OUTSTANDING COFFES & TEAS OF 2008
Each year we sample many coffees and teas from around the world in our newsletter “test kitchen”. When we first had the idea to select the best coffees and teas for the year-end issue of the newsletter, we never imagined it would be so difficult. Sampling and debating, we finally narrowed it down. The noteworthy coffees and teas that didn’t make this short list will be represented in upcoming newsletter articles so be sure to keep an eye out for them.
XXX from The Groovy Mind
Organic. Fair Trade. Shade Grown. Dark Roast. An uncommonly complex, rich and spicy Indonesian blend with an emphasis on Ethiopia Yirgacheffe’s smooth mellow, slightly floral flavor and the dark chocolate essence of East Timor. This rich bodied coffee has a sweet citrus fragrance with a soft medium acidity. www.thegroovymind.com
 Bolivian Organic Black Tea from SerendipiTea
Hailing from pristine family-owned gardens on the high slopes of the Yungas just hours north of La Paz, where the Andes meet the Amazon basin, this tea is certain to gather momentum & garner fans far & wide. What a special treat it when we were invited in the early Spring to sample this outstanding tea with SerendipiTea’s owner , Linda Villano. This makes our list not just for the a-m-a-z-i-n-g tea, but for the experience of sharing tea with friends as well. www.SerendipiTea.com
Café La Paz
Hailing from the Chiapas region of Mexico is an instant and delicious version of the traditional café de olla called Café La Paz. Easy to prepare and a delight to the senses, if you can boil water you will find delight in this decadent instant beverage. While some may shy away from this because it is an instant coffee, they will quickly become a fan with the first sip of this satisfying, 100% natural, innovative coffee blended with brown sugar cane and cinnamon. www.cafelapaz.com
Lychee White from Choice Organic Teas
 This delicate Fair Trade and Organic white tea is harvested in the lush foothills of South India and delivers an aromatic blend of lychee fruit and osmanthus flowers for just a hint of sweetness. This satisfying tea really comes alive as the delicate leaves unfurl in the fully biodegradable pyramid bag to render a light and delicious treat. www.choiceorganicteas.com
 European Dark Roast, El Salvador, from Omoma Coffee
El Salvador offers the three key ingredients necessary for making, what many would call, the best cup of coffee in the world: high altitude, rich volcanic soil, and a climate that is the perfect combination of rain and sun. For more than 50 years, Omoma Coffee, a company rich in family tradition and excellence in coffee production, has enjoyed well-deserved recognition for their superior coffee. The world famous Pacamara (strictly high grown) bean, which is the staple crop of Omoma Coffee, is known internationally for its bold yet well-balanced flavor. www.omomacoffee.com
 Imperial Gold from Harrisons & Crosfield
Classic English tea merchants Harrisons & Crosfield offer this black tea that has been hand plucked from tea bushes in India and Africa. It is skillfully selected and blended to exacting British quality standards by Harrisons & Crosfields’s London tea buyers. Their artistry and craftsmanship are evident in every cup of this superb tea. This traditional English tea has a hearty and robust tea flavor that will be appreciated by anyone that loves traditional British tea. www.harrisonsandcrosfield.com
 Kenyan Peaberry Wango Estate from Caranda
This premium Kenyan Peaberry comes from the Wango Estate. Under normal conditions, a coffee tree will produce cherries with two seeds, which will be processed to become the coffee beans we all know and love. But sometimes, the cherries will produce only one bean, known as a peaberry. The peaberry, which is slightly smaller than the normal coffee bean, is packed with more concentrated flavor. It is no wonder that this coffee made the list. www.carandafoods.com
 Better Than Sex from Tay Tea
The most sought-after tea at the 2008 Coffee And Tea Festival NYC, this Rooibos tea blended with organic farm-grown peppermint, marigold petals, and bits of Belgian dark chocolate was created by artisanal tea blender Nini Ordoubadi of Tay Tea. Totally satisfying and uniquely delicious, the taste of this tea is almost mystical, some might say magical. www.taytea.com
 
Kohana Blend from Kohana Coffee
Delicate and mild, this smooth and delicious coffee is, no wonder, the company’s signature and best-selling coffee. It combines light, medium and dark roasted beans (including their special dark Hawaii Select) to create this award-winning coffee that won over our palates. The slow roasting philosophy of Kohana captures each bean’s unique flavor to combine into pure satisfaction with every sip. www.kohanacoffee.com
Organic White Peony from Andao Tea
Bai Mudan or White Peony as it is referred to in English, is one of China’s classic white teas, and this one from Andao really delivers. This tea’s pale blonde infusion reveals sweet, almond like tones with no signs of astringency or bitterness. Andao’s White Peony tea is low in caffeine and 100% organic. www.andaotea.com
Top Stories of 2008
A Recap of the Most Read Articles of the Year
(just in case you missed one…)
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Cup o’ Joe for a Soldier -
Americans Rally to Show Support
“No
one should have to drink bad coffee; especially our soldiers.”
