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You lead a busy life but still want to enjoy fine teas. Impossible? Possible! You just need teas that can travel with you. And the right teawares for steeping and enjoying them. Never fear, for there are plenty of options and new ones popping up daily.
I’m going to propose something a bit unusual and perhaps unexpected here: tea samplers. Whether loose or bagged, these smaller sizes can fit into your pocket, purse, briefcase, backpack, or whatever. They also give you a bit of variety in a sort of themed way.
Want to explore tea as it’s enjoyed in the British Isles? Try a sampler with Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Scottish Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, St. Paul’s London Breakfast, or a tasty blend like Buckingham Palace Garden Party (you’ll feel quite regal with every sip) and Lady Londonderry.
Explore the wonders of Asia with a sampler containing Chinese green teas like Pinhead Gunpowder Green, China Jasmine Green, Keemun Panda, Jasmine with Flowers, Lapsang Souchong, Jasmine Dragon Tears, Lychee Congou China Black, Shanghai Lychee Jasmine, and loads more.
You could opt for Japanese green teas like Japanese Sencha, Japanese Sencha Kyoto Cherry, Gen Mai Cha, Gyokuro, and bright green Izu Matcha. Before you know it, you’ll be saying “Sayonara” to those boring “office teas.”
How about an array of fruity black teas? One for every day of the work week: Lemon, Mango, Peach, Raspberry, Peach Apricot, etc. A nice feature of these teas is that the fruity flavor is usually a great boost for the black tea flavor so that you need no other enhancement. If you’re out and about, this simplifies things. Just steep and drink.
You don’t need to wear a sari or ride an elephant to experience the teas of India. There are two main types: Assams and Darjeelings. Some choices are: Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling, Nonsuch Estate Darjeeling, Kambaa Estate Darjeeling, Lover’s Leap Estate Darjeeling, Darjeeling Mim, and Assam TGFOP.
Many teas now come in nylon sachets that are filled with large leaf pieces, not tea dust. Convenience and great taste. So, you don’t have to settle when you’re chauffeuring kids, sitting through that weekly staff meeting, or taking a quick break in your workday for that uplift you only get from the flavor of a nice cuppa tea.
You can still keep it loose with one of the travel mugs available these days. They come with stainless steel infuser baskets that you can lift out but keep handy for a second steeping. A porcelain mug with a matching infuser insert is great if you work in an office. Lots of designs are available, from cute to sophisticated.
Don’t let a busy schedule keep you from the teas you love or make you settle for less. Keep some sample sizes on hand and invest in a travel mug or cup with infuser. Then, let the enjoyment begin!
Travel on over to A.C.’s blog, Tea Time with A.C. Cargill! It’s one stop you can’t miss!
The tea we’re drinking right now will typically have made its way a great distance in a relatively short period of time. Of course, this was not always the case. In earlier days tea had to come to the rest of the world from China – and later India – by one of two routes. It had either to come by a lengthy sea voyage around the perilous tip of southern Africa or on a trying overland trip from Asia to Europe.
The sea route around southern Africa was probably more heavily traveled for purposes of tea transport, but it was the land route that became the focus for the Tracing Tea project. This is described by its participants as “the international collaboration of four students and a film crew who have a love of tea strong enough to survive 15,000 km in three-wheeled auto-rickshaws.”
The Tracing Tea expedition was planned to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the introduction of tea into Britain. The trip was originally planned to take the team through 18 countries in total and is being documented in a number of ways – including the Tracing Tea Web site – and is expected to one day form the basis for a documentary film and book. Excerpts of an early planning journey along the route are among the many bits and pieces already posted at the Tracing Tea site.
Some of the other highlights, photo and video galleries chronicling various parts of the route, including forays through China, central Asia, Iran, Turkey and more. Among the sizable selection of film clips are one that recalls a mishap in Austria, another that looks at a trying bureaucratic snafu in Kyrgyzstan and another of a trip though Darjeeling, India. Among the other worthwhile highlights at the site are a blog that covers various facets of the journeys and overall project and a book extract from one of the team members.
