Milwaukee-based Rishi Tea introduces Oolong Tea and Classic Black Tea lines, which are ushering in the transformation of the brand’s packaging format from a labeled tin to a more environmentally friendly, sealed bag in a printed, bilingual box.
The move provides a strategic change to invest more in tea quality and freshness, and less in packaging, storage and transit costs. The airtight bag-in-a-box is far better suited to preserve the freshness and character of Rishi Tea’s signature teas, according to the company.
Rishi Tea will gradually transition its entire line of loose-leaf tins to this new, more sustainable format.
Available for retailers now are seven new oolong teas: Four Seasons Spring, Iron Goddess of Mercy, Eastern Beauty, Phoenix Dancong, Peach Oolong, Bergamot Oolong and Tropical Coconut. Wuyi Oolong, formerly available in a retail tin, is also available in this new Oolong Tea line.
Rishi Tea’s new Classic Black Tea line features black teas from a range of distinguished, time-honored, traditional producing origins and styles. Available from Rishi Tea for the first time at retail are top-quality, directly traded Assam and Darjeeling teas from India, as well as the reserve Ruby black tea from Taiwan. China Breakfast, Golden Yunnan, Earl Grey, and Earl Grey Lavender, previously available in retail tins, are now incorporated into the new Classic Black Tea line.
“Our new Oolong and Classic Black lines demonstrate the unique character offered by top-quality single-origin teas. We’ve selected teas for each line that represent the tea artisans Rishi Tea collaborates with year after year,” said Joshua Kaiser, founder and president of Rishi Tea. “Like boutique winemakers, these skilled producers bring forth the appellation characters of their teas through traditional tea farming and crafting techniques. Each tea’s taste profile reflects a distinct place of origin, traditional style, vintage and tea bush cultivar.”
Loose-leaf teas sealed in an airtight package are far fresher than those stored loosely in a metal tin, Kaiser noted, adding that “decreasing our packaging footprint also allows us to invest much more in tea and sustainable pricing strategies.”
Founded in 1997, Rishi Tea is America’s leading organic loose-leaf tea brand offering more than 100 types of loose-leaf teas, tea bags, iced teas, micro-brewed masala chai, tea ware and accessories through its online shop, select coffee roasters and all-natural gourmet retailer channels.
