In the month of May, we are dedicating 8 minutes of each work day to tap out of technology and tap into a tea experience. This “8 Minute Digital Detox With Tea” campaign will challenge you daily to unplug yourself from all your devices- computers, phones, and other social gadgets to focus on the ritual of preparing tea.

Why Tea?

Since tea has been used universally for over 5000 years as a natural remedy for the mind and body, tea is the perfect vessel to reconnect with yourself. Tea is typically known to calm the mind, ignite focus and awareness, and sooth the body. Disconnect from technology to reconnect with yourself. Find a quiet space where you are not tempted to respond to an email or text. You can even set aside a box to hold your cell phone, iPad, and all other electronic devices. Join us in tapping out of technology to tap into tea!

Why 8 Minutes?

We usually get a 10 minute break during a work day, so we invite you to use 8 of those minutes to hone in on the art of tea, so to speak. Most teas take 3 to 5 minutes to steep. Tisanes or caffeine free blends can steep longer at 5 to 7 minutes, so it is manageable to prepare tea within an 8 minute cap. Also, the number 8 is a lucky number in China, which is where we source many of our teas.

Day One- My Tea Ritual

I chose to steep an oolong tea called Bao Zhong Pouchong to kick off this digitox cleanse. First, I prepared my Smart Tea Maker by adding two heaping teaspoons of tea. Then, I poured hot water over the leaves. I quickly gathered my teapot and perfect tea timer, and headed outside. I set my pot down and watched the leaves infuse into the water for the remaining 2 minutes. I could see the leaves slowly dancing in the water, which is known as the agony of the leaves. Oolongs are especially eye catching to witness steep because like Bao Zhong Pouchong, the leaves are more tightly rolled and twisted. When the leaves are submerged in hot water, they dance as they unfurl during steeping. After multiple steeps, the leaves fully unravel, so you can see the full size of the leaves expanded in the pot.

While I took a few sips, I purposely engaged my senses to focus on my surroundings. It was a beautiful and sunny California day with a slight, cool breeze. I could smell the garden of white roses blooming beside me. I could even hear birds nearby chirping in the midst of cars driving pass. The warm cup of tea was comforting and perpetuated a serene ambiance.

This was my first time tasting Bao Zhong Pouchong. I could tell by the green color of the dry leaves that this oolong was less oxidized than others. It tasted similar to a green tea. It had sweet yet buttery notes that created a well-balanced flavor on my palate. The steeped leaves created a champagne hue and smelled mildly floral.

When I returned to my desk, I felt less stressed and rejuvenated to finish the rest of my work day. My tea experience provided a little escape from constant emails and text messages this digital age allows at the touch of a button. It was delightful to step away from all my technology and intentionally indulge in a moment to enjoy tea.

Now it’s your turn. Join us in our “8 Minute Digital Detox With Tea”. Learn more tips and facts, and share your digitox thoughts and pictures on our Facebook page. Click on tab: #8MINDIGITOX. We would love to hear about your digital detox experiences. Remember, take your pictures and post on social media networks after the 8 minutes. Drink tea, and be well!

-MELISSA CHUA

Melissa is the Business Development Manager at Art of Tea. Contact her directly with any feedback, ideas or questions via Google+.

For all the jasmine lovers, you are in for a treat. Art of Tea now carries Jasmine Rings exclusively until our supply runs out. This premium green tea from Fujian, China is similar in quality and flavor to Jasmine Pearls. As the jasmine flowers naturally impart a lasting aroma and flavor, the effect is more intense in the Jasmine Rings. Supreme quality green tea leaves alone (unlike Jasmine Pearls, which contain the leaf and bud) are handpicked and carefully hand rolled into rings.

As I cupped the tea, I noticed the dry, silvery and pearly green leaves that formed into unique, varying ringlets. I watched the leaves unfurl slightly as I poured the hot water over them. The steeped leaves were just as beautiful dry because the ringlets were still intact but looser. The leaves were a brownish green and engulfed by the jasmine’s fresh and organic floral scent. I took one sip, and I was immediately overwhelmed with the floral notes of the jasmine. This tea is so delicate and pure that a mere two minutes is just the right amount of time to infuse.

I also re-steeped the rings twice more. With each steep, it was entertaining to see how the ringlets uncurled further and still released a consistently robust jasmine perfume. The re-steeped leaves had a more mild and balanced jasmine flavor that wasn’t quite as overpowering as my first steep. I found the tea to taste better each time.

-MELISSA CHUA

Melissa is the Business Development Manager at Art of Tea. Contact her directly with any feedback, ideas or questions via Google+.

