You are currently browsing Sam's articles.
By Alexandra Hoover
Masala chai is a very popular tea from India which includes spices as well as herbs. In some situations, masala chai is used as ayurvedic medicine; nevertheless, this particular recipe should not be relied on for any curative qualities. While the word “chai” seems to apply specifically to Indian tea, it is actually a generic term for this beverage. Although it is similar, do not confuse it with a chai latte, which is a lot foamier.
To make masala chai, it is necessary to use these ingredients: 12 black peppercorns, 6 whole cardamon seeds, 4 cloves, 1/2 cup of milk, 10 teaspoons of sugar, 12 sticks of cinnamon, 5 cups of water, and 6 teaspoons of leaf tea. If you want to simplify the recipe and use fewer ingredients, try just using cardomon seeds, cloves, milk, sugar, tea and water. For an alternate recipe, consider adding star anise and ginger. If you like rooibos, there are also red tea variations of masala chai which add a unique flavor.
To follow the traditional masala chai recipe, start by boiling a mixture of milk and water. Stir after adding spices and sugar. Turn off the heat, put a cover on your pan, and let the spices sit for nine to ten minutes. After you let the spices soak and add the leaves/teabags, boil the water again. For the next six minutes, let the combination simmer on reduced heat.
Finally, strain and serve the tea. If you want to add more milk and sugar, this is the time to do so. You can also serve masala chai cold. This tea is perfect if you have a taste for milky spiciness and the acridness of cloves. The tea is much healthier than an Indian cigarette, or bidi, which is often considered more dangerous than a filtered cigarette.
By Alexandra Hoover
Green tea is one of the most ubiquitous teas on the market. Tasty, full of antioxidants, and recognizable to all tea drinkers, green tea is a favorite among many tea enthusiasts. In fact, it is precisely for these reasons that green tea is often taken for granted. As green tea is so familiar to us all, you may ask, “How much variety can green tea have?”
Sencha green tea is a unique Japanese green tea produced without grinding leaves. Sencha differs from Chinese green tea inasmuch as it is steamed for half a minute before the leaves are rolled and dried. Although sencha means “roasted tea,” it is not pan-fried like Chinese green tea. Instead, sencha is fired after the leaves have been dried.
What is the difference between green tea leaves that have been initially fried, opposed to leaves that have been fired after they were dried? One can definitely note this dissimilarity in the taste of sencha. Sencha tastes a little like seaweed but with creamy overtones. It is especially delicious with agave or cream, as it possesses a slight creamy, vegetal quality.
In addition to its unique taste, sencha offers health benefits including cancer fighting antioxidants and theanine. While antioxidants help eliminate free radicals, theanine is an amino acid. Theanine is useful for one’s body inasmuch as it creates calming effects in the brain. It is not common in nature but can also be found in the basidiomycete mushroom, Boletus badius.
To consume 100-200 mg of theanine, drink three cups of sencha a day. This unique amino acid found in sencha has been found to help the body’s immune system. On a similar note, in a trial conducted by Johns Hopkins University, gophers given theanine showed increased cognition and memory. Sencha is worth a try (especially if you have forgotten your keys too many times).
By Chris Robideaux
Tea dieting has become quite popular recently. A proper tea diet can help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism, and at the same time suppress your appetite by providing a certain amount of nutritional elements to the body. The soothing, stress-reducing effects of tea compound these effects, and make tea dieting one of the more enjoyable ways to lose weight, appetite and lower blood pressure at the same time.
Pomegranate Oolong
There are many health effects had by drinking plenty of tea, so this type of diet makes perfect sense. The EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate, a type of catechin) in tea increases the rate and efficiency of the fat burning process. Dieters are encouraged to eat well-balanced meals consisting of proteins, carbohydrates and fat.
