Get Cooking With Tea

Here, courtesy of the Rishi Tea Web site, are a few recipes that make use of tea:

Chai Flan
Maghreb Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Hazelnut Muffin with Cinnamon Plum Apple Jam

For an even more impressive selection of tea recipes, refer to Bigelow Tea's database, located here.

Last but not least, here are some of the previous posts about tea and cuisine at TGS.

Image: Rishi Tea

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Zenlet Green Tea Bracelets Captivate Hollywood

Zenlet Green Tea Bracelets Captivate Hollywood
(from a press release)

Zenlet Green Tea Bracelets were just one of the many gifts for the TBS Very Funny Comedy Festival and the American Music Awards this November. Anyone who is anyone in Hollywood is now sporting the all-natural Zenlet Green Tea Bracelet.

The Zen bracelets, or Zenlets, are unique in that they are made with green tea. The green tea and anti-oxidants absorb into your skin and body through a process called transdermal absorption. The bracelets are stylish, healthy and environmentally friendly.

Zenlet Green Tea bracelets are available online.

Image: Zenlet.com

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Amanzi Tea Introduces 'Financial Securi-Tea'

Amanzi Tea Reveals New Flavor of the Week, 'Financial Securi-Tea', to Overcome the Economic Downfall
(from a press release)

Amanzi Tea, a unique tea bar and retailer, opened its first NYC location this past weekend to rave reviews. After distributing free "flu shots" made of double strength, freshly brewed tea on Saturday, they're releasing their latest creation, "Financial Securi-Tea", this week. The new drink is made from a blend of green, mint, and chamomile tea -- the perfect mix to promote serenity during the turbulent times ahead.

Owner Raymond Levy states, "We designed 'Financial Securi-Tea' to calm nerves and lift the spirits of our fellow New Yorkers during the holiday season. This economic crisis we're in, it's putting a damper on the holidays. We at Amanzi wanted to design a drink that will not only boost one's immune system, but will raise one's spirits during these hard times!"

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Tea Master Training Slated for Ft. Lauderdale

Tea Master Training Slated for Ft. Lauderdale
(from a press release)

Aspiring tea aficionados will be gathering in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in January to take part in the 13-Week Tea Mastery Certification Course. The two-part training program, offered by the American Tea Masters Association, includes an initial 5-Day Comprehensive Tea Mastery Course held on-site in Ft. Lauderdale followed by a 12-Week Tea Master TeleCourse involving home study, numerous tea evaluations, and weekly group teleconference calls.

The 5-Day Comprehensive Tea Mastery Course runs from January 12th to 16th at the Marriott Ft. Lauderdale North Hotel. The program offers the high level of focus and support needed to gain the competence and confidence to serve as a tea master or tea sommelier at any distinguished restaurant, hotel or tea court in the country, or start one's own successful enterprise. It contains all of the educational requirements an individual needs for achieving the association's prestigious Certified Tea Master designation and lapel pin once the training program and final examination are successfully completed.

American Tea Masters Association

Image: ATMA

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Product Review - Adagio Teas GraviTEA Water Purifier

GraviTEA Water Purifier
Adagio Teas

Though many people swear by the relative purity of their local water supplies - perhaps with good reason - for some years I've been in that camp who prefer to add their own post-tap purifications, for whatever it may be worth. My weapon of choice, thus far, has been one of Brita's pitcher-type filters.

Given that my Brita is an older clunkier model, I was keen to take Adagio's new GraviTEA model for a spin. The first thing one notices about it is its sleek, rather aesthetically pleasing design. And while there are surely only a limited number of bells and whistles one can add to one of these gadgets, the GraviTEA has a few. The "top-loading" feature, which allows for it to be filled without removing the lid, is handy, as is the flap over the pouring spout.

Other features and selling points include an indicator that let you know when its time to change the filter and a filtering "speed" supposedly twice that of comparable products.

More here.

Image: Adagio Teas

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Celebrate the Holidays With Bigelow Tea

Celebrate the Holidays With Bigelow Tea
Choose From a Wide Selection of Seasonal Delights
(from a press release)

Bigelow Tea, a family-owned business dedicated to providing customers with specialty teas for over 60 years, offers its 2008 Holiday Gift Collection. Whether they've been naughty or nice, 'tis the season to treat family and friends to some of the many teas, savory delights and gifts found in this year's Holiday catalog.

