Steeping Around With Rekaya

In teatime, host Rekaya Gibson features blackberry sage by The Republic of Tea. In tea talk, she reviews the Breville IQ electric tea kettle. In tea news, Gibson shares the tea flavors of the year by Beck Flavors and mentions the World Tea Conference and Expo coming up in March.

Mentioned in this episode:

Breville IQ Tea Kettle amazon.com/shop/rekayagibson (affiliate link)

The Republic of Tea - republicoftea.com

World Tea Conference and Expo worldteaexpo.com Source:

Kiel, A. 2023, Jan. 11. Experts Name Black Sesame, Garden Mint, London Fog Among Flavors of the Year. World Tea News. bit.ly/3GUktRx

In teatime, host Rekaya Gibson features honeybush tea by Numi. In tea talk, she discusses honeybush tea, an herbal tea native to South Africa. In tea news, she announces the expansion of Clipper, a British-based tea company, to the United States.

Mentioned in This Episode: Numi Tea, numitea.com What is honeybush tea? What are the health benefits of honeybush tea? What are the side effects of honeybush tea? How to prepare honeybush tea? South Africa Clipper, clipper-teas.com

Sources:

Kiel, A. (2022, June 29). U.K.-based Clipper Tea Expands in the United States with New Packaging and Flavors. worldteanews.com/retail/uk-based-clipper-tea-expands-united-states-new-packaging-and-flavors

Lang, A. (2020, May 19). Honeybush Tea: Benefits and Side Effects. Healthline. healthline.com/nutrition/honeybush-tea#bottom-line

WebMD. Health Benefits of Honeybush Tea. webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-honeybush-tea#1

In teatime, host Rekaya Gibson features Happy to Be Me, an herbal blend by MEplusTea. In tea talk, she discusses the difference between loose-leaf tea and tea bags. In tea news, she announces a free Virtual Tea Chat event with MEplusTea in honor of National Tea Day on April 21, 2022 (United Kingdom).

Mentioned in This Episode:

MEplusTea – www.meplustea.com

Happy to Be Me tea by MEplusTea – https://www.meplustea.com/product-page/happy-to-be-me

MEplusTea Virtual Tea Chat registration (April 21, 2022) – www.rekayagibson.com/teachat

MEplusTea Sample Tea Box - https://www.meplustea.com/product-page/sample-tea-box

Source:

Goodwin, L. (2019, October 2). "Teabags vs. Loose Leaf Tea: Why is Loose Leaf Tea Better Than Teabags?." The Spruce Eats. https://www.thespruceeats.com/teabags-vs-loose-leaf-tea-766321

In teatime, host Rekaya Gibson features Chocolate Drop by Tyme for Tea Online. In tea talk, she highlights six Black-owned tea brands for Black History Month. In tea news, she announces the World Tea Conference & Expo being held on March 21-23, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Photo Credit: Courtney Alexandria

Mentioned in This Episode:

Chocolate Drop by Tyme for Tea Online - https://tymeforteaonline.com/

Candid Tea - https://candidtea.com/

CALABASH Tea & Coffee - https://www.calabashtea.com/

Brown Leaf Tea Bar - https://www.brownleaftea.com/

Cup of Té - https://cupofte.com/

Thés Lac Rose - https://en.theslacrose.com/

World Tea Conference & Expo – https://www.worldteaexpo.com/

In teatime, host Rekaya Gibson features Taylors of Harrogate Lemon and Ginger Tea. January is National Hot Tea Month. In tea talk, she shares 10 ways to celebrate National Hot Tea Month. In tea news, she mentions the Laneway Tea Festival scheduled for February 12, 2022, in Brisbane, Australia.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Taylors of Harrogate Lemon and Ginger Tea - https://www.taylorsofharrogate.com/

"Tea Blending 101" hosted by Just Add Honey Tea Company - https://justaddhoney.net/ and https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tea-blending-101-tickets-248841861707?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Food Temptress Cookbook Store - https://bookshop.org/shop/FoodTemptressCookbookStore

Podcast episode: "Tea-Inspired Cookbooks"- https://steepingaroundwithrekaya.libsyn.com/tea-inspired-cookbooks

