TeaTech showed off their XtraGreen Tea To Go! Beverage Mix, an ultra-portable and sugar- and calorie-free instant green tea mix made from fresh green tea leaves that delivers 300 milligrams of antioxidants per serving. Packaged in six-count wallet-sized, thin packets, 50-count boxes, or 24-count clip-strip cases, each tube can be poured into a water bottle or glass and served hot or cold. Once shaken or stirred, you can enjoy 100 percent of the daily value of Vitamin C per serving. Available in Lemon and Raspberry flavors. For more information, call 866-832-7546, or visit www.teatech.com.
First Colony Coffee and Tea Company showed a new line of Southern Comfort Teas, which are perfect served hot during the brisk winter months or iced for those languid summer days. Inspired by multiple flavor notes of the famous Southern liquor, including fruits, spices, and whiskey, these non-alcoholic teas are available in four distinct flavors. Choose from Southern Comfort Original and Original Decaf, Southern Comfort Peach Delight, Southern Comfort Cherry Creme, and Southern Comfort Orange Social. Southern Comfort Teas are available in 1.54-ounce tins that contain 25 individual tea bags, and 1.46-ounce tins for the Southern Comfort Original Tea Decaf. For more information, call 800-446-8555, or visit www.firstcolonycoffee.com.
The Republic of Tea unveiled its Pomegranate Green Tea, a blend of the finest China green tea with flavorful POM Wonderful pomegranate juice. This healthful and refreshing brew comes in a recyclable, airtight tin and features the company’s signature round, natural unbleached tea bags that are free of strings, tags, or staples. For more information, call 800-298-4832, or visit www.republicoftea.com.
Adagio Teas debuted their new line of gourmet teabags that combine the superior flavor of loose tea with the convenience of a disposable bag. These new bag’s unique pyramid shape provide ample room for the expansion of the large leaves that typically characterize gourmet tea. The teabags are packaged in boxes of 15. For more information, visit www.adagio.com.
Rishi Tea introduced their 100-percent Organic Artisan Iced Teas. Available in three Fair Trade Certified flavors: Lychee Berry and Classic, two caffeine-free flavors: Peach Rooibos and Honey Plum, and Citron Green. For more information, call 866-747-4483, or visit www.rishi-tea.com.
From Utmost Brands, Inc. came a new flavor of GuS - Grown-up Soda, Dry Cranberry Lime. The addition, which uses real cranberry and lime juices, is the first two-juice blend for the line. As with all the GuS soda flavors, it is 100-percent natural, kosher, with no caffeine, and lightly sweetened with cane sugar. With only 95 calories per 12-ounce bottle, it has less than two-thirds the calories of typical sodas and juice drinks on the market. Packaging includes single 12-ounce bottles that may be packed in a 4-pack. For more information, call 212-355-7454, or visit www.drinkgus.com.
Torani introduced European Drinking Chocolate, the ultimate chocolate lover’s dream. This decadent beverage includes real pieces of artisan Schokinag chocolate that are transformed into a drinkable dessert by steaming with milk. Available in four varieties: Triple Chocolate, a rich and velvety combination of milk, dark, and ultimate dark chocolate; Ultimate Dark, with an intense cocoa content of 79 percent; Dulche de Leche made with authentic white chocolate pieces and natural caramel; and German Chocolate Cake, a sinful mix of real milk chocolate, creamy caramel, and coconut. For more information, call 800-775-1925, or visit www.torani.com.
Jones Soda Co. introduced a new line of organic teas, Jones Organics. Offered in six flavors, including Strawberry White Tea, Cherry White Tea, Berry Green Tea, Mandarin Green Tea, Tropical Red Tea, and Peach Red Tea. Each flavor has only 60 calories per eight ounces, 13 grams of carbs, and contains no HFCs. All teas are featured in a proprietary 14-ounce glass bottle. For more information, call 206-624-3357, or visit www.jonessoda.com.
Caffe Sanoraunveiled an antioxidant-rich gourmet coffee that utilizes their exclusive HealthyRoastProcess, a patented roasting method. Caffe Sanora retains these natural antioxidants throughout the roasting process, delivering a healthier cup of coffee with higher antioxidant levels than most green teas. Available in light, medium, and dark roasts, in whole bean or ground (including espresso grind), and in both caffeinated and decaffeinated varieties. For more information, call 800-345-9666, or visit www.caffesanora.com.
