Got a Teaist on Your Holiday Shopping List?

It can be a challenge to shop for a teaist: what teas do they like? What teas do they want to try? What teas do they already have?! Should I opt for teaware?! Forget it, I'll get a gift card.

Before you completely panic and opt for the gift card, check out this handy guide to holiday-happy deals - which are also easy on the wallet. Readers of this blog post will be treated to special codes and generous helpings of free samples.

Rachel Carter, owner of iHeartTeas.com, got in the Christmas spirit early; she created Santa Sampler bags a few weeks ago - which have been selling well. Readers of this post can score one for 25% off - use code SecretSanta25. Expires 12/19/11 so hurry! (See photo for example of the bag.)

Copyright iHeartTeas/used with permission

Rachel first got started by selling Rescued from Retirement blends - you may know her from that initiative. But she began making her own blends in time for the holiday season; try her Strawberry Island for a tropical escape, perfect in chilly winter months.

The best part about iHeartTeas.com is that Rachel won't sell a tea she hasn't tried herself. "Teas and tea people are my passion," Rachel explained. "You won't get anything less than that amazing customer service and teas from me."

Photo by Butiki Teas/used with permission

Stacy Lim, owner of Butiki Teas, has lots of offerings too. Mention this post or me when you order and she'll make sure to include plenty of free samples. For holiday shopping on a budget, check out Butiki Teas' holiday gifts - which include an ounce tea and a holiday buddy (penguin or reindeer - see photo).

Stacy explained that shoppers can also make their own personalized gift baskets, for less than $25, or check out their holiday tins. Butiki Teas has several new holiday teas available, ready to make your mouth water: Cider Guayusa, Winter Fire Guayusa and Pumpkin Creme Brulee.

"Recently Butiki Teas has shifted focus on unique and rare teas," Stacy added. "There are some very unique teas in our selection. We also have a number of unique flavored teas with high quality base teas. For instance, our Pistachio Ice Cream uses a lovely organic Mao Jian base." Butiki Teas works with natural flavors and organic ingredients when possible - plus all of their teas are vegan-friendly. Orders will shop within 48 hours, although most ship within 24 hours, said Stacy.

I also have my own shop, with a 30% off code, HOLIDAZE. My shop is here: http://keenteathyme.teatra.de/ (Yes this is self-serving, I realize that, but I'm featuring others here too.) I offer two holiday-themed teas: Merry Christmas and Let it Snow. Both can be purchased with a mug or a tin. Visit my site for more info.

Anyone else wish to be included in my 2011 Holiday Guide?  Or is there a company you'd like to see featured? Email me - keenteathyme@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter, @keenteathyme

Happy Holidays! :)

Upcoming Contests

Stay tuned for upcoming contests, one each month, here at Keen Tea Thyme! Winners will have a chance to score one of my Adagio signature blends, based on the month.

Also, we'll have a CelebriTEA posted in a few days, and more tea-related news, plus an exclusive look at a soap and beauty product company which uses tea as one of their ingredients!

Excitement abounds at Keen Tea Thyme! :)

Got a story idea? Submit it to me @ keenteathyme@gmail.com!

Happy Brewing!

Check out my teas for sale on Tea Trade

In an effort to make room for more teas (specifically Read My Lips from David's Tea, it will be mine soon!) I am selling some of my teas on Tea Trade.

All of these teas were purchased by me; I didn't receive them in swaps. I just need to rebuild my tea budget for May so I can place an order with David's tea. Please help!

Oh and all orders from my store on Tea Trade get a FREE sample of either Vampire Lemonade or Toasted Marshmallow. You pick when you order - or I'll pick for you! :)

Here's a link for the items for sale:
http://teatrade.tinypay.me/#q=user:sMb5JE7l

Send me any questions! :)

Exciting Things Happening Here - Stay in the Know

With May upon us and good news around the world - spring in the air, and a certain terrorist no longer among us - I am also happy to report that I am (almost) all better. I'm back to my working self, which means Keen Tea Thyme is back in business!

