Two Leaves and a Bud – Houston's Blog https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog Tue, 23 Jan 2024 19:39:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.2 Matcha – Tea with Infinite Possibility https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2018/10/01/matcha-tea-with-infinite-possibility/ https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2018/10/01/matcha-tea-with-infinite-possibility/#respond Mon, 01 Oct 2018 19:52:36 +0000 https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/?p=4184 Matcha may seem like the newest coffeehouse fad, but the truth is that this green tea beverage has been around for quite some time. This tea’s history dates as far back as China’s Tang Dynasty in the 7th Century, though it was really popularized during the Song Dynasty around the 11th Century. It was during…

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Matcha may seem like the newest coffeehouse fad, but the truth is that this green tea beverage has been around for quite some time. This tea’s history dates as far back as China’s Tang Dynasty in the 7th Century, though it was really popularized during the Song Dynasty around the 11th Century. It was during that time when a Japanese Buddhist monk returned to his home country from a stay in China, carrying tea seeds and the knowledge of their proper preparation. These seeds eventually began a Japanese tradition that today yields some of the best matcha in the world.

Matcha has become one of the fastest growing segments of the global tea market, so it should come as no surprise that Houston’s has partnered with vendors who provide it at an exceptional level. One vendor who has made it a priority to offer high quality, traditional tea is Two Leaves and a Bud.

Two Leaves and a Bud is a pioneer in bringing teas and traditions from Asia, to the West. As one of the first to provide North Americans with teas in the pyramid-shaped sachet, this is a company that has become known for setting trends and sharing true magic from the lesser-known parts of the world. That spark is no more apparent than in Two Leaves’ matcha products. Their Nice Matcha and Ceremonial Matcha offer two flavor and application options for both newcomers and veterans to the tea.

MatchaTwo Leaves’ Ceremonial Matcha has been crafted to delight with the full flavor of 100% organic Japanese green tea, while Nice Matcha is a blend with a little more sweetness (but not too much!) that perfectly complements lattes and smoothies. Often described as having a creamy and vegetal taste, matcha is unique from any other tea in its overall flavor profile. But a huge reason why this green tea has grown so popular is because of everything that it offers in addition to its one-of-a-kind flavor.

The word “matcha” literally translates to “powdered tea,” because at its core, it is a powdered version of green tea. When green tea is nearly ready to be harvested, it is covered in shade to give the leaves opportunity to grow more full with flavor, away from the harsh sunlight. Once plucked, these leaves are placed into cold storage to dry out, then pulverized with stone until all that’s left is a verdant green powder.

Once matcha has reached its silky smooth state, it can be mixed into hot or cold beverages, much like its tea counterparts. However, quite unlike other teas, matcha leaves are completely consumed. Whereas you would eventually discard a tea bag once it has finished steeping, the leaves remain in your mug until you’ve sipped them all up. The result is a far more nutritious and energizing experience.

Because of the harvesting process that it undergoes and because of the way that it’s prepared, matcha provides the body with higher levels of antioxidants and a unique amino acid called L-theanine. It’s health benefits have been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease, reducing total cholesterol levels, and can even help you feel more relaxed and concentrated. Its caffeine levels are also about on-par with an ordinary cup of coffee (almost three cups of ordinary green tea), so if you’re looking for a boost in energy, in addition to a nutritious and delicious drink, you’ve made the right choice.Matcha

In recent years, matcha has proven to have far wider applications than 7th Century China ever could have imagined. Besides its booming popularity in lattes and frappes, it has found its way into baking, ice cream, and is even sprinkled on popcorn! There seems to be no limit to the number of ways that matcha can be enjoyed, whether it be in the cafe, restaurant, or just by the chef at home. Matcha has been around for 1,400 years, and Houston’s can’t wait to see what the world does with it next.

