The Tea Blog – News & Notes from The Republic of Tea

The Republic of Tea 2012 Shincha ~ 88th Night Shincha, Harvested May 1, 2012

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Minister of Enlightenment | No Comments

88 days after Spring Equinox

Kagoshima, Japan

In Japan it is said that if one drinks a cup of 88 night Shincha, this person will enjoy a year of good health.

In celebration of spring and The Republic of Tea’s 20th Anniversary, we are offering this first flush Sencha, known as Shincha, literally “new tea.” It was plucked today on May 1, 2012 – The Republic of Tea’s 20th Anniversary and the 88th day after Japanese spring equinox.

This shincha was cultivated in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan’s southern most tea producing region. Kagoshima is known for its subtropical climate, for being the home of the Last Samurai and for producing particularly rich and sweet sencha tea.

Shincha is treasured by tea connoisseurs around the world for its absolute purity and essential taste of spring – a refreshing grassy aroma and smooth umami nectar and hints of sweet potato and pear.

Posted in New and Fresh, Tea Travels Tagged , , ,

The Republic of Tea’s Sweet Tea Collection

Posted on April 27, 2012 by The Minister of Fire and Water | No Comments

Imagine the feel of a sultry summer evening, the sight of friends and family gathered together, the sound of laughing children chasing lightening bugs, the scent of smoky barbecue in the air, and of course, the cool taste of sweetened tea on your tongue… Now brew any of our three new sweet teas, sip them hot or over ice, and see what magic may ensue!

But first, a few words about the “sweet” in our The Republic of Tea’s Sweet Tea Collection… Our sweet teas won’t jar your palate with an artificial sugary hit and best of all, they won’t expand your waistline. They are naturally sweetened by the leaves of Hydrangea serrata and stevia, so they are calorie-free! Sweet blackberry leaves and a touch of licorice root bring additional sweet depth to the teas.

We use a rare variety of Hydrangea grown in Korea for its natural sweetener (pyllodulcin), specifically for use in our sweet teas. It is then harvested by hand, steamed and carefully dried to preserve its essential oils. This small leaf flowering bush, indigenous to high altitudes, has been cultivated for centuries throughout Asia where it is known as Mountain Hydrangea or Tea of Heaven. On the opposite side of the globe, our remarkable stevia, also known as sweet leaf or sugarleaf, is sourced from Argentina, where the warm climate brings out the best in this naturally sweet, low-carbohydrate herb.

Sweet Tea Ginger Peach is like taking a bite of blue-ribbon peach pie at a country fair — so satisfying and lush, it will make you sigh with pleasure. It has a creamy body and a ripe sweet finish; plus, as with all of our sweet teas, it is heavenly when iced, and the zing of ginger comes out to play.

Sweet Tea Classic Black sets the standard of what a true sweet tea should be. Lemony and refreshing, it has the honest structure and full body of fine black tea from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms with just the perfect amount of sweetness.

Sweet Tea Tropical Green is a lovely marriage of fine green tea and tropical fruits. Notes of tangy pineapple and ripe papaya (think pineapple upside down cake) make this really flavorful tea a treat to sip, both smooth and lively at once.

We may be weavers of dreams here at The Republic of Tea, but we really believe these three wondrous sweet teas will transport your senses, one sweet Sip by Sip!

Posted in New and Fresh

Earl Greyer Tea

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Minister of Enlightenment | No Comments

There’s a lot of history to the tea most often referred to as “Earl Grey.” It has become one of the world’s most famous flavored teas. In fact, like Jasmine tea, Earl Grey’s place in the tea hierarchy is so secure and established that it’s not even thought of as a flavored tea, but simply as a well-established fundamental tea.

Yet, much of the history of this tea is garbled and conflicted. All we’re really sure of is that the idea of blending some good tea with the oil of a particular citrus is a great idea, and that the end result was named after the second Earl Grey, Charles, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1834. The Earl was known for his hard work and quiet accomplishments and his wife, Lady Grey, gained fame for serving this fine tea at her social gatherings in London.

