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Celebrate National Hot Tea Month
January 2008

hot teaJanuary is National Hot Tea Month. To celebrate this most-beloved beverage, this issue of the newsletter will be completely devoted to tea.

It is not surprising to learn that January is National Hot Tea Month since it is the time of year when many make resolutions to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Tea, with all its health benefits, can assist anyone committed to making this year, the year. “Adding tea to a healthy diet may be one of the easiest and healthiest resolutions to start the New Year out right,” said Joe Simrany, President of the Tea Council of the USA.


- A Healthier You -
The Health Benefits of Tea
"Fruits, vegetables, and tea all contain important antioxidants. Research suggests these phytonutrients may contribute substantially to the promotion of health and the prevention of chronic disease” stated Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., F.A.C.N, Chief of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.

While making no medical claims, companies like Tay Tea (www.taytea.com) offer teas that promote better overall health.  Their Twiggy Tea, for example, is an organic aged Oolong loved for it’s complex and refined taste as well as its ability to reduce cholesterol and aid in weight loss.

Tavalon, a New York based tea bar, offers a wide array of function teas which offer slimming, anti-aging, calming, and energizing benefits.  “Tea sales generally increase during the month of January.  We see a particularly heavy increase in our slimming tea sales during that time and I think it could be related to health oriented new years resolutions” said John-Paul Lee, Owner of Tavalon.  “Our best selling tea during this time is our Too Long Oolong” which functions as a slimming tea.

Tea to reduce stress?  You bet.  When the stress of the job and family become too much, many tea lovers turn to Good Life Anti-Stress Tea Infusion.   Dried Gotukola leaves are blended with Ceylon green tea and natural lemon flavor to provide an invigorating tea created to help release stress.  www.serendib-teas.com.  Also available from www.Serendib-teas.com  is a drink that is just perfect for the coming winter months—Good Life Winter Tea Infusion.  This tea provides an expert blend of spices, Ceylon black tea, and contains volatile and essential oils to help fight coughs, colds, and flu.  

As we ring in the new year, let’s not forget about the kids!  The Institute of Medicine warned in a report, one in five children in the United States will be obese by the year 2010.  While many children don’t yet make new year’s resolutions, this is a significant health issue targeting kids today.  Captain Teao™, the socially responsible, fun loving superhero is on a mission to help kids fight the effects of childhood obesity, heart disease and type II diabetes. Tea for Kids is a great tasting, healthy and refreshing alternative to high calorie and sugar loaded sodas and fruit juices. Unlike sodas and juices Tea For Kids contains no sugar or caffeine and is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. By offering kid-friendly flavors like Peachy Keen Peach and Lip-Licking Lemon, kids are drawn to the teas and, as an added bonus, get all the health benefits associated with them. www.teaforkids.com

Health claims about the benefits of tea seem to be surfacing all the time and rarely seem to be disputed.  At www.teausa.org you’ll find valuable information on tea and the health benefits of tea:


- Top 10 Things to Do -
To Celebrate National Hot Tea Month
  1. Invite a friend over for some tea and talk. 
  2. Try a tea that you never had before.
  3. Test your knowledge about tea; take the tea quiz at www.teausa.org.
  4. Visit a local teahouse or tea store in your community.
  5. Make a recipe that includes tea as one of the ingredients.
  6. Go for Afternoon Tea with a group of friends.
  7. Host a tea tasting party in your home.
  8. Sip a cocktail infused with your favorite tea.
  9. Send a box of your favorite tea and a personal note to a friend/relative far away.
  10. Visit the Sparta Teapot Museum in Sparta, North Carolina (www.spartateapotmuseum.org).

- Tea Innovation & Cool Tools -
Great Teas & Brew Tools

Spoon Tea from Sympatea USA—for the ultimate convenience!

Convenient and delicious, Sympatea USA takes the hassle out of making tea with it’s ingenious spoon tea.  With the tea already in the spoon, it is the ultimate in convenience for every tea lover!  Great for home, the office or tea lovers on the go.  Available in five great spoon tea varieties: black tea, earl grey, green, rosehip, and mixed herbal.  www.sympateausa.com

FreeLeaf™ Tea—Whole-Leaf Tea Hassle-Free!

In a hurry? No time to steep or drink that refreshing pot of tea? FreeLeaf™ makes perfect whole leaf tea on-the-go. It couldn’t be easier—simply place a tea bouquet in your thermos or commuter cup, add hot water, and it’s as simple as that. Sip at your leisure. Unlike the conventional tea bag, freeleaf™ gives you more flavor over time, but never gets bitter. www.teance.com

Gravity Teapot—Great Modern Engineering!

