Slow and easy~hibiscus tea

When I developed one of my most popular teas, 'Sweet Friend Blend', I was imagining something that would be good for all of my sweet friends who seem to be regularly pregnant and/ or nursing-something without caffeine, that tasted delicious and that was cooling and uplifting. I wanted a feel-good tea that would be great iced too. I added hibiscus to the blend (along with South Africa Rooibos, Raspberries, ginger and lemongrass) for it's beautiful bright red color and it's tangy flavor and only later found out, serendipitously, that this flower is known for it s association with longevity and femininity.

Medical research has recently increasingly supported what indigenous people have known for years-- hibiscus tea (made from the stamen of this tropical flowering plant) is very effective in reducing stress induced high blood pressure. Perhaps this is because hibiscus is known traditionally to balance "yang" (fast, hard, hot aggressive, masculine) with its "yin" energies (soft, tranquil, cool, night, feminine). It is the perfect antidote to a modern tension.

Here are some other ways Hibiscus is used:

~Boiled with ginger and cane sugar and served as an "agua fresca" in Mexico, where it is known as flor de Jamaica. Sweet Friend Blend makes a nice, sweet, iced "agua fresca".

~In a hair oil to prevent greying & hair loss

~Tucked behind a Tahitian woman's ear to signal weather or not she is available for marriage

~As an offering to Kali (Hindu Goddess of destruction and endings) and Lord Ganesha (Hindu God of new beginnings)

~To make Polynesian grass skirts


Photo: Wild hibiscus growing in the mountains above Cape Town, South Africa, 2007.

Tea Haiku: Basho

Matsuo Basho was a Japanese haiku poet who lived in the late 1600'ds, about the time that tea was making it's journey Westward into Europe. The son of a Samurai, Basho was slated for a life in the military, but his path took a turn when he became the servant of Todo Yoshitada, with whom he began writing and learning haiku.

Basho's life and poetry were influenced by nature, simplicity, wilderness and travel and marked often with reclusiveness and sometimes with an abundance of followers, disciples and students.

Since their creation and even in current times, his poems have been highly regarded and Basho is given credit, in some schools, for the very creation of haiku poetry. His poems are known to impart a sense of peace in a hectic world.

Here are some of my favorites:

A monk sips morning tea, it's quiet, the chrysanthemum's flowering.

After the chrysanthemum besides the daikon, there is nothing.

On horseback half-asleep, half dreaming the moon far off, smoke for the morning tea.

Photo: Cameilia sinensis, the tea plant at the US Botanical Garden in D.C.

Tea for Health

Since it is the beginning of the "cold" season, I thought I'd share some tea wisdom for health straight from the source-- this old painting is on a wall just outside the factory at a Fair Trade tea estate in Sri Lanka. I love the words, I imagine it being dictated by one of the regions first tea planters in his Old World British tongue,

"...It is good against Lipitude Distillations and cleareth the Sight. It removeth Lassitude and cleanseth and purisieth adult Humors and a hot Liver. It is good against Crudites, strengthening the weakness of the Ventricle or Stomack, causing good Appetitie and Digestion and particularly for Men of a corpulent Body and such as are great eaters of Flesh..."

It's true, tea has been proven to cure what ails you from the common cold to heart and skin disease and it is proven to reduce fat build up, to cleanse the body and to aid digestion and eye sight. For fighting a cold, I'd recommend Popeye. For general health and prevention, I'd recommend Pure Ceylon Green. Add a squeeze of lemon for extra viral fighting properties and also a spoonful of honey. Or, see my last post for the Ceylon Hot Toddy, for it is also a great cold-fighter--in moderation.

Have a healthy and warm Winter season and stay tuned here for more posts on tea and health throughout the Winter as well. Also, Partners Tea Company teas do make a great Holiday gift as well as a great difference in the lives of those who grow our teas!

Wintertime hot tea drinks from Partners Tea Company

Happy Halloween to everyone! October was Fair Trade month and I celebrated by concocting a new batch of Winter time tea cocktails made from Partners Tea Company's Fair Trade and Organic teas-- From a Ceylon Hot Toddy to a Goodnight Kiss night cap.
My favorite is the Nutcracker, the Amaretto blends perfectly with the bold, maltyness of the Pure Assam Black tea.

