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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. And escape. Ahhhhhh....
We are pretty serious about tea around here. 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
Steven Smith Teamaker — The Finest Name in Tea Since 1949.
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.
He was often described as "Merlin meets Marco Polo" because of his insatiable desire to find the best teas and blend them in new, magical ways. Sadly, Steven Smith passed away in 2015, but his legacy is deeply steeped in the culture and craft of Smith Teamakers. Such is ensured by Steven's wife and co-founder, Kim, as well as many loyal co-workers — handpicked by Steven and Kim - who are committed to a vision of excellence.
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 Teamakers 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 verve and imagination. The proof is in each cup.
THE DETAILS
★★★★★
To soothe your throat and spirit in times of stress or illness, this comforting herbal infusion is a rejuvenating elixir of peppermint, ginger, and echinacea. Feels so good to sip. Tastes uncommonly good, even when you don't have a cold. Just saying'.
Certified Organic by CCOF
Flavor
Organic peppermint leaves, organic cacao, organic ginger root, organic nutmeg, organic elderberry, organic licorice root, organic wild cherry bark, organic echinacea, and organic black pepper.
Tasting Notes
After dinner mint, eucalyptus, hot honey
Ingredients
Organic peppermint leaves, organic cacao, organic ginger root, organic nutmeg, organic elderberry, organic licorice root, organic wild cherry bark, organic echinacea, and organic black pepper.
ORGANIC BLACK PEPPERCORNS
Spice
Known as the “King of Spices,” the best black pepper is grown in southern India near Cochin. The berries of the perennial black pepper vine are harvested when unripe, then sun-dried until they blacken. Quality is determined by oil content and appearance. Black pepper is spicy, pungent and often has a light salty characteristic—an important feature in chai blends. After the black pepper has been harvested, it is steam distilled to produce the essential oil.
ORGANIC CACAO
Botanical
Cacao nibs come from the Theobroma cacao tree and are one of the main raw ingredients used for making chocolate. Whole cacao beans are shelled, fermented and then broken down into chopped bits of cocoa seeds. These nibs then go through an additional roasting step, resulting in a more flavorful and less bitter tasting cacao nib.
ORGANIC ECHINACEA
American Herb
Echinacea is spiny flowering herb in the daisy family that is native to areas east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States. It has long been used in medicinal practices and is thought to support the immune system and fight infections, especially the common cold and flu.
ORGANIC ELDERBERRY
Flowering Plant
Elderberry is the deep red fruit of the elder tree and a superfood that has been used for its health benefits for hundreds of years. It is known to be high in antioxidants and many believe it can relieve colds, fight the flu, and boost the immune system.
GINGER ROOT
Indian Spice
Ginger, used in many cultures to enliven food and drink, is also known for its healthful qualities. A light stimulant, it can treat cold symptoms and sore throat. Ginger is cultivated most prominently in India, China, Indonesia and West Africa. After the plant flowers and the leaves die off, the roots are dug, washed, peeled and sun dried.
ORGANIC LICORICE ROOT
Botanical
Licorice root comes from a herbaceous perennial that has been used medicinally for thousands of years in both the East and West. In modern times it has also become used as an ingredient in various tea blends.
ORGANIC NUTMEG
Indian Spice
Nutmeg is a spice made from the seed of the genus Myristica. Myristica fragrans is a dark-leaved evergreen tree cultivated for two popular spices derived from its fruit: nutmeg, from its seed, and mace, from the seed covering. Nutmeg has a distinctive fragrance and a warm slightly sweet taste; it is used to flavor many different dishes and beverages.
ORGANIC PEPPERMINT LEAVES
Pacific Northwest Botanical
The world’s most flavorful peppermint comes from the Pacific Northwest, where the summers are hot and dry. Ours is harvested just before it begins to flower, when the oil content is highest. After cutting, the plant is allowed to field dry. Then the stems are removed and the mint is sorted into uniform leaf sizes. With intense menthol and rich chocolate notes, Pacific Northwest peppermint is a real wakeup for your senses.
ORGANIC WILD CHERRY BARK
Medicinal Herb
The wild cherry tree has a reddish-brown bark that has traditionally been used for its wellness-supporting properties. Wild cherry bark is often used as a remedy for coughs (it is a common ingredient in cough syrup) and is known to support the respiratory system as well as a host of other immunity boosting benefits.
Preparation
For best flavor, bring spring or freshly drawn filtered water to a boil (212 degrees) and steep for five minutes. Use one sachet of tea per 8-10 ounces of water. We humbly predict that you'll feel refreshed.
Quantity
15 oversized, wrapped sachets in a Tip Top gift box.
Sachets
The tea is packaged in an oversized sachet whose shape is not unusual, but the artistry inside is unique. The sachets, which are created from plant-based material, encourage greater full-leaf expansion for better flavor. And, because each one is 100% compostable, after steeping, you can sashay the sachet straight to the compost heap!
Additionally, Smith Teamaker sachets are sealed with sound wave technology, meaning there is no glue or staples present anywhere in the process. Smith Teamaker has tested its sachet material through a 3rd party to ensure its safety, and most importantly, they can assure you that their sachets are not comprised of PET plastic or nylon.
Blend Numerology - Blend No. 15
The easiest number to whisper when you have a scratchy throat.
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."