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Limited Special Selection: Rare Burmese Black Tea
Mandalay Black: Our first limited special selection from Myanmar comes from a small, woman-owned estateMyanmar, or Burma, spent nearly 50 years under tight, secretive military rule, almost completely closed off from the Western world. Much of that time has involved ethnic strife and a long-running civil war. While Myanmar opened the door to elected governance in 2011, parts of the country are still gripped with ethnic conflict.Despite that, the easing of economic sanctions has provided an opportunity for international trade to flourish for the first time in decades — something we know will accelerate Myanmar’s path to peace. While unique...
Great Tea Gift Ideas: Our 2019 Holiday Guide
Tea makes a great gift and this year we’re making it easy. Below, you’ll not only find great ideas for the tea lover in your life, but you’ll also help support the efforts of farmers in communities recovering from war. 1. Gift Pack 6-Pack$79Always our most popular gift item, this one includes one tea from Nepal, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Laos and Colombia. If you’re looking to share tea from a variety of locations, the Gift Pack 6-Pack is fun and easy. Buy a Gift Pack 6-Pack now! 2. Tea of the Month SubscriptionFrom $72 (shipping included)The gift that keeps...
Meet Belaynesh: Our Ethiopian herbal tea maker
It’s good to know where the stuff you buy comes from. At Rakkasan, we want you to know our growers aren’t nameless, faceless people working anonymously in distant lands. So today we want you to meet Belaynesh Berhe. She lives with her family not far from Butajira in Ethiopia’s Rift Valley.A member of GreenPath Food’s first farmer cohort in 2015 (our partner), Belaynesh, her husband Aboneh Bargicho and their three children work on just over a quarter of an acre of land. While the field is small, mixed and seemingly chaotic, at a closer glance, their farm is a lush...
Watch: How our Rwandan tea is changing lives
When most Americans think of Rwanda, they don't think of premium loose-leaf tea. But our Rwandan estate produces some of the best hidden gems of the tea world – and cares for its employees in the process. Rakkasan's Rwandan tea comes from Sorwathe, 45 miles north of Kigali. Sorwathe is no ordinary estate. Not only is its organically grown tea delicious, but the farm leads in ethical, sustainable practices. When working mothers on the estate struggled to find adequate care for their young children, Sorwathe partnered with UNICEF. The organizations created a program which increases early childhood care and pre-primary...
Father's Day Gift Ideas: Tea Subscriptions, Hats and More!
Father’s Day is coming up on June 16 and our unique teas can make it a memorable one. Check out our most popular gift ideas below. And be sure to order by Sunday, June 9, to ensure on-time delivery!Tea of the Month SubscriptionFrom $89 (shipping included)With a prepaid Black, Green or Herbal Tea of the Month Subscription, he’ll receive a new tea each month for five or six months (depending on the subscription). It’s a great way to explore premium teas from Nepal, Rwanda, Vietnam, Laos, Sri Lanka, Colombia and Ethiopia. And shipping is included!Buy a Tea of the Month...