tisane Archives - The Loose Tea BlogThe Loose Tea Blog

July 24, 2020

Enjoy a TEA-quila Sunrise for National Tequila Day!

TEA-quila Sunrise Cocktail Whether you’re enjoying a nice dinner or relaxing poolside, a Tequila Sunrise is perfect for any occasion. The first version of the Tequila Sunrise originated in Arizona and is a perfect representation of the vibrant Southwestern skies. In honor of National Tequila Day, we’ve made a TEA-quila blend based on this classic tequila cocktail complemented by S&V herbal “tea.” This beverage not only turned out aesthetically pleasing, but also a delicious tropical treat! A classic tequila sunrise includes: Grenadine, Orange Juice, and Tequila Our “tea” twist was to substitute the grenadine for our Simpson & Vail Orange Cranberry Herbal Tisane and a bit of hibiscus to create a Simple Syrup. Simple Syrup Ingredients: 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup sugar 2 tbsp (t-sacs) of […]

July 16, 2015

The Beginnings of Rooibos Production: From Cape to Cup

by Connor Lofink When Benjamin Ginsberg traveled from Moscow to the Cape of South Africa in 1903 with plans to make his fortune in the tea trade with his father, he was quickly introduced to what the Dutch settlers called “bush tea.” It was a brew made from the leaves of the Rooibos plant that grew in the nearby scrublands. The Dutch settlers had enjoyed this not-quite-tea for over a hundred years before Ginsberg’s arrival, but its popularity outside of the South African settlements was limited. Ginsberg recognized that an herbal beverage like Rooibos, which the locals assured him had medicinal properties as well, offered an appealing alternative to the Chinese and Indian black teas that people were used to. Those black teas were a rare treat down […]

May 26, 2014

Orange Cranberry Vegan “Jello”

I have to confess, when prompted to try a recipe for tea jello, I wasn’t sure I was interested. I’m a vegetarian, so the thought of a dessert with gelatin was not appealing. However, a quick search on the internet showed me that a vegetarian option was really quite easy. So off I went to the store and bought agar-agar to make this dessert. Fun Agar facts: It sets at room temperature Agar makes you feel full, so it may be helpful to consume when dieting It’s not from an animal! I found quite a few fun websites with jello recipes. One, The Jello Mold Mistress , has beautiful looking recipes. Most are not vegetarian, but I’m sure they can be adapted, and the ones that are vegetarian […]

March 28, 2014

Herbal Benefits Tins & Blends

We’re excited to be launching our latest beautifully packaged line of herbal tisanes …. Our Herbal Wellness line. This line of 12 tisanes contains 6 of our most popular Wellness blends along with 6 new concoctions. Our line of Herbal Benefits blends are: Detox Pomegranate Detox Echinacea Blend Energy Moonlight Snooze Men’s Herbal Tonic Women’s Herbal Tonic Sniffle Slayer Tonsil Tamer Lemon Tonsil Tamer Calm Turmeric Ginger Citrus As with all herbal tisanes that we sell, we recommend that everyone research the herbs themselves and definitely check with your doctor prior to drinking, especially if you have a specific health concern or are taking medication. It’s easy to think that because it’s “just a plant” it is safe for use all the time regardless of one’s medical history. […]