A great holiday or hostess gift can be made from putting the following recipes with tins of Partners Tea Company teas!

Enjoy!

***

1. Ceylon Hot Toddy ~ a traditional hot toddy recipe gets warmer with a twist of spices and tea from Sri Lanka.

Put on the kettle.
Place in a toddy glass: 1 thin slice of fresh ginger, 1 cinnamon stick and 1 Partners Tea Company Pure Ceylon Green tea sachet.
Pour in 6 oz. boiling water into glass and steep for 3 minutes.
Remove tea sachet
Stir in 1 Tbs. honey
Add 1-2 shots brandy
Serve with a slice of lemon!

*

2. Nutcracker~ Bold, malty Pure Assam Black tea combines perfectly with sweet Amaretto. Serve with Marzipan sweets for a real Old World Christmas flavor!

Put on the kettle.
Pour boiling water over 1 Partners Tea Company Pure Assam Black tea sachet.
Steep for 3 minutes.
Remove tea sachet
Add 2 ounces Amaretto liqueur

*

3. Goodnight Kiss~ serve with a piece of fine chocolate as a dessert or a night cap

Put on the kettle.
Pour boiling water over 1 Partners Tea Company Goodnight Kiss tea sachet.
Steep for 4-5 minutes.
Remove tea sachet
Add 2 ounces Bailey’s Irish Creme liqueur

photo: Julio the Ghoulio, the Halloween pumpkin

Best Tea in Nashville- Partners Tea Compay

From the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville, 2009
Best Tea-
Partners Tea Co. (partnerstea.com) After years of exploring the tea routes firsthand, globetrotter Sarah Scarborough turned her passion for travel into a fair-trade company that promotes women in the tea trade around the world. Drawing on sources from across Africa and Asia, Scarborough and business partner Jodi Banks create and market a line of organic tea blends with poetic titles such as Zelda, Sweet Friend and Popeye. Flavored with earthy hints of rose, cocoa, mint, vanilla and jasmine, the teas are a steaming indulgence on a cool day—or keep an eye out for one of Partners' tea-tini gatherings, where Scarborough trades the teapot for the cocktail shaker, making signature drinks with tea, vodka, gin and other liquors. Talk about adding new spirit to a tea party. Available at Frothy Monkey, Caldwell Collection, Cupcake Collection and Bread & Co., among other stores, Partners Teas cost about $10 per tin of 12 biodegradable sachets" -Carrington Fox

Photo- L to R Sarah Scarborough and Jodi Banks with tins of Partners Tea Company's teas

Tea for Peace in Burma- Project AK47

I recently met with Project AK 47's Jeremy Anderson to start bringing teas grown by the boys and girls in Burma who they rescue from being raised as child soldiers to markets in the US.

Burma has the most child soldiers in the world, according to the Human Rights Watch report (2002). In 2009 there are more than 100,000 kids from age 4 up who have been are orphaned, stolen or sold into slavery to be trained by millitary insurgents and by Burma's own national government to fight each other-- even though recruiting children under the age of 13 is illegal according to the country's law and global legislation.

Jeremy and AK47's founders, Marcus and Alyxius, provide a safe home, education and vocational skills, like growing tea, to these children. Since some of the best teas come from Burma, including the elusive "laphet" for Burmese tea leaf salad--which is apparently very difficult to find and in high demand in the US-- they are working to bring these teas to US consumers to support their work and the children's safety and healthy development in Burma.

We expect to have this tea for sale at fairtradeteas.com in early 2010 upon Marcus' return from Burma. Stay tuned for more photos and tasting notes on the teas once they arrive. Help me help Project AK 47 and the boys and girls they work for by buying their tea!

Thanks!

Photo: Project Ak47, Children growing tea in Burma

Org info for Project: AK-47 Project: AK-47 rescues young girls and boys who are enslaved as child soldiers in Southeast Asia’s armies (where there are over 100,000 child soldiers) and provides dedicated, comprehensive care, education and vocational skills and/or university prep for them. This is unheard of in these extremely dangerous, restricted-access areas, where literacy is a mere 1%. Our vision is to raise these children as the future healthy, moral, educated leaders of their societies, where they effect real change, not export them to wealthier nations.

