Tea Swap Penpal -- Participants needed

[hapatite]

Hi fellow food (and hopefully tea) lovers!

 

In an effort to keep my tea stash rotating and to try new teas, I looked around for tea swaps that I could participate in. The few I found seem to be inactive or strict about membership requirements. After polling facebook friends, I decided to create one myself!

 

A Tea Swap is a great way to try new teas, clean out your cupboard, re-discover teas you own, and meet new people. It's also a great piece of snail mail during this digital age. Who doesn't love coming home to a surprise in a mailbox?

 

Using Foodie Penpals as inspiration for the framework, this is how it will work. (This process may change and evolve over time).

 

- Fill out the Tea Swap Participation form by the end of the month to be included in the next month.

- Each month the form will reset so you'll need to sign up again.

- You will be informed of your Tea Penpal via e-mail (you get a new buddy each time you participate). Please reach out to your penpal and get their mailing address as well as any specific preferences they may have.

- Send out your Tea Penpal Package by the 15th of the following month (February 15th in this case). 

- Your package should consist of:

----- At least two (2) different types of teas {or}

----- At least four (4) servings of tea

----- Something handwritten (this can be a note, an explanation of the tea, a recipe idea, etc)

----- Hint: ask your penpal if they prefer loose-leaf ("naked") teas, or tea bags

 

If you have a website, twitter, or even instagram account, feel free to share the love using #teaswap, #teapenpal, or #sipdown

 

Information on signing up can be found here (sign up will close Jan 31st)

http://hapatite.com/tea-swap/

[DonRocks]

Hi fellow food (and hopefully tea) lovers!

 

In an effort to keep my tea stash rotating and to try new teas, I looked around for tea swaps that I could participate in. The few I found seem to be inactive or strict about membership requirements. After polling facebook friends, I decided to create one myself!

 

A Tea Swap is a great way to try new teas, clean out your cupboard, re-discover teas you own, and meet new people. It's also a great piece of snail mail during this digital age. Who doesn't love coming home to a surprise in a mailbox?

 

Using Foodie Penpals as inspiration for the framework, this is how it will work. (This process may change and evolve over time).

 

- Fill out the Tea Swap Participation form by the end of the month to be included in the next month.

- Each month the form will reset so you'll need to sign up again.

- You will be informed of your Tea Penpal via e-mail (you get a new buddy each time you participate). Please reach out to your penpal and get their mailing address as well as any specific preferences they may have.

- Send out your Tea Penpal Package by the 15th of the following month (February 15th in this case). 

- Your package should consist of:

----- At least two (2) different types of teas {or}

----- At least four (4) servings of tea

----- Something handwritten (this can be a note, an explanation of the tea, a recipe idea, etc)

----- Hint: ask your penpal if they prefer loose-leaf ("naked") teas, or tea bags

 

If you have a website, twitter, or even instagram account, feel free to share the love using #teaswap, #teapenpal, or #sipdown

 

Information on signing up can be found here (sign up will close Jan 31st)

http://hapatite.com/tea-swap/

I highly recommend looking at Upton Tea as well. I haven't ordered from them in over ten years, but back then, they were the best source of tea in the United States.

Personally, I switched 100% from coffee to tea about two weeks ago, so I'm always interested in any discussion about teas. (It's not like I swore off coffee (I love great coffee); it's just that I think tea, in general, is more complex and interesting - plus, it gives me a gentler lift.)

[hapatite]

I agree, I like the variety of flavor and caffeine levels that tea gives you. I made a resolution to switch to 100% tea last year, but... then I got an espresso machine for Christmas. Since I have over 100 different types of teas, I resolved to drink through all of my teas before buying anymore and thought a swap would be a good way to accomplish 2 things at once. 

[DonRocks]

I agree, I like the variety of flavor and caffeine levels that tea gives you. I made a resolution to switch to 100% tea last year, but... then I got an espresso machine for Christmas. Since I have over 100 different types of teas, I resolved to drink through all of my teas before buying anymore and thought a swap would be a good way to accomplish 2 things at once. 

I still have some Ku-Ki-Cha that I bought in 2002.

Okay, it's not "tea" so much as "twigs," but it's lasted 12 years (Upton customizes your labels at no additional charge).

[hapatite]

Also, I don't know how I feel about this, but I read an article recently that talked about all the chemicals and pesticides in teas and tea bags. 

I already drink mostly loose leaf teas, but I purchased some bleach/chlorine free paper tea bags for tea-sharing. I was really shocked to find out that some major brands, including those sold at Whole Foods & MOMs, tested high for pesticides or unnatural additives (Yogi, I'm looking at you). They didn't test some of the other teas I drink (Harney & Sons / Lupicia), but I do have Teavana, Liption, Yogi, Trader Joe's, Twinnings, Tazo, and Tea Forte in my cupboard. Some others might not believe this article or care about the findings, so I thought swapping these teas might be better than just throwing them away.

[hapatite]

I still have some Ku-Ki-Cha that I bought in 2002.

Okay, it's not "tea" so much as "twigs," but it's lasted 12 years (Upton customizes your labels at no additional charge).

I LOVE kukicha. I've only seen one place that sells it, House of Steep (called "Twig Tea" there).

[DonRocks]

Also, I don't know how I feel about this, but I read an article recently that talked about all the chemicals and pesticides in teas and tea bags. 

I already drink mostly loose leaf teas, but I purchased some bleach/chlorine free paper tea bags for tea-sharing. I was really shocked to find out that some major brands, including those sold at Whole Foods & MOMs, tested high for pesticides or unnatural additives (Yogi, I'm looking at you). They didn't test some of the other teas I drink (Harney & Sons / Lupicia), but I do have Teavana, Liption, Yogi, Trader Joe's, Twinnings, Tazo, and Tea Forte in my cupboard. Some others might not believe this article or care about the findings, so I thought swapping these teas might be better than just throwing them away.

Don't ever make the mistake of microwaving a Tea Forte bag.

This is really good Ku-Ki-Cha.

I once recommended to Chantal Tseng that she incorporate this into DC's official drink (I think it could work), and call it the Branch Rickey.

[schulju]

Harney and Sons makes the best chamomile tea I've ever had.  I use to order it all the time.  Lately I've fallen in love with Mighty Tea's African Amber organic which isn't so much tea as it is rooibos root.  I also like Revolution teas..but the Harris Teeter stores have stopped carrying it and their shipping costs are more than their tea!

[ktmoomau]

I am horrible about remembering to mail anything, but what a fun idea!  I got some Charleston Plantation Mint Tea and their Governor Gray, I really liked them both a lot.  When I go back down to Hilton Head or the surrounds I hope to find it again.  The mint mixed with some lavender made really good iced tea too.  

[dcs]

Maybe you could find a penpal in the UK who could send you some Moonlight Silver Tips tea.  Personally, I have never heard of biodynamic agriculture, but I do not get out much.