In response to common inquires we receive daily, we have compiled FAQs for your convenience. Browse through these commonly asked questions with our responses to hopefully equip you with more knowledge about Art of Tea, the ordering processing and general facts about tea and products we carry. Let us know if we’re missing anything!

Company Info

Q. Is Art of Tea committed to sustainable business practices?

A. Our mission is to offer the highest quality, organically grown teas available. We purchase our tea directly from small farms and co-ops from around the world, providing families in developing countries with a fair price for their goods. We also buy fair trade teas that are authorized by FairTrade USA, ensuring fair working conditions, fair wages and a better life for tea workers from eleven countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
We, at Art of Tea have an optimistic vision of the future and a comprehensive strategy to implement that vision. Our sense of personal environmental responsibility is evident in our commitment to practices that contribute to the sustainability of our planet and the communities in which we live and work.
For more information on our sustainability efforts, read more about Sustainable Tea.

Q. What are Art of Tea’s Core Values?

A. We established the following core values, which define what is truly important to us here at the Art of Tea:
- Treat Every Product as if it is Our Only Product. Treat Every Customer as if They are Our Only Customer
- Build Relationships with Positive Mindfulness and Teamwork
- Be Humble, Curious and Grateful
- Wisely Manage Company Resources
- Pursue Continuous Improvement and Innovation
- Commit to Sustainable Business Practices
- Teach to Learn
- Be Excellent, Be Committed, Be Enthusiastic

Q. Why does Art of Tea directly source their teas and botanicals?

A. Directly sourcing our teas and botanicals means our teas will always be innovative and of premium quality, ensuring a truly memorable Art of Tea experience. Through direct import, we maintain a fresh and continuously replenished inventory year round, which we then hand blend, custom craft and pack by hand.

Q. Where may I purchase your teas?

A. Our teas can be purchased directly through our website by visiting our online store and while we do not currently have any Art of Tea retail locations, our teas can be found in a wide range of locations with clients ranging from five-star resorts in Maui, teahouses in Beverly Hills, to cafés, retail outlets and restaurants throughout North America. Some of our partners include Cheesecake Factory, Whole Foods, Wolfgang Puck, Tao Restaurant Group and Benihana.
Art of Tea has also been featured in Oprah, The Today Show, Martha Stewart and Food & Wine magazine, among many other popular media outlets.

Q. Can I sell Art of Tea in my establishment?

A. Absolutely! To be eligible for a wholesale account with Art of Tea, you must be in a business that is retailing or manufacturing the products that you are buying, or in a business that uses the products to service the public. A business license or resale number is required, where applicable. If you have any questions about whether or not you qualify for an account, please contact us at (877) 268-8327.

Q. How Do I apply for a wholesale account?

A. We encourage you to apply for a wholesale account by clicking on the link below. Please note that new accounts must first be approved to gain access to the wholesale catalog.

Create Account

Q. What is your privacy policy?

A. We never collect or store any personal data without your prior knowledge and consent. At Art of Tea, LLC, we are committed to you and to protecting your privacy. Read our complete privacy policy.

Q. Do you offer tea training?

A. We offer exclusive training programs designed around your needs. We work with top restaurants and hotels to create training programs that will enhance the quality of tea service for years to come. By creating a one on one tea sommelier training program, you can train multiple departments and elevate your tea program into an experience that is unique, educational and fun for your guests to refer to as the place to learn about and enjoy tea.

To find out more about staff training and our tea sommelier program, contact us directly at (877) 268-8327. Outside the US, you may reach us directly at (213) 493-6518.
We also have focused tea tasting classes scheduled for those who are simply passionate about tea and want to learn more. For a full listing of our upcoming events and ticketing options, please visit our event page.

Q. Do you use social media?

A. For the most up-to-date information on Art of Tea, be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. We frequently post a lot of great information about our teas as well as exclusive discounts and promotions for our followers. You can also subscribe to our blog to read about tea-related topics, contests, fun recipes using our tea, and more.
twitter.com/artoftea
facebook.com/artoftea
pinterest.com/artoftea
http://artoftea.com/wordpress/

Ordering Info

Q. What does my order status mean? (Pending, Processing, Shipped)

A. If your order is marked as “Pending” it means it has been successfully submitted to Art of Tea, but your credit card has not yet been processed. If your order is marked as “Processing” it means your credit card has been processed and your order is in production. If your order is marked as “Shipped” it is in transit and an email has been sent with tracking information to the email address on your account.

Q. What are your order turnaround times?

A. In an effort to maintain a fresh and continuously replenished inventory year round, all teas are hand blended and hand packed once we receive your order. Most orders are produced in 1-3 business days.

