I often get asked "why Michigan?" As in, why Michigan themed or inspired teas. Well, it kind-of happened by accident. When I started S•TEA•P in 2019, all our teas had traditional tea names. Some of you may remember Leopard Blend, Iron Goddess of Mercy, or even Congou Rose. So, what happened? It was 2020, I'd just "re-started" S•TEA•P after a 6 month "COVID break." Still not able to attend in person farmers markets, I shifted to building wholesale relationships. One of our first retail partners was in Lansing. I thought it would be fun to create a couple of Michigan themed teas geared to that market. The concept fit with the retail partner's focus on local products. Thus, Capital Cherry and Green & White came to be. Coming up with the names and the teas was fun, so I did a few more... and a few more... I couldn't seem to stop. It was fun. Plus, for me, there was something more enjoyable about brewing and drinking a cup of Picturesque Peninsula, rather than Leopard Blend - even if it was the exact same tea. And others seem to agree! So, why Michigan themed? Because it makes people feel good. Happy STEAPing, Samantha

My goal for STEAP has always been to give people more than tea. As lofty or aspirational as it may seem, my goal was - and still is - to create community and connection through tea. Creating a community in lieu of a physical space seemed a bit daunting, so I focused on connection first. I had an idea about naming teas Michigan inspired names. Names that reflected Michigan places and culture - places people may have visited with family and friends and aspects of cultural they may have experienced while living in or visiting Michigan. My hope was that these names could evoke memories and re-connection, create nostalgia, and simply bring joy. When I’m hosting booths at craft shows and farmers markets, I sometime hear people exclaim, "I love the names!", "Cute names!", or "That's so clever!" There's a sense of excitement in people's voices when they find a tea name that resonates with them - Lake Life, Campfire, Yooper Yellow, Snow Day... When I was at the Southgate Band Booster craft show last fall a man was standing in my booth while his wife browsed at the booth next to mine. I asked if I could help him. He responded no, he didn't drink tea. No problem! I responded, feel free to look around and let me know if he had questions. He continued to look and I continued passing out samples and talking to others. When the gentleman's wife finished making her purchase, he brought her over, saying, "you have to look at these names." They looked for a few more minutes. I asked again if I could offer them a sample of the tea I was serving. No, they insisted, "we don't drink tea." This time the man added something about the names.... I don't remember his exact words, except, "they bring back so many memories." He was shaking his head almost in disbelief that the names of tea could have such an effect. There was a smile on his face and a glint of emotion in his eyes. The three of us had a moment. Then they were off to enjoy they rest of the show and find other treasures. The encounter stuck with me. The couple were my favorite customers of the day. Never mind they didn't purchase any tea - or even drink tea! No, what they got was more than tea. Happy STEAPing, Samantha

Welcome to June! Warm weather, the opening of swimming pools, the official first day of Summer, and National Iced Tea month! Ice tea began appearing in the U.S. in the 1860’s and continued to grow in popularity through the late 1800’s. But it was the debut of iced tea at the 1904 World's Fair that caused its popularity to soar, and cemented it’s standing in our nations beverage market. Of the tea consumed in the U.S., 80% is iced (Tea Association of the USA’s 2022 fact sheet). How to make iced tea 1. Basic Iced tea: brew tea according to package instructions or to your taste. Let it cool or pour over ice immediately. 2. Cafe Method: this quick prep ice tea method is what is usually used in coffee shops and cafe's to make iced tea. The tea is brewed at 3x the suggested strength to ensure the flavor remains vibrant when poured over ice. The hot tea is then stirred or shaken (in cups or a cocktail shaker) in ice. Then poured over ice and served.. 3. Cold Brew: just as it's name implies the tea leaves are steeped in cold water rather than hot water. To do this, the leaf and water combination is put in the refrigerator to steep for the desired amount of time. The leaves are strained out, resulting in a smooth and flavorful iced beverage. 4. Sun Tea: similar to cold brew, tea leaves and water are combined and left in the sun to steep for the desired amount of time, then strained. My favorite way to prepare iced tea is cold brewing. In my opinion, cold brewing is the ideal way to prepare iced tea. If you like iced tea, I encourage you to give it a try. For more information about How to cold brew, check out our Iced Tea STEAPing Guide. Samantha

