Raise a mug and join the festivi-teas! This February, China celebrates the Year of the Dog, and we'll all celebrate Valentine's Day with the hot-teas in our lives. Our featured teas this month take you on a journey through different tea farms, blends, and brands with roots in Taiwan, Pakistan, New York, Portland, and Colorado. Read below to learn more about what we're sipping on this month, and be sure you're logged in to your MY SIPS profile to link over to our product pages to learn more. Don't have a MY SIPS profile? Create a free profile here to access special offers if you'd like to enjoy one of these featured teas yourself!
FORMOSA FAME Sips by HEIRLOOM TEA CO
This month we’re taking you on a journey 1500 meters high to the Ali Shan growing region of Taiwan! Alishan oolong is one of the most famous high mountain oolong teas from Taiwan - the altitude, fog and lower temperatures create an ideal environment for growing oolong because the tea leaves are able to develop more complexity of flavor. Heirloom Tea Co has named this Alishan oolong “Formosa Fame” because Taiwan was first called “Ihla Formosa” (or “beautiful island”) by Portuguese sailors in the 16th century. They asked the producer to add a custom light roast for an element of complexity and depth.
Heirloom Tea Co was founded by Henry Duong who found the inspiration for the company during a backpacking trip all around China after finishing college. While visiting the majestic tea fields above West Lake in Hangzhou, the mother of a family farm invited him in for a taste of their Long Jing (Dragonwell) tea - the quality and freshness of the cup she brewed was phenomenal and eye-opening. Henry realized that back home in the U.S. there weren’t many places to find artisan loose leaf teas, so he set out to create Heirloom Tea Co, aiming to provide tea lovers with the finest single-origin loose leaf tea, which have been thoughtfully curated to ensure quality. The family farms they work with have had their heirloom of tea trees and traditions passed down from generation to generation. Along with tea trees, the knowledge of traditional tea processing is passed down so they can continue to craft amazing teas!
In addition to Formosa Fame, some of you may have received Heirloom Tea Co’s Wild Wuyi Black Tea - a delicious unsmoked Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong (aka Lapsang Souchong) that was made with leaves picked from wild grown tea trees - in your February Sips by box (and more is on the way for March)!
Click here to learn more about Formosa Fame and access a special offer from Heirloom Tea Co!
Kashmiri Chai Sips by THE JASMINE PEARL TEA CO
We fell in love with this unique green tea chai blend and thought you might like it too! A twist on a traditional Pakistani chai, it features smoky gunpowder green tea with cardamom, peppercorns, clove, amaretto and fragrant lavender. It’s delicious straight-up or with milk and a dash of honey!
Since 2004, The Jasmine Pearl has been importing and handcrafting specialty loose-leaf tea in Portland, Oregon. Many of their teas are harvested and blended in small quantities, allowing them to share the freshest rare and seasonal teas. They have methodically tasted and studied thousands of different teas for over a decade in search of the most delicious and interesting examples available! They offer a wide selection of both classic teas, as well as innovative blends with flavors you may have never thought to combine. If you’re ever in Portland, we highly recommend checking out their shop!
Some of you may have received their Blackberry Fig in your January Sips by box, or their iconic Jasmine Pearls this month as well! A must-try for jasmine-lovers, these beautiful tea pearls have been hand-rolled and allowed to dry with night-blooming jasmine flowers, which release their aroma into the leaves. They may be steeped multiple times, continuing to unfurl a little more each time.
Click here to learn more about Kashmiri Chai and access a special offer from The Jasmine Pearl!
MULLED PLUM CIDER Sips by HARNEY & SONS
As a special treat for our tea-loving community, Harney & Sons sent us one of their brand-new blends that had not yet been launched to the public! A welcoming, festive twist on a classic, Mulled Plum Cider combines the complex flavors and dual sweet-spice notes of a mulled cider with the rich, caffeine-free body of rooibos tea. Pieces of apple, cacao, plum, and cardamom combine well with fruity hibiscus, blackcurrants, and orange alongside spicy ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper. A perfect warming treat for after dinner or an evening by the fire.
Harney & Sons was founded on a commitment to deliver customers the finest quality tea possible. This promise, made over 30 years ago, serves as the company's guiding principle. John's sons carry on the tradition. Today, Harney & Sons Tea remains family owned and managed, with three generations of Harneys preserving John's tradition of fine tea and traveling the world in search of the finest ingredients.
Other Harney teas featured this month include Pomegranate Oolong and Organic Green Tea with Mint - more fun flavors and newly-released blends will be coming soon to more Sips by boxes!
Click here to learn more about Mulled Plum Cider and access a special offer from Harney & Sons!
CHARGE Sips by WILD LEAF
It’s that time of year, when the sun hides behind the clouds and energy sometimes runs low … which is also a perfect time for some pick-me-up tea, like Charge from Wild Leaf! This blend of invigorating whole leaf yerba mate, green tea, and peppermint will help you win the war on drowsiness. Packed with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants, it will keep you charged so you can make the most of each day.
Wild Leaf’s purpose is to keep us all active and feeling our best while juggling all of the days’ crazy demands. Founder Susan Parnell discovered the awesome power of herbal teas during her battle with Lyme Disease. Herbs and teas from around the world helped strengthen and heal her body from the intensive treatment. Susan wanted to spread the word, the love, and the tea to help others feel their best while managing today’s modern chaos!
Wild Leaf's expertly-crafted organic blends for certain moods and functions, making it easy, fun and delicious for people to incorporate their Active Teas into their everyday lives. Some of you may have also received their Smart, Slim, and Detox teas in your box this month.
Click here to learn more about Charge and access a special offer from Wild Leaf!
MEDITATIVE MIND Sips by THE TEA SPOT
Sit back, relax, breathe, and sip! This blend creates an experience of aromatherapy that sharpens the mind and arouses the senses. Jasmine is uplifting and soothing, and is used as an antidepressant in herbal medicine, and rosebuds ease nervous tension and stress, with a calming effect on the mind.
The unique packaging of this tea (which we included in some of your personalized Sips by boxes) is pre-measured to be enjoyed in a 16-ounce travel bottle. We highly recommend enjoying this delightful brew outdoors on the trail, or indoors in the yoga studio.
The Tea Spot handcrafts teas as timeless as the Colorado mountains that surround them. With one foot steeped in tradition, and the other outstretched toward a healthier future, they infuse the goodness of whole leaf tea into your everyday. The Tea Spot was founded in 2004 by Maria Uspenski, a cancer survivor drawn to the health benefits of whole leaf tea during her recovery. Her message is simple and powerful: tea in its freshest form renders premium flavor and unmatched health benefits. With a steadfast mission to foster health and wellness through tea, The Tea Spot donates 10% of all sales in-kind to cancer and community wellness programs. To date, they have supported over 100 organizations and touched more than 10,000 lives. The Tea Spot is a Certified B Corp, woman-owned and operated philanthropic business.
Click here to learn more about Meditative Mind and access a special offer from The Tea Spot!
About us: Sips by™ is an Austin-based startup founded by a small group of tea lovers who want discovering tea to be fun, personalized, and affordable. When you subscribe to Sips by's tea discovery box — the only personalized, multi-brand tea subscription! — we match you with a tea expert who learns your tastes and sends you 4 unique teas to try each month, chosen from over 100 global tea brands. You can choose loose leaf tea or teabags, caffeinated or herbal, or have a little taste of each — every box is truly unique to the subscriber's preferences! Not ready to subscribe? We've still got valuable benefits to offer you! Sign up for a free Sips by profile to access special brand offers, win free tea, refer friends for points, and learn about the best tea subscription box out there.