Monday, September 30, 2013
Video - Indian Tea Production 90 Years Ago
Here's an interesting historical look at the production of tea in India in the Twenties.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Tea Review 154 - The Republic of Tea Organic Assam Breakfast
The Republic of Tea
Here's the description Republic of Tea gives for their Organic Assam:
The robust, malty character of this tea comes from pure, unblended Assam leaves grown in Northern India. Plentiful golden tips on leaves & hearty body qualify this tea at the top of its class. This tea was also a winner in the North American Tea Championship Assam Tea category.
It's a champion and it tastes like one and I could pretty much tell that from the moment I opened the canister and was hit by the aroma. The dry leaves had a kind of faintly spicy smell - spicy in the manner of cinnamon or nutmeg - and I actually doublechecked to make sure that this wasn't a flavored tea. It's not but it did have a the great full flavor one hopes for in a topnotch Assam.
It might not be the best of all the Assam teas I've tasted over the years but this one definitely ranks near the top of the heap. Recommended.
Image: The Republic of Tea
Sample provided by The Republic of Tea
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Offbeat Tea Patents
Offbeat Tea Patents
By William I. Lengeman III
Inflatable rug, anyone? Bird diaper? If they sound too weird to be true, then check the files of the United States Patent Office, where you can confirm that they are indeed real ideas for inventions. The number of offbeat inventions that have been suggested over the years are so numerous that you can even find quite a few web sites devoted to them, if you’re so inclined.
Of course, as I’ve noted in these very pages before, there are a number of these weirdo inventions that have to do with tea in some way. One of the weirdest ones I’ve run across thus far goes by the rather dubious name...
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
EGCG: A Closer Look
EGCG: A Closer Look
By William I. Lengeman III
If you’ve been following the numerous reports about tea’s alleged health benefits in the media (including the ones at this site) in past years, then you’ve probably encountered a mouthful of a term known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate. Which is one of the most often cited beneficial compounds found in tea and one that’s typically shortened to the more manageable acronym, EGCG.
A compound in tea that’s known as a catechin, EGCG has antioxidant properties and is found in the greatest...
read the full article here
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Tetley Tea Moving Image Competition Winner
A golden oldie here, this one dates all the way back to 2006.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Beardwood&Co. Helps Introduce Tea Connoisseur Brand
(from a press release)
New York-based brand and innovation firm, Beardwood&Co., is helping Wissotzky Tea, a family-owned tea company since 1849; introduce its Signature line of teas into the US market this fall. According to The Tea Association of the USA, consumer interest in specialty teas is accelerating rapidly and supermarkets are devoting more shelf space to accommodate a more extensive array of products. Wissotzky Tea is the leading tea brand in Israel and is known for exceptional quality blends among tea connoisseurs worldwide.
Working in partnership with The Green Seed Group, a company that helps international food and beverage brands enter the US, Wissotzky identified a market opportunity between the premium and super premium segments: a tea more special for everyday use without being overpriced. According to David Cohen, General Manager, Wissotzky Tea USA, “Beardwood contributed their thinking and understanding of the category in the US, which was crucial to successfully translate and communicate our messages and values. They understood how consumers perceive the category and how to create differentiation from other brands.”
In the competitive tea section, Wissotzky Tea stands out with a sophisticated, simple design featuring an iconic teacup against an elegant black background. According to Sarah Williams, Partner/Creative Director, Beardwood&Co, “Unlike most tea brands that focus on tea ingredients or illustrations, the Signature collection has glamorous photography of the pyramid silk tea bags and an overhead view of the teacup to appeal to people on an emotional, visceral level. It’s a personal invitation to take time out and have an amazing cup of tea.” The black background is used as the unifying brand color while bright, color-coded lids create a billboard effect and identify the ten flavors. “We also adapted the logo for the US market by incorporating the family crest (a ship) within the gold-embossed logo and adding a signature of Klonimus Wissotzky, the company’s founder, to reinforce the brand’s heritage,” notes Williams. Beardwood used the back panel to further tell the Wissotzky family story.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Tea Bench Made From Recycled Green Tea Leaves
ITO EN to Sell Tea Bench Made From Recycled Green Tea Leaves
(from a press release)
ITO EN, the world's leading supplier of loose leaf green tea and ready-to-drink beverage, and makers of the award-winning line of bottled green tea-TEAS' TEA® has announced that they will begin selling their Tea Bench, made from recycled green tea leaves used from the bottling production of their beverages. In the company's efforts to reuse and recycle their used tea leaves, an innovative eco-friendly synthetic resin was developed to create various products ranging from vending machines, floor mats and public benches. The products have been a part of the companies CSR recycling activities that blend harmoniously into the environment. With green tea known to have antibacterial and antiviral properties, the products retain the deodorizing and antibacterial properties. The Tea Bench is composed of 20% recycled tea leaves and recycled food trays.
