Organic White Acai

I’ve been craving an organic white tea and two leaves and a bud delivered just what I was looking for.  One of my favorite iced teas is an organic mix of Acai and white tea, so I’m always looking for a hot version of my favorite iced tea. An important note to point out about this tea: the authentic white tea flavor is present in every sip.  The berry flavor is not overpowering.  In fact, this is one of the more authentic Acai teas I’ve tried.  I don’t see any “crazy” artificial colorings in the liquor of the tea (I can’t stand that).  The acai flavor does have a slight tartness to it.  You may want to add a touch of your favorite sweetener to balance the flavor.  I liked it without sweetener.   Whole-leaf teas served in tea sachets have really grown in popularity.  The average tea consumer is graduating to higher quality teas and sachets (sometimes pyramid shaped) are perfect for them.  What I learned years ago…there are millions of tea bags sold every year for a reason.  Some people are not going to change from what they know, and in many ways I totally understand.  I say, drink the tea that makes you happy.  An organic whole-leaf tea served in a tea “bag”  is a great transition.

Two leaves and a bud describes the tea as: “Special harvest long whole-leaf tea leaves and buds create this super light but full tasting white tea. Light enough in the cup to be called “white” with nutritious tropical acai berries to round out a great cuppa’!   Acai berries are berries grown on special Amazonian palm trees, harvested in the rain forests of Brazil. The rich taste is a distinct combination of berry flavor and subtle chocolate. The berries are high in anti-oxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids which aid in fighting off cancer and other diseases as well as sharpen mental focus.”

Visit two leaves and a bud

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The World Tea Expo starts today: May 2-4 Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas.

In 2007 I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to be part of the tea industry.  I had been blogging about tea since 2006 and my passion started way before that time.  marTEA.com was a way for me to document my tea journey.  So, I packed my bags and flew to Atlanta to attend my first World Tea Expo in 2007.  I remember arriving at the Georgia World Congress Center and just being in total awe.  The tea industry is filled with adventurous entrepreneurial success stories.  I have a profound respect for the owners and managers of the tea industry (not to mention all the men and women that help to bring tea from the earth to our cups).  One of the greatest attributes of the tea industry is the culture and diversity that shapes it.

In 2008,  I was able to visit the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas with a much more focused mindset. I wasn’t as nervous and I knew what to expect.  The experience was exactly what I needed to help me focus on what I want to pursue when the time is right.  To those chasing dreams and having a passion for tea, I wish you the best of luck and hope your experience has been as rewarding as mine.

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The 2009 World Tea Expo is fast approaching:  May 2-4 2009 @ The Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.  I’ve been fortunate to go to the past two expos.  One of  the greatest moments I had last year was getting to watch and listen to James Norwood Pratt during a tea tasting.  Mr. Pratt is someone I could listen to all day.  His knowledge and passion for tea is profound and infectious.  He has a poetic nature to his voice that really accents the already intelligent words that he speaks.  James Norwood Pratt authored the very popular tea book titled “The Tea Lover’s Treasury.” If you haven’t heard of James Norwood Pratt watch the (YouTube) video.

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Carol’s Special-Teas was one of the many exhibitors at the World Tea Expo this year. However, they were able to standout with their MINI decked-out like a tea pot. Checkout the picture. They were also giving large samples of some of their popular teas away to attendees. I couldn’t resist trying the German Chocolate Cake flavored black tea. German Chocolate Cake is one of my all-time favorite desserts. I don’t eat it often, but when I do – yum! This is a great craving tea for those of you watching your calorie intake. Drink this tea in place of a sweet high-calorie snack, and you’ll feel much better about yourself – at least I do.

This German Chocolate Cake flavored black tea was very good. The scent is right on par with the real thing. You’ll be sure to do a double-take if you get the chance to smell this tea. The coconut, chocolate and caramel chips are enough to make your mouth water. The flavor of the tea is good, but it’s not as enjoyable as the scent – I guess I didn’t expect it to taste exactly like a piece of cake. If you add your own sweetener and milk (or milk substitute) to this tea, it really helps to improve the flavor. My only complaint about the tea is that I don’t know where the black tea was grown. I’m assuming it is a Ceylon tea, but it is not stated on the packaging or their website. This tea is very enjoyable, and it is great to have around for special occasions. I enjoyed it as a morning tea. The delicious scent really helped to get me moving in the early hours.

• Visit Carol’s Special-Teas

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Most of you already knew that tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world – that includes all teas. Water is the obvious number one. With over 300 plus exhibitors and thousands of attendees, the logistics of water becomes an issue. Watching the staffers of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center push around hundreds of five gallon containers of water wore me out – just watching. As someone that goes to many trade shows for multiple industries (and used to work for a Resort and Conference Center), I guess I just pick up on the details. I can remember the days of wondering how we were going to fill six hundred water glasses and iced tea glasses without the ice melting before the guests arrive. It’s a lot of work. The World Tea Expo, the exhibitors, and the staff do an excellent job for all of us. I’m sure there are always problems, but to most of us the event seems well-coordinated and well-executed. The attendance and feedback from everyone seems to reinforce my observation.

The World Tea Expo is such a great event for exhibitors to interact with their current and potential clients. I’ve met so many wonderful people along my journey into the industry because of the show. I do my best with marTEA.com to help the Internet shoppers, tea rooms, and general consumers link to all of their great products.

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Marketing, gimmicks, and samples are not what I remember most when I leave the World Tea Expo.  To me, it’s all about the tea.  From the people that farm it, the owners that manage it, the businesses that sell it, the people that prepare it, and the relationships created by the tea experience – that’s what I remember about the World Tea Expo.

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What a site to see…The women that put on the tea ceremony did a phenomenal job. The attention to detail and skillfully crafted movements during the tea preparation were almost hypnotic. It was so relaxing. For those of you that haven’t seen a Korean Tea Ceremony, I highly recommend it. I didn’t want it to end…Yoon Hee Kim, thank you for sharing your culture with us at the WTE!

From the World Tea Expo Guide: Korean Tea Ceremony, Yoon Hee Kim, Korean Tea Culture Foundation
sponsored by: TeaClassics & Hancha Tea

Premiered at the Atlanta 2007 Expo and returning by popular demand to this year’s World Tea Expo.., please join Korean Tea Culture Foundation’s director and tea master, Yoon Hee Kim, for another glimpse into the Way of Tea, Korean style. Korean Tea Culture has had a long and distinct history – deeply steeped in 2,000 years rich traditions, practices and philosophy. Attendees at this year’s demonstration will experience the beauty of Korean Tea Ceremony through both “SaengHwal Darye” – Everyday Tea Service and “SeonBie Darye” – also known as Scholar’s Tea. Time permitting, Q & A will follow the demonstration. Tea tasting provided by Hancha Tea.

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Well, it’s been a great trip. I just wrapped up two days at the World Tea Expo. It’s time to go home. The Internet connections have been poor. That said, it’s hard to sit down and blog when you are in Las Vegas. I have a ton of products to blog about. To all the vendors that took the time to explain their products to me – thank you! Your great products are the reason I do what I do.

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