Spring is in full swing! Days are longer, flowers are budding, and everything feels fresh and new. Everything except maybe your tea collection. Being a tea drinker, and tea lover, often means trying new teas. There are hundreds of teas to try, the possibilities are endless! Tea collections can quickly get out of hand. No matter how much cabinet space we've dedicated to our tea addiction habit, more is always needed. Trust me, I understand. My solution? Add Tea organization to my spring-cleaning routine. That's right! In addition to opening windows, rotating matresses, and cleaning behind sofas, my spring-cleaning task list includes my personal tea collection. So how does one "spring-clean" a tea collection? Take inventory of your teas. You don't need to write them all down or make an excel spreadsheet (although you could). This could be as simple as laying them all out on a counter or table, where you can see them all. Toss* anything beyond its peak freshness. Tea doesn't "go bad," but will lose freshness over time. To determine if is still fresh, check the best by or expiration date. Other signs that the tea may be past its freshness include lack of scent, dry or brittle appearing leaves, and poor or no taste when brewed. Drink it! Take a break from spring cleaning to brew a cup... or 2 or 3. Assuming you may not have drank some of these teas in a while it may be worthwhile to evaluate them again. You may find yourself liking something you thought you disliked or disliking something you thought you liked. Toss* or gift what you don't like. It's likely your hanging on to some teas that just aren't your cup of tea, but may be someone else’s. If it's still fresh, pass it along to your tea loving friends! Sort. I like to sort my tea by pure and flavored. You can also sort by tea type, origin, brand, or alphabetically. Storage. Tea needs to be kept in airtight containers, in a dark dry and cool place. This protects the tea leaves from things that can degrade them, such as light, moisture, heat and other flavors. I recommend keeping tea in its original packaging whenever possible.The packaging often has recommended brewing, best by dates, ingredients, etc. that may be helpful to refer back to. Also, once you run out having the package is the best way to be able to find the tea again. Organize your tea collection in a way that works for you. Someplace you can see it, reach it, access it daily. Having it in your daily path will remind you to drink it. Set a "drink down" goal. This could be to drink what you have before buying something new, use up the last few servings of a tea or teas, enjoy your favorite tea as often as you want instead of "saving" it, etc. Set yourself up for success by setting small, measurable, and easily obtainable goals. In addition to identifying what you'd like to accomplish, plan for how you will do it. For example: My goal for the next month is to use the 6 teas that have less than 3 servings left. I will do this by drinking these teas 2-3 times a week until they are gone (it should take about a month). I will not buy new tea until these are gone. I will put them in the front of my tea cabinet, so I remember to drink these first. Once I’m through these 6 teas my reward to myself will be to get a new tea. *Side notes on tossing tea: tea leaves are great in compost. They can also be repurposed for arts & crafts or other home uses. Look online for ideas. I encourage you to repurpose whenever possible and recycle packaging.

Who doesn't love a fancy tea party? Tea pots, fancy tea cups, tiered trays of treats.... scones.... cream...Mmmm. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. You can all picture the scene. But what is it? If you said Afternoon Tea or Low Tea, you'd be right. Afternoon tea, or Low tea, is traditionally taken between 3:30-5:00pm. It of course includes tea, as well as savory sandwiches, scones, and sweets. This tea time tradition was a way for the upper-class or wealthy to combat afternoon fatigue and provide sustenance until dinner (usually at 8pm). It was given the name Low Tea because it was served on a low table in a sitting room or parlor. Low tea was decadence for the social elite or upwardly mobile and is what current Afternoon Tea practices are based upon. So, what then, is High Tea? High Tea was an evening meal enjoyed by the working class. This occurred anytime between 5:00 - 7:00pm and included hot foods that resembled a light supper. Often meat pies, potatoes, and of course tea. High Tea got its name from the high counter or table that people ate at, not because the event itself was "highbrow." Over the years, traditional Low and High Teas were adapted to meet the needs of cultural shifts and societal changes. Here’s the quick rundown on teas…. Afternoon Tea is a traditional Low Tea with 3 courses: savories, scones, and sweets. Royal Tea is Low tea with champagne or sherry. It could also include a 4th course of strawberries are other fruit to enhance the luxury. Cream Tea is a lighter snack of tea and scones. Victorian Tea is an afternoon tea with 5 courses. This includes a soup and salad. Celebration Tea includes a special occasion cake that is shared among guests. It may or may not include the 3 course afternoon tea. Elevenses is a short break taken at around 11 a.m. on work days to take tea and have a light snack. As Tea becomes more mainstream and accessible, education has also increased. Though you may still find a some tea rooms or hotels advertising “high tea” (incorrectly), “Afternoon Tea” has become the industries preferred term.

