-By Sherry Hoffman

A new study shows that green tea can protect heart arteries by keeping them flexible and relaxed, and therefore better able to withstand changes in blood pressure. The study, led by Dr. Nikolaos Alexopoulos of Athens Medical School in Greece, found that among 14 subjects, those who drank green tea showed greater dilation of their heart arteries on ultrasound 30 minutes later than those drinking either diluted caffeine or hot water. Experts caution, however, that one study isn't enough to make green tea the next medical miracle.



Vida-Meata-Vegemin
In its first showing at the World Tea Expo, Vida Tea Sparkling Green Tea was named the Best Tea in the Green Tea Sweetened category at the expo in Las Vegas. Vida Tea is an ultra-premium sparkling green tea with vitamins and antioxidants (EGCG, grape seed extract, alpha lipoic acid and coenzyme Q10), and is the first sparkling green tea sweetened with organic agave nectar. Offered in Desert Pear, Wild Berry and Pomegranate, Vida Tea contains no sodium, artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors. MSRP: $1.99/12-oz. can. For more information, visit www.vidatea.com.


And Wellness For All
TEEKANNE Herbal Wellness Tea has joined forces with tennis champion and TEEKANNE brand ambassador Steffi Graf in support of Graf's foundation, Children for Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization providing support and assistance to children and families who have experienced the devastating physical and mental effects of war, persecution and violence. In support of Children for Tomorrow, TEEKANNE will donate $.05 for every box sold through March 2009. For more information, visit www.teekanne.com.



On The Road
Honest Tea®, the organic bottled tea company, just launched the Honest Tea Tour sponsored by Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid. The tour represents a national partnership to promote organics and more sustainable transportation. Ten Honest Tea-branded Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrids will tour the United States, traveling to stores and events around the country, offering samples of Honest Tea's USDA-certified organic iced teas, Honest Ade thirst-quenchers and Honest Kids drink pouches while educating consumers about the benefits of hybrid vehicles. For more information, visit www.honesttea.com.


Make a Choice
Choice Organic Teas, a purveyor of exclusively organic teas out of Seattle, Wash., and the first company to introduce certified-organic and Fair Trade Certified™ teas in the U.S., has launched Whole Leaf Organics, a collection of organic, Fair Trade Certified tea pyramids. Whole Leaf Organics joins the tea-crafter's three established tea lines: Original, Gourmet and Loose Leaf teas. MSRP: $8.49 for a 15-count box of individually wrapped tea pyramids. For more information, visit www.choiceorganictea.com or call 206-525-0051.


Tea Readings
The Specialty Tea Institute (STI) honored the first group of tea professionals to complete its Level Three Tea Certification Program recently in New York City. A total of 15 students were awarded the title of Certified Tea Professional (CTP) after completing 80-100 hours of study. The STI Certification Program, offered by the Tea Association of the USA, was launched in 2002 and has students from all segments of the tea industry. Some consider it necessary training for executives from major tea packers, operators of tearooms, executives from supermarket chains and sales brokers. For more information, visit www.teausa.org.

At the Specialty Coffee Association of America's 20th Annual Conference and Exhibition in Minneapolis, Numi Organic Tea won "Best New Educational or Training Product" for its Journey into Flowering Tea DVD. This six-minute documentary takes place in China, showcasing tea gardens and close-up footage of Chinese artisans creating hand-sewn Flowering Tea, a new tradition that celebrates the tea leaf. For more information, go to www.youtube.com and type in "flowering tea," or visit www.numitea.com.

The Puget Sound Tea Education Association will host the first annual Northwest Tea Festival October 4-5 at Seattle Center in Seattle, Wash. The festival is an entertaining and educational event whose goal is to provide experiences covering all aspects of tea, including cultural, historical, sensory and scientific. Events include tea classes, tastings, vendor booths, meet-the-author and book signings, as well as mini-features for children. For more information, contact Jennifer Petersen at 360-573-9199, or visit www.carnelianrosetea.com or www.nwteafestival.com.

The Chai Company has launched a redesigned Web site featuring information on the process and ingredients that go into brewing the chai, the company's philosophy, chai history and recipes. The Chai Company is a microbrewer of slow-brewed chai concentrates using natural ingredients and Fair Trade-certified organic tea. For more information, visit www.chaico.com.


Just the Facts
Packaged Facts, a consumer market research firm, recently published Coffee in the U.S.: Retail, Foodservice and Consumer Trends. According to that report, "sales of coffee through retail channels will grow at a faster pace than foodservice as more consumers exchange their favorite coffeehouse for packaged premium coffees they can brew at home."

The 396-page document further states that there are massive changes in the U.S. coffee market. With Starbucks closing 600 U.S. stores, McDonald's introducing its McCafé specialty beverages and P&G selling its Folger Coffee division to J.M. Smucker, sales in the market have surged 11 percent in 2007 to reach $39.5 billion. Looking ahead, much of the growth will be coming from the specialty coffee segment, which will continue to chart double-digit growth rates despite the troubled economy, the report predicts, as marketers continue to focus on specialty coffee products and as single-portion packs continue to gain ground in the market. For more information, visit www.packagedfacts.com.