Q. How do I change my order?

A. If your order is still marked as “Pending” and needs to be adjusted, please email us immediately via our Contact page or call us directly at (877) 268-TEAS, and we would be happy to help make any changes.

Q. What is your return policy?

A. All items are guaranteed up to 30 days of receipt for store credit. If you are unsatisfied with your products, we will gladly issue a store credit for your purchased price, excluding shipping charges. For more information, please contact us or (877) 268-TEAS.

Q. How do I qualify for free shipping?

A. Retail orders over $75 qualify for free shipping. To redeem, enter the coupon code ILUVT at checkout, and the discount will be applied to your order. Please note that the coupon code ILUVT is required to receive free shipping and only applies to standard flat rate shipping in the Continental US. Other coupons or offers cannot be combined with ILUVT.

Q. Is it safe to use my credit card on your website?

A. Absolutely! We are able to keep your personal information safe and secure by utilizing Secure Socket Layers (SSL) encryption technology. For maximum security, we use a secure server that encrypts all your ordering information, including your name, address and credit card number. For more information, please visit our Privacy Policy.

Q. What forms of payment do you accept?

A. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. We do not currently accept personal checks, money orders, international wire transfers, PayPal, or Smart Cards.

Q. How can I track my order?

A. A notification of shipment is sent to the email address you provide with your Art of Tea account. The email you receive will contain either a UPS or US Mail tracking number, which can be used to check the status of your shipment via www.ups.com or www.usps.com.

Q. Can I ship to a PO Box?

A. Yes. All orders placed with a PO BOX shipping address will arrive via US Mail, as UPS cannot ship to PO Boxes.

Q. How soon will I receive my order?

A. This will vary based on the amount of orders in our system at any given time, as well as your location and shipping method chosen. Orders take approximately 1-3 business days for processing as all teas are hand blended and hand packed to order. Your order will ship from our facility in Southern California. Please refer to our Shipping Policy for more information.

Tea Info

Q. How many teas do you have?

A. We have close to 200 teas in our permanent collection. We frequently introduce and feature new teas for each upcoming season including holidays.

Q. Are your teas always guaranteed to be fresh?

A. We are committed to the quality and consistency of our teas. Whether you purchase your tea during summer or winter, we guarantee it will always be the same great taste and freshness you love. We taste hundreds of teas monthly to ensure each batch of tea adheres to our rigorous quality standards.

Q. Why can’t I find my favorite Art of Tea product on your website?

A. There are numerous reasons why certain teas or teaware may become discontinued or temporarily unavailable. It could be because it was a seasonal tea, or we might not be able to source specific teas or ingredients necessary to make the blend (whether it be because of weather or climate conditions, price or scarcity of ingredients), or it could just be that it isn’t a big mover for us, and we are clearing space for an even more exciting tea or blend. In any case, use the search box found at the upper righthand corner of the Art of Tea website to check the availability of a product. You can also use this tool to search the entire site for specific tea ingredients.

Q. Will my favorite seasonal tea be back next year?

A. While we do try our best to bring back our most popular seasonal teas each year, we can’t always be sure. Often seasonal teas and blends are dependent on availability of certain ingredients and subject to harvesting and weather conditions that may be outside of our control.

Q. What does “organic certified” mean?

A. A tea qualifies as “certified organic” when it’s been grown, processed and handled within the parameters of certain established international standards whose requirements include exclusive use of: purified garden soils, approved organic fertilizers & pest controls, processing methods, packaging, labeling, shipping, storage, handling, traceability and re-packing. All organic processes must be certified by an international agency and are strictly monitored. Our teas are certified by CCOF and we currently have the largest variety of organic tea blends available for purchase in the US.

Q. Are all of your teas organic certified?

A. Currently, about 85% of our teas are organic certified. Here are a few reasons why some of our selections cannot be certified organic: in most cases, it is because we are sourcing ingredients from small farms who cannot afford to pay for the certification, some ingredients in our blends may not be organic compliant or the tea is a seasonal offering and will only be offered for a short amount of time so we don’t process the paperwork for organic certification.

Q. What does “fair trade certified” mean?

A. Fair trade practices help producers in under-developed countries have greater opportunities to acquire the resources they need to improve their livelihood by promoting fair wages for workers, building schools and hospitals, creating cultural centers, promoting gender equality and fighting against child labor in tea producing areas.

Q. Are all of your teas fair trade certified?

A. We are continuously improving our tea selections to include as many fair trade ingredients as possible. Right now, about 30% of our teas are fair trade certified and that number keeps growing!

Q. Are your teas Kosher?

A. All of our teas, tisanes, flavored or unflavored are Kosher. We have periodic Kosher certification inspections to ensure we meet the strict Orthodox Union standards.

