Throughout the contest, we showcased the powerful messages of our weekly EquaTrade Gift Set winners, such as:

“I am powerful because I am a mother and have the power to create and shape the life of two incredible human beings.”~ Natalia M

‎”The power of a strong woman is knowing which battles to choose. I am empowered by being above my circumstances and not beneath them.” ~ Jeannie E.

“Every person in this world has been given a light; a candle that represents everything they are, their struggles, and their virtues. I am powerful because I refuse to let my candle flicker out, no matter what anybody thinks.” ~ Kelly L.

After receiving thousands of moving messages of power, we are thrilled to finally announce the Grand Prize winner of a $500 Teavana gift certificate. Congratulations, Tasha E!! Your message moved us so greatly, that we are proud to share this gift with you as a thank you for your touching words.

“A child born poor and African American is often stereotyped.  Add female to the mix and your fate is deemed as foggy and weak.  My voice was unheard.  I spoke through dance and poetry in my own way because I was not good enough to dance among those who could afford to take lessons.  My writings were only of what I saw, which was limited and what I felt, which was confusing.  I fought against the system.  I fought against the diet.  I fought against the stereotypes.  I fought to get OUT.

When I turned 18, after being educated at magnet schools my entire life (but still being labeled), I left Chicago for a new life eight hours away to a place I had never visited to attend college.  I stumbled, fell, messed up but I still held that stigma of having to prove the system wrong.

Even though the contest is now complete, our efforts with TeavanaCARES are ongoing. We will continue to donate 1% of our annual sales to CARE, which funds education, provides access to safe drinking water, and encourages economic development opportunities in the world’s tea growing communities.

With every sale of Teavana tea, our customers are facilitating these incredible efforts to make social change in our world. We encourage you to visit TeavanaCARES to take a closer look at our partnership with CARE and our commitment to empower women and children in the poorest tea communities across the globe.

Some discontinued teas can still be found online and in our stores. But don’t wait too long; stock up before they are gone for good!

The 2011 teas will be announced soon, so keep checking back for more alternative choices. Thank you for drinking Teavana tea!

CNN’s food blog, Eatocracy, shared information about the rising tea prices in China via their video report, All that tea in China? It might be getting a lot pricier. Asia Business Editor, Eunice Yoon, noted that bad weather and growing labor costs are the cause of increased tea costs.

Prices for premium tea, like Silver Needle White tea from the Fujian Province of China, have increased by thirty percent. According to Cai Jun, who oversees tea trade for China’s Chamber of Commerce, “Last year we experienced drought and the first half of this year was cold, which reduced supply.”

Some premium tea companies in Hong Kong are paying ten to fifty percent more this year, and are trying not to pass on costs to customers. In an effort to calm customers, tea companies are hoping to educate customers about the quality of premium tea so that they gain a deeper understanding about each sip.

Click here to watch CNN’s video in Hong Kong and learn more about the rising tea costs in China.

Enter our TeavanaCARES.com contest by submitting your statement of empowerment along with an email address and be entered to win our grand prize of a $500 gift certificate that can be used online or in Teavana stores! Teavana will also be randomly giving away awards (EquaTrade Gift Set, gift cards) to posts that inspire us every week. (Contest runs from June 24, 2010 through September 1, 2010. The winner will be chosen and announced on September 2, 2010)

Tell us what makes your powerful and lend your voice to Teavana’s “Circle of Empowerment” by submitting a statement here or sharing a video here.

We have been very inspired by every entry that we have received so far. Two particular messages truly moved us and have been awarded our weekly EquaTrade Gift Set giveaway. These powerful words are featured on our Facebook page and we have also shared them below:

‎“The power of a strong woman is knowing which battles to choose. I am empowered by being above my circumstances and not beneath them.” ~ Jeannie E., loyal Teavana lover

“Every person in this world has been given a light; a candle that represents everything they are, their struggles, and their virtues. I am powerful because I refuse to let my candle flicker out, no matter what anybody thinks.” ~ Kelly L., loyal Teavana lover

Here are a few more amazing messages that were recently submitted:

Continue reading these empowering messages and share your own powerful voice with us for a chance to win.

In 2010, India is being added to the list of areas supported by EquaTradeTM. As we work towards funding a new, long-term project in India, we wanted to enlighten our readers about their world and share why we so passionately care about empowering them and changing their future.