The holidays are all about giving. Bigelow Tea offers a wide selection of fun gifts to choose from, like Frosty's Bucket, a festive metal bucket filled with an assortment of cookies and holiday teas and Christmas Card Cookies and Tea, a colorful tin box containing six Christmas-themed shortbread cookies, a confectionery ink marker with labels for adding personalized messages, plus a box of Constant Comment tea. They make the perfect hostess gifts to bring when visiting friends and family over the holiday season.

Of course, one must never forget Santa. Santa's favorite treats have been lovingly packaged in What Santa Likes, a decorative bucket filled with an assortment of cookies, raspberry drops, candy sticks and seasonal teas or Santa's Holiday Tote, a red Santa suit tote bag overflowing with cookies, snack mix and holiday teas. A full collection of gifts can be found in Bigelow's 2008 Holiday online catalog here.

Image: Bigelow Tea

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Teabag Danglers, Presidential Tea & Love Your Mug

Teabag dangler - it's apparently the technical term for the little string and tag thingy that hangs off your teabag - or maybe it's not. Anyway, Boing Boing recently featured a few clever examples of teabag danglers.

What role has tea played in the presidency? Did you know that President McKinley's likeness was once used to sell tea? More of this sort of thing in a new book called Tea with Presidential Families. Here's a related article.

Last up, here's the lowdown on Love Your Mug, which its makers call "the ingenious new way to personalise a mug with your exact hot drink preferences so you never have to suffer a bad cuppa, ever again."

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Numi Rolls Out Organic Puerh Line

Numi Organic Tea Launches New Tea Category: Organic Puerh Tea
(from a press release)

Known for their innovative Flowering Tea and pure ingredient tea blends, Numi Organic Tea launches a new line and category of tea called Puerh. Although all teas come from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis, Puerh is made from a different variety that grows on wild 500 year old, tea trees, known as "broad leaf tea", found in the pristine Yunnan Mountains of Southwestern China. The maturity and special variety of these trees make it desired for the aging process that makes Puerh. The leaves undergo an unusual fermenting, ripening and aging process which results in Puerh's unique earthy flavor and special health properties. Chinese people have written about the health benefits of Puerh since ancient times.

Taste - Puerh processing is different from regular white, green, oolong or black tea. After the leaves are picked, they are piled into heaps, dampened frequently for a period of 60 days and rotated every 10 days during this time to ensure all the tea is fermented. The tea is then dried and ready to be compressed into bricks for aging, or left as loose tea which Numi uses in its tea bags. Different to black tea, Puerh can be steeped long for a smooth yet bold cup without the bitterness. Its taste is rich and smooth, slightly sweet with hints of malt. A straight Puerh such as Numi's Emperor's makes a great pairing with a French cheese plate and can also act as a digestif after a heavy meal.

Numi will launch 4 flavors of Puerh in both tea boxes as well as loose tea.

Emperor's Puerh - Organic Black Puerh tea: malty, rich & bold
Chocolate Puerh - Organic Black Puerh tea: velvety rich & vanilla
Magnolia Puerh - Organic Green Puerh tea blend: deep floral earthiness
Mint Puerh - Organic Green Puerh tea blend: pungent, smooth & sweet

Image: Numi Tea

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New Product Joins Award-Winning Teastick Family

New Product Joins Award-Winning Teastick Family
(from a press release)

Since 2005, the original Teastick has been winning fans and awards as the ultimate way to serve loose-leaf tea. Today, Gamila Company brings vivid color to the family with Teastick Gems.

Like the original Teastick, the new Gems Teastick is a one-cup, loose tea infuser. With its sleek 3-in-one design, it serves as a scoop, measuring device and infuser. Intended to entice a young market new to the world of tea, Gems come in two translucent colors and have a fine stainless steel mesh that is perfect for smaller teas and herbal infusions. The Gems will retail for about 35% less than the original stainless steel Teastick. (more)

Image: Gamila Company

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World Tea Expo Offers a Cure for Economic Flu

World Tea Expo Offers a Cure for Economic Flu
(from a press release)

The 2009 World Tea Expo is projecting record attendance - not despite the current economy, but, at least partially, because of it. Historically, economic downturns have inspired entrepreneurs to launch businesses in niche industries. With specialty tea offering a highly profitable and fast-growing opportunity in the United States, the World Tea Expo and the industry are preparing for a banner year.

