TeaGschwendner USA | 2021 Weihnachtswald Sponsor
We’re pleased to have TeaGschwendner USA as our Weihnachtswald (Christmas forest) sponsor. The Weihnachtswald houses fifteen live fir trees decorated by local non-profits. Patrons can bid on these trees and their decorations during a silent auction held during the festival.
TeaGschwendner has a passion for excellent tea and is a 2021 Christkindlmarket Des Moines vendor. They are global tea ambassadors, sourcing the finest teas the world has to offer. Their passion for tea began when they opened their first tea shop more than forty years ago following dreams of Albert Gschwendner and his wife Gwednalina. Their goal was to bring the finest teas to a small, select group of tea connoisseurs. From those humble beginnings, TeaGschwendner has grown into a global leader in tea retail. They have invested in their tea growers and developed their own in-house laboratories to ensure that they provide only the highest quality teas. The quality of their tea speaks for itself. They have been an award-winning tea company for more than fourteen consecutive years at the World Tea Championships.
From their location in the heart of the Historic Gold Coast of Chicago, they have been able to share their passion with even more people. Their Chicago location has continued to impress for the past fifteen years. Their woman-owned local business was named “The Best Tea Shop in Chicago” by Chicago Magazine. Customers can trust they are getting the best service from an incredibly knowledgeable staff as their store is managed by a Certified Tea Sommelier. They have been trusted by Top Chefs, Local Country Clubs, Navy Pier, Art Institute of Chicago, Drake Hotel, and the Chicago/Milwaukee/Carmel Christkindlmarkets to provide the perfect tea for any occasion.
TeaGschwendner is a leader in promoting organic tea production. Their tea producers actively encourage development of a caring and sustainable industry that generates income and improves the lives of millions of people. Their producers maintain the highest ethical standards regarding health, education, nutrition and environmental sustainability with Fair Trade certifications. They cultivate personal relationships with their tea growers and share their commitment to improving the lives of the people who produce their tea products. Their commitment to providing you with exceptional tea is matched by their commitment to the planet and the people who grow their tea.
They have superior knowledge of, and experience in, the tea market, with a mission to bring truly superlative teas to a growing community of tea lovers around the world and in their own neighborhood. While their company continues to grow, some things do not change. At TeaGschwendner, their Passion for Tea is at the core of everything they do.
Each shop carries a selection of more than 300 varieties including Black, Green, Oolong, White, Rooibush, Herbal and Fruit, and ranging in price from just a few cents per cup all the way up the rarest teas grown exclusively for TeaGschwendner by some of the world’s finest estates.
Danish Windmill | 2021 Gold Sponsor
The Danish Windmill is a proud sponsor of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021 representing the Danish of Iowa.
The 1848 Danish Windmill was brought piece by piece from Denmark in 1975 and rebuilt by community volunteers as a memorial to their strong Danish Heritage. The historic 60 foot tall windmill just completed a 2-year major restoration project and now is in working condition and turns by the wind as it once did over 170 years ago in Denmark. The Danish Windmill is open daily and located in Elk Horn, Iowa.
Quilted Gardens Nursery | #CDM2021 Vendor
Tell us about your business
Quilted Gardens Nursery is an independent specialty nursery located south of Indianola, IA. Not only do we carry unique unusual plants and trees, we are also a Christmas tree farm, known for fresh on-site made wreaths and greens and trees. At Christmas time we specialize in glass and Fair-trade ornaments, leather door bells and straps and unique gifts not just for the gardener but everyone on your list.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021?
The unique aspect of the European Christmas Market inspired us to want to be a part of it.
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021 and why did you choose them?
We provide fresh made wreaths and bundles of mixed greens grown on our farm, Iowa-made leather sleigh bells and hanging door bells, fine blown glass bird and other ornaments (over 20 different bird ornaments) and Fair-trade Peruvian gourd ornaments.
Anything else you’d like to share?
We really enjoy the festival atmosphere of Christkindlmarket Des Moines. It makes Winter a really awesome time of year.
Creative Choice Solutions | 2021 Platinum Sponsor
We’re pleased to have Choice Creative Solutions as a member of our team as a Platinum Sponsor.
Choice Creative Solutions is the brainchild of the group behind the marketing wheel at Community Choice Credit Union (CCCU) in Des Moines, IA. After over a decade of proven success and awards of recognition for raising the awareness/success level for CCCU and pushing the marketing boundaries for a financial institution, it seemed logical to work with other businesses to help them achieve success.
Bravo Greater Des Moines Arts and Culture Program Grant Recipient
The organizers of Christkindlmarket Des Moines are pleased to announce the receipt of a Bravo Greater Des Moines Arts and Culture Program Grant. These funds will be used to support the production of the 6th annual Christkindlmarket Des Moines taking place December 2 – 5 at Principal Park.
