Steven Smith Teamaker (sometimes referred to as Smith Tea) was founded by tea visionary, Steven Smith, to introduce Americans to a new, superior product that would heighten their palates and capture the imagination Smith had refined with his many years in the industry. After co-founding Stash Tea, and then the becoming the mastermind behind Tazo Tea Company, Smith was ready for retirement. However, it wasn’t long before he felt the itch to use his height of experience to develop one more brand, one that would draw even more from his well of creativity and would add a new facet to the industry he had spent a lifetime cultivating.

Houston’s now carries Smith Tea to further enhance our tea selection. This product is made with “only the best tea on the market,” as the Smith Tea website states. Every blend is crafted with meticulous care, not only to provide an exceptional flavor, but also to generate an aroma and appearance that is as unique as it is beautiful. We now offer this premium tea because it meets the demands of a segment of the industry that we believe remains largely untapped: consumers with a deep appreciation and desire for handcrafted tea.

Much of Smith Tea’s product line-up is inspired by its uncommon roots. For starters, the company was born in a 100-year-old blacksmith shop in Portland, Oregon, a city that regularly prides itself on being “weird.” While the location is now used as Smith Tea’s tasting room, the company still draws on the peculiarities of its heritage by developing flavors that are somewhat out of the norm, yet familiar. Here are just a few examples of these distinct takes on classic flavors that have been made available through Houston’s.

Lord Bergamot – reminiscent of Earl Grey, but with a bit more complexity, this black tea is a blend of Ceylon Dimbula and Uva leaves combined with Assam tea and Bergamot oil. The bright richness of the Assam meets citrusy-spicy Bergamot within mineral and floral notes of the companion teas for a malty sweetness.

Meadow – this chamomile tea brings together golden Egyptian flowers, fragrant hyssop, rooibos, rose petals, and linden flowers for a traditional chamomile flavor with a bit of apple and honey on the tail-end. With all of those petals in the bag, this is one chamomile that will have you wowed before it even begins to steep.

Jasmine Silver Tip – if you’re a fan of green tea, then this is definitely the Smith tea for you. Peak green tea leaves are harvested from China’s Fujian Province and steam-fired to seal their flavor. When fresh jasmine buds are added to the mix, the two ingredients form a concoction that is nothing short of magic. Look for hints of brown sugar in this delightful blend.

Exceptional Iced Tea – anyone who enjoys iced tea will tell you that black iced tea is without compare. Smith’s Exceptional Iced Tea combines Assam and Ceylon black teas with classic Nilgiri black tea and a full-flavored Darjeeling. The most prominent flavors you’ll notice are apricot, orange, and a bit of malt: a wonderfully crisp and natural-tasting iced tea.

The initial set of teas that Houston’s has selected from Smith pull from their Black Tea, Green Tea, Herbal Tea, and Iced Tea categories, ensuring that no matter the time of year, the occasion, or the consumer’s preference, we have a tea to match. We are very excited to provide this premium brand of teas, and to help offer a new perspective on your favorite classic.

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It may be surprising, but iced tea is a fairly recent development relative to its warmer counterpart. Tea itself has been around as far back as the 3rd Century, first recorded in a medical text written by the famed Chinese physician, Hua Tuo. Although the precise origins are unclear, iced tea was born in 19th Century America. While it at first seemed like a mere novelty, the trend took hold when books such as Buckeye Cookbook by Estelle Woods Wilcox and Housekeeping in Old Virginia by Marion Cabell Tyree published recipes that ultimately popularized the beverage nationwide. Even today, iced tea makes up a majority of tea sales in the United States.

There are few ways to better enjoy the summer months than with a refreshing glass of iced tea. With summer officially arriving on June 21st, June has been dubbed National Iced Tea Month. So, we decided to kick-off the celebration by listing the great flavors and forms of the sometimes sweet drink! In the process, you can also get a little more acquainted with the fantastic line of tea brands provided by Houston’s.

Not just any tea can be made into iced tea. There are certain teas that are optimal for making a truly delicious iced tea, and a few certain brands that know how to get the mixture just right.

Black Tea and Green Tea typically come from the same plants, but the process that follows harvest is slightly different. Before the tea is dried, it is allowed to oxidize, a process in which the tea is exposed to oxygen and is turned into a dark tea. The result is a more fruity or smoky flavor.

Mighty Leaf‘s Organic Breakfast Black Tea promises an aromatic and brisk flavor that can either be enjoyed black, with milk, sugar, or even a touch of honey. And of course this robust blend can easily be brewed with iced tea in mind!

Green Tea follows a very similar process as Black Tea, except that it is immediately dried upon harvest rather than put through oxidization. This preserves the tea’s natural taste, making for flavors that are lighter, nuttier, and more grassy.

Numi Organic Tea’s Green Tea is plucked, dried, pan-fried, and steamed to prevent the oxidization process from taking place. Once the tea is curled, it receives a final firing to seal its spectacular flavor. Gunpowder Green follows this process, except that it is instead rolled into pearls that unfold full-bodied flavor for an excellent afternoon pick-me-up.

Oolong Tea is different from Black Tea and Green Tea because it comes from a completely different plant. However, it can hold certain characteristics from these two teas since it goes through some level of oxidization. The extent of oxidization can vary widely, making Oolong a versatile kind of tea. Oolong Tea is also typically rolled into a variety of shapes that give it even more flavor and aroma possibilities.

ITO EN has taken the Oolong sensation and put it into an easy on-the-go can that is meant to be enjoyed cold. The company has taken full advantage of the tea’s semi-oxidized properties to make an exceptional flavor somewhere between Black and Green Tea.

Herbal Tea, oddly enough, is not actually a tea at all, since it does not come from any particular tea plant. It’s actually a combination of leaves, roots, flowers, and pretty much any plant that isn’t tea. However, the way Herbal Tea is enjoyed places it firmly in the “tea” category, and we’re sure happy it does because it makes for an excellent iced tea.

Two Leaves and a Bud offers the Organic Better Belly Blend, which takes full advantage of Herbal Tea’s wide range of available resources while providing a healthy cup of joy! Ginger, fennel, crisp mint, calendula, and apple join forces to bring us a refreshing tea whether hot or cold.

Fruity Tea is without a doubt a favorite amongst iced tea drinkers. Often bringing out favorite flavors like lemon, raspberry, apple, or even pomegranate, iced tea just can’t go wrong when paired with something a little sweet.

Bigelow understands that tea drinkers aren’t always in love with cold or hot tea, which is why Lemon Lift has been created to accommodate the best of both worlds! With just the right amount of lemon and a dash of spice, you’ll soon be wondering why you ever settled for lemonade.

Tea Concentrate isn’t exactly its own form of tea, but it is just one more way that you can enjoy a wonderful iced tea on a hot summer day. There’s no denying that when you’re looking to make a large batch of iced tea or you simply don’t want to go through the work of brewing your own, Tea Concentrate can be a quick and easy lifesaver, and you don’t need to sacrifice flavor to use it!

Island Rose Gourmet Tea offers its award-winning Tea Concentrate in a form that made the iced tea style famous. Southern Style Sweetened Tea marries Black Tea Concentrate with natural cane sugar for a flavor that is bound to impress even the most discerning sweet tea drinker.

Of course, many of the brands listed here offer a wide range of teas, whether they be made for that sweet, cool summer treat or the hot morning cup we all rely on. We encourage you to explore the Houston’s website to better acquaint yourself with the products we offer and to learn even more about the world of tea.

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