PR June 3, 2005 - Prostate Cancer Foundation

Novato, CA - June 3, 2005 - The Republic of Tea®, leading purveyor of premium teas, joins the Prostate Cancer Foundation™ (PCF) in the crusade to save men’s lives, with the introduction of new MAN KIND TEA™ ~ Blueberry Green Tea, available now. The Republic of Tea will contribute 75¢ from every tin of MAN KIND TEA sold to the PCF - giving men and women alike the opportunity to enjoy this healthful brew, knowing each sip brings us closer to a cure.

“Even though prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. and one in six men will develop it, prostate cancer is largely a forgotten disease. Programs like the one The Republic of Tea is launching will change that and help us harness more of our society's resources to defeat this deadly disease,” said Prostate Cancer Foundation Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Office, Leslie D. Michelson.

MAN KIND TEA has a base of premium China green tea, blended with flavorful wild blueberry bits. It is packaged in a 2.8 oz tin containing 50 tea bags and has a suggested retail price of $10. The 75¢ contribution per tin sold is given directly to the PCF by The Republic of Tea -- no percentages -- nothing to mail in -- no consumer response required.

MAN KIND TEA and additional products from The Republic of Tea are available nationwide at natural and specialty food stores, restaurants/cafes, through the company Web site, (Republic of Tea), mail order catalogue and by calling 800-298-4TEA (4832).

MAN KIND TEA is contained in an award-winning recyclable, airtight tin and features The Republic of Tea’s signature round, natural, unbleached tea bags (free of unnecessary strings, tags or staples). As with all The Republic of Tea products, ingredients are all-natural and have no artificial colors or preservatives.

About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting one in six men. More than 232,000 men will be diagnosed and 30,000 will die from the disease this year alone. Current research has demonstrated the benefits of nutrition in prostate cancer prevention. Studies have shown that antioxidants have qualities known to help prevent prostate cancer. The new MAN KIND TEA is a “tasteful” way to incorporate healthy habits into anyone’s daily routine.

Antioxidants
Cells in the body wage a constant war against free radicals – circulating unstable oxygen molecules that have been associated in the development of cancer, heart disease and the effects of normal aging. Antioxidants, natural substances found in blueberries and green tea, neutralize free radicals and help to maintain health.

Green Tea
Reported in 2005 at the American Association for Cancer Research: After a year’s oral administration of green tea catechins, only one man in a group of 32 at high risk for prostate cancer developed the disease, compared to nine out of 30 in a control group, according to a team of Italian researchers from the University of Parma and University of Modena.

Blueberries
Scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging ranked blueberries number one in antioxidant activity compared with 40 other commercially available fruits and vegetables. Blueberries also emerged as having the best antioxidant capacity among fruits tested in a USDA laboratory procedure called Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (known as ORAC value), which is the definitive measurement of antioxidant capacity.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Republic of Tea joins a select group of organizations and individuals including Lance Armstrong, Arnold Palmer, Major League Baseball, Safeway Corp. and the PGA Champions Tour, in support of the PCF. The PCF is the world’s largest philanthropic source of support for research into better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer. Founded in 1993, the PCF has raised more than $230 million and provided funding for prostate cancer research to more than 1,200 researchers at more than 100 institutions worldwide. For more information, visit Prostate Cancer Foundation.

The Republic of Tea
The Republic of Tea was founded in 1992 with the purpose of enriching people’s lives through the experience of fine teas and the Sip-by-Sip way of life – a life of health, balance and well-being. It is a progressive and socially conscious business recognized for over 150 premium teas and herbs, restaurant and retail ready-to-drink bottled iced teas (no carbs, no calories and unsweetened), healthy chai concentrates, the world’s only Tea Honey, Tea Jam, exclusive Imperial Republic Tea Oil®, motivational business books and nature-inspired tea ware.

Media contact: Marideth Post, Minister of Enlightenment, The Republic of Tea, 415.382.3443, marideth@republicoftea.com
Media contact: Sarah Evans, Vice President, Communications, Prostate Cancer Foundation, 310.570.4705, sevans@prostatecancerfoundation.org