Bravo Greater Des Moines leverages community resources to maximize the impact of arts, culture and heritage to advance regional priorities. Since 2006, Bravo has awarded more than 1,000 grants to more than 100 arts, culture and heritage organizations and programs totaling more than $45 million. Bravo is almost entirely funded through Hotel/Motel taxes.
Christkindlmarket DSM Mug Unveiling Party and Open House
We had a great time at the #CDM2021 Mug Unveiling and Open House on Sunday, August 22 from 2 – 4pm. Attendees shopped a mini market featuring foods and handcrafted items from Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021 vendors The Kringle Man, Three In One Artworks, Schanz Furniture, Fritz Toffee Company and Indianola Glass Creations.
A limited quantity of commemorative Glühwein mugs are ordered each year and with a donation of $25 (or more), you can guarantee your mug to be picked up at Christkindlmarket Des Moines.
TeaGschwendner | #CDM2021 Vendor
Tell us about your business
TeaGschwendner is a world leader in high quality loose leaf teas, based on EU standards, and US location owned and operated by local tea sommelier.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021?
We love the Christmas season, and our Christmas collection reflects the family holiday tradition of Christkindlmarkets
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021 and why did you choose them?
Of course the Christmas collection along with the most wanted Tea Advent Calendar
Anything else you’d like to share?
Only .002 % of worldwide tea supply is good enough to be included in our collection
CDM At The Beaverdale Farmers Market
Come see us at the Beaverdale Farmers Market August 17 from 4 – 7pm!
48th St & Franklin Ave
The Kringle Man | #CDM2021 Vendor
Tell us about your business:
We have been in business since 2015, but have only started Kringle and Danish baking since 2018. I am a retired school teacher that was looking to fill some time and it has turned into a full time business with the unique Danish Baking products that I have been marketing. I enjoy the time in the bakery, but really I do this to meet new people and attend shows such as Christkindlemarket Des Moines. We have attended shows in 6 different states with 2 more new states this year on our schedule. The recipes are a combination of Danish Grandmothers sharing with me and searching old cook books and the internet to create the product that I market.
What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021?
We were involved with Christkindlmarket Des Moines in 2019 and it exceeded our wildest expectations. Des Moines has always been a strong market for us, but this was amazing. The atmosphere and the different European cultures represented allowed for a great time by all participants, vendor’s and attendees. It was as the Dane’s say a Hygge time: (pronounced hoo·guh). Hygge is about preserving happiness everyday. It is about slowing down, being humble, expressing gratitude, feeling safe and connecting with loved ones. Who wouldn’t want to spend a weekend with friends at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021 and why did you choose them?
My newest creation is the Danish Pastry made with the puff pastry dough for that light and flaky experience while enjoying a generous serving of fruit sprinkled with baker’s sugar and drizzled with a sweet white and glossy icing.
Hot out of the oven the Danish Letter. A generous serving of Almond Paste wrapped in the puff pastry dough, topped with baker’s sugar and baked to perfection. A perfect companion to a great cup of coffee.
Ready for packaging. The Cream Horn is filled with my own creation of sweetness to drive any connoisseur of the puff pastry covered in baker’s sugar and baked to a golden color crazy.
The Apple Kringle shows all the lite and flaky layers of goodness surrounded by air pockets of joy. The generous serving of Almond Paste blended with the fruit and covered with Almond Slivers and baker’s sugar is a treat anytime of the day.
The Kringle comes in two different sizes: Family size of 5 inches by 15 inches or the couple size of 3 3/4 inches by 10 inches. Don’t be afraid to get the bigger size as all my products freeze amazingly so you can enjoy some now and some later with coffee and family or friends.
We also have a topping of cream cheese icing that is out of this world good.
CDM 2021 Silent Auction Tree Participation
CDM 2021 Silent Auction Tree Participation
As a part of the Christkindlmarket Des Moines (www.christkindlmarketdsm.com), we are welcoming back a unique fundraising opportunity for nonprofit organizations.
We will have 15 – six to eight foot cut trees* available for decoration that will be displayed outside during the market and sold via a silent auction. The organization that decorates the tree will receive the funds earned from Des Moines European Heritage Association following the event and minimum bids will start at $65.
Individual organizations are responsible for all tree decorations including lights (if you choose to use them). All items used on the tree will be given to the winning bidder. Please make sure decorations are able to withstand the temperamental Iowa weather (snow, sleet, rain, and/or wind). We will do our best to protect what we can, but the trees will remain outside and for the duration of Christkindlmarket Des Moines.
Tree decorating will take place before the event on Wednesday, December 1st.
Please use this link to register your nonprofit organization as a participant at the Chistkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction tree decorating. Once the form has been submitted, additional information will be sent via email.
If you have any questions, contact Missy Mootz at [email protected].
* Cut trees are not perfect and will have a tendency to lean. We will present the trees in the most positive way given our circumstances. Please manage your expectations accordingly.