ArtOfTea - Exploring the Passion and Fusion at Art of Tea

Does Tea Hydrate You?

May 18, 2018

At Art of Tea, we have a deep love and appreciation for all things tea – and some of our iced teas have won awards at international tea competitions. But sometimes, our customers ask us: does tea ‘count’ as water? Does tea help you hydrate? In the past, some have argued that tea actually doesn’t have a net-hydrating impact on the body. As your source for all things tea, we wanted to answer this question once and for all.

Is Tea Hydrating?

In a word: yes. Both iced and hot tea hydrate you and help deliver water to the body. So why all the confusion? It all starts with caffeine.

All tea blends except herbal or caffeine-free tea contain some form of caffeine. Whether white tea, green tea, or black tea, tea leaves contain a small amount of caffeine. They don’t contain nearly as much as coffee, but it’s still significant: a cup of coffee has about 100 mg of caffeine, while a cup of tea has roughly 30 or 40.

Caffeine is a diuretic: a substance that causes the body to urinate. For a time, some believed that the diuretic effect of the caffeine in tea offset the hydration – in short, that drinking tea caused you to urinate more water than you absorbed into the body.

Thankfully, though, this isn’t the case. Tea is a low-caffeine drink, so the diuretic effect is minimal. On the whole, tea gives your body much more water than it causes your body to lose. So drinking hot tea or iced tea helps to hydrate your body overall.

That said, caffeinated teas aren’t for everyone. Some people experience insomnia, headaches, or even drowsiness from consuming caffeine. Ultimately, it’s all about listening to your body to see if you react well to caffeinated or caffeine-free teas.

Shop Loose Tea Online Today

If you’re looking for high-quality teas to caffeinate, hydrate, or relax you, Art of Tea can help! We source only the finest loose leaf teas from the most prestigious tea-growing regions in the world, ensuring an exacting standard of quality that guarantees world-class tea in every cup. Browse our full inventory of teas today to find one you love, then order online and have it shipped directly to your home. We can’t wait to help you experience the wonderful world of tea!

Mother’s Day Guide: Gift Ideas for Mom

May 4, 2018

Mother’s Day is sneaking up on us quickly. May 13th is just around the corner and nobody wants to be the son or daughter who forgot about Mom. We’re here to help with great tea gifts any tea-drinking mother would love. (Bonus! All of these gifts qualify for a free For Her tea tin, too! When you spend $50 or more at Art of Tea, we’ll add a For Her tea tin to your order. Just use the code THXMOM at checkout and we’ll take care of the rest.)

For the Mom On-the-Go

There are few people on Earth who work harder than moms. If your mother loves tea, help her enjoy her tea on-the-go with the Art of Tea Classics Gift Set. Featuring two of our most popular blends and a travel-friendly Klean Kanteen, the Art of Tea Classics Gift Set is a safe bet for this Mother’s Day.

If Mom isn’t a fan of loose tea, opt for the Assorted Pyramid Teabag Gift Set. This beautiful leatherette box contains an assortment of pre-packaged, eco-friendly teabags that Mom can grab on the way out the door. Mom love to host guests? The Assorted Pyramid Teabag Gift Set is great for entertaining and guests will love the six-section leatherette display box.

For the Mom Who Loves All Things Tea

If you asked your mom what kind of tea she likes and she responded with “All of it.” the Tea Tin Gift Set is the best choice for you. We chose four of our most popular Artisan Tea Tins to bundle in must-have gift set. From the decadent Jasmine Pearls to the soothing Egyptian Chamomile, the Tea Tin Gift Set manages to have it all. Paired with your free For Her tin, the Tea Tin Gift Set could be a great start to Mom’s newest tea collection.

For the Mom You Go to For Everything

She’s the Lorelai to your Rory, or the Donna to your Sophie. Whenever you need a talk, she’s always there for you. For the Mom you go to for everything, give the gift of tea time with the Tea for Two Gift Set. With two handcrafted mugs (one for her and one for you!) and a box of assorted pyramid teabags, it’s a gift you can enjoy with Mom every time you visit.

We know it’s not always possible to see Mom in person on Mother’s Day, and that sometimes it’s easiest to ship your gift straight to Mom. Don’t stress about gift wrap. All of the gifts in our guide come packaged in wood or leatherette boxes that are perfect for gifting, no paper needed.

“Green” Teas and Sustainability: Our Commitment to the Environment

April 18, 2018

When we post pictures of filter bags or sachets on social media, one of the most common comments we get is “But that’s so wasteful!” We love that our community is full of environmentally conscious tea drinkers. Our team constantly thinks about the environment, too. That’s why we need to clear the air about our sustainability practices. (Pun intended.)

Okay. Here it is: There’s no need to stress about our filter bags and sachets. Art of Tea is committed to green business practices.

Tea is an agricultural product, so we’re especially appreciative of the environment and what it produces for us. We care so much that we even list “Commit to sustainable business practices” as one of our company’s core values. We take caring for the environment very seriously, and we hope our commitment to the planet will inspire you to be more environmentally-conscious, too!

Using Green Materials

Back to those filter bags and sachets… You might be wondering how it is that we’re producing single-serve loose tea experiences without creating waste. We use biodegradable materials for our sachets and filter bags. Pillow-shaped teabags from the grocery store are often made of paper with a metal staple. Our sachets are made from a corn-based fiber and are sealed with supersonic waves. (Say that three times fast.) Our filter bags might feel like paper, but they’re actually made with Abaca Pulp, which comes from banana leaves.

Because we’re using vegetable starch materials to make our sachets and filter bags, both can be tossed in the compost. A product is compostable if it’s biodegradable and if the broken-down product benefits the soil. Most compostable products are made of PLA (a material that feels like plastic), sugarcane fiber, or vegetable starch.

Sourcing From Sustainable Farmers

Everything we do at our facility is done with the environment in mind, and we want to source from farms that share this ethos. In addition to staying green, we also try to work with Fair Trade farms as often as possible. Fair Trade farms commit to fair and ethical labor practices as well as sustainability. While we mix all of our blends in-house, we’re importing most of our ingredients. Through working with Fair Trade farms, we’re empowering businesses who believe in sustainability, too.

Want to learn even more about our commitment to sustainability? Check out our pledge to produce sustainable tea, or explore our Core Values.