In my humble opinion tea makes a great gift. It's something intended to be used, literally consumable, yet has a long shelf life. It's comparatively inexpensive yet can be combined with other items - such as tea wear - to make a more substantial gift. Not to mention the plethora of flavors, giftable tins, and fun names! For me, the best part of vending at markets and craft shows is helping people to find a new tea - for themselves, or to give as a gift. In both situations the questions I ask about the individual and their tea drinking habits are very similar. It's all about narrowing down the options by meeting the individuals unique goals and objectives. If you're considering giving the gift of tea this holiday season, here are a few things to consider: Does the gift recipient drink/like tea? Do they use loose leaf? Or have they expressed interest in using loose leaf? Do they drink all tea types? Or only certain tea types? What flavors do they like? Are they adventurous tea drinkers? Open to new flavors and teas? Do they have any food allergies? Or other health related restrictions that may affect drinking tea? Would they prefer teaware over tea? Or visa-versa? Finally, I ask them to consider the names of the tea. Is there a name the gift recipient would connect with? Maybe even a connection they share? It's always a good feeling when someone walks away with that perfect gift. Happy STEAPing, Samantha

In my last blog I promised to share ideas on how to incorporate tea into your holidays, and tips on how to do so. Following are a few broad suggestions on how to incorporate tea into your holidays. Provide tea as an option anytime coffee is served. In many households it is common to serve coffee alongside dessert following a festive or formal meal. Tea can also be a beverage option. Just as people may have the option to select from a plethora of desserts - apple or pumpkin pie, cupcake or cheesecake - tea or coffee should also be a choice. How to do it: offer one type of tea. Depending upon the time of day a black tea, decaffeinated black tea, or rooibos. Pro tip: be sure to remove the tea leaves from the pot after steeping. The tea can also be steeped in a different vessel then transferred to a teapot for serving. It's the thought that counts: offer a selection of sweeteners & cream, such as sugar, honey, milk, and dairy free alternatives. These same items can also be used in coffee! Have afternoon tea. The tradition of afternoon tea began as a way to combat afternoon fatigue and provide sustenance until dinner. A cup of tea and a light snack not only provided a needed energy boost, but also became a means of socialization. Afternoon teas can range from a snack to a light meal and formal to casual. How to do it: brewing 1 tea is simplest. For serving larger groups you may need several pots of tea. This could be the same tea, or different teas within the same tea type (black tea). Just know that if you have more than one tea selection guests will likely want to sample the different teas, thus you will need more of each tea. Pro tip: Flavored or blended teas can themselves be a treat, eliminating the need for an added snack. It's the thought that counts: do some planning and think through what your goal and purpose for the occasion is. Afternoon tea is vast and there's so much that can be done - from theme, food, and formality. It can be whatever you want it to be. Tea as a nightcap. Nothing says relaxation like a warm, comforting beverage! There are more nighttime tea options than Chamomile. Try decaffeinated teas, rooibos, and honeybush. Flavored teas and blends can do double duty by fulfilling those evening cravings for sweets or snacks. How to do it: infuser baskets are perfect for brewing just 1 or 2 cups. Pro tip: consume your tea 60-30 minutes prior to going to bed. It's the thought that counts: whenever you're making tea for yourself, ask if others would like some. Overnight house guests will appreciate the hospitality. No matter if you choose to try one of these suggestions or one of your own ideas, forethought and planning are the keys to success.

