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No Ordinary Cup of Tea Tea Forté puts the taste—and style—back into an age-old tradition.
“Teabags traditionally have lower quality tea because paper is a barrier. Supposedly if you’re a tea connoisseur, you use loose tea. If you want convenience, you compromise quality and get a tea that is in little cuttings and often contains extra flavorings,” Hewitt said, explaining that artificial ingredients are necessary for added taste in ordinary teabags because “you just can’t get these flavors into a paper bag.” The silken infusers Tea Forté employs are crafted with fabric made and used in Japan for the past 15 years, according to Hewitt, who has designed products like his award-winning paper chess set for the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and consulted for Ralph Lauren and Revlon, among others. Topping each pyramid-shaped bag is an elegant hand-wrapped wire and paper leaf that not only brings life to the ritual of enjoying tea, but also doubles as a handle to remove the infuser from its kettle once brewing is complete. The entire process of creating Tea Forté’s product line is labor intensive. Each silken infuser is hand packed and sealed because the process is too complicated to mechanize, according to Hewitt. Unwrapping a silken infuser from its paper wrapping is like unwrapping a gift that pervades the air with an invigorating potpourri of smells. Tea Forté’s blends, which are also sold as loose-leaf teas, come in more than 20 varieties of black, white, herbal, green, oolong and dessert teas—Hewitt’s latest brainchild, made available this month. The concept of Hewitt’s teas are to invigorate a sleeper tea culture in the United States and bring something new to the ones that already abound in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. “I think what is different here is people really like stronger flavors,” said Hewitt, who grows animated when speaking about high-end teas and design. “They’re used to Coca Cola, Starbucks and really have higher flavor expectations. So I think one reason people weren’t really that involved in tea here is because it seemed like an old person’s drink—an old fuddy-duddy grandmother thing, and it had no flavor.” In fact, on many occasions, Hewitt, who travels frequently to Asia to visit tea gardens, was told “tea tastes like straw.” Those who feel that way haven’t tried Tea Forté’s signature blends. “I’d like to not just bring some high-quality teas but some really unusual, highly flavorful ones to people,” said Hewitt. “I play with herbals and blacks and mix things that don’t normally go together to make a beverage people will enjoy.” In the black tea category, Tea Forté boasts a collection of nine flavors: Forte, a blend of Ceylon black leaf tea and a hint of jasmine; English Breakfast, a true classic; Breakfast Decaf, a decaffeinated blend from Sri Lanka; Estate Darjeeling, a full-bodied, flavorful tea that invokes aromas of alpine forests and roasting nuts; Earl Grey, a classic that includes marigold petals and safflowers for a florally enhanced flavor; Black Currant, an aromatic experience of infused black currants blended with blackberry leaves; Bombay Chai, an exciting revelation to a long-time, spice-filled favorite; Lapsang Souchong, a China black tea that carries hints of cool pine and apple wood smoke; and Orange Pekoe, a rich, yet mellow, citrusy affair. There is only one flavor in the lightly caffeinated white tea category: White Ambrosia, an ethereal blend of fruits, vanilla and slices of coconut. Similarly, one flavor exists in the oolong category. Your first hint of the blissful experience this oolong creates is the nutty and roasted aroma wafting out of a kettle of steeping Formosa Oolong tea. When unwinding from a long day, nothing is as soothing as inhaling the aromas of Tea Forté’s five herbal teas. Flora, one of Hewitt’s original and best-selling teas is a sweet and tart blend of hibiscus flowers, cinnamon and a touch of licorice root. This naturally sweet tea glistens like a ruby jewel as it tantalizes your taste buds. Chamomile Tisane is a soothing blend of citrus and hints of vanilla, while another popular favorite, Ginger, is a bold, slightly spicy and sweet ginger tea. Citrus Mint warms even as it cools, creating uplifting experiences that are perfect for any time of the day. And rounding out the herbal category is African Solstice, a fruity blend of rooibos herb from South Africa, wild berries, vanilla and a touch of rose petals. Tea Forté’s green teas come in four unique blends: China Gunpowder, hand rolled green tea leaves that slowly release their aromatic oils during the steeping process; Oasis, a blend of green tea, spring flowers and citrus; Green Tango, tropical mangos and a mix of leaf teas and flower petals; and Jasmine Green, delightful green tea from gardens in south China steeped with fragrant flower petals. With such a wide array of ingredients in different combinations, there’s little surprise that Tea Forté has already gained recognition abroad and even received the “Best Gourmet Gift of the Year” and “Best Design and Packaging” awards from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), an international food organization. And now, eager anticipation is well deserved when it comes to Hewitt’s Dolce Vita dessert teas, an unusual but exciting concept for tea enthusiasts or the health conscious. Instead of a rich, decadent dessert, Hewitt asks, why not try a sugar-free, non-caloric supplement that, in its own right, is a fulfilling finale to a memorable evening. “You could pair these with a dessert, but the concept is that you could have this instead of dessert,” said Hewitt. Mouth-watering flavors Coco Truffle, Belgian Mint, Raspberry Nectar, Orchid Vanilla and Vienna Cinnamon are the newest members to the Tea Forté family. Coco Truffle carries tones of rich cocoa fit for a velvety chocolate dessert. Belgian Mint draws flavor from cocoa husk and mint leaves, making this tea almost as pleasing as a scoop of mint and chip ice cream. Raspberry Nectar, is a naturally sweet, red hued, fruity-flavored tea that would be delightful served hot or on ice. Orchid Vanilla, a blend of vanilla and coconut, is a delicious treat with milk—rich like a latte, only healthier. And Vienna Cinnamon, with its slight cinnamon-laced sweetness, arouses the holiday spirit without fail. These descriptions only begin to hint at the quality and flavor of Hewitt’s teas. As Tea Forté continues to grow and expand, exciting innovations are on the horizon as Hewitt pursues new ideas and flavors. Next are plans to explore the high-end tea category—which will give Hewitt further opportunities for unusual creations. Tea Forté is currently sold at various retailers, restaurants, hotels, spas and at all Origins stores. Perfect for personal gratification, entertaining or as a gift, Tea Forté can be purchased by calling (800) 721-1149 or by visiting www.teaforte.com General Pricing List: |
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