So, we have a big problem. The problem is pollution, and the problem is partially attributed to disposable plastic water bottles, much like these:

Most people are aware that disposable water bottles pose a threat to our Earth, yet still indulge and purchase a 30 pack of plastic water bottles every week when they visit the grocery store. Our goal is to cut down on the use of disposable water bottles and get you drinking out of a fancy, multifunctional Primula water bottle that will take your hydration game to the next level.

Did You Know?

• Disposable plastic bottles are riddled with PET, a harmful chemical. The longer water sits in a plastic water bottle made with PET, the more the bottle releases the chemical into the water.¹
  • Primula water bottles are all made with non-toxic materials, so you can drink water with confidence
• Bottled water costs 240 to over 10,000 times more per gallon than tap water. Most municipal water costs less than 1 cent per gallon- and in most cases, there is no difference in purity or taste.¹
  • Primula water bottles won’t effect the taste of your water, either!
• Bottled water isn’t as pure and safe as the marketing makes it seem. Alarmingly, a 1999 NRDC study found that 18 of the 103 bottled water brands tested contained, in at least one sample, “more bacteria than allowed under microbiological-purity guidelines.” Also, about one fifth of the brands tested positive for the presence of synthetic chemicals, such as industrial chemicals and chemicals used in manufacturing plastic like phthalate, a harmful chemical that leaches into bottled water from its plastic container.¹
  • All Primula water bottles are made with high quality, BPA-free Tritan plastic or stainless steel, offering up clean materials for the cleanest drinking water.

Pick Up a Primula Water Bottle and Start Doing Your Part to Save the Environment:

THE SENTINEL

Sometimes, water may not be the most exciting thing to drink in the world, which is why we have water bottles that are #versatile. Try out the Sentinel infuser water bottle, that allows you to infuse your water (or tea, or anything, really) with delicious fruits, herbs and more!

Bonus tip: Try pairing your favorite fruits with mint in the infuser for a refreshingly sweet infused water!

THE DISCOVERY

For those water drinkers that just want to chug and go, the Discovery bottle will be your new BFF. The powder coated paint will keep it looking fresh, and the carry handle is perfect for toting it wherever you go. The wide mouth is perfect for those who like to chug their water.

Bonus tip: Keep your drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 8 in this bottle. It’s double walled & vacuum sealed to keep your drink at the perfect temperature!

THE AVALANCHE

Disposable coffee cups are also a huge problem our environment is facing, and you can knock out two environmental issues with one tumbler with the Avalanche. Keep your coffee hot for 8 hours in this double walled tumbler, or keep your water cold for 24 hours. This tumbler will be along for the ride with your wherever you go.

Bonus tip (for adults!): Mix up a boat drink and head to the beach or pool this summer! Your drink will stay cold while you catch some rays!

Final Point of Brew

What we’re really trying to say is: please be aware of where your disposable water bottle waste ends up. You are able to make a positive impact on our environment by taking simple steps to adjust your lifestyle- like buying a reusable water bottle and cutting out the disposable bottle habit.

The average American uses an incredible 167 plastic water bottles each year—and all told, the U.S. goes through a mind-blowing 1,500 disposable water bottles per second, totaling 129,600 in just one day. There’s a solution, though. We can be instrumental in helping that number shrink by kicking the disposable water bottle habit and utilizing reusable water bottles for hydration.

Incredibly, some statistics state that only 30% of plastic water bottles are currently recycled, so that means that 70% of them end up in landfills, piled high in non-biodegradable perpetuity—hanging around and polluting the planet for up to a thousand years.

The Difficulty with Disposables

The landfill problem is becoming a worldwide crisis, with floating islands of garbage in the ocean, including the infamous 600,000 square mile Great Pacific Garbage Patch and another recently found in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Honduras composed almost entirely of plastic.

It’s not just the litter that’s a problem; the creation of disposable plastic bottles uses vast quantities of fossil fuels and water in the manufacturing process. As the demand for disposable bottles diminishes, the less waste will be created in the first place.

Made from a compound called polyethylene terephthalate, disposable plastic bottles are not reusable, either. Manufacturers warn that using them more than once can lead to bacterial contamination, and as the plastic breaks down over time they can leak chemicals and toxins into the water itself.

Some experts also note that the purified or spring water you’re supposedly drinking could be little better than plain tap water. Unless you’re using your own filtration system, you may never know for sure. And even if the water does come from a pure source, the plastic in the bottles can leach cancer-causing chemicals into it, according to some reports.

