What Makes A Good Afternoon Tea Menu? By Hannah McGimpsey

To begin with price is obviously a factor here but one that I think I will ignore because it would affect what I have to say too much. So let's just pretend that price is not an issue.
In general Afternoon Tea can range from a pot of tea and a scone to a full blown platter of sandwiches, cakes, champagne and whole leaf tea so seeing as we have no "budget" here, let's go for a complete blow out as far as Afternoon Tea can go.
Food Selection
If we are going to make a meal of it we need to have both savoury and sweet dishes. Therefore to begin with finger sandwiches make the perfect start to your afternoon tea. Bettys Tearooms in York and Harrogate serve for example; Smoked Scottish Salmon and Cream Cheese, Roast Yorkshire Ham and Mustard and Free RangeEgg Mayonaise and Cress sandwiches alongside their loose teas.
Now for the sweet stuff! Cream scones are a must for me in any afternoon tea menu but this is a little bit predictable. One London hotel that is doing their menu well it's the Berkeley. They have made their cakes in their Prêt-à-Portea in dedication to the world of fashion. Each cake comes in the shape of a fashion accessory!
Tea Selection
Now the most important drink in the matter - the tea. Obviously loose tea is going to be the type to use here. The quality you will achieve with loose tea is far superior to that in teabags. You will also have a far wider range. In my opinion I would stick to some classic Chinese tea such as Lapsang Souchong or a high grade Oolong. If you are drinking loose tea you will need to make sure that it is brewed correctly. Whether that means rinsing the tea first, using the correct water temperature, brewing for a certain amount of time, you need to consider these things when choosing a perfect menu.
Other Drinks
Champagne adds a touch of class to your menu but if you want something a bit different why not have a look at making cocktails with tea instead? A Mar-tea-ni perhaps?
Do it at home
Having looked at a few aspects of the menu I think it is important to point out that you do not have to go to a fancy hotel or restaurant to partake in the tradition. Why not do it at home? That means you really will be in charge of the menu and you can choose which loose teas to serve, what sandwiches to make and what shape your cakes will come in!

If you want to make your own afternoon tea at home visit LuLin Teas and view their range of luxury loose teas. Choose from green tea, white tea, black tea, puerh, oolong or herbal tisanes to create your perfect menu.

Choosing Teapots For Loose Tea - The Trials And Tribulations! By Hannah McGimpsey

How to choose your teapot:
When choosing your teapot you need to consider what type of tea you are going to prepare. Will it be loose tea or teabags is the first question you need to ask yourself. To be quite blunt if you are preparing teabagged tea I would just stick with a standard ceramic teapot and follow the old rule of "one teabag for each person and one for the pot."
So let's assume you have decided you want to brew some loose leaf tea. You know need to decide which type of tea you are going to brew. For the rest of the article I will split up into the main tea types, that being: green, black, white, oolong, Puerh and herbal.
White and Green tea:
I have grouped these two teas together because I feel that their delicate natures require them to use similar types of teapot.
For these teas such as Silver Needle or Long Jing the best type of pot to use is a glass one with an infuser. I recommend glass because being able to see the tea brew will help you know when it is ready. You will be able to witness the colour of the water changing and when you drink tea on a regular basis you will be able to use this colour palette to know when your drink has brewed without needing a timer!
Black tea:
In general this is the hardiest type of tea and can therefore be brewed in a normal ceramic pot. However, as with green and white, if you want to use the colour of your tea as a guide for strength then glass is ideal. Teapots with removable infusers are great for black tea as you can prevent over brewing by simply removing the infuser when it is ready and placing to the side for your subsequent brews.
Oolong tea
You have two choices for Oolong tea but I will only focus on one as the other is the perfect brewing receptacle for Puerh so I will discuss that later.
For Oolong I would suggest a Gaiwan. This is a small bowl with a lid that you fill quite full of leaves and brew in small amounts. The benefits of the Gaiwan are that you are brewing the tea in such small amounts that you always empty the bowl completely meaning your tea does not continue to brew resulting in bitter tea and you drink in small but concentrated amounts which means that you get a more intense flavour from the cup.
Oolongs are best drunk from Gaiwans because of they can be infused so many times.
Puerh
Puerh is ideally drunk from a Yixing Teapot. This is a special teapot made from purple clay. The best ones are made by Yixing Masters and can cost thousands of pounds. Yixing pots become seasoned with age and can only be used for one type of tea. So if you brew a Puerh in your Yixing once, that is the only type of leaf you should brew in that pot. This is because the porous nature of the clay absorbs the flavour of the leaves and creates a patina on the inside of the pot. This will enhance the taste of your brew each time.
Herbals
Herbals are another one that I think go very well in glass teapots. This is purely for aesthetical reasons. Many tisanes are made using fruits and flowers that will colour the water and it is a shame to have this covered up by opaque materials.
As a general rule I do not advise using metal pots for any tea because the metal absorbs too much heat and in my opinion it negatively affects taste too.
What do you think?

For a full range of chinese teas and teaware check out LuLin Teas. They specialise in the Chinese teas such as Green tea, Oolong tea and Puerh tea.

Learning More About "Rolled" Loose Tea By Hannah McGimpsey

Firstly; what are the types of Chinese tea that are rolled? The main group that springs to mind for me are the Oolong family. If you look closely at loose Oolong tea leaves before they have been brewed you will notice that the leaves are tightly wound up into little pellets. Two loose green teas that are also clearly rolled are Jasmine Dragon Pearls and Gunpowder Green tea.
These teas, while still being whole leaf appear to be small and potentially broken leaves before they are brewed. Or in the case of Jasmine Dragon Pearls they look like tiny little green marbles. But the magic happens when you pour the boiled (and hopefully cooled as boiling water damages the whole leaf) unto the leaves and you can see them being to open up or unfurl. Once this process is completed you should be left with open, whole leaves of tea.
So what is the point of rolling an Oolong tea?
Oolongs are rolled after oxidation to create their tightly closed shaped to improve the taste of the tea while brewing it. When preparing Oolong it is recommended that you rinse the tea first so as to encourage the leaves to begin to open. So your first brew after the rinsing will be with leaves that are partially open or are in the stages of opening. Subsequent brews will have different nuances and tastes because the leaves will be at different stages of unfurling. This is what makes Oolong such a complex tea in terms of flavours.
This type of rolling and the rolling I will describe for Jasmine Dragon Pearls below is not to be confused with rolling teas as the catalyst for starting the oxidation process required to make cha such as Black, Oolong or Puerh.
Jasmine Dragon Pearls are exactly that, OK not exactly from Dragons, but the little balls do resemble pearls. The same will happen as does with the Oolong leaves, once the pearls are submerged in water they will open up to reveal multiple green tea leaves.
The process used to roll these leaves is a little different because each individual pearl is made by wrapping it in tiny pieces of paper which later have to be removed. It is a long process which accounts for the sometimes high price of Jasmine Pearls.
So there you have it, a little introduction into tea rolling. I still have a lot to learn and while I have seen the Jasmine Pearls being rolled I have not yet seen this process for Oolong tea but I hope that one day I will!

You can explore Chinese teas from LuLin Teas here or click if you want to learn more about Oolong Tea or Jasmine Dragon Pearls.

Drinking Tea Is Comforting By Tiffany F Williams

Drinking tea brings me different types of comfort. The comfort stems from my memories of when I fell in love with the tea. I fell in love with chai latte when I was in college. I fell in love with Japanese green teas when I lived in Japan after college. These teas play an important role in calming me down and keeping me focused.

When I lived in Japan, I visited Starbucks to cure my homesickness. I would order grande soy chai lattes. Made in Tokyo Japan, it tasted the same as made in Los Angeles. In college, I hung out with my new friends in Starbucks. I did not drink coffee, so I ordered a chai latte. The texture, aroma, and flavor comforted me. Spicy masala spices blended with Assam black tea and infused with soy milk. I spent hours building strong relationships, drinking chai. I missed that when I moved to Japan alone. I missed bonding with new people.

Living in Japan, each day I faced language and culture barriers. Learning new ways to behave and perform simple tasks sometimes became overwhelming. Making eye contact with strangers was considered rude and aggressive behavior. I spent my days looking at no one and speaking to no one. Commuting on the train, I read several books and read the English newspapers. When I felt especially lonely or homesick, I would buy a chai latte at Starbucks. Sipping the brew evoked memories of my friends and home.

I lived in Japan for a year. Over time I adopted a few Japanese customs, finding comfort in their rituals and customs. Japanese people lived regimented lives. They caught the same train to work, sitting in the same car and next to the same person. I tried to adopt this mindset. I wanted to fit in. Eventually, I chose which customs to practice. One custom I practiced every day--drinking tea. Everyone drank tea all day in Japan. My tea background was limited to herbal teas and soy chai lattes.

My tea journey began at work. I taught English in cram schools. The school secretary offered me a cup of Sencha, a steamed green tea, every day. I drank it because it would be rude to refuse. She was the only staff member who spoke to me. I appreciated her kindness. Intuitively, I knew not to ask for sugar. I learned to like the sweet grassy flavor.

I have fond memories of drinking my tea, with the leaves in my cup and preparing my lessons. It took me a while to realize the green tea gave me the boast of physical and mental energy I needed to teach my lessons. Making English fun and interesting to young Japanese children was challenging. After a few months, the aroma and taste of Sencha became familiar.

