As U.S. Tea Consumption Surges, San Francisco Chocolate Factory Infuses Tea Time With New Tea Lover's Chocolates

29/08/07 Tea time never tasted so good. As tea drinking continues to surge in popularity throughout the U.S., the San Francisco Chocolate Factory is adding an extra drop of pleasure to tea drinking with today's launch of Tea Lover's Chocolates, an exclusive line of sophisticated, premium chocolates crafted to complement one's own perfect cup of tea. Tea Lover's chocolates are available nationwide and online at http://www.sfchocolate.com.

Tea Lover's Chocolates are shaped into bite-sized drops, perfect to nibble on between sips. San Francisco Chocolate Factory offers three chocolate pairing options for tea lovers, based on a series of in-house tastings:

--  31% white chocolate for green teas - Created through a quick oxidation and heating process, green teas are delicate and nuanced in flavor. This subtlety is best accentuated by sweet and mild 31 percent white chocolate.
--  38% milk chocolate for chai teas - Chai teas typically consist of black tea combined with a blend of spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, vanilla, and nutmeg. The smooth, rich flavor of Chai teas are enhanced by full-bodied 38 percent cocoa milk chocolate.
--  55% dark chocolate for black teas - Black teas undergo a full oxidation process, resulting in a strong, robust flavor matched by the complexity found in 55 percent dark chocolate.

Tea Lover's Chocolates are available in retail stores nationwide and online at http://www.sfchocolate.com. Tea Lover's Chocolates are offered in individual 3.5 oz. tins for $4.99 or in gift sets (three tins) for $15.95.

"Today's tea lover has a discerning palate. While our customized chocolates have had a great reception with coffee lovers and wine lovers, tea drinkers deserve equally palate-pleasing chocolate experiences," says San Francisco Chocolate Factory founder Mike Litton. "These chocolates have been specially designed to pair with popular tea varieties, offering a point of discovery for tea aficionados and new tea drinkers alike. Tea lovers are continuously exploring new varieties and they're always on the hunt for the latest discovery. With Tea Lover's, we're sharing our own 'find.'"

Approximately 127 million Americans already count tea as their favorite beverage and tea industry sales have quadrupled over the past three years, from $1.6 billion in sales in 2003 to $6.5 billion in 2006 with continued rapid growth projected in the near future.

"Our pairing suggestions help tea lovers get started in the right direction," adds Litton, "but we encourage tea lovers to experiment with different combinations and enjoy the nuances of each pairing."

The Tea Lover's Chocolates are the latest chocolate pairing offerings from San Francisco Chocolate Factory. Other product lines include Coffee Lover's Chocolates (30%, 32%, 38%) and Wine Lover's Chocolates ( 54%, 55%, 56%, 58%, 61%, 72%).