TID and TEA bits...

Some bits of information from "THE TEA TEMPTRESS" that will entertain and help you as a tea connoisseur. If you have helpful hints, please feel free to share!

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Did you know that "teas" that are made from herbs, flowers, fruits or roots are not actually TEA, but INFUSIONS?? In order to be classified as "TEA" your leaves must be harvested from the Camellia sinensis plant - the evergreen TEA plant!

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Did you know the best way to brew a STRONG cup of tea is to increase the amount of tea that you use in the brewing process? DON'T increase the brew time, because that will make a bitter, cloudy tea!

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Using the natural light of the sun in SUN TEA will make a wonderful, clear glass of ICED TEA. BUT...sometimes you just can't wait all day. So, if you are in a hurry, you can brew your tea as usual, and then allow the tea to come to room temperature before pouring over ice and you will avoid any bitter taste!

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Tea drinkers are very particular about their tea cups. WHY? Because the type of china that you drink from can accentuate and improve the color and taste of your tea. Choose what you like and enjoy each sip!

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While having tea it is customary to only fill a tea cup 70% full. This allows room in the cup for "FRIENDSHIP."

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Your fine china and porcelain tea cups and pots should not be washed in the dishwasher. ESPECIALLY if they are hand painted. ALSO, take care to avoid drinking coffee our of your tea cups as porcelain and china will absorb the coffee flavor and change the gentle taste of your tea.

Here's wishing you a "cuppa joy!"

~THE TEA TEMPTRESS~

A fun recipe to share!

"TEA SANGRIA DELIGHT"
August 2008

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

6 cups strong tea (appropriate flavored tea will add a great "twist")
Brew tea according to directions, and let cool to room temp to avoid bitter
taste....**Note** - To make strong tea, don't brew longer, but add more
tea to the water to avoid bitter taste.

3 cups of fresh fruit - choose according to the flavor of your juice and tea,
or what you can find in season. ie: strawberries, peaches, mangos,
pineapples, oranges, etc.

2 T. fine sugar or agave nectar + 2 T. Sugar

3 cups fruit juice - again, choose according to the flavor and fruit. ie: grape,
pomegranate, cranberry, etc.

WHAT TO DO:

Before you brew your tea, chop fruit and toss with 2 T. sugar and set aside. Place 2 T. sugar in your teapot and brew with your tea for appropriate time. After tea has cooled to room temp, pour tea over juice. Add 1/2 the fruit to the tea and save some for the glasses that you will serve.

For added fun....rim the tea glasses with sugar!

~Autumn, THE TEA TEMPTRESS

TEA on the TODAY show...

The TODAY show had a GREAT segment on TEA this morning.....did you see it? China, of course, is a very special place to get "steeped" in the history and tradition of TEA!

Here are a couple fun things that I picked up.

1. Traditionally, there are 3 steps to drinking tea properly. They are:

A. TASTE

B. DRINK

C. REMEMBER

2. A TEA cup should only be filled 70%. WHY?

The remaining 30% is room left for FRIENDSHIP!

(Gotta LOVE that sentiment!)

TEA is all about CERMONY and TRADITION. The "PURPLE VINE" in Bejing is a wonderful tea house that offers a peek into the tradition and history that is TEA!

HEALTH, TRADITION, FRIENDSHIP, HOSPITALITY, ROMANCE, ART....how wonderful to sip in all these words from one cup of TEA!

Here's wishing you a "cuppa" wonder today and each day that you drink your tea!

Autumn, THE TEA TEMPTRESS

RED TEA

RED TEA / ROOIBOSS - from South Africa

RED TEA is good for you!

Rooibos (ROY-boss), an indigenous herb from South Africa is full of polyphenois and flavonoids, which help protect the body from free-radicals that weaken natural defenses and eventually lead to aging and the onset of disease.

Scientific studies indicate that drinking RED TEA daily can reward you with powerful antioxidants that help build the immune system and create a healthier, longer life.