Sales of specialty and premium tea in the U.S. are skyrocketing. Earlier this year, market research firm Packaged Facts forecasted that U.S. tea sales would double in five years, from $7.4 billion in 2007 to $15 billion by 2012. The firm further projected that, over the same period, the specialty tea segment of the market would grow to comprise more than half of these total sales, up from its current share of 36 percent. This translates into nearly $5 billion in new specialty tea sales each year for five years - more than double the growth of commercial grade tea.

World Tea Expo features nearly 400 leading companies in the specialty tea business from around the world, including producers from almost every major growing region. Alongside the Expo is a robust educational program, featuring a New Business Boot Camp, an Executive & Technical Series, Skill-Building Workshops and Focused Tastings - all in addition to the more than 40 sessions in the Core Conference Program.

Also held in conjunction with the event is the much anticipated second annual World Tea Championship, an independent evaluation of the top teas from around the world. The winners will be announced during the new awards ceremony at the Expo.

The World Tea Expo will be held May 2-4, 2009, at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

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Tea Review 91 - Mellow Monk Green

Top Leaf Green Tea
Mellow Monk

A day without a top-quality Japanese green tea is like a day without sunshine - or something like that.

It's been a while since I've put together a mail order or received any samples from tea merchants. So for a good stretch I've been getting by with tea that I'd consider to be acceptable, but hardly stellar.

Which means that I was primed for some prime green tea, something along the lines of Mellow Monk's Top Leaf. Here's what Mellow Monk has to say about it:

"This is our top-of-the-line honcha, or traditional green tea. Top Leaf tea is specially pampered in its own separate corner of the tea orchard. Not only does this tea receive extra fertilizer (organic, of course) during the growing season, but at harvest time, the growers pick only the top layer of young tea leaves. The result is a distinctive, more subtle, gentler flavor. This tea is always first flush."

Works for me. The dry leaf is small and has a nice, dark green appearance. Unlike some greens, the aroma of the dry leaf is rather understated. The steeped tea has a nice pale golden color, with just a hint of green and the taste is rather subtle - as compared to some of the "fishy" Japanese greens - but quite satisfying nonetheless.

Highly recommended.

Image: Mellow Monk

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Automatic Tea Maker Patents

If you thought automatic tea-making gadgets like the Zarafina Tea Maker Suite or Adagio's TriniTEA were something new, have a look at these patents for tea makers from the files of the United States Patent Office (by way of Google Patents).

Beverage Making Device (1943)
Beverage Making Apparatus (1943)
Automatic Tea Maker (1958)
Continuous Tea Maker (1961)

Image: Zarafina

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Tea For Your Teeth

Drink Brewed Tea to Avoid Tooth Erosion
(from a press release)

Today, the average size soft drink is 20 ounces and contains 17 teaspoons of sugar. More startling is that some citric acids found in fruit drinks are more erosive than hydrochloric or sulfuric acid -- which is also known as battery acid. These refined sugars and acids found in soda and citrus juice promote tooth erosion, which wears away the hard part of the teeth, or the enamel. Once tooth enamel is lost, it's gone forever. There is a beverage that does not produce such irreversible results. When deciding between the many options available, the best thing to drink is brewed tea, according to a study in the July/August issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Apart from tasting good, brewed tea has many health benefits. Tea is loaded with natural antioxidants, which are thought to decrease incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Mohamed A. Bassiouny, DMD, BDS, MSc, PhD, the lead author of the study, compared green and black tea to soda and orange juice in terms of their short- and long-term erosive effect on human teeth. The study found that the erosive effect of tea was similar to that of water, which has no erosive effect. And, when comparing green versus black, he discovered that there is a better option among those as well.

Dr. Bassiouny says that "when we look at tea and read about the benefits, it's amazing -- not because green tea is 'the in thing' -- but because there are advantages." He adds that much research done overseas, in countries such as Japan and Europe, found that green tea was identified to being superior over black due to its natural flavonoids (plant nutrients) and antioxidants.

