PeLi Teas has sent out a press release announcing that their prize winning teas from the 2008 World Tea Championship are now available at their website. They won first place in the Green Oolong, Green China Style and Green-Super teas categories. Their website displays the awards on the home page.
Not only did three of their teas win first place, four earned the highest numerical grading in their categories.
The press release notes that PeLi Teas purchases their teas directly from the growers in remote areas of China. Many of the tea gardens are in high mountain nature reserves and use traditional production methods.
I wish they would make it clear on their website which teas won what prizes. I also hope they re-do their site. It is unnecessary to have frames with the text on the page for each tea. The “story” and “recommendations” could all be on the same page with the “description” so that more tab clicking isn’t required to read about the tea. Furthermore, the addition of the “more” link within the frame to read the rest of the description is also unnecessary. Additionally, the several teas I checked on had no reviews which makes that tab a waste. A site revamp seems in order, but that is just my personal opinion.
Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/PeLi-Teas-Super-Category-Green/story.aspx?guid={B03F879F-2816-4F6E-B3FB-840931886497}
Filed under Tea by on Nov 13th, 2008. 
Some notes from the news and blogs around the web about tea is what I am posting today.
Our first note is from Forbes.com. It’s an article about the founding of Mighty Leaf Tea Co. in California. Mighty Leaf sells “overstuffed, overpriced organic tea bags”. The tea bags are made out of cornstarch and hold 2.5 grams of loose leaf tea along with whatever else makes up the particular tea including flowers, herbs, fruit or cacao nibs. The article states that a box of 15 retails for $8.
Although the founders of Mighty Leaf now sell tea bags, that is not how they started out. This article goes on to tell their story, how Mighty Leaf was founded, and inform us that the higher prices reflect the tea bags as a luxury good. Although Mighty Leaf is doing well and even have their first outside investor, there could be trouble on the horizon With Celestial Seasonings and Lipton coming into the “deluxe tea business.”
Source: http://www.forbes.com/global/2008/1124/044.html
Did you know that Preston, England holds the Guinness World Record for the largest tea bag? It weights 60 kilograms. Tea people in Canada had one that was 48 kilograms. Furthermore, Preston’s tea lovers set the record for the largest cup of tea with 400 liters. For a quick look at that record and others that were attempted yesterday during the Guinness World Records Day, take a look at our source today.
Source: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOOaFVuhLYpIJHUgnPD8ytWDB6qg
For instructions on how to make real Indian chai tea, complete with photos, check out today’s blog source.
Source: http://007inafrica.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-make-indian-chai-tea.html
Lastly, Tea Guy tells us about the remodel of Kalahari Limited‘s website. He also lets us know about a new tea line. The ChocoLatte line includes Cherry Vanilla, Matcha Mint, Raspberry Truffle, Hazelnut Mocha, and Orange Ginger. Apparently there is also a new Red Tea, Safari Lullaby. Red Tea is their second major tea line, all based on the rooibos herb just as the ChocoLatte Tea line contains cacao nibs. Their third line of teas, Energy Teas, are all based on guarana and eleuthro root.
Sources: http://www.teaguyspeaks.com/2008/11/journey-away-with-kalaharis-new-tea.html
http://www.kalaharitea.com/
Filed under Herbal Tea, Tea by on Nov 14th, 2008. 4 Comments.
Interesting article today from the UK about how the drink of choice for young tradesmen is now coffee. In the age group 20 to 25, 62% now drink coffee rather than tea. Over forty, the drink of choice is still tea but in the 25 to 30, they are gradually switching over to coffee. My surmise on the gradual shift is due to those in the younger group adding to the ranks of those in the 25 – 30 group.
And it’s not just plain old joe they are opting for now. You will find them going for the more pricey java such as lattes or cappuccinos. The younger tradesmen are also opting for lower fat milk, though they still like their drinks sweet.
In another note of the changing times, British tea companies are pulling off a coup of exporting tea to China. It seems to be upscale Chinese hotels and the middle class that are leading to such a strange thing in a country that grows tea. While most exported British tea, tea bagged and boxed in the UK, goes to expatriates in France, Canada, Spain and Australia, there is a growing trend for tea being exported to the US, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic and the fore mentioned China. In fact, the amount of exports, while not large overall, grew by 270% the first six months this year. Seems the Chinese like those branded and bagged tea bags.
Source: http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Tea-breaks-turn-into-coffee.4702887.jp
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/3467526/Britain-ships-tea-to-China-as-food-companies-enjoy-export-boom.html
Filed under Tea by on Nov 19th, 2008.