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NRA Show 2018: Innovation & Insight https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2018/06/15/nra-show-2018-innovation-insight/ https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2018/06/15/nra-show-2018-innovation-insight/#respond Fri, 15 Jun 2018 15:48:38 +0000 https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/?p=4058 The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is known as the largest foodservice trade association in the world, supporting over 500,000 restaurant businesses, constantly empowering owners and operators to learn and achieve more. Every year, the NRA holds an event, the size and scale of which is comparable to its worldwide reach. This past May marked the…

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National Restaurant Association 2018 Recap

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is known as the largest foodservice trade association in the world, supporting over 500,000 restaurant businesses, constantly empowering owners and operators to learn and achieve more. Every year, the NRA holds an event, the size and scale of which is comparable to its worldwide reach. This past May marked the NRA Show’s 99th annual event, and it was held in Chicago’s McCormick Place, a 715,000 sq. ft. venue full of the best and brightest stars of the foodservice industry.

Of course, Houston’s was in attendance to see what incredible new products our partners had to showcase and to better inform the decisions we make in pursuit of growth. From janitorial products, food storage, tableware, and food safety, to the newest consumable products, there was no shortage of awe-inspiring innovation that was perfectly in line with the trends we expect to see becoming more and more popular.

Layering & Melamine

In the world of tabletop design, we partner with some of the best names who are constantly predicting and manufacturing around rising trends. This year, we saw bold approaches to design layering from Libbey, Oneida, and Cardinal/Dudson, matching some of their intricately designed pieces with others in more base but complementary colors and styles.

National Restaurant Association 2018 RecapLibbey was showing off quite a bit of color this year, displaying a wide range of styles, in part to celebrate the company’s 200th anniversary. We got to see the Dulcet collection, a set of hand-brushed stoneware china colored in pink, cream, and grey. We were also introduced to the Master’s Gauge of flatware, a high end collection that comes in a variety of finishes, even one that features a vibrant chromatic surface.

Libbey displayed its foray into the world of melamine, a trend that was difficult to ignore over the course of the entire NRA Show. This premium plastic and aluminum tableware offers a lightweight alternative to similar styles, but more importantly is a highly durable material that promises to cut down on replacement rates. TableCraft was also showing off its melamine lineup by offering an exhaustive supply of their product in various shapes and styles. Ramekins, skillets, salad bowls, and even displayware! Do you need any further proof that this material is taking over?

Style on the Tabletop

National Restaurant Association 2018 RecapIt’s clear that certain styles have a way of coming back around. Libbey, not wanting to let its birthday pass by without paying a little nod to its heritage, displayed some context for how glassware had been historically crafted. This was alongside its 1924 line, a glass collection that fuses jazz-age style with modern day cocktail trends.

International Tableware (ITI) is innovating the tabletop in other ways. By offering more sloped plate options, ITI is blurring the lines between plates and wide bowls to beautiful effect. Some of their designs look like artistic sculptures, suggesting that wide bowls may be the new plate.

Having only just announced that they would be merging the week of NRA, Arc Cardinal and Dudson’s partnership has already begun to bear fruit in some gorgeous ways. One element that proved very popular was the introduction of some new additions to the Sequence collection, as well as Dudson’s foam spray-on pattern for a new 37-piece fine china set. We can’t wait to see what else this new combination can create.

Environmentally-Focused

National Restaurant Association 2018 RecapRecycling and reusability are BIG right now, and Thunder Group has decided to make both a priority. That’s why the company is now offering ramekins that are made from recycled plastic, as well as plastic utensils that are capable of withstanding high heat environments, significantly extending their usable lifespan. These small shifts are important to an environmentally-conscious consumer and are likely to become more popular as time goes on.

Gessner has also been investing in increasing the reusability of its products by crafting drinkware made from polycarbonate plastic. This scratch-resistant and nigh unbreakable drinkware is also extremely affordable and ready for any retailer looking for a product that looks just like real glass. With a spectacular durability and a wide range of styles to choose from, Gessner aims to redefine the premium glassware market.

WNA/Eco Products is another company taking a cue from the rising environmentally-friendly tide. Seeing the growing resistance to plastic straws as an opportunity, Eco Products is introducing straws that are completely compostable. In a world that is quickly banning the sale of plastic straws, getting ahead of this phenomenon may be a recipe for success, and also the right thing to do.

Healthy Food & Beverage Options

With a focus on healthy eating and a dash of pure innovative thinking, we were introduced to some very intriguing and somewhat surprising new products at NRA Show 2018. For starters, Modern Oats was displaying its newest Premium Oatmeal, a new,National Restaurant Association 2018 Recaporganic food product aimed at providing flavor without sacrificing nutrition. Crafted completely gluten-free, organic certified, and with only 5 grams of added sugar, this product is set to shine bright.

