Mother's Day is quickly approaching and of course you need to find the perfect gift for Mom. Well, I've already found it... Teaposy!!! My mother loves her tea and enjoys sharing these beautiful teas while entertaining. Not only are the teas beautiful, they're made with premium silver needle white tea, sewn together by hand with cotton thread.

I was extremely thrilled to find such great gifts to give my Mom and her friends! For those who like to entertain, the Celebrate gift set does nicely. The 24oz Celebrate teapot is dishwasher safe, and made of heat resistant borosilicate glass. This gift set also includes 8 blooming teas and 2 loose leaf tea sachets. The look on my Mom's face the first time she watched her tea bloom was priceless! She was so fascinated by the lovely blooming process and the scent of jasmine in the air.

As for all the other busy moms, the Teaposy Charme gift set is perfect! This set is meant for 1, perfect for the peaceful time when the kids are out of the house and you can snuggle up with a cozy blanket and read a book. The Charme set comes with a the 16oz Charme teapot, which, like the Celebrate is heat resistant and dishwasher safe. Also paired with the Charme is an 8oz cup that serves as the base of the teapot when not in use, 3 blooming teas, and 2 loose leaf tea sachets.

I know I truly like some quiet, tea time while I can schedule it in, so make your Mother's Day shopping easier with a beautiful Teaposy gift from Whole Latte Love!

We’ve got plenty of reasons to be excited here at Whole Latte Love, one of which being the all new teapots we just got in from Sowden, another being the new series on our Youtube channel. The Oskar and Joe SoftBrew porcelain teapots raise the bar with their stark yet elegant design and their ergonomic design features. Click here for more details from Morgan on episode one of What's Brewing!

Oh, and if you haven't already, click the button below to subscribe to our Youtube channel!

It may be the happiest time of the year, but this is also a busy travel season. Chances are, you or your loved ones will be taking to the roads, rails and skies in advance of the holiday celebrations. As always, good coffee and espresso can be hard to find when you're on the go. But, don't leave it to the roll of the dice this year, pack the following items in your suitcase and you won't have to be at the mercy of others when the need for a good beverage strikes.

Bodum Travel Press
New to Whole Latte Love, the Bodum Travel Press is an ingenious combination of a travel mug and French Press. It will let you prepare coffee or loose-leaf tea and drink without having to switch from press to cup. The Bodum Travel Press comes in black, green, white, orange and red...so you'll be able to match it to your luggage for a stylish ensemble. Choose from 12 or 15-ounce sizes as you see fit.

Handpresso Wild and DomePod
One of Oprah's Favorite Things, the Handpresso Wild and DomePod will let you brew authentic espresso on the go. These hand-held espresso makers do not require electricity to operate, so they are perfect for the frequent traveler. Choose the DomePod if you want to brew using ground coffee otherwise, opt for the Wild which works with ESE pods.

Hot Water Kettles
If your holiday trip involves a hotel stay, consider taking along the Capresso H20 Pro Programmable Cordless Kettle. Great for the entire family, this electric kettle will let you make hot water for coffee, tea or even hot chocolate for the little ones. The Capresso H20 Pro has 11 variable temperature settings and a large 56oz capacity so you'll brew enough for the entire family!

Gourmet Tea
There's nothing like a cup of warm tea to calm down a hectic trip. Travel-friendly Te Teas and Teaposy sachets are the perfect treat for a long trip. Take a time out with one of Te Teas' unique concoctions including Peppermint Chamomile Jazz, Rooibos Mandarin Twist, Black Velvet Chai, South Pacific Green Tea and more. If you're one to indulge in a blooming tea at home, be sure to check out The Teaposy Concert Series. The elegant flavors and aromas of blooming teas have been preserved in nylon sachets that can be easily packed into carry-on luggage. Teaposy Concert Series sachets are available in Concerto, Duet, Sonata and Symphony blends.

It doesn't matter if you packing gloves and sweaters or a bathing suit and sun block for your next trip, be sure to make room for these must-have travel companions. Travel with the comforts of home and delicious espresso, coffee and tea to boot.

Tea has a rich history dating back to about 2700BC. Today, tea production is in access of 2.5 million tons globally. Tea is grown in subtropical areas of China, India, Japan, Indonesia and Asia. All tea is created from the tropical plant Camellia Senensis. There are several thousand different types of tea available on the market, but it can be broken down into four main categories: Black, Green, Oolong and White.

