If you are ever having a bad day just look at this picture. These kids are all smiles. Except for the one with the corn in her mouth caught during a storm of kids bombarding the camera at lunch time. Otherwise I thought I felt like a rock star just being there and they certainly shined at the photo opp. Their school built in part by Art of Tea participating in buying tea from this Fair Trade project feels good knowing that they get a good education and learn in well lite, spacious and clean environment.  It really started with a good intention and a team of people that believed in a better opportunity. It’s simple really or rather really simple. We will explore the process later and meet with potential Fair Trade opportunities in future posts.

Being a pretty tall foreigner the kids were a little standoffish but slowly warmed up as I just put my hand out for a high five. They all took dares at being the first on to give me a high five and as the crowd started to gather of course the kid with snot running down his nose gave me the first high five. That opened the gates so to speak of a rush of high fives. Later, I did a little improv English lesson with them and was impressed with the fact that these kids know way more English than I know Mandarin.  I will post the video later on this experience as I have no access as in this part of China to YouTube, Twitter or Facebook.

Peace.

Today we visited with the manager of one of the coop fair trade tea estates that we work with and got a private tour of the school. This school  was built by TransFair Fair Trade Tea Program. We are happy to say that we as in you and me/our customers have contributed to this fantastic cause. So essentially first hand you can witness the difference between buying fair trade tea and non fair trade tea.

The school is fairly large. To give perspective it is similar in size to Hamilton High in Los Angeles which was the scene of 90210 in the 90’s and other tv shows. The school borders the old property which was essentially shacks.  Now the kids have a beautiful place  to learn while being surrounded by mountains, mist, a river and tea. The kids are from parents who participate in the tea coop and I was happy to hear that 30 kids a year later go on to college after graduating this school.
After spending a year in a peace corp type program in the Middle East working directly with povershed communities, schools and kids, I feel confident that I can get a strong sense on how legit a program may be running. I was happy to say that the grounds seemed positive, well kept and the kids are happy.  More to come on this with a video interview of the principal, interaction with the kids and going back to meet Tea Master Bei at the estate.

There is this thought that I’d like to share that keeps coming to mind while on this trip. Which is the exploration of Altruism…and if altruism really exists.

If not then can we feel good knowing that we are doing well while doing good? I’d like to think this is the happy medium.

Let me know what you think. Meantime take a look out for more to come.

I have been on an whirlwind trip to various parts in Southern China visiting farms and sampling many teas,  I must report a remarkable new tea find. After sampling this one tea which quickly grabbed my attention I asked the farmer the name and he quickly responded that this is a new tea to market with no name. I asked if I could name it. He smiled and offered the opportunity of a lifetime…

Wild Honey Sprout

Here is how I would describe it:

These white tea buds are hand harvested deep in the forest of Fujian Mountains. The process begins with nature first blanketing  these rare and unique buds in morning dew before they are carefully hand picked and then hot air dried.  These wild tea buds are thick and slightly spiraled in a longitudinal direction with an uninhibited white and golden down surface.

The steeped infusion reveals a light caramel color with flavor notes of acorn squash, banana bread and honeydew melon. This tea can be steeped multiple times and is a must for the most seasoned tea aficionado.

Steeped

This tea is now available on our site and is available by clicking here.

Please share your comments and feedback on this new find.

This video demonstrates our environmental dedication with TreePeople on planting trees, providing community outreach and education. Moving forward together, we advance with giant steps to survive and thrive with strong environmental efforts one tree and one sip at a time. Buy a Green Pear Tea Tin and Support TreePeople and Art of Tea’s Efforts.

Fair Trade Tea

Happy October Fellow Art of Tea Drinkers! Join us on a journey of knowledge and appreciation this month as we raise our tea cups in honor of Fair Trade month! As I write this newsletter, I am enjoying a nice cup of our yummy Egyptian Chamomile tisane, which just so happens to be one of our featured fair trade teas this month…exciting! As I gently sip my hot cup of chamomile flavored goodness, it has me wondering about how many of us have actually stopped to think about where the tea we drink actually comes from and how that impacts our society and the world we live in.

