To Your Heath! Tea Video

A rather arty Calm-A-Sutra entry from past years.



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Lyons Tea All Talk Commercial

From the All Talk series of commercials.



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Tea Review 141 - Naivetea Oolong (x2)

Li Shan
Wen Shan Bao Zhong
Naivetea

Here are another pair of oolong teas from Naivetea. I've reviewed several other varieties from these oolong specialists so far and I have yet to run across a dud. Of this pair of light oolongs, I liked Li Shan the best, but there was certainly nothing wrong with the Wen Shan Bao Zhong.

Li Shan
Distinctive mountain essence, notes of fresh flowers and fruits, lingering refined sweetness.
Mouth Feel: Soft with light and smooth body
Aroma: Delicate, fresh nectar with fruit notes
Ingredients: Ching Shin Oolong
Oxidation/Fermentation: Light
Origin: Li Shan, also known as Pear Mountain, one of the highest altitude tea farming regions in Central Taiwan
Elevation: 2,100 meters/6,889 feet

Wen Shan Bao Zhong
Mouth Feel: Soft with light and smooth body
Aroma: Profuse flowers with hints of orchid and osmanthus
Ingredients: Ching Shin Oolong
Oxidation/Fermentation: Light
Origin: Highest altitude tea farm in Ping Lin, Northern Taiwan
Elevation: 650 meters/2,132 feet

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree
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The Breville One-Touch Tea Maker

Stash Tea Introduces Guayusa Tea

Stash Tea Introduces Guayusa Tea: Energy from Ecuador
(from a press release)

Stash Tea, one of the largest specialty tea companies in the USA, announces the release of six great tasting new teas made with a rare, naturally caffeinated herbal tea known as Guayusa (gwhy-you-sa).

Guayusa is a stimulating herb native to the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador where it has been part of the indigenous culture and cultivated for more than 2000 years. Guayusa is delicious. It has a naturally smooth taste and a rich and earthy aroma and slightly sweet finish.

Guayusa is also naturally caffeinated and has an energizing effect similar to coffee or Yerba Mate, but unlike coffee or Yerba Mate, Guayusa provides a slow release of caffeine for alertness and energy, without the jitters or sudden caffeine crash.

Guayusa also supports small farms in Ecuador and it helps the Amazon Rainforest thrive, as Guayusa is shade-grown.

Stash Tea offers a Pure Guayusa Tea, as well as five signature blends, all organic and 100% natural.

Guayusa Tea with Chocolate -- Natural chocolate combines with refreshing Guayusa for a dessert-like tea that's rich and stimulating.

Guayusa Tea with Chai -- Ecuador meets India in an aromatic blend of smooth Guayusa and spicy Chai.

Guayusa Tea with Yerba Mate & Ginseng -- are paired for an invigorating blend that is sure to awaken the senses.

Guayusa Tea with Lemon -- Lemony herbs and natural lemon oil combine for a slightly tart, refreshing taste.

Guayusa Tea with Mint -- Peppermint and spearmint are paired for a refreshing, rejuvenating taste.

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Tea Superpowers Video

What tea can and can't do for you. A humorous entry from the 2009 Calm-A-Sutra contest.

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Tea Review 140 - Persimmon Tree Black (x4)

Biodynamic Darjeeling
Ceylon
Classic Black
English Breakfast
The Persimmon Tree

I tend to favor black tea over everything else. So when The Persimmon Tree sent a bunch of samples recently it's no surprise that I immediately gravitated to the four unflavored black varieties that were included. To paraphrase George Orwell, all of them were equal but some were more equal than the others.

Biodynamic Darjeeling
Despite its exalted reputation I find that I'm not normally a fan of Darjeeling. A lot of the ones I've tried seem to have a hint of bitterness and kind of a thin quality to the flavor. Maybe it's because I'm used to more robust black teas. In any event, this one didn't have any of those qualities and I found it to be quite smooth and flavorful. I'd rank it as the best of this bunch.

Ceylon
If memory serves right I've seen the term bright used to describe certain types of Ceylon tea and I was never sure quite what it meant. After sampling this Ceylon I think I understand it now. I've been drinking a lot of Yunnan black tea lately and have gotten used to that heavy, very robust flavor that's common to the breed. I could see how the term bright could apply to this Ceylon, which is quite light and has some very faint notes that almost resemble mint. Rather an offbeat one here.

Classic Black
This is a mix of Nilgiri and Yunnan and while I liked it I personally felt that perhaps it could use a little less of the former and more of the latter. Not bad at all, but kind of middle of the road as far as flavor goes.

English Breakfast
There's no indication of exactly what teas are included in this blend. I'd rank it about the same as the Classic Black.