One attractive aspect of the tea diet is that partakers can choose from any of the four major tea types: green, black, white and oolong. Herbal teas should be avoided for the diet. The tea can be consumed hot or iced, avoiding excessive sweeteners (honey is okay, of course). The recommended foods while on the tea diet include:
- Lean beef
- Fat free cheese
- Fish
- Egg whites
- Turkey breast
- Boca burgers
- Nonfat yogurt
- Brown rice
- Avocado
- Olive oil
- Flaxseed
- Raw nuts
- Vegetables and fruit
It is also advisable for tea dieters to have a carbohydrate snack if they have some protein, and vice versa, as this will help reduce an increase in blood pressure, and the carbs being stored as fat. This is one diet that encourages snacking, and the regimen of meals goes: breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, and evening snack. One can come up with some very creative and delicious combinations on their tea diet with the likes fresh fruits and vegetables, turkey burgers, grilled chicken, edamame, rice, and two cups of tea per interval, barring morning snack time.
By Chris Robideaux
Evidence shows that the regular consumption of green tea results in reduced risk of heart disease. One Japanese study in particular found that those who drank five cups of the highly popular beverage per day cut their heart disease risk by 26%. Interestingly, the effects of green tea were found to be stronger in women than in men. The Journal of American Medical Association published the results of this study in September 2006. Although the FDA rejects this health claim in the face of a mountain of evidence otherwise, many millions of comparatively healthy people drink green tea and believe in (as well as enjoy) its life-affirming properties.
Green tea helps prevent heart disease, but it also does so much more. This wonder-drink contains the disease-busting elements of catechins, phytochemicals and polyphenols, which are on the front lines in the body, doing things like aiding digestion, relieving stress and reducing blood pressure. Tea is the most commonly consumed drink in the entire world, after water, and probably the most popular as well. The wisdom of the ancients (particularly those in China and the Far East) knew quite well that it was a sacred plant that made a sacred concoction, and it was lent medicinal status. This reverence, thank goodness, has carried forward into a modern, polluted, disease-suffering world which needs tea more than ever before.
Savor well the effects of green tea – and all the tea, for that matter, as it’s Mother Nature’s way of telling us all she wants us to be vigorous and healthy. With heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, drinking green tea is more imperative than ever. With all the choices in teas on the market, including rich and varied herbal infusions, one can breathe the myriad aromas deeply, as the sensual and medicinal tonic is absorbed into the body, mind and spirit.
By Chris Robideaux
The health benefits of drinking tea have been known for eons, and today these benefits are enjoyed by perhaps billions of Earth’s people. Tea reduces stress, provides multiple antioxidant elements, socializes people, and provides countless jobs for those working in the tea manufacturing industry (providing livelihoods is good health, too!). The Chinese are most likely the first people to recognize the life-enhancing effects of tea, and early on established tea drinking and cultivating as an integral part of their culture.
Tea has much less caffeine than coffee, that other, more dubious, favorite morning jump-start drink. Clinical studies have shown that green tea, in particular, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as aid in enhancing bone density, cognitive functioning, while also helping with weight loss and digestion (University of Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 1999 study). Also, there’s a good chance tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke, by “cleaning” your arterial walls. A Dutch study over a five and a half year span found that there was a 70% reduced risk of fatal heart attack in those who drank two to three cups of black tea per day.
Some of the other health effects of drinking tea regularly are: It strengthens your bones, thanks to the phytochemicals found in it. Studies have shown that tea drinkers who drank it regularly for ten years or more had much stronger bones than their counterparts. A better smile is likely, too. Tea contains tannins and fluoride that help protect the teeth. It contains polyphenols, which help fight off cancer. It helps bolster your immune system and fight off infections. Tea is also a good way to hydrate your body, is calorie-free, and increases your metabolism. If ever there was a ritual to have, drinking plenty of tea is it!
