Olá! Every season, we’re inspired by a new destination around the world. This spring, we’re headed to Portugal to soak up the sun, explore the cities filled with azulejos tiles, and search pastry shops for Pastel de nata. Our newest collection will take you on a journey throughout this seafaring country without even leaving your home.
Two years ago, our Head Designers traveled from San Francisco to Lisbon. There, they were drawn into the never ending streets lined with buildings covered in azulejos tiles, or Portuguese ceramic tiles. These tiles date back to the 15th century when the Moors ruled Portugal. They’re iconic to the country, and can be found on everything from ordinary houses to train stations and palaces.
Our designers then headed north to Costa Nova, where they were greeted by the bluest skies and glistening water. Costa Nova is famous for its colorful striped houses, once used by fishermen to store their materials. Many of our new styles incorporate nautical themes heavily influenced by the region’s coastal lifestyle.
We hope you love our new collection and all that it has to offer. Shop our new arrivals here, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @teacollection to see more of our adventures in Portugal.
Here at Tea, we’re all about encouraging kids’ curiosity about the world. That’s why we partnered with OLIKA, a nature-inspired, ergonomic, hydrating hand sanitizer brand that believes in staying clean differently. Together, we’re bringing you an exclusive line of limited-edition hand sanitizers, featuring six Tea prints.
Each set includes three sustainable, hydrating, fragrance-free hand sanitizers so you can squash germs anytime, anyplace. These hand sanitizers are perfect to hook onto backpacks, key chains or slip right into your pocket!
We know during the ongoing pandemic and flu season, keeping your kids safe and germ-free are a top priority. In addition to staying clean through our new hand sanitizer bottles, here are five additional tips to keep yourself (and your kids!) healthy:
Indoors – Outdoors – get moving
Moving your body is a great way to boost your immune system and it’s been scientifically proven time and time again that being active reduces the risk of catching colds and the flu.
Eat the rainbow
While we all enjoy the occasional pizza night and sweet treat, it’s important to fuel your and your child’s body with all of the colors of the rainbow! Eating a range of fruits and veggies is key to a healthy body.
Sleep
This is essential. Sleep deprivation weakens your immune system. Depending on your child’s age, they need anywhere from 9-14 hours of sleep per day.
Hydration
Water is one of the most important things to ensure your and your child’s health this flu season. If water seems boring to them, spruce it up with some crazy cups, silly straws, or throw in some fruits to keep them sipping all day!
Wash your hands
This one is a no brainer, but how do we make sure that our children are constantly washing their hands? Make a fun song or game out of it so they don’t miss a beat when it comes to staying clean. And don’t forget—when you’re on the go, be sure to bring your Tea x OLIKA hand sanitizer!
About OLIKA
OLIKA is a nature-inspired, ergonomic, hydrating hand sanitizer brand with effective ingredients. Did you know OLIKA means differently in Swedish? They stand behind their commitment to transparency, sustainability, and natural ingredients. With ingredients that are cruelty-free, hydrating, fragrance free, and kill 99.9% of germs, OLIKA hand sanitizers are the ultimate kid friendly solution to staying clean on-the-go!
Shop the Tea x OLIKA collaboration here, and show off how you sanitize by sharing photos and tagging us on social media @teacollection and @olikalife.
Since our founding, Tea has been committed to giving back to make the world a better place for kids everywhere. In addition to our ongoing contributions to the Global Fund for Children, we strive to make an impact in the destinations our seasonal collections are inspired by. This season, we partnered with Kusi Kawsay to help make a difference for kids in Peru.
Kusi Kawsay is a school near Cusco, Peru that provides low-income, indigenous children with a high-quality education. Earlier this season, we announced we would help build them a library. Now, we need your help filling that library! Donate $1, $5, $10, $25, $50, or $100 towards purchasing books for the Kusi Kawsay library. And for this Giving Tuesday (December 1st), we’ll match your donation!*
Together, we’ll create a better (book-filled!) world for kids everywhere.
It’s Small Business Saturday! Did you know Tea is carried in hundreds of boutiques around the country? This year more than ever, these small businesses need your support. Today, we’re highlighting some of our boutiques who work tirelessly to bring you the best children’s clothing. Read on to learn more about each of them.
Brook and Main
Where are you located?
Cohasset, MA
When did you open your store and why did you want to open a retail store?
