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The Republic of Tea
The Republic of Tea incited a "tea revolution" in the early part of the 1990's by introducing estate quality loose leaf teas, blended and flavored teas and herbal teas packaged in beautifully designed tins. Their motto is to enjoy life "sip by sip, not gulp by gulp". The book, The Republic of Tea, Letters to a Young Zentrepreneur (Doubleday, 1992), caught the imagination of many readers who joined the tea revolution and quickly helped create The Republic of Tea's success. Today, the Republic's teas are leaders in the specialty tea world and have won numerous awards. Caroline MacDougall designs herbal teas for The Republic of Tea as their "Minister of Herbs".
Caroline MacDougall's Story
Somewhere in 1990 or '91, I got a call from Bill Rosenzweig asking me to design herbal teas for a new company he was creating with Mel & Patricia Ziegler of The Banana Republic. Does the world need another herbal tea, I asked him? I was tired of simply reproducing the various fruit flavored herbal teas already being sold commercially and declared that I was not interested in creating more of them. Well, what kind of tea do you drink, he asked me? I replied that I drink teas made from herbs I harvest from my garden that have unique and refined flavors from the actual leaves and flowers. I avoid finely cut herbs that have lost their aromatic essences. Those herbs and spices that I use from other parts of the world, I carefully choose based on premium qualities harvested in the countries that grow the most flavorful varieties. Well, he replied, that's exactly the kind of tea I want you to produce for me!
I remember the day I brought him my first four teas. I was filled with trepidation. These are too subtle. He won't like them without a burst of an overriding dominant flavor. I was truly nervous. I watched him carefully as he savored his first sip with his eyes closed. Ah, he sighed, that's what I call a cup of tea. Thus began my relationship with The Republic of Tea where my creativity has been allowed to flourish to heights even I never suspected possible. To this day, I proudly fulfill my duties as "The Minister of Herbs".
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