Cultural Beverages From Africa and the African Diaspora Reinterpreted as Premium Loose-Leaf Tea Blends.
From refreshing Gambian Wonjo to the sweet, tropical Piña Colada of Puerto Rico, experience beloved cultural favorites - reimagined as tea.
AFRICAN STEEPS
Regular price
$18.00
per
Inspiration: Gambian Wonjo | Hibiscus • Apple • Spearmint • Vanilla flavoring • Strawberry flavoring • Caffeine-free
Wonjo - the fruity, minty, hibiscus drink from Gambia - inspired this refreshing tea blend, which we recommend you sweeten and sip over ice. The tartness of hibiscus is soothed by a cool spearmint and enlivened soft notes of strawberry and vanilla. Stay Fresh is the caffeine-free blend should be your go-to drink for the Summer.
Historical and Cultural Context:
Wonjo is made from the flower of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), a hibiscus native to West Africa; it is usually served cold and is consumed both during daily life and on special occasions. While called wonjo in Gambia (the local name for the plant it is made from), it is also known as sobolo, bissap, zobo, and karkadé in other parts of Africa. The plant is used in many foods and drinks and also has medicinal uses. It was introduced to Brazil by enslaved Africans in the 1600s and spread throughout Latin America in aguas frescas such as "agua de Jamaica". Hibiscus tea earned a prominent position in American soul food, where it is one of the beverages known as "red drink". Variations of the drink are also consumed in Italy and Southeast Asia.
Ingredients:
Hibiscus, Apple, Spearmint, Vanilla flavoring, Strawberry flavoring
Caffeine-free
Regular price
$15.00
per
Kenyan Orthodox Black Tea | Malty richness • Natural cocoa undertones • Caffeine
Black Is Beautiful is rooted in the communal tea culture of Kenya, where strongly brewed tea is part of everyday life and shared as a sign of welcome.
This single-origin orthodox black tea boasts natural cocoa undertones, warm malt depth, and can be enjoyed hot with milk, and a sweetener of your choice.
Historical and Cultural Context:
Tea has been cultivated in Kenya since 1903, and Kenya ranks third in the world in tea production. Most tea produced in the country is black tea – Kenya exports more black tea than any other country. Kenya's climate, coupled with the extraordinarily fertile soil of the Great Rift Valley, make the region ideal for tea production. Over half of Kenya's tea is grown on small farms.
Ingredients:100% orthodox Kenyan black teaContains caffeine. Single-origin. All natural.
Regular price
$18.00
per
Inspiration: Ivorian Gnamakoudji | Moringa • Yerba Mate • Ginger • Apple • Lemon • Vanilla • Clove
Big Tea Energy is inspired by Gnamakoudji, a strong ginger-based drink enjoyed across Côte d'Ivoire and throughout West Africa. Gnamankoudji's recipe differs from household to household, and can be mixed with other ingredients for a sweeter or more acidic profile. Primarily comprised of ginger and water, with some adding lime, while others prefer mint, vanilla sugar, pineapple juice or hibiscus.
Our tangy Brewing Black interpretation features Yerba Mate for the caffeine-forward energy that's sure to start your day with a kick. Serve with a sweetener of your choice, very cold over ice.
Historical and Cultural Contexts
Gnamakoudji means "spicy water" in Bambara/Doula, and is a beverage popular in Côte d'Ivoire and across West Africa. Ivorians pride themselves on their hospitality, so visitors may be treated to the beverage by their hosts; it is also sold by street vendors in the cities of Côte d'Ivoire and can be served at important events like weddings. Similar ginger drinks are called emduro in Ghana - which is made with black peppercorns - and tangawizi in Kenya, where it's preferred warm, paired with milk and black tea.
Ingredients:Moringa, Yerba mate, ginger, lemon, vanilla, clove
Regular price
$15.00
per
Origin: South Africa | Pure rooibos • Single Origin • Caffeine-free
RooiBoss-Up is a single-origin rooibos rooted in the everyday tea culture of South Africa, where this resilient plant has been brewed for generations.
Its honey-like, warm, gentle spice allow for a versatile flavor profile, making it a staple in South African households; caffeine-free and served hot according to individual preferences - with or without milk, sweetened or plain.
Historical and Cultural Context:
Aspalathus linearis, or rooibos, is a plant that grows exclusively in coastal South Africa. The name “rooibos” means “red bush” in Afrikaans, as its leaves oxidize and turn red, and rooibos tea is occasionally called “redbush tea” outside of Africa. It has been harvested by the region’s indigenous Khoi and San peoples for thousands of years for its medicinal properties. Despite this, they were not formally recognized for their knowledge and contributions toward rooibos tea until 2018.
Ingredients:100% pure South African rooibosCaffeine-free. All natural.