Two Leaves and a Bud was also at NRA, featuring its incredible matcha lineup. Their greener than usual matcha blend is grown using the “true shade” Japanese method, which results in a much more fragrant flavor that isn’t too sweet. To really drive the traditional nature of their matcha, Two Leaves even paired their display with adorable Japanese “lucky cat” figurines.

MOCAFE has been of a similar mindset, focusing on exceptional taste and a product that health-minded consumers will be proud to put into their bodies. The Activated Charcoal Mocha Mix may at first seem off-putting by its dark nature, but it is surprisingly delightful and certain to persuade anyone with doubt in their mind. Made from real charcoaled coconut shells and combined with cocoa, this bold new mix offers the detoxifying properties of activated charcoal while also introducing an exciting spin on traditional lattes and frappes.

Cold, Hard Convenience

Few trends in the specialty coffee industry are taking off quite as quickly as cold brew. That’s why Kohana has introduced its own cold brew coffee concentrates and ready-to-drink cans. Whether you’re a consumer or a retailer, Kohana wants you to know that cold brew can be convenient and delicious!

Cold brewing is branching out even further with nitro brews, and iSi wants to be at the forefront. This NRA, we were introduced to the company’s new Nitro Whip dispenser and Nitro Charger, two products that promise to simplify the process of creating nitro brew beverages of any sort, whether it be coffee, tea, or even cocktails. Now, anyone can join the nitro sensation for a much lower cost than the price of expensive taps and gas tanks. Plus, these dispensers are just fun to watch in action!

 


As a redistributor in the foodservice industry, Houston’s finds itself in a unique position to compare our own research with that of the companies who partner with us, and to come to a greater understanding of what makes for practical and successful business decisions. Together, we can assess what the markets are demanding, whether they are solutions for healthier living, a greater sense of responsibility for the environment, or even something as simple as a shift in fashion and taste. Events such as the NRA Show are opportunities for people of all corners of the foodservice industry to come together and share their ideas in one place. You can be sure that we’ve taken note of some of those spectacular new ideas.

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Iced Tea Meet You – Choosing the Right Iced Tea This Summer https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2018/06/01/iced-tea-meet-you-choosing-the-right-iced-tea-this-summer/ https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2018/06/01/iced-tea-meet-you-choosing-the-right-iced-tea-this-summer/#respond Fri, 01 Jun 2018 19:09:31 +0000 https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/?p=4033 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…

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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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SCA Expo: Specialty Coffee Insights & Inspiration https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2018/05/11/sca-expo-specialty-coffee-insights-inspiration/ https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2018/05/11/sca-expo-specialty-coffee-insights-inspiration/#respond Fri, 11 May 2018 16:40:53 +0000 https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/?p=3961 The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is a nonprofit organization representing coffee professionals around the world, from roasters and baristas, to the farmers who start it all. This organization formed in 2017 when the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA, established in 1982) and the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE, established in 1998) unified under…

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The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is a nonprofit organization representing coffee professionals around the world, from roasters and baristas, to the farmers who start it all. This organization formed in 2017 when the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA, established in 1982) and the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE, established in 1998) unified under the same mission: “to engage, inspire, and expand a sustainable global specialty coffee trade through leadership in events, education, and research.” The SCA has dedicated itself to assisting in the growth of a fair and diverse coffee industry.

Each spring, SCA hosts a large expo in Seattle, Washington to aid in industry education and prosperity. This Specialty Coffee Expo (commonly referred to as the SCA Expo) allows industry manufacturers and producers to showcase their products and give coffee operators, distributors, and enthusiasts alike the chance to peruse the newest and greatest offerings. Over the years, the show as grown “expo-nentially,” selling out exhibition space that now fills three halls of the Seattle Convention Center.

The overall focus of this year’s show was diversity, featuring coffees grown/produced in countries around the world, with Asia and South America as some of the most prevalent. Countries such as China and Brazil were particularly popular with booths that were made to impress.