Hydration Meets Conservation

Conservation begins with making our personal carbon footprint as small as we can manage, each in our own way. Fortunately, giving up disposable plastic bottles is one of the easiest lifestyle changes you can make.

When you trade your disposable plastic bottles for an eco-friendly reusable water bottle, you also have the opportunity to upgrade the function and the versatility in your choice of portable personal water bottle.

Save the Planet—and Express Yourself

Choosing your bottle is fun—you get to decide which finishes, colors, sizes and features meld best with your image and lifestyle. All Primula water bottles are free from harmful chemicals like BPA, so you’ll be making a healthier choice as well as helping the planet. Following are just a few of Primula’s many water bottle choices:

The double wall stainless steel Discovery is available in both a compact 17 oz. and a generous 40 oz. size, and boasts a clever wide-mouthed design and carrying handle.

The slim 17 oz. Silhouette has a secure leak-proof twist top lid and fits most standard vehicle cup holders.

Into flavored water? The Primula Sentinel Bottle even includes an infusion core to let you add fresh lemon, lime or other fruit flavors to your water…you certainly can’t do that with a plastic water bottle.

Of course, these versatile drinking vessels can be used for more than just water…coffee, tea or any beverage you choose. And speaking of coffee—

Stop the Styrofoam, Too

Not a big water drinker? If you’re a coffee lover, you can still be part of the solution by carrying your own cup. Definitely, we should all be ditching the polystyrene, better known as Styrofoam. Speaking of landfills and biodegradability, polystyrene cannot be completely recycled, either. Like plastic water bottles, most of the Styrofoam disposed of today will still be present in landfills hundreds of years from now. And believe it or not, most paper coffee cups are not recyclable either—most have a polythene plastic coating to help them hold liquids more safely, and the coating clogs the machinery of recycled paper mills.

For the Eco-Friendly Coffee Drinker  

Make a personal statement and help the environment by carrying a cool thermal tumbler or mug. Double wall stainless steel keeps your beverage hot for 8 hours, or cold up to 24. Primula favorites include the Avalance Stainless Steel Tumbler and the Hamilton Stainless Steel Mug.

On behalf of Planet Earth, we thank you so much for considering trading your plastic bottles and Styrofoam and paper coffee cups for the reusable variety. Every single person who converts will make a difference!

Cold Brew Coffee For Springtime

As the chilly winter weather recedes, celebrate the warmth of spring awakening with an energizing jolt of cold brew coffee. Cold brew is the hottest flavor sensation for coffee lovers. Cold brew coffee is smoother, richer and mellower than its hot brewed counterpart. Far less bitter and easier on the digestion than traditionally brewed hot or iced coffee, cold brewed coffee may be the most delicious way of all to enjoy your favorite java.

You don’t have to drop a lot of cash at the neighborhood coffee house to enjoy the cold brew coffee experience. You can cold brew coffee right in your refrigerator with your own cold brew coffee maker. Cold brewing is nothing more than letting your coffee steep in cold or room temperature water for up to 24 hours. The result is more richly flavored—and much less bitter—coffee. It’s like iced coffee, only better! (And who ever heard of an iced coffee maker anyway?)

Enjoy the craft beverage experience at home or on the go with the cold brew coffee maker that’s right for your lifestyle. Here are a few of our favorites:

Keep the Pace

Spring is here, so keep up with the quickening pace. The Primula Pace cold brew coffee maker is one cool customer, with a brilliantly simple design—a fine mesh cold brew filter with removable bottom, temperature safe borosilicate glass cold brew pitcher with a 1.6 quart capacity for brewing and serving The smart design fits inside most refrigerator doors.

Burke’s Got Your Back

The Primula Burke cold brew coffee maker gives coffee lovers enough cold brew to satisfy.—it has a 1.6 quart capacity. The protective plastic holder with comfortable grip handle and non-slip base make it simple to carry and serve. Yes, the Burke cold brew coffee maker fits in most fridge doors, too!

Bottle It and Sip It On the Go

The Primula Coffee on the Go cold brew bottle lets you take your coffee with you after cold brewing it in the same container—how easy is that? This sleek and clever cold brew coffee maker and carrier is comprised of a 20 oz. borosilicate glass coffee bottle with a stainless steel filter and black neoprene sleeve with carrying handle.