But, if you do drink tea, experts suggest avoiding additives such as milk, lemon, or sugar because they combine with tea's natural flavonoids and decrease the benefits. In addition, stay away from prepackaged iced teas because they contain citric acid and high amounts of sugars. It does not matter whether the tea is warm or cold -- as long as it is home brewed without additives.

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Amanzi Tea Offers 'Flu Shots'

Amanzi Tea Offers Free, Natural 'Flu Shots' To New Yorkers
(from a press release)

Amanzi Tea, a unique tea bar and retailer, announced today that in celebration of its first Manhattan location opening Saturday, December 6th, it is offering free "amanzi tea flu shots" made of double strength, freshly brewed Green tea on Saturdays, December 6th, 13th and 20th from noon until four. This is a healthy and natural way to boost one's immune system with the onset of winter.

Amanzi Tea was founded in 2004 by a family from Zimbabwe who fled the oppressive regime for a better life in America. The opportunity to introduce teas from their native Africa including Rooibos, only found in South Africa, and other renowned black and herbal teas inspired them to open a pushcart in Miami and then build their first store in Greenville, SC. Amanzi sources teas from around the globe and retails in both stores and on the web. Amanzi is an African (Shona) word meaning water.

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Guayaki Partners With Equilibrium Fund

Guayaki Yerba Mate Establishes Historic Direct-Marketing Partnership with a Community-Based Women's Business in Guatemala
(from a press release)

Ensuring that ingredients are sourced in an eco-friendly and socially responsible manner is of great importance to Guayaki Yerba Mate, an award-winning maker of invigorating organic drinks. The well-being of the people that supply their ingredients is also of paramount concern. So, when Guayaki learned about the Equilibrium Fund and their mission to support women in the impoverished region of Central America where Maya Nut is sourced for Guayaki's Java Mate beverages, the company worked with the non-profit on a paradigm-shifting project to purchase Maya Nut directly from an inspiring and pioneering women's business in Ixlu Peten, Guatemala. (more)

Image: Guayaki

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Stash Tea Offers Affordable and Healthy Holiday Gifts

Stash Tea Offers Affordable and Healthy Holiday Gifts
(from a press release)

The Stash Tea online store offers a great selection of items this holiday season - from teapots to tea accessories to all-natural cookies - for $25 or less.

One example of this great value is the Stash Tea Complete Holiday Teas Gift Collection with six boxes of holiday teas (a total of 108 tea bags). This collection is perfect for a tea lover and also makes a thoughtful hostess gift. It includes MerryMint, an organic green tea; aromatic and rich Holiday Chai; popular Decaf Pumpkin Spice; Christmas Morning with its wide-awake flavor; delicate White Christmas; and caffeine-free Christmas Eve Herbal.

As an added bonus, when you buy three of the Stash Tea Complete Holiday Teas Gift Collections, the fourth one is FREE. Visit the online store or the Stash Tea Holiday catalog for all 50 of the buy-three, get-one-free holiday items.

To request a free catalog, call 800-800-TEAS (8327) 24 hours a day, seven days a week or request online.

Image: Stash Tea

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Tea Room News

If you're looking for information on the ins and outs of running a tea room, Tea Room News might be of help. They're currently offering a free two-issue trial subscription for all new readers who sign up through the end of 2008.

From their Web site:

>>>The Tea Room News is the leading publishing company devoted to enriching the challenging lives of tea businesses owners and tea enthusiasts. Our community of experts is committed to educating, guiding, and inspiring with ideas that make business ownership more fulfilling, more purposeful, and more successful. We promote the elements of tea and business, infusing them with the pleasure and support that come from a growing knowledge we foster in our readers and ourselves.<<<

Tea Room News

Image: Tea Room News

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Mellow Monk Releases Two New Green Teas

Mellow Monk Releases Two New Green Teas--"Blissful Buds" and "Shaded Leaf"
(from a press release)

Mellow Monk is proud to announce two new additions to its lineup of family-farm green tea: Blissful Buds and Shaded Leaf.

Blissful Buds is a mecha ("bud tea"), made from only the most tender young buds. This is the same kind of premium tea served at the best sushi restaurants. The full-bodied flavor of Blissful Buds makes it the perfect tea for post-meal palate cleansing ... or for any time of the day.