While Houston’s does not exhibit at the expo, we do attend each year. The show provides us with the opportunity to meet with vendors and customers, and to get an idea of what to expect from the future of the coffee industry. Many of our manufacturer/vendor partners exhibit at the show including Torani, Monin, Dr. Smoothie, David Rio, Urnex, Kerry Foodservice, and Two Leaves and a Bud, as well as newer Houston’s vendors like Pacific Foods, Califia Farms, and ITO EN.

Monitoring current and upcoming trends in the coffee industry is crucial, and SCA Expo is always a perfect opportunity to assess the crowd. With the busy summer season in mind, many exhibitors at SCA Expo 2018 opted to offer taste tests of cold beverages from iced coffee and frappes, to non-coffee beverages like lemonade and flavored sparkling water. The absence of previously popular oatmeal products was painfully obvious this year, but made way for other healthier trends that ranged from convenient grab-and-go products, to handcrafted, premium products. Turmeric offerings seem to be surging with David Rio’s latte powder leading the pack. All natural, sugar-free, and/or low-calorie beverage options also seem to be on the rise, as are dairy/milk alternatives. While nut milks have been popular in years’ past, it appears oat milk will be giving the ever-popular almond milk a run for its money in 2018.

Contributing to the theme of diversity, Torani showcased its new Asian fruit-inspired Longan Syrup, among other products, by serving up Butterfly Lemonade that combined the syrup with Lemonade Real Fruit Smoothie mix. The vibrant purple color and sweet Longan flavor paired with the tart lemonade for a perfect summer offering.

Monin served its new Brown Butter Toffee Syrup in frappe, but most notable was the flavored sparkling water. Monin’s new, all-natural Concentrated Flavors line provides sugar-free, low calorie flavor to any drink, but the Strawberry Basil and Watermelon Jalapeno Sparkling Water offered expo attendees a light, yet flavorful beverage.

Celebrity Latte Artist, Melannie Aquino showed off her skills in booth #2100, drawing pictures with foam and chocolate on the tops of various lattes prepared with David Rio chai products. After attendees were wowed by the latte art, many were also impressed with the authentic turmeric flavor in David Rio’s Turmeric Lattes, Turmeric macaroons, and turmeric cupcakes provided by a local bakery and made using David Rio’s powdered product. The philanthropic organization also used the show as an opportunity to introduce Nalin, the white tiger and newest adoptee under the company’s endangered species initiative.

While many exhibitors utilize SCA Expo to introduce new product, Dr. Smoothie (a Bevolution Group brand) took this year’s show as an opportunity to reintroduce itself entirely, launching a rebrand of the 1997 logo. The new logo has opted away from retro and moved towards simplistic, yet refined. All of the brand’s packaging will have a consistent, clean look, featuring photos of fresh fruit and color-coded frappe categories. Watch for a soft rollout of the new branding sometime this summer.

Each year, SCA Expo exhibitors are given the opportunity to enter their products in a new product showcase, with the chance to win “Best New Product” bragging rights for the year. Our friends at Pacific Foods took home top honors in the Specialty Beverage Flavor Additive Category by winning Best New Product for their new Barista Series Oat, a plant-based dairy alternative that will be released this summer. Crowds gathered around the Pacific booth while attendees (including our own Rebecca Phillips and Amanda Hackathorn) tried their hands at latte art in the exhibitor’s Latte Art Throwdown. The winner of the competition got a chance to pour the latte art featured on the Pacific Foods’ new product packaging, also due out later this year. Sadly, neither Rebecca nor Amanda won the honor, but they certainly gave it their all!

As Houston’s shifts its focus towards the rapidly growing coffee segment, these vendor relationships and industry/product insights are key to our continued growth and success. With many coffee-based vendor partnerships, Houston’s controls a unique niche as a redistributor to the specialty coffee industry, providing access to hundreds of ancillary products sold and used by roasters and baristas across the country. It’s no secret that coffee’s popularity and progress will continue to grow, making events such as this more and more valuable. That’s why we can’t wait until next April when SCA Expo 2019 tackles Boston, Massachusetts! Will we see you there?

