Benefits of Botanical Teas (Tisanes)

There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

True “teas” come from the camellia sinensis plant. These are the  teas best known as black, green, and white teas. Tea may have been  discovered as early as 2737 B.C., by the then-Emperor of China.  Cultivation of the tea plant developed in China and the brewing of tea  leaves has been used for centuries as medicine, a religious offering and  for royalty.
Tea gained popularity and accessibility during the Tang Dynasty  (618 – 907 A.D.) and expanded as far as Japan. Tea didn’t gain  popularity in Europe until the reign of the King Charles II, in the 17th  century. He married a Portuguese princess, Catherine of Braganza, who  increased the popularity of tea as social pursuit for royalty and  nobility.
Today tea is popular throughout the world, but it needs a specific  climate to grow, so there are “tea growing regions” in primarily Asia,  East/South Africa and  some Pacific Islands. These regions produce  outstanding product; however, they often have to be exported and shipped  to distributors. Also tea plantations can take up vast swaths of  fertile land to grow.All of this leads the responsible consumer to ask the following questions: Is it sustainable? Is it organic? Is it “Fair Trade”?


Sadly, the answer is often no.

In the case of herbal teas, depending on the root, fruit or leaf,  they can often be grown anywhere. Or the fruit, leaf, or root can grow  back quickly with minimal cultivation. In regards to “organic,” the word  itself holds so many factors: How it’s grown, the absence of  pesticides, the soil, the origin of the seed, etc. When traditional teas  are grown in remote, inaccessible places, who is really monitoring the  accuracy or consistency of “organic”?A similar issue holds for “Fair Trade.” In 2012, tea consumption  reached $15.7 billion in sales, up from 32% since 2007. According to  Oxfam, tea pickers in Assam, India –one of the leaders in tea  production– earned just above the World Bank’s poverty wage of $2.00 a  day. That means that the average tea picker harvests twenty-two pounds  of tea a day for the price of one cup of tea to go.

American Royal Tea is committed to sustainable, 100% organic, non-GMO, and fair-trade herbal and traditional premium teas.

Some facts about American Royal Tea:

  • Leaves, roots, flowers and spices are from a supplier in the United States;
  • All tisane and tea leaves are 100% organic;
  • All tisane and tea leaves are non-GMO (that means we strive for heirloom varieties –when available– and non-genetically modified flowers, spices, leaves and roots);
  • All tisane and tea leaves are Fair Trade when available; and
  • Our suppliers also believe in organic, non-GMO, and locally-sourced ingredients.
  • When I started my hand-blended, premium, herbal tea company, my  priorities were and always will be the aforementioned. I also believe in  small batches to retain premium freshness.

Herbal teas predate cultivated teas and every culture has used a  soothing, brewed cup of beneficial leaves, roots, flowers, and spices,  and other natural ingredients to heal, invigorate, relax and bring a  community together.

American Royal Tea is committed to this timeless herbal tea ritual.Sources:

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