A World Of Tea Blog

Moroccan Tea Culture

Elena Popec — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:47:00 -0600

Moroccan tea culture can be defined as the way loose leaf tea is prepared and consumed in Morocco itself. In many cases the tea that is used is green tea as opposed to another form of tea that can be found somewhere else in the region. Moroccan tea culture has become so popular that it has spread through other parts of North Africa as well as parts of Southern Spain.

In Morocco tea is thought to be a very important part of society and culture. Because of this the tea culture is generally described as an art form. The popularity of tea in this area is one of the major reasons why Morocco is one of the biggest importers of tea in the world. Considering the fact that tea is relatively new in Morocco it is hard to believe that it is so well respected. Tea was not introduced to the area until the 1700’s. By this time people were already developing tea traditions and culture in different countries all over the world. However, it was not until this time when trade really began to become popular between Morocco and Europe. By the mid 1800’s the tea industry in Morocco was really growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, there is even a story that royalty from Morocco was bribed with tea in sugar in exchange for releasing European prisoners. This shows just how sought after tea was in Moroccan culture in the early days.

To date, the main provider of tea to Morocco is still China. The fact of the matter is that it has been estimated that Morocco usually imports over 50-million dollars’ worth of Chinese tea every six months or so. This number is astronomical when you consider that the population of Morocco is much smaller than the population of other countries that the Chinese export tea to. Even though the population is small, Morocco is thought to be the first and best importer of Chinese green tea in the world.

One of the things that makes tea so unique in Morocco is that it is really rather difficult to prepare. The method of preparation is much more involved than in other parts of the world. For starters, there is generally a large lump of hard sugar used along with fresh mint. These are actually two of the most important ingredients there are. The tea itself is cleansed with boiling water that is thought to remove any imperfections from the tea as well as help it taste more pure. The tea leaves and the boiling water are combined together and boiled for a few more minutes in order to prepare for the sugar. The sugar and even the mint are now added and mixed together in a teapot with a long spout. Using a teapot with a long spout will allow the tea to be poured into multiple small glasses for consumption.

If you are interested in learning more about tea culture in Morocco then you can visit one of the tea houses that are indigenous to the area. Most large cities will have several tea houses that will serve you the best local teas as well as the most popular teas from around the world- including China. The tea houses in Morocco are general known for having a relaxing atmosphere where you can sit quietly and be alone with your thoughts. While you are there you may want to sample one of the local pastries or cookies that are baked to go along with the tea itself. These pastries are specially made to compliment the taste and aroma of some of the best tea in Morocco.

Tea in Morocco is also used as a way to get families to spend more time together. Tea will be served at most important family functions such as weddings and birthday parties. The fact that tea is present will signify that the event taking place is important. The host of the event will be responsible for making sure that everyone in attendance gets to enjoy the tea. Making sure that each person has tea is a way to show respect to your guests. This is a very important part of Moroccan tea culture. If you do not make sure that everyone is taken care of there is a chance that they will become insulted with you. In Morocco you have to make sure that you are observing tea traditions in order to guarantee you are well received and respected by your guests.

Korea And Its Way Of Tea

ESP Tea Lover — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:45:00 -0600

Believe it or not, the first documented tea ritual in Korea was recorded in the year 661. Loose leaf tea was used as an offering to the spirits in hopes that they would provide protection even in the afterlife. These types of rituals were also common with the spirits of well thought of monks all the way into the fourteenth century. The rituals would take place in temples and could last several hours or even days! In addition, most of these rituals were overseen by high ranking officials to ensure that they were executed properly. Over the last several hundred years the Korean tea drinking rituals have been developed and evolving to the point where they are typically used just for special occasions. In fact, the rite to have tea was made a national rite that was made available to all residents of the country. This type of rite is not present in other countries that do not take tea drinking as seriously. Over history there have been periods of decline in the ceremonial tea rituals of Korea. However, each time there was a decline it was followed up with a period of great interest. This fact alone shows how serious the people of Korea are in regard to the tea rituals that they hold so dear. No matter what the circumstances surrounding the decline in tea drinking it has always seemed to make a comeback is it is central to the core values of the people.

