Calling all tea-lovers!
DeeBee’s Organics is a start-up company that features delicious frozen treats that are the first certified non-GMO, vegan, organic, kosher and tea-based snacks that are free of gluten, soy, dairy and nuts. These TeaPops are also full of organic fruits and do not contain any refined sugars.
The idea for the product was first conceptualized about two years ago—from a simple conversation between a mother and her two young sons about what to have for a snack.
Victoria-based Dr. Dionne Laslo-Baker, a medical scientist with a PhD from the University of Toronto, spent years studying how the environment and the food we consume impact our health and wellness. Her passion for health and wellbeing transcends beyond her workplace and has become a vital part of her everyday life. Dionne has kept that fountain of knowledge in mind while raising her children. She has always been very aware of what they eat—especially with her youngest son, who cannot eat any sugars or artificial flavouring. When her youngest mentioned having tea as a snack and her oldest suggested a frozen treat—they put the two together.
She got to work quickly—researching the health benefits of tea and searching for similar products on the market; but was shocked that she couldn’t find any organic, non-GMO tea-based frozen snacks.
Dionne and her husband Dr. Stephen Baker, MD, then started experimenting with organic fruits and various herbal and organic teas to create the perfect blend of TeaPop flavours.
“We went from a little fleeting thought to now we’re launching across North America,” says Laslo-Baker.
Dozens gathered at the Choices Market in Kitsilano on April 10th for the TeaPops launch. While the product has been distributed in several stores already, it was just a small launch to test the market.
“They are just flying off the shelves, so now we’re launching big across Canada. It’s an exciting time for us,” she says.
The product makes the most of tea’s natural health benefits, which include enhanced mental alertness, improved cardiovascular health and weight loss assistance. It can also help reduce the symptoms of depression and lower the risk of developing various types of cancer.
TeaPops are sold individually for $2.49 or you can purchase a box of 4, which sells for about $6.99 to $7.99.
“The way we want to educate people is that this is not a popsicle, by any means. This is actually the equivalent of having a bowl of organic super-fruits and a cup of organic fair trade tea,” she says. “It’s something you can eat and feel good about and know that you’re getting nutrition from a treat.”
TeaPops are offered in the following flavours:
Berries N’ Cherries: Packed with loads of berries, this TeaPop mingles cherries, strawberries and blueberries with freshly brewed white and rooibos teas to make a pop with a punch (35 calories per bar).
Southern Iced Tea: A spot of tea to satisfy your taste buds, this TeaPop marries the simple tastes of freshly brewed black tea and lemon, lightly sweetened with honey (30 calories per bar).
Tropical Mango: The tropical taste of organic mango, pineapple, apples and peach dance together with freshly-brewed rooibos herbal tea in this naturally non-caffeinated TeaPop (40 calories per bar).
Minty Mint: This TeaPop is fresh and sweet at the same time, naturally non-caffeinated and made with organic mint leaves and freshly-brewed mint and rooibos herbal tea (40 calories per bar).
Toasted Coconut: Smooth and creamy with a subtle caramel undertone, this is a super healthy treat made only of coconut, vanilla, pineapple and rooibos herbal tea (50 calories per bar).
To find out more about TeaPops and where you can find them, visit the website: deebeesorganics.com
Written by: Meagan Gill