No time of the year is more associated with traditions than the holidays. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year's or another holiday, there are a plethora of traditions that are celebrated widely and within our own circles. But have you ever considered how something becomes a tradition? When I worked in Student Affairs, staff always joked that all it took was doing something once for it to became "tradition." Because of student turnover and memory, staff saw traditions come and go with each new cohort of students. The fact of the matter is that all traditions are created at some point in time. As human beings we have an inate desire to create and build something larger than ourselves, something that will endure. Our traditions provide a commonality of experience and create connections among those who participate. As present becomes the past, we take those experiences, memories, and connections with us into the future. As thus, by way of traditions we connect the past, present, and future. At S•TEA•P, we're passionate about creating connections through tea. So it stands to reason that traditions are also in our wheelhouse. Over the next few weeks I will share ideas on how to create traditions with tea, more about how to incorporate tea into your holidays, and other practical tips. Happy STEAPing, Samantha

Making a cup of tea takes 2 ingredients - tea leaves and water. In a recipe as simple as this what could possibly go wrong?! Ask anyone who's ever drank a cup of weak or bitter tea.... a lot. If you're using quality loose leaf tea, a great deal of attention and effort has gone into producing the tea. Growth, harvest, processing - tea making is an art that tea farmers take great pride in preserving. So what about the other ingredient? Water. A cup of tea is 99% water. So to say that water is one of the most important factors in brewing tea, is not an understatement. The good news is that besides selecting the tea leaves, water is the ingredient in the "recipe" we have the most influence over. Following, I’ll share 4 water tips sure to improve your tea "recipe." Water Quality If you don't like the taste of your water, you won't like the taste of your tea. For example, if you normally filter your tap water for drinking (and like it), go ahead and make tea with it! Of course, you CAN use bottled water, but you don't HAVE TO. Water Temperature Different tea types should be brewed at different water temperatures. I rarely using boiling water to brew my tea - even black tea. Green & White teas undergo less processing than Oolong and Black tea's, so these tea types are particularly susceptible to becoming bitter in boiling water. A programable electric kettle is a great way to heat water to a desired temperature. In leu of this, our STEAPing chart gives times to cool water (from boiling) appropriate for each tea type. You could also use a cooking or candy thermometer. Water/tea leaf ratio Improper water to tea leaf ratio can cause too weak or too strong a cup. Our recommended ratios are for an 8oz cup. So if you're using a larger infuser mug, or teapot, be sure to increase the tea leaves used in correlation to the amount of water. When in doubt, measure how much water your brewing vessel will hold. Steep Time Leaving the lea leaves in the water too long can cause a brew that is too strong or astringent. Generally green & white teas don't steep as long as black teas. Set a timer and be sure to remove the tea leaves from the water. When I’m trying a tea for the first time I always start on the low end of the suggested steeping time. If I do a second infusion with the leaves (use the leaves again) I'll increase the steeping time depending upon what I thought of the first cup. I typically increase the steep time by 1 minute for a second cup. However, if the first cup was too strong I may only increase it 30 seconds, if I thought it was week I would increase it 1 1/2 minutes. Our STEAPing chart is a great resource. It's available for download HERE. Happy STEAPing, Samantha