The interesting thing about Korean tea ceremonies is that they seem to follow along with the seasons. Because of this, the way in which the tea is served varies greatly depending on what time of year it is. However, for the most part tea is always served with the assistance of bowls and cups. Much of the time the bowls and cups are green with images and designs on them for decoration. There are, however, instances where the cups and bowls are different colors. For example, special situations may call for a bronze or white cups and bowls. In the summer months the bowls that are used are about 5-centimeters high and 12-centimeters wide. These dimensions are important because it allows for quick cooling of boiling water as there is more surface area that is exposed. The boiling water is cooled in the bowl and then emptied into a teapot. In Korea, the water is cooled because pouring water that is too hot over the tea will make the product taste bitter. In the fall and winter the bowls are taller and narrower so that they could maintain the internal heat without cooling too much. The tea would be made the same way that is made in the summer- the water is poured into a teapot making sure that it is not too hot so the taste does not become bitter.

It should be noted that the way in which the tea is consumed is unique and unlike most other tea cultures. In short, the approach to tea is less ritualistic than other places. The emphasis is on relaxing and enjoying the tea. In other cultures the emphasis may be on the technique that was used in making it and even the way in which it is to be consumed. Because of this, the Korean teahouses are all a bit different in design and styles. For example, some will offer food along with the tea while others will not. The teaware that is used can also vary from teahouse to teahouse as there is not strict guidelines that must be adhered to. The thing that is common in all the teahouses in Korea is that the best local water is used to brew the tea. Some teahouses in Korea even go as far as to develop their own springs where they can harvest high quality water. The water is taken from the spring, boiled and then immediately used in the tea making process. This ensures that the taste of the tea is natural and that it is unique to the area that the tea is being consumed in.

Tea has always been served in Korea on special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. The tea signifies the importance of the event as well as makes it memorable. Most often the tea will be served with some other type of cake or pastry for the guests to enjoy. At the party the host or hostess is in charge of making sure that all the guests have the tea just how they want it. This is a sign of showing respect to the guests that you have invited to the party.

Tea Culture in China

ESP Tea Lover — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:56:00 -0600

Tea culture in China is completely unique in the way that it is prepared, consumed as well as presented. The fact of the matter is that tea is consumed on a regular basis in China regardless of if the occasion is formal or not. The Chinese view tea as a major part of their way of life as well as their history. Chinese tea culture has developed over centuries to the point where it is very refined. In today’s day and age there are many customs that are practiced in regard to tea drinking in China.

One of the biggest reasons why tea is consumed in China is as a sign of respect. It is a common practice for a young person to offer tea to an older person in Chinese society. This is done out of respect for the older generation. In a formal occasion a younger person should never expect an older person to pour them a cup of tea. For example, a mother may pour her children tea at home but when out in public the children would pour the tea for the mother. This ritual is well regarded in Chinese society and is always practiced in formal situations. Even though china is becoming more liberal, this is till practiced all across the country.

Another time when tea is served in China is at a family gathering. The tea is the center point of the gathering as it gives families a reason to get together. In china, parents rarely see their children after they grow up and move away. That said, emphasizing tea gives them a reason to get back together. On Sundays most family restaurants in china are crowded as there are families drinking tea together. The tea drinking is a reflection of the Chinese emphasis in regard to family values.

If you have done something wrong that you wish to apologize for it would also be appropriate to pour tea for that person. Tea is seen as a way to apologize for a serious offense. You would want to include tea if you are sincerely apologizing to a sibling or spouse for a misfortune. An example of this is if a child pours tea for the parent. The child is showing that they are regretful of their actions and that they wish to apologize. Without the use of tea the apology can be considered insincere by the person receiving it.

