Renée Loux visits with Kelly Tisdale, founder of Teany NY to talk tea and how this bustling business has gone green

Despite the fact that coffee is king in the city that never sleeps, there's a small place that's making a name for itself in the Big Apple. No, it's not serving coffee, it's serving tea. Tucked away in a quaint section of Lower Manhattan you'll find Teany, a tea house owned by my good friend Kelly Tisdale. 

Kelly says, "I love tea because you can drink it all day and it's super healthy for you. It has just the right amount of caffeine - not too much, you don't get jittery, but it gives you energy and tastes amazing."

I had a chance to sit down with Kelly and sample some of her incredible brews. In fact, they have over 98 different kinds of tea.

"With tea, it's especially important that it's organic," explains Kelly, "because unlike an apple, which you can wash, the first time you wash tea is when you steep it. So, if it's been sprayed with tons of herbicides and pesticides, those harsh chemicals are going to go right into your cup."

But Kelly's concern for things that are healthy and eco-friendly go beyond just what they brew.

Kelly says, "we use green energy, which is using solar, hydro, and wind instead of the traditional means. It was super easy, it was one phone call."

Green power programs are available through most utility companies in the country. You can pay a few extra dollars a month to ensure your power is from renewable, eco-friendly sources.

"And now we are the using bio-plastic forks you told me about," says Kelly. "Especially for a restaurant owner who sees a lot of things getting thrown in the trash, to know that it is compostable and biodegradable relieves me. Everything you need to be a greener business is available at your fingertips. It just involves making that choice."

So the next time you're in New York City, think twice about grabbing a cup of coffee on the go and stop by Teany and relax with a big cup of truly green tea."