FAQ's

 

Yes, all of our herbs are either organic or wildharvested.  It is important to us to have the highest-quality ingredients for our blends.  We get many of our herbs either locally or from our sustainable and ecologically responsible resource in the wilds of Oregon.

 

Organic herbs are cultivated in a way that is ecologically responsible, such as growing without the use of toxic fertilizers, pesticides, chemicals and/or genetically engineered or modified plants.  Wildharvested herbs are herbs that are harvested directly from their native growing area and/or from a natural area in which they were reintroduced into the wild.   Both ways ensure the most natural form and growing conditions of the plants. 

 

A true "tea" in definition must come from the Camellia sinensis shrub, which grows in tropical or sub-tropical climates around the world.   Black teas, green teas (including Oolong) and white teas all come from this shrub.  Once harvested, all of  the teas are dried with heat, creating oxidation, which causes the different colors of the teas.  Black teas are oxidized the longest; green teas are oxidized for a medium amount of time; white teas are the young buds of the shrub which are oxidized very minimally or sometimes not at all.  They all contain caffeine, tannins and antioxidants.  The darker the tea, the more caffeine and tannins, but the less antioxidants.   True teas are also steeped in hot water for a certain length of time to maximize flavor and traditional methods of brewing.

 

Tisanes are herbal infusions.  Any one herb or blend of herbs that are caffeine-free and are steeped in hot water for any desired length of time.  For example, Chamomile "tea" would be a tisane.  We call all of our blends "teas" because most steeped beverages are refered to such in this country.

 

Red Rooibos, commonly called "Red Tea", is not actually a true "tea".  In order to be a true tea, it has to come from the Camellia sinensis shrub, which grows in tropical or sub-tropical climates around the world.  Rooibos, or Red Bush, is actually a member of the legume family, and is grown in a small area of South Africa.  It is compared to traditional tea because it oxidizes in a way very similar to Camellia sinesis shrub.  It is naturally caffeine-free, low in tannins and higher in antioxidants than black, green or white tea.      

 

Typically with individual bags, herbs are cut and sifted so small and so many times, that they may begin to lose their freshness and potentcy.  Although this is not the case for all individually-bagged teas, we find that minimally-cut and sifted herbs give a fuller flavor and are often fresher.  With larger pieces of herbs, we are able to really look at our blends to assure the highest quality.

 

Taproot Teas started off strong with our blend of tisanes and is happy to announce that we will be offering black and green tea blends VERY SOON, along with a few other surprises!

 

Taproot Teas are blended in small batches to ensure the highest quality and freshness.  Our recycled and biodegradeable brown kraft bags each contain 3 ounces of carefully selected and blended herbs.   Each 3 oz bag makes approximately 60 cups of tea.  (1 tsp herb per 8 oz water)

 

We do indeed!  If we have the herbs you want, we would be happy to blend something special for you.  Please contact us for details. 

 

We are happy to offer teas that reflect the season, such as our Holiday Blend, and offer dried organic herbs harvested from our garden during the growing season.  Check our website for limited offerings of these highly sought-after herbs!

 

We ship all orders through the United States Postal Service.  Why?  Because we like them and they are less expensive than the alternatives.  However, we will be happy to accomodate any orders needing special shipping instructions or alternative methods. 

 

We accept all major credit cards:  Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.  We also accept personal checks, however, payment must be received before shipments go out. 

 

Regular ground shipping with the USPS can take up to 10 days, but usually arrives much faster.   

 

People always love to know the story behind how we got started.  (go to "About Us" to learn more about our story)  However, it goes much deeper than that.  I attibute my kinship in the herbal kingdom to my ancestors who passed down this rich lore and ancient knowledge.   One in particular, my great-grandmother Mamie, stood out above all others for me.  She was a midwife and herbalist in the Pennsylvania Dutch community in northeast PA.  She taught her grand-daughter (my mother) much of what she knew; everything from their superstitions to healing remedies, which was eventually passed down to me.  One herb she was particularly drawn to was the Dandelion.  The happy little plant that pops up vigorously in many lawns, much to many the homeowner's dismay, is one of the most sought-after plants in the healer's kingdom.  My grandmother was highly aware of all of its many healing properties and harvested Dandelion for medicine, as well as for wine and made salads with the leaves and flowers.  I had no prior knowledge of how much she used Dandelion and was delighted to learn of her love for them, as it is also one of my very most favorite herbs and most-used herbs!  

 

The Dandelion has a specific root, a taproot, which grows straight down and deep into the earth.  It's with this taproot that it is able to gather nutrients from deep underground which enables it to maintain its tenacity, even in less-than-ideal growing conditions.  It reaches down to connect with the knowledge that's been passed down through its generations, and uses it to maintain a healthy and vibrant life.   I am honored to explore the path of herbal knowledge alongside my great-grandmother through our love of this symbolic healing plant.