SOME GREAT REASONS TO DRINK RED TEA:

1. NO CAFFEINE - RED TEA has all the benefits of green TEA, but is completely caffeine-free so that you can enjoy unlimited cups, multiplying the benefits from all its healthful properties without overdoing the caffeine.

2. GENTLE ENOUGH FOR A BABY - RED TEA can be of benefit in common infant ailments like colic and stomach cramps.

3. PURE AND SIMPLE - RED TEA is completely pure, natural and contains no additives, preservatives or colorants.

4. CALMING PROPERTIES - Since RED TEA contains no caffeine, it has a soothing effect on the central nervous system.

5. HELPS DIGESTION - RED TEA has anti-spasmodic properties which help to relieve stomach and digestive problems like nausea, vomiting, heartburn and stomach ulcers.

6. HELPS ALLERGIES - RED TEA can also help manage allergies, hay fever, asthma, and eczema.

7. GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN - Our skin is our largest organ and absorbs into our bodies up to 60% of what we put on it. RED TEA has a soothing effect when applied directly to the skin as a tincture or can relieve itching, rashes and sunburn when added to a bath. Even better, RED TEA contains zinc and alapa hydroxy acid, which promote healthy skin, and magnesium, which is necessary for a healthy nervous system.

8. REDUCE THE SIGNS OF AGING - RED TEA has antioxidants which limit the effects of free-radicals in the process of aging and the declining immune system.

9. BUILDS A STRONG BODY - RED TEA supplements the daily amounts of calcium, manganese and especially fluoride, needed for the development of strong teeth and bones.

So, enjoy your "cuppa" RED TEA and know that you are helping your body!

~Autumn, THE TEA TEMPTRESS

WHITE TEA

WHITE TEA

If you drink TEA for health reasons, you probably drink Green TEA, but research now shows us that drinking WHITE TEA is actually even healthier for you than drinking Green TEA.

WHITE TEA is the most minimally processed of all tea varieties. This helps preserve its powerful health benefits. Modern research shows that WHITE TEA retains the highest level of polyphenols. Polyphenols are disease preventative antioxidants and so we say, “the more the merrier!”

WHITE TEA is one of the rarest of all TEAS. The tender white buds are gently hand picked only 2 days a year to ensure that the leaf is still in the bud stage. Obviously, the yield is small and as the demand increases, it only stands to reason that WHITE TEA is one of the world’s most expensive TEAS.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF WHITE TEA:

1. WHITE TEA has more antioxidants than any other kind of TEA. Studies are showing us that WHITE TEA is the healthiest of all teas. WHITE TEA has 10 times the antioxidants found in vitamin E and 20 times the antioxidants found in vitamin C.

2. WHITE TEA reduces high blood pressure by inhibiting the formation of certain enzymes that cause constriction in blood vessels and TEA in general may inhibit oxidation of LDL (low density lipoproteins), sometimes referred to as "bad cholesterol." Scientists believe that oxidized LDL is a potent initiator of coronary heart disease.

3. WHITE TEA has lower caffeine than black and green TEA.

HOW TO PREPARE WHITE TEA:

To appreciate the unique, soft flavor and delicate nature of this TEA, preparation is of the utmost importance.

The water should be just short of boiling and the TEA should steep only 30-60 seconds.

So, enjoy your "cuppa" WHITE TEA knowing that you are partaking in a very special TEA once reserved for emperors and nobility!

~Autumn, THE TEA TEMPTRESS

GREEN TEA

GREEN TEA

We hear so much about GREEN TEA and its health benefits. There is a great variety of GREEN TEAS on the market today that support a healthier, balanced life.

Scientific studies show that tea, and especially GREEN TEAS, contains a large quantity of very specific organic compounds known collectively as polyphenols. These polyphenols are present in all teas, but are most powerful more pronounced in GREEN TEA. Polyphenols are strong antioxidants. Scientific evidence points to the role antioxidants play in promoting good health and in preventing cancer.

