Village Tea, Carmen Brown Sign Licensing Deal for Tea-Flavored Rum

Village Tea Co. Distribution Inc., the owner of the Village Tea Co. brand of premium loose-leaf teas and tea accessories, has entered into a licensing agreement with Carmen Brown Inc. to create the world’s first rum infused with premium loose-leaf tea. 

One of Village Tea’s most popular flavors, Sweet Grace Vanilla Rooibos, has been selected by Carmen Brown as the key ingredient in its new flavor of infused rums. The 70 proof molasses-based rum, produced by a small-batch distiller in Milwaukee, is blended with all-natural South African Rooibos sweetened with real vanilla. 

Carmen Brown Rum Tea with Vanilla Rooibos was introduced in January at a private Super Bowl event at the Museum of Art in New Orleans. The product is available for sale in Texas, and is expanding to Louisiana and Arkansas. There are plans for a regional and national launch of the product. Carmen Brown intends to add additional flavors that will also use additional Village Tea flavors. 

“We chose the Sweet Grace Vanilla Rooibos and the Village Tea brand because they were the only blend that could perfectly match with our rum,” stated Curtis Edwards, founder and CEO of Carmen Brown. “The flavors blended ideally with our in-house process and the line of flavors we expected to launch for the balance of the year into 2014.” 

“We’re excited to have an opportunity to provide our tea as the flavor foundation for a new spirits company that is making a large entry into the marketplace,” said Janon Costley, CEO of Village Tea. “Our company has always believed that tea shouldn’t be limited to the teacup but used as a key ingredient to bring flavor to all sorts of cups in unexpected combinations.”

Village Tea is owned in part by Total Apparel Group, a licensing, distribution and merchandising company focused on bringing national and international consumer product brands to market.