Shaded Leaf is Mellow Monk's most premium tea ever: Three weeks before harvest, our growers shade these pampered tea plants with special woven covers. By blocking out just enough sunlight, this shading produces a simply exquisite flavor (by stopping the leaves from "baking" in the sun) and also stimulates the leaves to produce even more super-healthful catechins, including EGCG.

These two new teas were discovered during a recent tea-buying trip to rural Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands. This expedition was documented by a film crew from Europe's Arte.tv network, which will release a 1-hour feature in January 2009 titled "Kyushu--Wo Japans Grüner Tee Wächst" (Kyushu--Where Japan Grows Its Tea).

Like the rest of Mellow Monk's lineup, both Blissful Buds and Shaded Leaf are single-estate, unblended teas imported directly from family farms on Kyushu. These farms are family owned and operated: The growers own the land they work, and they work the land themselves. All of Mellow Monk's growers are certified eco-friendly under the Japanese government's Eco Farmer Program.

Image: Mellow Monk

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Bigelow Constant Comment Contest

Try saying that one three times fast. Or forget about it and just send your favorite story to Bigelow about their popular Constant Comment tea. Yes, it's a contest. Here's an excerpt from Bigelow's contest page:

>Please enter our Tell us your favorite "Constant Comment® Tea Story” Contest during November and December 2008. The story that either makes everyone laugh or cry the hardest wins a wonderful trip to visit our Tea Plantation in Charleston South Carolina.<

More here.

Image: Bigelow

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New Tea Gadgets

Here are a few new tea-related products, as well as some older ones that were new to me.

The Joyce sisters recently sent word of a new product they're referring to as the Tea-Mate. These are personalized tea mats. For a more coherent explanation than I can offer as to what makes them unique, refer to their Web site.

Basictea.com recently introduced what the do-it-yourself Chai Tea Kit. More in the press release or at their Web site.

If you're a tea bag user, perhaps you've grumbled about those unruly strings and tags floating in your beverage. If so, the Tea-Code tea cup might be the answer to your problem.

Continuing the cutesy tea gadget theme, here's a strawberry-shaped tea infuser.

Last up, handmade tea cozies from ElDonna.

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World Tea Champ Now Taking Online Sales

PeLi Teas, 'Super Category Green Tea Winner' at the 2008 World Tea Championship, Now Taking Online Sales
(from a press release)

PeLi Teas, LLC announces that its award-winning teas are available for the general public on its web site. PeLi Teas sells premium Chinese whole leaf teas. Peter Leonard, Managing Director of U.S. Operations stated, "We are noting trends shifting, as more people experience our wonderful teas, they prefer them over alternative blends, ready-to-drinks and other beverages."

PeLi Teas buys direct from select Chinese producers. Their teas are grown in remote, pristine areas of China, and produced using age-old orthodox methods.

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Rishi Tea's New Organic Eco-Friendly Tea Gift Sets

Rishi Tea's New Organic Eco-Friendly Tea Gift Sets
(from a press release)

Organic handcrafted loose-leaf teas best reveal their nuance and unique origin characteristics when prepared in appropriate teaware. Rishi Tea is proud to offer our Organic Tea Sets, each of which includes two best-selling teas, a teapot or infuser cup specially chosen to pair well with the teas. Each gift set is beautifully packaged in an environmentally friendly, hand woven gift box made of renewable bamboo.

Organic Black Tea Set includes a highly functional glass teapot with easy to clean removable stainless steel filter, Organic Fair Trade China Breakfast Black Tea and Organic Fair Trade Earl Grey Black Tea. Retail Price: $25

Organic Green Tea Set includes a handcrafted sky blue teacup with lid and infuser, Organic Fair Trade Jasmine Green Tea and Organic Fair Trade Jade Cloud Green Tea. Retail Price: $35

Organic White Tea Set includes a glass teapot with glass infuser, Organic White Peony and Organic Peach Blossom. Retail Price: $40

Available through select Whole Foods Markets, specialty retailers and direct from Rishi.

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Beverage Brands Adds To Maté Fusion Premium Tea Line

Beverage Brands Inc., Fastest Growing Beverage Manufacturer, is Proud to Announce the Impending Addition of a New Line of Flavors to its Maté Fusion Premium Tea Line
(from a press release)

Beverage Brands Inc., Long Island's fastest growing beverage manufacturer, is proud to announce the impending addition of a new line of flavors to its Maté fusion Premium Tea line. The Lemon, Raspberry, Mango, and Black Currant flavors will round out the Maté fusion assortment at an even eight different flavors.

