Spring, the season of renewal, is about to turn to summer, a time of year associated with fun, freedom and enjoying outdoor activities, particularly here on the Jersey Shore.

This area really comes to life in June, July and August. People flock to our beaches. They come to soak up some sunshine, hear great music, attend all sorts of festivals, or just take a break from their daily routines. From boardwalk to river front; sidewalk café to County Park, everywhere you look, you see people relaxing and enjoying themselves

Gotta love it! Musicians at Jazz & Blues Festivals pursuing their passion for music; the farmer's at Farmer's Markets pursuing their passion for growing fresh produce; moms, dads and children sharing their passion for bike riding or barbecuing or sand castle building. And there we are, right in the thick of things, "ducking" people (adding ducky clips to their caps or collars) and working in the Ducky Life Tea tent to spread our passion for splendid organic, loose leaf teas.

We're especially passionate about tea at this time of year when new tea crops become available and we have an opportunity to try the "first flush"!

Of course, tea is not my only passion. Springtime is also when I and my friends in the rowing community bring our rowing shells out of winter storage and put them on racks by the river we row on. Each year, this event marks the start of six months of passion. It means that I will be getting up early in the morning and watching the sun rise, sculling oars in hand, from my seat in a boat. It means I will be losing myself in the rhythm of each stroke; loving the freedom of being on the water, experiencing the "yin/yang" of the balance and the elements. These are just a few of the ways rowing nourishes my mind, body and soul.

We celebrate your passions, whatever they may be, and invite you to develop a passion for Ducky Life tea and the Ducky Life-style. Share your passion with us! We would love to hear from you. We hope you'll enjoy the process, and of course, Drink Tea for a Ducky Life!

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People always ask me, “What do ducks have to do with tea?” And I generally reply, “If you drink tea, you’ll have a ducky life.” I usually don’t say more than that, so for all of you who have silently wondered or come right out and inquired, “What is a ducky life, anyway?” allow me to explain.

From the moment we started growing this company, we’ve wanted to both sell tea and promote a fun, healthy, socially conscious, environmentally responsible lifestyle. Some call this a tea lifestyle. For me it’s also a Ducky Life-style, one that includes many of the qualities embodied by the duck

Ducks are comfortable on land, in the water, and in the air. They adapt to changing circumstances. They use all their skills and talents. They’re phenomenal swimmers. But they also fly. In the air, they’re tough to shoot down. Likewise, ducks, while not exactly great distance walkers, waddle well enough—and willingly-- when they need to get out of the water to rest or nest.

Ducks travel in flocks. They swim and fly together, with individual ducks sometimes taking the lead and sometimes bringing up the rear. If one duck falls away from the flock, another will leave the group to help, staying with a wounded duck until its ready to return, or if its not, returning alone. Think about it. Working together towards a common goal; sharing the load--sometimes leading, sometimes hauling out the trash--enjoying the company of friends, family and colleagues; showing compassion to others and being shown it yourself—honestly, life can’t get much duckier than that!

Ducks are famous for their resiliency. “Like water running off a duck’s back” is a nearly universal metaphor for not obsessing or beating ourselves up over small stresses, petty annoyances, and minor setbacks. Look, learn, let go and keep paddling.

And consider this image--Ducks moving smoothly and serenely through the water, leaving no more than a gentle ripple behind them --even though you know they’re paddling like mad below the surface. I think that sort of grace and flow, paddling hard, while appearing calm, getting where you want to go by moving gently, is one of my favorite facets of a ducky life.

Another is humor. Here’s where those irresistible rubber ducks come in. They make us giggle. They bring out the child in us. We spot a bright yellow fellow, and we can’t help smiling—or humming the tune from that old Sesame Street song, you know, “Rubber ducky, you’re the one...” Toy ducks are all about whimsy and light heartedness, finding time to play and not taking oneself too seriously. So is a ducky life.

The lifestyle we built our company around goes beyond duck metaphors, of course. It includes health, social, environmental and charitable elements that I’ll explore in the future. For now, I hope you’ll enjoy our tea, think about what ducks have to do with it, and yes, Drink Tea for a Ducky Life!

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I am a tea person. I don’t just drink tea. I’m completely enthralled by it. I love learning about tea, talking about tea, trying new teas and introducing my teas to people who have not tried them.