Pitcher Perfect Cold Brew

If your whole household’s gone cold brew crazy, you’re going to need a bigger container! No worries—Primula’s Flavor-Up has a 2.7 quart capacity. As a bonus, in addition to using this durable glass pitcher for cold brewing, the brewing core is removable and interchangeable with the included infusion core. Now you can enjoy cold brew coffee and fruit-infused thirst quenchers in the same handy pitcher.

A Quick Cold Brew How-To
New to the cold-brewed coffee experience? It really couldn’t be easier. Here’s the cold brew drill in three easy steps: First, add coffee then water to your cold brew coffee maker. Let brew in the fridge for 18 to 24 hours. Serve; add milk/ice to taste, and enjoy. Cold brew coffee stays fresh for up to 14 days in the fridge.

The New Year has been here for a few weeks, and we hope you’re all sticking to your New Year’s goals! We know that a lot of people focus on their health and diet for the New Year, making changes to your day-to-day routines for a healthier you.

We’ve compiled a list of the 5 best teas for weight loss, so you can enjoy delicious tea while kicking your metabolism up a notch (or two!).

1.   Green Tea

Green tea has long been identified as one of the best teas to drink for your health. A study done by the International Journal of Obesity proved that drinking green tea can increase metabolism, resulting in weight loss. Don’t expect it to make you shed all of the pounds without any diet or exercise, but using green tea as a tool for weight loss is surely something worth trying- multiple studies have proven it! Other studies have shown that green tea not only increases metabolism, but also increases fat oxidation as well.

2.   Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is another type of tea that has been linked to helping with weight loss efforts. A study from the Journal of Nutrition shows that drinking oolong tea helps increase energy expenditure, leading to weight loss. Drink some oolong tea before hitting the gym for extra energy, or drink it in the morning to kick start your day! Even if you don’t drink oolong tea to help start your day or workout, it can still help with weight loss just by drinking it. It’s worth a shot!

3.   Yerba Mate

Many people have turned to yerba mate tea for help with weight loss. A promising supplement, yerba mate, has been found to significantly increase energy expenditure, resulting in a greater utilization of stored fat as an energy source, according to a study found in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

Final Point of Brew

Many different kinds of tea are great for your health. Whether you’re just looking for a natural beverage that can warm you up on a cold day, or you’re trying to drop some extra pounds, tea can be great for your health overall. Coupled with a good diet and regular exercise, these teas can really help you drop some pounds- but don’t get too obsessed with the scale! Feeling great is the most important thing.

The Best Bedtime Teas for the Insomniac

Do you find yourself staying up until the late hours of the night, not able to sleep? Are the everyday stresses of life getting to you when you’re just trying to get some shut-eye?

When you’re trying to get some sleep, we all know that caffeine is a big no-no. However, there’s some caffeine-free teas that are specifically made to help you get some much-needed rest. Most bedtime teas are made with herbal ingredients that help promote sleep, like chamomile, lavender or valerian.

All of the teas below can easily be prepared using a Primula whistling tea kettle, and then steeped and served in a cast iron teapot or glass teapot with infuser.

Here’s our breakdown of the best kinds of bedtime teas. Have a favorite that we missed? Let us know in the comments!

1.    Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea

If you’ve ever had a bedtime tea, this is probably the one you’ve had. It’s a great tea to drink to unwind and the delicious taste definitely helps. Tea drinkers who enjoy this tea before bed have been drinking it for years. Some tea drinkers are even trying the Sleepytime Extra version and are reporting heavy eyelids sooner.

From Celestial Seasonings’ website, “This most beloved of herbal teas gets its comforting aroma and perfectly balanced flavor from a blend of soothing herbs, including delicate chamomile, cool spearmint and fresh lemongrass. Wind down your day with Sleepytime® tea!”

Ingredients:

• Chamomile
• Spearmint
• Lemongrass
• Tilia flowers
• Blackberry leaves
• Orange blossoms
• Hawthorn
• Rosebuds

2.    Adagio Foxtrot Tea

Available in loose leaf or tea bags, the Foxtrot tea from Adagio Teas is a great combination of flavor and herbs to relax you. This tea has flavoring, so for those of you who aren’t big on the herbal tea flavor without any added flavoring, this one could be for you. Regardless, it’s a great decaf tea that a lot of tea lovers seem to enjoy.

From Adagio Tea’s website, “The Foxtrot tea is an herbal cocktail of Egyptian chamomile, South African rooibos (with a touch of vanilla) and fresh peppermint. A soothing blend of familiar tastes that produces a pleasantly original combination.