Don’t forget to check out Tea Guy Speaks!
June is National Iced Tea Month and while the month is almost at an end there’s no reason to stop celebrating just because July is about to commence. In case you hadn’t noticed, summer is here, the temperatures are rising and it’s a great time to kick back with a glass of iced tea. The Taste of English Tea Blog has published a number of articles about iced tea thus far, including this primer on How To Make Iced Tea.
But there’s always more to say about iced tea and so, with no further ado, here are a few assorted bits and pieces. If you’ve ever tried an iced tea that you’d become used to drinking hot you might have noticed that the taste changed. Marshal at A Tea Addict’s Journal weighed in with some thoughts on the differing flavor profiles of hot and cold teas and yours truly addressed the issue in a recent article in these pages.
If you’re looking for variations on the theme of iced tea, check out the Miro Tea blog, where they discussed the Arnold Palmer, or Arnie – a popular mix of tea and lemonade. Miro Tea’s Ernie (which is named for golfer, Ernie Els) mixes rooibos and lemonade. Americans seeking a patriotic tea drink with a little bit of a kick should try Patriot Tea, a mix of honey liqueur, black tea and mint.
If you like your iced tea fizzy, look to this selection of Top Sparkling Recipes, which includes Sparkling Jasmine Iced Tea and Lemon Almond Iced Tea. For some info on terere, a chilled variation on herbal beverage yerba mate, take a look at this article.
Did you ever wonder Which Bottled Green Tea Packs the Most Nutritional Punch? Men’s Health magazine tested several popular brands and published the results here. For a “comparison of antioxidant potency of commonly consumed polyphenol-rich beverages,” including iced tea, refer to a study by researchers at the Los Angeles-based David Geffen School of Medicine.
Don’t forget to check out William’s blog, Tea Guy Speaks!
The Hangover
Ah, the hangover. When it comes to hangovers, the humorist Robert Benchley might have said it best, “the only cure for a real hangover is death.” Not that this is the most practical solution, of course.
So where does tea fit into this picture? Can tea cure a hangover? Probably not, though the jury is still out on this issue. But can tea ease the ill effects that are a part of the hangover experience? Perhaps. Puerh, in particular, is thought by many to be especially useful when it comes to dealing with the effects of a hangover, but it’s not clear if there’s any real research to back up this notion.
In spite of those clever marketers who would have us believe otherwise, there probably is not any such thing as a hangover cure. Researchers don’t agree about exactly what causes a hangover, but if you’re ever afflicted with one there are some steps you can take to make things a bit less unpleasant.
Young Pu-erh
Most notable among these suggestions – stay hydrated. Be sure to drink other non-alcoholic liquids (like tea, for instance) before, during and after your revelry, whenever possible. This is very important, since alcohol consumption tends to cause dehydration. Some people have also suggested that the caffeine and particularly the theanine (which is known to have a calming and mentally stimulating effect) in tea might help with the mental fuzziness that typically plagues us on a tough morning after.
For more information on hangovers, refer to the general interest overviews located here and here.
On the flip side of using tea to combat hangovers is a curious phenomenon often referred to as tea drunkenness. While not an actual recognized medical condition, this is a malady that has been remarked on by more than a few tea drinkers who have overindulged in their favorite liquid refreshment. For more thoughts on this one look here and here and you can even check out a paean to tea drunkenness here.
Did you know that they grow tea in Devon County in Britain? No, not really. But there is a tea company there that bags and sells a tea which is just starting to make a splash (pun intended) here in the U.S. If you’re a Twitterhead like me, you already know that. You also know that they host an afternoon teatime tweet-fest. Of course, since Twitter is global and since it’s afternoon somewhere on that globe all day long, this tweet-fest has the potential to go on continuously. Wow! Teatime 24/7/365!
