Like food, you can have just about any experience with tea you want. Need to relax after a hard day’s work, try an herbal tea with Chamomile. Need a mood enhancer with a little pick-me up, a cup of Earl Grey should do the trick. What about a little something to put you in that romantic mood, may I suggest Ambrosia Plum.
It’s no secret that tea is now becoming the new “it” in the beverage world as more and more people are realizing that it isn’t just for helping to get over a cold or the forced alternative to coffee. And long gone are the single flavor Lipton tea bags that were so popular when I was growing up. The world of tea has gotten much more exciting and even exotic when you think about all of the varieties, benefits and uses that tea lovers now have drink and cook with.
Top tea gurus can even make their mark by becoming a certified Tea Master or Sommelier. This distinguished title shows a true commitment to both the consumption and education of the product. Learn more
The experts will say that there is an art to selecting and consuming tea and the first thing you have to keep in mind is the reason you are drinking tea in the first place. As a tea drinker myself, it works best for me when I break this down in two ways. The first is the desired experience and the second is the desired benefit. The experience is about how I want to feel mentally after consumption while the benefit is how I want my body to feel. By keeping this in mind, it makes the selection process easier and less overwhelming; at least I think so.
With this in mind, it is very easy to be teased by the hundreds of companies offering what they feel are the best tea products for the ultimate tea experience. But for now, I have settled on just three who have caught my eye based on their ability to not only deliver on the experience and benefits but also their stories of humble beginnings and how they consciously work to keep the environment and others in mind.
Being a heavy coffee drinker most of her life, Myra Ceasar was surprised to learn from her doctor that her consumption of caffeine over the years was a contributor to the growth of fibroids. His prescription; green tea. From there, her interest turned into a passion which then lead to an opportunity to start her business in Virginia in 2007.
Relocating to the D. C. area, today Ceasar runs Tea & Company with her business partner and boyfriend Shawn which focuses on health and wellness. The company imports a variety of teas from Asia and South Africa as well as from California. Private parties and events offer an opportunity for tea lovers to create their own unique tea experience. Cuisine Noir first learned about Tea & Company after the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas last year and have followed them ever since. When asked what keeps their customers coming back from more, Ceasar easily answers “taste” and “benefits.”
I first learned about Zhena’s Gyspy Tea this past January at the Fancy Food Show with wine editor Maria Hunt. Hunt instantly recognized the company based on the fact that she used one their tea flavors in a cocktail recipe (click here). Based in Ojai, Calif, the company was started by Zhena Muzyka in 2004 after first selling tea out of a cart to help finance medical bills for her son.
Fast forward and with both a healthy son and business, Zhena has dedicated her business to producing teas that are nothing less than exceptional. Certified Organic, Fair Trade and Kosher, the company is also one of the first in the US produce and offer Demeter Certified Biodynamic teas which carry the highest seal of approval when it comes to purity. With a small but passionate team making a positive impact in the world, Muzyka says it is all about making sure customers feel “nutured and heard” as well as the fact that “someone was thinking about you” when they enjoy their teas.
We’ve enjoyed learning about Rishi Tea since last year after our re-launch and have enjoyed featuring their products as part of our CN Essentials. The company is the love child of Joshua Kaiser who founded the company shortly after college and traveling to key tea producing areas in Asia.
Eco friendly and truly dedicated to producing organic, Fair Trade and Kosher products, Rishi is all about delivering a tea experience that is true and provides the very best benefits that teas can offer. Knowing that tea lovers drink tea for different reasons, it is the quality that you can taste that helps to set their products a part from the rest. In addition, their accessories are designed for the eco consumer in mind creating a feel good mood each and every time. For recipes with Rishi Tea, click here.
Knowing that my tea journey of discovery is at this point never ending, I am comforted by the fact that I will also have these three to go back to for a familiar taste and experience. When making your own selections, stay true to your own desired tea experience and you are bound to find the right one sooner or later.
For information about the World Tea Expo, visit www.worldteaexpo.com. For a list of tea benefits, visit www.teabenefits.com.