One example of the confusion behind the history of this great tea is that many recitations of its origins cite reference to the Earl saving the life of a Chinese dignitary’s son and the tea being presented to him as a gift of gratitude by the father. Trouble is, there is much argument that the Earl never went to China and that the citrus fruit, Bergamot Orange, was not widely grown there, even though it may have been indigenous to some parts of China. (And that’s clear as mud as well!)

So, very early on in our study of the origins of this tea, we decided that we’d rather spend our time focusing on what makes the flavor of this tea so tempting, and what we could do here at The Republic of Tea to make Earl Grey tea even more satisfying. Our goal was to deepen the overall taste of the tea and give it a longer story to tell on the palate. The result of that search is our slightly tongue-in-cheek, but ever so seriously delicious “Earl Greyer” tea.

This “More of a Good Thing Tea” combines the lush flavor and exquisite fragrance of the Bergamot Orange, native to Southern Italy, with a lovely Ceylon tea leaf from Sri Lanka. Naturally, we had to seek out the purest oil of Bergamot to increase the complexity and match the profound flavors of this superior tea. We believe that our version of this classic offering takes advantage of the intoxicating perfume of the rare Bergamot Orange and amplifies it with undertones of cedar, a subtle bouquet of freshly sliced stone fruits and perhaps even a hint of dark chocolate. We offer this happy tea as full-leaf loose tea as well as natural unbleached tea bags for the convenience of our Citizens.

After much praise, many have asked us why we didn’t name it the “Earl GREATEST” tea? But knowing what we do about that conservative statesman, we just don’t think he would have gone for that … We hope our version of this classic tea would have made him (quietly and humbly) proud.

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged

The Republic of Tea’s Twenty Herbs Tea

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Minister of Enlightenment | No Comments

Twenty Herbs Tea

In honor of our 20th Anniversary, The Republic of Tea proudly presents “Twenty Herbs, Tea of Many Virtues.” This caffeine-free Blend of Twenty Herbs and Spices commemorates two decades of a philosophy that began a tea revolution —  ”living life sip by sip, rather than gulp by gulp.” — and it is nothing short of spectacular on the palate!

As befitting such a wondrous gathering of herbal ingredients, each one contributes its own individual note, yet all blend together to convey a lovely symphony of flavor. At its commencement, uplifting aromas of lemon, wintergreen and peppermint tease your senses in anticipation of what’s to come. Then, at first sip, those herbs are joined by the tingle of spicy anise seeds and allspice berries — what fun! Please hush though … If you taste carefully throughout this opus, you will note the quiet soothing presence of eleuthero, linden flowers and rooibos too. As the infusion unfolds, previous sensations give way to an incredible melding crescendo of chicory, lemon grass, carob, chamomile, hibiscus, allspice leaves and black limon. And now, for the finale of this beautiful blending of flavors, bring on the lilting highlights of rose petals, sweet blackberry leaves, birch bark and vanilla extract … All twenty herbs and spices, take a bow. Bravo! Bravissimo!

The Republic of Tea has always sourced the finest and most superb teas and herbs in the world, just as we promised in our charter days, 20 years ago. We pride ourselves on offering the very best to you, our Citizens. And to satisfy your ever-present curiosity, here is an introduction to a few of the more rare and outstanding players in the exquisite cast list of Twenty Herbs tea …

Rooibos, Afrikanns for “red bush,” hails from South Africa and is known for its body and color, a sturdy base upon which our herbal blend is built. Allspice leaves carry the scent of wintery holiday baking that warms a cold day. Black limon comes from dried ground limes and imparts a citrus zing that is a familiar spice note in Middle Eastern cooking. Lemon balm has a flowery lemon scent that balances well with its mellow, soothing flavor. Sweet blackberry leaves have the same juicy berry quality as the fruit so famous in jams and pies. Eleuthero is better know by its other name, Siberian Ginseng and has an established reputation for many health benefits. Linden Flower has a sweet delicate flower-nectar flavor that is reflected in its sunny color. These lesser known herbs and spices play in perfect harmony with rest of our renowned ingredients.