Why Girl's Education is so important

"If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime". We have learned that this old adage is true and when it is applied to the women, it is ten fold. Women plant and nurture seeds of change for their entire communities and for future generations' health care, education and opportunity. Fair Trade gives them those seeds by paying above the market price for tea.
I've noticed over the last 10 years a growing understanding of the important role that women play in the cultivation of healthy and productive communities.

Although this concept is not new, it seems to be having a renaissance as is evidenced by the high profile girls'- education projects around the world. For example, Greg Mortenson's Central Asia Institute, which focuses on girls' education and about which the book "Three Cups of Tea" was written. Also, Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, which I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit last January, while leading a Human Rights and Fair Trade trip for a group of girls from my high school. The girls we met there were sharp and inspired and gracious and so full of motivation to make their world a better place. They immediately connected with the girls from the US and I would not be surprised if those relationships were long-lasting and fruitful.

Two weeks ago, the New York Times Magazine was titled, "Saving the World's Women", and witnessed powerful accounts of ways women in Pakistan, China and the US are making positive changes for themselves and for future generations. Accounts were given of how, Goretti Nyabenda of Burundi transformed her life with a $2 micro-loan; how Hilary Clinton and the Obama Administration are making women's rights issues an important part of their international agenda; and how "the oppression of women worldwide is the human rights cause of our time... their liberation could help solve so man of the world's problems, from poverty to child mortality to terrorism."

Partners Tea Company aims to empower and inspire women of the world to be a part of making a positive difference in the lives of the women who pick our teas and their developing communities. We do this by bringing artisan quality Fair Trade and Organic teas to the gift, gourmet and bridal markets. Sharing a cup of tea is one of our oldest simple pleasures- it brings health, a moment of peace and a bit of vitality. Sharing a cup of Fair Trade and Organic tea brings health, peace and new opportunities to women around the world.

Rooibos: Preserve the Youth and Gladden the Heart!

South Africa’s best known tea is not really a tea at all. It is a unique herb which is steeped like tea and enjoyed, as the locals say, “to preserve the youth and gladden the heart”! A look at the herb itself and the place where it grows shows us why Rooibos (meaning “red bush” in Afrikaans)--with its delightful coppery liquor, its sweet, full-bodied nuttiness and a long list of health benefits--is quickly becoming a favorite on the global tea scene.

Rooibos [ROY-boss], or Aspalanthus lineris, is an evergreen shrub that is harvested for only a few months a year in the Southern Hemisphere’s Summer. Picked green, it turns it’s signature red color only after being sun dried. It is indigenous to the Cederberg Mountains, just a couple of hundred Kilometers North of Cape Town, South Africa and all the world’s Rooibos [ROY-boss] is grown there. A visit into the heart of the Cederberg Mountains makes the origin of Rooibos’ myriad health benefits apparent. The Cederberg Wilderness area is one of the world’s most fertile botanical zones and its vast landscape is red earth and red rock as far as you can see. This red earth is full of the vitamins and minerals Rooibos is known for--copper, iron and potassium, calcium, fluoride, zinc, manganese, alpha- hydroxy and magnesium (for the nervous system)--and contributes to Rooibos’ health giving properties.

The alpha-hydroxy in Rooibos is one reason why it is known to be a great skin tonic and why it is now being used in a number of skin products around the world. Several companies in South Africa and in Europe are making lotions, soaps, shampoos and other cosmetics from Rooibos extract after seeing it s positive effect on skin. It is known to be effective in the treatment of psoriasis, eczema and irritated skin in general. A simple way to reap the topical benefits of rooibos at home is to enjoy a tea bath. Just add a few tea-bags to your hot bath and soak. Otherwise, you can treat your skin to a Rooibos oil. To make, infuse 2 cups of cold-pressed sesame or olive oil with 2 Tablespoons of dried Rooibos in a glass jar, leave it in a sunny window for 2 weeks.

The plethora of other powerful antioxidants, vitamins and minerals in Rooibos make it a calming and nourishing drink for pregnant and nursing mothers and their children, alike. It is said to have a calming effect and to be particularly great for colicky babies and nervous tension. My friend, Barent, at Wupperthal, one of the Fair Trade Rooibos communities near Clanwilliam, South Africa, tells a story of drinking Rooibos as a baby when mothers milk was in short supply for him and his 11 brothers and sisters. Testimonies to Rooibos’ powerful nutritional value for mothers and babies have led to Rooibos’ use in teas tailor made for children and mothers around the world. In fact, in South Africa, a mainstream grocery store brand is currently launching a baby food product made with Rooibos.