Recently, I researched Sencha's history. I learned Sencha means 'boiled tea'. For centuries, the royalty and rich Japanese primarily drank expensive powdered tea called Matcha. Because Sencha was a leaf tea, it was cheaper and widely available. In the late 17th century, Japanese tea scholars translated tea brewing etiquette publications from Chinese into Japanese. Common Japanese people had access to the wonderful art of brewing and serving tea. Japanese people felt the ability to brew tea gave you a sophistication.

Now I drink Sencha in Los Angeles while I work. I remember how drinking green tea helped ease my nervousness and helped me focus. I still like to drink chai lattes with friends.

Get That Perfect Night Of Sleep With A Cup Of Tea By Scott Stepan

If you want to sleep soundly, don't bother with coffee, the caffeine keeps you awake. While regular green, black or white tea contains caffeine that boosts your system, it also contains theanine, a substance that acts as a natural relaxant, as well as benefiting your immune system. It overrides the wake-up effect of caffeine and relaxes the person drinking it. That makes tea perfect for stressful situations, as well as right before bed.
The relaxing effects of the theanine in tea are also beneficial when you don't want to go to sleep, but simply relieve stress. It's a perfect drink for the office or anywhere you need a little soothing relaxation. While the theanine overrides the effects of the caffeine in the tea and relaxes you, it doesn't leave you drowsy.
Specific types of herbal tea can help you sleep like a baby, particularly any type with chamomile or lavender can help you sleep through the night peacefully. Of course, not every manufacturer offers special chamomile, linden or lavender tea, but several, such as Lipton, Bigelow and Stash offer herbal teas that don't contain caffeine to keep you awake at night.
A cup of herbal tea or decaffeinated regular tea provides a warm soothing comfort that relaxes you. The small amount of relaxation may be just the perfect cure for insomnia or simply restlessness that keeps you awake. Bigelow offers Cozy Chamomile tea, which has been a century old remedy for insomnia and known for its ability to promote sleep. Chamomile also soothes the digestive tract, in the event the food you ate at supper is keeping you awake and calms muscle spasms as well. The glycine levels of chamomile tea provide a nerve relaxant and act as a mild sedative. Not only is the tea good for sleep, it also benefits those with menstrual cramps as well.
Another great herbal tea from Bigelow is "Sweet Dreams." This herbal blend has rose hips, spices, chamomile, peppermint and orange blossoms to create the perfect blend for a great night's sleep. These soothing caffeine-free teas help relax you, while providing delicious natural flavors.
If you simply love the flavor of tea, but find you're one of the few extremely susceptible to the effects of caffeine, even the amount in tea, and want a great nights sleep, don't forget many tea companies provide tea in a decaffeinated form. You still get all the soothing delicious flavor of tea with all the relaxing effects of theanine, but without the after effects of staying awake all night.

Are you a business in the Portland area looking for a Portland Tea company that provides tea and coffee service? Please follow the link to Gourmet Coffee Service Inc - we would be happy to serve you!

Super Food Teas By Chloe Brotheridge

Tea is the new coffee. There, I said it. Now, I don't want to offend any hard core coffee fans here, but for me at least, and for many other people, coffee just isn't a suitable option. Sure, there may be health benefits to drinking coffee, such as reducing the risk of diabetes and Parkinson's, but there are also negative health effects, such as hypertension, jitters, even worsened PMT (coffee contains much more caffeine than tea). For me, the intense withdrawal headaches I experienced if I skipped my daily coffee were evidence enough that coffee was having a drug like effect on me, and it was time to give it up. I haven't looked back.
Maybe you'd like to add a bit more variety and additional health benefits into your hot beverage drinking routine, you want to lose weight, or swap those lattes for something calorie free (see here for the shocking amounts in some coffees). If so, I wanted to let you know about different types of tea that are traditionally drunk in around the world and are gaining popularity over here for their taste and health benefits.
First up is Yerbe Mate - drunk in huge quantities in South America, it often draws comparisons with green tea. It has been shown to be reduce bad cholesterol, protect the liver and to benefit the cardiovascular system. Lifestyle hacker extraordinaire Tim Ferris ranks Yerbe mate as his #1 favourite beverage (and he's has some good ones!) and credits it's 3 kinds of stimulants (caffeine like coffee, theophylline like green tea, and theobromine like cocoa ) as helping him create his first best selling book, The 4 Hour Work Week. It's gaining popularity with people who are following the latest intermittent fasting diets, as it effectively suppresses your appetite, keeping you feeling fuller for longer and aiding weight loss.
Next is good old Green Tea; rich in polyphenols (antioxidants) that are shown to reduce fat deposits in rats fed a high fat diet, prevent skin ageing, cancer and heart disease. Studies in humans show a small effect on weight loss. No, it's not a magic bullet or the holy grail of fat burning; but it's the little things that we do that add up, to make a big difference to our waist lines.
A further interesting study on women, showed that green tea, when combined with resistance exercises, reduced body fat, waist circumference, and triacylglyceride levels and increased lean body mass and muscle strength. I like to drink Jasmine green tea, as it has a softer, floral flavour. Most people recommend 2-3 cups a day, but the optimal dose is yet to be full researched. I drink mine before a work out for a clean boost of energy.
Don't be put off by the smell of Pu'erh tea (pronounced 'poo'air'. Yes, really). It's been described as 'barnyard like'; but the taste of the tea is actually rather good. This highly fermented Chinese tea has been shown (in rats albeit) to reduce fat storage and reduce body weight. It's also thought to be the tea of choice for none other than Victoria Beckham, who uses it to maintain her tiny frame. It has a lot of the same anti cancer and anti heart disease benefits as green tea, and can often be bought in combination with Yerbe Mate as a kind of super-weight-loss tea blend.
Finally, comes Matcha tea - of Japanese tea ceremony fame. This is a powdered green tea rules supreme in the antioxidant stakes and is said to contain 10x more antioxidants than regular green tea. Drinking matcha is said to increase fat burning by 4x and especially so during exercise. Advocates of matcha will tell you that it gives you a clean boost of energy, which, unlike coffee, results in no jitters of energy crash afterwards. Although you will have to experience this for yourself to be the judge.

http://www.easywaytochange.co.uk for more info on hypnotherapy London and losing weight.

Selecting The Right Tea For You By Scott Stepan

There are all types of tea on the market, from herbal to traditional tea. When you select a tea, you might want it for a specific flavor or even a specific health property it offers. For instance, all regular tea has antioxidant properties; some have more than others do. In the traditional types of tea, you have black, white, green and oolong variants. Some have a stronger taste than other types have, some have more caffeine and some have more flavonoids, polyphenols and epigallocatchins, all substances beneficial to the body. The difference occurs with the processing of the tea and the age of the leaves when picked.
Black tea is the most processed variant. It also has the strongest and most bitter taste of all kinds. While it has the least amount of antioxidants, it still has a high content. In fact, there is approximately eight times the amount of polyphenols in black tea as there are in fruits and vegetables. Black variant retains its flavor far longer than other forms of tea. If you enjoy your tea bolder, black is a good choice.
Oolong tea goes through a small amount of fermentation, compared to the black type. It has more antioxidants and is slightly milder than its black counterpart is. Green variant is very popular right now, particularly since the discovery of all the health benefits it contains. While all tea is rich in antioxidants, green ones has the most. It has a milder flavor than black or oolong does, but not nearly as mild as white tea, which also doesn't go through fermentation, just like the green variant. But unlike green tea, it is made from more immature leaves of the Camellia Sinensis bush.
Of course, you might like something of a different nature and enjoy an herbal tea. Herbal teas may include leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant---what we normally call tea---and the leaves of other herbs as well. However, most herbal tea contains only herbs and sometimes spices and fruit. These are true tisane or herbal teas. You'll find delicious blends that are mixtures of fruit flavors such as peach or raspberry. Others may be minty good or have chamomile to help you relax.
The most frequently sold type of tea is the traditional black tea. However, green tea is now stepping up in popularity. You can purchase tea that's decaffeinated and even some mixed with spices and fruit flavors, such as Constant Comment, that offers not only a flavorful taste, but a delicious scent as well. Luckily, you don't have to choose just one tea to be a favorite; you can select a different type every day and still not drink a duplicate choice for several weeks.

Are you a business in the Portland area looking for a Portland Tea that provides tea and coffee service? Please follow the link to Office Coffee Service Inc - we would be happy to serve you!

