Just one plant-based sachet creates a festive hot or iced beverage within minutes — simply add water, sparkling wine, or your favorite spirit.
Portland, Ore. (November 4, 2021) — The master flavor formulators in Smith Teamaker’s Tea Lab have created the perfect holiday party starter. Released today on SmithTea.com, Merry Maker’s Punch ($19.99) is a ruby red, all-natural spiced hibiscus tea blend with notes of cranberry, honey and spice. The punch was designed to be served straight or used as a mixer in myriad ways, making it the perfect addition to the holiday table, as a complement to any holiday feast, or on its own. The light and giftable package contains 10 large plant-based sachets, which each brew up cups of festive goodness.
“We created this punch as a versatile base for all of your holiday festivities,” says Head Teamaker Ravi Kroesen. “It’s delicious hot or iced, but it’s also a perfect jumping off point to create simple but impressive cocktails.”
Merry Maker’s Punch is delightful on its own, or as a zingy mixer for anything from an alcohol-free spritz to a spirited Old Fashioned. This festive botanical-based elixir offers all the merry-makings of a season to celebrate. It’s flavor is built around hibiscus, ginger, cassia, sarsaparilla, and clove, with additional floral botanicals such as rose petals and elderflower.
Festive serving suggestions (full recipes are printed on package)
Merry Maker’s Zero-Proof Spritz: Top one part brewed punch concentrate with grapefruit soda in a glass over ice, and garnish with an orange twist. Enjoy as a mocktail, or add your favorite spirit.
Winter Mimosa: Stir 3 parts Prosecco into 1 part punch concentrate, add a dash of simple syrup if desired.
Mulled Merry Maker’s Punch: Add equal parts punch concentrate and apple cider. Serve chilled, OR, bring to a simmer on the stovetop with cinnamon sticks and cranberries. Sweeten to taste and add Bourbon if desired. Garnish with orange wheels, fresh cranberries and rosemary.
Find more recipes, including the Holiday Old Fashioned, at SmithTea.com
Additional New Releases for the 2021 Holiday Season
Holiday Assortment ($35.99): This year, Smith Teamaker’s popular holiday teas – Silent Night (“a candy cane in a cup”), Ho-Ho-Hoji-Chai (an warming roasted green tea with chai spice and chocolate), and Morning Light (black tea with rosemary, cassia and black currant) teas – are packaged in a beautiful, shimmering 30-count golden box, ready for gifting.
Ice Cream Royale ($24.99): A rich and creamy tea inspired by a collaboration with Salt & Straw ice cream, containing Oolong tea from Taiwan, French sugar pearls, vanilla, amaretto and chamomile.
Chocolate Peppermint Pu-Erh ($15.99): A complex offering combining the creamy flavor of Pacific Northwest grown peppermint leaves with rich cacao nibs, aged pu-erh and flavorful orange peel.
About Smith Teamaker
In 2021 Smith Teamaker celebrates 11 years of sourcing the world’s finest teas and botanicals to offer a drinking experience like nothing else in the world. The brand is beloved by uncompromising tea drinkers for uncommonly delicious teas and herbal infusions, blended and packed in small batches at its Portland headquarters. Smith was founded by the late legendary teamaker Steve Smith, who was the visionary behind two of the nation’s biggest tea brands, Stash and Tazo. Smith Teamaker’s mission is to elevate the tea experience by crafting products made with transparency, exceptional blending, and of the highest quality. Head Teamaker Ravi Kroesen and his tea lab team oversee the consistency of their core line, develop new blends released seasonally throughout the year, and source exceptional single-origin teas for their reserve collection. Smith Teamaker is available online at smithtea.com and in select hotels, restaurants, specialty shops and grocery stores across the nation. Smith’s tasting room, located at the company’s Southeast Portland headquarters, and new tea café with a first-of-its-kind tea-infused plant based menu located in Northwest Portland, are both open daily. Find Smith Tea on Instagram @smithteamaker.