Here are just a few reasons why fair trade practices are so important to Art of Tea. Fair trade practices help producers in under-developed countries have greater opportunities to acquire the resources they need to improve their livelihood. Sustainable development protects against land loss by promoting environmentally friendly processes which in turn creates a healthy working environment for producers. Fair trade practices also promote fair wages for workers, gender equality and fights against child labor. Pretty cool huh?

So the next time you reach for your cup of tea, take comfort in the fact that Art of Tea is on a determined path to make sure that each one of their ingredients will someday be sourced solely from sustainable fair trade practices.

We take a look at Art of Tea’s relationship with the manufacturer of their iced tea equipment, Wilbur Curtis, a leader in the commercial foodservice beverage equipment industry for over 60 years.

Oh Yes…

Even the environmentally friendly fork is compostable and is made out of potato starch!

In 2008 Professor Lizette Joubert of the Agricultural Research Council and Professor Wentzel Gelderblom of the Medical Research Council, along with two more collaborators published an overview of existing knowledge about the history, cultivation, traditional uses, composition and biological activity of Rooibos and other South African herbal teas.

Here, in a nutshell are the top 10 reasons to enjoy a cup of Organic Fair Trade Rooibos, sans scientific jargon (well, maybe just a little jargon, it helps us sound credible):

1. Rooibos (or Aspalathus linearis) contains a complex mix of many flavonoids, which, contrary to the sound of their name, are not an intergalactic race of alien beings from Star Trek episode 39. These compounds widely found in plants are known to have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antiallergenic effects.

2. Aspalathin, one of the major flavonoids, is often the most active antioxidant in Rooibos, helping scavenge free radicals and protect cells and lipids (fats) against oxidative damage. Of course you could always read a Weight Loss and Happiness Book.

3. Rooibos also contains the rare flavonoid glucoside nothofagin. 10 points and a digital gold star to the one who can research the amazing health properties behind that one.

4. Rooibos does not contain caffeine, which means you get to enjoy your cup of anti-bacterial/viral/tumor/inflammatory/allergy tea without getting the jitters.

5. The major flavonoids in Rooibos demonstrate anti-mutagenic properties that help prevent or slow down cancer. In some studies green (unfermented) Rooibos is a more potent antimutagenic agent, while other studies found that fermented Rooibos has a higher antimutagenic effect.

6. The antioxidants in Rooibos protect the liver against oxidative stress and could have value for liver patients.

7. Studies on Japanese quails have shown that Rooibos protects blood cells and exhibits anti-ageing properties that slow down brain degeneration and prolong fertility – if it works for quails….

8. The bronchodilatory, antispasmodic, and blood pressure lowering effects of Rooibos, and its potential to stimulate the immune system, has been shown in some studies, but needs to be further explored – we’ll do our best to keep you updated on that one.

9. Put your tube of Goldbond on the back burner and brew a cup of Rooibos instead – human studies have shown that taking Rooibos is an effective way to treat several skin conditions. It decreased the incidence of herpes simplex within a few days, helped for itching associated with dermatitis, and reduced skin inflammation and sun sensitivity.

10. Honestly, it’s just fun to say.

It’s Maria, here. I’m excited to tell you about my time with Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea!
Art of Tea was able to support the Long Beach Library Foundation and Greg’s Central Asia Institute at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center for the Long Beach Reads One Book event. We also served tea at a luncheon at the delicious Fresh Foods Cafe on Golden Shores.

Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time is a riveting story about how Greg’s goal to climb Pakistan’s mountain K2 ultimately led him to a small village in Pakistan. He needed care, and the people of this village healed his body and his heart. After seeing the local children playing and drawing in the dirt with no school to go to, Greg set his mind to build a school for the village, named Korphe. As of last year, Mortenson has established over 78 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which provide education for over 28,000 children, including 18,000 girls, where few education opportunities existed before.

To learn more about Greg and his New York Times #1 best seller, please visit: http://www.threecupsoftea.com/

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Maria Warman is an independent contractor representing Art of Tea. You may also find her working hard building homes and volunteering on preservation projects from Brazil to Ethiopia.

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