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In Our Own Backyard: Coffee Fest Portland https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2017/11/09/in-our-own-backyard-coffee-fest-portland/ https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2017/11/09/in-our-own-backyard-coffee-fest-portland/#respond Thu, 09 Nov 2017 20:13:18 +0000 https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/?p=3586 The weekend of October 13th – 16th brought coffee aficionados from around the country to Portland, Oregon for Coffee Fest Portland. Coffee Fest holds three regional shows across the country each year, with shows held in Nashville, Tennessee and Chicago, Illinois earlier this year. Our Sales and Marketing Teams have worked the Coffee Fest Shows,…

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The Houstons team supporting Monbana Chocolaterie at Coffee Fest

The weekend of October 13th – 16th brought coffee aficionados from around the country to Portland, Oregon for Coffee Fest Portland. Coffee Fest holds three regional shows across the country each year, with shows held in Nashville, Tennessee and Chicago, Illinois earlier this year.

Our Sales and Marketing Teams have worked the Coffee Fest Shows, as well as the SCAA Global Coffee Expo in Seattle, since June 2015 in support of our international vendor, Monbana Chocolaterie. Coffee Fest Portland was the culmination of Houston’s tradeshow support for the French chocolate and frappe manufacturer, and we went out with a bang!

The entire Outside Sales team was present for opening day of the show, following a two-day sales meeting hosted at the Wilsonville office. The Regional Managers manned the Monbana booth all three days of the show, passing out samples of Supreme, Tresor, and White Tresor sipping chocolates. West coast Regional Managers Matt Clark, Angie Lightening, and Steve Franklin had the chance to touch base with customers who were in attendance. Oregon/Idaho Regional Manager, Matt Clark, was able to refer several interested local attendees to Houston’s customer, Longbottom Coffee & Tea of Hillsboro, Oregon.

Coffee Fest typically caters towards companies involved in the retailing of coffee, tea, and related products, but the show provides Houston’s with an excellent opportunity to connect with vendors and keep tabs on industry trends.

Houston’s had 15 vendors exhibiting at Coffee Fest Portland including: Torani, Monin, Bevolution Group, Two Leaves Tea Company, and David Rio, among many others. The Inside Sales and Purchasing teams attended the show on Saturday, October 15th, giving them the opportunity to try vendor products and make vendor connections, as it’s rare for these teams to have the opportunity to meet some of their vendor contacts face-to-face.

In terms of trends, this year’s shows have proven that tea is making a comeback within the industry, as consumers are looking for natural, healthier options to coffee (and sugar or creamer), especially in the evening. Oatmeal, while it was big in previous years, seems to have taken a backseat to Matcha, with vendors showcasing everything from individual ceremonial Matcha sticks to baked or packaged goods containing the finely ground green tea leaves. Cold brew also continues to gain popularity, especially Nitro cold brew which provides consumers with a smoother flavor experience than traditional cold brew.

As the 2017 show schedule comes to a close, we look forward to the 2018 shows in Baltimore, Denver, and Los Angeles and the trends those shows will present from their various regions.

David Rio

Torani

Monin

Umpqua Oats

Dr. Smoothie

Almond Breeze

Two Leaves and a Bud

Java Jacket

Cappucine

Espresso Supply

  

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Next Stop: SCAA Seattle! https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2017/04/17/next-stop-scaa-seattle/ https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/2017/04/17/next-stop-scaa-seattle/#respond Mon, 17 Apr 2017 18:23:43 +0000 https://www.houstons-inc.com/blog/?p=2867 We can smell the coffee now in anticipation of attending SCAA in Seattle this week! The Global Specialty Coffee Expo has everything for everyone in the coffee world. We are going to see what’s hot this year and we encourage you to as well. Unfamiliar with SCAA? – “The Global Specialty Coffee Expo was designed to be the…

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We can smell the coffee now in anticipation of attending SCAA in Seattle this week! The Global Specialty Coffee Expo has everything for everyone in the coffee world. We are going to see what’s hot this year and we encourage you to as well.

Unfamiliar with SCAA? – “The Global Specialty Coffee Expo was designed to be the coffee professional’s one stop shop for everything they need to succeed in the coffee industry. As the industry’s standard setter, the SCA has built a solid reputation over the last 30 years of providing the most up to date, qualified information and providing our members the tools to succeed. ”

Here is a list of our vendors that will be at the show:

 

Torani® – Booth #1244Torani black Logo

Flavor seekers around the globe enjoy Torani® in their favorite beverages every day. And Torani® has continued to stay on the creative edge with new product lines and ideas for the last 80 years.