Regular price
$15.00
per
Origin: Ancient Egypt | Chamomile • Spearmint • Lemon Verbena • Lavender • Caffeine-free
We're taking it way back to ancient Egypt, who didn't stop at giving the world pyramids and hieroglyphics, but chamomile, too! The soft floral notes of the chamomile are further accentuated by lavender, with a hint of freshness from the spearmint and soothing lemon flavor from the verbena. A bedtime must-have, enjoy hot and with an optional sweetener.
Cultural and Historical Context:
The chamomiles are several species of flowers from the daisy family. The word “chamomile” comes from the Greek words meaning “earth apple”, describing the low-growing plant with an apple-like scent. Known the world over for centuries as a soothing beverage, chamomile tea was likely first made in ancient Egypt. Egyptians considered chamomile to be a gift from the gods; pharaohs wore chamomile patterns in life and were anointed in its oil in death. Chamomile appears in the poetry of William Shakespeare, the paintings of Vincent van Gogh, and Eastern European folk tales, and cultures across Europe, Asia, and the Americas have prescribed it for medicinal purposes.
Ingredients:
Chamomile, Spearmint, Lemon Verbena and Lavender.
Caffeine-free.
Regular price
$15.00
per
Origin: Moroccan Mint Green Tea | Cool spearmint • Smooth gunpowder green tea • Subtle smokiness • Caffeine
Making That Green is a classic Moroccan mint green tea: smooth gunpowder green tea meets cool spearmint for a crisp, refreshing brew. Gunpowder green tea is an earthy, smoky, and slightly nutty tea created by carefully plucking, steaming then tightly rolling the leaves into small pellets. This preparation method ensures a stronger flavor and higher caffeine content.
Enjoy it hot or iced, with a generous amount of sugar.
Historical and Cultural Contexts:
Morocco is the origin of a green tea with spearmint traditionally consumed across North Africa. This tea is a critical component of Moroccan hospitality, and guests may be treated to a showy tea-drinking ceremony during which the mint tea is poured from high above into ornate drinkware. It is consumed frequently throughout the day, and traditionally, in servings of three glasses at a time. It is unclear when tea was first introduced to Morocco, but it was established as a popular beverage during the Crimean War of the 1850s closed ports and forced the British to find a new market in which to sell tea.
Ingredients:
Gunpowder green tea, spearmint leaves, natural flavoring
ISLAND BREWS
Regular price
$18.00
per
Inspiration: Dominican Batido de Mango | Moringa • Apple • Ginger • Lime • Mango Flavoring • Passionfruit flavoring • Caffeine-free
Nothing says "tropical" like a cold mango drink; the Dominican Republic does it best with Batido de Mango, a creamy beverage made rich by evaporated/condensed milk and even more dairy, if you please. Let That Mango interprets this classic into an iced tea, accentuating the sweetness of mango with punchy notes from ginger, lime and passionfruit. Adjust the flavor with a sweetener and milk of your choice.
Historical and Cultural Context:
The first Africans arrived in the present-day Dominican Republic in the early 1500s. Ladinos, as they were called, were Christian, Spanish-speaking Africans; some were enslaved and others were freemen, and this group became the first African diaspora community in the western hemisphere. The country was the site of the earliest-recorded slave revolt in the Americas, when about 20 Wolof Muslims (from present-day Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania) rose against a sugar plantation owner, the son of Christopher Columbus.
Former enslaved Africans, referred to as "maroons", formed communities isolated from the sugar plantations and intermixed with the indigenous Taíno people, creating a new and unique culture. This influence can be seen in Dominican cultural innovations such as merengue music, which traditionally combines instruments of African, Taíno, and Spanish origin. Batidos, a cultural staple in today's Dominican Republic, also known as licuados, are popular Caribbean beverages similar to a fruit milkshake.
Ingredients:
Moringa, Apple, Ginger, Lime, Mango Flavoring, Passionfruit flavoring
Caffeine-free
Regular price
$18.00
per
Inspiration: Puerto Rican Piña Colada | Moringa • Coconut • Apple • Pineapple • Vanilla flavoring • Rum flavoring • Caffeine-free
What’s the Tea? is the alcohol-free interpretation of the sweet, tropical delight that is the Piña Colada of Puerto Rico. The familiar creamy coconut, sweet pineapple and warm rum flavors are further rounded out by a hint of vanilla, and sit on a healthy base of the famous Moringa tea. Enjoy on ice with a sweetener and coconut milk or cream. (Hot tip: best to avoid adding dairy, as you run the risk of curdling when interacting with pineapple).
Historical and Cultural Context:
The first Africans to set foot on Puerto Rico were free men, conquistadors under Juan Ponce de León, in 1509; West and Central Africa has influenced Puerto Rican culture since. Puerto Rican Spanish contains words originating from Kongo. Bomba music, rooted in Ghana, was created on Puerto Rican sugar plantations. African influence can be seen in Puerto Rico's culinary tradition - mofongo, for example, is partially based on the West African dish fufu. The origin of the piña colada, Puerto Rico's national drink, is controversial - at least three bartenders claim to have invented it, while legend says it was created by a Puerto Rican pirate. Here, the cocktail flavors are paired with moringa, a plant (Moringa oleifera) cultivated both in Africa and the Caribbean.
