Stash Orange Cranberry Herbal Tea

The sweet orange is the most popular of all citrus fruits. It originated in China where it received its botanical name "Citrus Sinensis". During the first century the orange spread to Japan,India and the Near East. The Romans also became interested in this fruit, and the Arabs introduced the orange to Spain. Orange cultivation ended in Europe with the fall of the Roman empire and reappeared later in Italy in the 15th century.

Columbus brought seeds of orange, lemon and lime on his voyages to the New World in the 1490s. The Caribbean climate proved ideal for these citrus fruits. During the early 16th century, settlers planted oranges in Florida, which was to become the state's flourishing citrus industry. In the early 1700s, missionaries planted oranges in California which now rivals Florida in world citrus production.

There are four main varieties of oranges. The bitter orange or the Seville, is grown mainly in Spain and predominately used for marmalades. Another variety, the blood orange, is less acidic than other oranges and cultivated primarily in Mediterranean countries. Navel and Valencia oranges are grown predominately in the U.S. and Brazil. Navel oranges are an early variety with good flavor, while Valencias are a later crop and are the sweetest and most flavorful orange.

The cranberry is the most important of the edible berries that grow on low, scrubby, woody plants of the genus Vaccinium. The name "Vaccinium" is the old Latin name for cranberry, derived from "vacca" meaning cow, as cows liked to eat the plants. Cranberries grow in places with poor acidic soil such as moors, mountainsides and bogs. They grow in most parts of the world but are best known in northern Europe and North America.

When the pilgrims arrived in North America they discovered a local cranberry which was twice the size of the cranberries found in Europe, with equally good flavor. Native Americans were accustomed to eating these cranberries fresh or dried.

For our deliciously fruity Orange Cranberry herbal tea we blend fresh, natural herbs such as hibiscus flowers, lemongrass, and rosehips with orange peel and natural sweet orange oil and cranberry flavors.

Stash sources the orange peel and orange oil from the best California Valencia oranges. This superior quality orange oil costs more than $50 per pound, compared with less costly orange oil at $1 per pound or less. Stash orange peels are produced right from their juice production line to retain the original citrus oil of the fresh fruit, resulting in a richer, stronger flavor.

Hint: Try this tea iced for a fruity, very refreshing drink.

Caffeine

Herbal