If you are getting married in China tea is used to express thanks on the day of the marriage. In a Chinese wedding the bride and the groom will actually kneel down before their parents and serve tea to them. This is the Chinese way of showing your parents how thankful you are for everything that they have done for you in the past. After the tea is served the bride and groom will say a few kind words and the parents will drink the tea. After the tea is consumed the parents will give the bride and groom a red envelope which symbolizes good luck in the future. In a later tea ceremony you may see the bride serving tea to the groom’s parents. This symbolizes that she has become part of the family. In addition, tea at weddings in china can be used as a way for people to introduce themselves. The bride and groom may serve tea to everyone in attendance in order to get to know them a little bit better. If a family member does not drink the tea that you serve it shows that they do not want you in the family. On the other hand, if they do drink the tea it shows the highest level of acceptance.

A final tea ritual performed in China is the folding of a napkin when drinking the tea. It is believed that folding the napkin is a way to keep bad energy away from the married couple. Since tea was regarded as a daily necessity it was important to do this as bad energy would interfere with it. The other daily necessities that the Chinese observe is firewood, oil, rice, soy sauce, salt, medicine and cuisine.

The use of tea in Chinese society is very important to all. It is consumed whenever and wherever it can be. The bottom line is that the Chinese rely on tea as a way of life- without it there would be a major loss in terms of tradition and culture that has been observed in China for many generations.

Tea Culture in Europe

ESP Tea Lover — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:14:00 -0600

The tea culture in Europe is quite unique and distinct. Not only is it about the way the tea is consumed, but it is also about how it is made as well as the social aspect of it.

In the Czech Republic the tea culture has been evolving and developing for centuries. Recently, the style of tea rooms has been a hot topic in this area as they differ from the more traditional British style tea rooms. The tea rooms in the Czech Republic are very diverse and offer a wide assortment of teas. The most exclusive tea rooms can have up to eighty different types of teas from multiple different countries. The most unique fact is that these different tea rooms have all developed their own style by creating different blends of the teas along with different ways of serving them.

Russia also has a unique tea culture. The method in which the tea is served usually involves an expensive tea glass that is made from silver as well as other alloys- sometimes the tea glasses are even gold plated. Russian tea culture dictates that the tea be brewed separately and then diluted with water that has just been boiled. The tea that is served is usually quite strong. In fact, it is thought that the strength of the tea is an indication of the hospitality of the host. In Russia drinking tea is an event that is traditionally for the whole family. The tea is generally served after a large meal along with things such as jams and pastries. It should be noted that in Russia black tea is the most common and traditional tea bags are not. A traditional Russian tea time consists of loose leaf black tea.

Though not as popular as other parts of Eastern Europe, there is a tea ritual in Slovakia. Interestingly enough, the tea culture in Slovakia is considered somewhat underground by the residents of this region. However, there are numerous tea rooms that have gained popularity in many mid-sized towns. The thing about these tea rooms that have made them popular is the fact that they offer a quiet environment that has relaxing music for the patrons. Of equal importance is the fact that they are almost all non-smoking establishments. This is in sharp contrast to the pubs that are located in the country.
In regard to tea culture in Germany, it is most popular in the eastern part of the country. The eastern region has a very strong to various tea traditions. In fact, tea is so popular hear that it is often drank at all hours of the day. The typical German tea will have three layers to it. The top layer is mostly cream, the middle layer is the tea itself and the bottom layer is a sugary candy that melts slowly. It is against tradition to mix all three of these elements together as it will ruin the ability to savor the tea in general. Tea in Germany is always served with cookies during the week and cakes during the weekend or special events. In addition, the German style tea is thought to cure headaches, upset stomachs as well as relieve stress.

Even though France is better known for its different types of coffee, afternoon tea drinking has long been part of the culture for the wealthy and elite. The most popular tea in France is black tea. However, other types such as green tea and Asian tea are becoming more mainstream. Afternoon tea in France is usually served with sugar, milk or lemon. Furthermore, when drinking tea it will almost always be accompanied by a pastry. The interesting thing about the pastries is that they are usually of the non-sweet variety.
Portugal has a growing tea culture that is most dominant on the Azores- a series of islands that are located to the west of the mainland. An interesting fact is that Portugal was the first European country to indulge in tea drinking as well as the being the country responsible for introducing tea to the rest of the continent. The production of tea in Portugal dates back to the mid 1750’s and is still being produced today. The tea production in Portugal is focused on an organic growing process where no pesticides or herbicides are allowed. However, the general production standards for tea in Portugal have not changed for the better part of two and a half centuries- neither has the way in which the population consumes it.

