This Ain’t Your Grandpa’s Earl Grey
The first time I had Earl Grey black tea, I was not impressed. The bergamot flavor was flat and obscured by the bitterness of the black tea. It tasted stale, like somebody’s stuffy parlor. So, when Allison first told me that I had to try her Rooibos Earl Grey Tisane, I was skeptical. 
But, because I trust Allison’s good taste, I tried it, and was delighted! Red Rooibos, a caffeine free fair-trade tea alternative from South Africa, has a naturally sweet, nutty flavor that is the perfect compliment to the delicate notes of bergamot citrus. Steeped to perfection, with a few drops of stevia and a splash of rice milk, it has become my favorite fair-trade tea year-round. Hot or cold, this tisane sparkles! It’s wonderful iced with a lemon wedge on these hot summer days, and in the winter, we drink it hot almost daily in the AG office, when it’s warmth and sweet citrus flavors taste equally delicious.
It’s Summer, Drink Your Greens!
Photo courtesy of Eva Tobie at RawCulinaryWisdom.com
Our friend, Eva, is an amazing raw vegan chef. Yesterday, she sent us this picture of her latest cooling green juice. We thought it might inspire you to experiment with your own blenders and juicers on these hot summer days. Juicing is a great way to stay hydrated and get all the nutrition you need without having to cook anything.
If you don’t have a juicer, try using a blender to blend veggies and/or fruits with water, juice or fair-trade tea to make a green smoothie. It’s best to drink blended juices right away, as the blending process makes their nutrients break down more quickly. For more on juicing and raw food, check out Eva’s website: RawCulinaryWisdom.com
Some other of my favorite cooling summertime drinks include fruit smoothies with protein powder and iced fair-trade tea sweetened with stevia. What are yours?
Harness the Power of Sunshine: Make Sun Tea!
The days are longer now, and since it finally stopped raining, my deck is getting long hours of sunshine and that’s making me think of sun tea. 
Herbal tea steeped in the sun is one of my favorite summertime treats. Although many tea companies make specific tea bags for use in sun tea, you don’t actually need special tea. I prefer herbal varieties of fair-trade tea like Allison’s tins of Rooibos Earl Grey and After Dinner Mint Tisanes. I find that black or green teas become bitter when made this way.
Making sun tea is simple. Fill a large glass jar with cold water and 6-8 fair-trade tea bags or the loose leaf equivalent. Secure the lid of the jar tightly and place it in direct sunlight for several hours, shaking once or twice. I usually start sun tea in the morning and leave it in the sun all day. If it’s too strong you can always dilute it. Somehow it feels like the power of the sun filters into the tea and makes it especially delicious. After your tea has steeped, strain out tea bags or loose tea leaves, dilute and sweeten to taste, then place in the refrigerator or add ice to chill. Sip and Enjoy!
Sip a Sweet Springtime Treat
Looking for a sweet treat that won’t expand your waistline? Believe it or not, iced tea is one of my favorite warm-weather treats. It’s cool, sweet and refreshing, and, if you use herbal tea and stevia, it’s not sugary or caffeinated. We have several delicious fair-trade teas and tisanes (herbal teas) here at Allison’s, but my favorite flavor right now is our Rooibos Chai. I brew it in the evenings in quart jars, put it in the fridge over night, add a splash of nut milk and a few drops of stevia and bring it to work with me. It’s spicy and refreshing to sip on all day, plus, it curbs my sweet tooth and helps me stay hydrated. I also love that my glass jars or stainless steel bottles are more sustainable than store-bought glass or plastic ones, and my homemade, fair-trade tea tastes better than store-bought, too!
Compassionate Gift Giving
If you’re anything like me, you like to give meaningful gifts that not only make someone’s day, but also make you feel 
good about supporting businesses and causes you believe in. One way I accomplish this is by purchasing fair-trade gifts of chocolate, tea, or coffee which support fair wages and decent working conditions for farmers and laborers in the countries that grow and process these commodities. My fair-trade gifts not only support humanitarian efforts around the world, but my friends and loved ones also get to enjoy really delicious desserts. It’s a win-win situation! 
For complete peace of mind, try buying vegan and fair-trade to support compassionate treatment of both animals and people.
Winter Time is Tea Time
Winter, I’ve found, is a wonderful time of year to experience the joy of tea drinking. It’s warmth and almost infinite variety of flavors make it a great pastime for these short days. When trying new tea 
flavors I recommend always choosing organic and fair-trade tea because it’s better for the environment, it supports your health and human rights, and it just plain tastes better. Some of my very favorite tea varieties are offered for sale on our website. Right now I’m particularly in love with our Rooibos Earl Grey tisane (herbal tea). This modern take on an English favorite is made with Red Rooibos, or African Red Bush, an herbal fair-trade tea which creates a lovely sweet, earthy base for the delicate high note of Bergamot Citrus. (Certainly a far cry from the often bitter taste of traditional black tea). Happy Tea Time!
Coming soon…Valentine’s Day!
Although the Holidays seem to be just barely behind us, Valentine’s Day is also just around the corner! In fact, I find that looking forward to this love-struck holiday and shopping 
for unique valentine gifts for my honey are great ways to survive these cold, dark, wintry days. The preferred Valentine’s Day gift is chocolate, of course, and we certainly have plenty of that here at Allison’s. We also offer some other unique Valentine gifts like the swoon-inducing combination of Classic Peanut Brittle, Crunchy Almond Toffee and Vanilla Caramels in our Classic Vanilla Lover’s Gift Set, or the simple elegance of premium organic, fair-trade coffee and tea samplers. If these treats sound more like something for you than for your partner, may I remind you that there’s nothing wrong with a little innocent hint-dropping. In fact, tell us which one of our items you’d most like with your candlelit dinner and, at the end of the week, we’ll send one lucky winner an instant gift certificate towards their next order (hint, hint).