The World Tea Expo®, May 30 – June 16, 2008 – The TeaSpot Brings Awareness to Fair Trade Manufacturing
Loose-leaf tea and Steepware™ purveyor, the TeaSpot, attributed with designing the world’s first automatic teapot, exhibited earlier this month at the World Tea Expo®. At the trade show, the TeaSpot, which touts the tagline, “Modern Brewing, Conscious Living,” called attention to a cause close to its heart: Fair Trade manufacturing.
Now a well-known movement in the coffee, tea, and chocolate industries, the fair trade concept advocates appropriate payment and social and environmental standards in areas related to production. But with the movement focused on what we eat and drink, little attention has been given to the conditions in the factories that manufacture other products… until now.
Advocate and pioneer in the Fair Trade movement
The TeaSpot utilizes only environmentally and socially responsible sources and manufacturing practices for all its Steepware™ products; a leading-edge concept in the consumer housewares marketplace. The TeaSpot requires that each manufacturer participating in the creation of its products pay its workers at least 25 percent above that country’s minimum wage. By removing middlemen from the process, and working directly with producers, the TeaSpot is able to cut costs and return a greater percentage of the retail price to the producer. As a result, long-term relationships develop with the TeaSpot often providing financial and technical support to the producers.
“Modern Brewing, Conscious Living.”
The TeaSpot vision also calls for a profitable, sustainable and philanthropic company. The organization requires that all supply chain participants adhere to fair wages and environmental sustainability standards. The TeaSpot also donates two percent of annual sales to environmental, cancer research and wellness organizations around the globe.
“When developing the TeaSpot’s vision, we were determined to set high humanitarian and ecological standards in manufacturing,” says TeaSpot founder, Maria Uspenski. “It is important to me to feel just as good about the way my teapot was made as the tea that it’s steeping.” For more information, visit the-teaspot.com.
OPRAH’S O LIST – TEA FOR TWO (OR THREE)
O – The Oprah Magazine, May 1,2008
This automatic teapot creates the perfect brew by lifting leaves out of the water once they’re steeped just right. Set its timer for green, black, or herbal, and grab a scone
With its innovative Automatic Teapot and Steepware™, the TeaSpot has made enjoying all-natural, loose-leaf teas not only conscientious, but simple and stylish, too.
About the TeaSpot
Founded in 2003, in Boulder, Colorado, the TeaSpot has redefined the modern tea experience. A fusion of tea, technology and design, innovative Steepware™ and organic, loose leaves make for healthy, luxurious living. The TeaSpot’s mission is to create sensational steeping experiences by developing exceptional products for everyday use, thus enabling consumers to get the greatest benefit and pleasure from tea. Steepware™ and loose leaves are sold at the TeaSpot flagship store, in Boulder, online, at the-teaspot.com, and at Amazon.com, and in more than 700 stores nationwide, including Wild Oats Markets, Whole Foods Markets and independent specialty retailers.
See the BAOlink Market News – World Tea Expo® for more information about the Expo marketplace, products and events.