Artificial Sweeteners: Facts VS Myths By George F. Tohme

Satisfi Tea is the only green or black tea drink that's high in fiber and no sugar added. Despite some occasional unfounded claims by some individuals and professionals that artificial sweeteners may not be good for health for one reason or another, facts are that all sugar substitutes available on the market are safe for human consumption according to all health organizations including the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic association, the Mayo Clinic and all others. Satisfi Tea is sweetened with natural fruit flavors and a tiny amount of Sucralose in order to keep calories and sugar down.
Facts are that artificial sweeteners can be part of a healthy lifestyle when consumed in balanced daily amounts to replace sugar in calorie laden hot or cold beverages, baked goods, puddings, salad dressings or sprinkled over desserts and fruits. Facts are that replacing the excess calories from sugar with Sucralose, Stevia or any other brand can contribute to helping people manage their weight and cut down on unwanted calories.
Facts are that recent clinical trials have found that "sugar is toxic" and the excess of it is a major contributor to obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases. I've covered this topic thoroughly which includes credible references in my article titled "How Toxic Is Sugar?"
It is also a fact that to date, there has not been a single well established "prospective peer reviewed study" that's been published in any reputable professional medical journal in the US or around the world linking artificial sweeteners with any health risks.
It is a myth that artificial sweeteners are harmful, may cause cancer or other diseases. It is also a myth that you can lose weight or have great health by just consuming artificial sweeteners while maintaining a physically inactive lifestyle, consuming excess calories from refined sugary, fatty and salty snacks and beverages and continuing to smoke (if you're a smoker).
If a doctor conducts a study in his clinic for a year which includes 20 people who consume artificial sweeteners and if during that period two persons happen to develop cancer, the conclusion is not that sugar substitutes cause cancer. This is definitely not a well-established peer reviewed clinical trial and its results are flawed and not conclusive.
Moreover, there's a myth about "natural sweeteners" such as Stevia Verses "artificial sweeteners" such as Sucralose. Below is a statement from the Mayo Clinic clarifying this mind boggling issue?
"Natural claims Stevia VS Sucralose:
The topic of sugar substitutes can be confusing. One problem is that the terminology is often open to interpretation. For instance, some manufacturers call their sweeteners "natural" even though they're processed or refined, as is the case with stevia preparations. And some artificial sweeteners are derived from naturally occurring substances - sucralose comes from sugar, for example."
- Mayo Clinic
Also, here's the link to the entire Mayo Clinic article and position on artificial sweeteners (copy link and paste on your browser"):
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/artificial-sweeteners/MY00073
Artificial sweeteners have been around for decades and are in tens of thousands of products in the US and worldwide and if there were any health risks to people then they could have been easily discernible. Satisfi Tea was created based on these and other solid and reliable clinically established facts.
The only two instances where you must not consume artificial sweeteners is if you have known allergies to any of them. You must not consume Aspartame if you can't consume Phenylketoneurea which is a rare condition developed at birth.
Finally, there was a study showing that artificial sweeteners maybe counter- productive to obese people because it can stimulate their appetite, gets them to eat more and didn't contribute to weight loss efforts. Well, people interpreted the results of this study inaccurately and during my pharmacy consultations I would hear some of my patients say that they don't want to use sugar substitutes because they heard in the news that artificial sweeteners cause obesity.
First of all, that study was conducted on rabbits and not on humans where those rabbits were forced to consume 10 times the dose with respect to their weight for an extended period of time. The rabbits in this study had a higher appetite, consumed more food and gained more weight. Technically speaking the results of such a study conducted on animals can't extrapolate to humans and the amounts of artificial sweeteners used were gargantuan and not within normal ranges.
The moral of this article and the actual take home message is to consume everything in moderation including artificial sweeteners and when consumed in regular daily amounts, sweeteners can help us reduce the intake amount of sugar and non-nutritious calories and can be part of a healthy lifestyle. You must also seek to make favorable lifestyle choices, increase physical activity and make balanced healthy food, snack and beverage choices in order to manage your body weight and avoid or manage lifestyle related chronic disease such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. More on these topics in other articles.
Satisfi Tea Is a functional beverage which means that includes nutrients that are great for health such as heart healthy green or black tea, Acai Berry which is high in antioxidants, fiber and Omega-3 and Aloe Vera which is known for its tissue healing properties. Satisfi Tea Is a balance of great nutrient and great taste.

George F. Tohme, the founder of Satisfi Tea, is a pharmacist graduate of the Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA in 1987 and currently practicing in Texas. He is certified in diabetes and cholesterol management, smoking cessation, nutrition guidance, and a certified personal trainer. He is a lifestyle makeover expert and conquered his own 17-year battle with obesity. He is the author of Lifestyle Makeover for Diabetics and Pre-Diabetics, Lifestyle Makeover for All Couch Potatoes, Lifestyle Makeover for All Tobacco Users, Lifestyle Makeover: Sex, Stress, and Alcohol

How To Store Your Loose Leaf Tea By Hannah McGimpsey

In the perfect world the loose tea you buy would come packaged in a way that is most appropriate to the tea itself. At least packaged in a way that will optimise freshness but unfortunately this is not always the case. Some companies will chose convenience (for them not you!), or cost over what is actually best for your tea. This really gets me going when the likes of delicate White Chinese tea is concerned.
Ideally your loose tea (OK teabags too I guess!) should be stored in opaque containers. This will prevent any sun damage to your product. If you tea comes in a glass jar or anything transparent I would recommend decanting it into a metal caddy or tin.
Even when it's safely stored where no light can get through it is still good practice to keep your Chinese teas away from direct sunlight. The reasoning behind this is all about the temperature your teas are stored at. If kept in the line of the sun, or in a hot or humid area the tea will deteriorate quicker.
Humidity can be a big issue but so can other scents in the air. Tea will naturally absorb other scents (just look at naturally scented jasmine dragon pearls for example) and so your caddy or container should not only be opaque but also airtight. This will prevent any other scents affecting the flavour. You would not want your fresh spring green tea to suddenly taste like the smoked haddock you cooked for your tea the night before.
Some loose teas such as lightly oxidised Oolongs can be kept in the fridge or freezer to preserve flavour. This generally happens in more humid countries where high temperatures and high moisture content can cause the tea to deteriorate faster.
Some teas are a bit different and it is actually recommended to store them in more humid settings. This is only for Puerh from Yunnan in China. It is post fermented and so it is actually god for moisture to get to it.
In general it is best to check what the vendor recommends for their specific product but if they don't specify you can use the summary below as general guidelines.
Summary of Guidelines

• Keep your loose tea in containers where no light can get in
• Ensure the container is also air tight
• Or at least keep it away from smelly things
• Sometimes you can put it in the fridge or freezer
• Always check the packaging or ask the company you bought the tea from

LuLin Teas specialise in a wide range of Chinese tea. Visit their online tea shop to see a full range Chinese Green teas, Oolong, Puerh and Herbal teas.

A Short History of the Tea Service Set By Joelle Grubb

Tea, being the most popular drink in the world, is said to have originated in China and so also the tea set. The Chinese prefer to drink their tea from ceramic cups without handles; a small drinking bowl around which you could 'cup' your hands. The first tea cups were small enough to be taken up by two or three fingers and held about two or three tablespoons of tea. It wasn't until the 17th century that the saucer was invented, so the cup, being too hot to be held in the fingers, could be rested upon it in between sips. The saucer has its own unique history of use, not only being a place to rest the cup but was often used to pour the tea into allowing it to cool down more quickly. When placed on top of the cup, the saucer is said to aid the brewing process.
In the early history of tea drinking, tea cakes (compressed tea leaves) and other spices were placed directly into the cup and water poured over the top. It was not until the Song Dynasty (960-1279 A.D.) that the teapot was invented. By the time the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) was at its height loose tea leaves were being used instead of tea cakes and this produced paler liquor which was much admired. Teaware was then designed to make the most of this delicate color and so was born the beautiful blue and white porcelain for which the Ming Dynasty is renowned.
With the arrival of tea to Europe, was also the tea set. In Europe tea was first the domain of royalty and women, and ceramic, handle-less cups and saucers were used. In the mid 1700's, to prevent the ladies burning their delicate fingers, a man named Robert Adams invented tea cups with handles. The English of course preferred milk and sugar with their tea and so Mr Adams obliged them by creating little milk and sugar pots to match their cups. In keeping with the culture of refined English society, he had the sets made of fine porcelain which is strong yet quite translucent when held up to the light. It was the English who then developed fine bone china by adding crushed animal bone ash to the porcelain making it more durable.
Porcelain endured as the medium from which to drink tea due to its conductivity and the fact that it left no lingering taste from previously held liquids. Its beauty and ornamental value caused it to quickly become a status symbol. These 'useful decencies' were as much the object of tea parties as the tea itself. Decorated porcelain tea sets made up of tea cups and saucers, 'creamers' and sugar bowls together with the teapot make up what is now known as the English Tea Service Set. Typically, an English tea service set of the 1700's was presented on a tray, which was then known as a 'tea table'. These sets were normally used and proudly displayed at high tea (tea served later in the day). English tea cups were the object of many fine and artistic decorations and were often trimmed in gold. With the advent of tea becoming more widely spread among the classes, tea sets in varying grades were now to be found in almost every English home.
Whole tea service sets, tea cups, teapots and fine china have always been fascinating objects for collecting, with many also becoming heirlooms. Often given as gifts for special occasions, they can pass on the important stories of a family's history. The different styles over the centuries distinguish the cultures and their differing tea drinking preferences and customs. Next time you are taking time out for tea, think about the history of the cup you are drinking from or imagine what stories it might take with it to the next generation.

Often given as gifts for special occasions and often becoming heirlooms, tea service sets can pass on the important stories of a family's history. Next time you are taking time out for tea, think about the history of the cup you are drinking from or imagine what stories it might take with it to the next generation. If you're looking for a special gift visit our website for a

10 Tea Facts That I Bet You Didn't Know! By Hannah McGimpsey

So sit back, relax and see what new things you learn about tea.

