Silver Tips Tea Blog

The glorious season of Autumn brings with it two immensely popular flavors – Pumpkin and Cranberry Orange. In recent years, popular chains have begun introducing their Pumpkin Spice beverages earlier and earlier, some even launching their drinks in August.  In our view, this is way too early!  October seems to be the perfect month for Pumpkin and we think November is Cranberry Orange season.

As early as 1683, The Compleat Cook’s Guide included a reference to cranberry juice.  Harvard University even served cranberries at their commencement dinner in 1702.  This evergreen shrub with trailing vines producing a tart berry is now welcomed into homes as a holiday tradition.  Where did the name Cranberry come from?  In the 17^th century, German and Dutch colonists in New England thought the flower, stem and petals...

Chai is like a cup of cocoa – comforting, warm and relaxing.   In summer, it’s a tall cold glass on a hot day, a perfect alternative to a milk shake. The ideal Chai should be rich, creamy with the fully developed taste of Tea, Milk & Spices.  It shouldn’t be too watery or sugary-sweet.  Often this is what you find...

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You’ve probably all seen these labels on products in the grocery store and in specialty markets:  Fair Trade, Fair for Life, World Fair Trade, Fair Trade Federation.  What they have in common is a focus on the worker with the aim to promote equitable trade. It seeks to help producers in developing countries and covers coffee, cocoa, tea, wine, sugar, bananas, flowers and even handicrafts. It has 4 key goals:

• To pay farmers a decent, living wage.
• To create direct trade links to farmers, bypassing exploitative middlemen.
• To provide access to affordable credit.
• To promote sustainable practices, such as organic farming, that help protect the environment.

In the tea industry, Makaibari Tea Estate was used as a model in the early 1990s to test and develop fair...

The Second PA Tea Festival - September 28th & 29th!

This year the Pennsylvania Tea Festival will be held in the herb gardens of the Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances Tea Room in charming downtown Mechanicsburg, PA, on September 28th -29th. Sitting within the fragrant herb garden of the Rosemary House, the venue is sure to be not only unique, but also relaxing.

The festival will feature live music, lectures, tea tastings, and over 20 vendors selling all things tea - from packaged tea, tea ware, tea flavored ice cream, clothing, and hand crafted gifts, just to name a few.

On Saturday morning, I will be the keynote speaker, educating consumers on "Steeping the Perfect Cup of...