Q. Where does tea come from?

A. All varietals of tea (black, green, oolong, white, & pu-erh) come from the camellia sinensis plant, which grows mainly in tropical and sub-tropical climates. What makes each tea different is how they are grown, harvested and processed.

Q. How many varietals of the camellia sinensis plant are there?

A. There are 3 principal varietals of the camellia sinensis plant that are used to cultivate tea: camellia sinensis sinensis (China, Japan), camellia sinensis assamica (India, Sri Lanka), and camellia sinensis cambod. From these main varietals, there are thousands of sub-varietals.

Q. What about Rooibos, Yerba Mate, and other herbals?

A. Technically, any “tea” that does not come from the camellia sinensis plant isn’t actually a “tea” at all. These herbs fit into their own categories. Rooibos, or “red tea”, comes from a South African bush. Rooibos, just like most herbal hot water infusions, is naturally caffeine free, yet it contains many of the same beneficial properties associated with tea and is part of the legume family. Yerba Mate and Guayusa are closely related cousins from the holly family and are native to South America. Yerba Mate and Guayusa have a slightly higher caffeine content than tea but not as much as coffee.

Q. What is the shelf life of your teas?

A. We give an 18 month shelf life to our unflavored teas and about 12 months to our flavored teas. Teas with natural flavor additives will have their flavor diminish over time, but do not expire. The shelf life of tea is largely dependent on how the tea is stored. Keeping your teas away from light, heat, and moisture will ensure the highest quality and longest shelf stability.

Q. How much tea should I use per cup?

A. The amount of tea recommended per cup varies by the type of tea being brewed. Please click on the following link for a chart featuring the various steeping times.

Q. Can I steep my tea more than once?

A. Many teas can and should be re-steeped. In many cases, the flavor profile will be unique with each steeping. Re-steeping is not necessarily recommended for tisanes. You should also only re-steep within the first couple of hours of the first infusion.

Q. Can I request a catalog?

A. In an effort to remain environmentally cautious, we currently do not offer printed catalogs. We encourage you to browse our online store for listings of our entire product line and descriptions of all of our teas.

Q. What is the best way to store my tea?

A. Teas are best stored dry, kept as air tight as possible, out of direct sunlight, and away from heat. Tea will absorb any surrounding aromas and can also be damaged by UV light. Our foil-lined re-sealable Kraft bags are an excellent way to store your tea.

Q. What kind of teas do you carry?

A. We carry a full line of teas including White, Green, Oolong, Black, Pu-erh, Tisanes and Ayurvedic teas. To learn more about the difference between the different types of teas, please visit our Learn About Tea page.

Q. What is Matcha?

A. Matcha is made from a shade grown green tea, known as Gyokuro, which is carefully steamed and meticulously dried. After the steaming process, the leaves are separated from the stems. The leaves alone, called tencha , are grounded into a powder called matcha. It is prepared by whisking the tea powder with hot water in a ceramic bowl. Matcha is the primary form of tea used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. The sweet flavor of matcha is due to the amount of amino acids present in the tea and the higher the quality, the sweeter and deeper the flavor is.

Wellness Info

Q. Are your teas Gluten free?

A. All of our teas are gluten free, although not all of our teas, botanicals and other ingredients come from gluten free certified suppliers.

Q. Do any of your teas contain nuts?

A. None of our teas contain nuts. As with gluten free, not all of our teas, botanicals or other ingredients come from certified nut free suppliers.

Q. How many calories are in a cup of tea?

A. A cup of unflavored tea has 0 calories.

A trace amount of calories may come from the fruit and or flavorings that are added.

Q. Do your teas contain any dairy/lactose/soy products?

A. The following tea blends have white chocolate containing dairy in them: Brewed Awakening and Vanilla Berry Truffle. The following tea blends do not have dairy although the chocolate is produced on equipment that has produced milk or soy products: Chocolate Monkey, Velvet, and Aztec Spice. Our Blueberry Cheesecake tisane contains a natural flavor additive with dairy components.

Q. What is the difference between natural and artificial flavoring?

A. Both flavorings are made in a laboratory by a trained professional, a flavorist, by blending either natural chemicals or synthetic chemicals to create a flavor. Natural flavors are those that are derived from nature and have not undergone any extreme physical processing conditions during development. Artificial flavors are essentially man made. Many artificial flavors contain natural ingredients as well as synthetically manufactured flavor material.

-ART OF TEA

With spring almost here and warmer days upon us, it’s the perfect time to host an afternoon tea party. Spring is the season for tea parties! Follow these tips to help plan your own afternoon tea party.

