FAQ
We think tea
You say Bistrotea only uses the highest quality tea. What is so special about it?
"Quality is doing the right thing when no one is looking." - Henry Ford
We think quality
Our tea master and experts at Martin Bauer only look for the finest ingredients with a particular taste and specific aromatic characteristics, to create the most wonderful blends. Each fruit or herb is evaluated through tasting to ensure that the infusion meets the Bistrotea’s quality standards and matches the exact aroma profiles.
Why was aluminum combined with other materials for Bistrotea Tpods?
Because of its non-absorbent and structural properties.
We think exclusivity
While ordinary filter paper absorb the taste and brewing colloids etc, our food grade foil (FDA certified) returns the full flavor. Besides, experts warn that paper used for tea bags may contain noxious substances such as remainders of glues or plant-protective agents like pesticides etc… our perorated foil is manufactured by Swiss food packaging design specialists according EU standards. An ultra thin layer of aluminum foil (monocoque frame) is formed into a Tpod which is then encapsulated with BOPP. Our patent foil remains stable even up to 121 °C which is actually “over designed” considering the fact that the boiling point of water is 100°C or 212° F.
By the way, aluminum foil is the best available material today for the protection of food, pharmaceuticals, premium coffee (Nespresso) etc, from factors such as oxygen and sunlight that could destroy taste and quality. Aluminum is also infinitely recyclable. After use it continues to retain all its properties, which makes it possible to recycle it into new aluminum products. By collecting and recycling used Tpods, we are able to reduce our environmental impact. Recycling aluminum produces only 5% of the carbon emissions compared with primary aluminum. Because it is lightweight, using aluminum also provides transportation and environmental savings when compared to other packaging materials.
Well, if the cool metallic-look of a T-pod isn’t your cup of tea, we’ve also got the ultimate designer tea bag called The Tag!
Picturesque blends, pouched in beautiful see-thru Japanese nylons with a back-seam and a hand stitched “cling-tag”. And this, my dear, is what we call lifestyle! It’s the zenith of luxury living. It is another unique lifestyle product from the house of Bistrozucker. Carefully crafted with a passion for detail, each single serving is a marvel.
Are your organic teas organic?
Yes. Our organics infusions are from Martin Bauer Germany and all our organic teas (Camellia sinensis) are certified by Control Union Netherlands
We think clarity
Organic cultivation is to grow agricultural crops the historic way before modern agriculture. To be officially certified as Organic is documented proof that the tea has been grown in that way. To grow organic tea and to have that tea certified officially creates a unique and pristine environment, which requires special efforts.
Today the vast majority of tea is non-organic, also known as conventionally-grown. Only a small percentage (much less than one percent of all tea) is organic. It is difficult just to start an organic tea plantation because there are so many non-organic tea gardens on the slopes around it. Dispersals of chemical fertilizer or pesticide and chemical agents interfused through the soil from surrounding farms can enter the organic garden. Therefore it is necessary to make a buffer zone or shelterbelt between an organic tea farm and non-organic tea farm or to embrace organic tea cultivation together with the neighboring farmers.
To be officially certified organic in Japan, it is necessary to meet the requirements listed below
- No chemical fertilizer or pesticides for at least three years.
- Only use organic fertilizer with no genetic modification (no GMOs).
- The tea must be processed and packaged in separate facilities and lines only for organic tea.
- Documents must be filed which prove all requirements are met throughout the growing, processing, and packaging, and which can be traced.
- All documents, tea plantations, processing facilities, and packaging locations are periodically inspected by the organic certification organization.
How much caffeine is there in a cup of tea?
It’s difficult to say for sure!
We think plenty
There are several factors that can change the amount of caffeine in your cup, such as water temperature and steeping time. Although it’s virtually impossible to measure the exact amount of caffeine in every cup, we have tested all of our teas to come up with a general rating system.
Here are our caffeine categories – you can find the caffeine rating for each tea on its web page.
Caffeine-free – contain less than 1 mg of caffeine per cup
Low caffeine – contain 1-35 mg of caffeine per cup
Medium caffeine – contain 35-90 mg of caffeine per cup. In the world of tea, our medium selection still means that you won't be getting the high caffeine content of a cup of coffee.
Stimulants – because of their unique combination of stimulants (including caffeine) and their various effects, our stimulant blends (Energy Tea, Bar Tea Cocktails) hold their own category. Think of these as being about the same as our “medium” blends or even higher.
Why do your teas contain flavoring?
While we offer a great selection of delicious orthodox teas, some popular fancy blends does needs a little bit of natural boosting.
We think honesty
We always select teas that we think our customers would love, so we’re careful to make sure we have lots of fantastic choice for every taste. The fact is, natural flavoring is the reason some of our favorite blends taste so great. We couldn’t create the juicy strawberry flavor from dried strawberries alone. Keep in mind that no matter how big the taste may be, the actual amount of natural flavoring in a brewed cup of tea is next to nothing – about 0.01%.
But if flavored tea isn’t your thing, you’ve still got options. We carry plenty of unflavored blends…keep counting!
Are there teas I should avoid while pregnant or breastfeeding?
For personal health questions, please speak to your doctor or medical practitioner.
We think beauty
All of our teas have detailed ingredient lists.
How long does your tea stay fresh?
The answer is, it depends.
We think probability
…it depends on the tea! Because some of our blends have pieces of fruit, chocolate and other great stuff, they don’t always stay fresh as long as our traditional straight teas. To keep your teas fresh, always store them in a cool, dry, dark place and keep them well sealed. To make sure you’re always getting the best cup of tea possible, we recommend you follow these guidelines:
Teas and infusions with fruits and nuts: consume within 6 months from date of purchase
Straight teas: consume within 12 months from date of purchase
Where can I find a complete list of ingredients and more info about allergies?
Each tea’s product page contains a full list of ingredients.
We think safety
However; keep in mind that our teas don’t come from certified nut- or dairy-free facilities. So if you have a severe allergy, we recommend you talk to your physician before drinking our teas.
Do your teas contain any sugar or calories?
Most of our teas contain virtually no sugar, carbohydrates or calories.
We think activity
But because sugar means energy we did add some sugar to our energy tea
Nutritional Fact Tables are available for all of our teas. Just look for the link under the ingredients on each tea’s product page.
Are your teas gluten-free?
Yes indeed.
We can’t help stupidity
Please be aware that our teas do not come from certified gluten-free facilities.