Great news, everybody! English Tea Store has decided to spread the word about its great-tasting tea and nifty tea accessories by giving stuff away! Just convince five of your friends to follow ETS on Twitter and you’ll be entered to win the following: a 2-cup Ceramic Infuser Teapot (you pick the color) and a sampling of each of these teas (choose between loose leaf and teabags):
- Buckingham Palace Garden Party
- English Breakfast Tea Blend No. 1
- Double Bergamot Earl Grey Tea
- Peppermint Tea
- Blackcurrant Herbal Tea (only teabags, sorry)
For every five friends you convince to follow us, you’ll be entered to win! So, if you convince ten friends, you’ll be entered twice! Convince 15 friends, and you’ll be entered three times!
Every time you round up five friends, shoot me an e-mail to: etscontests@gmail.com. Make sure to include the Twitter usernames of each of your friends so that I can verify that they’ve indeed followed us.
The winner’s name will be plucked randomly from a teapot! A congratulatory e-mail will be sent to the winner on January 7, 2010. The lucky guy or gal will have until Monday the 11th to claim the prize. Otherwise, we’ll pick another name! Once the prize has been claimed, I’ll post the winner’s name on Twitter as well.
Thanks for all your support! You’re awesome!
By Alexandra Hoover
For people looking to improve their well-being, drinking hibiscus tea is a good option. Not only is it tasty, but hibiscus tea can help alleviate heart problems. Clinical trials have demonstrated that consuming hibiscus tea is extremely healthy for people. The more cups a day people drink, the better it is for their health.
Why Drink it?
In The Journal of the Science of Food Agriculture, researchers presented information on how hibiscus tea, or Hibiscus sabdariffa, helps manage cholesterol, demonstrating that it reduces one’s chance of developing heart disease. Hibiscus extract lowers the cholesterol of lab animals, which has vast implications for human beings, as well.
Cardiovascular Well-being
If you have heart disease or fear getting it, drinking hibiscus tea can be helpful for a number of reasons. First of all, hibiscus tea contains antioxidants, which reduce cancer by eliminating free radicals, or cellular by-products. Also, hibiscus tea can reduce blood pressure, helping to reduce one’s risk of developing any kind of cardiovascular disease.
Have a Healthy Diet
If you don’t eat well, it can be hard to combat or evade heart disease. In addition to drinking hibiscus tea, one must also eat nutritious meals regularly. Try drinking a glass of hibiscus tea before or after a healthy serving of food to help prevent heart disease.
Exercise Daily
When people are kind to their bodies by eating well and getting regular physical activity, they don’t have to rely solely on one factor, like drinking hibiscus tea to help prevent heart disease. Hibiscus tea can only be powerful as an aid–it cannot be entirely responsible for improving ones strength and well-being.
Try Alternate Teas
Green tea and white tea are also consumed for their antioxidant benefits. Drink white or green tea for variety. White tea and green tea extract are also quite useful in preventing cancer or bacterial/viral infections.
By Stephanie Harkins
Tea tasting, much like wine tasting, cheese tasting or any other sampling of a food or beverage, includes utilizing all five of your senses and focusing on how the experience feels to you personally.
Loose Leaf Tea
By using your sense of smell, sight, taste and touch, you can not only evaluate teas accurately, but you can improve the experience of enjoying the tea that you are brewing. You may also decide to hold tea tasting parties amongst friends for fun, or even pursue a career as a professional tea taster for a large tea factory.
There are four main points to consider when evaluating the quality of a tea during a tea tasting; the dry leaves, the unfurled (spent) leaves, the aroma of both of these, and of course the most important aspect to consider – flavor.
When examining the dry leaves, consider their aroma, their appearance, and the way they feel. One can tell a lot about a tea from simply examining the dry tea leaves, saving yourself from purchasing low quality teas in some tea shops.
How do they smell? How do they feel? Newer teas are slightly springier while older teas are crumbly. Usually the older the tea, the more crumbly they are. The tea leaves should be actual leaves without any stalks, fibers or dust. Look for leaves which are shiny and fresh, without any dullness or uneven coloring.