White tea is produced from the baby leaves of the Camellia Senensis plant. The tealeaves are harvested before they fully open, when the buds are covered by fine white hair. White tea is typically more expensive than other teas due to scarce availability. White tea is the least processed tea and possesses a high level of antioxidants. The caffeine content is very low, averaging about 15mg per serving.

• Prevents cancer cells from forming
• Lowers blood pressure
• Helps reduce cholesterol levels
• Improve bone density

If you are interested in sampling some white tea, I would suggest Teaposy and Te Teas White Silk Earl Grey.

Green tea is made from the top two leaves and buds from the Camellia Sinensis shrub. The leaves are dried after being plucked to prevent fermentation. The drying process stops the enzyme activity which causes oxidation. The green tea is then hand rolled into numerous shapes including: curly, twisted, pointed and round. The rolling process regulates the release of natural substances and flavor when steeped in the cup. Green tea contains on average 20mg of caffeine.

• Aids with digestion
• Helps keep a healthy complexion
• Has no calories
• Reduces Blood Sugar Levels

Whole Latte Love offers an assortment of green teas. I would suggest Te Tea Organic Forest Green and Organic South Pacific Green.

Black tea is the most processed of all teas made from the tea plant. The tea leaf is completely oxidized prior to being fired. The leaf is laid out to wilt and dry naturally which causes it to lose much of its weight and stiffness. The tea leaf is than rolled, and left out in the air to start the oxidization process. Black tea has the most caffeine of all the teas due to this process; it averages 40mg of caffeine per serving.

• Reduces heart disease
• Lower blood pressure
• Helps burns fat and speed up metabolism
• Helps delay the aging process

The following Te Teas are created with black tea: Black Velvet Chai Calming Lavender and Imperial Breakfast Blend.

The Oolong tea is created from buds at the top of the bushes that are matured to half the size of a fully grown leaf. The leaves are picked and left indoors to cool and dry. The leaves then go through the bruising process, which removes moisture and grassiness. When aroma substances have started to form, bruised leaves are pan-fried at high heat to kill the enzymes and stop the oxidation process.

• Promotes weight loss
• Treats skin disorders
• Prevents tooth decay
• Reduces high blood pressure

If you haven’t tried a Oolong tea, I would suggest: Te Tea Dream Goddess Oolong or Teaposy Concerto tea

Tea is a relaxing drink that can be enjoyed either hot or cold. It can be purchased in loose form, individual tea bags or capsules. All teas have good health benefits due to the antioxidants in the tea leaves. Next time you are looking for a healthy drink, treat yourself to one of these great tea varieties.

Summer is the perfect time for family vacations, relaxing and the familiar sound of wedding bells. This summer, my younger sister, Kirsten was married. As the younger sister, she received a lot of help planning her wedding from her older, married sisters. As we met to discuss the upcoming wedding, the topic of the favors was pondered by all. I brought with me a Teaposy blooming tea to enjoy; little did I know that this would become not only the centerpiece, but also the tea served and the wedding favor for the guest.

Teaposy is a blooming tea which is created from silver needle white tea and real flowers, which are hand-sewn together. When the tea is placed in a teapot and boiling water is added, the tea leaves unfold and a real flower is revealed. The result is a delightful tea that has subtle hints of jasmine, and very little caffeine, so it is good for you too.

Each teaposy can make 50 ounces of tea. You brew all the tea at once then place it in the refrigerator to enjoy as an ice tea. When entertaining, you can place the teaposy in a 24 -ounce teapot and continue to add hot water and to enjoy. For the wedding, we used the Tea for More Teapot that holds 48- ounces. This teapot comes complete with an Asian inspired bamboo handle and stand. We placed a teaposy in each teapot and added the boiling hot water, in less then a minute the teaposy began to bloom. We allowed the teaposy to steep for about 10 minutes. You can steep this tea longer if you wish. However, I do not recommend steeping the teaposy longer than 25 minutes; do to the possibility of over steeping. Once the tea was fully steeped, we removed the teaposy from the teapot and set it aside to use as a centerpiece.

For my sisters wedding we displayed the teaposy in large glass vases on the center of the table. After we added boiling hot water and the teaposy was fully opened, we removed the blossom from the teapot. The teaposy was then carefully placed on a plate to cool. We filled the vases with very cold water and then gently placed the bloomed teaposy inside. The cold water is necessary to make sure the steeping process stops and results in a clear bloom in the container. The teaposy bloom is so well crafted, that it can be used as a display for up to seven days. It will be necessary to refresh the water every couple of days for optimal results. The centerpieces were topics of discussion all evening at the reception.