*Decide on a budget and theme. Do you want a formal or informal party? Spring themes often focus on spring holidays like St. Patrick’s Day or Easter. Other common themes are: “Alice In Wonderland” or “big hats for a garden party.”

*Finalize a date, time and location. Afternoon tea parties are typically around 2 to 5 p.m. Will the party take place indoors or outdoors, in a garden?

*Make a guest list and send out invitations accordingly. Evites (evites.com) are an easy, eco-friendly and free way to invite 10 or more people. Facebook (facebook.com) invites are also a great way to get the word out. If you’re having a more intimate gathering, it might be nice to get crafty with a handmade invitation or a phone call would suffice.

*Create the food and tea menus. Make sure to buy or make a variety of sweet and savory treats to complement the teas. Food infused with tea is an excellent way to showcase the tea. Try some of our favorites made by Katie Kirby, our social media maven. Click on these links to past posts for recipes: Matcha Cupcakes, Tea Truffles and Earl Grey Chocolate Cake.

Tea party menus typically include a mix of pastries and sandwiches. Think bite-sized appetizers or finger food. You can find many recipes on Pinterest.com with or without an account.

Select teas that will pair well with your food options. Here are Art of Tea recommendations:

Black Teas: Earl Grey, Earl Grey Crème, Tali’s Masala Chai, English Breakfast, Starry Night

White Teas: White Coconut Crème, Silver Needle, White Acai, Amore

Green Teas: Jasmine Pearls, Green Pomegranate, Happy Tea, Sencha

Oolong Teas: Mandarin Silk, Iron Goddess of Mercy, Plum Oolong

Pu-erh Teas: Naked Pu-erh, Pu-erh Tuo Cha, Coconut Cacao Pu-erh

Herbal/Tisanes: French Lemon Ginger, Egyptian Chamomile

If you want to serve one tea at a time, we recommend tasting light to dark for a smooth transition for your palate. Take your guests on a tea journey starting with white; then green, followed by oolong and ending with black or pu-erh tea if adventurous. If you are new to pu-erh teas, refer to this two-part article on re-steeping pu-erh: Part 1 and Part 2. You should also have herbal blends available to accommodate guests who do not want caffeine.

Lastly, since tea is the star of the party, you may want to share more fusions or unique teas like blooming teas such as Halo or Beach Flower. If you want to go a step further, you can make tea cocktails or tea-tinis! Check out these recipes from past posts: Happy Hour with AOT’s Blooming Teas and Hibiscus Cooler cocktails.

Learn about recommended steeping times. We recommend 1 tsp per every 8 oz.

*Make sure you have the proper teaware and accessories-teapots, teacups, kettle and water heater. Get some teaware tips from the last post on: How To Choose The Right Teapot. If you don’t have enough mugs, you can ask your guests to bring their favorite teacup, which will also add to the party décor.

Hope these tips were helpful! Enjoy sharing cups of tea with great company. Cheers!

-MELISSA CHUA

Melissa is the Business Development Manager at Art of Tea. Contact her directly with any feedback, ideas or questions via Google+.

Happy 2013! New Year’s resolutions have been made. As many embark on the journey to weight loss for the new year, it’s fitting to explore the increasingly popular, paleo (Paleolithic) diet. The paleo diet has been around since humankind, but there has been a rise in this particular diet because of CrossFit, a trending fitness regimen that involves constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity within a community environment. As a CrossFitter, I immediately saw that paleo is the diet for CrossFit enthusiasts. It was first introduced to the CrossFit community by Robb Wolf, former CrossFit nutrition adviser and author of The Paleo Solution. News of this low carb, high protein diet quickly spread throughout the CrossFit community and eventually replaced the initial CrossFit Zone diet because it produced results to be lean, energized and strong.

What is Paleo?

Known as the caveman or hunter-gatherer diet, this nutritional plan entails consuming unprocessed foods with high protein, lean meats from grass fed animals and complimented with moderate fruit and vegetable intake for healthier carbohydrate sources. The diet restricts: processed foods, dairy, grains, legumes and sweets. When in doubt, ask, “What would a caveman eat?”

Paleo and Tea

Water is the recommended beverage of choice, but is tea accepted in the paleo diet? Paleo purists would probably shake their heads no, but nowadays, modern Paleoists make exceptions to fit these modern times. Bacon is a processed meat, but many paleo dieters can’t resist it. Along the same lines, tea is a subjective topic for paleoists. Purists forbid it because of its caffeine content; while some say caffeine free blends or tisanes are fine.

