paper too). In that moment, when you fill your pot or order a full pot at the neighborhood cafe, you’ve established yourself as a real “tea drinker.” In our books, that’s a pretty awesome commitment.

We invite you to join us and share your favorite tea ritual.

Tell us. Share with us. Join in and help paint the picture of tea.

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