Each teaposy is individually vacuumed sealed in a package along with a photo of the teaposy on the outside. We purchased the medley assortment of six different teas to use which included Falling Water, Calendula, Lady Fairy, Noble Essence, Red Song and Crown Me. To customize the teaposies, we added a photo of the newly married couple. This was simply done by using a hole punch and decorative ribbon. The result was a high end wedding favor that cost about $2.00 each.

As you can see, we were able to incorporate the teaposies as a key element of the wedding reception. My sister still has people contacting her in regards to purchasing additional tea. The teaposy is not only beautiful, but delivers subtle flavors that appeal to a large audience. The Teaposy line offers an assortment of blooming teas, and a variety of hand- blown teapots. If you are planning a wedding or event and want to incorporate Teaposy, please call me at 888-411-5282 ext. 5184

As most classic music buffs know, a concert is a piece of music written for an orchestra and soloist. Everyone form Mozart to Vivaldi and Beethoven wrote their fair share and modern composers continue writing them today. A successful concert is the result of the orchestra carefully balancing the soloist, creating a dialogue, and enhancing the beauty and the balance. This is the concept behind Teaposy concert series teas; each tea is an orchestrated combination of unique flavors playing the perfect concert.

The teaposy loose leaf tea assortment consists of four varieties: Sonata, Symphony, Concerto and Duet. Here is a closer look of what makes up each one of these teas:

This refreshing, caffeine-free blend creates a delicious herbal infusion. Teaposy Concert Series Sonata is a bouquet of lavender, lily, hibiscus, rose, forget-me-not, Chinese globeflower and sweet leaves. Sweet leaves have been used to naturally add sweetness to foods and beverages for centuries, giving a slightly sweet taste without the calories associated with cane sugar. When brewed, this herbal infusion has a light-bodied pink hue and delicate fruity flavors.

This herbal tea is carefully balanced for a complex, refreshing flavor. Teaposy Concert Series Symphony is a caffeine-free herbal infusion made up of mint leaves, osmanthus, chrysanthemum, Chinese globeflower, jasmine, honeysuckle, and barley. With its light-bodied, golden color and minty sweet taste, Symphony has unmistakable flavors and aromas to be enjoyed anytime.

Enjoy the delicate combination of lily, osmanthus blossoms and organic oolong tea with Teaposy Concert Series Concerto. The perfect balance of traditional tea and whole flowers, Concerto creates a brisk, full-bodied brew with hints of citrus and spice.

Teaposy Concert Series Duet brings together organic pu-erh tea and whole chrysanthemum blossoms for the perfect anytime tea. Pu-erh tea is an organic, specially aged tea with a pronounced earthy flavor. When combined with chrysanthemum, it creates a full-bodied tea with a refined, toasty flavor and hints of nuts.

The Concert Series proves that choice is good, letting you decide whether you want to brew with the specially designed sachet or loose-leaf tea. When brewed loose, the dried flowers and leaves open and create a mesmerizing and beautiful display. This revolutionary sachet makes the Concert Series easy to enjoy when you’re in a rush, you can also make the tea for relaxing, meditative moment, when you can open the sachet and watch the flowers and leaves steep. Each box contains 12 pyramid-shaped nylon sachets. Teaposy Concert Series teas are individually sealed in anti-oxygen, anti-moisture packaging for freshness, and are presented in Teaposy’s elegant gift boxes.

Next time you are in the mood for a refreshing drink, grab one of these teas: sit back and enjoy the concert.

Ever wonder what a Teaposy flowering tea taste like? This is a question we receive quite frequently. Teaposy teas are created from the finest Silver Needle White Tea, and lightly scented with fresh Jasmine flowers. Each tea is individually hand-sewn with cotton thread combining tea leaves and a real flower.

A sip of these remarkable teas reveals a subtle jasmine aroma and a lingering pure, sweet finish. But this is where the likeness ends… Each Teaposy bloom is crafted with a different type of flower, infusing them with distinct and rare qualities found only in nature. White tea is very light and allows the flavors to be subtle and pleasing to the pallet. The white tea also has very little caffeine, due to the tea not being dried several times like green or black tea. Here is a breakdown of the flavor profile for each tea:

• Light-bodied with a golden, honey-colored hue
• Refreshing, slightly tangy flavor with notes of ripe citrus
• Intensely aromatic and floral finish
• Leaves a natural, sweet rose taste on the palate

Bright, lively and tangy, this tantalizing tea has notes of fresh ripe citrus. A light-bodied golden cup, its flavor bathes your mouth with the aroma of roses and awakens your senses. A perfect pick-me-up after a long morning or day.