1. All tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant - that includes black tea, green teas, oolong, puerh and white teas. They all come from the same plant but there are variations in the plant. For example, Oolong comes from the broad leaf version and each leaf has a serrated edge whereas the leaves for greens or whites are smooth.


2. Up until around the 1950's most tea was drunk as loose-leaf tea and not in the form of teabags. These were introduced to the market by PG Tips as a hassle saving device and quickly became popular. Before that though around 95% of tea was loose tea.


3. There are two legends about how the first cup of tea came about. One originating in China is about an Emperor who, while sat under a tea bush, was boiling some water and didn't notice the leaves fall in. When the water was ready he drank the brew and so tea was born. Another legend hailing from India speaks of a prince who after discovered Buddhism travels to China and chewed on tea leaves to keep himself awake. In one version of the story he is so upset when he falls asleep that when he wakes he cuts off his eyelashes and throws them in the ground where the first Camellia Sinensis plant then grows.


4. Tea is said to be the second most consumed beverage in the world. Second of course only to water. Now to me that says a lot! No mention of coffee in that statistic!


5. Prices for Chinese tea can range from a few pounds per kilo to thousands of pounds per kilo. And it can change year on year. If a certain loose leaf is trendy or popular, prices can sky-rocket from year to another.


6. Catherine Braganza was a Portuguese Princess and she is attributed with bringing tea into England. Apparently upon departing her ship from Portugal she asked for a cuppa and was presented with English Ale instead. Needless to say, she fainted and the same mistake wasn't made again. She became so popular that women would copy what she liked and this included drinking tea.


7. Afternoon tea originated in England when Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford began taking a drink and a snack in her chambers between breakfast and the evening meal. The craze soon took off with women of the time using it as a chance to catch up with each other much like today!


8. Puerh is a special Chinese tea that is post fermented. It is only grown and processed in Yunnan, China and is the only tea that improves and gains value as it gets older!


9. Matcha is a special type of Japanese Green tea that include the stem as well as the leaves and is ground up into a fine powder. It is said to have 137x the amount of antioxidants as other green teas.


10. In the 1600's the tax on tea in Britain was too high for the poorer classes and so they took to smuggling it into the country. Demand was so high that sometimes tea lovers were fooled into buying leaves that had been mixed with sheep dung!

Learn more about the wonderful world of Chinese tea and shop for all the green, white, oolong and Puerh teas you want at LuLin Teas.

How to Use Leftover Green Tea in Your Household By Barry Y. Smith

Green tea has many amazing benefits to your health. It can promote weight loss, lower cholesterol, fight tooth decay, regulate blood pressure, fight bacteria and viruses and maintain skin health. Studies have also shown that it can even prevent and manage heart disease and diabetes while keeping esophageal cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's at bay. (Whew! That was a mouthful)
But did you also know that green tea isn't only for drinking? If you are convinced of the many health benefits this tea has to offer, than you may be interested to know that rather than throwing tea bags away after you're done letting them seep, you can use the leftovers for numerous household purposes. Here are some of them:
- Eliminate odor in your refrigerator - Foods with pungent or strong odors may leave behind traces of their scent even after you've removed them. To effectively get rid of any odor in your fridge, place sun-dried tea leaves inside and allow them to absorb the smells.
- Fertilize your plants with tea water - To make your plants healthy and lush without the use of toxic fertilizers and chemicals, water your plants with tea. Immerse some tea bags or leaves in water for a few days then spritz your plans with the water. Be sure to remove tea leaves prior to spraying as rotten leaves may attract pests.
- Remove new wooden furniture smell - Although some homeowners like the scent of new wooden furniture, not everyone shares the same olfactory preference. To remove their sometimes musky smell, wipe the surfaces a couple of times with tea bags.
- Reduce humidity in your home - Green tea leaves or bags can absorb excess moisture in areas that may experience dampness like in closets or cupboards. This is an effective way to prevent molds from forming early on as well. Make sure u dry them out first by leaving them in an area outside of your home where they can get a lot of sun.
- Add green tea to an herbal incense pot - If you can't get enough of the aroma of green tea, why not make your home smell just as good? If you use incense pots to add fragrance to your home or mask odors, add a few tea leaves to your concoction. This provides a wonderful soothing scent.
As you can see, with green tea not only are you keeping up with a great health regimen, you're also able to use environmental and cost-effective methods to maintain your household.

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Learn More About Where Chinese Tea Comes From By Hannah McGimpsey

So where does tea come from? There are many producing countries across the planet mostly focused in the sub tropics. For this article I am going to delve into the world of Chinese tea and learn more about some of the most famous tea producing regions of the country.
Fujian - This Chinese province is situation on the South East of the country on the coast. It is the closest province in China to Taiwan. The most processed Chinese tea from Fujian are Oolong teas. These are made using a broadleaf variety of the Camellia Sinensis plant and are only partially oxidised. The level of oxidation per type of Oolong can vary by up to 60%.
The landscape of Fujian is beautiful and has been described as 1 part water, 1 part farmland and 8 parts mountain due to the large proportion of mountain range in the province.
The dialect spoken in Fujian is Fuzhou (also the name of the capital of the province) and the natives refer to themselves as Fujianese.
It is one of Chinas richest provinces.
Zhejiang - This is another coastal Chinese province situated on the East coast of China. One of the worlds (if not the) most famous Chinese teas comes from Zhejiang and is known Dragonwell tea.
Dragonwell is grown only in Hangzhou which is the capital of Zhejiang and is always number 1 in top ten lists of Chinese tea. A myth surrounds the tea of a dragon who brought water to a village during a drought and saved the crop therefore having the tea named after it. Genuine Dragonwell from the original plants is extremely rare and never makes it out of China.
Zhejiang and especially Hangzhou is known for its beauty and is a popular tourist attraction. Visitors from all over the world will go to Hangzhou to visit the famous West Lake.
Zhejiang was only created in 1368 when the Ming Dynasty conquered the Mongols.
A lot of green teas are produced all over Zhejiang, the most famous is obviously in Hangzhou but some green teas are grown in Anji too.
Yunnan - this southerly Chinese province borders Laos, Burma and Vietnam making it quite a poor area.
All Puerh teas come from Yunnan - Puerh can only be Puer if it is grown and processed in Yunnan. Puerh is a special type of post fermented tea that unlike others, actually gets better with age.
I hope that you agree that it is beneficial to know a little bit about where our food and drinks come from and that you enjoyed this article!

Find out more about where your Chinese tea comes from by visiting LuLin Teas - read about Oolong tea from Fujian here.

How to Care for Your China Teaware By Joelle Grubb

Fine china teaware is precious and you will want to give it the care it deserves. It's a fact that tea stains if left for any length of time, so the best way to keep your china from staining is to wash it as soon as you can. Try at least to not leave it overnight - prevention is the best care strategy. However, do not feel that you must rush away from your guests to wash dishes. There are a few easy ways that stains can be removed from your teaware and it will be kept in tip top condition for the long life it was meant to endure.
The safest way to wash china is by hand. Do not wash your china in the dishwasher unless specified by the manufacturer. For normal washing place a tea towel on the bottom of the sink and fill it with warm water using a mild dish washing liquid. Place the items in the water after the faucet has stopped running and push it aside. This prevents the likelihood of the running water causing the cups to knock against each other or you accidentally knocking them against the faucet. Do not overfill the sink with dishes and wipe them with a sponge or dish cloth; avoid using abrasive cloths. It is traditional to never wash your teapot in soapy water but rather to just rinse it so as not to have any chemical residue inside the teapot which may affect the brewing and subsequent flavor. Any staining can be removed by the methods outlined below.
There are generally two methods you can try to remove tea stains from your tea cups. Personally, I avoid using any chemical cleaners for any food or beverage receptacles. Natural cleaners do just as fine a job. Place about half a teaspoon of baking soda into the cup and rub with a damp cloth. If the stains are stubborn, you may need to do it a couple of times. The other method is to use is a mixture of 50% each of table salt and vinegar. This works well for stains that are on the bottom of the cup as you will need to let it soak for a while before rinsing.
If any of your tea cups happen to have hairline cracks, you can try soaking them in milk overnight. Don't you remember your mother telling you to soak a broken tooth in milk until you could get to the dentist? The same principle applies. Some china owners have soaked their china in milk and heated on low for about an hour. You could try this if soaking it in milk at room temperature overnight doesn't quite do the job.
You china tea set is one of your most prized possessions and a reminder of many happy events. Keeping it in good condition and stain free will ensure a perfect display and proper care will enable it to be passed on to someone special.

China tea service sets are just the thing to really make your afternoon tea special and are perfect gift for weddings, engagements or special birthdays. View our large range of beautiful china teaware at http://teatimetraditions.com/

We're sure you will find something you love!