The second installment will be available early in 2009 in addition to Maté fusion's popular Blueberry Açai, Peach, Asian Pear, and Pomegranate flavors.

Maté fusion is a 100% All-Natural Premium Tea, made without any preservatives, no artificial flavors or colors, or high fructose corn syrup. It is brewed naturally with the leaves of the South American Yerba Maté.

Maté Fusion

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Zhena's Gypsy Tea Brews Worldly Cup

Zhena's Gypsy Tea Brews Worldly Cup
(from a press release)

Zhena's Gypsy Tea, a brand recognized for fostering the growth of the Fair Trade, organic movement, is pleased to announce its new line of World Market Reserve Teas exclusively available at Cost Plus World Market.

For centuries long, merchants from the remote and mysterious ports of India, Turkey, China and Sumatra depended on wandering bands of gypsy nomads who traveled from the Far East to Europe for their trade of exotic silks, aromatic oils and priceless spices and teas. From these same traveled paths, ports and world's most beautiful gardens, come fresh, pure, Fair Trade and organic, leaves, herbs, fruits, flowers, spices and essential oils that make up the unique varietals of health-enhancing World Market Reserve Teas.

World Market Reserve Teas collection includes, USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified(TM) Rainforest Acai Berry Red Tea, Vanilla Mandarin Black Tea and Chocolate Jasmine Green Tea, artisan crafted blends in eco-friendly tea sachets, beautifully packaged in recyclable, air-tight tea tins.

Image: Zhena's Gypsy Tea

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Green Tea Producer Offers Free eBooks

Aiya America Offers Free eBooks; World's Top Manufacturer of Matcha Tea Launches Free Online Series
(from a press release)

Aiya America, the world's number one producer of Matcha green tea, announced that it is releasing the first in its tea-themed educational eBooks. The series will inform consumers and industry professionals about such topics as the tea-making process, the health benefits of green tea, ingredient uses for Matcha, quality assurance, safety and other areas of the company's expertise.

The first eBook is currently available free of charge on Aiya America's Web site (free registration required).

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Journey Away with Kalahari’s New Tea Experience

Journey Away with Kalahari’s New Tea Experience
(from a press release)

The re-launch of Kalahari Limited’s distinctive e-commerce web site, comes just in time to help current and aspiring tea lovers journey away from the recession. Redesigned by Polar Design, the new site offers a visual journey on par with the smoothness of the South African red teas Kalahari offers. Whether your compass leads you to a relaxing cup of caffeine free, anti-oxidant rich Rooibos tea, or spicy, blended Oolong teas, the new website will help you find the right brew. Site travelers can enjoy an immersive flash presentation that links them to roadside assistance in the form of tea articles, tea tips, a links page with resources about South Africa, and a newsletter sign up option to stay in touch.

With the new site, Kalahari is also launching two new lines of tea: ChocoLatté tea and Safari Lullaby red tea. For any dessert lovers, the new ChocoLatté tea serves as a healthy treat blended with roasted cacao nibs adding a new rich flavor. The Safari Lullaby red tea provides a perfect blend of chamomile and spearmint, helping soothe any stressful day.

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Dilmah's Oatmeal Tea Muffins

Dilmah's Holiday Seasonal Baking Recipe
Oatmeal Tea Muffins

3/4 cup milk
3 contents of Dilmah Teabags (Preferably the English Breakfast Tea or
Ceylon Supreme from Dilmah's Gourmet Series)
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 cup raisins

In a small saucepan, heat milk just to the simmer. Off heat, add the teabags, submerging them completely. Set mixture aside to cool. When cool, remove teabags, squeezing them to remove liquid. Adjust rack to lower third of oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease and flour 12 muffin cups. In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the oats and brown sugar. In a small bowl, combine the steeped tea milk, oil, and eggs. With a rubber spatula, make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid mixture. Stir the ingredients together just to moisten and combine. Do not over mix or the muffins will be tough and coarse in texture. Spoon thick batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each one 3/4 full. Bake 20 minutes or until muffin springs back when lightly pressed in center. Cool on wire rack for about 5 minutes before carefully removing from pan. Serve warm, if desired.