According to certain historical documents, tea has been harvested and consumed in India since the 12th century. The Camellia Sinensis plant (tea plant) was a wild plant grown and brewed in India for thousands of years. In 1820, the British East India Company transformed vast portions of land in India for mass tea production, however, they lost their power over the land in 1874 and India regained power.

Known for their black tea from the Assam and Darjeeling regions, we are familiar with the champagne of teas, Darjeeling, Masala Chai, and the most popular black tea, Assam. Even though we may be familiar with the tea growing regions, we need to take a closer look beyond the sip to see how we can help the lives of those women and children who are risking their lives to pick the tea.

Fast forward to present day, the tea industry in India is one of the largest around the world. Although the tea producers are technologically equipped and offer advanced methods, many of the women and children who support this industry through their tireless labor live in impoverished conditions. Women have suffered from severe illness and sometimes death from contaminated drinking water on countless tea estates. The incredible poverty has also lead to a rising number starvation deaths amongst children.

As we become more aware of these horrendous conditions, we are determined to help these women and children via funds from CARE® in Every Tea Leaf/ EquaTradeTM Program to not only restore their living conditions, but to also empower them to build better futures for the next generation.

When the tea is ready for harvesting, tea workers cut branches from the bush and bound them to be transported to a facility where the leaves will be chopped from the sturdy branches and processed to reveal the traditional Rooibos needle. This reddish brown needle-like tea steeps to yield a rich, earthy, malty and naturally sweet herbal tea. Red Rooibos is a fabulous base for a blend of indulgent chai spices, nuts and decadent vanilla. The red bush can also be processed to reveal a Green Rooibos (without fermentation) for a lighter taste that is used in fruity blends.

Known for its health benefits, Rooibos is rich in vitamins and minerals, has higher antioxidants than green tea, and can help with digestion, promote healthy skin and relieve some allergies.

Although this tea brings our palates great joy, it is crucial to understand the hardships of the South African tea pickers, mostly women and children, who often live in poverty. In an effort to create social change and assist these women and children, Teavana founded the CARE® in Every Tea Leaf/ EquaTradeTM Program.

With every sale of Teavana® tea, you are facilitating a donation which helps fund education, access to safe drinking water, and economic development opportunities in the world’s tea growing communities. Teavana® donates 1% of annual profits from tea to CARE®, which places special emphasis on empowering women to create permanent social change.

In 2009, the CARE program funded the reduction of rural poverty in South Africa by introducing economic development activities including:

•Business Training. Funded the training of Savings & Loan members on income-generating partnerships and market positioning skills to allow small business to grow.

•Technical Support. Provided specialized support and training on product quality & improvement and agricultural value programs. CARE® funded business literacy training for women, teaching improved manufacturing & agricultural skills.

• Mentorship. CARE® created mentorship programs that led to organizing farm cooperatives, developing sales outlets for products produced, and providing better record keeping skills to track production and sales.

With each sip of Teavana’s Rooibos teas, you are not only honoring a traditional beverage with deep roots, but also helping us make steps towards greatly improving the lives of the children and women who are sharing their local Rooibos tea with you.

Tea drinkers are familiar with many of the health benefits associated with each sip, although, it seems that the list of positive effects continues to grow with each steep. At this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, one new study reported that regular tea drinking could reduce the risk of brain decline.

The study tracked and studied 4,800 women and men (65+) for up to 14 years, evaluating the relationship between drinking tea and dementia. According to the study,

“Tea drinkers had less mental decline than non-tea drinkers. Those who drank tea one to four times a week had average annual rates of decline 37% lower than people who didn’t drink tea. Coffee didn’t show any influence except at the highest levels of consumption, researchers say. Author Lenore Arab of UCLA says, “Interestingly, the observed associations are unlikely to be related to caffeine, which is present in coffee at levels two to three times higher than in tea.”

It is safe to say that the health properties within this wondrous leaf continue to help our bodies ward off illness and encourage a healthy lifestyle. The chief medical and scientific office of the Alzheimer’s Association, William Thies, noted that “These types of studies make people think, ‘Well gosh, maybe I can do something about this disease.’ ”

If you would like to read the full article,  click here. For more information and scientific studies about tea’s health benefits, please take a closer look at our health resources section.

{photo courtesy of Eduardo Mueses}

Known for its incredible health benefits, Green Tea can help heal the body with each delicious sip. From boosting the immune system, soothing the digestive system, lowering cholesterol, to having incredible skin calming results when added to a DIY facemask, Green Tea is a true super tea. Recently, a study found that green tea “may help repair DNA damage caused by sun exposure.”