The Difference Between Afternoon Tea, High and Low Tea. By Joelle Grubb

As a child, visiting my grandmother was always a treat. Usually arriving for lunch we would eat as much as we could, knowing that we wouldn't get fed again until afternoon tea time which was strictly 3.30pm. That is a long time to wait for a child! But it was well worth the wait (as grandmother well knew). Tea was brought into the living room and served on a low table. Plates of scones with jam and whipped cream, cupcakes and cookies were all set out. She had worked hard! It was all properly done with a full tea service set. This is where my love for tea cups and teapots began. It was fascinating to see grandmother's array of tea cups and teapots and the beautiful florals that adorned them.
This experience of afternoon tea is synonymous with 'low tea'. 'Low' referring to the fact it was served on a low table and at early to mid afternoon. The origin of low tea in England is attributed to Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford in the early 1800's. It was common for the upper classes to dine late in the evening around 8pm, so it was a long time from the midday meal until then. Anna, experiencing that 'sinking feeling' that comes from mid-afternoon hunger, decided to be served with a light snack to carry her through the afternoon. Not wanting to spend this time alone, she quickly invited friends to join her and so began the tradition of afternoon tea. When she moved to London she continued the practice and the trend soon caught on. Tea was served at around 4pm, just prior to the fashionable Hyde Park promenade, which made it a highly social event.
The term 'high tea' has some ambiguity attached to it. Originally it was the tea time taken later in the day by the working class upon the arrival home from work, at around 5-6pm, since they did not have the luxury to stop at mid-afternoon. Virtually a main meal, it was the equivalent to what most of us would term 'dinner' and included meat and vegetables. In modern times high tea has become synonymous with afternoon tea, with the word 'high' being associated with high or gracious society and formality. With mostly indulgent fare such as cakes, scones, small sandwiches and the like served with delicate teaware, it is considered to be somewhat of a luxury to stop, sit and sip and take in light conversation.
Whatever way you look at it, high or low tea, let's just settle for afternoon tea shall we? It's a great excuse to use that gorgeous new tea service set and get together with friends. That's the wonderful thing about afternoon tea, isn't it, the time it takes to brew the tea and sip it from delicate tea cups is the time we need to invest in friendships and make memories.
The combination of tea and time has a calming and civilizing effect on us and has contributed to the better of our sensibilities and advancement of culture. As long as tea is around, we will take time. Time to sup, time to converse and time to sooth.

Afternoon tea with friends and family is just not 'afternoon tea' without beautiful china. Whether its the charm of mismatched tea cups or the beauty of a full bone china tea service set, you can accomplish either with our array of china teaware. Visit Tea Time Traditions to find just what you are wanting for your tea party. http://teatimetraditions.com/

Green Tea and Black Tea: A Simple Cup of Ancient Culture By Sean Fay

According to Chinese lore, the first tea infusion was discovered by the legendary Emperor Shennong, who also taught the people agriculture and herbal medicine. The drink was discovered accidentally when wild tea leaves fell into boiling water - when the Emperor tasted it he found it delightful and began the tradition of tea drinking. Written records confirm that the Chinese were drinking this beverage by 1000 BCE, mostly for its medicinal value. By the 7th century CE, tea was drunk as a social beverage for pleasure.
All green and black teas come from the same source, camellia sinensis, the tea tree. The difference in flavor and appearance comes from different methods of harvesting and processing the tea. Green tea is a mature leaf, harvested and pan roasted to preserve the flavor and color. This is the most popular tea in China. Green tea is an important health tonic in Chinese medicine, and is growing in popularity in the Western world. Scientific research has confirmed the antioxidant content of green tea. Antioxidants are sought after to fight the effects of aging and improve the immune system. The mild caffeine content of green tea is energizing, but much less acidic than coffee. Green tea comes in many different grades and varieties. Sencha is a smooth, refreshing Japanese green tea, with a beautiful color and cut to the leaf. Gunpowder is a dark, eye-opening Chinese green tea which is rolled into a traditional pinhead shape. We recommend steeping green tea for 2 - 3 minutes in hot water. Don't boil the leaves! It will become very bitter. Good quality green teas can be steeped several times with the same leaves. Just add a little extra time to each extra brew.
Black tea is most popular in England, Europe, and the United States. Black tea comes from mature leaves, which are then dried in the sun and allowed to oxidize. This process changes the appearance and flavor of the leaves, giving a rich, smooth taste. Many black teas are grown in India, a practice that flourished during the rule of the British Empire, and remains an important activity today. Varieties such as Darjeeling and Earl Grey are traditional British styles of tea that have become very popular in the United States. Black tea has many of the same antioxidants as green tea, though some are lost during the drying process. Still, the health benefits of black tea, especially compared to coffee or soda, are reputed to be excellent. Black tea is versatile, and is the basis of many coffeehouse favorites such as chai lattes - a drink which can be easily made at home by adding some Indian Spice to a strong black tea such as Assam, and then adding milk to the finished brew. For most black teas, we recommend brewing for 3-5 minutes in hot, not boiling, water. Ultimately, the amount of time you steep the tea is a matter of personal preference, and with a little experience you will find the perfect strength for your palate.
Whether you choose green tea or black tea, you will be participating in one of the oldest and most revered cultural practices in human history. Modern technology has yet to improve upon the simple pleasure of steeping leaves in hot water, but it has made tea and tea culture accessible to people all over the world. Exotic and unique teas, once the exclusive province of Chinese kings and emperors, are now available for everyone to enjoy and reap the natural health benefits.

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The Positive Facts About Oolong Tea And Weight Loss By David S Sean

Drinking tea as an aid to losing weight has grown to be a trend in the slimming and dieting world. While most of the focus is given towards the weight reduction factors of green tea, oolong tea actually is a more effective option. Here's the main reason why.
Scientific Facts about Oolong Tea Health Benefits
For a long time period, Chinese health hobbyists have recognized that there is a correlation between consuming oolong and fat loss. And in recent years, a few studies have uncovered numerous scientific facts behind these claims.
In the 1990s, a Chinese scientific study demonstrated that regular use of oolong for six weeks was the cause for the reduction in obesity. The actual increase in fat oxidation by drinking this kind of tea was truly incredible.
To shed more light on this particular ancient Chinese belief linking this tea to weight loss, the United States Department of Agriculture did their own survey on the energy expenditure of those who drank oolong and those people who drank plain water for three days.
The research implies that those who drank the tea had a much larger energy expenditure and fat oxidation percentage rate (at least 3% more), getting rid of almost 67 additional calories every single day as compared to the water drinkers.
Yet another study on this tea was performed in 2003 by Japanese medical specialists. Their data points out that the polyphenols in oolong tea, which are higher than in green tea, are substances that have been found to greatly increase the speed of fat burning.
The research has also revealed a tremendous rise in energy expenditure within two hours from the time the tea was consumed, thus promoting the use of fat as a source of energy. As a result, it concluded that this tea is really a fantastic tool with regards to maintaining and losing weight.
Diet and Oolong Tea
In an effort to appreciate how oolong will be helpful in weight management, it's certainly worth knowing the fundamental procedures of going on a diet.
Commonly, dieting is simply about calories taken in and calories being burned. Ideally, you want to have a faster metabolism or level at which your body burns fat and to also decrease the amount of calories coming in. We all assume that a highly effective and meaningful diet plan includes correct workouts and balanced meals.
The Body Weight Loss Link
The two leading strategies to reduce food related body-weight concerns are increasing energy expenditure and deterring the entire body's absorption of carbohydrates and fats.
These objectives can be best accomplished by drinking oolong considering that it carries so many beneficial compounds that raise the body's metabolism, and for that reason, increases energy expenditure.
In Depth: Oolong Tea Benefits for Losing Weight

• Oolong gives you the level of caffeine which assists in weight loss.

The beauty of this tea is that it contains an extra natural compound, called as polyphenol. Actually, polyphenol can be helpful in limiting the harmful impact of your fatty diet and assist your body in targeting fat and reducing cholesterol.
Clinical tests have revealed a considerable improvement in metabolism degrees, with participants within one research study burning up an extra 67 calories every day when using oolong. It demonstrated that fat loss increased by 12% over drinking just plain water.

• Drinking tea in the afternoon can eliminate those cravings or hunger pangs and successfully cope with the afternoon dynamism decline.

If you wish to give attention to weight reduction by shifting to an oolong tea diet, emphasizing and keeping an eye on the food you eat, as well as engaging in exercise will surely assist you in meeting your own weight loss goals.
Take one cup of oolong tea a half an hour or perhaps an hour prior to your exercise, walking, or yoga session and you will definitely gain rewards.

• Oolong tea is more efficient than the usual green tea and actually drops over 150% more unwanted cholesterol and fatty cells than green tea.

This, besides the concept that oolong tea is among the most validated Chinese healthy teas, and it makes weight reducing less difficult. As a result, whether you wish to drop just a couple of pounds or shed a lot of weight, the oolong tea makes a great choice.
Indeed, it's true that if you decide to exchange your habit from a regular cappuccino to a cup of oolong tea, the result will be that you are not merely lowering the calories, but are also increasing your body's metabolic process. This approach certainly can result in a double-whammy effect when talking about shedding some extra fat.

