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! :)

Calling All Int'l Tea Bloggers!

I'm hard at work at a brand-new section of my blog, dedicated to international tea bloggers. Well it's for any non-USA tea blogger, but calling the section "international" sounds much more inclusive. :)

Don't worry - I'll still be writing monthly CelebriTEAs, but I want to highlight some of my international readers - especially those of you in France, and friends of the Great North (Canada). Drop me a line or post below if you're interested in joining the section, which will run the same way as CelebriTEAs - monthly pages, after a month, posted to the blog so the feature is in the regular archives.

I'm no longer running company profiles - there is one I've promised to do and that will be the last one. I just didn't think I could cover all the great companies out there equally. I will keep you posted with any news I can - whether it's new teas over at 52Teas or new Rescued from Retirement Blends from Rachel@iHeartTeas.

Thanks for your loyalty and your readership! There are always exciting new things happening at Keen Tea Thyme, and I appreciate all my fans! :)

Happy Brewing!

Escape to...Strawberry Island!

There are new tea things popping up at Rachel Carter’s tea site: iHeartTeas.com – including her first, exclusive blend Strawberry Island.

           Rachel recently took a trip to Maine, bringing back memories – and sample sets of teas from Maine-based tea shops. Dobrá, Jacqueline’s Tea Room (with two sample packs), Bar Harbor Tea Company, Homegrown Herb & Tea all have selections available in her new shop. Plus she’s expanding her site to include teaware – coming soon she’ll have a cute set of small black and white tea cups.

            She’s taking on new ventures, too, such as offering a new feature on brewing methods – including a must-read article on how she made her Matcha – and Rachel said she’s focusing her time on many, many new reviews.

            But the most exciting news at iHeartTeas is Rachel’s new tea blend – created exclusively for and by Rachel herself! She mixed strawberry, coconut and vanilla black teas to create a tropical escape, Strawberry Island.

            Stay tuned as Strawberry Island is bound to be just the first in a whole slew of iHeartTeas blends, created by one of the tea community’s top tea tasters.

            “I am so happy I am able to do this…and it comes so naturally,” Rachel explained.

            Top on her list of Tea Priorities is a possible grand re-opening of her site (keep Keen Tea Thyme bookmarked as we’ll have the latest news). Rachel is also selling teas on Zibbet.com.

            Family always comes first for Rachel and iHeartTeas, but that’s one thing she loves about her tea business – that she can be a full-time Mom and a full-time Teaist, at the same time.

Find Rachel & iHeartTeas by visiting one of the links below:

www.iHeartTeas.com - Tea Shop & Blog

www.RachelsTeaCupboard.teatra.de - Tea Review Blog

www.Twitter.com/RachelKCarter

www.Twitter.com/iHeartTeas 

iHeartTeas.com - Kickoff Party through 7/18/11

Our good friend - and fellow tea fiend - has been making some changes to her online tea shop, iHeartTeas.com. To help celebrate the changes, Rachel is offering 20% off your order at iHeartTeas.com, through 7/18/11.

First, visit her site here: http://iheartteas.teatra.de/2011/07/iheartteas-kick-off-party/

Second, find the teas you'd like to purchase through that link only - her tiny.pay account will not accept the coupon code, nor the shopping cart so make sure you're in the right location - her blog marketplace.

Third, enter the coupon code "KickOff20" at checkout (minus the quotations, of course).

iHeartTeas sells a variety of tea selections: from Rescued from Retirement Teas (in association with 52 Teas) to handpicked sampler packs. Rachel has been one of the most successful tea sellers on Tea Trade, and is one of the most friendly people I know. So if you are having trouble entering the code or need any help, visit her Web site and drop her a line.

Let's help celebrate this new iHeartTeas initiative and score a great deal in the process! :)

iHeartTeas.com - Rachel Carter, May 2011 CelebriTEA

CelebriTEA for May: Rachel Carter

iHeartTeas blog: http://www.myteasandmore.com/ or http://www.iheartteas.com

What is a CelebriTEA? This Keen Tea Thyme post features popular tea bloggers and their histories, passions, stories. Why? The online tea community is a vast resource of knowledge, tips, experiences – a place of conversation and sharing of passion.

