Total quality control...from field to cup!

A New Standard in Wellness Tea Quality

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TEA AND WELLNESS A BRIEF HISTORY

When one thinks of tea, one thinks of China,

where tea plants were first discovered nearly

4,000 years ago in the highland rainforests

of what is today known as Yunnan Province.

Before it found worldwide fame as a refreshing

and delicious beverage, tea was originally

used for medicinal purposes. As far back as the Shang dynasty

(1766 – 1050 BC), leading practitioners of Traditional Chinese

Medicine found that tea was ideal for addressing a wide range

of health and wellness concerns, especially when formulated in

combination with other synergistic herbs. As the knowledge of

tea spread throughout Asia, the Mediterranean and the West,

other cultures incorporated it into their own herbal traditions.

Today, modern research and scientific study have confirmed

many of the observations of the ancients and have validated the

tremendous health benefits of select teas and herbs – what we

call wellness teas.

Drinking wellness teas is both an exciting and delicious way

to take care of your own and your family’s health. Wellness

teas can help to support cleansing, detoxification and weight

management programs. They can help to soothe and comfort

the digestive system, support immune health, promote peace of

mind, support beautiful glowing skin, and can also be used to

energize body and mind.

Tea is defined as a beverage brewed from the leaves of the

tea plant (Camellia sinensis), but it is no ordinary beverage. Tea is

beloved and enjoyed every day by billions of people all over the

world. In fact, with the lone exception of water, tea is the most

widely consumed drink on Earth.

How popular is tea? According to statistics from the International

Tea Committee, enough tea is produced to make an incredible 6

billion cups…every day!

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NOT ALL TEAS ARE CREATED EQUAL!

The world has fallen in love with tea, and global demand has

been increasing at an astonishing rate. In attempt to catch up with

demand, world tea production has increased by 30% in just

5 years!

Unfortunately, this increase in demand has adversely affected

tea quality. The pressure on supply has forced some farmers to

harvest the leaves too soon, and tea that is picked too soon (or

too late) can never deliver the taste, aroma, or wellness benefit

of a tea that is picked at the peak of perfection. Regrettably,

some tea packers will add artificial ingredients or synthetic

flavors and dyes in an attempt to “liven up” their poor quality

tea. That may fool your eye, but you can’t fool your health!

Tea quality can also be seriously affected by increased pollution,

poor farming methods, pesticide and insecticide use, soil

contamination, heavy metals and lack of proper testing, with

the result that some teas may have adverse effects on your

health. We believe that this is unfortunate, especially in the case

of Wellness Teas, which are intended not just to refresh, but also

to benefit human health.

CERTIFIED WELLNESS GRADE® A NEW STANDARD IN TEA QUALITY

Because of the absence of formal quality standards for Wellness

Teas, Sorvana™ has developed our own standard of excellence,

which we have branded as Certified Wellness Grade® (or CWG®). Developed

with the cooperation of experts in dietary

supplement formulation, agricultural

science, tea production and food safety,

CWG is a comprehensive process that

monitors, tests and verifies tea quality – from field to cup.

Sorvana’s CWG registered trademark represents our commitment

to bring you 100% pure, safe, natural and authentic ingredients,

picked at their peak, so that you may enjoy consistently great

taste, aroma and wellness benefits in every single cup.

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THE CWG® QUALITY PROMISE

• We will bring you only ultra-premium loose leaf wellness

teas of verified authenticity and purity, using only the finest

organic ingredients where possible, or those that conform to

the strict purity standards of the European Food Safety

Authority (EFSA) – the highest standard in the world.

• We will work only with growers who are committed to ethical,

fair and sustainable farming and business practices.

• We will deliver masterful wellness grade formulations with

consistently great taste and aroma in every cup.

• We will bring you the safest and most beneficial wellness

teas available in the world today!

Why do we use only loose leaf teas?

Believe it or not, there’s a big difference between the tea found in

ordinary tea bags and the ultra-premium loose leaf teas that you’ll

find in our Wellness Teas. Most classic tea bags contain “dust” and

“fannings” – these are the tiny bits and pieces left over after the

higher grade leaves have been sorted out. There are tremendous

disparities in quality between loose leaf tea and these leftover

remnants, and you can tell the difference immediately. Finely

broken tea leaves have a weak aroma because they have lost most

of their essential oils, which are also responsible for key wellness

benefits. When steeped, these tea fragments release more tannins

than whole leaf tea, which results in an unpleasantly bitter and

astringent brew. Even the tea bag itself can constrain the tea

leaves so they cannot expand and deliver their fullest flavor,

waroma and wellness benefit.

Tea bags may be convenient, but we believe that you owe it to

yourself to get the most out of your tea experience. Take a little

time to brew one of our ultra-premium loose leaf Wellness Teas,

and you’ll agree that it’s time well spent!

