Where in the World Did You Find This Tea?
Wednesday, Jun 10, 2009Tanzania. Guatemala. Vietnam. Malaysia. Costa Rica. Thailand. These are not countries one would immediately associate with specialty tea production, yet according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they all substantially increased exports of loose tea to the United States between 2007 and 2008.
Now, mainstream specialty tea companies like Adagio and Teavana offer Nepalese tea, and the availability of specialty teas from unusual origins such as Malawi, England and Georgia is on the rise. Some industry observers say shifts in agricultural production are inevitable byproducts of economic and climate change. Regardless of why they emerge, unusual origins offer value buys in tough times and new flavor profiles to delight a growing audience of tea connoisseurs.
More Questions and Answers on Tea and Health
Tuesday, May 19, 2009Tea has ancient associations with wellness, and it’s only beginning to receive the medical research necessary to prove (or disprove) the many health claims surrounding it. Lindsey Goodwin spoke with Iman Hakim, a physician with multiple advanced degrees, including an MD, in the field of public health. Hakim is currently the endowed chair at the Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.
Web Two-Point-What? (Part Two): In Your Customers’ Hands
Friday, May 01, 2009Lindsey Goodwin explores tea businesses’ usage of social networking, photography, video and other Internet marketing methods.
Web Two Point What? (Part One): More Than a URL
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2009You have a Web site with your tea business’s basic information and maybe a shopping cart. You know you’re not making the most of your online presence, but don’t know where to begin expanding. In part one of this two-part series, Lindsey Goodwin looks at moving beyond the basics and using virtual marketing tactics like online storefronts and social networking to drive sales, brand awareness and customer loyalty.
Precision Cuts Save Costs and Quality
Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009Cutting costs is all the rage in a recession, but poorly chosen cuts blight productivity, quality and consumer confidence. Tea business owners can make positive cuts, however, if they know what to skip snipping and where to trim.