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What Is White Tea? Types of Chinese Tea By Julian Andrews

White has become very popular recently due to its health benefits, but still it's not so well known as green tea. It is maybe even more easy to drink because of its light delicate taste and a little sweeter than other Chinese teas. One more thing I personally appreciate is that it doesn't have the grassy taste like green tea.
White tea (Chinese pinyin; báichá) is grown and harvested primarily in China, mostly in Fujian province, but also in Jiangxi and Yunnan. This tea is made from the buds and leaves of the same plant as other Chinese teas; Camellia sinensis. The leaves and buds are allowed to wither outside before they are lightly processed to prevent oxidation.
The term "white tea" derives from the delicate silvery-white hairs on the unopened buds of the tea bush. This gives the plant this whitish appearance. The tea brew, however is not white, but pale yellow to light brown. The plant Camellia (Chinese pinyin; Cháhuā, meaning tea flower) has mainly two varieties used for tea production; sinensis as mentioned above and Camellia sinensis var. assamica (Assam tea grown in India and Sri Lanka).
As mentioned above all tea types whether it's white, green, oolong, black or puerh tea are made from the same plant. The Chinese type is a smaller bush with more narrow and smaller leaves than the assamica type. Of course there are also many different cultivars within each of these two varieties.
Camellia Sinensis is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia. In the south of China the plant grows in hilly terrain with mild temperatures and plentiful rain.
The history of Chinese tea goes back many thousand years while white tea is the youngest Chinese tea also in this respect. It was first mentioned around the 1100 century and commercial production started as late as at the end of the 17th century. The famous Silver Needle Pekoe was first marketed in 1885 and White Peony as late as 1922.
White tea is made from local Fujian cultivars of the camellia sinensis called big white (Da bai), small white (xiao bai) and others. The production of white tea is not big and therefore the price is higher than of most other teas. The production is now increasing due to rising popularity and high demand.
The prime quality of White tea is harvested during some short weeks in March/April and that's also one reason why the volume of this tea is so much lower. It's only picked in perfect weather conditions in order to maintain the highest quality. Some of the tea is also picked during summer and autumn and naturally this is known as a lower grade tea.
After harvesting the buds and leaves are withered for about 3 days to reduce the water content. During this slow drying process the tea is also slightly oxidized which is the reason why it's more brownish than green tea. In green tea the oxidation process is stopped at an earlier stage; a fixation, where high heat is applied to kill the enzymes.
After the withering process the tea is dried. The leaves are then oven-baked to reduce the moisture content to less than 5 %. It's a quick process that normally takes less than an hour.
Types of white tea:
Yin Zhen Bai Hao (silver needle)
This is recognized as the top grade tea.
Bai Mu Dan (White Peony)
This tea is mild and sweet with a bit more stronger flavor and darker color than silver needle.
Gong Mei (Tribute eyebrow) or Shou Mei (longevity eyebrow)
A mellow, clean and sweet taste and fresh clean aroma.
Gu shan baiyun (Drum mountain white cloud)
A mild, sweet and very fragrant taste.
Sowmee white tea
A lower grade tea with a stronger taste and toasty flavor.
Snow dragon tea
Delicate and sweet with taste reminiscent of toasted sweet rice.
Panda Pearls tea
One of the rarest white teas, a floral and fruity taste.
100 Monkeys tea
Premium grade and somewhat stronger than most white teas.
Star of China
Premium grade with a delicate and subtle taste.

Julian Andrews is a writer who specializes in the health & fitness sector. You can check out his latest website at White Tea Health Benefits, where he provides unbiased reviews and advice regarding the health benefits and how to drink various Chinese teas including What Is White Tea.

The Top 5 Herbal Teas For More Energy By Nicholas Dean

These can help you feel better when you wake up feeling tired:
1. Green Tea
This choice can be used for a variety of reasons but one of the things that it is known for is that it helps with providing natural energy. Not only does it taste great but the aroma can also be very soothing. You can drink this kind of tea plain or with your choice of sweetener or you could even add in honey for some extra flavor.
2. English Breakfast Tea
This tea is great for when you might want some eggs and then drink something that at the same time helps to boost up your energy. English breakfast is rather strong so if you don't like strong tasting drinks then maybe stick with having the green tea for energy but if you don't mind a strong taste then this might be perfect for you to have in the morning with your breakfast.
3. Jasmine Green Tea
If you get tired of just having regular green tea and would like something different then try out jasmine. This is a wonderful drink to have right before meditation. Feel the energy and at the same time it will help relieve stress because of how good it smells.
4. Oolong Tea
it has a great smell with it and it's a perfect tea to have throughout the day. Whenever you need a pick me up or energy boost then Oolong tea might be just the thing that you need. The flavor is rather delicate and the aroma is just fantastic.
5. Caffeinated Earl Grey Teabags
There's also decaf earl gray. If you are looking for an energy boost then make sure that you pick out the caffeinated drink and not the decaf or it might not help you. The decaf is perfect for at night when you would like to calm down but in the morning times go with the caffeinated version.
Conclusion
A lot of retailers will have a choice of caffeinated or decaf. Always make sure to read the label and don't assume that there is caffeine in it. In order to get the energy boost that you need then grab the one that has caffeine. If you are sensitive to caffeine then search for the ones that say it is a light caffeinated version. In order to avoid staying awake all night look for soothing and calming decaf and have that after dinner.

For More Health Related Articles check out The Body & Health Category of FreshGoals.com

Does Fair-Trade Tea Make A Difference? By Hannah McGimpsey

Oxfam carried out their investigation into "Understand Wage Issues in the Tea Industry" by researching wage levels of tea pluckers in Malawi, Assam (India) and West Java (Indonesia) and comparing them to the average wage for the rest of the country and the World Bank extreme poverty line.
The World Bank extreme poverty line is based on average households with average numbers of earners within that household. The extreme poverty line is currently set at a household living on less than $1.25 a day (US dollars).
Their research found that in all three countries, tea pickers were paid the national minimum wage.
The most interesting finding in the Oxfam research was that tea pickers working on estates certified as Fairtrade International, Rainforest Alliance or UTZ Certified were not paid a higher wage than the workers who picked tea on non certified estates. This does not meant that they didn't gain from other benefits but that they are not paid a higher wage.
My questions then is; where does that extra money you pay for the "Fairtrade" label go to? Unfortunately it is most likely tied up in paperwork or swallowed by certain governing bodies.
This does not really seem very fair if you ask me. If I fork out extra for my tea, I have a lovely image in my head of the tea pickers who are directly benefiting from my decision to be a more "ethical" consumer.
Recently some big tea players have left Fairtrade certification because things had become to difficult to maintain and they knew that their money was not reaching the people who mattered.
Tea farmers and estate owners have come out to say that it costs them too much money to maintain the certification and perhaps that money could be better spent in improving the working conditions.
So is fair-trade all a marketing ploy? I don't want to go that far. I'm sure that there are other benefits to the tea pickers but I do find it shocking that they do not get paid a higher wage.
So what can you do as an ethical consumer?
I would recommend researching how the tea company you buy from sources their tea. Do they source it themselves or use a middle man? Do they buy from large estates or small tea gardens? Look out for pictures of the company employees with tea pickers and read reviews of products. It's hard to be 100% certain because everyone uses marketing to their own advantage so you just need to trust your own judgement and not be distracted by labels.

For Chinese tea sourced directly from small tea farms have a look at the LuLin Teas range of Green teas.

6 Reasons Why I Love To Buy Chinese Tea By Hannah McGimpsey

1. Chinese tea is special to me because it is so steeped (pun very much intended) in history. China has been a tea drinking nation for thousands of years and it is not just a comforting beverage there like it is in the UK. For many people it is their livelihood and the wonderful traditions have been passed down from generation to generation.
2. You know the saying "a change is as good as a rest," well that goes the same way with tea. And the wonderful thing about Chinese tea is that there are literally thousands of different types. I go through phases with what I like and therefore Chinese tea is perfect for me because once I drink a certain brew too many times and I start to lose interest I can change to a different type. What's even better (or sometimes annoying depending on your personality type) is that even year on year the same teas might taste different!
3. Not only is Chinese tea for told by a long and in depth history but also many fascinating myths and legends surround it. Lots of the names of the tea come from strange and exotic stories. Tie Guan Yin and Dragonwell Long Jing are probably the most famous examples of this.
4. I don't like to shout about it or heavily rely on it but there is no denying that tea is healthy! Chinese tea has been used for medicinal purposes for a long time - I can only assume that it's been since it was discovered. Companies make many claims about how healthy and wonderful their teas are and you have to take these claims with a pinch of salt (low sodium obviously!). But it does contain anti-oxidants, it does contain fluoride, it has no calories. Should I carry on? It's not going to make you lose 100pounds in a week but it will help you as part of a calorie controlled diet and it's a wonderful substitute to unhealthy fizzy drinks loaded with sugar.
5. I get stressed easily so one of my most favourite things about tea in general is how good it is at calming me down. Yes it gives me energy but not in that "buzzing" kind of way that coffee does. It brings me up but keeps me calm. In my books, not much compares to making a brew when you are stressed out.
6. Saying that, it really does give me an energy boost. Tea contains caffeine and this is what I need in the morning when I get up, what I crave when I get to work, what I want with my lunch and what I hope I have time for in the afternoon. OK I am extreme but I love that I can rely on my favourite Chinese teas to keep energy levels up!
So that is my 6 reasons why I love Chinese tea! Do you love it? Or what is your favourite drink? Let me know!

If you love to buy Chinese tea too then shop with LuLin Teas. They have a huge range of quality loose teas across many ranges. The famous Long Jing Dragonwell Green tea is available from LuLin Teas.