Make the perfect cup of tea without the hassle of plungers, paper filters, or cumbersome tea balls. Tavalon’s 18-ounce teapot uses direct immersion to create full-flavored teas. To make tea, simply deposit loose tealeaves into the tea maker and add hot water. After steeping for 3 to 5 minutes, your tea is ready. Placing the tea maker on top of a mug triggers the gravity-flow filter, pouring tea into the cup while keeping leaves in the maker. When your cup’s filled to the brim, just lift the brewer and the flow stops. Tavalon’s Gravity Teapot sells for $19.99.  www.tavalon.com.

Not your Ordinary Chai!

Moulin Rouge Chai—chocolatey, spicy, warm, deep, and delicious.  Sure to please every chai lover.  This SerendipiTea Chai has a smoky touch and a spirited kick.  Ingredients:  vanilla, cloves, cardamom, ginger, pepper, cinnamon, cassis, black tea.  A 4 oz. box sells for $12 at www.SerendipiTea.com.

Red Tea—Packed with Anti-oxidants

Colorado-based Two Leaves and a Bud make an exceptional organic lemon Rooibos tea. The Rooibos, or redbush tea, is a great caffeine-free alternative. Theirs brews up rich and lemony with just a hint of lemongrass tang.  High in anti-oxidants and trace minerals, this tea has a smooth and rich body and a sweet citrus finish.  www.twoleavesandabud.com

 

Chocolate Tea?  Delectable Innovation from Mighty Leaf!

Chocolate Chip Truffle—Deep dark chocolate chunks mingle with rich black tea leaves in this decadent infusion.
Chocolate Mint Truffle—an intoxicating blend of chocolate cacao nibs, mint and rooibos leaves.  With Rooibos and chocolate both known to be good sources of antioxidants, this is pure indulgence without guilt.
Chocolate Orange Truffle—Madagascar vanilla, chocolate cacao nibs and orange peels blend with Ceylon and China black tea leaves to impart a full, deep chocolate citrus. This blend pairs well with cream-based desserts such as a crème brulée.
www.mightyleaf.com

Tea for One — Stylish Elegance!

This 12 oz. glass teacup comes complete with a steel strainer, saucer and glass cover.  Now your favorite loose-leaf tea can be brewed with style and the glass cover keeps your tea hot until you are ready to drink it.  $19 at www.sofotea.com.

 

Tea Stick—Brewing a Haute Cup of Tea!

Here’s a great way to steep your favorite full-leaf loose teas.  Constructed entirely of stainless steel it is perfect for medium sized full-leaf teas.  Stylish and easy to use, it will produce a delicious 10-14 oz. cup of tea and is a must for all tea lovers. www.tavalon.com

 



- How to Make Good Tea -
At-A-Glance Guidance From Sara’s Tea Caddie
  1. Boil freshly drawn water and let it cool to the appropriate temperature.
  2. Put tea leaves into the pot, use 3 to 3.5g (5g for Gyokuro) for each cup.
  3. Pour water into the pot and allow 1 to 1 1/2 (2 1/2 for Gyokuro) minutes for infusion.
  4. The tea should be completely poured out into warmed cups at each infusion, leaving no liquid in the pot.
Teas
Temperature and Infusion Time
Sencha regular 155 - 160F for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes
makes up to 2 infusions
Sencha deep steamed 155 - 160F for 1 to 1 1/4 minutes
makes up to 3 infusions
Kukicha 175F for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes
Hojicha 190F to boiling for 1 to 1 1/4 minutes
Gyokuro 130 - 140F for 2 1/2 minutes
Put generous amounts of tea in a small tea pot. Do not submerge tea leaves completely inside the pot allowing for some breathing space.
Genmaicha 175 - 195F for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes
higher quality requires slightly lower temperature similar to the technique used in Sencha
Maccha Genmaicha 180 - 195F for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes
Maccha 190F
Put a teaspoon of Maccha (2g) in a larger tea bowl. Pour hot water (60cc) into the tea bowl and stir quickly with a bamboo whisk until fine small bubbles appear.
Source:  www.teacaddie.com

Sara’s Tea Caddie imports and distributes the finest Japanese teas. They specialize in high quality Japanese tea varieties that are typically produced by smaller and more exclusive tea producers. Their mission is simply to share with U.S. consumers the fabulous green teas the Japanese have been enjoying for hundreds of years. www.teacaddie.com


- Read All About It -

To continue the celebration of National Hot Tea Month, here is a list of just some of the magazines that are devoted to tea, support tea education, and report on tea trends. 




- Coffee & Tea Festival: NYC -
April 12-13, 2008

coffee and tea festival
Watch the rebroadcasts of "Caffeinated" on the Food Network hit show Unwrapped featuring the 2006 Coffee and Tea Festival on 1/1/08 & 1/2/08.  Check your local listings for the broadcast times for your area.

Don't miss the 3rd Annual Coffee & Tea Festival: NYC in 2008! CALL FOR 2008 EXHIBITOR INFORMATION.
631-940-7290
Exhibitors SAVE BIG when they book early!
Click here for exhibitor information
www.coffeeandteafestival.com

 


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