
Cinnamon is the dried inner bark of evergreen trees native to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, rolled into the familiar curled quills. In the cup it gives a sweet, woody warmth with a gentle bite and a rich, bakery-like aroma. It is a natural partner for black tea, rooibos and fruit blends, especially alongside ginger, cardamom, clove and apple. Try a cinnamon blend with a splash of milk on a cold morning, or brew it strong and pour it over ice.
Learn about every ingredient we use in our Tea Ingredients A–Z.

Elderberries are the small, dark purple berries of the elder shrub, which grows wild in hedgerows across Europe and North America. Dried elderberries bring a deep, dark-fruit flavor with hints of blackberry and plum, a pleasant tartness and a rich purple color in the cup. They are a natural fit for fruit blends, herbal blends, rooibos and black tea, pairing well with hibiscus, blackcurrant, rosehip, apple and cinnamon. Elderberry blends are delicious hot in winter and refreshing over ice.
Learn about every ingredient we use in our Tea Ingredients A–Z.

Fennel seeds are the dried fruits of a feathery, yellow-flowered herb native to the Mediterranean and now grown in India and around the world. They have a sweet, gentle anise-like flavor with a warm, slightly licorice aroma that is softer than star anise. Fennel pairs well with chai spices, licorice, peppermint, chamomile and citrus in herbal blends, and it adds sweetness to rooibos and black tea. In India, candied fennel seeds are a traditional after-meal nibble offered to guests.
Learn about every ingredient we use in our Tea Ingredients A–Z.

Lemongrass is a tall tropical grass native to South and Southeast Asia, where its fragrant stalks are a staple of Thai and Vietnamese cooking. In tea it gives a bright, clean lemon aroma with gentle hints of ginger and a light, grassy sweetness. It pairs wonderfully with green tea, rooibos, ginger, mint, coconut and fruit blends, adding citrus freshness without any sourness. Lemongrass is excellent iced, and its sunny flavor stands up well to a long steep without turning bitter.
Learn about every ingredient we use in our Tea Ingredients A–Z.

Peppermint is a natural hybrid of spearmint and watermint, native to Europe and the Middle East and now grown widely in places like Oregon and Washington. Its leaves brew a bold, cooling cup with a crisp, sweet, intensely minty aroma and a clean, lingering finish. Peppermint is wonderful on its own and pairs well with green tea, black tea, rooibos, chocolate, licorice and lemongrass. It is naturally caffeine-free as an herb, and it is equally refreshing hot after dinner or iced in summer.
Learn about every ingredient we use in our Tea Ingredients A–Z.




































