ARTISAN CRAFTED IN SEATTLE — PEPPERMINT Leaves - Large Cut - Herbal Infusion/ Tea Sachets, Varietal No. 45 — By SMITH TEAMAKER

What is it about really, really good tea? You hold the cup in your hands, take a sip, and the whole world seems to collapse down to the very moment at hand. You relax, the noise and distractions of Every Day Life fade and the present becomes clear. Some call it mindfulness. Ahhhhhh....

And that is why when I first tasted Steven Smith's exceptional teas, heard their story and learned about their small-batch blending process with top quality, sustainability oriented ingredients from around the world, I knew we had to bring them to you! 

In no generation in the past 5,000 years have we had more than a few people like Steven Smith. He makes astonishingly good blends.

— James Norwood Pratt, author of the definitive Tea Dictionary

The Most Uncommon Name in Tea.

The lexicon of tea is full of exotic terms. Oolong. Pu-erb. Matcha. Mao Feng. To these, we humbly add Smith.

In a former blacksmith shop on tree-lined Northwest Thurman Street in Portland, Oregon, you could find Steven Smith — one of the world's most respected tea makers —and his fellow Tea Makers blending and crafting wonderfully small batches of teas that offer a drinking experience like nothing else in the world.

Offered described as "Merlin meets Marco Polo" because of his insatiable desire to find the best teas and blend them in new, magical ways, Steven Smith passed away in 2015, and his legacy is deeply steeped in the culture and craft of Smith Teamakers. 

Steven Smith Teamaker imports teas and herbs directly from sources around the world, as well as through traders they have worked with for more than 30 years.

Smith Tea Makers work to deliver the freshest tasting tea, and they blend in small batches to ensure that the leaves and flowers packed are not crushed.

Each is created from ingredients picked at their peak and artfully combined with rave verve and imagination. The proof is in each cup.

The tea is packaged in an oversized, sachet whose shape is not unusual, but the artistry inside is unique. This biodegradable sachet encourages greater full leaf expansion for better flavor. And after steeping, you can sashay the sachet straight to the compost heap.

Steven Smith Teamaker Peppermint Leaves, Large Cut, Herbal Infusion, Varietal No. 45 

It's beautifully simple, really.

Just carefully chosen lots of freshly harvested peppermint from Steven Smith Teamakers' friends on the other side of Mt. Hood. Thanks to Smith, It's no secret today that the world's most flavorful peppermint comes from the Pacific Northwest, where the summers are hot and dry.

About 35 years ago, he began working with farmers in the region to introduce their peppermint to the world. Before that, all we had was that Eqyptian mint dust. Many thanks, Steve!

Flavor: Gently hand-screened for perfect leaf size, Smith Teamaker's Peppermint Leaves infuses an intense menthol flavor with creamy chocolate notes and an intense finish. A real wakeup for your senses, and wonderfully refreshing any time of the day!

Ingredients: Peppermint leaves from the Pacific Northwest

Quantity: Each Tip Top gift carton contains 15 oversized sachets (can get more than one steeping from each)

Preparation Instructions: For best flavor, bring freshly drawn, filtered water to a boil. Steep 5 minutes. 

Container: String-tie closure, gift-quality box

Smith Teamaker Numerology: Why Peppermint Leaves Varietal No. 45? : "The "Peppermint Twist" was released on 45 vinyl in '61.

Community Investment: Steven Smith Teamaker has partnered with Portland non-profit Mercy Corps to contribute funds to an educational program called SERP (School Education Retention Program).

Based on tea gardens in Assam, India, SERP provides free academic coaching via community-sourced teachers to over 400 disadvantaged secondary school students. This additional attention provides the students with the tools they need to pass exams and continue to college, for which scholarships are available.

Smith Tea on Sustainability: 

"Being on the ground in the countries of origin where we purchase tea allows us to review the production process from the plucking of the leaves and flowers and the harvest of the barks and roots that are used in producing our blends, as well as seeing how the workers are treated. Some of the teas we source are organic, but are purchased without a certificate

 All sources that we purchase from operate their farms and their collection of botanicals in a sustainable manner, recognizing that nurturing the soil and the plant is the only way to create a sustainable crop.

Many of our long time suppliers also sell products into the European Union, which has much more standards for organic certification than does the United States. Our black and green teas are all EU compliant.

Our sachet material is biodegradable and made from plant-based material."