General Brewing Instructions:
Green and White Teas: Infuse 1 tsp per 6-8 oz of water. Steep for 2-3 minutes in 180° water. If infused longer than 2-3 minutes White and Green tea can become bitter.
Black Teas: Infuse 1 tsp per 6-8 oz of water. Steep for 5 minutes in 212° water (boiling water). If infused longer than 5 minutes Black tea can become bitter.
Herbal Teas: Infuse 1 tsp per 6-8 oz of water. Steep for 5-7 minutes in 212° water (boiling water). Infusing herbal tea longer than 7 minutes will NOT make it bitter, only stronger.
How do I make iced tea?
Use 2 tsp of tea leaves, and then brew as instructed above. Then, pour your tea over ice and enjoy! *Be sure to prepare your iced tea in a shatter-proof container to prevent accidents while the tea is still hot!*
Wait, how do I know when my water is the right temperature for tea?
If you don’t have a fancy kettle that tells you the temperature of your water, there are some other low-tech options.
For Black and Herbal Teas:
- 212° is the boiling point for water (+ or - a few degrees for your elevation)
- If you use a pot, you are looking for a rolling boil
For Green and White Teas:
- Use a thermometer, any kind of cooking thermometer will do, just be careful of steam.
- Listen to your kettle. Listen for a sizzling sound, it happens right around 180 degrees before the water hits boiling.
- Bubbles. If you use a pot to boil water, look for large bubbles forming at the base of the pot but do not break the water’s surface.
Why does water temperature make a difference?
Green and White teas are made with tea leaves that aren’t oxidized the way Black tea leaves are. This means the leaves are more tender in Green teas and water over 180° can scald the leaves, this results in damaged leaves and a bitter flavor.
Can I brew tea stronger without making it bitter?
Yes! Simply adding more tea leaves to your tea ball, infuser, or basket will give you a stronger flavor. For Herbal teas, which don’t contain actual tea leaves, let the blend steep longer for more flavor.
Can I decaffeinate my tea?
Yes...well, mostly. Most of the caffeine from tea comes out in the first “wash” of the leaves. If you let your tea steep for about 60 seconds, then discard the liquid, you’ll get rid of nearly 80% of the caffeine. Brew another batch for nearly caffeine free tea.
Where do you get your tea leaves from?
It’s important to us that our ingredients are not only ethically sourced, but that they are also 100% natural. That's why we source our ingredients globally through wholesalers that are part of the Ethical Tea Partnership.
All of our teas come in resealable pouches to ensure their freshness.
What types of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards as well as PayPal.
Can I order in bulk?
Currently, our 3 oz package is the largest retail package we offer.
We also offer a wholesale program for shops and restaurants. You can request more information about that here.
Can I order over the phone?
Yes, while we don’t have our phone lines staffed all the time, please feel free to call us at (612) 888-3270 and leave a message! We would be delighted to return your call and assist you with your order.
Do you offer free shipping?
Orders over $75 are eligible for free shipping.
Do you have a retail location?
At this time we have no plans to open a retail location, however if you are local to the Anoka area, you can always order online and we will leave your order at the front desk of the Rum River Art Center for you to pick up at your convenience. These orders are typically fulfilled on Tuesdays and Fridays and we will send you a message with pick up instructions once your order is ready for you!
How soon will my tea ship?
Orders are typically fulfilled and shipped on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Where do you ship to?
We currently ship anywhere in the U.S.
Do you ship to APO, FPO, or PO Box addresses?
We use USPS for our shipping needs, so if they ship it there, so do we!
Can I ship to multiple locations?
If you would like to ship to multiple locations please contact us directly.
How can I check my order status and how do I track my order once it ships?
You will be able to log into your account and see the status of your order. You'll also get email notifications when your order is shipped that includes tracking information.
Can I get a blend custom made for me? Do you make tea for businesses with their logo on it?
We love creating custom blends! For more information about custom blends and specially branded teas click here or give us a call at (612) 888-3270.
Do you offer gift certificates?
While we hope to offer gift certificates in the near future, we don’t have that option at this time. If you're giving our teas as a gift and want your recipient to be able to pick out their own teas, please contact us and we would be happy to help you!
Will gift labels or receipts show the amount I paid?
If this is a gift please let us know! Not only will we make sure that there isn’t any pricing info in the package, we can include a handwritten card.
How do I modify my order?
If you need to make any changes to your order, please contact us as soon as possible. Once an order has been filled, changes cannot be made.
What is your Return Policy?
We recommend starting with our small size package. At just over 1oz, it is perfect for testing a flavor of tea to find out if you like it. The small size makes between 10-15 cups of tea - depending on how strong you like it.
Once you've found the tea you love you can upgrade to the large size. It is a 3 oz package and makes between 30-50 cups of tea - depending on how strong you like it.
If you're ever concerned about whether or not you will like a tea, rest assured.
If you aren't happy you can always return any unused portion within 30 days. We believe that tea is there to be consumed and hate the idea of lonely tea being abandoned in the cupboard.
If you don’t like your tea for any reason, please contact us to exchange it for one you love!
Still not sure? Please contact us to ask about samples.