The Pitfalls When Brewing Chinese Tea and How to Avoid Them By Hannah McGimpsey

Pitfall 1: You are using the wrong type of water.
What is the main ingredient in tea? Well it's not tea which is what you might think. It's actually water! So you need to be very careful about the water that you use. Do you live in a hard water area? Does your water have a higher content of chlorine or fluoride? Because these added minerals will have an effect on the flavour.
To avoid this trap, use filtered water or if you can spring water is also great.
Pitfall 2: Brewing the wrong amount of tea
Using too much tea can cause your brew to be too strong and bitter but not using enough means you risk a weak brew.
What you should do is check your Chinese tea packet where there should be a brewing guide telling you how much tea to use per portion. If not a general rule is 3g of loose tea for a teapot for one.
Pitfall 3: Brewing your tea for the wrong amount of time
Similarly with weight, time is very important because brewing your tea for too long means it could be over brewed and taste too strong or bitter but under brewing could result in a weak and tasteless drink.
To make sure your tea is brewed correctly, use a glass teapot so that you can see the colour of your loose tea as it brews. You do risk getting it wrong a few times but once you know the colour your tea is meant to be when it is at your preferred strength you will be sorted!
Pitfall 4: Your tea tastes like other things
This can happen for a number of reasons. Tea will naturally absorb other smells and flavours so if you have left your loose tea open and next to food or where food is cooked because this can be bad for the tea.
Does your tea taste soapy? This could be because your teapot is made of a porous material that will absorb the soap when it is being washed.
Prevent this by keeping your Chinese tea in an airtight container. Store it in a cool dry place and try to keep it away from sunlight, steam and smelly foods. Either just rinse your teapot out with boiling water instead of using washing up liquid or make sure you purchase a teapot that does not hold smells.
Pitfall 5: Your tea tastes of nothing
If your tea is old and stale it can lose its flavour quite quickly and you end up with a tasteless brew.
Don't let this get you down - make sure you buy fresh tea in small quantities and don't hide it away for special occasions because when that occasion comes you may end up with flavourless drinks instead the special brew you had planned.
Any other tips or tricks I am missing, leave me a comment!

For more information on Chinese tea and how to brew it please check out all the green, black, puerh and oolong teas available from LuLin Teas.

Unwind at the End of a Long Day With a Cup of Tea By J. Martinez

The Go-to Comfort Drink
Tea has been around for centuries for good reason. It has soothing and healing attributes. If you think you do not like tea, you probably just have yet to find the right flavor. Anyone who has ever visited or lived in the United Kingdom or Ireland will tell you that if you are having a bad day (or even a good one), the first thing someone does is offer you a cup of tea. It is the go-to comfort drink.
You come home from work, and you have kids to take care of, dogs to walk, dinner to prepare, chores to do, school functions to attend, and on top of that, you need to find time to go to the gym. Before you move into the second part of your day, take a few minutes for yourself while you shift from work mode to mom or dad mode, and sit down with a cup of tea. Below are just a few types of tea to consider.
A Few Popular and Healthy Choices
Chamomile has a sweet, slightly apple taste, and may not even require sweetening. It is well known for its soothing qualities. It contains antioxidants, which help fight disease. Chamomile also has properties that can aid digestion.
Green tea, which contains more antioxidants than any other type of tea, has also been found to lower blood pressure, and help the body burn fat. It does contain caffeine, so if any caffeine in the evening keeps you awake, it's best to have your green tea earlier in the day and drink a less stimulating type in the evening.
If you prefer something a little more exotic, Darjeeling tea is a good choice. It has been found to strengthen the immune system, lower cholesterol, and help maintain heart health. Like all black teas, it contains caffeine, so that is something to consider if you think it will keep you awake. However, if you need a little boost to get through the rest of your day, it could be a good choice.
If you like your tea to have a light, fruity flavor, there are plenty of fruit-flavored teas like raspberry, orange pekoe, peach, and many more. These often have enough flavor that you do not need sweetener.
If you like your tea extra sweet, you can add a bit of sugar, sweetener, or honey. Lemon can also be a good complement, particularly to stronger, less sweet flavors of tea.
Enjoyable Hot or Cold
A cup of hot tea sounds great in the winter, but what about the summer? Any tea can easily be made into iced tea. Just brew it as you normally would, and then pour it over a tall cup of ice. You can do this and keep some in the refrigerator so it is ready to go if you want to take it to the gym or anywhere instead of plain water or an energy or juice drink.
For hard-core coffee drinkers, a cup of tea is a nice change of pace for the evening. Even the best coffees will likely provide more stimulation than you need after a long day. So next time you are buying your favorite gourmet specialty coffee or espresso, take a look at their selection of teas. If you are not sure what kind you like, see if they sell packages of assorted flavors so that you can try a variety to find out which ones you prefer.

J. Martinez is the owner of J. Martinez & Company Fine Coffees, selling gourmet estate and single-origin coffees from all over the world, including Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee and Hawaii Kona Coffee. Learn more about Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee at http://www.martinezfinecoffees.com/specialty-coffee-espresso-blue-mountain/jamaica-blue-mountain-coffee.html

Everything You Wanted to Know About the Pu-erh Tea By Dmytro Fedorev

The dark colored tea that is mainly produced in the Yunnan region of China is referred to as Pu-erh tea. After keeping the leaves in open air for fermentation, they are dried and rolled. This process brings about oxidation through microbial fermentation. The result is formation of dark or black colored leaves. We should not confuse this kind of beverage with the 'black tea' are used in Western countries.
Pu-erh is one of the healthiest teas you can on the face of the earth. It is a very good source of antioxidants since it is one of the most oxidized type. In fact, if you do comparison, you will know that levels of antioxidants in it are higher than green tea. Like other brews, it also contains caffeine but it is well below the limit that can cause any sort of health damage. Also, unlike other teas that get spoiled over time, the pu-erh tea becomes smooth and rich. Like wine, its quality also improves with time.
Pu-erh tea is similar to green tea but it is not dried fully like the green tea. Aging of the these tea leaves helps in retaining good amount of moisture which makes the microorganisms to spring into action and bring about fermentation. Pu-erh tea comes with a very distinct flavor and aroma. What sets this tea apart from other kinds of tea is that it is prepared from a broadleaf variety that is known for facilitating quick microbial action which results in the formation of a tea with plenty of health benefits. Thus, it is antifungal and anti-inflammatory.
Brewing pu-erh is quite easy. The brewing procedure is not different from that of brewing other kinds of similar beverages such as black teas or oolong teas. What you need to do is prepare boiling water. The water should then be poured on the leaves by using a strainer. After waiting for about 15 seconds, you need to throw away the water. You can then add more water to it until it develops color and flavor. Make sure you do not add excess water as it can make your beverage taste bitter. If the leaves are of good quality, you can use it several times.
Pu-erh tea is good for people who desire to lose weight, for increasing weight loss, for reducing serum cholesterol, for preventing cardiovascular diseases, lowering the cholesterol levels, oxidation relation illnesses, for reducing blood sugar and preventing diabetes, and for its antimutagenic properties. Various experiments have been conducted by health experts to study health benefits of pu-erh. In China, some people also believe that this beverage helps in controlling the habit of drinking alcohol.
Many are now realizing the health benefits of this amazing tea from Japan. Also the experiments conducted on it to test its benefits have shown positive results. When you inhale the aroma of this amazing beverage and drink it, it will completely refresh you and kill your stress in no time.

Try the amazing pu-erh tea today!

Pu-Erh Tea Helps You Gain Weight And Also Lose Weight By Dmytro Fedorev

Since the time the pu-erh tea leaves were experimented for the first time in 1973 at a tea factory in Yunnan, the tea has become quite a popular beverage in China. Even though the tea has manifold health benefits, it is best known for facilitating weight loss. This tea helps in normalizing the metabolic activity of your tea and thereby assists in shedding unwanted weight.
Ironically, the pu-erh tea can make you gain weight if you drink the tea at wrong times. If you want to lose weight by drinking this beverage, you need to make sure that you have it one hour after you have finished with your meal. This heals in eliminating all the unneeded fats from the body. Pu-erh tea can cause you to gain weight if you consume it before your meal. It helps in eliminating the fat deposits that remain in your tummy and body and increases your hunger pangs. Hence, the tea causes you to eat more.
Because of sedentary life and also because of stressful life people tend to eat unhealthy foods and gain weight. Gaining weight is not an issue; however, it becomes a great concern when your body starts storing those fats that are not needed for your body. That extra flesh that you will gain can make you look out of shape. The best thing you can do to lose weight and keep your weight in control is do eat and drink things that control your metabolism.
One great beverage that promotes weight loss effectively is the pu-erh tea. If you have excess weight, do not think that you will lose weight immediately. Losing weight is a gradual process and drinking the popular Japanese tea ensures that you shed those extra pounds in the right way. People who are overweight and drink pu-erh tea regularly will become aware of the fact that they have become more energetic, fit and also losing weight.
When you drink pu-erh to shed weight, make sure you to eat regularly but in small amounts throughout the day. If you stop yourselves from eating food, your cravings can make you to eat more. So, have small portions of food throughout the day are a healthy way to lose weight. Make sure you also include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. When you reach your normal weight, you can get back to your old diet without resorting to any unhealthy food items and lastly you should continue to have pu-erh tea to make sure you continue to maintain your weight.

