Apparently that rich, volcanic soil that grows such awesome beans also grows tea leaves and the Department of Agriculture is encouraging the producers to grow! grow! grow! I first read aout Hawaiian teas on the New York Times site and then did a quick search to see what I could find out.

Apparently the flavor of Hawaiian grown tea is unique. That makes sense since the climate and soil play a big role in the finished flavor. I found the Hawaiian

I am interested for sure. Here are some producers that I found, everything I see seems to stress sustainable, organic farming and hand picked tea leaves:

Hawaiian Natural flavored teas

Mauna Kea green and oolong

Noone has offered me any yet..when my surgery is over, and I am back on my feet I will try to get some for review. Isn’t it cool though? So, Bigelow has a tea plantation in South Carolina and tea is being grown in Hawaii… not quite local..but still close!

Sustainable, organic, artisan hand crafted…I think they are playing my song.

image:Marye Audet

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The coffees are roasted in small batches every day. They are grown using sustainable practices, and the farmers that grow the coffee are paid a living wage, which means…you know…that they can actually live on it. Warning: rant en route…

Why is it that many Americans feel like they need a six figure annual income to barely survive on the meager basics and yet will buy cheap coffee at a the-store-that-shall-remain-nameless or one like it to ensure that the farmers that grew that coffee will never make enough to have inside toilets. Why is that? I happen to know that a family of eight can live very well on less that 25,000 a year because I have recently done that…and I don’t feel the need to buy cheap coffee, either.

end rant.

Ahem.

So, I was impressed with the company’s commitment to the farmer. That would not have gotten the coffee a good review in and of itself, however. When Marc ground the coffee the whole kitchen was scented with the fragrance. It was incredible.

As the coffee brewed I could hardly wait to taste it. The brew has an almost purple cast to it, nice and wine-y looking. The surface is clear and mirrors the room around it and the flavor is that clean, too.

Nice acidity. The flavors unfold in a complex parade; spice, plum wine, bittersweet chocolate, pecan, and finally a smoky finish.  I liked the coffee better the more I drank it and I think I prefer it black to having it with cream and sugar. Very rich and smooth cup that makes you want more when you are done.

Buena Beans Cafe La Violeta would go well with oriental dishes, plain cakes (like poundcake), and simple desserts. Give it a try…it is so worth it.

Oddly enough, I did a review on Archer Farms Estate la Violeta almost exactly a year ago. Have a look if you want to compare the two.

image:marye audet

image:sxc

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I like coffee. I like using coffee. I like smelling coffee…I was always sad the Dr. Suess did not write a book about coffee, although he did do some on the edge World War II propaganda movies for the US Army.

Anyway. I like coffee, I like organic coffee, and I like when people figure out how to do awesome things with everyday objects. Soy fabric is incredible, I would not eat soy based products but wear them?  Ah…so soft. Bamboo, same thing. Awesome! But coffee?

Well a company is making fabric from coffee. In fact the company that perfected it has made two shirts from the amount of grounds it takes to make a cup of coffee. GROUNDS mind you, not beans. The after product of your morning ritual.  If the fabric goes viral those of us that drink a lot of coffee could have a brand new income stream.

The fabric is also “quick-drying, odor controlling,  and uv-protective.” Totally organic and produced in an environmentally responsible fashion the only other thing you could possibly want would be to drink the water it is rinsed in…but alas..technology has not yet come that far.

You can read more at the  SCafe site.

Still. It will be interesting to see how this markets, what the cost will be..and most important of all…..will your sweat smell like coffee?

image:marye audet (those vintage magazines and books have to be good for something)

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I was emailed the following story.  How cool is this?

A coffeehouse opened in Tunkhannock, Pa in December.  It’s name is Swirls and it is owned by Dawn Kuduk.    She wanted to support the environment and promote sustainability…what to do?

She decided to offer one dollar off coffee to anyone who used a cup that they brought from home.  That means that she has a lower overhead, she has less trash to mess with, and less to inventory.

Brilliant.  You know what?  It is people like this, who do one seemingly small thing, that make the biggest difference! Great job kudos  to Dawn!

Image: sxc

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