I opened in June, 2020(!!!!!!), right as Massachusetts began easing off its shelter-in-place orders. It has always been a dream of mine to own and operate a retail shop; I love the process of culling through collections to curate what I feel to be the “stand out” pieces that will appeal to my customer base. I also thrive on in-person interaction and customer service, which really cannot be replicated with online shopping (though I do realize online has its place and value, too!). Mostly, I wanted to create an inclusive and fun loving environment for parents and children that will hopefully grow to be viewed as a true asset to our community.
What do you love most about your job?
Selecting products for the shop and interacting with customers!
When did you open your store and why did you want to open a retail store?
I opened in 2006 after recognizing the need for a different type of retail store, one focused on fashionable yet tasteful kids clothing and accessories. I believed there existed a market gap for “destination shopping,” or the desire for a consumer to discover, evaluate and purchase in-person specialty and more unique items for themselves and family members. I dreamed of developing a neighborhood gathering spot where customers could both enjoy shopping and find many well-curated products and clothing for the newborn to age 12 set.
What do you love most about your job?
Staying connected with my community by providing a way to give joy.
When did you open your store and why did you want to open a retail store?
Our family just celebrated our 1 year anniversary of owning Itty Bitty Bella! It has definitely been a whirlwind of a year, but it has always been a dream of ours to own a retail store and it has been SO worth it.
What do you love most about your job?
Getting the opportunity to meet all of our Registered Moms, their friends and family has been the best part of the job for sure! We have been beyond blessed with our Itty Bitty Community, whether they be near or far.
When did you open your store and why did you want to open a retail store?
Mockingbird Baby & Kids opened on March 29, 2019. After years in corporate life, I saw an opportunity to be more engaged with my girls and wanted a way to give back to the neighborhood. My girls now come to work with me, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting neighbors, and have been able to partner with our local community center on backpack, hat and mitten drives.
What do you love most about your job?
Knowing so many people in my community and watching their families grow.
Portugal! My girlfriends and I did a road trip through Portugal in 2008 and I long for the day I can return.
What is your next dream travel destination?
London. I used to live there and can’t wait to introduce my daughters to everything I loved about London… and take them on a hunt for Mary Poppins, Peppa and Paddington!
What shopping advice would you give to your customers this season?
Comfort is key! We’re believers in all day pajamas, owning too many sweatshirts, and wearing leggings with dresses because no one wants to lose their twirl 🙂
When did you open your store and why did you want to open a retail store?
I opened in 2003 and was one of the first who carried Tea Collection. I opened a retail store because in my heart of hearts, it’s what I had always wanted to do and ultimately be: a retail store owner.
What do you love most about your job?
My favorite thing about my job is being the buyer. I love putting together themes and merchandising different collections together. Ultimately, collections have a trend and if you plan it right, they can all come together and make a wonderful story.
What’s your favorite Tea piece(s) this season?
That’s tough, but easy to say that we always love the pieces that easily mix and match together to make great outfits. We adore a coordinated family! We love how easy it is to work with families to coordinate photoshoots with the patterns and colors that Tea Collection offers.
What is your favorite Tea destination?
Japan. I feel as though that’s where Tea Collection started and where its roots took hold.
What is your next dream travel destination?
Italy. We visited 2 years ago as a family and fell in love. 2020 has made me think maybe you don’t need to always go to new places. Maybe you revisit those you have loved and see them again through a different lens.
What shopping advice would you give to your customers this season?
It’s tough to give anyone advice right now in the constant changing pandemic world we live in, but if there were just one, it would be go with your heart and get what you love. If there is a style or print you love, go for it. We need moments of happiness, and in shopping for your littles, order up the happiness!
Your voice matters. It’s a simple yet profound idea, and voting is one of the most important ways we can make our voices heard. Whether you already voted or plan to head to the polls today, we hope you exercise your right to vote—democracy works best when we all participate.
As parents ourselves, we want to set an example for our kids and inspire the next generation of voters. That’s why we’re making today a company holiday to encourage our employees to use their voices at the polls.
We’re also supporting broader get-out-and-vote initiatives. Last month, we announced a partnership with I am a voter.® to create a limited edition set of vote-themed buttons. 100% of proceeds will benefit I am a voter’s mission to create a cultural shift around voting and civic engagement.
Today, more than ever, it’s important we make our voices heard and do our part to make the world a better place for kids everywhere.
