[1] A calming herbal blend. [2] The selection of black, green, herbal and white teas will please everyone. [3] Lord Bergamot, the company’s version of Earl Gre;, powerfully blended (all photos courtesy Steven Smith Teamaker).
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Steven Smith of Portland, Oregon was* tea royalty in the U.S., first as co-founder of Stash, then as founder of Tazo, then as co-founder, with wife Kim, of Steven Smith Teamaker.
Steve not only had the expertise; he had the commitment to seeking out the best, and the palate to know the best. When he started his eponymous label, his curated teas were noticeably superior to other “superior” tea brands.
The company’s staff travels the globe to to personally select the finest small-batch teas and botanicals. They buy from longtime colleagues in the world’s best tea-growing regions in Africa, India, China and Sri Lanka.
We drink a lot of tea, and try every brand that comes our way. There are many “artisan teas” that arrive in beautiful packaging, but trust us: Steven Smith’s teas are the best we can remember having. While the shape of the sachets (tea bags) and tins of loose tea looks familiar, the artistry inside is unique. For example:
Assam is big and malty black tea, blended by Smith with a bit of smoky Keemun.
Lord Bergamot is an “upgrade” of Earl Grey tea that combines Ceylon and Assam teas with the bergamot oil from Reggio Calabria, the toe of Italy’s boot.
Meadow blends chamomile flowers with hyssop, linden flowers, rooibos and rose petals—a memorable herbal infusion.
Rose City† Genmaicha, our favorite green tea, grassy with the light, nutty flavor of roasted rice. Here, the unique touch is a bit of rose petal and manuka honey.
Prices vary based on the cost of the ingredients, but an example with Lord Bergamot:
2 ounce package of loose tea (for stocking stuffers), $5.50
4-ounce packs $10.00
Loose tea tins $11.99
Box of 15 sachets, $11.99
Steven Smith Teamaker teas are all natural, gluten free, GMO free. The bags are compostable.
Each container has a batch number that you can enter to see the provenance of the ingredients, the date it was packed, and personal notes from the tea blender.
SPECIAL HOLIDAY BLENDS
Celebrate the season with:
Silent Night herbal blend won’t keep you up at night. The caffeine free ingredients include locally-grown peppermint and sweet blackberry leaves accented with cassia (cinnamon), ginger root, sarsaparilla and sweet licorice root.
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Morning Light black tea blend combines high-grown Ceylons, caramelized North Indian Assam, wild rosemary and a pinch of Northwest Douglas Fir needles. Oh Tannenbaum! (Check out this version, sung in English by Aretha Franklin.)
Each tin is $14.99.
There are dozens of teas, each totally wonderful with or without milk and sugar, along with:
Gift Sets: Chocolate Peppermint Latte or Creme Caramel Latte Kit, $25.00, are just two of the gift sets that any tea lover will be happy to receive. Check out the gift sets.
Franklin.)
Custom-label tins are available for wedding parties, in blends customized to the couple’s preferences.
HEAD TO SMITHTEA.COM TO BEGIN YOUR TEA ADVENTURE.
If you’re in the Portland area, stop by the tasting room for a cup or two.
WANT TO EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF TEA?
Check out our Tea Glossary.
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*Mr. Smith passed away last year.
†Portland is called the Rose City for its proliferation of roses. The climate is ideal for growing roses outdoors: warm, dry summers, rainy and mild winters, plus heavy clay soils.
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