Nonetheless, paleo palates can enjoy tea-like substitutes from Art of Tea’s rooibos blends. Although rooibos is part of the legume family, a dietary restriction, paleoists still drink it for its many health benefits. This caffeine-free red bush from South Africa is notably rich in antioxidants and helps fuel the body with iron. French Lemon Ginger, Italian Blood Orange and Rooibos alone are great tisanes to start with.

Other paleoists argue that organic teas or least processed teas are accepted. Given that reasoning, white teas are the least processed tea type (simply picked and dried) and so are often referred to as the most organic. Paleoists who don’t mind the caffeine can drink organic white teas such as Silver Needle, White Picked Monkey and White Peony.

Paleo-coffee fanatics also known as caffeine lovers can still get their caffeine in healthier doses through green tea. It’s widely accepted because of its natural health benefits. In keeping with the Stone Age premise of the diet, we recommend Art of Tea’s minimally caffeinated Kukicha Twig Tea and Green Kukicha. These earthy greens  are made of the twigs and leaves from the tea plant Camellia Sinensis.

For more information about the paleo diet, check out Wolf’s website at  http://robbwolf.com/. Another plan that follows a stringent nutritional structure similar to paleo is Whole 9. Learn more at http://whole9life.com/start/.

-MELISSA CHUA

Melissa is the Business Development Manager at Art of Tea. Contact her directly with any feedback, ideas or questions via Google+.

Everyone indulges in sweets during the holidays. It’s tradition. Whatever your guilty pleasure may be, Art of Tea has healthy alternatives to satisfy your sweet tooth. Butterscotch, Chocolate Monkey and Vanilla Berry Truffle are just a few Dessert Teas we offer. Drink them as is or concoct fun and festive beverages that will certainly fare well with your banquet. Forget about counting the calories with these healthy dessert options. Here are three tea recipes using Art of Tea’s dessert inspired favorites: Apple Pie, Blueberry Cheesecake and Lemon Meringue.

Apple Pie Spiced Cider

Art of Tea’s Apple Pie fuses together all the ingredients necessary for an apple cider. This caffeine free tisane is a rooibos blend of honeybush, cinnamon, apple bits, coconut, ginger, pink peppercorn, black peppercorn and nutmeg.

You Will Need:

· 1 heaping tsp Art of Tea’s Apple Pie

· 1 Mug

· Cinnamon Sticks

· 2 tsp Cloves

Instructions:

For 5 to 7 minutes, steep the Apple Pie blend in your mug. Add the cloves and mix well. Add one or two fresh cinnamon sticks to garnish.

Blueberry Cheesecake Gin and Tonic

Art of Tea’s tisane, Blueberry Cheesecake marries all the quintessential flavors to create a blueberry cheesecake without all the carbs. This rooibos blend contains honeybush and blueberries decorated with cornflower and marigolds.

You Will Need:

· 1 oz. Art of Tea’s Blueberry Cheesecake, steeped

· 3 oz. Gin

· 3 oz. Tonic water

· Blueberries

· Ice

· 8 oz. Glass or double-walled glass teacup

Instructions:

First, add ice cubes into your glass. Add the rest of the ingredients, stir and enjoy!

Lemon Meringue Drop

Art of Tea’s Lemon Meringue, a caffeine free tisane, is a green rooibos blended with orange peel, rose petals and cornflowers. This is our tea-tini take on the popular vodka infused, Lemon Drop martini.

You Will Need:

· 2 oz. Art of Tea’s Lemon Meringue, steeped

· 1 oz. Vodka

· Shaker

· Ice

· Martini glass

· Sugar on a plate to rim the glass (optional)

· Lemon/lime wedge (optional)

Instructions:

First, rim the glass with sugar by wetting the rim with a fresh lime or lemon wedge. Then, gently dab the glass face down into the plate of sugar, rotating it until the entire rim is lined with sugar. Next, pour the vodka and steeped Lemon Meringue into a shaker over ice and shake until completely cold. Carefully pour contents into the martini glass.

Check out our full selection of Dessert Teas and create your own healthy elixers! Happy holidays!

-MELISSA CHUA

FIDM students design award winning display in the 3^rd Annual Pasadena Magazine Design Competition

Pasadena, CA (December 5, 2012) – A giant store display featuring Art of Tea products won first place in the third annual Pasadena Magazine 2012 FIDM Visual Communications Competition. The beautifully constructed display stands at 6 feet high and stretches 8 feet across, at the Whole Foods- Arroyo Parkway store in Pasadena. Art of Tea was selected to be the star of the display because of its brand recognition and alignment with the competition’s sub-theme, “Mind, Body, Soul.”