The Chain, It's A Changin'
Starbucks Corp. recently announced it would expand in China, even as it is closing underperforming U.S. stores, reported Bloomberg.com. "There will be more innovation, more new products, more resources, not only investment," said Wang Jinlong, the company's Greater China president.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., Starbucks officers say they're working to address concerns of customers, partners and the communities where they operate while they continue to transform the business. Some of that transformation is coming in the form of the Vivanno, a $3.75 fruit smoothie that's being test-marketed in Seattle. They also have plans to roll out Sorbetto, a drinkable sorbet at $2.95 for a 10-ounce cup in 315 Los Angeles area stores. Starbucks is clearly riding the fruit smoothie train as ready-to-eat smoothie sales rose 139 percent since 2002.


So, What's New?
DeLonghi America has introduced a Complete Frontal Access Drip Coffee Maker line. The line incorporates the easy front-loading feature but in a new thermal carafe. The front-loading design provides easy access to the water tank and ground coffee filter, and allows the coffee maker to remain under the cabinet. For more information, visit www.delonghi.com.

For the first time in more than 50 years, the Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker has been redesigned. The press filter system allows the filter to be removed entirely from the glass carafe without leaving ground coffee behind. In addition, the cylindrical filter can be opened at the bottom to easily release coffee grinds into the trash. The new filter has a 34-oz. capacity. For more information, visit www.bodum.com.

Dutch Bros. Coffee, a private coffee company founded by two south Oregon dairy-farming brothers, has opened its second Oregon City location, making it the 130th in the Dutch Bros. chain. For more information, visit www.dutchbros.com.



Brighten your sales this season with Don Francisco's Holiday Heart Warmer Basket from F. Gaviña & Sons. Included in this charming basket is Don Francisco's distinctive Holiday Coffee Collection -- Dark Chocolate Mint, Cranberry Créme, Holiday Blend and Pumpkin Spice -- ground in 12-oz. bags. Also inside is a festive assortment of ginger-spice and ices sugar cookies, and edible tree ornaments from Monaco Baking. Then for good cheer, dark chocolate-dipped peppermint sticks, a bag of fresh, tart cranberries and a couple of old-fashioned candy canes have been added. For more information, call 800-428-4627.





Featured in the photo are (L to R): Biggby Coffee founders Mary Roszel and Bob Fish pictured in front of Store #100 with franchisees Rose and Joe Glendenning.

Biggby Coffee just opened its 100th store in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. The largest franchisee-based coffee company, with stores across nine states, began franchising in 1999 with just a two-store concept, and has doubled in size every two years since. It has an additional 74 stores under contract to open during the next 24 months. Biggby Coffee features more than 30 gourmet coffee, fine tea and frozen drink selections in addition to an assortment of pastries and other fine edibles. For more information, visit www.biggby.com.


Mike Ferguson has been named senior consultant at Coffee Solutions. He will handle project management, strategy, communications and management consulting for the company's U.S. and international clients. Coffee Solutions provides professional services to the coffee industry. For more information, visit www.coffeesolutions.net.



Nestlé Nespresso's Aeroccino + is a new, larger version of its Aeroccino coffee accessory. In addition to offering hot milk froth (70 seconds to prepare), it also makes cold milk froth (120 seconds to prepare). The machine has one button for all preparations and comes equipped with an automatic stop function and an assortment of whisks. Aeroccino + will only be sold as part of a bundle package with the Nespresso Le Cube machine. MSRP: $429. For more information, visit www.nespresso.com.





In Michaele Weissman's God In A Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee (Wiley, $24.95), the author goes on a treasure hunt into the world's most exotic coffee-covered countries, including Ethiopia -- the mother ship of the coffee universe -- where she and her guides, those leading the world's top coffee businesses, search for the birthplace of the legendary Geisha coffee, presumed genetic parent of the coveted, prize-winning Hacienda La Esmeralda Special. There's much to learn from this absorbing tale. Visit her blog at www.michaeleweissmanwrites.com/godinacupofcoffee.


Handpresso Wild, a hand-held espresso maker, is a fun new item. Pump the Handpresso to the 16 bar mark and add hot water from a kettle or a thermo-insulated bottle. Place an E.S.E. pod in the filter, close the top and press the button to dispense the espresso. Made to work with E.S.E. (Easy Serve Espresso) pods available from Illy or Lavazza, the device fits in a storage pouch 9.25 x 4.75 x 3 inches. Handpresso is distributed by Importika, Victor, N.Y. MSRP: Handpresso Wild, $129.99; carrying case, $19.99. For more information, visit www.importika.com.





Baby, You're the Best
The Capresso MT500, the company's best-selling coffeemaker, has received the "2008 Best Buy" award from Consumers Digest for the premium segment of the category. The selection was based on beverage quality, ease of use, features, performance and quality of construction.

According to Consumers Digest, "Other machines at this price might share some of the features of the MT500, but none offers such a complete coffeemaker package." The MT500 is a 10-cup electric coffeemaker with a high-gloss metallic alloy body, stainless steel thermal carafe and a stainless steel-lined heating system. MSRP: $179.99, or the MT500 Plus with brushed metal coffee filter, $189.99. For more information, visit www.capresso.com.

Comments? shoffman@gourmetretailer.com