Meet Rachel Carter: dedicated wife to Ralph (of 14 years!) and adoring mother to four-year-old Alexandria.

Lately, her plate has been chock full. Or should I say her tea cup runneth over? 

This tea enthusiast combines her passion for the world’s most popular beverage with her natural inclination to share knowledge and enjoy what brewing tea has to offer.

“I love my tea friends,” said Rachel. “It is great to read their blogs. Everyone has so much to share. I love reading and hearing about new teas, accessories, and what business someone is starting. I find our tea community is tightly knit like a family. We support each other.”

Rachel’s been blogging too here: http://myteasandmore.com/. This site, which is under a makeover to transform into iHeartTeas.com, offers her take on fave teas, new accessories and everything else tea. She reviews a variety of tea, anything she can get her hands on. Tea reviewing can be a subjective matter, but Rachel has a system. “I review teas based on flavor, accuracy based on description and tea type,” she explained. “I also consider the visual appearance of the leaves.”

Rachel doesn’t just blog, though. After joining Tea Trade – an online tea trading, selling, sampling Web site – Rachel decided to start selling teas in sample packs, under her new brand name, iHeartTeas. Check out her many products here: http://teatrade.tinypay.me/#q=user:ss0YORHB

Plans are underway to eventually create a company – maybe, Rachel said. “I’m working on it, but I want to take things slow. I want to do this right. I am glad I am in a position where I can do it right.”

Business is booming. She’s a hit at Tea Trade, and is grateful for the opportunity to belong to the site. “I will eventually have a site dedicated to my teas which at this point come from my personal stash. The idea is if you place an order you click on the item and are directed to Tea Trade. I don't want to forget my friends there. If it weren't for their support and of those associated I wouldn't have this success.”

Rachel, a stay-at-home mom, spends lots of time with her daughter – sampling teas and taking her to swim lessons and preschool. Little Alexandria has already shown a penchant for tea, like her mom. Rachel said her daughter helps her put together orders from Tea Trade and is developing a tea-tasting palate.

So what kinds of tea does Rachel (and Alexandria!) recommend? She lists the following teas as her go-to brews:

1. Milk Oolong - thepuriTea 
2. BenShan - Chicago Tea Garden 
3. Sweet Velvet Fog - Adagio signature blend by Rachel 
4. Genmaicha - Obubu Tea 
5. Matcha - DoMatcha 

With all these things to keep her busy, Rachel still finds time to enjoy other activities such as scrapbooking. In fact, she is a representative of Close to My Heart, an in-home scrapbooking company. “But honestly, I do that for myself,” she added.

She also loves to travel, enjoys sampling different wines and is a self-proclaimed “tech geek.” “I love my gadgets especially my iPad, I don't even have regular TV everything I do is streamed,” she said. And what TV shows would that be? SyFy channel mainstays: Warehouse 13, Star Gates, Battlestar Galleticas.

But what it comes down to for Rachel is that her love of tea is a permanent part of her life – always has been and always will be. Originally from India, Rachel said tea is like water in her home. “Tea runs through my veins and it always has been,” she said. “I love the constant discovery tea brings me. Every cup is a new adventure. It is a newly discovered treasure with every cup.”

Want to be featured on Keen Tea Thyme as a CelebriTEA? All you have to do is be a tea blogger and want to share your love of tea. E-mail me [at] keenteathyme@gmail.com for more info.

New Venture: 52Teas & iHeartTeas

Our May CelebriTEA, Rachel Carter, has a new tea venture. Together with 52Teas.com, iHeartTeas has begun offering teas "Rescued from Retirement," such as the ever-popular Blueberry Cheese Danish.


Visit her store http://tinypay.me/ss0yorhb and check out the three teas available, as well as her other tea selections.


I should disclose that I made a purchase myself, just a few minutes ago, for Blueberry Cheese Danish. I've always wanted to try this one. My heart skipped a bit when I saw it available. :)


Please note you will have to pay additional shipping charges, unlike purchases from 52Teas, which includes shipping in the price. But for shipping in the US, I paid only $1.50, so it's not extreme. 


Other teas will be available as well...but for a limited time, so when you see a tea you want, grab it! :)