Second to what Rooibos does contain is what is does not-- caffeine, oxalic acid and tannins. It s lack of caffeine is another reason why it is so great for pregnant and nursing moms. The lack of oxalic acid makes it palatable for those with kidney stones and the lack of tannins give this ruby brew a hydrating effect, for it is the tannins in black and green tea that are responsible for a mouth- drying quality.


Brewing a perfect cup of Rooibos is easy, as this herb is unlike black or green tea, which become bitter if steeped too long. Ideally, Rooibos is steeped for 5 minutes, but additional steeping will only result in a stronger, not bitter, cup. The addition of fresh or dried lemongrass or lemon verbena will make a refreshingly lemony rooibos tea. Feel free to experiment with other fresh and dried herbs such as peppermint and lavender to create your own custom blend. Roobios is also great as a caffeine-free chai, when combined with sweet and spicy, tropical spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black pepper and ginger and the resulting “tea” pairs nicely with milk and sugar.

When shopping for Rooibos, as with all teas, it is a good idea to choose Fair Trade and Organic, which are grown free of chemicals and with the well-being of the farming communities in mind. Fair Trade guarantees a better quality of life for tea growers and the land they rely upon for sustenance.

Wupperthal rooibos farming community is one such example. Deep in the heart of the Cederburgs lies Wupperthal, a Morovian mission outpost. Here, Rooibos farmers grow Organic and Fair Trade Rooibos amongst organic figs, grapes and vegetables, which make up their diets, along with locally raised meats. Fair Trade affords this community a fair price for their Rooibos and the ability to keep living how they have since the missionaries settled the land.

For a great tasting caffeine-free and healthful cuppa, give Rooibos a try! You can find it at any natural or gourmet food store under names such as “Red Bush” “Bushman’s Tea” “Red Tea” or “Rooibos”. You can also find a number of tasty blends made from Rooibos-- such as partners Tea Company’s “Goodnight Kiss”. It is a chocolate, vanilla mint tea with Rooibos, Vanila, Cacao nibs and peppermint.
Photo: Inspecting the rooibos plant with Barent, Wupperthal, South Africa, 2008. Sarah Scarborough

Fair Trade III: What is Fair Trade

The term, “Fairtrade”, is the outcome of the strategic organization of ethical trade to have a more effective role on in rebalancing global trading practices. The ETI set the initial groundwork on which subsequent Fair Trade initiatives could build. Their core values are:

Employment is freely chosen

Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected

Working conditions are safe and hygienic

Child labor shall not be used

Living wages are paid

Working hours are not excessive

No discrimination is practiced

Regular employment is provided

No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed

(Hale and Shaw, 2001).

Fair Trade when spelled in two words, refers to fair trading practices, similar to the term, “ethical trade” (www.fairtrade.net). “Fairtrade” when spelled as one word refers to the certification system which monitors the worldwide trade of crops grown in the Third World such as tea, cocoa and coffee, when that exchange follows certain guidelines (www.fairtrade.net). Fairtrade certification is regulated by FLO which is based in Bonn, Germany (www.fairtrade.net).

FLO sets rigorous ethical trading standards which must be adhered to by everyone in the supply chain in order to receive the Fairtrade certification (Carjaval, 2005). In an effort to maintain an effective certification system, FLO sets standards per crop that deal with the unique qualities of that crop. For example, cocoa and coffee are largely grown by self-organizing small-holder cooperatives whereas tea is grown by plantation workers who are employed by the owner of the plantation (www.fairtrade.net). So, different standards are needed for each scenario. In this way, FLO maintains a great deal of credibility and transparency and a great deal of consumer assurance that the commodity was in fact traded ethically. This shows the holistic nature of the certification program and its willingness to address issues of sustainability contextually in order to best achieve the intended results.

