In September 2024, Maya Tea Company introduced Philters, a line of non-alcoholic spirits
crafted with botanicals, adaptogens, and nootropics. They offer a drinking experience blending flavor, complexity, and depth for people seeking a craft cocktail without the negative consequences of alcohol.
Maya Tea Company CEO and founder Manish Shah spent five years developing these recipes. The name itself is a nod to the word “philter,” meaning a potion with magical properties.
For Shah, who founded Maya Tea Company in 1996 and Transit Tea in 2021, Philters
showcases his expertise in blending botanicals.
“Tucson is a tea town,” he said. “I wanted to see if we could take tea somewhere it’s never been before.”
Currently, the line-up of spirits includes Wiski, Jynn, Mezkahl and Rhum, inspired by their
phonetic counterparts. For instance, Wiski has malt, smoke, and oak characters of whiskey,
while the Jynn features a juniper and botanical-forward flavor profile of gin.
Unlike their alcohol-including counterparts, Philters non-alcoholic spirits gain complexity through ingredients such as holy basil, lemon verbena, and lapsang souchong — ingredients vary with each spirit.
Find bottles of Philters at Transit Tea and Westbound at the MSA Annex. Find it in cocktails at The Coronet, Tap & Bottle, Portal and Café a la C’Art. Order online at philters.com.
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Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