Nantucket Off-Shore and Stirringsunveiled their Cocktail Essences made with real herbs and flowers harvested from exotic locales. These mixers bring culinary creativity to the cocktail craft and are available in four aromatic Essences: Lavender, Rose, Basil, and Rosemary. For more information, call 508-324-9800, or visit www.stirrings.com.
Harney and Sons has beautiful new packaging for their single silken sachets, elegant and clear tea bags containing classic blends. Some of the blends that we tasted include Rooibos Chai, Bangkok (green tea with lemongrass, coconut, and ginger), and Pomegranate Oolong. The sachets are packed by Harney with loose teas to ensure freshness and quality. Call 800-TEA-TIME (832-8463), e-mail ht@harneyteas.com, or visit www.harneyteas.com.
When a former AOL executive went in search of a healthy, non-sugar based drink for her children, she became sorely disappointed. She ended up launching a new product called Hint and Hint Kids. Hint is a naturally-flavored water that lacks sugar or other sweeteners and anything artificial. The pure water contains only natural flavors, many from organically grown produce. Hint waters are beautifully and simply packaged in clear plastic bottles with images of sliced fruits and vegetables, and color-coded to the appropriate flavor. Hint is available in Cucumber, Tangerine, Lime, Cranberry-Orange, Pear, Raspberry-Lime, and Pomegranate-Tangerine flavors. Hint Kids comes in Tropical Punch, Mixed Berry, Grape, Strawberry-Kiwi, and Apple. The flavors are subtle, refreshing, and delicious. Call Kara Goldin at 866-895-4468, or visit www.drinkhint.com or www.hintkids.com.
SerendipiTea, the New York-based company specializing in top-quality, organic, and Fair Trade loose-leaf teas is offering gift ideas as handsome as they are delicious. New Clairvoyant Tea Tins make great stocking stuffers and sampler sets are a tempting gift for tea lovers. These round metal tins (2.75 inches in diameter and one inch deep) have clear lids, perfect for blends that contain colorful flower petals or dried fruit, such as Passion and Envy -- SerendipiTea’s proprietary blend of green tea and passion fruit -- or Casanova, aged black tea with rose petals. Each refillable tin holds approximately one ounce, enough to make ten cups. They are also available in sampler sets that contain an assortment of a dozen teas (including organic, fruit, floral, connoisseur, chocolate tea, and Fair Trade sets) packed in a sleek wooden gift box. Individual tins are $4.50 to $5.50 each for most blends, $8.00 to $10.00 for premium varietal teas. Sampler sets start at $45.00. For more information, visit www.serendipitea.com.
CurrantC Premium Black Currant Nectar is the first of its kind in the United States. For over 100 years, the U.S. government banned the growing of black currants because they were thought to harbor a plant disease that was thought to kill white pines. Greg Quinn, founder and president of Au Currant Enterprises, successfully overturned the ban in New York State and now grows the currants for this healthful drink. Black currants contain twice the antioxidants of blueberries, four times the vitamin C of oranges, and twice the potassium of bananas, as well as any number of other vitamins and minerals. In addition to its healthful properties, CurrantC is a delicious and refreshing quaff that comes in six packs with striking graphics. For more information, call 845-266-8299, e-mail info@aucurrant.com, or visit www.aucurrant.com.
Caffe D'Amore introduced its new Frappe Freeze Skinny line. This coffee lovers' dream is available in four flavors -- vanilla (coffee-free), chocolate (coffee-free), mocha, and coffee. It contains only one gram of fat, eight grams of sugar, less than 150 calories, and is easy to prepare. Simply adding your choice of Skinny Frappe mix to non-fat milk and ice. Visit www.skinnyfrappe.com for more information on the company and their new Skinny Frappes.
At the Greek Gourmet, booth we looked in on the progress of Happy Elephant Teas, their new line of specialty teas from India. They have added a White Tea to the line that is flavored with ginger and peach. White teas are from the very tips of the tea plant that are taken during the first flush. The least fermented of all tea varieties, it retains more of the precious antioxidants for which many consumers are switching to tea these days. The tea flaunts the same striking packaging as that of the rest of the line, which is adorned by ancient Indian fabric designs. Call George Nassopoulos at 415-888-2050, or visit www.greekgourmet.com.