FLO is also an evolving certification, meaning that there is always room for improvement and that the certification is capable of benefiting more and more growers. For example, one requirement of the Fairtrade coffee certification is that growers must be working towards environmental sustainability. However, there is not an empirical or static guideline for what that means. This might sound like a failure in the system; however, it actually is beneficial. Because of advanced data recording and communications technology, monitoring certified farmers is easy. If a coffee farmer is achieving greater and greater levels of sustainability annually, he is able to stay FLO certified. In the same way, a grower who has reached a “certified organic” level of environmental sustainability, must also continually progress towards a higher level of environmental sustainability (www.fairtrade.net).

A look at the statistics exemplifies the previous point. In 1998, 100% of Fairtrade certified coffee was also organic certified. In 2004, only 76% of Fairtrade certified coffee was certified organic (www.transfairusa.org). This does not mean that Fairtrade is decreasing organic production. Rather, it includes farmers who are not yet certified, but who are working towards organic certification. This fluid characteristic of the FLO certification supports constant improvement in all levels of sustainability: social, environmental and economic; thus allowing the movement to achieve great results.

If the fast growth and First World market penetration of Fairtrade certified products continues, FLO has the potential, with its certification mark, to create the paradigm shifts necessary to create long-lasting global economic balance. The Netherlands, where the Fair Trade movement originated, is still one of the largest consumers of Fairtrade goods. In 2008, almost EURO 61 million worth of Fair Trade goods were sold. This is a 28% growth over 2007. That one of the oldest Fair Trade markets is still growing shows a great potential for change. Globally, over EURO 2.8 billion worth of Fair Trade goods were sold in 2008.

Below is a statistical representation of Fairtrade coffee in the marketplace to illustrate its present acceptance and impact. The following list shows the markets which have sold the greatest amount of Fairtrade certified coffee according to Trans Fair USA (www.transfairusa.org), FLO’s United States based national initiative which certified importers, manufacturers and retailers of Fairtrade goods in the U.S.:

Country Pounds certified # in top 7 markets

Australia 33,056 -

Belgium 3,728,154 5

Canada 662,028 7

Denmark 1,980,280 6

Finland 39,683 -

France 582,490 -

Germany 8,985,140 3

Italy 343,560 -

Netherlands 18,488,847 2

Norway 293,462 -

Sweden 537,434 -

Switzerland 620,930 -

UK 6,354,875 4

USA 18,663,806 1

(www.transfairusa.com)

The following list shows the world markets which have had the largest Fairtrade coffee integration and, therefore, acceptance in order from most acceptance (www.transfairusa.org). This list is important because it shows the potential worldwide effect on global economic balance in that it shows Fairtrade’s ability to capture market percentages of the total coffee market.

Country % FT (of total market share)

Switzerland <3.5

Netherlands <3.5

UK <3

Denmark 1.5

Ireland <1.5

Austria <1.5

France <1

Belgium <1

Norway <1

U.S. <1

It is interesting, too, that these numbers are from 2004. In that year, the growth in the sales of Fairtrade certified coffee in the U.S. was still 76%, on a steady stream downward from over 100% in 2000. The stabilization of growth over the long-term will show the acceptance of Fairtrade.

Photo: Darjeeling, Northern India, where kids are proud to have schools, and to wear uniforms. Fair Trade affords these children schools, sports, milk and an opportunity, Sarah Scarborough.

Fair Trade II: History

The concept of ethical trade as a counter-movement originated in the Netherlands in the 1980s (Scott, 2003). It was not until the 1970s, however, that the concept started to gain recognition as an international alternative to free trade policies. The increasing speed of globalization, seen after World War II, and the flaws of neo-liberalism, spurred the transformation, as it was becoming increasingly evident that global economics were falling dangerously out of balance (Barrientos, 2000).

Neo-liberalism is the modern market tendency towards liberalization and deregulation, particularly of trade barriers (Roddick, 2001). It’s supporters claim that the economic gains of the First World would “trickle down” to the poor nations and would provide them employment opportunities by integrating them into the dominant world political economy, the capital-driven market. The actual result of the free market theory, it is increasingly evident, is the “race to the bottom”, the Third World commodity devaluation resulting from the economic influence of the ever-more powerful Multi National Enterprises (MNE) which are able, due to loose trade regulations, to secure, from Third World producers, low costs (Roddick, 2001). For example, in 1989, coffee producers received 20% of profits from coffee sales. In 1995, their profit sharing fell to 13% (Taylor, 2004). Clearly, neo-liberalism is not adding value to coffee growers’ lives. This trade framework’s result is actually a wider gap between First and Third World economies, a need which propelled ethical trade towards what it is today.