Image: Dilmah

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Teavana to Debut 28 New Teas

(from a press release)

Teavana debuts their new collection of teas for 2009 beginning October 27, just in time for the holiday shopping season. From a rare Black Dragon Pearl tea to a unique Samurai Chai Maté, this collection of teas further extends the wonderful aromas and health benefits that make Teavana special. For a limited time, they are also offering special promotions on the new teas via coupons that can be obtained at the stores.

Teavana, known for procuring the finest loose leaf tea from around the world, debuts the 28 new teas, which include a combination of pure estate and flavored white, green, oolong, black and herbal teas. In conjunction with the debut, Teavana also announced an online contest at Teavana where guests can vote for their favorite tea from the new assortment and be entered into a drawing for a gift collection containing all 28 new selections.

more

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Adagio's United States of Tea

Is it an attempt to "unite our post-election nation by sending a gift of tea across the blue/red divide" or just a timely gimmick to sell more tea? You be the judge. Adagio Teas' current offer allows you to "mail a gift of tea between any blue and red states, selecting $19 or more and your shipping is free."

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Smoothie King Introduces Yerba Maté Smoothie

Smoothie King Unveils the Secret to Natural Energy: Introduces “Drink of the Gods” with Yerba Maté Smoothie
(from a press release)

Yerba maté (pronounced YER-ba MA-tay) has folks revved up as nature’s latest contribution to the highly functional “superfood” category. Following its mission to encourage more and more people to achieve healthy lifestyles, Smoothie King has made the ancient yerba maté plant available to mainstream America. Berry Stimulating Maté, a combination of blackberry, strawberry, blueberry, Guayaki organic yerba maté, turbinado and nonfat milk, is now available at Smoothie King’s more than 550 locations across the country.

Smoothie King’s supplier, Guayaki, was the first to offer certified organic, fairly traded and rainforest-grown yerba maté to the marketplace. Guayakí works with farmers in South America to promote sustainable growing practices, to preserve and reforest the land, and to create a renewable income stream — effectively bettering the lives of the local communities.

A 20-ounce blend of the new Berry Stimulating Maté smoothie contains caffeine equivalent to one cup of coffee, 348 calories (298 when made “skinny”), four grams of protein and six grams of fiber. For more information on the new yerba maté smoothie, click here.


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World Tea Expo Wins Again

World Tea Expo Wins Again
(from a press release)

For the second time in three years, World Tea Expo has been named one of TSW's Fastest 50, the annual list of the most vibrant events in North America.

The World Tea Expo is a robust marketplace that brings together hundreds of new products, the latest industry innovations and relevant, cutting-edge educational sessions, providing tea professionals with a one-stop opportunity to help drive their business, fuel industry growth and encourage further exploration of the art and science of tea. The Expo also hosts the World Tea Championship which is a global competition evaluating the best teas available in the marketplace. All entrants receive a World Tea Rating and are published in the World Tea Buyers' Guide.

From 2005 through 2007, the period measured for this year's awards, the Expo had compounded annual growth of 30 percent in attendance, 28 percent in exhibiting firms and 25 percent in exhibit space. It was also a Fastest 50 show in 2006. The Fastest 50 awards are given by Tradeshow Week magazine, a leading publication covering the trade and consumer event industry.

The next World Tea Expo will take place at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, May 2-4, 2009. For more information, click here.

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The Tea Drinker's Handbook

Hot off the press - from Abbeville Press - it's The Tea Drinker's Handbook. Look for a review, coming soon. Here's what the publisher has to say about it:

In a skinny-no-whip-mocha-latte world, The Tea Drinker’s Handbook is a refreshing return to America’s roots in tea-drinking. Though tea is one of the most-consumed beverages in the world, second only to water, it is far from mundane. For both the lifelong tea drinker and the recent convert, The Tea Drinker’s Handbook is an indispensable reference for anyone interested in all things tea. The founders of Le Palais des Thés, a retail chain known for the high quality of its selection of teas, have traveled for over twenty years to plantations all over the world in search of the rarest teas, and the result is this handsome and enlightening book.

This is the first guide written under the Le Palais des Thés brand. In addition to ten shops in France, there are stores in Brussels, Oslo, Tokyo, and Beverly Hills, and their products are sold at Bergdorf Goodman. In this impressive and comprehensive guide, we rediscover tea, its cultivation, and all of its richness and complexity.