I love the ritual and process of brewing loose leaf tea; breathing in the spicy or fruity or floral fragrances of tea blends, watching the leaves open as they infuse, taking the first sip, and sharing tea with friends.


Most of all I love how tea centers me and soothes my soul. No matter how frantic and frenzied I may be or how busy or chaotic my day, stopping to brew, sip and savor a cup of tea helps me relax and find clarity. Some teas calm me. Others boost my energy. All allow me to pause, breathe, and focus; to meditate for a moment and come away from that moment less stressed.


I can trace my infatuation with loose leaf tea back to my college days. I started drinking it instead of coffee, and discovered that each time I pulled out my little pouch of tea leaves, loaded a tea strainer and brewed a cup it set me apart from others. And I liked that.


My full blown love affair with tea began a few years later. In the summer of 1983, while living in New York City, I was a pottery student at Parson’s School of Design. I traveled to Lake Placid, NY to take a course that revolved around the Japanese Tea Ceremony. For two-weeks, photographers took tea related photographs, textile artists created silk kimonos, dancers interpreted tea themes and potters like me made tea vessels. On the final day of the course, we participated in a Japanese Tea Ceremony using the art we created. It was amazing, and for me, life changing. I began to see how tea was connected to so many things—culture, geography, biology, chemistry, politics, relationships, spirituality, and more.


Off and on over the next 20 years, I pursued my passion for tea, studying it and earning certifications where they existed. The notion of starting a business that involved tea was always in the back of my mind. But I kept it on a back burner while I started a family and a corporation or two. Now, with the creation of Ducky Life Tea, I can finally live the tea lifestyle in my work, and I am so grateful for that.

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Ever meet someone who just makes you smile each time you see them?

This is the story I have for Doreen - of Doreen's Classical Green Chai. She is so creative, she is so intelligent, she is so spiritual, she is inspirational! You cannot help but love her. Doreen is so solid in he own persona.

And when you see Doreen dance, you might want to dance yourself.

So about her tea --
Doreen's classical chai is a tea that has spices and a full taste. It needs no sugar -- but if you put milk or soy in it, then the taste will have a full balance. (Feel free to add sugar).

In fact, when you smell Doreen's classic chai you may want to put it in your salad, or on your meat. It will accept everyone just as they are -- and when you taste it, you will find that it adapts -- to every situation!

Doreen's chai is great for the coffee drinker who is trying to quit. It is great for a pick-me-up when you really would prefer less caffeine--- and it is great to watch as it opens. This tea is a true multisensory experience.

Try some chai and then get up and dance.

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Sometimes things seem completely out of balance. You might feel sad or angry... let down, or hurt. Or, you might feel so exhuberant -- that there is no sky (because you are in the clouds).

It is these times, when I drink Susan's Mint Medley. This tea is a combination of mint leaves with just a little bit of tea. Mostly it is the combination of mint leaves that makes it taste so yummy. And it reminds me of Susan.

Actually, it reminds me of Susan(s) --- there are two of them for whom this tea is named. One is a long term friend of mine - who, no matter what hits her, seems to be able to get back on her feet. She has changed careers and jobs, countless times... always has a smile on her face and just has a way of keeping her balance no matter what.

The other Susan is a rowing partner and she has also been a partner in helping me define the tea business, and other businesses along the way to tea. This Susan can lose her temper - but then will quickly regain her balance. It is an incredible quality. And when I feel frustrated or sad, she can put a spin on the feeling that will immediately help me get back in balance. This is a remarkably good friend to have on your side.

Just like these two Susans, the tea is one that will help you regain balance. When you stomach is funky -- try this tea. You will be amazed how quickly it will feel better. And when you just need to come out of the clouds -- or up to the earth -- try this tea! You may be amazed.

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What do you do when you just cannot connect the dots. There are all these ideas and opportunities floating in your head and in your life --- but somehow, they do not connect.

Remember when you would make a picture by following the numbers and connecting the dots? Maybe you could see the picture even before you picked up your pen -- or maybe you had to really connect the dots before the picture revealed itself.

Now, as an adult -- I find that when I am trying to connect the dots, I must have a cup of Janet's Kukicha. This is the tea that prepares me to see the picture. This tea which some consider a green tea and others consider a black tea is brewed from stems -- not the two leaves and a bud, which are typical of the other teas in our collection.

