new for us friday: steaz and me

This New For Us Friday reflects one of those rare opportunities when I had the chance to try something new for myself that didn't involve the kiddos. Rare, I know.

Along with a handful of local DC Bloggers, I had the chance this week to meet at Whole Foods Market in the area and meet with one of the top dogs of the steaz Beverage Company, Eric.

Not only was it a complete pleasure to spend time with my pals, but it was incredibly enjoyable to try a new product, to learn about an awesome company, and to meet first-hand with the product's co-owner and co-creator.

• steaz: Rarely--rarely--have I written about a NFUF that involved a non-education related product, let alone a food. But there's something about this company, something about this product, that I really, really love.

The mission of the steaz company is to "create the best tasting soft drinks on the planet--and to live by a triple bottom-line philosophy of people, planet, and ethical profits." Seriously? What's not to love already?

All three main products--Iced Teas, Sparkling Green Tea, and Energy Drinks--are tea-based, which means that from the start, they're better for you than sugary sodas and other drinks.

The Sparkling Green Tea is only 75 calories (yes!), and Zero Calorie Green Teas are sweetened with a natural sweetener (Delicious. Como se dice 'no strange aftertaste'?). I've tried all three, and I find them refreshing and perfectly perfect.

Every one of these products are USDA organic (and certified vegan, in you're interested), and the steaz company teas are all fair trade teas from around the world. The company participates in numerous alternative energy programs across the country, which makes me love them even more.

If I had more time, I'd go on and on about how Eric and Steve began the business with their good idea, then started selling the drinks out of the backs of their cars, and literally hoofed it around the east coast, selling their product, connecting with an investor, and finally making their way into some of our larger chains, like Whole Foods Market. Eric and Steve are from outside of Philadelphia--my ole stompin' ground--so I love them even more than I would if they were from anywhere else in the world. Just kidding. Kind of.

And that's it. That's why I really dig steaz and why I'll make an effort to keep my house stocked--they taste great, they are affordable, they are good for me, and the company is really deliberate--in everything they do.

Thank you, Eric, for taking the time to spend time with us, for providing us with some samples of steaz beverages and for footin' the bill for our evening. Thank you Whole Foods Market, for catering dinner and for our earth-friendly bags filled with earth-friendly goodies. Thank you, Leticia, for organizing, and thank you to my pals for hangin': Justice Fergie, Jodifur, Stimey, Jill, Janine, Justice Ny, Lynette.

For more information on these products, check out:

• steaz beverages: their website; the blog; on twitter--@Steaz
• Whole Foods: their website; on twitter--@WFM_MoCo