In addition to being an informative resource, this book is also a true tasting guide for tea lovers. The authors open our eyes (and introduce our palates) to tea-tasting, as they list the top fifty teas of the world—complete with tasting sheets—and include comments and advice for each. And with 200 illustrations, The Tea Drinker’s Handbook informs and instructs with both fascinating text and alluring images.

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Tetley Red Tea Launches In Canada

Tetley Brings Centuries Old African Secret to Canada With the Launch of New Tetley Red Tea
(from a press release)

A secret no more! Healthful, antioxidant-rich Red Tea, made from the rooibos plant exclusively found in the Cedarberg Mountains of South Africa, was first encountered by European botanists and brought to the "Old World" more than 300 years ago.

Now Tetley, Canada's tea leader, is set to re-introduce Africa's best kept secret with the launch of its exclusive new range of 100 per cent pure, antioxidant-rich and naturally caffeine-free Tetley Red Tea. Three exceptionally delicious flavours are set to hit Canadian store shelves starting October 2008 and include: Tetley Red Tea Pure Rooibos, Tetley Red Tea Vanilla and Tetley Red Tea Red Berry.

Expertly blended by Tetley, new Tetley Red Tea captures the essence of Africa at an affordable price. A unique and deliciously aromatic blend of the highest quality rooibos, new Tetley Red Tea is steeped in Tetley's 171-year tea-making tradition. An indulgent experience, its rich aroma and deep red colour come to life with an earthy flavour, featuring faint mineral tones and natural subtle sweetness; along with the unquestionable understanding that every cup delivers soothing, healthful refreshment.

Tetley Red Tea, made from authentic South African rooibos, is available across Canada in the tea aisle of most grocery stores, in a convenient 96 g box with 40 tea bags ($4.99). Tetley Red Tea Pure Rooibos, Tetley Red Tea Vanilla and Tetley Red Tea Red Berry come in 40g canisters with 20 tea bags ($3.29). All three are ideal for savouring at home or at the office and perfect for keeping you hydrated.

Tetley Red Tea

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Pumpkin And Yerba Mate Chai Smoothies At Robeks

Back by Popular Demand, Pump It Up Pumpkin(TM) and Yerba Mate Chai Smoothies
(from a press release)

Robeks Corporation, a national franchisor of premium fruit smoothies and healthy fare restaurants, prepares for the fall holidays by bringing back two favorite American flavors -- Pump It Up Pumpkin and Yerba Mate Chai Smoothies in 12, 24, and 32-ounce sizes. This limited time offer is available at all Robeks locations beginning October 13 until December 31, 2008.

At Robeks, nutrition is as important as taste. In the 12-ounce size, Pump It Up Pumpkin delivers seven grams of protein to power the body's energy, only one gram of fat, no cholesterol, one gram of fiber, 42 percent RDA of Vitamin A, and fewer calories than a piece of pumpkin pie. In just one 6.5 ounce serving of pumpkin pie, there are 19 grams of fat and more than 372 calories, according to www.dietfacts.com.

Rich in antioxidants, a 24-ounce Robeks Yerba Mate Chai Smoothie provides twice the amount of antioxidants of one cup of green tea or a serving of blueberries. Chai is the Hindi word for tea. Chai is known for its tantalizing blend of sweet spices, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla. The combination of energy-giving nutrients with the harmonious flavors of Chai makes Yerba Mate a guest-pleaser.

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Green Tea May Delay Onset Of Type 1 Diabetes

Green Tea May Delay Onset Of Type 1 Diabetes
(from a press release)

A powerful antioxidant in green tea may prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, Medical College of Georgia researchers say.

Researchers were testing EGCG, green tea's predominant antioxidant, in a laboratory mouse with type 1 diabetes and primary Sjogren's syndrome, which damages moisture-producing glands, causing dry mouth and eyes.

"Our study focused on Sjogren's syndrome, so learning that EGCG also can prevent and delay insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes was a big surprise," says Dr. Stephen Hsu, molecular/cell biologist in the School of Dentistry.

They found it also worked well in their original disease focus.

In the mouse, EGCG reduced the severity and delayed onset of salivary gland damage associated with Sjogren's syndrome, which has no known cure.

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