Vietnam Tea Customs

Elena Popec — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:48:00 -0600

In the Medieval Ages one of the court healers gave his patients the following advice: "Drink one cup of tea in the morning and glass of wine in the evening and you will forget doctors forever." Instructive meaning of this parable is that moderate and timely use of tea and wine are really beneficial.

People have long known that tea is not just a drink to quench their thirst, but rather a magic drink for good health. Therefore, a tea party for most cultures and times is perceived as a ritual of compelling with a vital force of Nature.

Vietnamese tea ceremony is a pleasant sign of hospitality with deep social importance. As in many other traditional tea cultures, Vietnamese tradition suggests that the environment where the ceremony takes place should bring people together, contribute to a relaxed conversation and cultural communication: the recitation of poetry, discussion of literature and art. If the conversation goes on everyday topic or discussion of issues of mutual interest, the guests always leave the last word for the master of the house. The whole idea of Vietnamese ritual of tea drinking is a maximum spiritual rapprochement between the participants of the ceremony combined with the pleasure of drinking tea. In general, Vietnamese tea drinking tradition is a bridge that brings people together and helps to better understand each other.

The traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony is a complex of all the preparations for it. Every element of the ceremony plays its meaningful importance in it: where to drink tea, when and with whom, what kind of water to use, where in the house set the table for brewing tea, and which tea cups to use.

Tea has been cultivated in Vietnam from immemorial time. One of the most unique and exquisite Vietnamese tea customs is lotus flavored tea. During the Nguyen dynasty, tea drinking ritual was brought to the level of art. King Tu Duc who reigned during the Nguyen dynasty (1848-1883) is known for drinking tea flavored with lotus in a very special way. On moonlit nights, prior to his morning tea, King had his servants set their boats on the lake in the royal garden where the lotus flowers are in bloom and put a handful of tea into each blossom, then close them with ribbon. Tea leaves would absorb the living scent of the lotus petals. Then they will collect the dew from the lotus leaves due to belief that only water born between heaven and earth, can give the king strength for the day. Next morning the tea would be picked from the lotus lake and offered to the king as his morning refreshment. According to tea connoisseurs, tea grown on the hills of Thai Nguyen province is a signature of Vietnamese tea. It’s praised for its very unique taste and distinctive aroma.
Vietnamese custom of drinking tea in different provinces of the country was formed in different ways. For instance, South Vietnam region prefers green ice tea, flavored with flowers. For the population of the South, tea is, above all, a drink of refreshment. In central region of the country, where climate is mostly rainy, the most popular is tea made from fresh tea leaves slightly dried on the sun. This type of fresh brew unfolds a strong, natural taste and aroma. The north population prefers hot tea, brewed strong, natural green or flavored with flowers of jasmine, lotus, or chrysanthemum.

Tea flavored with freshly picked flowers mostly preferred by elderly, preparing such tea is a long process; older folks can always find time for that. Often rainwater gathered in mountain streams and waterfalls is used in this process. For special occasions some dew collected from lotus leaves can be used. Water is boiled in a copper vessel on the coals of palm tree. An earthenware teapot, tea cups and tea box are required for tea course. Fresh jasmine, lotus or rose petals are placed on a saucer and covered with a cup rinsed with hot water. This is a special way of flavoring tea with scent of freshly picked flowers. When tea is ready, it’s poured into a cup that absorbed a subtle fragrance of flowers. Skillful tea connoisseurs always keep tea as a subject of conversation, comment and compliment it, just like some do at wine tasting.

Tea drinking is a customary signature practice at wedding and engagement ceremonies. Marrying couples use the ritual of drinking tea at the wedding ceremony to express their affection for each other.

