Is there any difference in the many brands of peppermint tea?

Often if I’m at a restaurant and I know there’s nothing special about their coffee, I order tea. Peppermint tea is my favorite.

So sunday I’m at one of my favorite breakfast spots, North End Cafe, and I order peppermint tea. The bag is a cute, predictable green with leaves around the edges.

As I usually do, I read every word on the package. Three more questions came to my mind. (1) Why does a tea shop in Connecticut get its leaves from Oregon? (2) Won’t peppermint leaves grow in Oregon? (3) Can I grow my own peppermint leaves?

When I get home and visit the Harney & Sons website I note that the tea sells above normal grocery prices yet still ends up costing less than 30 cents per bag. So another question: why does the restaurant change $1.75? My inner economist is just wondering.

If you have answers to any or all of these questions please enlighten me and add to my knowledge portfolio.