That’s what the people at the Bad Ass Coffee Company were
thinking when they launched their “Buy a Cup O’ Joe
for a Soldier” program in early 2007. The Bad Ass Coffee Company
has been matching up soldiers with willing donors from all around
the world and have, to date, sent over 5,000 pounds of coffee to
American servicemen and servicewomen stationed overseas.
 “Sometimes
when the soldiers sit and have a cup of coffee it is the only reprieve
they get,” said Connie Alexakos, VP Marketing at Bad Ass Coffee.
“The response to the soldier program has been overwhelming.
People have been so generous and the soldiers so appreciative,”
she added.
The
wonderful folks at the Bad Ass Coffee Company have made the donation
process quick and easy. For just a few minutes of your time and
a few dollars from your pocket, you’ll bring some joy to a
soldier who has given so much for America’s freedom.
Here’s
how it works. Everyday, US soldiers stationed around the world visit
the Bad Ass Coffee Company website and request a 1 lb. bag of coffee.
To satisfy these requests, donors go to the site and purchase a
1 lb. bag of Hawaiian Blend Coffee for $11.95. The coffee is then
sent to the soldier at their base overseas—Bad Ass Coffee
Company pays for shipping. At the time of purchase, a donor may
elect to have their contact information passed on to their soldier
or they may wish to remain anonymous—the choice is theirs.
Many donors do hear back from the soldiers via email and find it
very gratifying.
To
become a donor or to learn more about this amazing program, visit www.badasscoffee.com or click on the banner below.
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ZEN™
And the Art of the -
Sophisticated Cocktail
As
cultural influences from Asia continue to influence Western palates
and the cocktail culture expands to include exotic herbs and interesting
new flavors, a  distinctive, new spirit is making its mark. ZEN™
Green Tea Liqueur, a unique blend of the finest Japanese green tea
leaves, premium herbs and natural flavors is the first super-premium
green tea liqueur ever introduced in America.
The
fresh and original taste of ZEN Green Tea Liqueur, which is primarily
derived from the ceremonial Japanese Green Tea, results from the
use of the finest ingredients available. The perfection of the final
product is the result of time-honored Japanese traditions of quality
and craftsmanship combined with a modern sense of elegance and style.
 ZEN
is primed to meet the growing demand of today’s sophisticated
cocktail culture –consumers who have enjoyed a few cosmos
or apple martinis but are searching for the next cool cocktail concoction.
ZEN draws you in with its distinctive green color, unique flavor
and pleasing aroma that stands up well chilled straight, on the
rocks, or mixed. With an alcohol content of 20 percent, ZEN Green
Tea Liqueur is light and refreshing. Some of New York City’s
top bartenders have developed ZEN cocktail recipes, included among
them: the ZENtini (a twist on the martini) and the ZENito (a twist
on the mojito).
 ZEN uses carefully selected Kyoto green tea leaves of the highest
grade grown by one of the most famous producers of fine teas in
Japan, Marukyu-Koyama-En, which has been cultivating tea for more
than 300 years. Infusing neutral spirits with whole and ground green
tea leaves, ZEN is then blended with lemongrass and other herbs
and natural flavors according to a propriety recipe to achieve its
unique flavor.