Ingredients:

• Chamomile flowers
• Rooibos tea
• Peppermint leaves
• Natural vanilla flavor

3.    The Tao of Tea Cape Town Rooibos

This tea is definitely a great relaxer right before bedtime. Mixing natural relaxers like chamomile and spearmint, tea drinkers describe this tea as sweet, never bitter, with floral, fruity and minty tastes. This tea comes out as a beautiful, rich red color after steeping and produces a soothing aroma. It’s much more pleasant than plain rooibos tea, while still offering the same healthy, low tannin drink. It’s good hot or cold, so you don’t need to drink piping hot tea in the warm summer months.

From Tao of Tea’s website, “Rooibos is a member of the legume family of plants, and is commonly used to make a tisane (herbal tea). It belongs to the Aspalathus genus of plants, which consists of more than 200 species originating in the Cederberg mountains of South Africa. Rooibos grows exclusively in the Cederberg Mountain region and around Clanwilliam and Citrusdal. During summer and early autumn, the branches are hand-harvested and cut into smaller pieces. The raw Rooibos is then moistened with water, thoroughly bruised, then placed in heaps and allowed to oxidize for 8 to 24 hours. After oxidation, the herb is spread out in a special yard to dry naturally in the sun. Cape Town Rooibos, our handcrafted blend of Superfine grade organic Rooibos with fragrant herbs, makes a sweet and refreshing golden-red brew.”

Ingredients:

• South African Rooibos
• Red rose petals
• Chamomile
• Lemon verbena
• Spearmint
• Orange peel

4.    Yogi Bedtime Tea

Easily found in grocery stores, Yogi Bedtime Tea is perfect for stress relief and winding down after a long day. This tea contains chamomile and valerian, both wonderful for putting people to sleep. The tea is incredibly delicious, with a mildly spicy flavor from the ginger used in the mix. Besides being great for winding down, tea drinkers also claim this is a good detox tea, yielding flat tummies and pain relief from stomach aches and cramps.

From Yogi Tea’s website, “This comforting and delicious blend combines soothing Passionflower and relaxing Chamomile Flower. Licorice, Cardamom and Cinnamon add delicious warming flavor that’s just right for drinking before bedtime. Relax and unwind with a cup of Bedtime tea.”

Ingredients:

• Spearmint leaf
• Chamomile flower
• Skullcap leaf
• Cardamom
• Cinnamon bark
• John’s Wort leaf and flower
• Rose hip
• Natural and organic flavors
• Raspberry leaf
• Lavender flower
• Stevia leaf
• Passion flower extract
• Valerian root extract
• Licorice root

5.    Twinings Nightly Calm Herbal Tea

This tea is perfect for the tea drinker who doesn’t love the taste of chamomile by itself. Offering a tasty blend, the Nightly Calm herbal tea from Twinings is celebrated by tea drinkers for its ability to make you sleepy. The chamomile and mint are well balanced, with a touch of lemon in the background. This tea is a great option for the novice tea drinker, offering a flavor that even the biggest “coffee-over-tea” drinker can appreciate.

From Twinings’ website, Nightly Calm is “A comforting herbal tea expertly blended with chamomile, spearmint and the subtle flavor of lemongrass to deliver a soothing tea with a warm, inviting aroma and smooth, mellow taste.”

Ingredients:

• Chamomile
• Spearmint
• Natural spearmint flavor
• Lemongrass
• Lemon myrtle
• Linden
• Orange leaves
• Orange blossom
• Rosebuds
• Hawthorn berries

6.    Stash Tea Mellow Moments Herbal Tea

The Mellow Moments blend from Stash Tea is another blend that includes chamomile. No enhancements or sweeteners are required to make this tea taste great. The mint taste is very mild and smooth, which helps you relax. The flavors come together to create a deliciously unique flavor without being too overwhelming. This tea blend also includes tulsi leaves, so it is said to help with respiratory issues, sinus issues and frequent headaches as well.

From Stash Tea’s website, “Relax and unwind with this herbal tea that brings together mints and herbs to create an especially soothing tea. Fragrant tulsi leaves, an ancient plant used extensively in India and in Ayurvedic practice, adds yet another component of comfort to our Mellow Moments herbal tea. Invite calming intentions into your life as you sip this tea. Naturally caffeine-free.”