Russian Tea Drinking Tradition

Elena Popec — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:32:00 -0600

Russian tea drinking tradition, along with some other Russian customs, has long been a hallmark of the country. Nevertheless, to describe the attributes of Russian tea drinking: samovar (meaning "self-boiler" in Russian), loose leaf black tea, pancakes, jam, cubed sugar, sliced lemon, cups in cup holders, porcelain set… Unfortunately, very few people drink tea in accordance with this attributes, because almost no one these days uses a samovar.

This old Russian tea drinking tradition becomes history, but still lives and breathes in Russia and around the world where Russian emigrants make their homes. Russian literature often invokes the samovar to symbolize Russian hospitality. Gathering around the table by a samovar with family and friends evokes a sense of cosines and comfort, which is an important element in our busy lives. Let me just try to formulate some of the characteristics of tea drinking, which can be classified as specifically Russian.

A real Russian tea party requires a porcelain tea set; a classical Russian tea set is "Cobalt net" of the Imperial Lomonosov’s Porcelain Manufactory. These sets are often sold in duty free shops at the international airports of Russia and in numerous souvenir shops. Contrary to popular opinion, tea glasses even in the most exclusive holders are not the most accurate representation of the Russian tea drinking tradition. Since the 18th century, people who understood the sense in life and in tea-drinking, tried to get the porcelain set.

A very specific feature of Russian tea-drinking is samovar, a vessel with boiling water. In Russian tradition, tea leaves brewed in the porcelain pot, which is placed on the top of the samovar keeping the brew hot. In most major tea drinking cultures, Chinese, Japanese and English, tea leaves steep, a brew is poured in a cup and drunk. In Russia, a brew is diluted with hot water directly in a cup, that’s why besides the standard tea set, tea party in Russia involves a samovar with boiling water.

Another important part of Russian tea-drinking tradition is a simple and obvious lemon, cut in thin slices, not wedges, since circles look beautiful on a plate and in a cup. In fact, the whole world believes that tea with lemon is a Russian invention, often called "Russian tea".

However, the most important feature of a Russian tea party is tea itself. Of course, it should be black tea. Historically, it was Chinese tea, such as Keemun or a blend based on it "Russian Caravan" or “Russian Samovar”. Chinese tea was drunk in Russia for three centuries, and only in the 20th century adjusted traditionally established tea preferences. Nowadays, most Russians prefer a rich aroma and strong taste of Ceylon tea over subtle taste of Chinese teas. Often, both teas are served at the party, Chinese in respect to century’s old tradition and Ceylon in respect to modern tea taste.

When at the table served with samovar full of boiling water, porcelain tea set, two teapots (with Chinese and Ceylon tea), a plate with a stack of pancakes, a few fresh baked pies (with apples, cherries, cheese, cabbage and all sorts of fillings…), several kinds of jam (strawberry, cherry, blueberry, lingoberry, cloudberry, raspberry…), honey, condensed sweet milk, sliced lemon and cubed sugar, one will understand what is a true Russian made happiness.

Tea Production

Elena Popec — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:56:00 -0600

Within all tea growing regions, merely a top leaf bud and the next two leaves, the youngest ones of a spout are picked. More mature leaves have an undesirable impact on the quality of the processed teas. In the mountains, therefore cooler regions, tea naturally matures slower. This lets the especially high-quality, aromatic characteristics to envelop. The actual cropping period also has a tremendous influence on the quality of the tea. The plucking necessitates a lot of proper care along with skills set and is commonly performed by women. The standard plucking volumes are roughly 35 to 53 lb of green leaves a day which produces 9 to 13 lb of processed tea. A few times per day, the green leaves are delivered to the manufacturing facility in the tea garden. The green leaves are still absolutely neutral in fragrance and initially will be handled in the tea production line, going through numerous production procedures, in order to generate a savory final product.

Processing

Tea gets processed on the plantations in the country of origin and after that, exports in its finished form. The most essential steps of the procedure with respect to orthodox tea production (which may be utilized for the manufacturing of any kind of tea desired in contrast to the subsequently described CTC production) are: withering, rolling, fermenting, drying and sorting into leaf and broken grades of different sizes.