“We love Art of Tea,” says Eunise Luna, the Whole Body team leader at Whole Foods. “It’s local, has great flavor, and they are beautiful teas. My personal favorite is Earl Grey Crème. There really is nothing else like it.”

The display highlights some of the store’s bestsellers such as Earl Grey Crème, Green Pear, French Lemon Ginger and a Breakfast Blend custom blended exclusively for Whole Foods. The Art of Tea display will be up in the store until Monday, December 10^th.

Groups of three Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) students were challenged by Pasadena Magazine to create displays in four Pasadena locations: Barnes & Noble, Macy’s, Whole Foods and the Pasadena Convention Center. The students constructed displays using in-store merchandise with the theme, “Reasons to love Pasadena.”

Last Wednesday, first place winners Brittney McCourtney, Taylor Jane Breidenstein and Phoebe Hoang received the “Best Design” award, $1500 in cash and prizes, and a magazine feature in the upcoming January issue at Pasadena Magazine’s December Hot-Off-The-Press party, showcasing a fashion show starring the 2013 Tournament of Roses Rose Queen and Royal Court. The competition’s judges were: Daryn-Reid Goodall, an Emmy nominated set decorator, Kim Helgeson, a Manager of Visual Merchandising at Mattel, Inc. and an award winning designer of retail stores and visual programs for major retailers, and Jill Tennent, Anthropologie’s Regional Recruiter.

Art of Tea is located in Los Angeles, CA and is a leading importer and wholesaler of organic and specialty teas in North America. In addition to some of LA’s finest resorts and restaurants, Art of Tea services hotels, cafes, spas and many other hot spots from the Hawaiian Islands to New York City, complete with staff training.

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The holidays are coming! Art of Tea’s gift giving guide will help you take care of everyone on your list. Shop our convenient and consumer-friendly online store without the hassle of long lines and crowded shopping malls and from the comfort of your own home. We are excited to offer some new gift ideas this holiday season alongside newly packaged favorites from last year that will certainly make an impression with the tea lovers in your life. Here are Art of Tea’s Top 10 Gift Ideas (arranged by price from low to high):

1. Buy a tin of White Winter Chai, and Art of Tea will donate $1.00 to the American Red Cross in support of the Hurricane Sandy disaster relief efforts. ($10.99)

2. Art of Tea’s new Sampler Packs (below) are now beautifully bundled in an elegant, branded presentation box showcasing a 4-tea variety that is individually packaged in a decorative tin. Choose from a selection of tea type categories. ($19.00)

3. Celebrate the holidays with Art of Tea’s Holiday Gift Set, which includes three signature holiday teas: Cran Marnier, Pumpkin Pie and Santa’s Little Helper. ($32.00)

4. You can always make time for tea when you’re on the go with the Travel Gift Set (below). Enjoy Art of Tea’s new branded travel press paired with two holiday teas. ($35.00)

5. For those who are new to loose leaf tea, we have the Loose Leaf Tea Starter Kit featuring our new sampler packs of your choice accompanied by a glass teapot with infuser. Watch the leaves unravel as they steep! ($38.00)

6. Art of Tea’s Tea of the Month Membership is the best way for any tea novice or connoisseur to explore a new tea each month. Now choose from six programs including new offerings: Iced Teas, Premium Single Origin Teas, Pyramid Teabag Teas and Wellness Teas! ($48.00- $180.00)

7. For the teabag enthusiasts, the Deluxe Teabag Sampler Gift Set is quite a treat. Indulge in the eco pyramid teabag sampler tin that comes with two double walled glass teacups and the perfect teapot made specifically for steeping a teabag! ($50.00)

8. The Glass Tea Gift Set is essential for steeping Art of Tea’s select holiday blends for two. This set includes two holiday teas, a glass teapot and a pair of double walled glass teacups. ($58.00)

9. The His & Her Travel Gift Set is the perfect gift for the couples in your life. Highlighting our Ayurveda blends, Tea For Him and Tea For Her, this includes a tin of each with a branded tumbler ideal for steeping—loose leaf or bagged tea, on the go! ($69.00)

10. Introducing Art of Tea’s new Winter Wonderland Wooden Box Tea Sampler (below), showcasing our holiday inspired favorites: Aztec Spice, Butterscotch, Holiday Berry, Hot Sweet Cinnamon, Santa’s Little Helper and White Winter Chai. Choose from other wooden box samplers in select tea categories. ($48.00)

For more holiday gift ideas, check out Tea Gifts and Tea Gifts Under $50. Happy shopping!