The
introduction of ZEN marks the creation of a new spirits category
in the U.S. “Green tea is one of the fastest-growing drinks
in America today,” said Shin Adachi, Vice President, Sales
and Marketing, Suntory International Corp. In recent years, green
tea has crossed over from “Asian specialty” to the mainstream,
with green tea products from soft drinks and ice cream to chewing
gum. Suntory has already been marketing several green tea liqueurs
in Japan, but developed ZEN especially for the U.S. market and tailored
it to suit the American palate.
ZEN
is stylishly packaged in a tall, elegant 750ml bottles priced at
around $29.99. For more information and more great recipes visit: www.zenliqueur.com
-Recycled
Coffee Bags -
Saving the Planet With Style
 
Peter
Grimm Headwear is one of the fastest growing headwear companies
in the country. Maybe you’ve seen the impressive designs
adorn the heads of celebrities like Eva Longoria or Bono.
Now, Peter Grimm Headwear has gone eco-friendly with the launch
of the new Green Grimm line featuring four Drifters (Cowboy Hats)
and two Fedoras. The hats are created using coffee bean bags from
the local coffee brew masters. www.petergrimm.com.
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Who Killed the Darling Duke -
of Darjeeling?
Whodunit Fun For Tea Lovers
 Maxine's
Mystery Tea Party creations provide everything you need to host
a murder mystery party for your family and friends. In this tea
party game everyone has a role to play, a unique identity, and a
script—but only one of the participants is guilty!
Designed
to accommodate 8 guests, a humorous script, with costume suggestions,
is sent along with the invitation to each guest (it is not necessary
to memorize the script). Fancy Frou Frou, Devon Shire, and Earlene
Grey are joined with Lady Tipton, CEO of the Tipton Tea Co., Rose
T. Cups, Paris Hall, and Lacy Frills. Each tells of their relationship
with the dastardly Duke and their motive for doing him in. But of
course, each one pleads their innocence. At the end of the party,
a vote is taken to determine who had the most convincing motive.
They then receive their "just rewards", a gift from the
hostess.
The
program comes complete with hostess instructions, invitations, place
cards and nametags. The place cards are numbered, so each knows
when to tell their story. Here’s a new, fun, interactive party
that your guests will love. $24.50 (plus shipping and handling.) www.MysteryTeaParties.com.
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I-Tea Wands -
Taste The Magic
 Convenient
and delicious, I-Tea wands are pencil-shaped, disposable, high-tech
tea diffusers. They have a built-in mechanical filtration system
that keeps the bitter components in the wand while releasing the
essence that produces a richly flavored, lavishly fragrant brew.
This cutting-edge, revolutionary design eliminates the need for
teaspoons and minimized dripping.
Making
I-Tea is as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Dip the I-Tea wand in a cup of boiling water.
2. Stir to desired concentration.
3. Remove I-Tea wand and enjoy a delicious cup of premium Ceylon
tea.
Don’t
let the easy of brewing mislead you to think that you have to
sacrifice quality for convenience. I-Tea Wands are filled with
only the finest Single Estate Premium Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka
packed at the point of origin. Visit www.sugart.us for more information. Watch for the three new flavors coming this
fall.
- Used
Tea Bags Lift Women -
From
Poverty
The artists from Original T-Bag Designs live in an informal settlement
located in Mandela Park, South Africa, just outside of Cape Town.
Their homes are nothing more than bits of tin and wood nailed
together and they have had no formal schooling. But what they
do have is grit, imagination, talent, and a desire to make a better
life for their families. Leading them on their self-improvement
journey is Jill Heyes.
 After
suffering a brain aneurysm at the age of 35, Jill Heyes, an art
teacher was just lucky to be alive. Not long after Jill’s
struggle and recuperation, her husband’s job transferred
him from England to South Africa. So, with her two small children
in tow, the family was now on their way to a new life in a new
country.
Driving through town on the way to her beautiful new home, Jill
was shocked by the poverty she witnessed and was determined to
do something to help. Thelma, a neighbor's maid, saw an opportunity
for additional work when Jill and her family moved into the neighborhood.
