BaxterTeaGirl’s blog

We found a complete beer brewing kit at a yard sale for $20.00.  The kit is brand new- never been used!  Needless to say, we are so excited!!  The first batch has to be an India Pale Ale, my husband's favorite but the next batch is going to be an experimental green tea beer!  I will you posted!  

I have a confession to make-  I love tea!   Not just in a cup but also used as an ingredient in recipes.  I delight in the flavors of an Earl Grey truffle.  I savor the subtle, smooth hint of green tea in my Green Tea Coconut Chicken.  Needless to say, I enjoy all things tea.  In my constant quest to find new recipes containing tea, I can upon a new product, “Himalayan Green Tea Bier™” by Ineeka’s, Inc.  Ineeka’s Inc. won “Best New Product/Most Unique Product” award at the Natural Products Expo in April 2009.

 “With a reverence for tradition and focus on building a sustainable future, we formulated a healthy, if not revolutionary new beverage, combining the graceful expression of green tea and artisan crafted beer. A touch of warm ginger brings a warming appreciation to an age-old brew. Green tea and beer are the world’s oldest and most widely consumed brewed beverages and merging them into one delicious product has created a beverage unmatched for its flavor and healthy appeal,” said Shashank Goel, Founder and CEO of Ineeka,Inc.  To top it all off, their beer does not contain any extracts or flavoring- just organic malt, hops, ginger, and green tea.  It will start being distributed to large national chains this summer.

 

You know my husband has always wanted to brew his own beer.  He doesn’t have any of the equipment yet but he is growing his own organic hops for the first time.  I think it might be time to buy him a beer brewing kit so that he can brew up some green tea beer.  I have a feeling it is going to take awhile for Himalayan Green Tea Bier™ to reach Maine supermarkets. 

My aunt and uncle own Lavender Hill Farm   on Vashon Island, which is located in Puget Sound- Just a short ferry ride from Seattle.  They have a Lavender Festival each July and I was asked if I could come up with a tea blend featuring their lavender.  After lots of experimenting and feedback from customers and tea critics alike, I found the perfect blend- A new Baxter Tea Company blend was created. 

While I was attending a statewide music educators conference, I ran into an old friend.  I mentioned in passing that I created this delicious new blend featuring my family's lavender.  By the end of the day, people were seeking me out to order our new lavender blend, which isn't even available in our store yet.

  
Moral of the story- talk to as any people as possible about your business!  You never know what unexpected benefits are just over the horizon.  

I created Baxter Tea Company with a mission to help the people and state of Maine.  It started with donating 10% of loose tea profits to Baxter State Park.  I saw a need for a fundraiser program to help schools and non-profits so we  created a coffee/tea fundraiser.  Thousands have been raised to help with everything from scholarships and trips.  Always looking for ways to help fellow Mainers, I knew after meeting two organization that work with children in foster care that Baxter Tea Company could help. 
"In Baldacci’s December 2007 $38 million emergency curtailment order, Health and Human Services sustained cuts in mental health and therapeutic services for non-Medicaid-eligible children.  Consider the long-term fiscal and social consequences of reducing support for vulnerable children. About 150 parents met recently to discuss proposed rate cuts in Maine. Half said they would refuse new placements if the change takes effect. Most states do not have a surplus of adoptive families, and children in care who never achieve the stability of a permanent family are far more likely to require costly public assistance as adults." (source).  I understand we are in tough economic times but I don't believe we should be cutting funding to these important programs. I am not a politican and have no desire to enter that ring but I want to help these children who truly need these funds.  My response: "Coffee That Cares".  $3.00 of each bag of our Colombian Supremo is donated to the organization of your choice: Family for ME or Camp To Belong Maine  Both organizations are working against the current to make a difference in these children's lives.  I admire and respect their dedication and am proud to be able to provide them with a means to raise funds.

One this day 2 years ago while sitting by a fire at camp, I came up with the idea to start a tea store.  When I initially started, I was only going to carry iced tea.  I wasn’t even going to have a website.  I wanted to sell in the gourmet food section of Amazon.  So when I got everything together and applied to gourmet food section I was told they had just closed it to new companies- check back in a few months.  My heart sank.  There goes that business plan.  Say goodbye to all that planning and those sales projections.  I started to doubt myself- “This is a bad idea- I should just get a job” but deep down, I knew this was a great idea!  Not wanting to give up before I even really started, I persevered.  I hired an amazing web designer (Isite Development) who helped me create an impressive online store.  There was no way I was going to have an online store with just a few flavors of iced tea so I started adding products- I am now up to over 200 items!  Not only do I carry a wide variety of teas and tea accessories, I have expanded into coffee as well as a successful fundraiser program.