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THE CWG® QUALITY PROCESS

Each Wellness Tea goes through an exacting 4-step protocol to

guarantee you the finest teas available to support your optimal

health and wellness. Certified Wellness Grade® represents a new

standard for wellness teas: authenticity, purity, potency and

efficacy, with unsurpassed quality from field to cup!

CWG® Step 1: Sourcing

We source certified organic ingredients for our teas wherever

possible. When organic is not available, we select only those

ingredients that can qualify as free of detectable pesticide

residues under the standard of the European Food Safety

Authority (EFSA), the strictest standard in the world. Our

delicious-tasting, all-natural flavors are always 100% organic

compliant.

A true wellness grade product begins at the source. Our highly

experienced Tea Masters travel throughout the world sourcing

only the highest quality teas and botanicals that are known to

have significant health benefits.

Our experts understand all of the quality aspects that separate

a world-class tea from one that is just ordinary. There are many

factors involved, and they are different for each type of tea and

herb. These include elevation, climate, optimal harvest time and

curing processes.

Our Tea Masters also understand the value and importance of

establishing and nurturing direct relationships with growers. They

travel regularly to visit the tea estates (plantations) – not only

to develop relationships, but also to ensure that there is fair

treatment of the labor force and respect for the environment.

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All Sorvana™ suppliers must adhere to the guiding principles

of Fair Treatment and Trading Fairly:

• No child labor

• Fair compensation

• Workers are properly dressed for their jobs

• There is suitable staff housing on the estate

• There is a medical policy in place for the workers – this will

often include an on-site medical clinic

• There is education policy for the children of the workers –

again, this often includes an on-site school for the children

• Reinvestment in upgrades and proper maintenance to ensure

the long term future for all stakeholders

• General respect by management of the labor force

CWG® Step 2: Purchasing

Our ultra-premium loose leaf teas and herbs are purchased in

peak season, and they are shipped as soon after the harvest as

possible so that they arrive in the freshest state.

Before a shipment of any

incoming ingredient is authorized

and accepted, our expert Tea

Masters screen pre-shipment

samples for taste, aroma, color

and appearance. If any hazardous

foreign materials are found, the

shipment is refused.

Upon arrival of any shipment,

a sample is pulled and tested

against the approved pre-shipment

sample for conformance.

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CWG® Step 3: Ingredient Testing

We believe in preventative policing of our supply chain. All teas

and herbal ingredients are tested for any contaminant that could

compromise their safety.

In addition to contaminant testing, incoming ingredients

are tested for identity, purity, and to check for the presence of

microbes. This is done by use of a combination of techniques,

both cutting-edge and age-old.

Identity TestingMany ingredients can appear very similar to others, in a way

that can even fool an expert. That is why the exact species of our

ingredients is confirmed by performing identity testing. Several

methods can be used including one or more of the following:

• Microscopy – under a high-powered microscope,

one can see the distinctive tissues and cells that

differentiate one plant from another, as well as one

plant part from another part of the same plant. One

can also see if there is any foreign matter or filth.

Some adulterants can be clearly seen under the

microscope.

• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) –

establishes a spectral “fingerprint” that is unique

to each botanical.

• High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) –

HPTLC is another “fingerprinting” technique that separates the

constituents of a plant and represents them graphically as a

chromatogram. By comparing the chromatogram of the test

sample to an authenticated reference standard, one can see if

the product is pure or possibly adulterated.

Organoleptic TestingAlthough some very highly sophisticated laboratory equipment

is used in the testing of our ingredients, there are still some tests

that are best left to the eyes, nose and taste buds. Our trained tea

masters evaluate each ingredient for color, texture, size and shape

and, most importantly, for flavor and aroma.

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Moisture DeterminationThe presence of excess moisture can degrade the quality of teas

and herbs, and can make them susceptible to mold and bacterial

overgrowth. We have set very tight specifications for moisture

in our ingredients and products to guarantee their integrity

throughout their shelf life.

Microbiological TestingEvery batch of incoming ingredients is tested for potentially

harmful microbes. Microbiological tests are performed by

certified independent third-party laboratories, and include

E. coli, Salmonella, total aerobic bacterial count, yeast, mold

and coliform bacteria.

Chemical TestingBecause we have carefully chosen and qualified our suppliers,

we do not expect to find detectable pesticide and herbicide

residues. However, such testing is performed nonetheless at

strategic intervals.

Heavy Metal TestingHeavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium) are found

naturally in small amounts in soil, but they can be harmful if

present in significant amounts, which is why our raw materials

are tested for compliance with strict European standards for

heavy metals.

CWG® Step 4: Handling and Processing

Our ingredients are handled with the utmost care

and respect, to prevent any loss of quality or potency.

It all starts with a state-of-the-art organic-certified

manufacturing facility, which is designed to provide

an ideal environment for our ingredients and finished

products. Temperature and humidity are carefully

controlled in all warehouses and production rooms,

and strict policies and procedures are in place for

pest control and sanitation, and to keep our delicate

ingredients shielded from the damaging effects of light.