Cold brew... the term sounds fancy, maybe even intimidating. Want to know a secret? It's incredibly easy! If you like iced tea, Cold brewing is the ideal way to prepare it. It's also a great introduction to tea for those who are new to making tea. There's less room for error. So, what is cold brew? Cold brew is a brewing process. Just as it's name implies the tea leaves are steeped in cold water rather than hot water. To do this, the leaf and water combination is put in the refrigerator. Why? What does this do? The water temperature tea is brewed in affects how tannins and caffeine are extracted form the dry tea leaves. When tea is brewed hot the flavors, tannins, and caffeine are extracted quickly from the leaves (2-5 minutes depending upon tea type). This chemical change on the tea leaves can result in a beverage with a bitter or astringent taste. During the cold brew process the flavors are extracted over a longer period of time (however long it is left to steep). This gentle steeping process results in a smoother brew with more flavor dimensions, fewer tannins, and less caffeine than a hot brew. How to cold brew? For cold brewing we recommend using the suggested tea leaf/water ratio for whatever tea being prepared. If you like a stronger Iced Tea you can increase the amount of dry tea leaves. The key with cold brew is to use cold or room temperature water. Add the tea leaves & water to a jar or brewing pitcher that can be covered. We like to use Mason jars! Put it into the refrigerator. We suggest letting the tea cold steep in the refrigerator for the following time frames. Feel free to experiment with these times to find your perfect cup of iced tea! Black tea – 8 to 12 hours Green tea – 6 to 8 hours White tea – 6 to 8 hours Oolong tea – 8 to 10 hours Herbal blends – 12 to 14 hours Strain tea mixture through a cullender or strainer into another jar or pitcher. Once prepared, cold brewed tea will keep for approximately 1 week in the refrigerator. What tea can be cold brewed? Pretty much any tea can be cold brewed. If you are looking for recommendations check out our Iced Tea collection.

As we progressed though the month of August I noticed a change in my tea cravings, and by extention, my tea drinking habits. (Yes, I crave certian teas, like one may crave something sweet or salty), I've found myself drinking less iced tea in the afternoons and more rooibos in the evenings. Not surprising necessarily as evenings grow cooler and Fall's approach draws near (the first official day of fall is September 22). Right now my evening rooibos of choice is Isel Royale or Belle Isle Breeze. Later this month I'll switch to Lake Effect and in October Campfire. The thought of my first cup of Campfire this fall season makes my mouth water in anticipation. To some, this may sound silly - couldn't I drink it at anytime? Yes, I could. Or maybe even concerning - is there a shortage of this popular tea? No, not to worry! S•TEA•P is fully stocked with all your seasonal favorites 😊. My impediment is purely of my own design - I"m not quite ready to make the leap from the fresh, fruity rooibos to the warm, spice. Like a tree preparing to change its green leaves to bright amber, orange, and gold, I want to savor the change of seasons, making the change in my own good time. I'll enjoy the last days of summer with some cold brewed Apple Blossom and Northern Lights. As those last few days of the summer of 2022 give away to fall I may even cold brew some Apple Orchard and Copper Country. I'll rotate Lake Effect into my evenings, and eventually Campfire and Warm Apple Pie. I'll mindfully savor those changes, listening to how my psyche changes and adaptes to the change in season. “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you.” – William Ewart Gladstone Happy STEAPing, Samantha

Some of you have been asking how to make specialty drinks at home. A simple solution is simple syrup. The beauty of simple syrup is that it can add both sweetness and flavor to pretty much any beverage. Simple Syrup itself is a syrup created by cooking sugar and water together until a syrup is formed. Traditionally it's made with white cane sugar, however can be made with any sugar (brown sugar, turbinado sugar, honey, agave) for an added twist. Adding one of these alternative sugar simple syrups to your beverage may give you the extra flavor you're looking for. The next level would be adding an infused simple syrup. There's just 2 extra steps to creating an infused simple syrup (instructions below), and the possibilities are endless! You can create just about any flavor you imagine by adding herbs, spices, fruit, or even tea leaves. Your imagination is the limit! How to Make Any Infused Simple Syrup Pour equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan. Gently heat the sugar and water while stirring to dissolve the sugar. Promptly remove from the heat once all the sugar dissolves, or right before boiling. Letting the mixture boil will cause water to evaporate and change the water to sugar ratio. Add infusion choice. Infuse 10 minutes or until cooled. The longer the infusion time the stronger the flavor will be. Strain the syrup into a pitcher. Store the simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. I like to use glass for storing beverages and syrups. Infused simple syrup is ideal for adding flavor and sweetness to iced tea and coffee (since it's a liquid it blends quickly and well). It can also be used in lemondade, cocktails, mocktails, and boba tea. Some ideas to try.... Cinamom infused honey simple syrup (use cinamon sticks) Peach infused brown sugar syrup (use fresh peaches) Lemongrass infused simple syrup Lavendar infused honey syrup Orange infused Agave syrup (use fresh orange rind) Happy STEAPing, Samantha