Spotify – "Afternoon Tea Piano Playlist – Perfect Background Music for Tea Time" - https://open.spotify.com/album/2M8T3D4jWFFL5EnqiOhGMl

Taste of Home: Earl Grey Tea Cookies - https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/earl-grey-tea-cookies/

Rekaya Gibson's Amazon page: "Gift Ideas for Tea Lovers" - https://www.amazon.com/shop/rekayagibson

Sources:

Brisbane City Council. (2021, December 21). "BrisAsia Festival: Laneway Tea Festival." Brisbane, Queensland, Government (Australian). https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/whats-on-and-events/event/laneway-tea-festival-156939600

In teatime, host Rekaya Gibson features Indigo Punch by Harney & Sons. In Tea Talk, she visits Reignforest Tea Bar in Chesapeake, Virginia in her "Steeping" around segment. In Tea News, she mentions author Emily Winfield Martin's collaboration with Harney & Sons.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Harney & Sons, Indigo Punch - www.harney.com

Reignforest Tea Bar (Chesapeake, Virginia) - www.reignforestco.com

Sources:

Penguin Random House News. (2021, August 23). Author/Illustrator Emily Winfield Martin Extends Her Brand With "Wonderful Things" Tea. Penguin Random House. https://global.penguinrandomhouse.com/announcements/author-illustrator-emily-winfield-martin-extends-her-brand-with-wonderful-things-tea/

In teatime, host Rekaya Gibson features Flamingo Vanilla Chai by David Rio. In tea talk, she discusses the history of chai. She explains what chai is; what chai means; and what chai is made of; and what the health benefits of chai are. In tea news, she announces the opening of Namaste Chai in Fargo, North Dakota.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Flamingo Vanilla Chai by David Rio - https://www.davidrio.com

Rani Singh, Owner of Namaste Chai (Fargo, North Dakota) – https://www.facebook.com/namastechaifargo

Sources:

Chai Direct. (2021). 10 Things You Should Know. Chai-Direct.com. https://www.chaidirect.com/10-Things-You-Should-Know-About-Chai-s/195.htm

Hurley, B. (2021, September 6). West Fargo Woman Brings Traditional Chai Tea to the Metro. Valley News Live. https://www.valleynewslive.com/2021/09/06/west-fargo-woman-brings-traditional-chai-tea-metro/

Krishna, P. (2019, February 8). What Is Chai and How to Make It. Food & Wine. https://www.foodandwine.com/tea/chai-tea/what-is-chai-how-to-make-chai

New World Encyclopedia contributors. (2018, August 31). Masala chai. New World Encyclopedia. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Masala_chai&oldid=1014299.

Petre, A. (2017, July 20). How Chai Tea Can Improve Your Health. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/chai-tea#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7

Teatulia. (2021). Tea 101: What is Chai. Tetulia.com. https://www.teatulia.com/tea-varieties/what-is-chai.htm

In teatime, host Rekaya Gibson features American Classic Tea by Charleston Tea Garden. In tea talk, she discusses the role of colored (Black) children who picked tea at Pinehurst Tea Plantation (Summerville, South Carolina) in the 1800s. Dr. Charles Shepard, the plantation owner, manages to produce award winning teas with their help. Gibson attributes the early success of growing tea in the United States to Black children. In tea news, she announces that the Kenya Tea Development Agency Limited Board approved an increase in monthly green leaf payments for farmers.

Mentioned in This Episode:

American Classic Tea – www.charlestonteagarden.com

Charleston Tea Garden – www.charlestonteagarden.com

Dr. Charles U. Shepard, Owner of Pinehurst Tea Plantation, Summerville, South Carolina

Sources:

Kiel, A. (2021, September 1). KTDA Enhances Tea Farmer Earnings, Approves Green Leaf Payment Increase. World Tea News. https://www.worldteanews.com/origins/ktda-enhances-tea-farmer-earnings-approves-green-leaf-payment-increase

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. (1898 - 1931). Pinehurst Tea Gardens, Summerville, South Carolina. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47da-5468-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Shepard, C. U. (1899) Tea culture: The Experiment in South Carolina. Washington, Govt. print. off. [Web.] Library of Congress. https://lccn.loc.gov/agr09001862.

