Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Tea

A few days into October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the last thing on many people’s minds, with concerns over inflation, the situation in Afghanistan, a healthcare bill losing steam, and busy families getting back into the school season. However, the unfortunate truth is that most people have met someone fighting cancer and some have even mourned a victim of the disease.

One issue we learned about from the latest Susan G. Komen for the Cure annual report is that many more women of color die from breast cancer than Caucasian women. According to the report, African-American women have a 35% higher rate of death from breast cancer than Caucasian women, it is the top rate of cancer deaths among Latinas, and, of all ethnic groups, the one least likely to be alive five years or more after being diagnosed are Native Americans.

So, women need to take this seriously by constantly checking for lumps and taking advantage of healthcare benefits. Early detection is the best way to fight cancer. For the men out there, we urge you to shop selectively this month, and where you can, swap out the standard brands for those donating for the cause. Here, we present our first in a series of reviews of products whose makers are contributing to the cause.

The Republic of Tea is a known brand and has a collection of new teas, including chocolate flavors made with yerba mate, but the five Sip for the Cure varieties are on our radar. At about $10 for a tin, you might be thinking it’s a hefty price tag. But, the tin comes with 36 unbleached tea bags, in a beautiful, reusable artisan-style container. The company is donating $1 for each tin sold, which works out to about 10%. Varities include Pink Lady Apple Green Tea, Pink Lemonade Green Tea, Pink Grapefruit Green Tea, Red Cherry White Tea, and our favorite, Pomegranate Vanilla Red Tea, with a base of the South-African-derived rooibos.

All five options make for a great relaxing cup of tea, or a great iced tea. If you opt to brew a batch of iced tea, make sure your glass pitcher is tempered. If you need to bring a small present to a friend’s house, grab a cute bag, one of these tea tins and throw it in there with some tissue paper and a few truffles.

Note: Susan G. Komen for the Cure is a Section 501(c)(3) organization, so donations are tax deductible. How much of the money will go to work and research VS. administration costs? According to the FAQ on their website, “84 cents of every dollar spent by Susan G. Komen for the Cure supports mission programs and services.”