Portland, Ore. – Oregon Chai founder, Heather Howitt, announces the launch of her new beverage company, Thaiwala, offering all-natural Thai tea concentrate served hot or iced. The popular beverage is often time-consuming to make from scratch and found most often in Thai restaurants, but Thaiwala’s concentrate is quick and easy for consumers and food service operators to prepare by just adding whole milk or a dairy alternative.
“After researching the few other Thai tea products on the market, I was discouraged to learn that the products contained artificial ingredients that were not listed on their ingredient labels,” said Howitt. As a passionate believer in transparency and quality, whole food ingredients, Howitt knew she wanted to create an all-natural Thai tea concentrate that used cleaner ingredients, including beta-carotene for coloring and not the artificially produced red dye found on so many ingredient lists. The search for the perfect combination of quality ingredients took Howitt more than a decade, but she persevered and even partnered with a woman-owned, organic tea farmer from Northern Thailand. “I was captivated by her passion for organic farming and her pristine tea plantation that was home to a variety of wildlife, including bees and butterflies. We instantly connected with a shared sense of purpose and mission.”
The new, small-batch Thai tea concentrate is made from all-natural, non-GMO ingredients, including brewed organic black tea, which is one more step in the process, but an important way for Howitt to craft her concentrate to the highest standards. Other ingredients include pandan leaf, a Thai herb, pure cane sugar, organic caramel, organic vanilla, pure cocoa powder and beta-carotene. “Our first flavor is ‘Original’ but it rivals the sweet and creamy drink that consumers find in many Thai restaurants, since our version is crafted with all-natural ingredients,” said Howitt.
Thaiwala Original Thai Tea recently won the silver award in the tea category as part of the Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) 2021 sofi™ Awards, a top honor in the $158 billion specialty food industry.
Thaiwala is available in 32-ounce containers with an 18-month shelf live and retails between $5.99 and $7.99. Find Thaiwala at grocery stores nationally; at select tea and coffee shops; and online at Amazon.com. For current locations, please visit our store locator.
As Howitt takes the initial efforts to launch her newest company, Thaiwala, she is excited about all the possibilities. “I created Thaiwala because I didn’t see a truly all natural Thai iced tea in cafés or grocery stores and I wanted to make a version I wanted to drink,” said Howitt.
About Thaiwala
Portland, Oregon-based Thaiwala creates an all natural Thai tea beverage experience enjoyed iced or hot. Thaiwala owner Heather Howitt also founded Oregon Chai and is a pioneer of the sustainable and organic food movement. The new company manufactures Thai tea concentrate perfect for consumers and food service operators who value all-natural ingredients and a commitment to quality and transparency. For more information, visit https://www.thaiwala.com/ and follow us on Instagram @thaiwala_.
Media Contact: Nichole Klaes, nichole@thaiwala.com