Montauk Pioneer - July 17, 2009 - Montauk Beverage Works

A young Massepequa entrepreneur who graduated from Providence College with a degree in Finance, has moved to East Hampton and produced a remarkable new ice tea. Now, what would a clever guy, who drives along 27 from Montauk to points west practically every day of the week call his new business? Why Montauk Beverage Works, naturally.

The fact that Raymond Smyth has visited in Montauk for most of his life and calls Montauk "his favorite place on earth" is another reason why he decided on Montauk and the East End as the base for his business.

For Raymond, tea has been his choice of beverage for many years, drinking 7-8 cups a day, "Tea is more than just black and green," he states, and after a year of experimenting and researching, he has developed an ice tea using only natural ingredients. Instead of sugar which contains "high fructose corn syrup which we are all smart enough to know is not some of the best stuff on the earth, I use agave nectar which, by the way, is in tequila."

Montauk Black Ice Tea with Lemon Grass is made with whole-leaf nilgiri leaves grown in southern India and Ceylon leaves from Sri Lanka. It is an intense aromatic blend with a subtle spark of citrus.

Coming in August, Raymond's Roobois Honey-Mango Ice Tea is naturally decaffeinated South African Honeybush and Roobois tea with a touch of honey and mango. Mango honey is superb, in my estimation, in a hot cup of tea or in hot milk for that pre-bedtime soother. Rooibois, a type of tisane grown in the Cederlands region on the western Cape of south Africa has a reddish hue and mellow flavor. Blending this with honeybush, also, from, South Africa, it has a sweeter taste.

"I'm having the time of my life," Raymond laughed, "doing what I'd first imagined but now it's a reality." Driving along in his white Hyundai, packed with manageable cases of Montauk Ice Teas, he stops at all sorts of shops to introduce, promote and deliver his treasure. With his friendly smile, his prolific knowledge of teas, and his genuine interest in people, his teas are sure to be stocked at hundreds of great stores. In fact, you can find Montauk Ice Tea in Montauk at Ronnies Deli, Waterside, Cromers, Four Oaks, 668 Gig Shack and Montauk Beverage.

A marketing plan including advertising, local sponsorships, a website at www.montaukbev.com., flyers and online tools such as Facebook and Twitter to cross-promote the ice teas with the stores selling it, Ramond Smyth is indeed on his way to quench the thirsts of the happy, vacationing crowd here on the East End, with one of the most healthy and delicious teas I've ever tried.