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.

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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.

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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.

Thanks for reading this far. Now, do you want to know more about oolong tea benefits? If so, congratulations, you're on the way to a better life. Make sure to check this website ---> Oolong Tea Community to learn more about this tea before joining the community of the like-minded.

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.

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