National Park Teas - Yosemite

Blender's Notes:

"But no temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its wall seems to glow with life." John Muir, The Yosemite

In 1864, Abraham Lincoln signed an Act of Congress that transferred the land of Yosemite Valley to the State of California as a grant which prevented human settlement. John Muir, known as the "Father of the National Park system," had a special place in his heart for Yosemite and lobbied Congress for the creation of the third national park in 1890. He continued to ask for additional protections for Yosemite National Park when he toured it with President Theodore Roosevelt, another strong advocate and conservationist. A close friend of Muir's, Galen Clark, was the first man to serve as guardian commissioner of the area and he also played a huge role in the development of Yosemite National Park. The beauty of Yosemite has inspired many other famous people of the time, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, a transcendentalist; Ansel Adams, a photographer; and Therese Yelverton, a novelist.

Yosemite has a strong Native American culture and presence, which can be seen at the Yosemite Museum. The museum holds many Native American artifacts as well as a reconstructed village that is still used today for ceremonies and special gatherings. In 1929, the same year Simpson & Vail was incorporated, Maggie Howard, a Paiute, began working at the Yosemite Museum. She was one of the first American Indian women to arrange cultural demonstrations and she spent almost 15 years of her life educating the public about Native American culture in the Yosemite Valley.

Reading through historical and personal accounts of Yosemite, I was struck by a common theme used to describe this area. Many refer to Yosemite as "refreshing," so my goal was to create a blend that was uplifting and soothing at the same time; a blend that refreshed the body and soul. Using herbs and flowers similar to those found in the park we came up with a blend of pineapple and spearmint that is a perfect marriage of flavors. When brewed the heavenly mint aroma, with a hint of pineapple, will tantalize your senses. Allow this blend to transport you from the comfort of your living room to the top of one of Yosemite's many mountains, feeling the cool mountain breeze, and gazing upon the picturesque scenery.

Ingredients: Black teas, pineapple flavor, spearmint, and marigold petals.

Brew tea at 212º - steep for 3 minutes.

4 Ounces of loose tea makes approximately 50 cups of tea.

Simpson & Vail donates 10% of all tea sales in this line to help preserve our beautiful National Parks. The percentage from Yosemite Tea sales goes to Yosemite Conservancy, one of the non-profits for the park. Yosemite Conservancy helps visitors connect with Yosemite through adventures, volunteering and the arts, and funds grants for high-priority projects, including restoration, educational programs and research.