Calm before the storm...let's get busy

It is that time, the calm before the storm of winter sales...meaning the perfect time for you and I to:

1. finalize your winter tea offerings, finish formulation, and place orders ~ for inspiration see attached Holiday Tea offerings from last winter (valid for this year too!)
2. get your winter orders in for your high volume items, negotiate pricing on volume (helping us project and negotiate best pricing)
3. talk about what is in stock now - that usually runs out! SUCH AS:  Lemon grass tbc $2/lb, and Organic Lemon Grass c/s and tbc each $3/lb. Chamomile - organic tbc $4.50, Org whole $6.50, conventional whole $5.50, tbc $3.  Rosehips Org tbc $5.70.   Gunpowder - Org. 9374 $3.50 (C10139), C10141 Ex Spl 3505 Gunpowder $6.90, and conventional 3505 $3.  
4. don't forget cardamom is down this year - but tea pricing is going up - so if you can place orders now, I would advise you to STOCK UP NOW or secure pricing for the next month beofre it rises - see attached article from World Tea News   
5. talk about some Kenyan teas - I will send you info very soon on some that are overstocked here...I will send you cupping notes and ideas on how you can use them to your advantage at a GREAT price to move it out from us to you at a fabulous value 
6. it is time to start thinking and planning on next years teas, especially in iced teas
7. have you seen our new website and registered to view pricing?  www.qtradeteas.com, PLEASE NOTE - you can not order on here yet, so please ignore anything on this function (for now!), you can not check your account on here yet either! 
8. lastly - check out my blog for more interesting info!  http://desntea.blogspot.com/,such as this interesting article on "The State of the Industry" From Bev Industry ...  http://desntea.blogspot.com/2012/07/2012-state-of-industry-tea-and-ready-to.html

Microbrewery Beer and Tea

Image provided by The Science of Beer, http://newvoicesforresearch.blogspot.com/2011/01/science-of-beer.html#comment-form

I know that Yardhouse here in Southern California does an excellent job in food, spirits, beer of course, and well - they even serve a decent flavored loose tea of all places. Restaurateurs should know they are one to follow.

But one little topic keeps coming up in my full-frontal-tea-nerdy association circles. And that is Microbrew Beer.
Now my job gets more interesting because microbrewery beers are everywhere and at shows I am at. And these guys are cool in a whole different elemental way, you know? When I am around them, I get the entrepreneurial itch to open an organic sausage stand and serve micro brews in true granola-like fashion, best I could conjure of course.

Sooooo....my question of the day is, being that my associates are selling hibiscus, rosehips, and chamomile to microbreweries, what kind of beer is that? I can't wait to find out! Hibiscus beer brewer? Here I come to hunt you down and find you in your mad lab of herbal concoctions! Although my favorite may well always be Mateveza ( Yerba Mate and beer ) - this light weight will enjoy taking her time scoping the scene and sampling a bit here and there along the way.

Interesting beer reads: http://www.craftbeer.com/pages/news-and-events/american-craft-beer-week