South Carolina Historical Society. (2019, February 8). State's 1st Child Labor Law Passed February 1903. The Sumter Item. https://www.theitem.com/stories/states-1st-child-labor-law-passed-february-1903,322461

In teatime, host Rekaya Gibson features Pineapple Mint by Shaka Tea. In tea talk, she shares the history of growing tea in the United States from 1799 to present day. In tea news, she announces the launch of Mavusana Premium Rooibos Tea in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Shaka Tea - www.shakatea.com

Mamaki, a native plant of Hawaii

André Michaux, French Botanist

Henry Middleton

Dr. Junius Smith

Dr. Alexis Forster

Dr. Charles Shepard, Pinehurst Tea Plantation, Summerville, South Carolina

Thomas J. Lipton Incorporated

Mark Fleming and William Barclay Hall

Charleston Tea Garden – www.charlestonteagarden.com

American Classic Tea, a 100% tea from America's own tea garden

Bigelow Tea Company - www.bigelowtea.com

U.S. League of Tea Growers – www.usteagrowers.com

Mavusana Premium Rooibos Tea - www.mavusana.co.za

Stellenbosch, Western Cape in South Africa

Bibliography:

Charleston Tea Garden. (2021). Our History: The Charleston Tea Garden's History. Charleston TeaGarden.com. https://charlestonteagarden.com/history

Griesbach, R.J. (2013). 150 Years of Research at the United States Department of Agriculture: Plant Introduction and Breeding. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service,

Washington, DC. https://www.ars.usda.gov/oc/np/150yearsofresearchatusda/150yearsofresearchatusdaintro/

Helmer, J. (2017, March 28). Pinkies Up! A Local Tea Movement Is Brewing. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/03/28/521380607/pinkies-up-a-local-tea-movement-is-brewing

IOL Reporter. (2021, August 19). This Stellenbosch Entrepreneur Has Created His Own Rooibos Tea Brand. GQ. https://www.gq.co.za/wealth/this-stellenbosch-entrepreneur-has-created-his-own-rooibos-tea-brand-f5d97941-94a4-472e-aec8-04572a3831df

Neimark, J. (2016, August 23). Yes, America Has a Working Tea Plantation. We Visited It. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/08/23/488817144/america-s-only-full-time-tea-taster-talks-about-life-on-the-charleston-tea-plant

Purvis, K. and (1997, October 8). Tea for Two. Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-10-08-9710080133-story.html

Tatum, J. (2013, February 25). Tea times in Summerville. The Summerville Journal Scene. https://www.postandcourier.com/journal-scene/news/tea-times-in-summerville/article_e8f5c862-97b7-5a54-87fe-1e053e731088.html

Webster, D. (2000). Two for Tea: America's only commercial tea crop is grown on an island with plants more than a century old. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/two-for-tea-100768628/

Wikipedia Contributors. (2020, August 6). Charleston Tea Garden. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charleston_Tea_Garden&oldid=971490436

In Teatime, host Rekaya Gibson features Decaffeinated Green Tea by Bigelow Tea Company. In Tea Talk, she discusses three tea-inspired cookbooks coming soon in August and September 2021. In Tea News, she shares details about Alaska's first tea farm.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Bigelow Tea Company – www.bigelowtea.com

Bookshop.org - https://bookshop.org/shop/RekayaGibson (I'm an affiliate. I receive a small commission when you make purchase using this link.)

1. "Come for Tea: Favorite Recipes for Scones, Savories and Sweets" by TeaTime Magazine and edited by Lorna Reeves
2. "American Girl Tea Parties: Delicious Sweets & Savory Treats to Share" by Weldon Owen
3. "Modern Teatime: Enjoying Together - Sweet and Salty Recipes for Every Occasion" / Modern Teatime: Gemeinsam genießen - süße und salzige Rezepte für jeden Anlass (German Edition) by Marco D'Andrea (Note: available on Amazon)

Sipping Streams Tea Company – www.sippingstreams.com

Source:

Robyne, KUAC. (2021, June 6). For Alaska's First Tea Farm, Geothermal Energy is Key. Alaska Public Media. https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/06/06/alaskas-first-tea-farm-in-fairbanks-is-geothermally-heated/