Scientific studies also show that TEA is rich in plant substances known as flavonoids. Flavonoids function as antioxidants that neutralize free radicals that can damage cells and lead to diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Research is showing that BLACK, GREEN, and OOLONG TEAS, have a protective capability against oral, lung, colon and other cancers. GREEN TEAS especially, with more than thirty polyphenols, have a unique beneficial effect on the human system. These polyphenols are also found in fruits and vegetables and act as antioxidants like vitamin C, E, and beta carotene and may reduce serum cholesterol and the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Although the healthful effects of TEAS have been known to countless generations, recent research shows that drinking TEA both black and green, can lead to a long and healthy life. In addition to being a soothing, calming beverage, TEA is reported to aid digestion, strengthen the immune system, and reduce the risk of heart disease, all of which play a role in healthy aging.

Of specific interest to me is the fact tat recent studies in the US, Japan and China have shown that drinking TEA can inhibits cancer as well as other types of TUMORS! Other studies have shown that regular GREEN TEA consumption can result in lower incidence of several types of cancers. One possible explanation for this seems to be that the compounds in TEA inhibit the formation action of cancer causing substances, such as nitrosamines, which are the by product of cooking meats and fish.

TEA has also been shown to contribute to a healthy heart. By inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive tract, TEA helps prevent the formation of unwanted clots which may cause a heart attack or stroke. With trace amounts of fluoride, TEA can have an active role in preventing cavities, by inhibiting dental plaque formation and can help maintain healthy teeth.

What about caffeine? While GREEN TEA does have caffeine, it only has about one-third the caffeine per cup of black TEA.

So enjoy your "cuppa" GREEN TEA and know that you are sipping your way to better health!

~Autumn, THE TEA TEMPTRESS

BLACK TEA

BLACK TEA

BLACK TEAS are different because they go through a "fermentation" or "oxidation" process. The enzymes in the leaf are released on to the leaf by crushing or bruising the leaf. This process releases oils, which turns the leaf “black.” The longer a TEA is oxidized, the darker it gets. This process of plucking, bruising and sorting requires skill, and this skill determines the quality of the TEA.

The “place” or region that produces the TEA plant has a big effect on the taste and variation of the TEA. Different countries, different regions, different growing conditions, different soil, and different gardens all add different properties to TEA.

Just like wines, variations make for different tastes. Darjeeling TEAS are light liquoring, and have a characteristic muscat grape flavor. Keemun, a classic Chinese BLACK TEAS are winey and toasty. Assams are very full-bodied and malty in flavor.

HOW TO PREPARE BLACK TEA:

Either loose leaf or bagged, this TEA should be brewed with boiling water for three to five minutes. One level teaspoon of loose TEA, or one tea bag makes a five ounce cup…..but some may find that to be VERY strong!

So, enjoy your "cuppa" BLACK TEA and know that you are sipping something special!

~Autumn, THE TEA TEMPTRESS

OOLONG TEA

OOLONG TEA

The history of OOLONG TEA dates back to the teas that were originally purchased by the British and imported to England. OOLONG TEA is all about the fermentation process. Fermentation is stopped in order to obtain the flavor desired.

These teas are made from whole leaves because the beauty of the tea is often as important as the flavor and aroma. Generally, the leaves on the uppermost part of the tea bush, where the youngest shoots are found, yield the most flavor.

Chinese OOLONGS are often very green and have a floral taste. OOLONGS from Taiwan, known as Formosan OOLONGS, are oxidized longer, fired longer and have a ripe fruit flavor.

As with all teas, the health benefits of tea make it a great choice for a daily cup!

HOW TO PREPARE:

Generally offered loose, OOLONG TEA should be brewed using water that is just under boiling. OOLONG TEA should be steeped for 3-5 minutes. Your personal taste will determine the length you steep your tea and the flavor that you derive.

So enjoy your "cuppa" OOLONG TEA and finding a unique taste that you love!

~Autumn, THE TEA TEMPTRESS