A Note From Rishi Tea...

Rishi Tea founder and tea buyer, Joshua Kaiser is speaking at Samovar's inaugural Tea with...Tea Mavericks of America. Joshua and other leading tea experts will discuss new innovations in the tea industry, the challenges they face, health benefits, sustainability trends and share their latest and greatest artisan teas on-camera for a live tea tasting. Joshua will be brewing our new award-winning Super Green.

Tea Mavericks of America takes place on Tuesday, September 14^th, 5pm PST at Samovar's beautiful Yerba Buena Gardens location. Tickets are available for $40 or join the discussion online for a free streaming at Samovarlife.com.

Rishi & World Tea Championship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



As a winner of 11 First Place awards at the 2009 World Tea Championship, Rishi Tea is thrilled to participate in the 2010 World Tea Expo taking place June 11 through the 13th in Las Vegas. Please join us for a very special Japanese tea ceremony, a tasting of 2010 Fresh Crop Teas and a presentation by Joshua Kaiser, founder and tea buyer of Rishi Tea.



Rishi Tea invites you to a very special Japanese tea ceremony, known as Sencha-do, taking place June 11th – June 13th at 11:45am, 2pm and 3:30pm in Booth # 401. Mr. Yoshikura, a master of Sencha-do from the Obaku Kofu Ryu established in 1959, will lead the ceremonies and demonstrate the way of four green teas including Gyokuro (Secret Garden), cold-brew Sencha, hot-brew Sencha and Bancha. Each session will feature one tea and last 40 minutes and are open to all on a first come, first served basis.



Cha No Yu, the Japanese tea ceremony using Matcha powdered green tea is known to many, but few outside of Japan are familiar with the ceremony for loose leaf tea called Sencha-do.



Sencha-do or “the way of Sencha,” became widespread in Japan during the 19th Century. Sencha-do became a non-political and less formal means for Japanese intelligentsia to rebel against the hierarchy and politics surrounding "Cha No Yu" powdered tea ceremony of the era. Sencha-do is inspired by the reclusive ancient Chinese tea sages and intellectuals that used tea as a social and more spiritual way to enjoy loose leaf tea to get away from the daily grind and enjoy life.



As with Chinese Gong Fu Cha, there are specific brewing methods and etiquette for Sencha-do ceremony, which include unique teaware and distinct pouring methods. Sencha-do schools and tea instructors practice unique brewing techniques and tea concepts specific to Sencha, Gyokuro and other Japanese green tea. Tea lovers and baristas can learn the brewing techniques that are unique to loose leaf Sencha and green teas by taking part in Rishi Tea’s Sencha-do Ceremony.



In addition to the scheduled Sencha-do classes, Joshua Kaiser, along with visiting tea experts, will lead focused tastings of 2010 Fresh Crop Teas from Japan, Taiwan, China, etc. These tastings will be held at various times throughout the weekend in Booth # 401. Guests are welcome to join and share with us some of this year’s most exciting new teas, fresh from origin!



Lastly, join Joshua for a presentation on the foundation and strong points of Rishi Tea and its unique organic supply chain, taking place Saturday, June 12th at 12:30pm on the show floor of the World Tea Expo in the Vendor Presentation Theater.



We look forward to seeing you there!

Chai Party & Dr. Jane Goodall

An interesting tidbit I received via email today...thought I would share...

A Chai Party with Dr. Jane Goodall

On a beautiful May evening, world-renowned Dr. Jane Goodall joined Rishi Tea and friends at the Nature Museum in Chicago to celebrate the launch of our new Masala Chai Concentrate and partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute.

We were honored to hear Dr. Goodall speak, about her incredible story, passion for animals and the environment and the importance of partnering with companies like Rishi Tea. Dr. Goodall remarked, “The more I learn about Rishi Tea, the more impressed I am and the more I realize how joining forces can spread the good that both of our organizations are involved in.”

Every purchase of our Masala Chai helps the Jane Goodall Institute, including Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, its global, environmental and humanitarian youth program.

Our new Masala Chai is made with all certified organic ingredients and a Fair Trade single-origin black tea harvested in the ancient tree forests of Mannong Manmai, in Yunnan, China – the birthplace of tea.

TransFair USA wrote a great article about our Chai and the Fair Trade work we do in Mannong Manmai - http://transfairusa.org/blog/?p=2667

Learn more about our Chai and Jane Goodall partnership: http://www.rishi-tea.com/chaiwithroots/

Listen to WUWM’s Public Radio coverage of our Chai party with Dr. Goodall.

The Kathleen Show interviews Joshua

The funny, smart and down-to-earth Kathleen interviews Joshua, Rishi Tea founder and tea buyer about starting Rishi Tea, his travels and the ins and outs of tea. Listen to the wonderful interview here!

Joshua’s Spring Harvest Travels

Every spring, Joshua travels to our many tea producing origins, works with farmers and friends and checks on the spring harvest. This year, he takes us along for the ride with personal videos, interviews with farmers, and beautiful photos from origin.

You can also keep up-to-date with Joshua’s travels through his monthly column on Food Thinkers -

http://www.foodthinkers.com/category/global-individuali-tea/

Stop by for tea at these upcoming National Events

May 22-25: National Restaurant Show in Chicago – Booth #1077

June 11-13: World Tea Expo in Las Vegas – Booth #401

June 27-29: Fancy Food Show in New York – Booth #5111

More Rishi Tea events listed here.

New Spring Teas

Kagoshima Shincha Sae Midori

Nishi-san's Shincha Yabukita

Nishi First Flush Sencha

Lu Zhen Green Needles (roasted)

Lu Zhen Green Needles (steamed)