S*TEA*P: A delicious Michigan tea company with blends inspired by the Mitten State

S*TEA*P teas offer a variety of blends, including Michigan-themed teas such as "Soo Locks".

S*TEA*P is a Michigan-based tea company that has several Michigan-inspired tea blends. It's delightfully delicious fun to see our home state so wonderfully represented - although the Mitten State teas are not all S*TEA*P offers, 

I was introduced to S*TEA*P just recently when gifted "Soo Locks" from daughter, Rachel, and son-in-law, Sean, upon their return from touring the historical landmark in Sault St. Marie. 

After brewing up a pot for our latest Barb's Tea Service's podcast, both Chris (husband/co-host) and I really liked this "Soo Locks" blend, an oolong tea with orange flavoring, orange peel and safflower. 

Oolong leaves are rolled into tiny balls.

Add hot water, the leaves unfurl, quite a show!

S*TEA*P states that this oolong blend is "affectionately named for the engineering marvel, the Soo Locks". S*TEA*P also describes the tea as "smooth and delightful".  

We agree!

And, like its namesake, Soo Locks tea puts on quite a show. The leaves are rolled into tiny balls and once the hot water hits, they unfurl in a mesmerizing display. 

Quick to check out S*TEA*P's website for more, we were excited to see they have an impressive line of Michigan teas, including, Belle Isle Breeze and Pictured Rocks (both rooibos), Michigan Strong (pu-erh), Lighthouse (herbal) – which would have paired well with our Grand Traverse Lighthouse visit last fall.

In a S*TEA*P blog story from 2022, owner, Samantha Musli, explains how the Michigan tea line was created. When Covid hit, S*TEA*P could no longer sell at farmer's markets and shifted their focus to wholesaler relationships. One customer in mid-Michigan, specialized in local products, which inspired  S*TEA*P to develop teas that had ties to the Great Lakes state like "Cherry Capital" and "Green and White".

Visiting Soo Locks in early 1990's.

Musli found she not only enjoyed coming up with the names but it served its market well. Bottom line, the Michigan connections "make. . . people feel good".

Again, we agree!

Just seeing the "Soo Locks" listed on the sleek black packaging with a Detroit-area map label brought back memories of taking our children to the Locks. For three kids under ten, it was remarkable how it held their interest for the roughly 45 minutes it took a ship to pass through.  Today, accompanied by a cup of Soo Locks, I retrieved some photos from that trip in an "old school" photo album (no smartphones yet).

Friends Rik and Carol visited Soo Locks this fall. 

Though Rachel and Sean, didn't take any pictures in November, good friends, Rik and Carol were there in October. They shared their highlights of that trip with us when they came back (and I called upon them for a few of their photos for today's blog).

We're anxious to sample more Michigan teas, already seeing our next purchase for February:  S'mitten. This is a dark tea with rose petals packaged in heart-shaped tea bags. Per their website, S*TEA*P "loving named this. . 'mini-cake' for [their] love of Michigan".

We 🩷 Michigan (and S*TEA*P), too!

For more information on S*TEA*P Michigan blends and other teas, visit their website at: Home | S•TEA•P