Jill wanted to help Thelma, not by hiring her to clean, but by
teaching her a craft to market and sell. Thelma gathered
five women and started meeting weekly with Jill at the community
center. The group started working with paper mache, moving
on to potato printing, and finally, after three years, to creating
crafts with used tea bags. Original T-Bag Designs was created!
 Used
tea bags come from individuals and groups from all around the
world—most come from South Africa where drinking a cup of
tea is a ritual that takes place about five times every day.
The bags are then dried in the African sun, emptied of their leaves
and carefully ironed. Finally, each tea bag is painstakingly hand-painted
with warm shades of bronze, gold, silver, and black—colors
that celebrate African culture.
Finally, the group gathers together to assemble the finished products
to create greeting cards, notepads, journals, ornaments, candles,
coasters, trinket boxes, and tea light holders. They'll make special
designs by request, but ordinarily they just paint "what
is in our heads".
One of the artisans, Nomsa, recently earned enough money from
painting tea bags to move from an inadequate shack to a solid
new house. Nomsa said, “The most wonderful thing in the
world is hearing the rain on the roof and knowing that my children
are warm and dry.”
 “Everyone
earns a very good daily wage,” says Heyes. “We can
see the difference in many of their lives as they begin to gain
confidence and have pride in themselves.”
The original group of five artists now numbers 23 and supports
125 people. They still make the coasters and greeting cards but
continue to expand their offerings. They recently finished
a private commission for Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy. They
hope to open an on-site teashop where tourists can visit while
they paint; eventually, they plan for other craft groups to work
at the location.
To learn more or to place an order, visit www.originaltbagdesigns.com.
- Frostea Treats for Adults -
Runaway Hit at NYC Fancy Food Show
 The
staff of Wise Acre, Inc., traveled from their small coastal town
of Blue Hill, Maine to New York City to introduce their unique frozen
treats to attendees at the Fancy Food Show held earlier this summer…and
what a reception they received!
Wise
Acre's Frostbites™ and Frosteas™, are all-natural frozen
treats, sweetened only with unrefined sweeteners such as wild honey
or organic maple syrup. Frosteas contain organic, freshly brewed
teas, such as: Jasmine Green Tea Delight, Cool Your Jets —an
herbal tea mix of Chamomile, Lemon Balm, & Spearmint, and the
rich and highly-caffeinated Yerba Mate from South America.
 Two
years ago, Wise Acre's president, Jim Picariello, started his fledgling
business out of his kitchen and delivered his frozen treats to a
small handful of co-ops and a farmers market. Since then Wise Acre
has exploded into east coast distribution by United Natural Foods
and Sure Winner Foods, and early acceptance into east coast chains
such as Whole Foods, Wegmans, and Hannaford Supermarkets. "We're
currently working on the midwest," Jim said, "the west
coast is only a few years away."
Wise
Acre Frostbites and Frosteas are packaged frozen in plastic sleeves
and enjoyed 'squeeze up' style just like the ice pops you enjoyed
as a kid, and sell in stores for around $1.49 each. When asked why
aren't Frostbites and Frosteas found unfrozen on grocery shelves,
Jim answered, "oh, you mean next to the shelf-stable ice cream?
Our ingredients are fresh, without preservatives, and immediately
frozen."
The
official mottos of Wise Acre are: "No Fruit!" and "It
must taste great in gin or vodka". By using natural sweeteners
such as honey and maple, which are subtly different from season
to season and from harvest to harvest, every freshly brewed batch
of Frosteas and Frostbites is an exploration and discovery of unique
deliciousness.
The
exhibit halls of the Summer Fancy Food Show in NYC’s Jacob
Javits Center were just buzzing about these new products. Attendees
were amazed at the quality of the products, the innovative idea,
and they way it took them back to happier and carefree days of yore.
Get your hands on one of these frozen treats! Find out more at: www.wise-acre.com.
