Tea Time

Bleh. This week has, so far, been a tough one. I've come down with (and now fought off, hurray!) an unpleasant strain of something: the flu, a bug, some virus, who knows. But spending a good part of the past two days camped out on the couch has done one good thing: it's reinvigorated my love of hot teas.

Coffee is great, don't get me wrong, but when I've got a sore throat or a stomachache or sometimes just because I'm craving the taste, tea is the drink of choice. There's something soothing, comforting, even healing about a hot cup of tea.

With that in mind, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to feature a few of the fair trade teas we sell at our store. We stock teas made by Equal Exchange, a company that is committed to supporting a fair and sustainable way of life for its growers. Here are a few favorites:

Wild Rooibos: I fell in love with Rooibos tea last year after a friend who had lived in Africa introduced me to the herbal drink. It is, without question, my new favorite. Accordng to Equal Exchange, the red tea "has a fruity character with vanilla overtones and is naturally caffeine free. Rooibos contains antioxidants, which are known to promote good health." It is sooo good!

Earl Grey Tea: This tea is a traditional favorite, made of certified organic Darjeeling tea. I love drinking Earl Grey all day long--it's great with breakfast, for a midafternoon break (it's the definition of traditional teatime to me), after dinner.

Green Magic Tea: The health benefits of green tea are well-known, so get on board! This tea is grown in Sri Lanka by members of the Small Organic Farmers Association.