What is Sassafras?
While sassafras is the name of an herb that was once commonly used in tea, and also to give root beer its distinctive taste, to us it is really a made-up name that’s fun to say. It connotes a little of the sass in our style, and it rolls off the tongue with such finesse that you can’t help but smile as the word leaves your lips. That may not be the most sophisticated branding strategy, but it works just fine for us.
| Why do you sell loose-leaf rather than bagged tea? We offer our tea in loose-leaf form because we believe it makes for a superior cup of tea. Beneficial oils are destroyed when herbs and tea leaves are processed for bagging so we try to keep them as close to their natural form as possible. Tea bags also don’t allow space for the tea to fully expand for proper infusion and the bag material may affect the taste of the tea. Besides, part of the benefit of tea drinking is seeing and smelling the different leaves, roots and flowers as they steep. But if you’re still hung up on it, check out these high quality, easy-to-use infusers. You’ll wonder why you ever made such a fuss. |
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How does herbal tea taste?
No sweeteners or flavorings have been added to any of our herbal teas. Some have grassy undertones, some are fresh and zesty, while others are soft and floral. Some blends love added honey and others come alive with a squeeze of lemon. Go ahead and experiment – they won’t be offended.
| Are those sticks in my tea tin? What may look like sticks in the tea are actually parts of stems and roots that have been found to have health benefits. We could tidy them up and remove all those odd-shaped bits, but that would only do you, and the herbs, a disservice. So get over it. |
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How do I brew the tea?
We are really glad you asked, because improper brewing can make for a less than enticing cup of tea. In fact, it means so much to us that we’ve spelled it all out for you here.
| Does your tea contain caffeine? The only caffeinated tea we currently offer is our green tea blend, Aunty Ox. We will, however, be releasing another green tea and an organic black tea in the spring of 2007. So is it wrong for us to call our herbal blends “tea?” Die-hards and literal types will likely say “yes.” Strictly herbal blends are often referred to as tisanes or botanical infusions, but we find that such lingo can be a little confounding. Then we’d have to add, “What is a tisane?” to this list, and we’d rather just keep it simple. |
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Your tea seems a little pricier than other teas I see at the grocery store. What’s up with that?
For starters, we use high quality organic ingredients because they are better for your health and the environment, and because they taste better. We also make a real personal investment in our products, from hand-crafting each original blend to working with uber-talented designers on eye-pleasing packaging to writing copy that connects us to our customers. This all takes time, and money. Besides that, we strive to support businesses and charitable organizations that are doing good things in the world. So you see, we’re not just your average tea peddlers. But realistically, you get all that good stuff for a steal when you buy our tea. With each canister producing upwards of forty servings of tea, we’re talking pennies per cup.
| How long does the tea keep? We place a premium on freshness at Sassafras, which is why we recommend enjoying our teas within one year of purchase. They will still taste and work fine for up to two years, but sipping sooner will ensure maximum taste and mojo. Storing the tea away from heat and moisture also helps. Honestly, we think you’ll love the tea so much you won’t be worrying about how long it lasts, but rather how to get your hands on more. |
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Still not satisfied? Drop us a note with your question and we’ll respond in a jiffy, or at least as soon as we can.