 

Monin® – Booth #2519Monin-SQ

Monin®’s sole purpose is to create flavors that people around the world can easily use in their everyday life.  Founder Georges Monin’s motto La Passion de la Qualit® (“Passion for Quality”) became the Monin® slogan.

 

Dr. Smoothie® – Booth #840

Dr. Smoothie® formulates its beverages with your health in mind to maximize the benefits to your body. Functional beverages are what Dr. Smoothie® is all about since 1997.

 

Mocafe™ – Booth #606

Innovative Beverage Concepts Inc., creators of Mocafé™, has been a leader in developing award winning cafe beverages since 1996. Come taste and compare the difference real ingredients make.

 

Urnex Brands® – Booth #1438 

Urnex® doesn’t make coffee or coffee equipment; it helps make them better. With over four generations of experience, Urnex® is the world leader in specialty cleaning products for coffee and espresso equipment.

 

Cappuccine® – Booth #1005

Many people don’t know that Cappuccine® created the first blended iced coffee mix over 15 years ago. Today, its product line consists of more than 20 gourmet flavors that are proudly served all over the world.

 

David Rio Chai and Tea™dr_logo.lowres – Booth #939

David Rio™ makes chai because it is inspired by traditional Indian milk tea, and it set out to blend Eastern traditions with Western style to create America’s Premier Chai.

 

Pacific® Natural Foods – Booth #1542Pacific Foods

Pacific® Foods has one simple goal – to make tasty, healthy foods with integrity. Making foods it can be proud of is as much about the ingredients it uses and the way those ingredients are grown, as it is the actual recipe. And GMO’s? Not on Pacific® Foods’ watch.

 

Vitamix® – Booth #304

Since 1921, The Vitamix® Corporation has been an award-winning innovator in blending technology. It is a quality-based organization creating, producing, and marketing high performance, durable, reliable, and innovative equipment.0

 

Espresso Supply – Booth #1142

Espresso Supply, Inc. has used its expertise to develop a full line of espresso accessories and small wares designed to facilitate the operation of an espresso bar or coffee business.

 

Kerry Big Train / Oregon Chai – Booth #946

Kerry is a known innovator in the food and beverage industry. Kerry shakes up the industry with its unique approach and inventive solutions in beverage, coatings, and seasonings providing consumer driven, operationally friendly menu solutions.

 

Two Leaves And A Bud – Booth #2204Image result for two leaves and a bud logo

Two Leaves and a Bud is an independent tea company known internationally for producing organic and fairly traded whole leaf tea sachets, iced tea, and now traditional teabags from their Paisley Label Tea collection. They take tea personally and are passionate about connecting tea lovers to the tea they love and introducing new tea drinkers to truly great tea.

 

Frozen Bean – Booth #1539

Frozen Bean is the leading premium beverage mix provider, providing delicious gourmet beverages and specialty desserts that are easy to make. Their passion is to create the finest beverages, using only the highest quality ingredients sourced from around the world.

 

Monbana Chocolaterie, USA – Booth #643

Monbana has combined a respect for tradition and a continuous passion for chocolate innovation through selecting the finest ingredients and the very best varieties of cocoa from Ivory Coast. Creator of chocolate squares to accompany coffee, Monbana is also famous in the HoReCa sector for its excellence of its indulgent chocolate drinks.

 

Zojirushi – Booth #1004

Zojirushi Corporation began operation more than 90 years ago with the launch of its first glass-lined vacuum bottle. Improving customers’ quality of life through creation of innovative products remains the heart of Zojirushi’s corporate philosophy.

 

Service Ideas – Booth #2105Image result for service ideas logo

Since 1946, Service Ideas has been an innovative worldwide provider in the service industry. Today, Service Ideas continues to push forward with an uncompromising commitment to provide quality products and service to our ever-expanding audience.

 

 

Remember, if any of these vendors have new products you need in your restaurant or warehouse, call Houston’s to see how we can help!

Credit: All of the above company descriptions were paraphrased from the vendor’s website linked to the vendor name. Logos courtesy of our vendors.

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