On any given day, about one half of the American population drinks tea. Some, of course, like it hot, but an overwhelming majority, approximately 85%, prefer to drink their tea iced. This passion for iced tea has lead to a great surge in ready-to-drink tea sales, according to the Tea Association of the U.S.:

• Over the last ten years, Ready-To-Drink (RTD) Tea has grown nearly ten fold
• In 2006, Ready-To-Drink sales were conservatively estimated at $2.65 billion

Feeding this growth, no doubt, are the challenges of busy grab-and-go lifestyles and the continued reporting of tea’s healthy benefits. Visit the refrigerator case in your favorite deli or a walk down the beverage isle at your local supermarket and you’ll see many RTD teas vying for your attention. Do consumers have to sacrifice great taste for good health?  Not anymore, according to Eric Skae, developer and founder of New Leaf teas.

An avid brewed tea drinker with nearly fifteen years in the beverage business, Eric Skae woke early one morning in 2003 and decided to blend his favorite brewed tea with various fruit flavors and instantly knew he was onto something. “The beverage market lacked a beverage that was both great tasting and good for you” said Skae. Using family and friends as his tasters, the concept of New Leaf teas quickly started to take form. Less than a year later, in 2004, Skae launched New Leaf—100% all natural and preservative free ready-to-drink teas that are organically sweetened with evaporated cane juice. “Since cane juice is all natural and minimally processed, it offers a healthier alternative to sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened teas,” added Skae.

New Leaf ready-to-drink teas start with green, white, or blue tea. While much has been written about the health benefits of green tea and white tea, many consumers are just learning about blue tea and its benefits.

What is Blue Tea?
Oolong tea is known as blue tea because of the bluish reflection of its leaves.  “Blue tea is known for its smooth taste which is unlike any of the other teas,” said Skae. New Leaf is serious about educating consumers about blue tea and reports that blue tea contains a large quantity of polyphenols which act as antioxidants and promote beauty and health. The polyphenols are also known to enhance the function of enzymes and aid in the controlling of obesity by
activating triglycerides and enhancing metabolism. “Blue tea has more catechin than black teas and more thearubigin than green teas. This smooth tasting tea has so much to offer,” said Catherine Daniel, a spokesperson for New Leaf. New Leaf introduced its newest addition last month with the launch of the Blue Tea Peach tea.  New Leaf’s peachy pairing offers consumers a savory taste of healthy goodness.

Nine great flavors make up the New Leaf all natural line of teas:  White Tea Strawberry, White Tea Tangerine, White Tea Honey and Ginseng, White Tea Honeydew Melon, Green Tea Plum, Green Tea Ginseng, Blue Tea Lemon, Blue Tea Raspberry, and the newest flavor, Blue Tea Peach.

New Leaf is currently available at specialty, gourmet, health, and other fine retail stores. (www.drinknewleaf.com)

Perk up your poultry!  Wake up your steak! Coffee can be a great addition to many recipes. As a dry rub, marinade, or brine, coffee is making a big splash at summertime barbeques across the country. “Coffee is known to enhance the flavor of meats and many renowned chefs use it as one of their cooking secrets,” says Susan Atkisson of Keuka Lake Coffee Roasters, creators of Java Rubs.

By incorporating coffee and coffee blends into your next BBQ you’ll quickly see why coffee is the grill master’s best friend. The creators of Java Rubs share their experiences:

• Coffee enhances the flavors of everything you cook!
• Coffee helps to caramelize the surface of what you are cooking and the caramelization from the coffee helps to seal in juices creating tastier entrees.
• Coffee helps build and create a depth of flavor rather than stripping flavor as adding water in cooking can do.
• Coffee also helps to create subtle toasty notes and a flavorful mocha hue.

Java Rubs are coffee blends and are used just like any dry meat rub. They go well with meat, seafood, vegetables, and even fruits. The coffee helps to build depth of flavor in your dish without being harsh, bitter, or overwhelming. Java Rubs should be liberally applied to your meat selection about one hour prior to cooking. Great for grilling, the Java Rubs are also great for broiling, or searing in a cast iron pan for best results.

Aromatic and unique, there are several special and distinct Java Rubs--one specifically formulated for use with beef, lamb, and game meats; one for fish, seafood, and veggies; one for pork and poultry; and one for fruit and dessert use. For the more exotic palate, Java Rubs also come in the following new special blends:

Mocha Java Mole
Brazilian coffee, dark cocoa powder and ancho chili give a distinct, spicy, Latin flavor to meats and poultry.

Sicilian Citrus
Espresso, lemon peel, orange peel, sea salt, basil, and more. This unique Mediterranean flavor blend is recommended for poultry and pork.  It is also recommended for grilled vegetables and fish.

Jamaican Java Jerk
Sunrise Blend coffee, allspice, cayenne pepper, onion, thyme, and more.  This jerk style Java Rub adds a tasty kick to chicken and pork.

Shanghai Six Spice
Guatemalan Antigua coffee, ginger, cinnamon, anise, cloves and more.  Recommended for lamb or game meats.

Founded in 2003, Keuka Lake Coffee Roasters is located at the tip of Keuka Lake in upstate New York. There you’ll find owners Susan Atkisson and Brian Friguliette—two extreme foodies who are also true entrepreneurs. “We’re inventing new uses for America’s most beloved morning beverage,” said Friguliette. “The Java Rubs are just one of our many coffee-based specialty foods” he added. Included among their other products, you’ll find coffee infused sauces and marinades. Looking for something on the sweet side? Try their incredible Java Bark or Java Sprinkles. Both are great on ice cream.
This month, Keuka Lake Coffee Roasters will begin marketing their coffee-based specialty foods under the JAVA-GOURMET label. “We believe this new name will help to define this unique product and provide a more easily recognizable look as the products begin distribution outside of the Keuka Lake area,” said Atkisson.

All of the Java Rubs have 100% Arabica coffee as their primary ingredient and are very reasonably priced at $5.99 for a 2 oz. Java Rub tin. 
www.java-gourmet.com

FREE GIFT/SPECIAL OFFER:  get a FREE GIFT when you place an order at www.java-gourmet.com by 7/15/07 and mention this newsletter in the comment section. Enjoy!