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.

From carpet care to floor sealers, brooms to scrubbers, receptacles to dispensers, paper products and trash liners, KAMO has it. If you need janitorial supplies in Augusta, GA contact Kamo.