Just as an unforgettable symphony passes the test of time and endures in celebration of its beginning, so we celebrate our 20th Anniversary. Many thanks to our Citizens for your loyalty in this amazing journey of discovering the joy and contentment of living life sip by sip. We hope that you find our Twenty Herbs, Tea of Many Virtues, truly a tea-drinkers dream that lingers on the palate well beyond the last sip.

Posted in New and Fresh Tagged ,

The Republic of Tea’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Tea

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Minister of Enlightenment | No Comments

20th Anniversary Celebration Tea

Twenty years ago, three intrepid visionaries — who named themselves “The Minster of Leaves, The Minister of Progress and The Minister of Enchantment” — founded “The Republic of Tea” to enhance and enrich the fast-paced lives of the coffee-gulping American public. Their idea was to start a gentle revolution by capturing the imagination of people yearning for a more reflective and appreciative way of approaching life. They deemed these potential customers “Citizens” of this new republic and introduced the concept of “taking life sip by sip rather than gulp by gulp.” And most importantly, they offered only the finest grades of teas and herbs to help achieve this contemplative philosophy — thus, a tea revolution was born!

More than just a tea business, The Republic of Tea was envisioned as an inspiration toward a peaceful and fulfilling lifestyle as well as providing a little dose of energy to preserve and adjust through any hour, morning or night, in cold or hot climates, simply offering “tea for all times.” Explorers from our young republic scoured the globe for “the best tea on Earth” and delivered them with sincere motivation, in a charming new packaging format.

Now, two decades later, the spirit of that original enterprise remains strong and clear. To honor this significant passage of time, we are proud to present our 20th Anniversary Celebration Tea, a limited edition blend of high-grown Ceylon black tea leaves from Court Lodge Estate, sweet white wine grapes, tea, (Cameillia sinesis) flowers and the essence of champagne. This superb tea beckons all of its Citizens to join us in the Celebration of our Leadership in the Tea Revolution.

As was the guiding principle of The Republic of Tea in 1992, today we still seek out the finest teas from the most prized teas gardens around the world and our Celebration Tea is a worthy example. Even before brewing, the tea itself is a visual delight with delicate tea flowers, bright blue cornflowers and sunny marigold petals, all highlighting one of the best teas that the world has to offer. The base of this limited edition anniversary blend comes from the island nation of Sri Lanka, 7500 feet above sea level from the Court Lodge Estate in Nuwara Eliya. Close your eyes and you can taste the unique terroir of this Ceylon tea and even breathe in the mists and breezes that caress the tea leaves on that far-away mountain island. It is floral and fruity, yet it also carries soft notes of sweetness from the tiny wine grapes gathered from the Orange River Vineyard in South Africa. And just to add a festive sparkle to its flavor, our Celebration Tea is infused with the essence of Champagne, lending a perfect balance of pure pleasure to a celebratory cup.

Many thanks to our loyal Citizens, the true “leaders” of any real republic, for your companionship on this ongoing journey and your championship of the “Sip by Sip” lifestyle. Cheers (with a sip, not a gulp!) to a delicious Happy Anniversary from The Republic of Tea!

Posted in New and Fresh

Chai

Posted on November 2, 2011 by The Minister of Ceremonies and Philanthropy | No Comments

In England the omnipresent tea is the undisputed beverage of that country. In Europe it may be called té or thé; in China it is known as ch’a; in Japan it is cha. In Africa it is called tee and in India it goes by the name of chai or masala chai, which translates as “spiced tea.” No matter what it is called, all these names refer to a beverage from the leaves of the same Cameillia Sinensis bush. Each locale has unique ways of serving tea, too — strong or weak, flavored with lemon, milk or spices, with great ceremony or none at all.

Which brings us to a very popular drink that in North America, is currently refer to as “Chai.” But our modern chai has its roots in an older Indian beverage made of tea with added flavorings and sweeteners. Because the bulk of India’s finest teas used to be exported, what was left to drink within that country was often less than fine. Thus was born the necessity of enhancing a bitter brew with exotic spices, milk and sugar or honey. But of course, word of this wonderful warming concoction spread beyond the borders of India. British colonists embraced it and it quickly spread west to the U.K. and Europe, and on to the rest of the world.