• Medium-bodied with a light yellowish-gold color
• Opulent, floral flavor
• Reminiscent of toasted nuts
• Long-lasting sweet aftertaste

Like drinking in a field of flowers in full bloom, this memorable tea is medium-bodied with a long-lasting floral aftertaste. Smooth and slightly nutty, the rich taste lingers on the palate. Refresh the senses with the sunny flavors of spring and summer.

• Medium-bodied with a rosy hue
• Refined, sweet flavor with a hint of ripe plum
• Slightly dry, memorable finish
• Soft, mild and aromatic

The refined taste of carnation combines with subtle jasmine to fill the mouth with a soft and mild fragrance. With the ever so slight tang of fresh plums, this memorable tea will delight the senses. Drift away after a lovely dinner with this magnificent companion.

• Medium-bodied with a light golden color
• Rich, complex flavor with hints of pear and oak
• Floral, nectar-like sweetness
• Sophisticated and delicious with a warm, toasty mouthfeel

This deep, rich tea is medium-bodied with a nectar-like sweetness that lingers on the palate. Intense, complex flavors with creamy hints of pear and oak, like a golden swath of brocade. A nice accompaniment to a midmorning or afternoon snack.

• Light to medium-bodied with a light, yellowish-gold hue,
• Lingering, mildly nutty flavor like toasted pinenuts
• Refreshing and naturally sweet
• Aromatic with notes of citrus

This distinctive, pure tea has a smooth, almost chewy texture. Dry and slightly nutty, its heady floral aroma and sweet aftertaste is complemented by a slight tartness. Luxuriate in a sea of mums, and sip in the freshness of a crisp, sunny day.

• Light to medium-bodied with a light golden color
• Smooth, slightly tangy flavor
• Deep, rich notes of lily and jasmine
• Sweet, long-lasting aftertaste

Light and smooth, this tea floods the mouth with a heady floral fragrance and a sweet, light tangy flavor. The lily provides a depth of character, which is at once relaxing and stimulating. Enjoy on a moonlit night, surrounded by pillows of jasmine in bloom.

• Medium-bodied
• Light yellow hue with a blush of pink
• Ripe berry-like flavors
• Pure, fresh and elegant floral finish
• Slightly astringent with a mellow, dry mouthfeel

Fresh and lively, this tea has a complex, slightly dry berry-like flavor. High notes of jasmine mingle with the smooth, sweet understated elegance of white tea, creating a bright brew that rejuvenates and refreshes the senses. Enjoy alone or with a light dessert.

• Light to medium-bodied with a very light, yellowish hue
• Delicious, smooth taste reminiscent of butter and hazelnuts
• Full of texture and sweetness like soft wildflower honey
• Unique and fresh, with the aroma of jasmine

Like wildflower honey, this tea is endowed with an effervescent character and a full, rich mouthfeel. Light, almost nutty, it has a soft texture and long-lasting aromatic finish. Drink a cup and harmonize with the elements of nature.

As you can see, each tea offers a very distinct flavor profile. They are not only beautiful to look as, but can awaken many senses on your tongue. Each of the Teaposy gift sets comes complete with an assortment of different teaposies.

Every year we spend countless hours trying to decide on a special theme for each one of our children’s birthday parties. When my daughter was turning 11 she requested that we have a Teaposy birthday party. I introduced my family to Teaposy the week prior when I brought some samples home. This delightful tea blooms when you add hot water. It has a subtle flavor and being a white tea, it contains very little caffeine, which makes it a perfect fit for children.

What I liked about the tea was its quality and craftsmanship. The tea comes from the Fujian Province of China. Each Teaposy tea is hand crafted. The silver-needle white tea leaves are sorted by length, and a flower is then hand-sewn, using cotton thread, into the tea leaves. Once the Teaposy has been created, it is laid amongst real Jasmine flowers so that it can be naturally infused with the aroma. When the process is complete, each piece of tea is vacuum sealed to retain the flavors and freshness.

The day of my daughters birthday party, we set the table with eight Teaposy Blossom Gift Sets. Each gift set included a 12 ounce glass teapot, with a delicate wire handle and a 3 ounce cup and saucer. The girls were fascinated with the decorative box, which featured a photo of each of the Teaposies in bloom. Inside the box, they found six different Teaposies, each created with a unique flower including: rose, lily, camellia, carnation, chrysanthemum, amaranth, and calendula. I spread the Teaposies on the table, made small finger sandwiches and then the fun began.