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree
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North American Tea Championship - 20 Best Teas

North American Tea Championship Reveals the 20 Best Tasting, Premium Hot Teas in the Marketplace
(from a press release)

With the 20 best tasting teas, the North American Tea Championship (NATC) is shining the spotlight on the most notable, high-quality teas that are commercially available in the North American marketplace. The Championship, held Feb. 28 – 29 in Las Vegas, Nev., evaluated premium hot teas from the fall 2011 harvest. The NATC is the only independent and professionally-judged tea competition in North America.

Rishi Tea took home the most awards with a total of six first-place wins, two second-place wins and six third-place wins. QTrade Teas & Herbs followed with four first-place wins, one second place win and five third-place wins.

In addition to Rishi Tea and QTrade Teas & Herbs, other tea companies that took a prestigious first-place title include: Alvin's of San Francisco; Florapharm Tea-USA LP; KIMICHA TEA; Naivetea; Newby Teas of London; Rare Tea Cellar Inc.; Silk Road Teas; Sipping Streams Tea Company; and Yogic Chai.

Companies that entered the competition for the first time and received honors – either a first, second or third place award – include: Alvin's; KIMICHA TEA; Newby Teas of London; Silk Road Teas; Black Tusk Trading; Tazo Teas; Hankook Tea; and Zuri Tea.

A total of 50 companies competed in the North American Tea Championship with a record 230 tea entries (the previous record for an evaluation was 217 different teas in 2010). The Flavored Rooibos category had 35 entries – the largest number of entries in any one category, indicating the popularity of that tea in the marketplace.

more

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Classic Lipton Iced Tea Commercial

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World Tea Expo Names 2012 Tea Trends

World Tea Expo Names Six Leading Tea Trends for 2012
(from a press release)

Organizers of World Tea Expo, the largest and most prominent B2B event for the industry, pinpoint quality tea, growth in tea retail, cold brew green tea, green tea popularity, Matcha lattes and tea-enhancing wares as six of the key tea trends for 2012. World Tea Expo, which covers the latest retail developments, takes place June 1 – 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Registration and information is available at www.WorldTeaExpo.com.

"At World Tea Expo, we always strive to stay one step ahead of emerging trends, so we can deliver a relevant event to participants that fuels business growth," says Kim Jage, sales and marketing director, World Tea Media, a division of F+W Media. "Each one of these six trends – as well as numerous other hot topics – will be addressed and explored during the Expo this year. At the event, attendees can: taste cold brewed green tea and the latest Japanese Matcha lattes; gain current knowledge regarding tea retail growth, supply chain transparency and FDA regulations; learn how to capitalize on tasting trends; and taste for themselves whether or not the newest tea ware on the market does in fact enhance the flavor of tea."

Six Notable Tea Trends
1. Quality Tea on the Rise
2. Tea Retail Continues Its Upward Trend
3. Green Tea Grows in Popularity
4. Tea-enhancing Tea Wares
5. Cold Brew Green Tea
6. Matcha Lattes (Real Ones)

more

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New Pu-erh Tea Blends From Numi

Numi Organic Tea Introduces New Artisanal Pu-erh Tea Blends
(from a press release)

Numi Organic Tea, the world's first company to offer a complete line of Pu-erh (poo-air) teas for the national US Market, is introducing five new exotic Pu-erh blends to their already remarkable line of organic tea.

This March 2012 the Pu-erh collection, which already includes Emperor's and Chocolate teas, will expand to include five unique, new flavors: Coconut, Cardamom, Basil Mint, Jasmine and Ginger.

Pu-erh is an ancient healing tea picked from 500-year-old organic wild tea trees in Yunnan, China. Unlike traditional teas, Pu-erh undergoes a unique 60-day fermentation process resulting in a bold flavor with hints of malt and an abundance of healthy antioxidants. Pu-erh can be compressed into bricks and aged, like fine wine, for months, years or even decades. This increases its value, health benefits and premium taste. In addition, studies in China and France show that Pu-erh can also reduce cholesterol, improve digestion and metabolism, and can aid and support healthy weight loss. As more and more consumers discover Pu-erh teas and their excellent health benefits, the word is spreading.

The new blends include:
Coconut Pu-erh: Real coconut pieces and a hint of vanilla bean make for a delicious, rich and smooth treat
Cardamom Pu-erh: Sultry cardamom blends perfectly with Pu-erh to create an intriguing and exotic tea
Basil Mint Pu-erh: Herbaceous and distinct, this infusion makes for a smooth yet vibrant blend
Jasmine Pu-erh: A beautiful and balanced floral touch to deep earthy flavors
Ginger Pu-erh: Zesty notes of real ginger and rich Pu-erh make for a bold cup of tea

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English Tea Store Blog

In addition to writing about tea at this site I also contribute regularly to the English Tea Store Blog. Since I write quite a few articles for them I tend to fall behind on mentioning most of them here. But without any further ado, here are a few of the most recent articles and a link to access the others I've written.

Wartime Tea Rationing
Gadgets & Offbeat Tea News Revisited
“Letter to a Friend, Concerning Tea,” by John Wesley


All of my English Tea Store Blog articles

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Ancient Tea Trees

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