The unfurled, spent leaves look like beautiful completely whole leaves in higher quality teas. Sometimes the brewed leaves can even be eaten in recipes as an appetizers. But the spent leaves also often reflect the quality of the tea, and the aroma of the leaves and the brewed tea are also important to the overall impression of the tea.
Finally, it is above everything else important to consider the flavor of the brewed tea. Everything else you consider in a tea is only a good indication of what you can expect from a tea, however the flavor of the tea is the main point in evaluating a tea.
When officially taste testing a tea, bring a spoonful of the warm tea to your lips and slurp in the tea in a manner that it covers the entire tongue, then gently swirl the tea around in your mouth. Suck in air in short bursts in your mouth to be able to sense the more delicate characteristics of the tea, as well as it’s subtle undertones.
When you have evaluated all of these points, it is a good idea to record your impressions in a tea notebook. As your knowledge of tea expands, so will your ability to characterize teas based on your initial evaluations of it’s appearance, aroma and flavor.
Stephanie is the publisher of the Tea Review Blog. Check it out today!
By Kathy McCarthy
While you do not give much thought to an ordinary spoon as you stir your warm cup of tea on a blustery winter’s eve, teaspoons can tell the story of the ages. Many collectors use spoons in their collections as an historic reference hearkening back to significant changes, either political, social or technological.
Many tea spoons have political motifs, and their styles change to reflect the times. The alloys added to the metal can also change the composition of a silver spoon over time. Some collectors look for very specific types of spoons, while other collectors pick up spoons marking their travels.
When you first begin collecting spoons you may gravitate towards graphically interesting spoons, and as you become a seasoned collector, your collection criteria will become more refined. After you have been collecting for a number of years, you will very likely find yourself in the position of looking for a particular spoon to round out your collection.
There are many ways to go about collecting spoons. Some collections can be fun. Some collections can help you relive your travels, and some collections can be worth a lot of money. If you choose to collect antique sliver spoons, you may wind up with not only a beautiful collection but a valuable one as well.
Silver tea spoons are still available from back as far as the 14th century, so if you are only collecting back as far as the 19th century, you will find that not only are the silver teaspoons very accessible, but they are affordable as well. Of course there are huge ladles that can get to be pretty expensive, but the smaller tea and spice spoons still fit most budgets.
As you are deciding which teaspoons to add to your collection, remember that even if you are building a valuable teaspoon collection, at the end of the day, you should have fun while doing it. So enjoy the spoons, the stories that go along with them, and of course with it all enjoy your favorite cup of tea.
By Kathy McCarthy
While it would be ideal if you could wrap tea up, put it on the shelf and have it ready for you whenever you wanted it, unfortunately it is not quite that simple. While tea can last a good, long time if you store it properly, it does not last forever.
White tea has the shortest shelf life. It will only survive in pristine condition about a month. Green tea will hold its freshness for about three months, and black tea can survive untainted for about a year. The caveat here is that these survival rates only apply if the tea is “stored properly” in ideal conditions.
The ideal condition for storing tea is in a container in a cool, dry, dark place. Tea begins to lose its flavor when it is exposed to air, moisture, odor, light or heat. So when you decide to store your favorite tea in a Tupperware container in your cupboard, you are on the right track, but plastic absorbs smells and lets odors in as well. So plastic containers or zip lock bags and glass are not good storage solutions.
The best type of storage container for tealeaves is an airtight tin. To be truly airtight a tin with a double lid works best. Then you want to keep the tin in a cool, dry place.
You never want to store tea in the refrigerator, because condensation, even in the slightest amounts, will begin to mold the tealeaves. And since tea really absorbs any odor that it is around, you want to store it away from other fragrant foods like coffee and spices as well. So remember that your container needs to be not just waterproof but odor proof as well. That means that your cool, dry cupboard may indeed be the best place to store your tea in an airtight, odor proof and waterproof container.