The resulting taste --- is a little nutty. It is sweet also. Drinking this tea is a good way to start the day -- and it is a good way to start a meal because once you drink it, all of a sudden you may be able to connect the dots.

Janet is like this too. She is a little nutty and we love her for that. She is also sweet. But mostly, Janet will help you connect the dots in her sweet and nutty way. She is not just any kind of friend. She is someone who sees the picture - and will share it with you -- but only if you want, and only if you ask. Otherwise, she is perfectly happy to let you look at all the numbers and go through your machinations.

So who helps you connect the dots? How do they do it? Please -- share your story here. And try some of Janet's rare connection. You might find it works for you also.

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Well, mother's day is over. Thankfully.
This was a challenging mother's day for me because my sons are just at the ages when rebellion is a way of life. At 16 and 14 years of age you really believe that the world revolves around you.

But Miles is a little different. Miles is a rare Chinese Oolong indeed. Let me first explain what an oolong tea is. It is a tea that is neither green nor black... or white. It is the leaf -- oxidized between 10% and 90%. A white tea is when the leaf is plucked and then whithered. A green tea is when the leaf is plucked and whithered, and then cracked so the oxidation process begins. A black tea is when the leaf is fully oxidized. But the oolong, is the most interesting and unique tea because the tea master in the garden determines when the oxidation process should be stopped and at that exact moment, the tea is dried. No two oolongs are alike. Each has its own distinct characteristics.

Our oolong is a flowery oolong which is both sweet and smooth.

And Miles is like that oolong. He is both sweet and smooth. He is unique. He is unaffected and does not feel the need to be like everyone else. He is both irreverant and also respectful at the same time. Miles is indeed a rare Chinese Oolong.

So I ask you -- who is the rare Chinese oolong in your life??

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The biggest holiday of the year for florists -- is coming up ... mother's day. It used to be the busiest day of the year for the telecommunication companies also (before the internet).

I haven't found a tea for my own mother, or for my grandmother. I know those teas will present themselves to me eventually. The tea which reflects my mother must be both thick and thin, talkative and meditative, spicy and sweet, most of all it must be complex... extremely complex! This is the nature of a mother daughter relationship.

It would be helpful if, right after you took your first sip, the tea said to you "your hair is really getting long"... or if (right after you sipped the tea) you had an urge to run out and get your nails done!

But I think that Jane's ducky life tea accurately describes my own relationship with my sons. This black tea has many of those same qualities. It is spicy and sweet, a little more talkative than meditative -- it leaves your mouth feeling moist and fresh -- ready for a nice biscotti - it is a great tea to watch as it opens up because there are rosebuds in the tea -- and finally, it is good iced and hot, great if you put it on your chicken -- (better on poultry or beef than it is on fish) just be sure to grind it down first! YUM! An accurate reflection of my relationship with my sons!

So I challenge you to figure out what the qualities of the tea that describes your relationship with your son or daughter, mother or grandmother and share it here!

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That was not ducky? This is a day when you really wonder during the day if you should go back and climb under the covers. This is a day when even if the sun is out, you cannot seem to get a smile.

Then, something funny happens -- someone touches you in a special way -- all of a sudden, everything seems ducky again.

That was my day today. It was out of my control and I felt frustrated. It was not right -- and I felt annoyed.

Then my son showed me a photograph that made me laugh out loud! Thank you Holden - you made me laugh out loud -- things seemed so much better.... and they do. Just this one little giggle made all the difference.

So why did we name the Genmaicha after Holden? Well, genmaicha is a green tea, with popped rice and sometimes corn added. The tea is from Japan -- and it is a Sencha tea (has been pan fried). It has a full body when you add the taste of the rice. It is a great tea for coffee drinkers who are converting to tea.

Holden -- he is like the rice and popped corn -- he is always full of surprises. He is having a good life and he is having fun.

Thank you Holden for converting my 'sucky' day into a 'ducky' day!

Has anyone done this for you? Please share your story with us.

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Thanks for coming to our site. This blog is a place where we can tell you what we think about having a ducky life. Over the next week, month, and year(s) we will share with you exactly why we think drinking tea is so closely aligned with having a ducky life.

We will share with you why the teas are named as they are.

But to start, let us ask you --- what do you think a ducky life is?

What was ducky about your day today?

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