The Tea Bench will be available by special order on the company website-www.itoen.com, and will retail for $925.00.
Sunday, September 08, 2013
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
Monday, September 02, 2013
Tea Review 153 - Teavivre Green Tea (x4)
Organic Superfine Dragon Well
Organic Nonpareil Ming Qian Dragon Well
Nonpareil Te Gong Huang Shan Mao Feng
Liu An Gua Pian
Teavivre
I haven't been drinking much green tea lately. Not that I have anything against it because I certainly don't. But black tea is my favorite by far and it's what I've been drinking, almost exclusively, for quite a while now.
But I always welcome a nice change of pace - especially when it comes in the form of a high-quality green tea. Which is what the good people at Teavivre sent a little while back - times four. I liked them all and if I were a more careful reviewer, like I used to be, I'd go ahead and tell you a little bit about each one. In lieu of that I'll point out that I liked the Superfine Dragon Well and the Mao Feng quite well and the Ming Qian Dragon Well better than any of the bunch. Which is not to say that the Liu An Gua Pian was so shabby either. Read on for the merchant's descriptions of each.
Organic Nonpareil Ming Qian Dragon Well Long Jing
This Organic Nonpareil Ming Qian Dragon Well Long Jing tea origins in organic tea base of Tianmu Mountain in Lin’an, Hangzhou. The organic tea base of Tianmu Mountain, has passed the organic certification of European, USA and Japan, is a significant base of planting organic dragon well and green tea. This dragon well long jing tea persists a high level in picking and producing while meeting the standard of organic certification. The tea should be picked as one bud and two leaves or three leaves in order to reach the standard. Tea workers also have excellent skills, which help keep the natural features of fresh tea leaves. Combined with the advantages of organic tea and high grade tea, this dragon well long jing tea is suitable for tea lovers of organic tea as well as dragon well green tea.
Organic Superfine Dragon Well Long Jing
This Organic Dragon Well Long Jing tea origins in organic tea base of Tianmu Mountain in Lin’an, Hangzhou. The organic tea base of Tianmu Mountain, has passed the organic certification of European, USA and Japan, is a significant base of planting organic dragon well and green tea. This dragon well long jing tea persists a high level in picking and producing while meeting the standard of organic certification. The tea should be picked as one bud and two leaves or three leaves in order to reach the standard. Tea workers also have excellent skills, which help keep the natural features of fresh tea leaves. Combined with the advantages of organic tea and high grade tea, this dragon well long jing tea is suitable for tea lovers of organic tea as well as dragon well green tea.
Nonpareil Te Gong Huang Shan Mao Feng
The historic Huang Shan Mao Feng is well-known as one of the ten famous Chinese tea. This Ming Qian Huang Shan Mao Feng was picked on March 23, 2013, is a kind of pre-ming green tea. Pre-ming tea has strict requirement of the picking time and its making standard, thus the bird-tongue appearance could been perfect formed, as well as the brisk flavor. Both of which are favored by tea lovers.
Liu An Gua Pian
TeaVivre's Liu'an Guapian is sourced from a plantation in this teas home province of Liu'an county, and is produced using traditional manual methods. This tea’s unique taste and shape comes from it being the only Chinese green tea that is made without using any buds, new leaves or stems. During processing, mature leaves are separated out and then carefully cut by hand to remove any stems and the central leaf vein. They then undergo a lengthy drying and rolling process, resulting in its unique round shape. When brewed Liu'an Guapian has a great complex sweet taste, and a bright, emerald color to the tea.
Image: Teavivre
Sample provided by Teavivre
Teavivre has advertised at Tea Guy Speaks
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Tea-Man Claymation Tea Video
If Gumby, Pokey and other standbys of claymation are your kinda thing, try out this short video with a tea theme. It is, in the words of its maker, "a stop motion animated film about the powers of tea. Featuring Tea-Man! My first try at claymation, with hand-made set and characters."
Sunday, September 01, 2013
Tea Timers & Apps
Got time? Knowing how long to steep the leaves is a critical part of brewing a great cup of tea. With that in mind, here's a selection of virtual and actual tea timers.
Updated 09/01/2013
Palm & iPhone Apps
Aromatic
Taste Timer 1.1
Tea
Tea Leaves
Tea Pal
Teavana Perfect Tea Touch iPhone App
Wheel of Tea
Virtual Tea Timers
Cuppa
Steep.it
Tea Round App
Tea Time!
Tea Timer
"Real" Tea Timers
Penguin Teaboy
Image: Tea Pal
Adagio Teas - Best Tea Online
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