Ingredients:

• Peppermint
• Chamomile pellets
• Spearmint
• Organic tulsi
• Lemongrass
• Natural guava flavor
• Cinnamon
• Natural grapefruit flavor

7.    Tea Tonix BE SLEEPY

This tea is a great tasting tea that promotes a relaxed feeling and helps relieve anxiety and promote sleep. This tea is known to have pronounced chamomile and lavender flavors, as well as a unique addition with the kava kava. All of the ingredients are organic and many tea drinkers have said that this tea helps them get to sleep about 30 minutes after drinking it, with some drinkers even reporting a deeper level of sleep after drinking it. A big problem for many who have trouble sleeping is the ability to stay asleep, and the BE SLEEPY blend from Tea Tonix is supposed to be great for that.

From Tea Tonix’s description of this tea, “Having trouble unwinding after a busy day? Is falling asleep or staying asleep nearly impossible? We have a tonic for that! Our BE SLEEPY is formulated with effective, potent herbs to help calm the nervous system and encourage a good night's sleep. We use wonderful smelling and tasting herbs such as chamomile and lavender and blend them with super effective herbs such as valerian, passionflower, hops, kava, and vervain. Together, these herbs will help quiet and soothe the brain and nervous system for a better night's sleep.”

Ingredients:

• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Kava kava
• Valerian
• Passionflower
• Hops
• Lemon balm
• Catnip
• Violet leaves
• Vervain

The most popular herbal ingredients for sleep

1. Chamomile

Chamomile is found in most bedtime teas, and has been used for centuries to cure ailments and aid with relaxation.

According to a published journal by Srivastava, Shakar and Gupta in the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health, “Traditionally, chamomile preparations such as tea and essential oil aromatherapy have been used to treat insomnia and to induce sedation (calming effects). Chamomile is widely regarded as a mild tranquillizer and sleep-inducer. Sedative effects may be due to the flavonoid, apigenin that binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain. Studies in preclinical models have shown anticonvulsant and CNS depressant effects respectively. Clinical trials are notable for their absence, although ten cardiac patients are reported to have immediately fallen into a deep sleep lasting for 90 minutes after drinking chamomile tea. ”

We’re still waiting on more studies to come forward that helps to prove chamomile as a sleep aid, but the feedback and results seen so far are looking pretty promising.

2. Lavender

Lavender is highly regarded as having anti-stress properties, which helps with sleep.

Based on a Medical Reference Guide published by the University of Maryland Medical Center, “In folklore, pillows were filled with lavender flowers to help restless people fall asleep. Scientific evidence suggests that aromatherapy with lavender may slow the activity of the nervous system, improve sleep quality, promote relaxation, and lift mood in people suffering from sleep disorders. Studies also suggest that massage with essential oils, particularly lavender, may result in improved sleep quality, more stable mood, better concentration, and reduced anxiety. In one study, people who received massage with lavender felt less anxious and more positive than those who received massage alone. Several small studies suggest that lavender aromatherapy may help reduce agitation in people with dementia. Lavender flowers have also been approved in Germany as a tea for insomnia, restlessness, and nervous stomach irritations.”

So there you have it. Lavender, in many forms, is great for relaxation and sleep. When drinking lavender tea before bed, make sure to inhale some of the aromas to get the maximum benefit from it.

3. Valerian

Valerian is different than the other herbs and plants because it may take a bit- up to a few weeks- to feel the full effect.

Lifted from the University of Maryland Medical Center, “Valerian is a popular alternative to prescription medications for sleep problems because it is considered to be both safe and gentle. Some studies show that it helps people fall asleep faster and feel that they have a better quality of sleep. One of the best designed studies found that valerian was no more effective than placebo for 14 days, but by 28 days valerian greatly improved sleep for those who were taking it. Some researchers now think you may need to take valerian for a few weeks before it begins to work. However, in another study, valerian was more effective than placebo almost immediately. Other studies show that valerian reduces the time it takes to fall asleep and improves the quality of sleep. Unlike many prescription sleeping pills, valerian may have fewer side effects, such as morning drowsiness.”

The use of valerian for insomnia is still highly debated, but many tea drinkers say that valerian is very effective for helping sleep.

Final Point of Brew

Though there are many herbs and plants that help you sleep, we hope this guide is a good reference to help relieve your inability to sleep or relax after a long day. Try pairing your bedtime tea with some light yoga or some meditation to really calm your body down for a good night’s rest. Make sure to clear your mind of anything that is bothering you so your wheels aren’t spinning deep into the night. Some of the best relief comes from the ability to just let some things go.