The company is Devonshire Tea Limited. Its owners, Gavin Sheppard and Debbie Kay, have to attend to tea business sometime. Sheppard and Kay have been co-directors of the company since June, 2006. Sheppard comes from a banking background, having worked as a commercial lending manager for five years. Both he and Kay dived head-first into the tea business by researching tea growing around the world until they found the perfect teas to use in their blend. For a tea that is only available in teabags, it’s one of the better ones. You definitely aren’t getting a bunch of tea dust swept up from the tea factory floor.
We know that the tea plant (Camellia Sinensis) originally came from China and that tea started to be grown in India during the time when they were part of the British Empire. Through the years it also came to be grown in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), Japan, and several other countries, including some on the African continent (it’s not all desert, you know). Sheppard and Kay get theirs from four tea plantations in Kenya. This area is high in the mountains and has great soil (bright red volcanic earth) and an ideal climate (hot days, cool nights, plenty of rain, and lots of sunshine) for growing tea. Blending teas from these four plantations results in a tea that is consistent in quality and taste while low in tannins and caffeine. It’s a combination that resulted from a lot of research.
Devonshire Tea is packaging their teabags in collector’s boxes for a limited time. They’re “1st Edition” packaging that feature a diagonal slash band with the words “1st Edition – Collectors Box”. Their company literature says they don’t use plastic, since it could taint the tea. That actually depends on the plastic. The better quality pouches don’t taint the tea nor allow aromas to “migrate” in or out.
Sheppard and Kay’s tea company is based in Plymouth, a seaside town in Devon County in Britain that’s famous for being the launching place of the Mayflower. The county is also famous, not for ships but for its Devonshire Cream Tea, featuring scones with Devon Cream and fruit jams. It’s also one of the tourist spots of Britain, with lots or restaurants and sites of interest. The tea company has been a participant in several local events, a recent one being the Devon County Show, where local products were featured. In 2009, they were award presenters at the Devon Life Food and Drink Awards. Now, they are selling to us here in the U.S., giving us the opportunity to serve a tea befitting that Devonshire Cream Teatime.
Hubby and I like to do our own version of that style of enjoying tea:
- Mr. Kipling Apple & Black Currant Pies (more like little tarts but with a top crust)
- Some whipped cream (didn’t have any Devonshire Clotted Cream on hand)
- Lots of Devonshire Tea with milk and sweetener
- Good company, including hubby and some friends who appreciate good tea
One down note to all of this. That little pyramid-shaped teabag is looking a little sad and somewhat forlorn sitting in the background. His days may be numbered now that the new tea is in town. A taste test will have to decide this, but it will wait for another day.
Get more information on all the latest teas over on A.C.’s blog, Tea Time with A.C. Cargill!
When it comes to quantity, Japan is not a top producer or consumer of tea, but tea drinking is still an integral part of Japanese culture. One of Japan’s greatest contributions to tea drinking, the Japanese tea ceremony, is renowned the world over.
Goykuro
Tea came to Japan by way of China. Tea seeds may have been brought there as early as 805. Over the next few centuries tea was a rare commodity confined to ruling classes. In the centuries following, Chanoyu, or the Way of Tea, became established and as tea became more readily available ordinary citizens also embraced it.
The Japanese produced black tea as early as 1874 and they also import it. In 2007, the country was the sixth largest importer of black tea from Sri Lanka. But the majority of tea grown and consumed in Japan is still of the green variety.
There are many varieties of green tea produced in Japan, some readily available in the West and others not as much. Some of the better-known varieties of Japanese tea:
Gyokuro: One of the best Japanese green teas, Gyokuro is grown in the shade for several weeks before being harvested, which gives the leaves a sweeter, more delicate flavor.
Sencha: A Japanese green tea that varies as far as quality goes. Better grades can be quite good and are often made with the top two leaves and bud of the tea plant.
Matcha
Matcha: A Japanese green tea made from top quality leaves called Tencha. These are dried and ground into a powder. Matcha is used more widely nowadays but it’s still probably best known as the tea used in the Japanese tea ceremony.
Bancha: A lower grade of green tea, made from lesser quality leaves, and sometimes the stalks of the plant.
