Experience everything tea at the 2015 World Tea Expo in Long Beach, California - May 6-8, 2015. Dozens of new products will hit the market at World Tea Expo. Learn more.
Reminiscent of a chalkboard art, Owl’s Brew black bottles and labels make clear that this is a company that likes to do things a little differently. The company has firmly staked itself in the tea cocktail market by developing tea concentrates specifically made as mixers. 
Jennie Ripps and Maria Littlefield both came out of the world of marketing. In addition to Owl’s Brew, they have launched Brew Lab Tea, which creates custom tea blends. Owl’s Brew offers three flavors that can be mixed with spirits in a ratio of “2 Parts Brew, 1 Part Booze.” Classic combines English Breakfast with citrus; 
Pink & Black which is Darjeeling with hibiscus, lemon and strawberry; and Coco-Lada which is black tea, chai spices, pineapple and coconut. The concentrates are brewed fresh in small batches in Vermont and then sweetened and bottled. They are created from whole leaf tea, real spices and herbs, and fruit with no artificial flavorings. The founders wanted a mixer that would be easy to order and offer a change of pace from the usual bar drinks. The concentrate can be added to vodka, gin, rum, champagne or another favorite spirit. The Pink & Black was a finalist for Women’s Health’s Outstanding New Product, Best Specialty Foods for Healthy Eaters and for the Specialty Food Association’s 2014 sofi awards. The product is now available at Whole Foods, Fairway and bars and cocktail spots. They are looking to break into the foodservice sector in a bigger way in the future. 
Owl’s Brew isn’t the only option for tea in your highball glass. Portland, Ore.’s Townshend’s Tea has released a new line of tea spirits. Townshend is the comapny behind Brew Dr. Kombucha. Now they are releasing three spirits: Sweet Tea, Spice Tea and Smoke Tea. Townshend steeps their signature blends with local honey and spices. There are also green tea vodkas, a Silver Tip Jasmine tea gin and others. It will be distributed in liquor stores near their Oregon locations and at their distillery. The product is gluten-free. SOURCE: Food Navigator