Withering

When the freshly picked leaves arrive at the manufacturing facility, they are weighed and the quantity is documented. After that, the withering process is initiated where the moisture content of the leaves is diminished by approximately 30% in order to make them tender and workable for the following step - rolling. The withering takes place in a specific withering troughs 80 to 100 feet long that are usually stringed with a wire grid and ventilated by big fans. The leaves are distributed out on the grid. The air flow that moves through the ventilators can easily be heated up when needed due to greater moisture content of the leaves. The withering process requires 12 to 18 hours.

Rolling

Hereafter, the withered green leaves are thrown in the rolling equipment, which commonly consists of a pair of big, hefty metal plates that are spinning in opposition direction to each other and are bruising the leaves, opening their cells, providing the cellular juice into contact with the oxygen in the air flow. This process begins the fermentation step as well as the occurrence of the essential oils that then establish the aroma and the flavor of the teas. Now rolled tea will begin fermentation in a dedicated fermentation room. A lot of tea production facilities use so-called "rotor vane" equipment, a sort of shredder that further processes the leaves. The leaves move throughout a slowly spinning screw conveyor via a tube where presence of oxygen speeds up the fermentation process.

Fermentation

The fermentation is an oxidation and tanning process of the cellular essential oils, which are produced during the rolling process. Intended for the fermentation, the leaves are spread out on workstations in 4 inches layers. Advanced tea producing factories humidify the area where the fermentation takes place. During the fermentation, which usually takes 2 - 3 hours, tea leaves alter their color that progressively turns into a copper-red. This color is observed in infused tea leaves. The "tea maker" is required constantly measure the degree of oxidation, especially with regard to the aroma of the wet leaves. The superior quality of the end product depends on the accurate fermentation.

Drying

The fermentation is completed when the ideal grade of fermented product is achieved. In other words as soon as tea develops its typical fragrance and the copper-red color, the drying process begins. So-called tiered dryers are used. They are powered with wood or oil. Tea moves through the dryer on a conveyor belt. The beginning temperature is about 190 degrees that helps to bind the cellular oils solidly to the leaves. Towards the end of the 20 minutes long drying procedure, the temperature decreases to 100 degrees and the humidity content to approximately 6%. Later on, whenever tea is brewed, the essential oils that stuck to the dried leaves are dissolved in the hot water and produce the aromatic and stimulating beverage.

Sorting

The black tea produced via the drying process or the so-called raw tea, now will be sieved by a variety of shaking mechanical sieves with different sieve sizes, in which the typical leaf grades are separated from each other.
Based on the sieve sizes, sorting typically yields the following grades: leaf tea, broken tea, fannings and dust. Typically, the smaller the leaf, the stronger the infusion.
Tea is a natural product, which is created by reducing its moisture content. It should be stored in a cool and dry area. Tea maintains its original flavor when kept in a tightly sealed container, away from powerfully smelling food items such as spices.

Green Tea Production

Green Tea differs from black tea merely by not being fermented, other words not altered by oxidation. The manufacturing process is generally the same until the end of the withering process. Throughout green tea production, tea tannins and enzymes are destroyed by steaming or roasting after the withering. Before the rolling starts, tea is "steamed” or "pan-fried" and then rolled and dried. This guarantees that the leaves will not change their color, they will remain olive-green. The color of infusion varies depending on the kind of green tea, cultivation region, and plucking period and can be anything from light yellow to dark green.

CTC-Production

This term means: crushing, tearing, curling.

This technique starts by withering the green leaves, then rolling them once before they are torn in the CTC machines in between thrones rollers. This method makes sure that the cells are broken up more extensively and rapidly compared to the orthodox tea production. CTC tea has the most intensive color and greater yielding. The stems and leaf ribs are removed, only the cut "flesh" of the green leaves is processed further. After this process, tea is delivered into the fermentation area. Depending on the preferred leaf size, this procedure is repeated numerous times.
During the CTC-Production, primarily fanning is made, no leaf teas and only very few broken teas. Therefore, CTC teas are very appropriate for tea bags. In the present day, 50% of tea produced in India and almost 100% in Kenya by using the CTC technique. In Darjeeling, however, only orthodox tea is manufactured.

