Fresh, green, growth, renewal...just some of the things that come to mind with this beautiful season. The freshness of spring brings new growth, brilliant colors, and a giddiness for life that makes us get up and get outdoors. It also brings new flavor longings to my taste buds!

As the cold moves out and the warm sunshine moves in, I get in the mood for light and bright greens and whites. Taking a white tea such as our Pai Mu Tan and adding a few herbs such as spearmint or lemongrass to it just hits the spot this time of year. Lively floral greens such as our Kyoto Cherry Rose Festival or Jasmine Green with Flowers and blends such as our Blooms that Brighten perfectly compliment the blooms coming out of hiding. Our sale teas during this time of year also tend to reflect the turning of the season.

Spring also signals the beginning of the first flush harvest of the tea crops. Those first baby leaves and buds are carefully picked and gingerly handled to yield some of the best teas you can get your hands on. When brewed, the cup highlights the more softer and subtle flavor notes of the tea leaf, rather than the bolder top notes that often accompany a second or third flush. However, don't let the delicate cup fool you. These first flush teas also contain some of the highest levels of antioxidants of any of the harvests throughout the year, and they can be re-steeped several times throughout the same day without losing complexity or 'oomph'. Amazing!

We tend to agree with our good friends at Glenburn Tea Direct who say "Drink tea in harmony with the seasons". What is your palate craving this spring?

Other than choosing an herbal, decaffeinated teas are a great option for evening or for those sensitive to caffeine who want to stay away from stimulants, but at the same time yearn for the great taste of actual tea. Ever notice how that decaf tea bag just doesn’t hit the spot? You may or may not be aware that decaffeinated beverages like coffee and tea are often processed with harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde in order to rid it of caffeine. This process also strips many of the antioxidants and health benefits from the products.

In our search to provide healthy teas and herbs, we wanted to find a decaffeinated product line but could not conscientiously carry formaldehyde washed products. Not sure about you, but doesn’t sound all that appealing to me.

The answer was provided when we collaborated with a company that only uses a natural process involving CO2 to remove the caffeine from teas. No chemical solvents are used. Alternatively, naturally occurring CO2 in a circulation process is used which carefully uses high pressure and temperature to extract the caffeine. This binds with the caffeine and basically washes it away without stripping all the great antioxidants and rich flavor from the tea leaves. The result is an uncompromised cup of tea with full depth of flavor and no chemical overtones. Now doesn’t that sound much more appetizing?