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What's New
Tea Time Updated

Tea is huge this year—and for good reason. All tea contains antioxidants in varying amounts. But green tea contains one of the strongest forms, EGCG, which is thought to help lower cholesterol, initiate thermogenesis (the burning of calories), reduce the risk of heart attack and help prevent arthritis and various forms of cancer.

The Republic of Tea's newest products might blow the lid right off the tea-marketing teapot. Their first limited-edition series of J. Garcia Artisan Teas are inspired by musician Jerry Garcia, with each tin labeled with one of his paintings. The selection includes Morning Brew (full-bodied black), Jerry Cherry (black with Bing cherries), Shady Grown (Brazilian yerba mate and South African rooibos with cinnamon and vanilla), Magic Herb Blend (caffeine-free herbal blend of orange and peppermint) and Spirit of Sage (green tea with sage). Portions of the proceeds from the sale of this limited-edition tea will benefit Drawbridge, an expressive arts program for children in homeless shelters.

In addition, they’re introducing their first line of functional herbal blends: Be Well Red Teas, the first and only complete collection of wellness teas crafted using a base of organic South African Rooibos. Rooibos (pronounced ROY-boss), or Red Tea, is a naturally caffeine-free, anti-allergenic herb recognized for remarkable antioxidant properties and as an aid to the immune system.

Each of the nine teas features a unique blend tailored to specific needs and is named for action: get gorgeous is for clear skin, get it going is for regularity, get charged is for energy. For PMS/menopause there’s get a grip; for rest, get some zzz’s; for weight control, get lost; for detoxification, get clean; for scratchy throat, there’s get soothed; and for digestion, there’s get relief. Flavor combinations are tempting, too.

The Republic of Tea also has partnered with POM Wonderful® Pomegrates to produce a wonderfully refreshing, new Pomegranate Green Tea—a double dose of antioxidants if ever there was one. And to extend its philanthropy to men’s health (in the same way it does for women’s, with contributions from sales of their Sip for the Cure line going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation), the company has introduced Man Kind Tea - Blueberry Green Tea, a green tea blended with wild blueberry bits. For each tin sold, the company will contribute 75 cents to the Prostate Cancer Foundation to help save men’s lives.

In all, the company now produces over 150 premium teas and herbs, ready-to-drink bottled iced teas (no calories and unsweetened), the world’s only Tea Honey, Tea Jam, a new high-flashpoint Stir Fry Tea Oil, and tea ware.

Other Tea Temptations

Teaology teas are instant powdered teas made from green tea extracts. They come with added flavors: hawthorne berry, lavender mint, osmanthus flower, and rosemary citron.

Mighty Leaf Tea produces artisan-crafted blended teas. Two new ones, White Orchard and Rainforest Maté are their newest, packaged in their signature hand-stitched, individual mesh pouches.

Honest Tea, producers of top-selling organic bottled tea has introduced two new unsweetened, organic, ready-to-drink teas with Fair Trade Certification: Just Black™ and Just Green™. These teas are grown and processed without any chemical pesticides or fertilizers.

Numi has exotic, new, flowering oolong teas. Selections include Golden Jasmine, Rose Garden (a white tea with rose fragrance), Sunset Oolong (oolong with orange lily and amaranth flower, and Shooting Star (with amaranth and green tea blossom).

Another unique line are Chánakára Teas produced by the Stash Tea Co. Taking inspiration from the seven Chakras, and promises “a pleasant way to honor the interconnection of our bodies, thoughts, actions and emotions.” As well as inspiring growth and transcendence, the flavors include, among others, a delicious Red Berry Rooibos, Vanilla Honeybush, Melon Green, Blue Ginger, and White Lotus.

For more news from the NASFT Fancy Food Show, check out Fancy Food Digest and It's Cocktail Time—somewhere in the world!