Ingredients:
Moringa, Coconut, Apple, Pineapple, Vanilla flavoring, Rum flavoring.
Caffeine-free
AFRO-LATINO PRIDE
Regular price
$18.00
per
Inspiration: Venezuelan Spiced Chorote | Rooibos • Cocoa Nibs • Chocolate flavoring • Cinnamon • Anise • Red Peppercorns • Light Caffeine
Chocolate and spice, served on ice. Cocoa Butter honors the ancient Venezuelan tradition by housing this blend in a warm, rooibos base - where the warm, earthy spices complement the cocoa perfectly without being overpowered. Add a sweetener and milk of your choice. While this is meant to be served cold, it makes a deliciously toasty hot beverage.
Historical and Cultural Context:
Chorote is a family of drinks found in much of Latin America, from Cuba to Costa Rica, that may have very different ingredients depending on where it is made. Long before Europeans landed in the Americas, Mayans and Aztecs made beverages from cocoa beans. Chorote was similarly created long ago by indigenous Venezuelan peoples, made from ground cocoa and spices. Afro-Venezuelans played key roles in securing Venezuela's independence from Spain. Pedro Camejo, for example, was born enslaved but achieved the rank of lieutenant in Simón Bolívar's army; for his bravery and skill on the battlefield, he earned the nickname "El Negro Primero".
Ingredients:
Rooibos, Cocoa Nibs, Chocolate flavoring, Cinnamon, Anise, Red Peppercorns
Light Caffeine
Regular price
$18.00
per
Inspiration: Dominican Batido de Mango | Moringa • Apple • Ginger • Lime • Mango Flavoring • Passionfruit flavoring • Caffeine-free
Nothing says "tropical" like a cold mango drink; the Dominican Republic does it best with Batido de Mango, a creamy beverage made rich by evaporated/condensed milk and even more dairy, if you please. Let That Mango interprets this classic into an iced tea, accentuating the sweetness of mango with punchy notes from ginger, lime and passionfruit. Adjust the flavor with a sweetener and milk of your choice.
Historical and Cultural Context:
The first Africans arrived in the present-day Dominican Republic in the early 1500s. Ladinos, as they were called, were Christian, Spanish-speaking Africans; some were enslaved and others were freemen, and this group became the first African diaspora community in the western hemisphere. The country was the site of the earliest-recorded slave revolt in the Americas, when about 20 Wolof Muslims (from present-day Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania) rose against a sugar plantation owner, the son of Christopher Columbus.
Former enslaved Africans, referred to as "maroons", formed communities isolated from the sugar plantations and intermixed with the indigenous Taíno people, creating a new and unique culture. This influence can be seen in Dominican cultural innovations such as merengue music, which traditionally combines instruments of African, Taíno, and Spanish origin. Batidos, a cultural staple in today's Dominican Republic, also known as licuados, are popular Caribbean beverages similar to a fruit milkshake.
Ingredients:
Moringa, Apple, Ginger, Lime, Mango Flavoring, Passionfruit flavoring
Caffeine-free
Regular price
$18.00
per
Inspiration: Puerto Rican Piña Colada | Moringa • Coconut • Apple • Pineapple • Vanilla flavoring • Rum flavoring • Caffeine-free
What’s the Tea? is the alcohol-free interpretation of the sweet, tropical delight that is the Piña Colada of Puerto Rico. The familiar creamy coconut, sweet pineapple and warm rum flavors are further rounded out by a hint of vanilla, and sit on a healthy base of the famous Moringa tea. Enjoy on ice with a sweetener and coconut milk or cream. (Hot tip: best to avoid adding dairy, as you run the risk of curdling when interacting with pineapple).
Historical and Cultural Context:
The first Africans to set foot on Puerto Rico were free men, conquistadors under Juan Ponce de León, in 1509; West and Central Africa has influenced Puerto Rican culture since. Puerto Rican Spanish contains words originating from Kongo. Bomba music, rooted in Ghana, was created on Puerto Rican sugar plantations. African influence can be seen in Puerto Rico's culinary tradition - mofongo, for example, is partially based on the West African dish fufu. The origin of the piña colada, Puerto Rico's national drink, is controversial - at least three bartenders claim to have invented it, while legend says it was created by a Puerto Rican pirate. Here, the cocktail flavors are paired with moringa, a plant (Moringa oleifera) cultivated both in Africa and the Caribbean.
Ingredients:
Moringa, Coconut, Apple, Pineapple, Vanilla flavoring, Rum flavoring.
Caffeine-free
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