Since the late 1990’s the ethical trade movement has undergone a series of transformations to work out how to best address the needs of a variety of stakeholders with cultural sensitivity. Nongovernmental initiatives such as the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and the Fair Trade Labeling Organization (FLO) as well as non profit organizations such as Oxfam, the International Federation of Alternative Trade (IFAT) and Fair Trade Federation (FTF) have played integral parts in bringing structure, traceability, and credibility to ethical trade, in an effort to enable it to take a foothold in major First World markets (Obourn, 2004). Nongovernmental organizations (NGO) are able, due to increased speed and accessibility of information technology, to learn of corporate misconduct, to pressure MNE’s towards ethical practices and to inform consumers of business’ ethical track records (Levy and Prakash, 2003). These forces help the ethical trade movement to gain the necessary traction to attain its goals of economic, social and environmental sustainability worldwide, or the “triple bottom line”(Raynolds, 2000).

The ETI, started in 1998, was a ground-breaking initiative in that it pulled together, for the first time, all the various stakeholders in international trade in an effort to create an ethical trading framework (Barrientos, 2000). With its inception, Third World development became a part of people’s daily lives--something they could engage in by purchasing ethically traded products to directly to make a change (Goodman, 2004). This altered the dynamics of development by placing it squarely inside the market. Suddenly, marketing and advertisement, which endorsed ethically traded products, theoretically had the power to change lives of Third World producers and to bring them into the daily consciousness of First World consumers.

Photo:Chiapas, Mexico, here the Fair Trade price for organic coffee is $1.41 a pound when the market price has hovered around .90 cents and has fallen to as low as .45 cents over the last 10 years. Here we pay up to 10 a pound. In Mexico, Fair Trade monies go towards sustainable agriculture and education and opportunity. Sarah Scarborough.

Fair Trade I: Why Fair Trade?

The concept of globalization is commonly viewed with a negative connotation, especially in developing or “Third World” communities. A recent survey by Roy Morgan International shows that the less “developed” or “globalized” a nation is, the more likely they are to view the process of globalization in a negative light (Levine and Morgan, 2005). “Ethical” or “Fair” trade attempts to solve some of the negative implications of the deregulation of markets, liberalization of trade and increase in activity of Multi National Enterprises (MNE) which drive globalization (Barrientos, 2000); thus using these forces to the benefit, not detriment, of mankind. The modern Fair Trade movement brings together Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), companies, unions and governments to address issues of trade inequality. Paradoxically working within and against the market positions Fair Trade to become a powerful actor in the rebalancing of global commodity chains which, in the end, is a goal in poverty reduction, economic equality and peace globally.

Photo: Kuapa Kokoo Fair Trade cocoa cooperative, where Fair Trade cocoa farmers make $1700 a ton when the world price is $700. That means that for every 2 tons, every 4000 pounds, of cocoa sold, the villages can buy one borehole- a well that accesses clean water. Contaminated water is the major cause of death and disease in these areas because they simply do not have clean water. A $3000 borehole buys clean water for a whole village. Sarah Scarborough, 2005.

Local politics, Fair Trade and tea-tinis

Last night at Flyte, Partners Tea Company sponsored a teatini party for the Ward Cammack for Governor of Tennessee campaign. While we served up delicious Fair Trade and Organic Summer "tea-tinis" (you can find the recipes below), Ward shared his beliefs about the new green economy; the importance of education to fuel that economy and Tennessee's unique opportunity to lead the country in green technology and sustainable agriculture.

Here are some highlights from his talk:

1. Focus on education: pay teachers what they are worth

2. Embrace sustainable business: The green economy is THE economy of our future

3. Protect the natural beauty with which we’re blessed and our natural resources for our children and grandchildren

4. Support your local businesses and farmers

Education, health care, sustainable livelihoods-- what Ward Cammack is aiming to achieve for Tennesseans, Fair Trade is aiming to achieve for agricultural workers in the developing world.

As Tennesseans, we are fortunate enough to be working on raising the bar from good to better. I have seen growing communities in places like India and Sri Lanka looking to raise the bar from kids making some sort of moonshine out of corroded metal car parts to building a school where these kids can learn and play instead.

