One of the widest selections of Certified Organic Teas, Spices and Herbs in North America

There are many legends surrounding the origin of drinking tea. One story tells us that it began in China thousands of years ago. It is said that the leaves of a Camellia plant dropped off and landed in a bowl of boiling water. The Emperor at the time tasted the result and found them to his liking and the art of drinking tea was born.

ROY-bus. Though it make not look like it, next time you walk into your favorite tea shop, it’s the right way to ask for a cup of that yummy “rooibos” stuff. But the way you say it’s just the start—Rooibos, that deliciously sweet herbal blend that seems to be cropping up at every tea (and now, coffee!) shop has got a pretty sweet story, too.

Mint: not only something to brush your teeth with or adorn the tea tables of old ladies playing bridge. This delicious Old World herb has a myriad of uses in cuisine, herbology and medicine, and popular mythology.

We've been working on a few projects over the summer, and we're excited to finally be able to let you in on it! Before we get on with the new features, we've got some Fall goodies to share with you.

For centuries tea has been a symbol of inner harmony, especially in the time-honored country of Japan. Indeed, the Ancient Japanese honed the craft and the art of the tea ceremony. The Orient's appreciation for tea is even viewed in its rich, ancient tea legends that were designed to instruct people as to the methods of unlocking their own inner peace, their Zen. The Samurai and the Tea Master is just such a tale that capitalizes on the power of inner tranquility over outward strength. The story is set in Ancient Japan, and the hero is not a Samurai, but a tea master.

Choosing the right tea is an important part of the food selection process, and can make or break the overall dining experience.

There’s been a lot of talk about green tea in the last decade. Have the Japanese had it right all along? Is it really as powerful as some say? Can it help you lose weight or is that an Oprah-fronted myth? DOES IT CURE CANCER?!

...one of these beings is a beautiful princess who lived high up in a crystal palace. She was the wife of a great warrior who did many brave deeds, and her name was Chang’e. Originally she lived on Earth, but did something to earn herself banishment. Among the possibilities are that she was unfaithful or that she stole a pill of immortality that was forbidden to mortals...(Shanti Tea Canada blog)

“CHIIIIIIIIYE!“CHIIIIIIIIIIYE!“It’s a constant call riding the trains of India, a hoot from the side of the street, a jeer that’ll grab your attention no matter where you roam in the country...

Matcha is certainly up there among the earth’s ‘Superfoods’. In the world of tea, Matcha powder is unsurpassed in its health promoting nutritional content. Why? When you drink steeped green tea, much of the antioxidants remaining in the tea leaves are thrown away. Up to 75% of the vast nutritional profile of green tea remains trapped in the leaves, never to be consumed. Matcha is made from whole tea leaves that are ground into a fine powder, imparting 100% of benefits of green tea.

Today chais are well-loved even by coffee drinkers, and most of the recipes mirror the ancient South Asian tradition of boiling milk and water with tea, spices, and sometimes sweeteners. Our Sita Chai can be made the same way, if you like, though it is good on it’s own as well. Either way, it is best drunk with a story, so sit back, relax, and rest your mind in the tales of Ancient India.

Hailing from a magical-seeming country and boasting a fascinating preparation process, Pu-Erh tea is one of the most unique ways to enjoy one of mankind’s oldest hot beverages. Even the name is special: Pu-Erh comes from a trading post that was often used to barter for such products as tea in the Imperial China. The leaves for this tea are grown on trees in China’s Yunnan Province, a gorgeous rolling land covered with greenery, foothills, and mountains. Classically beautiful terraces provide rich earth in which luscious crops grow, waterways wind through misty mountains, and temples sit against cloud-draped vistas.