- No
Ordinary Bag Lady -
At Home Tea Parties Are Her Special-Tea
Based in Bohemia, NY, the Pleasures of Tea is owned and operated
by Kristine Henderson, an entrepreneur who left her job in corporate
America to pursue her passion in the world of tea. While her online
shop at www.pleasuresoftea.com sells a variety of premium loose leaf tea, tea ware, scone mixes,
and related tea-themed products, her specialty lies in creating
informative, entertaining, and enjoyable in-home tea tasting parties.
 Henderson,
like many other trained and certified tea experts, believes that
“preparing and drinking tea is a key element in creating
a lifestyle that promotes relaxation, reduces stress and improves
overall well-being.” After leaving her job as a training
manager, she was able to follow her passion and launched The Pleasures
of Tea in 2007. Her in-home parties allow the hostess to bring
friends and family together for a relaxing and wonderful tea-tasting
experience where they will learn about both the benefits of drinking
tea and its proper preparation.
The
staff here at the Coffee And Tea Newsletter recently had the pleasure
of hosting an in-office tea party and found the mid-afternoon
experience to be both educational and enjoyable. We prepared three
different teas that afternoon, discussing each one in detail prior
to the sampling. We shared stories about our favorite teas and
took pleasure in taste-testing her quality recommendations.
Henderson
takes great pride in creating a wonderful tea experience for each
in-home party. She works with the host/hostess in advance to select
five teas for tasting and comes prepared with her brewing equipment,
teapots, and teacups in tow. She comes to the party prepared to
deliver an informative presentation on tea—discussing its
history, varieties, and health benefits—then leads the group
in a tea tasting. The hostess may also prepare some of her delicious
accompaniments to add to an enjoyable afternoon or evening. To
learn more or to book a party, visit www.pleasuresoftea.com.
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Groovy Goods -
Trading in Higher Consciousness
 The
genesis of The Groovy Mind came from years of political and environmental
activism and the desire to find a socially responsible means of
support that would enable founders Nicke Gorney and Melanie Mitzner
to further their commitment to these movements while supporting
their art lives.
As
a screenwriter, playwright and novelist, Melanie Mitzner has focused
on social and psychological issues affecting cultures around the
world. In addition to being co-owner of TheGroovyMind.com, she is
also a contributor to Wine Spectator magazine and a blogger
on wine.
Nicke
Gorney has had critically acclaimed shows of abstract art and politically
charged mixed media and photography in museums and galleries across
New York and Long Island. For 16 years, she grew and distributed
organic greens to fine restaurants, health food stores and gourmet
markets, raising awareness of the nutritional value and environmental
safety of organically grown produce.
 Together
they launched The Groovy Mind, in March of 2005, to further social
and economic justice through sourcing, promoting and selling the
very finest organic, Fair Trade and eco-friendly products. Products
that break the cycle of poverty while protecting our natural resources.
“Our
backgrounds encompass organic farming and distribution, political
activism and culinary and wine experience. We combined these skills
so style equals substance, to show that social justice and culinary
excellence are not mutually exclusive,” said Mitzner. And
while they would love to see organic Fair Trade go mainstream, they
understand it will take small steps to make big changes.
 “People
can start by becoming educated about organic Fair Trade protocol
and by insisting on those products online, in the market, in restaurants
and at the office,” she added.
If
more businesses and restaurants convert from conventional to organic
Fair Trade, it can have a huge impact. “We have begun to see
much progress on this front, more green business gift giving which
stimulates both the gift giver as well as the recipient,”
said Gorney. “It’s also exciting to see restaurants
and offices take the plunge into the delicious world of roasted-to-order
organic Fair Trade coffee and seasonally harvested organic Fair
Trade tea. Once they start, they can’t go back.”
During
the interview with the folks at The Groovy Mind, their mission became
crystal clear. “Not all organic Fair Trade products are created
equal,” Mitzner passionately stated. “There’s
a huge difference in quality, just like their conventional counterparts.”
She deliberately stressed the importance of finding “companies
completely committed to seasonally harvested organic Fair Trade
and not ones just offering a few products to ride the green, socially
responsible wave. Consumers and business owners should look for
companies that put a value on culinary excellence and not settle
for anything less.”
