Tea Magazine Celebrates “TEA IN TEXAS” MIXER CELEBRATES WORLD TEA EXPO The First US Tea Auction sets World Price Record   April 10, 2006 - Houston, TX    Tea in Texas Magazine, a quarterly tea magazine providing consumers with the information, ideas and confidence they need to get the maximum enjoyment from tea in southeast Texas, will host a Tea Mixer in style. This Tuesday evening, from 6:30-8pm, at Sandy's Market on Katy Freeway, local tea aficionados will celebrate the growing popularity of tea in our culture and the second issue of the Tea Magazine. Many Tea shop owners and area tea lovers will discuss the history of Tea, trends for the industry, and the future of Tea in Houston. Tea tasting and refreshments served. Highlights include: Growing camellia sinensis (tea) on display, a visit from George Washington (who drank 3 cups of tea each morning) and many exciting doorprizes offered by local tea vendors. To appreciate the local tea madness hitting our area, a highly-valued collectable Yixing Teapot will be on display. "Tea is reaching Houston with great excitement" states Lee Garcia, publisher of Tea in Texas Magazine. "Many new tea businesses have opened doors and we are thrilled to join major metropolitan areas in the nation bringing tea and the sensibility it represents to our area." From College Station to Galveston, there are over 45 tea rooms and tea shops that beacon your patronage. Garcia, who recently covered the World Tea Expo, scouted new tea products and trends for Houston area businesses. "This expo carried such wonderful energy and enthusiasm for our industry, its a booming time for all aspects of tea, from British-Victorian, Russian, German, to Asian concepts are flourishing."   WORLD TEA EXPO A HUGE SUCCESS, RECORD ATTENDANCE The World Tea Expo, the premier marketplace for the tea industry and the largest tea trade show and conference in the World, closed last week on its most successful year ever in Las Vegas.  The Expo experienced tremendous growth in 2006, far surpassing expectations, with 4,122 participants.  "The record attendance we experienced is evidence of the exponential growth the industry is experiencing," explained George Jage, World Tea Expo founder and president. Hundreds of tea business owners from Texas were present.  Among the attendees were Guy Straitfield (British Isles on Rice Boulevard), Thomas Grant (Sandy's Market on Katy Freeway) and Jody Seaback (The Tea Garden in Katy). Always a catalyst for the tea industry, the Expo was the perfect forum for tea companies to display new and interesting products and to connect with thousands of buyers, both large and small.  This year’s significant buyers included Whole Foods Markets, Nestle Beverage, the Kroger Company, Bath & Body Works, Trader Joe's, United Natural Foods, HEB, Cost Plus, Jamba Juice, and Hyatt Hotels.  Next year, the Expo will be held in Atlanta. NATION’S FIRST TEA AUCTION BREAKS A WORLD RECORD This year, the World Tea Expo also played host to the country's first Tea Auction, in which teashop owners and tea connoisseurs were able to purchase 5- and 10-kilogram lots of one-of-a-kind premium teas from the Nilgiri region in India.  A stunning success, the Tea Auction had already set a world record by the time the first lot was sold.  After a spirited bidding war, Jennifer Cauble, from Fort Worth, Texas, purchased the first ever tea sold at auction on US soil.  The tea sold for $600 per kilogram, which may be the highest price ever paid for black tea in an auction. Sandy's Market, on Katy Freeway in Houston, purchased two fine lots of tea and will be donating a pound of this premium tea as a door prize at the Tea Kickoff on Tuesday night.   Tea in Texas Magazine is edited for discerning, quality conscious readers in the greater Houston area. Its goal is to inform and inspire, to teach and demystify a broad range of subjects relating to Camellia sinensis (tea) and promote local tea shops. Content includes feature articles, tea trends, innovative products, travel & wellness. From information to inspiration, it encourages readers to savor their tea moments. The Tea Mixer is open to the public and free of charge. Donations will be accepted to benefit the US Tea Council educational programs for local elementary schools.   Press is encouraged to participate in the Tea Mixer, contact 281-300-9974 for info.k New Tea Magazine Launched November 01, 2005 - Houston, TX Tea in Texas Media,LLC announced the premiere issue of their new magazine, Tea in Texas - Greater Houston Edition. A 16 page, full color, full size publication which is "a fresh look on tea and sisterhood" Feature articles cover Tea History, What is a tearoom? and a Mother/Daughter Tea Trip. Regular departments cover Tea & Wellness, Tea Travel, Tea Kitchen Recipes, Calendar of Tea Events, Greater Houston Tea Map, Tea inquiries, and a local marketplace. Unique to Tea in Texas Magazine is the local angle it brings to its readers. The Houston Tea community is vibrant and unique. From Tea purveyors, tradional tea parlors, to Southern style tea rooms, bubble teas and tea emporiums. Exciting events are occuring all the time. Recently the Houston Japanese Society offered a Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony at Hermann Park and a Stafford Buddhist Temple has added a tea service on their grounds. The southeast portion of Texas offers an array of offerings for the tea enthusiast. By October 2006, tea places in all Texas will be listed in the Resource Directory. The directory covers all categories of tea related things, from Jewelry to teaware. Their list of Houston Womens organizations is extensive. "We are uniquely positioned to be a resource for both local tea consumers and guests visiting the city of Houston," says editor Lee Garcia. "With the Diana Exhibit at the Museum of Natural Sciences there is increased interest in taking tea in Houston. Many Houstonians are at a loss of where to enjoy tea with friends in the city. There is a plethora of great information about tea and we help sort out facts to our readers. We will provide a useful tea map of the Houston area, great tea articles, new products, health facts, and put them all in one magazine for the convenience of tea consumers and retailers." Available in tea businesses all over the Houston and by subscription starting December 10th. For more information, contact: Lee Garcia Tea in Texas Magazine 10878 Westheimer Rd #115 Houston, Tx 77042 Phone: (TEA) 922-9335