Reap the pu-erh tea weight loss benefits now!

3 Factors to Consider When You Want to Buy Matcha By Dmytro Fedorev

There are various kinds of green tea available in the market. However, if you are looking for a green tea that offers manifold health benefits, you should consider buying matcha. There are many wholesale dealers available through whom you can buy Match and cheap rates.
The wholesale dealers offer a wide range of Matcha green tea according to quality. When you place an order, your tea powder will be directly shipped from Japan. Japan is the birthplace of the Matcha leaves. Everything from cultivation to processing and packing are all carried out in Japan.
The quality of the Matcha green tea can be influenced by various factors like tea bush location, cultivation and processing. The quality can differ from harvest to harvest. In Japan, Matcha that come from Kyoto and Aichi are known to be of best quality. However, this does not mean that Matcha tea from other places in Japan is of inferior quality
There are many brands that sell Matcha green tea. If you have not tried the tea before, you should not purchase the premium quality Matcha green tea. Instead, you should try the tea from various brands. At first, you may not be able to enjoy its smell and unique taste. However, after trying couple of brands, you will be able to find the most suitable and tasty Matcha tea for you.
When you want to buy Matcha, make sure you keep the following things in mind:
1. Avoid buying Matcha that are available in tea bags. Matcha tea's processing does not allow it to be sold in tea bags. If you find a store selling Matcha in tea bags, you should avoid it as it may be some other kind of green tea that are grown under the sun with a small amount of Matcha added to it for flavor.
2. When you purchase Matcha, make sure the seller offers Matcha from early harvest. Matcha from later harvests are known to be of inferior quality whereas of earlier harvests are known to offer the best quality.
3. If the vendor allows you to have a look at the Matcha powder before you place your order, make sure you choose Matcha appears to bright green in color. If the color appears to be dull or does not appear bright green, you can understand that it is of inferior quality. Matcha loses its original bright green color when it is exposed to sun. You should refrain from buying oxidized Matcha.

Checkout the TeaLux online tea store to buy matcha at affordable price.

Matcha Green Tea - A Rich Source of Antioxidants By Dmytro Fedorev

The Matcha green is one of the herbal teas that have gained huge popularity. Few decades ago, the tea leaves were only used during Japanese tea ceremonies. However, now the tea has become quite a popular beverage across the globe. There are many health benefits associated with Matcha green tea. It helps in reducing stress, normalizing your metabolism, making your immune system strong and lowering the levels of cholesterol.
The reason why it is called green tea is called the tea leaves are developed in the shade in order to promote its chlorophyll content. The leaves that appear rich green in color are handpicked and then finely ground. The resultant Matcha green tea powder is then made available in the market for sale. The most important thing about this tea is that it is a very rich source of antioxidants. One cup of Matcha tea is enough to deliver the amount of antioxidants that you can get from ten cups of your regular tea.
What's interesting about this tea is that whole Match green tea leaves are kept immersed in the water. Since nothing is thrown away, you are able to get maximum dose of antioxidants when you consume this tea.
Free radicals that enter our body are usually neutralized by our body but elements like chemicals, smoke, pollution, UV rays and radiation can result in building up of free radicals inside our body. The cells of your body are constantly in danger from these elements that you ingest through your food and breathing. Such elements are responsible for ageing and it can cause you to easily contract any disease.
When you eat foods that are rich in antioxidants, your overall health will start improving. You will not become easy victims to infections and illnesses. There are several good sources of antioxidants such as fruits and vegetables. Foods that are considered to be rich antioxidants are foods that are actually contain higher amounts of vital nutrients like Vitamin A, C, E, carotenoids and phytochemicals. Even the Matcha green tea can do wonders for getting rid of free radicals from your body.
Apart from fresh fruits and vegetables, you can find many antioxidants supplements in the market. Instead of buying supplements, you can add the Match green tea to your diet to regularly intake good dose of antioxidants. Since Matcha green tea is a powerful antioxidant, drink this tea regularly will ensure that you are free from the risk of contracting various health conditions like cancer, diabetes, dementia, and cardiovascular diseases.

Go ahead and purchase the antioxidant rich matcha green tea today!

Tea Facts - Why the Shape of the Japanese Tea Bowl Is So Important By Anne Therese

Japanese tea sets are considered today as a status symbol in Japanese and Asian homes, and they come in certain shapes and a great variety of colors, sizes, and styles, both to give every tea enthusiast a fine tea-drinking experience and the chance to enjoy the creativity and ingenuity of the Japanese potters and artists in creating superior quality tea pots, tea bowls, and tea cups, which transcend both time and culture.
A Basic Guide to the Shapes of Japanese Tea Bowls
The relationship between Japanese tea bowls, also known as Chawan, and Japanese teas can be slightly compared to that of wines and wine glasses, or of beer and beer steins, in that their shapes, basically answer the preparation, serving requirement, and serving temperature needs of specific or certain varieties of Japanese tea, which, in effect, brings out the best flavor and aroma of the latter, as well as answer the needs of their user.
The Common Shapes of Japanese Bowls for Tea
Japanese bowls for tea are found in various shapes, among which are half-circle shaped; circle-shaped, which is usually distinguished for its tapered rim; cylindrical, which are usually found among the everyday tea cups, called Yunomi; half-cylindrical, which appears almost rectangular due to its low height and the equal diameter of the bowl from the bottom to the rim; funnel-shaped, which includes the shallow but wide summer tea bowls; inverted bell-shaped; triangular, and square-shaped, among many others.
Which Shape to Choose when Preparing or Serving a Japanese Tea?
Basically, it depends upon a few factors, like the:
The Type of Japanese Tea: Aromatic varieties, like the Ryokucha and Sencha, for instance, are usually served on the half-circle or bell-shaped bowls, which wide and concave rim allows their aroma to escape and linger easily, while the same shapes are preferred for preparing and serving the Matcha, or the powdered green tea that is used during Japanese tea ceremonies, as their wide bowl shape allows a good space for the bamboo tea whisk to be worked with ease and to efficiently mix water and Matcha together without spilling.
The Bancha and Hojicha, on the other hand, are customarily served on a Yunomi as its taller than wide shape not only proves easy to hold for everyday tea drinking, their generally thick walls also helps to keep the Bancha and Hojicha warm for a long time.
The Season: Low and wide-rimmed bowls are used in summer, which allow tea to cool easily, while the narrow and tall varieties are used during the winter to keep the tea warm for a long time.
The Occasion: Certain Chawan flaunt a rare shape, like the diamond-shaped tea bowls, which some people reserve for special occasions or choose according to their design aesthetics, or are designed for a purpose, like the Rider's Cup, which tall stem or foot makes them convenient for the ancient horse-riders to drink tea from.
Pick the Right Japanese Bowl for Your Tea
Enjoy drinking your Japanese tea on the right tea bowl shape and don't stop there though: Pick the shade, color, and style of tea bowl that suits your style, the occasion, or your guest; the appropriate size for serving a specific type of tea; and, don't be afraid to try those in fancy shapes to make your tea drinking experience more fun and exciting.

Learn more about the history and guide on how to drink Chinese and Japanese Tea and view samples of the common shapes of Japanese tea bowls.

Matcha Green Tea Powder - How to Find the Best Quality By Dmytro Fedorev

Matcha green tea is a refreshing tea from Japan which was once exclusively available for the Japanese but now it is shipped to various countries of the world. The Matcha green tea leaves are hand-picked during the month of May in Japan and then the leaves are steamed in order to prevent fermentation. If the leaves are allowed to ferment, it can lose its original color and turn black. However, by avoiding fermentation, the leaves can retain its green color.
The leaves are then kept for drying in the shade. After this, the leaves are transferred to airtight tea jars. The leaves are stored until the month of November. The stems and veins from the Matcha green leaves are removed and then the whole leaves are then finely ground. At this point, even other kinds of tea leaves are added to the Matcha green tea powder to enhance the flavor, color and delicate scent.
Compared to other kinds of herbal teas, the Matcha green tea is quite expensive but also has manifold health benefits. The expense of the tea depends a lot on the quality of the tea. Here are some factors that decide the quality of the tea.
Place of the Tea Bush
The location from the tea leaves are picked is vital The upper part of the growing leaves from the tea bush should be soft and supple. The resulting tea powder will be of high quality with finer texture. When the leaves grow even more, they become harder which can result in lower quality tea powder with sandy texture. The tea powder produced from developing leaves has better flavor.
Process Before Grinding
Before the Match green leaves are finely ground, the leaves are kept for drying in the shade. Efforts are made to ensure the leaves do not come in direct contact with the sunlight. To avoid contact with sunlight, the leaves are dried indoors. The resulting tea powder attains fine green color.
Grinding
If the tea leaves are not ground properly, it can appear burnt and such leaves are of poor quality. Hence, Matcha leaves are stone ground until fine powder is not formed. In Japan, some tea manufacturing centers have granite stone mills for finely grinding the tea leaves.
Exposure to Oxygen
If the Matcha tea leaves are exposed to oxygen, it will lose its quality. Oxidized Matcha leaves can be easily identified through its peculiar smell and dull color.

Purchase the best quality matcha green tea powder now!