Those
fortunate enough to have sampled the coffees and teas from The Groovy
Mind know their offerings are really quite superior. Luckily for
The Groovy Mind’s consumer and retail customers, “trading
in higher consciousness” clearly represents the character
of The Groovy Mind. It’s not just a tag line but a personal
commitment.
 Groovy
Coffee
Fair Trade coffee from The Groovy Mind is grown exclusively by Fair
Trade co-ops that offer their members many benefits: fair wages,
low interest loans, housing, healthcare, education and support environmental
conservation. “Our Fair Trade partners not only support their
families but also protect the environment by sheltering the land
for migrating birds and regional wildlife,” said Mitzner.
“We
searched for the most talented master roaster with exceptional skills
who would slow roast to order in small batches to caramelize the
beans and lock in the flavors of the beans’ origins and terroir,”
she added.
www.TheGroovyMind.com offers a variety of coffee from across the globe—surely even
the most sophisticated palate will find a wonderful, varied, and
worthy selection from which to choose.
 Groovy
Tea
Fragrant and aromatic teas from The Groovy Mind are fresh, seasonal
and pure. They are grown and certified organic by progressive and
socially responsible tea estates—those who guarantee a fair
wage to their workers while supplying exceptional, high quality
teas. Included among the variety of teas are artisan and limited
edition teas, like the award-winning rare white tea from the oldest
organic and biodynamic tea garden in Darjeeling, Organic Silver
Tips. Other great treasures include green Organic Jade Rings, Organic
Emerald Flower Power, a beautiful flowering green tea.
 The
Groovy Mind offers tea club and coffee club memberships in addition
to a delicious selection of organic and Fair Trade chocolate and
wonderful organic gourmet gift boxes. For coffee and tea lovers,
the Buzz Eco Java and Transcendental Tea are two exceptionally groovy
gifts. Visit www.TheGroovyMind.com to learn more about their offerings and be sure to bookmark their
hip one-of-a-kind gourmet gift boxes perfect for the upcoming holiday
season. What a wonderful way to impact the quality of lives of people
around the world! www.TheGroovyMind.com
-
2008 Coffee Of The Year Winner -
 Colombia’s
C.I. Racafe & CIA S.C.A received the greatest honor as it reached
the highest level of coffee supremacy, taking the Gold Award for
having the world’s best specialty coffee. C.I. Racafe &
CIA S.C.A. beat out more than 120 other coffee producers taking
top honor in the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s
(SCAA) 2008 Roasters Guild Coffee of the Year Competition. The event
took place at the SCAA annual conference in Minneapolis, MN, earlier
this year.
During the competition, expert SCAA cuppers evaluated and ranked
the world's finest specialty coffees. More than 30 experienced judges
selected the winning coffee by cupping, or thoroughly evaluating
the scent and taste of each coffee sample. The judges specifically
assessed six distinct attributes of the coffee samples, including:
fragrance, aroma, taste, flavor, aftertaste and body.
Cupping
is a systematic method of evaluating the aroma and taste of coffee
and is used by growers, buyers and roasters to evaluate the quality
and flavor profile of coffee. To properly gauge the taste of the
hot beverage, the judges slurped and swirled a soupspoon-sized portion
evenly over their palate, then spit out the sample without swallowing.
By saturating as many sensory nerves as possible, cupping participants
are better able to evaluate a coffee sample.
2008
Coffee of the Year Results ( Top 10):
1. C.I. Racafe & CIA S.C.A., Colombia
2. Hacienda La Esmeralda, Panama
3. Volcafe Specialty Coffee, Ethiopia
4. Sidama Coffee Farmers, Co-Op Union, Ethiopia
5. San Rafael Pacun/ Cafetalera El Tunel S.A., Guatemala
6. Agropecuaria Salfar S.A./ San Sebastian, Guatemala
7. Agoga Plantation Limited, Papua New Guinea
8. Finca La Ilusion-Cafe de El Salvador, El Salvador
9. Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Colombia
10. San Jose Ocana, Guatemala
For
more information about the winning coffee, visit www.racafe.com |
Mark
your calendars and join us next year, 