At The Republic of Tea, we’ve refreshed the traditional masala chai with innovative blends of premium tea varietals, fruit and spices, to be enjoyed sip by sip.

Traveler’s Tea

Our intensely aromatic and flavorful Traveler’s Tea — is a blend of fine Indian teas from Darjeeling and Assam, cinnamon, orange peel, ginger, cardamom seeds, star anise, cloves and black pepper — a chai tea lover’s dream come true. With a complex blend of spices that hail from the world over, it is a tea that will inspire adventures while containing one in every sip.

Green Chai, Full Leaf Loose Green Tea

This tea is set apart with it’s base of the fine, full leaf green tea (rather than the traditional black tea) from Assam, blended with traditional Indian chai spices — cinnamon, cardamom and ginger — and sweet, fresh almond pieces. This Green Chai is sure to warm you with it’s spicy top-notes and finish of almond-y goodness.

Red Chai, Explorer’s Rooibos Herb Tea

Sourced from a bush plant grown exclusively in the mountains of South Africa and classified as an herb, rooibos tea, also known as “red tea,” is oxidized, giving it a brick red color when dry and a deep reddish orange color when infused. Our Explorer’s Rooibos Herb Tea is blended with cinnamon, orange peel, ginger root, cardamom seeds, black pepper, star anise and cloves, offering layers of complexity and depth. This caffeine-free blend is high in antioxidants, and offers a cup full of flavor!

Posted in Uncategorized

Three Gardens Breakfast Tastings Next Week

Posted on September 14, 2011 by The Minister of Interactivity | No Comments

Rainforest Alliance Week is next week, September 19th-September 25th. To celebrate we will be sampling our Rainforest Alliance Certified, Three Gardens Breakfast Tea at these locations.  Come sip tea and help The Republic of Tea and the Rainforest Alliance grow a greener world.  

 

Washington

Uwajimaya-Seattle,WA                                                                                                                                   Wednesday, September 21 11am-3pm

Central Market-Mill Creek, WA                                                                                                                           Friday, September 23rd 11am-3pm

Oregon

Uwajimaya-Beaverton, Oregon                                                                                                                       Friday, September 23rd 11am-4pm

California

Whole Foods-Santa Barbara, CA (Codington)                                                                                               Monday, September 19th 3pm-7pm

Orchard Nutrition-Redding, CA                                                                                                                           Monday, September 19th-Friday September 25th All day

Rainbow Acres-Los Angeles, CA                                                                                                                     Wednesday, September 21st 3pm-6pm

Whole Foods-San Francisco, CA (Franklin)                                                                                                 Friday, September 23rd 2pm-6pm

Texas

Whole Foods-Lamar Austin,TX                                                                                                                            Friday, September 23rd 11am-4pm

Posted in Events

The Help Tea – Caramel Cake Tea

Posted on July 18, 2011 by The Minister of Ceremonies and Philanthropy | No Comments

The Republic of Tea introduces its new limited-edition The Help Tea – Caramel Cake Tea, inspired by DreamWorks Pictures’ highly anticipated film The Help, which will be released in theaters nationwide on August 10, 2011.

Available now, The Help Tea – Caramel Cake Tea is a blend of traditional black tea with the flavor of homemade caramel — refreshing served hot or over ice. The Help Tea – Caramel Cake Tea is inspired by Aibileen’s best friend Minny’s famous caramel cake. It is packaged in a recyclable, collector’s tin with a label featuring art from the film.

Based on one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best-selling phenomenon,  “The Help” stars Emma Stone (“Easy A”) as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s,  who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed—even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times. Deeply moving, filled with poignancy, humor and hope, “The Help” is a timeless and universal story about the ability to create change.

From DreamWorks Pictures, “The Help” is directed and written for the screen by Tate Taylor, based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett and produced by Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan. “The Help” releases in theaters August 10, 2011.

Posted in Events, In The Media, New and Fresh