Hella Tea’s dope line of products pays homage to Bay Area hip hop
Did you know that tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world? According to the Tea Association of the U.S.A. Inc., 2017-18 Tea Market Review & Forecast, consumption of tea continued to penetrate all demographics. 2017 saw continued to growth for the United States tea industry.
Sri Lanka which grew some 10% year on year, outpacing “traditional origins” such as China, Japan, Taiwan, India. Some of the United States largest importers of tea around the world were Madagascar, India, China, Vietnam and Indonesia.
And so we circle back to the Bay Area
One thing about the Bay Area is that there is no denying our influence in music. Our artists vary across all genres of music including Hip Hop, Rock, and R & B. From the likes of E40, The Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, G Eazy, and Goapele, the talent is incredible! Our music defines the culture here in the Bay Area. Traces of our musical legends can be found all over the Bay, including Tea.
Wait, did you say “Tea”?
Yes! Oakland’s food startup “Hella Tea” adds a unique flare to the region’s food scene. Hella Tea offers a line of loose leaf tea blends that any Bay Area “hip hop head” and tea connoisseur, can appreciate and savor.
Oakland native and Founder Chantrelle Edwards ‘got the whole Bay hyped’ over her latest line of Tea products. Hella Tea comes in a variety of teas named after some of the Bay Area’s musical legends. Who wouldn’t want to sip on “E-4 Tea”, an earl grey loose leaf tea, named after Vallejo’s legendary artist “E-40” ?
Music is “good for the soul”, however did you know that drinking tea has its own health benefits as well? "Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage," writes 19th-century Japanese scholar Okakura Kakuzo in his infamous publication.
In fact, studies have shown that following teas have tremendous health benefits:
Green, Oolong and white tea contains antioxidants which are essential to minimizing the risks associated with cancer
Lowers blood pressure,
Most tea leaves contains less caffeine than coffee
May reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke
Helps the body metabolize which can assist with weight loss
Hella Tea’s product line includes loose leaf blends such as, Black tea, or “Don’t gimme no bammer tea”, which is a loose leaf with roasted chestnuts and a hint of Toffee. The flavored tea, was inspired by San Francisco rap duo RBL Posse’s underground hit “Don’t Gimme No Bammer”.
Black tea health benefits
Black tea is great for a variety of reasons and can help boost energy and increase alertness. Black tea contains caffeine as well as a stimulating substance called theophylline. Black tea is full of healthy substances called polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants that can help protect your cells from DNA damage.
Hella Tea’s Chamomile blend, or “Chamo-la-Harris” tea, is named after Senator Kamala Harris. Chamomile tea is incredibly fragrant, with hints of floral, spices and apples. Chamomile Tea is popular amongst tea enthusiasts who enjoy a more light, floral, taste. The health benefits of drinking chamomile tea include reducing menstrual pain, can reduce blood sugar levels, and reduce long-term risks of diabetes.
The cool thing about Hella Tea, is that the market for specialty tea continues to drive growth, including volume and dollars across various outlets. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Hella Tea as consumers across all demographics continue to seek new and different beverage options and flavors. This is where the unique brand can win over consumers and expand into different markets. Follow Hella Tea and it’s company’s future endeavors. Tells us what you think about the article by tweeting us or following us on Instagram!