Awareness of ethical trading practices and the real value of quality teas are helping to raise that bar. When people in tea purchasing countries become aware of the superior taste and quality of sustainable teas, then demand for them increases and everyone's livelihood improves. You get better, cleaner teas. Children in India get an opportunity.

Case and point: Idulgashinna, a bio-dynamic and Organic tea Estate in Haputele, Sri Lanka, where kids do have school-- and uniforms, teachers, computers and the opportunity to learn about their cultural traditions, while also learning about and engaging in the cultural trasitions of their neighbors. In this way, peace is being cultivated. For example, rather than Sinhalese school children growing up opposed to their Hindi neighbors, they are instead forming friendships through sports.

As the tea leaf passes through countries and cultures, so does it's story and those of the people it affects along the way. From a tea garden in Sri Lanka to a cocktail bar in Nashville, it turns out people are striving for the same thing-- for peace. Organic and Fair Trade tea, then, weather in the form of a warm cup by the fire, an iced drink on a hot Summer porch or a "tea-tini" at Flyte, is not only a means for achieving the goals that Ward Cammack and Fair Trade and many other individuals and organizations are working so hard towards, but also a vehicle for the communication of these goals. Below are some recipes to help you get started. I hope you'll share them along with some good conversation!

Photo: Students at Idulgashinna Estate. Sarah Scarborough, 2005.

Summer tea-tini recipes by Partners Tea Company

MIDSUMMER NIGHT

For 8 4 oz. teatinis:

1. Brew 2 8 oz. cups of Midnight Moonlight tea, as per directions on tin

2. Let tea come to room temperature

3. Add 8 St. Germaine Elderflower liquor

4. Add 8 oz.Gin

5. Shake with or serve over ice, serve in a martini or a high ball glass with a twist of lemon

SUMMER WINE

1. Brew 2 8 oz. cups of Sweet Friend Blend tea, as per directions on tin

2. Let tea come to room temperature

4. Add 12 oz. white or rose wine

Chill. Serve chilled with fresh raspberries!

SWEET FRIEND BLEND TEA-TINI

For 9-10 4 oz. teatinis:

1. Brew 4 8 oz. cups of Sweet Friend Blend tea, as per directions on tin

2. Add 2 Tbs. sugar and 1-2 Tbs. lemon juice

2. Let tea come to room temperature

3. Add 4-6 ounces vodka, or to your preference

4. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh raspberries and a slice of lemon

My Sweet Friends

Of all of the many blessings in my life, my sweet friends are one of the ones that I cherish the most!

Their advise, honesty and love have carried me through life's hard times time and time again and I can see a part of myself in each one of them.

As most of them are moms now, I was inspired to make a blend that is good for pregnant and nursing moms. It is called Sweet Friend Blend.

Like most of my tea blends, the idea and recipe for it came all at once--I was thinking of sitting on a porch swing in the Summer with my friend, B, solving the world's problems and our own... drinking iced tea. Sweet, red and zesty iced tea...

The result was a blend of raspberries (because they taste great and are full of vitamins) and lemongrass (because it is invigorating and cleansing with a great taste), ginger (because it is great for a nauseous stomach and it also uplifting and is a digestive and it has a million other health benefits) and hibiscus (In Mexico, I hear women use it after childbirth to lose weight. It also tastes great, sort of like a squeeze of lemon). The base of the tea is South African Rooibos and it's cousin, Honeybush. Rooibos and Honeybush are known in their native South Africa to be great for pregnant and nursing moms as well as for colicky babies.

Sweet Friend Blend is available at Whole Foods and a number of other great retailers and at partnerstea.com. Share it with your sweet friends!

Photo: My sweet friend, Mollie with a Sweet Friend Blend tea-tini.

Photo: My sweet friend, Mollie, Eliza's mother, drinking a Sweet Friend Blend Teatini. Sweet Friend Blend Teatini:

SWEET FRIEND BLEND TEA-TINI

For 9-10 4 oz. teatinis:

1. Brew 4 8 oz. cups of Sweet Friend Blend tea, as per directions on tin

2. Add 2 Tbs. sugar and 1-2 Tbs. lemon juice

2. Let tea come to room temperature

3. Add 4-6 ounces vodka, or to your preference

4. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh raspberries and a slice of lemon