Hojicha: Made by roasting Bancha-grade green tea leaves, which gives them a brownish color and distinctive flavor.
Kukicha: Similar to Hojicha, but is made using the stalks of the tea plant, rather than the leaves.
Genmaicha: Made by mixing Bancha with roasted rice kernels for a distinctive flavor not unlike popcorn.
Don’t forget to check out William’s blog, Tea Guy Speaks!
The English love tea. Yeah, no kidding. A statement like that ranks right up there on the blatantly obvious scale along with such gems as rain is wet and dogs bark. Though tea got its start in China, the English were probably more instrumental than anyone in spreading it to the rest of the world. To help ensure an uninterrupted supply of tea, they also set up tea plantations in India, where total tea production nowadays rivals that of China.
Tea and England have been so closely associated over the past few centuries that the Icons project selected it as one of the cultural touchstones – along with Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Doctor Who and more – that have helped form the nation’s identity.
While you probably can’t take two steps in England without tripping over a cup of tea, until recently you would not have found much in the way of tea growing there, or at least not tea designed to be sold commercially. This changed in the late Nineties when tea first was cultivated at the Tregothnan Estate, in southwestern England.
By spring 2005 the first tea harvest was ready to be picked at Tregothnan, which has been an ongoing concern for nearly seven centuries. These days, along with such homegrown products as honey and plum jam, you can buy a variety of different teas produced at the Estate, including Classic Tea, an Earl Grey variety and Afternoon Tea.
For more on the history of tea production at Tregothnan Estate, refer to this informative article. For some opinions on four varieties of Tregothnan tea, check out this review, by yours truly. If you’d like to read more about tea-growing initiatives in unlikely locales – in this case, the United States – take a look at this recent article, posted right here at the English Tea blog.
Find more interesting tea facts over on William’s blog, Tea Guy Speaks.
To call something “vanilla” is to infer that it lacks excitement. What is it about vanilla that people find boring? This association couldn’t be further from the truth! The warm sweetness of vanilla is what makes things taste scrumptious – everything from bakery items to tea! In fact, I have found an increasingly steady trend of vanilla tea options recently. Some teas are nutty, some are creamy, some are fruity, some even combine vanilla with mint! My favorite, which has prompted me to reconsider vanilla’s lackluster reputation is Bourbon Street Vanilla Rooibos. Talk about a jazzy blend that will start your morning on the Sunny Side of the Street! The warmth of cinnamon, almonds and vanilla mix with the natural sweetness of the rooibos in a near perfect blend of deliciousness!
Did you know that Vanilla is a member of the orchid family? Also, it was originally native to Mexico and was used for centuries by the Aztecs. It is now grown in tropical areas around the world. The majority of our vanilla comes from the Madagascar region of Indonesia. Also, it is the second most expensive spice in the world (after saffron). Natural vanilla tends to be very expensive because its production is extremely labor and time intensive. As the process, from planting to curing, can take anywhere from 1.5 – 3 years, it has given rise to the popularity of (and economic advantage of) artificial vanilla.
Vanilla comes in pods or beans, in extracts, in liquid form, and in sugared form. It is sought after for cooking, baking, perfumes, and aromatherapy. Even Coca-Cola uses vanilla in their formula – which is probably why it tastes so good! So, someone tell me where the “boring” part comes into play!
In case you haven’t seen what they’ve been doing with vanilla in tea lately, let me give you some examples of some teas you may want to try. Because of its natural hint of spiciness, vanilla makes a great addition to chais, like Twinings French Vanilla Chai. If a fruitier blend is more your cup, sample Taylors of Harrogate’s Raspberry Vanilla Tea or Harney & Sons White Vanilla Grapefruit. And for something really bold, check out the Golden Moon Tea Company, who offers both Vanilla Mint, and Vanilla Jasmine.
As you can see, vanilla is anything but boring. This highly sought after bean blends well with other flavors. And for those who want just “plain vanilla”, you’ll be captivated by its enticing aroma and its exquisitely warm and cozy taste, which is anything but plain.
