Joshua Tree – National Park Tea

“I stood and looked. Everything was peaceful and it rested me.” -Minerva Hamilton Hoyt

Minerva Hoyt’s quote gives the perfect depiction of how the desert brings beauty through silence and solace. Upon my visit to Joshua Tree National Park I was immediately struck by the peacefulness of the desert. The tight knit community surrounding the park is immensely proud of their home and it’s apparent to see why they treasure this unique land.

The Joshua Trees, a member of the agave family, are only grown in two places in the world, the Mojave Desert and around Jerusalem. The Joshua Tree is often referred to as the “Tree of Life.” This desert park hosts plants and animals that are dependent on one another to thrive in the harsh environment. For the Joshua Tree, it’s life begins with the Yucca Moth, the only creature that pollinates the yucca blossoms. When the Joshua Tree grows, all nearby animals use it for food and/or protection.

The community surrounding Joshua Tree National Park does everything possible to preserve and protect the Joshua Trees. *Remember DO NOT touch the Joshua Trees. This need for protection is nothing new, in the late 1920s, the same timeframe Simpson & Vail was incorporated, new roads were being formed through the desert causing an increase in land developers and cactus poachers. Minerva Hamilton Hoyt took a stand and voiced her concerns about the cacti, yucca, and other plants and helped establish Joshua Tree as a National Monument in 1936. Joshua Tree was elevated to national park status in 1994, as a part of the Desert Protection Bill.

The goal with this blend was to capture the uniqueness of the Joshua Trees so we brought in yucca root and agave flavoring and blended them with an herbal base. When brewed, the park’s famous sunsets are mirrored in the orange cup with streaks of pink. The taste is a delightful combination of sweet agave and tart hibiscus.

Ingredients: Organic Green Rooibos, Hibiscus Flowers, Agave Flavoring, & Yucca Root

Brew tea at 212º – steep for 5 minutes.

4 Ounces of loose tea makes approximately 50 cups of tea.

Please note that the photo is shown for our 4oz tin. We are also offering this in a 4oz pkg size, which will come in one of our double lined bags labeled with the name of the tea.

We DONATE 10% of tea sales in this line to help preserve our beautiful national parks. The percentage from Joshua Tree tea goes to the Joshua Tree National Park Association, the official non-profit of the park. Joshua Tree National Park Association supports programs that strive to maintain the beauty and integrity of Joshua Tree National Park’s unique ecosystem.

In 2016 I started, while in college, working here at Simpson & Vail. I’ve enjoyed exploring the world of teas and decided in 2019 to combine my love of tea with my passion for the great outdoors. My goal with this line is to do my part in preserving the beautiful lands designated as national parks and to raise awareness for why the parks are so important. I’ve seen only a small portion of the unique lands we call National Parks, however, I’ll continue exploring until I’ve seen them all.