Supplement Facts

Nothing relaxes like a hot cup of herbal tea, especially in today's hectic, fast-paced world. NOW Foods complete line of 30 herbal tea blends are sure to please the most discerning palate.

It wasn't until relatively recently, some 350 years ago, that tea was introduced to England. And it was later still when it came to the New World. Nevertheless, it is fair to say that in the context of modern history, Americans have been getting excited about tea for a long time--probably never more so than on Decmeber 16, 1773. That was the date of the famous Boston Tea Party, when outraged Massachusetts colonist tossed bales of the stuff overboard in protest against increased taxes. 

To get a handle on the origin of tea, you have to go back more than 4,000 years and travel halfway around the globe. According to Chinese mythology, in 2737 BC the Chinese Emperor, Shen Nung, scholar and herbalist, was sitting beneath a tree while his servant boilded drinking water. A leaf from the tree dropped into the water and Shen Nung decided to try the brew. The tree was a wild tea tree.

While this story may be apocryphal, there are many authentic and supported references to tea in the centuries before Jesus. By the time of the Tang Dynasty (618-906 AD), tea had become China's national drink, and the word ch'a was being used to describe it.

It wasn't until relatively recently--some 350 years ago--that tea was introduced to England. And it was later still when it came to the New World. Nevertheless, it is fair to say that in the context of modern history, Americans have been getting excited about tea for a long time--probably never more so than on Decmeber 16, 1773. That was the date of the famous Boston Tea Party, when outraged Massachusetts colonist tossed bales of the stuff overboard in protest against increased taxes.

But now, if all goes well, Americans are about to get energized once more about tea--and this time, they're unlikely to throw any of it into the harbor. Instead, they'll want to savor every mouthful.

NOW® Foods carries a line of teas in many different varieties. Among these are the following:

• Echinacea, which grows wild on prairie land and has been an integral part of Native American herbal lore for centuries
• Pau D'Arco, which is found in the steamy tropical jungles of the Amazon in Brazil
• Peppermint, which takes its name from the ancient legend of Mintha, a nymph who was transformed into a plant by the goddess Persephone after the latter learned of the god Pluto's love for her.
• Raspberry, which has been eaten as fresh fruit, preserve and pie ingredient for thousands of years.
• Senna, which hails from Arabia, a land of ancient mystery and magical adventure, but also a land of soohisticated physicians like Serapion and Mesue, who are credited as the first to discover the herb's medicinal properties.
• Spearmint, which has been enjoyed throughtout history for its clean, fresh taste and aroma.
• Ginkgo Biloba and Green Tea, both of which have a long and honored past, and which have been combined by NOW® Foods in a single tea blend.
• Hibiscus, which comes from a lush Hawaiian plant with beautiful pink blossoms.
• Diet Support Tea, which supports weight loss and was formulated by certified nutritionists to supplement a healthy diet, especially between meals.
• Esiak, which was handed down from an elder Ojibwe Indian to a Canadian nurse suffering from a serious affliction. After becoming rejuvenated, the nurse began offering the formula to people everywhere.
• Rose Hips, which have emerged from an obscure history to win widespread appeal, and which are used to day to impart a tart, rosy taste to teas.
• Apple Cinnamon Spice, which combines the distinct flavor and aroma of cinnamon and spices with a hint of sweet apple and the natural caffeine of green tea.

Other varieties, including:

• Ginseng, "the highest and most potent of all herbs";
• Lemon Mint Tea, which mingles lemon flavor with fresh peppermint and spearmint;
• Orange Cinnamon Spice Tea, a blend of citrus and spice;
• Three Berry Tea, combining the flavors of strawberries, blackberries and juniper berries;
• Chamomile, an aromatic flavor once favored by Egyptian royalty;
• Relaxing Tea, a blend of passion-flower, chamomile and valerian;
• Ginger, which dates back to ancient China and triggered warfare over which nation would dominate the world's spice trade;
• Jasmine, which is associated with the aromatic splendor of an Arabian night;
• Fenugreek, which was valued by ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations for both medicinal and culinary purposes;
• Dandelion, which takes its name from the Greek wod for "lion's teeth".

NOW® Foods describes

• Green tea, as "a classic beverage from the Orient that has been revered for thousands of years as a tonic for energy and health." Elaborate rituals grew up around this beverage, culminating in the chanoyu, or tea ceremony. Zen Buddhists are said to have used this ceremony to purify their souls by becoming one with nature.

While not as venerable as that of tea, the history of NOW Foods is also one of long standing. The company was founded in 1948 when Paul Richard bought Fearn-Soya Foods, a manufacturer of grain and legume based products for $900. His son Elwood assumed part ownership and became the company president in 1960. Shortly after, the company bought its first store and became a retailer, as well as a manufacturer. Later, under the NOW brand--which stands for Natural, Organic and Wholesome--the firm started to manufacture its own dietary supplements, and recently its own herbal teas, in an effort to increase savings that could be passed along to the consumer. Today, the company operates from a 203,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility that affords it plenty of space for future growth.