 

This business was started as a result of soul searching.  I knew I wouldn’t be truly happy working for anyone else but myself.  So my advice is: Trust your gut- it’s usually right!   

I love chocolate and am always looking for new, quick and easy recipes.  I found this recipe
 and had to try it!  I didn't think it would fit in a mug so i used a bowl.  It is yummy-light, fluffy and just enough chocolate!  I can't finish the whole thing so my husband steps up to the challenge and before you know it- its gone!  It goes very well with  Simply Sinful coffee
Enjoy!

Preparation

<> >
> > Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well
> > Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
> > Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
> > Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla essence, and
> > mix again.
> >
> > Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at
> > 1000 watts.

I was at a speaking event last week and someone asked me what my favorite tea was.  My answer was simple: depends on the weather and my mood. I got some confused looks.  Doesn't anyone else change their choice of caffeine based on mother nature? For example, if it is sunny day and I'm feeling energized, I like a bold cup such as our China Black Mango or Dutchess Grey.  If it is dark and grey, I gravitate towards something soothing like our China Black Congou Rose or China Green Jasmine. If the weather and my mood are indifferent- I am open to trying new things.  I get a lot of tea samples and it honestly takes the right day for me to try them.  We have a Cinnamon Chai Rooibos that is amazing but it took weeks for me to try because I just wasn't in the mood for it. 

Regardless of the weather and my mood, if I want something sweet after dinner that doesn’t have any calories, I choose Blueberry Rooibos or Creamy Island Rooibos.  They both taste decedent and don’t kill the waistline!

So my question to you: what is your favorite tea?

Two words- fond memories! I learned about tea from my grandmother and surrogate grandmother.  The ritual of tea was very important to both of them.  I would go visit my surrogate grandmother at her 200 year old house overlooking John’s Bay in South Bristol, Maine.  Everyone that came into her house drank tea- children, adults, coffee drinkers- you knew you were having tea from a Wedgewood Pot and China tea cups.  I remember fondly she always had sugar cubes, which was such a novelty.  When I would visit my grandmother, I would watch her prepare tea in a brown earthenware that she bought at the local Woolworths.  My grandmother would have tea ready every day when my mom came home from school and they would sit and talk about their days and that tradition continued to her grandchildren.  My grandmother believed that the ritual of tea was essential to good health. For me, tea has come to symbolize togetherness and bonding. 

Two words- fond memories! I learned about tea from my grandmother and surrogate grandmother.  The ritual of tea was very important to both of them.  I would go visit my surrogate grandmother at her 200 year old house overlooking John’s Bay in South Bristol, Maine.  Everyone that came into her house drank tea- children, adults, coffee drinkers- you knew you were having tea from a Wedgewood Pot and China tea cups.  I remember fondly she always had sugar cubes, which was such a novelty.  When I would visit my grandmother, I would watch her prepare tea in a brown earthenware that she bought at the local Woolworths.  My grandmother would have tea ready every day when my mom came home from school and they would sit and talk about their days and that tradition continued to her grandchildren.  My grandmother believed that the ritual of tea was essential to good health. For me, tea has come to symbolize togetherness and bonding. 

I realized that I haven't written a blog in a very long time..sorry about that!  .So here is what we have been up too:

We have started an amazing fundraising program that I am so proud of!   I went to a private school growing up so we were always fundraising for something since we didn't get any outside funding.   We usually had to sell unhealthy chocolate candy bars or glittery wrapping paper or the one I dreaded the most- MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS.  People didn't buy the products because they liked or needed them- they did it because they wanted to help your organization or didn't want to make a little kid cry. 

Well, I came up a way to help schools and non-profits raise money and have the customers love the products!  I started a coffee/tea fundraiser.  In addition to our iced and loose teas, we added 9 flavored coffees including my personal favorite "Simply Sinful", which is a decedent blend of chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and a touch of cinnamon!   Students sell our products and get 40% of each item sold.  This fundraiser guarantees success because virtually every household, office and business buy/drinks coffee and tea.  

I have consistently been blown away with the responses we have been getting.  Here is what a few teachers have said:

“Baxter Tea & Coffee is such a fantastic fundraiser!  It was completely stress-free, the students did a fantastic job selling, and the products are incredible.  This fundraiser brought in the most profit of all the fundraisers we did for this school year.  My students and I are hooked on Baxter Tea & Coffee!"

-- Carrie Ricker Middle School, Maine

"We have had such success with your fundraiser- we will doing it every fall and spring!  Once people try the product they will keep coming back for more."
                                                                                                                            -Hall Dall High School, Maine

To help us get the word out about our fundraising program, if your refer an organization and they complete a fund raiser- you will get $35 in free products- anything in the store! Who can't use something free these day!