Our author and chef friend Emiko Davies is back with another Peruvian-inspired recipe. She and her two daughters, Mariù (8) and Luna (2), show us how to make classic Peruvian empanadas, inspired by Peruvian chef and food writer, Nico Vera. Read on to get the exclusive recipe.
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Peruvian Beef Empanadas
I have to admit I am not very familiar with Peruvian food, so I had to do a little research to try to find something fun that the girls could make with me. My girls in particular love making things with pastry, so when I found these beef empanadas, I knew they would be perfect for the kids. They get to roll, cut out shapes, and snack on the ingredients along the way (pro tip: if making this recipe with kids, prepare extra!).
I ended up following the directions for Peruvian empanadas by a Peruvian chef and food writer, Nico Vera (aka @piscotrail). In the words of Nico himself, “Empanadas are a vehicle for almost every savory Peruvian dish. If this is your first time making empanadas, you need to start with the classic — ground beef with olives and hard boiled eggs.” He very kindly gave me permission to share the recipe (and a promise to give me his best food tips for when I do make them in Peru one day!).
Note: We did not have currants on hand, so I left them out as I saw some other recipes leave them out. We also used whole, pitted olives for each empanada rather than slices.
Makes 12 empanadas
For the beef filling (sofrito):
3/4 lb ground beef
1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1 cup beef stock
1/4 cup currants
1 bay leaf
3 pitted Kalamata olives, cut in quarters
2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and cut into eight pieces
For the dough:
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar (optional)
1 cup cold water
1/2 cup flour for rolling the dough
For the glaze:
1 egg
1 tablespoon cold water
To prepare the filling:
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Prepare sofrito by sautéing onions and garlic in a skillet with oil over medium to high heat. Season with salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and sauté until onions are translucent. Mix in ground beef, stir, and continue to sauté until the beef begins to brown. Add 1/2 of the beef stock, currants, and bay leaf, and simmer until liquid is reduced. Add remaining beef stock, then continue to simmer until the liquid is reduced further. Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, and set aside to let cool.
To prepare the dough:
Sift the flour into a bowl. Add the salt, butter, white wine vinegar (if using), egg yolks, and mix well by hand. Add 5 tablespoons cold water and continue to mix and shape the dough. Add another 4 tablespoons cold water and continue to shape the dough until it forms a firm ball (add more water or flour if needed in order to obtain a dough that you can roll without being too sticky or dry). Let the ball rest (chill in fridge if it’s a warm day) for at least 15 minutes.
Transfer the ball of dough to a well-floured working surface. Roll the dough to about 1/10 of an inch, adding flour as needed. Cut 12 circles with a 6” round dough cutter.
Assembling and cooking the empanadas:
Scoop a heaping tablespoon of filling to the center of each dough circle. Add 1/8 of a hardboiled egg and 1/4 of an olive to each filling (we used whole olives).
Brush the edge of each dough circle with water. Fold the dough circle in half, then seal the edge by pressing firmly with your fingers and a fork (alternatively, you can fold the edge over in sections, pressing down each time). Assemble the empanadas in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Prick the top of each empanada with a fork, and brush each empanada with egg glaze.
Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Follow @emikodavies on Instagram for more recipes like this, and be sure to check out our new fall collection inspired by Peru.
Since our founding, Tea has been committed to making the world a better place for kids everywhere. This season, we wanted to make an impact in the destination that inspired our fall collection. Together with Kusi Kawsay, we’re helping build a library for indigenous kids in Peru.
Kusi Kawsay is an independent nonprofit aimed at providing an inclusive, dignified, and quality education to the indigenous children of Pisac, located in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Indigenous children have unique needs that are oftentimes not met by the public education system in Peru. Public schools in Pisac are overcrowded, and students often do not receive the individual attention they may need. Many of these kids also face discrimination and poverty, and struggle with self-esteem.
Kusi Kawsay serves children from kindergarten through 11th grade. In addition to teaching subjects like math, literature, reading, and science, Kusi Kawsay also provides workshops in weaving, Andean masonry, Quechua language, music, dance, art, nutrition, and agriculture.
Thanks to you, we’re able to help kids in Pisac receive the resources they need. The library is set to be completed in 2021, so follow along for updates and more ways we’re helping give back abroad. If you would like to donate directly to Kusi Kawsay, consider donating to the Ayni Scholarship Fund to help a child attend Kusi Kawsay or making a direct donation through their website at kusikawsay.org.