First, we've got a new company profile - Mad Pots of Tea. Check out the story by clicking on the company profile tab on the main page, or here: http://keenteathyme.blogspot.com/p/company-profile.html

Next, we've featured our first CelebriTEA, Rachel Carter - the voice behind www.iHeartTeas.com. Check out her story and learn more about this fave tea blogger and her new endeavors: http://keenteathyme.blogspot.com/p/celebritea.html

Stop by Tea Stain Art to see what's new with Dara Gold, and purchase one of your very own, limited run tea stain artwork: http://keenteathyme.blogspot.com/p/golds-tea-stain-art.html Send in your questions to this unique and talented artist!

May will feature more adventures of Ally, our Teaist Apprentice (check back on Fri., May 13 - oh no! Friday the 13th!) to see what she's been up to during the hiatus.

Also, I have a very special post I'm working on for Mother's Day. Don't forget, Mother's Day is this weekend!

And in between everything, we'll review and enjoy tea!

Got suggestions? Comments on my blog? Drop me a line at: keenteathyme@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your stay; have a great "thyme" being "keen" on tea!

Teaist Apprentice - In Search of Teas' Origins

I'm a writer by blood, by experience, by love. I wrote in diaries when I was a child - I didn't have a happy childhood, not that I was abused or anything. But I was bullied starting in middle school and through high school. (When I was younger I was best friends with all the popular kids, and friends with boys, so that helped.)

Being bullied at first broke me. I had always wanted people to like me, and I didn't understand why they would pick on me for being a tomboy, or reading on the bus, or writing in my journal. But eventually I learned to deal with it. That's what the real world is like - people make fun of those who are different, unique, etc.

This post isn't meant to be a pity party for me or anything. I like who I am now, and the experiences I went through helped me develop a thick skin and a quirky sense of humor. I can laugh at myself...and others. (We all do it. Come on. Admit it.)

As cheesy as this statement is, it's true: writing saved me. Writing saves me still. I love to write anything - I write up templates at work, and volunteer to take notes. I'm constantly trying to describe items and experiences in my head. I have story ideas written on napkins, business cards, sheets of paper, even a linen blotter (for your face, girls). I have a box full of story ideas.

I also enjoy hunting down a good story. Research is so exciting - you find new things and learn something new every day. At least I do. I loved journalism and miss being a reporter quite often. (Although I don't miss the pay. My new job pays much much better.)

ANYHOO - long story short (haha), I've decided to introduce you to our very own Teaist Apprentice, Ally. This fictional character will travel through history discovering the origins of tea in different cultures.

Ally will take questions too - post below your tantalizing tea questions, historical event inquiries and curiosity about tea ceremonies. We'll travel through time and learn all about teaism, as she undertakes a quest to become the next Teaist Apprentice.

Check out Part One where our story begins...

Tea Trade - Give it a Chance

Tea Trade is now available for tea bloggers (fellow tea dorks like me), and those who want to buy and sell tea.

At first my friends and I were wary of the process. We enjoy tea swapping with tea enthusiasts on sites like steepster.com. Most of the time we just cover the cost of shipping to the person and have the philosophy that we'll "get the $ back" when the person returns the tea favor. Or we just enjoy swapping teas and sharing them.

Tea Trade offers a forum for people to actually sell tea that they have accumulated through regular purchases, gifts and swaps. Some steepster folks are signing up. I did as a test run - with the blog.

I am not a fan of Wordpress, which is the format used by Tea Trade. However some sites are able to be mirrored. (Like mine.) Others can be domain mapped, as Pete (founders) explained in a post. Leafbox is an example; it's hosted by Tea Trade but has its own domain. Pretty cool. Eventually I may do that with Keen Tea Thyme. Maybe.

Pete added in the comment that Tea Trade hopes to work with businesses too. That will be a bonus, maybe we can get samples, etc. Details are still under development. But they've got an awesome, informative FAQ page. 

So you can look at this a few ways:
-a Tea Yard Sale, in a way, where you can clear out unwanted teas
-a place to sell your own custom creations
-a place to find new teas
-a place to avoid, because you don't have an open mind. ;)

Give this place a chance. Let's see how Tea Trade will do. We'll check back with them in six months and see how the business is going.

Meanwhile, there are some rooibos tea I need to part with. Any takers?