-MELISSA CHUA

Warming the hearts of many, Earl Grey has become a timeless tea enjoyed most frequently in the West. Earl Grey is said to be named after English Prime Minister Charles Grey, who was also the second Earl of Britain in the 1830s. Historical tales say Lord Charles Grey rescued a drowning boy in China. The boy’s father who was a tea blender showed his appreciation by giving the prime minister the famed black tea recipe, later known as Earl Grey. There are a number of varied accounts, but it is questionable in all the stories whether Grey ever visited China. If he did, bergamot oranges were not harvested in China at that time, nor was it common for the Chinese to drink black tea.

How did the pear-shaped citrus appear in the tea? Some sources say that during the Jewish diaspora, bergamot was used as the etrog, a citrus fruit used in rituals during the Jewish festival of Sukkot. The bergamot was obtained from Corfu, Greece, which became the British naval base in the Mediterranean. Britain’s tea loving, naval officers were then stationed in the world’s primary market for bergamot. There is a notion that a British commander possibly introduced the tea to Grey. Whether the stories are fact or fiction, Grey is remembered for his namesake tea. In fact, the English still refer to Earl Grey tea as “old stinky” as a nod to Grey’s foul odor and the tea’s distinct scent.

So what makes Earl Grey tea an Earl Grey? It’s the bergamot oil. A classic Earl Grey is black tea flavored with the oil from the rind of the bergamot orange, which is native to Italy. Nonetheless, we at Art of Tea find that Earl Grey is a versatile tea that can be blended with different tea types or even recreated in a caffeine free form creating fifty shades or blends of Earl Grey or at least a handful of Earl Grey varieties. The tea blending possibilities are limitless!

Art of Tea’s organic and fair trade certified Earl Grey showcases everything one expects in a classic Earl Grey with the Art of Tea touch—a hand-picked black tea from Sri Lanka flavored with oil of bergamot to produce that distinct fragrant, citrus zest revealed in flavor and aroma.

Earl Grey is distinguished as a strong black tea, so the astringency is often toned down with sweeteners like milk, honey and sugar. Kiss those sweeteners away when you try Art of Tea’s Earl Grey Crème. This bestseller and AOT office favorite has the great flavors of a traditional Earl Grey but perfected with a touch of vanilla. It is just heavenly—creamy, light and bold at the same time with citrus notes harmoniously dancing in your mouth.

Interested in a unique spin on Earl Grey? Try Green Earl Grey, a green tea with bergamot oil. Dr. Oz listed Art of Tea’s very own Green Earl Grey as one of his top favorite green teas in Oprah’s O Magazine. The organic green tea leaves are hand rolled and blended with Italian bergamot. It steeps a beautiful amber hue.

In a place where blending is second nature, Art of Tea created the beautifully aromatic Earl Grey Lavender. This tea marries organic and biodynamic black tea from Sri Lanka with lavender and bergamot oil. There is a delicate balance of sweet and floral with a mild citrus richness that will soothe the nasal cavities and gently warm the throat.

Defying all Earl Grey boundaries, Art of Tea caters to the tisane lovers with a caffeine free version. We use organic and fair trade South African rooibos in place of tea and pair it with the Earl Grey signature ingredient, bergamot oil to create Herbal Earl Grey. Enjoy similar profile flavors without the caffeine!

Whether you prefer to stick to the traditional Earl Grey, an award-winner at the World Tea Expo, or explore other shades of Earl Grey, you will be delighted with the aroma and distinct flavor profiles the bergamot fruit provides when complimented with different tea types and herbs.

-MELISSA CHUA

Let’s cap off the matcha series with a green tea smoothie recipe. Culinary matcha or Art of Tea’s Grade A Matcha is most frequently used as an organic base flavoring for smoothies and lattes. Enjoy the nice, long weekend with this healthy iced blended matcha treat! This recipe yields 2 servings.

Matcha Green Tea Smoothie

You Will Need:

-1 tsp Art of Tea’s Grade A Matcha

-1/3 cup Milk or milk alternative (I used coconut milk.)

-1 cup Ice cubes

-1/2 Banana, sliced

-3/4 cup Blueberries

-3 pinches Cinnamon, grounded

-1 tsp Agave or honey

-Blender

-Tibetan Goji Berries (optional)

Instructions:

First, pour the ice into the blender. Then, add the milk followed by the banana slices and blueberries. Carefully sprinkle Art of Tea’s Grade A Matcha and pinches of cinnamon. Squeeze about a teaspoon of agave or honey. Start blending until the contents fully mix together to create a frothy consistency. Empty into serving glasses. Use Art of Tea’s Tibetan Goji Berries as a finishing touch. These organic certified berries act as a natural sweetener and provide cherry and plum-like flavor notes. Cheers!

-MELISSA CHUA