Published in the Cancer Prevention Research journal, this study fed mice water with green tea and exposed them to UV radiation to determine if the polyphenols would repair DNA damage caused by the UV radiation. Polyphenols found in green tea “are thought to fight free radicals (highly unstable molecules that can damage cells) and have anticarcinogenic activity.”

According to the researchers: “These findings suggest that green tea polyphenols may block immunosuppression from UV exposure in mice for a longer period of time, even after they stopped consuming the polyphenols.” For more details about this Green Tea study, click here.

So whether you brew a tall glass of iced green tea to cool you during these summer days, or add it to the spice rub for your weekend BBQ, keep in mind that you’re treating your body to a boost of healthy effects and your taste buds to an amazing treat.

photo from juicyverve

Bold, brisk iced tea may be our go-to summer drink, but don’t forget to add delicate and warm sips to the mix. One of the world’s most famous and rare teas is the Silver Yin Zhen Pearls White Tea.

The young, tender buds are grown in the Fujian Province of China. Early in the spring, these delicate buds are harvested over a two to three week period. Covered in white downy hair that appears almost silvery against the pale green bud, this tea is referred to as Silver Needle White tea. These rare buds are gently hand-rolled into petite pearl shapes and then spread out on a bamboo mat to oxidize naturally in the sun. During the sun-drying process, the silver appearance of the white downy and tender buds intensifies.

When steeped in warm water (not boiling) for up to 5 minutes, the beautiful pearls unfurl to release a sweet, fragrant, mellow brew with a pale green/light yellow liquor. Pay close attention to the visual delight of the steep, as the pearls delicately dance about in the water and blossom to reveal silver needle buds. This rare tea is smooth, clean, fresh, subtlety sweet, floral and nutty, perfect for a sophisticated palate.

Although low in caffeine and delicate to the taste, the Silver Yin Zhen Pearls White Tea packs a powerful punch of health benefits. High in antioxidants, this white tea is wonderful for your skin and may reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Considering that each cup only contains 1% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee, this white tea can also help detoxify your body due to low caffeine levels blended with high amounts of antioxidants. Studies have also shown that white teas may inhibit the growth of certain forms of cancer.

This rare, high-end tea is a true treat for your health and senses.

And if you’re looking for a way to add fruity and spicy flavors to this delicate tea, we recommend blending with Wild Orange Blossom Herbal Tea, Peachberry Jasmine Sutra Green Tea, and White Ayurvedic Chai Tea.

Festive sparklers and cozy blankets are waiting patiently in the garage as we anticipate the upcoming 4th of July celebration. Rather than keep the entire celebration in your own backyard, why not head to the town park early and snag a spot to watch the fireworks display? Just be sure to ice your tea, grill up your favorite treats and pack a picnic basket so that you can take your celebratory snacks and sips with you.

Even though traditional spice rubs are a safe bet for any master griller, it might be time for a tea-themed extravaganza that starts with the grill. Add a burst of flavor to grilled chicken with a green tea spice rub. I recommend a tea that is blended with citrus & fruity notes, like our Citron Sonata Green Tea, which is chock full of bright, bold summer flavors (Green tea, Rooibos tea, candied Papaya bits, apple pieces, carrot bits, raisins, lemongrass, lemon bits, orange peels and orange blossoms).

The rooibos and green tea will add an earthy flavor to the savory chicken. After brushing olive oil on the chicken, coat the meat with the tea rub (2 tablespoons tea, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper), let it marinate overnight, and then grill as usual before packing it in the basket.

After treating your taste buds to the flavorful chicken, cool down during the hot summer afternoon & evening with a glass of iced tea. Our Cacao Mint Black tea is the perfect blend to ice and sip after a hearty picnic meal. The decadent cocoa and hazelnut pieces add a rich, natural sweetness to soothe any dessert craving. The naturally cooling mint will refresh mind, body and soul while aiding in digestion, so that you can comfortably ooh and ahh at the firework display after a big meal on the blanket. The hearty black tea is the perfect base for these flavors and will give you that extra burst of energy to keep you going until the last firework fades into the sky. So just steep and ice your tea the day before and pack it up in a few of our glass tea tumblers (the double-walled glass design insulates your tea to keep it cool), and you’re set for an afternoon & evening of summer celebration!

(photo courtesy of Tom Olliver)