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Testing hourly production samples on the manufacturing floor

ensures that taste, aroma and appearance are consistently of the

highest quality.

GMP+HACCP – A higher standard of food safetyAt Sorvana™, we are firmly committed to enhancing your health

and wellness through our fine Wellness Tea products. We are

also equally committed to your safety. Continual

testing is an important part of our food safety

program. Under close scrutiny is everything from

chemical residue, to non-organic agricultural

additives and product integrity.

To ensure that our products are as safe as can

be, our manufacturing facility has implemented a

program of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)Recognized worldwide for the management and

control of food manufacture, a well-designed GMP program

ensures effective policies and procedures for the following:

• Employee hygiene and hand washing

• Proper use and storage of clothing and protective gear

• Proper use and sanitation of equipment and utensils

• Monitoring of employee health status

• Proper usage of cleaning supplies

• Identification and control of allergens, where appropriate

To take the safety of our products to an even higher level, GMP

has been fully integrated with HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical

Control Points), the globally acknowledged “gold standard” of

food safety programs.

HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points)Within 30 minutes, our manufacturing facility can trace the tea

leaves in your cup back to the tea estate from which it came.

This fact provides a great deal of pride for us, and it’s a significant

sense of security for you. This unprecedented level of

traceability is due to our comprehensive HACCP program.

HACCP is a program that was originally designed for NASA

and the US Army Laboratories to provide safe food for space

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expeditions. It is now internationally recognized as the best

system to ensure food safety and is endorsed by the Food

and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health

Organization (WHO).

To obtain certification, our manufacturing facility underwent a

rigorous 2-year program to meet HACCP’s global requirements.

All facets of our HACCP program are audited on an annual basis.

HACCP is based on 7 established principles:

1. Conduct a hazard analysis. In tea manufacture, a hazard can

be any biological, chemical, or physical property that makes

it unsafe for human consumption, i.e., residue from chemical

agricultural input.

2. Identify critical control points (CCP). These include any step

or procedure in the manufacturing process where control can

be applied and hazards can be prevented. i.e., the addition of

all natural flavoring.

3. Establish critical limits for each CCP. Maximum or minimum

controls that must be applied to any physical, biological or

chemical hazard to ensure supply chain integrity.

4. Establish CCP monitoring requirements. Continual

monitoring of all steps of tea manufacture ensures that

at each identified critical point, control is maintained.

5. Establish corrective actions. In the unlikely event that a hazard

is detected, corrective action must be taken immediately.

These plans must be regulated to ensure that contaminated

products never reach guests and customers.

6. Establish record keeping procedures. Thorough records must

be kept to ensure compliance during audits.

7. Establish procedures for verifying that the system is working as intended. Continual testing ensures that our HACCP

system is working and expedites the annual auditing process.

Training on all facets of our integrated GMP+HACCP program

is delivered on an ongoing basis to our manufacturing plant

employees.

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“I have seen first-hand the tremendous health promoting powers of wellness

teas. But not all wellness teas are created equal. Sorvana™ is raising the

quality standard with our CWG Certified Wellness Grade®

teas so you can now experience consistently pure, effective,

high quality wellness teas in every cup! Our commitment to

you is to bring you the safest and most beneficial wellness

teas available in the world today!

Raymond J. FaltinskyCo-Founder and CEO, Sorvana

THE CWG® DIFFERENCE TOTAL QUALITY CONTROL...FROM FIELD TO CUP

Sorvana Wellness Tea products are guaranteed to meet our exacting

CWG Certified Wellness Grade® standard for authenticity, purity, potency

and efficacy. The CWG logo is your assurance of unsurpassed quality in

every cup.

Does your wellness tea meet the CWG Standard?

R Premium varieties of natural teas and herbs from the world’s finest growers

R Ingredients selected for optimal wellness benefits

R Grown in the ideal environment (elevation, climate, soil)

R Picked at peak of goodness and flavor

R Premium loose leaf teas – no low quality tea bag cuts

R Organic ingredients wherever possible, or certified to strict European Food Safety Authority standards

R No artificial ingredients or flavorings

R Enhanced with organic-compliant, all natural fruit essences

R Ingredients tested for authenticity (proper plant, proper species, proper plant part)

R Ingredients tested for purity (no extraneous matter, mold or harmful bacteria)

R Ingredients tested for safety (meet strict European standards for pesticides, heavy metals and contaminants)

R Blended, packaged and stored under ideal temperature and humidity to protect potency

R Processed under strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

R Produced under “gold standard” HACCP food safety standards, designed for NASA space missions

R Sustainably grown and harvested with fair and ethical agricultural practices

R Each ingredient is traceable from your cup back to the field from which it came

Copyright ©2017 Sorvana™. All rights reserved.

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Empowering People Through Natural Wellness