BY ALYSSA MAHADEO
For many generations people have been indulging in the classy and sophisticated drink that is tea. The history of tea is long and complex, spreading across multiple cultures over the span of thousands of years. Tea was first introduced to Portuguese priests and merchants in China during the 16th century and drinking tea became popular in Britain during the 17th century.
Over the years’ people have explored new and creative ways to capture the essence of teas, mixing different flavors and infusing the medicinal properties of nature to discover new and exciting herbal tea infusions for everyone to enjoy.
Natalie Mullin the founder of Taste Tea Naturals started her own project on a mission to capture the exotic flavors of the Caribbean by using natural ingredients that are caffeine free, encased in silky pyramid tea bags and packaged in environmentally friendly reusable designer tins.
However, Natalie’s project isn’t only about tea, it’s only the beginning of what she hopes to achieve. The decision to start this business originated from two reasons. Firstly, she wanted to find a way to share her Caribbean culture with the world and secondly she wanted to make a difference in the world and especially the Caribbean, her heritage. As an educator and social justice activist, she wanted to find sustainable ways to empower marginalized and silenced groups of people. Working as a special needs teacher in Antigua, has urged her to make a difference in the lives of the children she works with. In the Caribbean, special needs are an often-overlooked area and in Antigua, virtually no opportunities exist for students with special needs once they graduate secondary school. She wanted to help magnify their voice and show other people and businesses within the Caribbean and the Diaspora how we are our brother’s keeper and we all must help each other and elevate one another.
Taste Tea Naturals has collaborated with the Adele School for Special Children to create a vocational experience and co-op program where students can get meaningful and sustainable opportunities to participate in business.
Taste Tea Naturals provides fruit and herbal tea infusions with a Caribbean twist. They are not your grandma’s cup of tea! Their mission is simply wanting to bring tasty, unique and modern teas to the world while making the world a better place. So far they’ve already launched Taste Antigua – Pineapple Ginger Twist Tea which has been a huge hit online and soon they’ll be making Taste Jamaica – Coconut Pimento Tea, Taste Trinidad – Chai Bitters Tea and Taste St. Vincent – Orange Cocoa Tea available for the first time through their Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.
Their Kickstarter campaign launched on Nov 14th, and they are hoping to use the money raised to expand their product line and even get a mobile food truck out on the road.
If they can surpass their funding goal, proceeds will go towards purchasing a used food truck for ICED by Taste Tea Naturals, our bubble and iced tea subsidiary, and employ some of the current and former students, allowing our belief in empowerment to come full circle!
They are encouraging members of the Caribbean community to get involved and spread the word, with hopes that it will spread awareness as well as motivate others to find ways to get involved and help Caribbean students with special needs in sustainable and practical ways.
Their Kickstarter campaign can be found here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2068352165/were-not-your-grandmas-tea-taste-tea-naturals?token=f8eb54fc
Taste their tea with a difference!