Just like vanilla, Madam Potts’ blog, Mad Pots of Tea!, ain’t boring.
Drink tea. Lose weight. Can it really be that easy? Well, it’s probably a bit of a stretch, but if we’re to believe Mark “Dr. Tea” Ukra, author of the book, The Ultimate Tea Diet: How Tea Can Boost Your Metabolism, Shrink Your Appetite, and Kick-Start Remarkable Weight Loss, it’s not all that far from the truth.
Ukra’s family was involved in the tea trade in their native land of Iraq, before coming to America in the Fifties. He was once a hardcore coffee drinker, but some years back, when he decided to cut back his caffeine intake, he made the switch to tea. One thing led to another, as it sometimes does, and in 2005 Ukra and his wife bought the Tea Garden & Herbal Emporium, in Hollywood.
As he began to take more of an interest in the potential health benefits of tea, Ukra took on the persona of Dr. Tea and renamed his tea shop Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden & Herbal Emporium. Another result of Ukra’s studies on the link between tea and health was his book, The Ultimate Tea Diet, which was released by Harper Collins in early 2008.
The Ultimate Tea Diet encourages its weight-conscious readers to drink anywhere from four to six cups of tea a day. Among the beneficial compounds that make tea a healthy beverage are L-theanine and EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate).
According to Ukra’s book, tea encourages weight loss through the combined effects of these compounds and caffeine, all of which help to reduce appetite and stimulate the metabolism. While caffeine acts as a stimulant, L-theanine help to neutralize its harmful side effects and acts as an appetite suppressant. EGCG, according to Ukra, helps dieters burn fat faster and more efficiently.
Of course, we cannot live by tea alone. So, keeping this in mind, The Ultimate Tea Diet also includes a selection of recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Many of the recipes actually include tea as an ingredient.
Check out William’s blog, Tea Guy Speaks, for more great articles.
What better day to talk about all things green than on St Patrick’s Day! And while some will opt for pitchers of green beer tonight, I’ll be seeing green in pots of tea! If ever I was to find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I’m sure it would be a tea pot of the most beautiful golden hued liquor of a very satisfying green tea.
You needn’t be Irish to celebrate St Patty’s Day, nor do you need the luck of the Irish to reap the healthy benefits of green tea. Luckily there is a lot of research these days which verifies what people have known for centuries – that green tea is good for your health and your health is worth its weight in gold!
Did you know that green tea can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, help prevent cancer and liver disease, assist in protecting against tooth decay, improve metabolic rates to support healthy weight loss, and increase clarity and focus?
And for those who did opt for green beer instead of green tea, you may want to take a page from The Kissa Yojoki (Book of Tea), written by Zen priest Eisai in 1191. It describes how drinking green tea can have a positive effect on the five vital organs, especially the heart. The book discusses tea’s medicinal qualities, which include easing the effects of alcohol. For even better hangover results, find a green tea with either peppermint and/or ginger. Both of these herbs are known to sooth the stomach, decrease nausea and generally help the body feel revived and refreshed.
Try Your Luck at Finding the Right Green Tea For You!
Gunpowder – tightly rolled green tea leaves which have a distinctive nutty or woody taste and a dark green color to the tea.
Ceylon Green – satisfying green tea with all the subtle character of a full-bodied black ceylon.
Sencha – the most common green tea in Japan. Light and smooth in taste with a gentle golden green color.
Jasmine Green: is one of my favorite teas that combines little hand rolled pearls of early harvested green tea leaves with Jasmine flowers.
Now to reap the many benefits of green tea, it should be noted that one cup by itself is not a cup of magic. Increase your luck by drinking 3-4 cups of tea a day, every day. That should be equivalent to a pot of tea – the pot of tea at the end of rainbow.
I once followed a rainbow to its end, but I didn’t find a pot of gold. Nope, I wound up smack dab in the middle of Madam Potts’ blog, Mad Pots of Tea! Seriously!
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