By Jennifer Jackson on March 12, 2026 / / 0 Comments
March 13-15, 2015
10 - 6 PM
Garden State Exhibit Center
50 Atrium Drive · Somerset, NJ 08873
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By Jennifer Jackson on March 04, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Tea 101: Organic Teas - Nature's Bounty
Organic teas are hard to find. In most of the tea growing world (Japan, China, Kenya, etc), there is no such concept as 'organic'. Most of the tea that we source are directly from family-owned farms that have been using the same tea growing techniques for centuries. Yet, when a community has committed itself to organic teas, we have to take notice.
Benefits of Organic Teas
Organic is good for the ecosystem: Organic tea gardens support ecosystems and don’t contaminate local water supplies.
Organic tastes better: By using organic fertilizers, like cover crops and manures, tea plants are allowed to blossom and ripen at their own, natural pace. They have more time to develop the natural sugars in compounds that helps the flavor. This allows the teas to have a stronger flavor than conventional teas.
Organic is certified: Organic teas are now certified organic by government agencies like the United States Department of Agriculture. In the past, anyone could say that a tea was organic even it was not.
New Organic Teas At Not Just Tea
We know that our customers are health conscious and want to know that they are getting the best teas. Therefore, we have introduced 5 new organic teas to our tea line. We will also be replacing some of our existing teas with organic teas throughout the year. Check out these new organic teas at the Sugarloaf Festival in Somerset, NJ from March 13-15!
- Organic Blue Nile Chamomile - Egyptian chamomile produces a fragrant and soothing cup with a hint of honey
- Organic Slimming Jade Oolong - Organic oolong tea with flowery aroma with a subtle, buttery finish.
- Organic White Peony - Organic white tea with bright apricot color and naturally light floral fragrance.
- Organic English Breakfast - Feel like royalty with this robust organic black tea with malty and oaky undertones.
- Organic Green Gunpowder - Organic green tea that is tightly rolled and fire roasted.
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Tea 101: Oolong Teas - Easy, Breezy Weight Loss?
I love Oolong teas! They are literally my favorite teas because they are a delicious hybrid of the best parts of green and black teas.
Oolong teas are made through centuries-old, complex techniques and produce an exotic and exciting elixir. Oolong teas are the most difficult of the artisan teas to produce. In some cases, the process can exceed 2 days preparation with constant monitoring of aroma, feel and look. As with any artisan tea, it is the expertise of the tea master which will ultimately determine the quality and desirability of the final product.
There are two types of Oolongs:
Jade Oolong - Light, airy like an earthy sweet robust green tea
This legendary oolong is a cup of pure romance. It produces a beautiful jade colored infusion. The flavor has a natural sweetness, with lingering notes of Spring greens. The Iron Goddess is a Tie Guan Yin oolong from Fujian Province, China. Hand harvested and produced through a traditional process whereby the large tea leaves are very tightly rolled. This is the one of the most revered Chinese oolongs.
We are introducing a new Organic Jade Oolong into our tea line at the Somerset, NJ Sugarloaf Festival in March called Organic Slimming Jade Oolong.
Formosa or Taiwanese Oolong - Dark and Robust
Formosa Oolongs have had longer oxidation exposure then the Chinese oolongs; this accounts for their darker appearance. Often referred to for their weight loss characteristics, oolong teas are used in many diet and health plans.
We carry 3 different Formosa oolongs at Not Just Tea - Caribbean Breeze, Jasmine Garden Oolong and Autumn Sunset.
Proper Steeping Instructions:
Oolong teas support multiple infusions; they can be infused 6-7 times. With each steeping, oolong teas leaves unfurl more and impart differing flavors making it one of the most interesting teas as well.
- Use 2 tsp per 6-8 oz cup
- Heat water to 195 degrees and pour over the leaves then dump the steep out after 20 seconds. T
- The Chinese say you have “awakened the Dragon"!
- For the next steep, use same temperature water and allow to steep 2 minute
- The more steeps you have, the longer the steeping time up to 3-4 minutes
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Tea 101: Caffeine-Free Herbal Teas - The 'Tisane' That Just Keeps On Giving
Herbal teas are both the most requested and least understood of all teas. First, the term 'herbal tea' is just all wrong. To be considered “tea” a beverage must contain leaves and or stems of the Camellia Sinensis tree (think white, green, oolong and black tea leaves); otherwise it is considered an herbal infusion or fruit tisane.
Therefore, peppermint or chamomile teas are actually tisanes and not teas.
Next, there are just SO many herbal tisanes and infusions with so many healthy benefits. But some common benefits across all tisanes include anti-anxiety and anti-depression. At Not Just Tea, we love them and are expanding our line this year with 4 new herbal infusions.
Health Benefits:
-
Believed to reduce stress and calm anxiety
- May aid in fighting sleeping disorders
- Has been shown to quiet symptoms of indigestion and nausea
- Has antibacterial properties that may help relieve symptoms from the common cold
At Not Just Tea, our customers love herbal tisanes. Our first tea was a herbal tea, Sassy Strawberry, which was a delicious blend of strawberries, mango and papaya. We have since expanded to 5 different teas. We are so excited to offer 4 new teas to our herbal infusion line.
Visit us at Sugarloaf Craft Festival in March to taste our new teas:
- Lemony Goodness - Delicious blend of tangy lemons, strawberries, South African Rooibos and peaches.
- Very Berry Berry - Bold and tart blend of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries
- Apricot Supreme - Lovely, sweet of apricots stone fruit blended with green South African Rooibos
- Peachy Keen - Delightfully innocent blend of peaches, marigolds and green South African Rooibos
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Tea 101: Black Tea: The Full-Bodies Beauties of The Tea World
Black tea is the most popular tea in North America. Black tea is normally the first tea consumed as children. Who does remember the Lipton tea bag and little piece of lemon that you received at the local restaurant or diner. My first tea experience was black tea. My parent's lived in Flushing, Queens near Chinatown. There was a little Chinese restaurant that they frequented often. Even though I was only 5 or 6, I still remember the piping hot sweet black tea that arrived at the table as soon as sat down. Who would have thought that a few decades after I would create Not Just Tea whose mission it is to create that wonderful feeling that I still remember from my first tea experience.
Top 5 : Healthy Benefits of Black Tea
- Excellent source of antioxidants
- Lowers risk of heart disease and heart attacks
- Reduces cholesterol
- Higher caffeine level gives a boost in the morning without jitters
- Stimulates hair growth
What Makes Black Tea So Wonderful?
All true tea types come from the Camellia Sinensis plant; what makes the difference is how the tea is processed. All teas have varying flavors and colors but are processed in basically the same way. Black teas are special because unlike white, green, or oolong teas, the tea leaves are fully oxidized (think of an apple that has been cut and has browned). Leaves are picked either by hand (this is rare and expensive) or by plucking machines. After picked the leaves are laid out to wither and dry. The dried leaves are then rolled between two disks that accelerates that oxidation process. Black teas are fully oxidized which gives them their deep, robust taste and black coloring.
The best way to prepare black teas:
2 TSP of Black Tea
Water Temperature: 195 F
Steeping Time: 3-5 minutes
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