Each girl un-wrapped a Teaposy and placed it into the teapot. I brought out boiling water and filled each teapot. This was the quietest minute; I have ever had with these girls. The girls were staring intently at the teapot, when we suddenly heard a large scream. One of the girls Teaposy had began to open and popped straight up into the water. She was so excited to see it bloom, she literally screamed. The girls were very excited as their individual teas came to life. They sat in my kitchen, most of the afternoon sipping tea, laughing and watching in delight.

I wanted each girl to have a special treat to take home, so I removed the brewed Teaposies and set them on a paper towel to cool. After about five minutes, I filled their individual teapots with cold water and then placed each Teaposy back into the teapot. Every girl was able to take home a beautiful table arrangement to share with their families.

That evening, the phone began to ring. Several of the mothers had called to inquire about Teaposy. The girls were excited, when they arrived home, and shared their teapots with their moms. The moms wanted to know why they were not given a set for themselves! Several weeks later, I had our first moms’ night. I invited all of the girl’s moms, over and again, we sat and watched the Teaposies with delight. We still have these moms nights and laugh about how it started from a unique birthday party idea.

Having two kids around the house has made me realize that I wanted to set the best example possible for them. I modified my diet, starting exercising more (a lot more! I put in 2 hours a day, 6 days a week in our basement home gym) and started looking for supplements and health aides that would have a positive effect on my health.

Part of my health transformation is attributed to a swap in beverages I made about 6 months ago. I would drink a cup or two of plain old herbal tea almost every night. At the suggestion of my mother, I switched to green, tea but didn't care for the taste. After much research, I discovered white tea and now I'm an addict!

If you set a New Year's resolution to drop a few pounds and get healthier, take it from me, white tea might be just the thing you need.

White tea is the first tea that is harvested every spring, from the best tea plants. It is hand picked during just a few days in very early spring, when the buds are still covered with the fine, white down that gives the tea its name. It can be a wonderful and pleasant aid if you're trying to lose weight. It will make it easier to follow a diet, it will make you healthier, it will burn calories for you, and it may even boost your mental strength.

White tea burns calories. White tea contains caffeine, which speeds up the metabolism. That means that the body burns energy faster, and since the tea contains no calories itself, it is sometimes called a calorie-negative drink. This is the most important way white tea boosts weight loss. Other teas have the same property, not to mention coffee, which contains much more caffeine. So why drink white tea for weight loss, specifically?

White tea contains the least caffeine of all teas. If you drink too much black tea or coffee, you will experience some of the negative effects of caffeine, like trembling, anxiety, headaches, and so on. Getting too much caffeine is also an excellent way to make sure you will not be able to sleep at night. White tea contains just the right amount of caffeine-- enough to burn calories at maximum efficiency, but not so much that you will feel any of the ill effects. That way, you can drink white tea all day, keeping the caffeine level in your body right where it burns calories without experiencing any ill effects.

White tea tastes good. It has a fresh, flowery smell and a mild, delicate, and subtle taste with a hint of jasmine. Its natural sweetness eliminates the need to sweeten it with sugar, artificial sweeteners or milk.

When you're drinking white tea, you're not eating or drinking something unhealthy. The very simple act of drinking white tea instead of unhealthy stuff like sugared sodas and juice can do wonders for the waistline. The trick is switching unhealthy stuff (including snacks that aren't liquid) for white. The effect is actually stronger than you'd think.

Not everyone knows about it. While most people have heard of green tea, white tea is still unknown to many. Start to drink white tea now, before everyone is doing it, and you'll be ahead of the rush and can teach your friends how to actually enjoy their diets with white tea. Weight loss isn't always a fun process, but when we feel like we're pioneering a new approach for dieting, it may boost the mental strength we need to keep losing that excess fat. Not to mention that new research is finding tea to be beneficial to our overall health, including our teeth! For more information on that, click here: Brush, Floss, and Drink Brewed Tea

So where do I go from here?

The first thing to do is to get first hand experience with white tea. The Teaposy Dream Gift Set is a great place to start.

For more, visit Teaposy.

Health and Happiness to You All!

If everyone hasn't already guessed, I'm a big fan of Teaposy. Not only is it fun to watch the flower open and bloom, it also tastes great! When we first tried the Teaposy, we were all amazed at how they individually tied each tealeaf with a real flower into a little ball and then it exploded in the teapot. But after the flower appeared and the tea was all gone, it was kind of sad to think all this work was going to now go to the waste basket. But Alas, another thing you can do with your teaposy, is as a beautiful centerpiece--and it lasts for up to 7 days. How is that for a Tea that keeps on giving? Check out some more helpful hints to using your teaposy as a display.