The most essential grades are:
BP = Broken Pekoe
PF= Pekoe Fannings
PD = Pekoe Dust

What Is The Difference Between Tea In The Bag And Loose Leaf Tea

Kirill Hmir — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:27:00 -0600

While we all find ourselves cornered by stresses of daily life, we do find time to enjoy subtle little pleasures, and that’s how you find yourself at the loose leaf tea blog. However, you ask yourself what’s the big difference between tea in the bag and loose teas; while both have their drawbacks they both have their benefits. The difference is convenience and tasteful experience.

When it comes to drinking tea, it is important to keep in mind that tea bags are recent invention compared to tea itself. While teabags went commercially around 1904, tea became a common drink during Qin Dynasty (around 200 BC). However, both teabags and tea have evolved since their origin.

Teabags

Teabags main advantage is their convenience compared to the loose leaf tea; the brewing, clean-up, and storage are all the highlights of teabags. And with today’s innovations teabags are made of different materials and come in different shapes allowing different properties to the brewing process. The reason for improvement in the design is due to flaws that teabags bring to the table and that is: due to size of the teabag only lower grade teas can be packed in them, flavor cannot flow evenly, and overall benefits of the loose leaf tea are lost in the tightly packed confines of a teabag.

Loose leaf teas

As the name suggests loose leaf tea has no confines. It gives the entire flavor of the tea leaf into the cup of delicious tea you are brewing. Loose leaf tea at this point is a tradition, and the flavor it brings to the table is unparalleled. While the tending to loose leaf tea might be seem difficult, it is what preserves its flavor and health benefits. It is important to understand that the loose leaf tea is minimally processed and preserves stronger/better aroma and taste unlike its tea bag counterpart.

Conclusion

While it might seem tough to decide between teabag and loose leaf teas, it is no brainer if you really want to submerge yourself in the world of teas; loose leaf teas all the way. While brewing process might expose few hurdles, it also allows greater control over quantity, aroma, color, and taste of the tea. Lastly today’s innovation make drinking loose leaf tea much easier than you might think there are plenty of devices such as Magic Tea Filter, and many others that allow you the benefit of loose leaf tea with easy clean up.

Brewing The Perfect Cup Of Tea

ESP Tea Lover — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:30:00 -0600

When it comes to tea preparation, this process is as important as the tea being brewed; you do not want to find yourself buying batch of premium teas and not enjoying a full potential of the tea. The beauty of loose leaf tea is that it is such a delicate substance that in order to unlock all of its flavors you need to be methodical about the brewing process. Like everything amazing, a great cup of tea begins with the best ingredients: your favorite tea, right temperature and time it needs to be brewed in, and something most might overlook, water. After all, every cup of tea is composed primarily of water so it is imperative to use the right kind of water to steep your favor cup of green tea, black tea, herbal tea or many others.

Alright, so I preached the importance of every ingredient involved in the preparation of your favorite cup of tea, and water is the topic of our discussion. Before you worry about how difficult or special the water might have to be for your tea, I want you to take a sip or two of chamomile herb tea (it tastes best with hint of dandelion honey), please stick with me. These days we are surrounded with an immense variety of aqua, from its origin to pH levels and calcium levels; all this fine and dandy but when paired with spoonful of Silver Needles white tea, you do not want to make any mistakes.

So before you put that kettle on the stove make sure of few key steps to prevent from making your tea dull and flavorless. Firstly, make sure you are using the purest water available to you, it might sound silly but many different location have different quality coming out of its tap; if you are not 100% confident that your tap water is best then I would advise to use filtration system, and you do not need to install an enormous water purifier or buy dozen of gallons of filtered water, instead use a simple water filter that eliminates the chlorine, salt, calcium, and any other heavy particles in water; essentially you are trying to make your water as “soft” as possible. While boiling water helps for all those heavy minerals and particles to descend it does not eliminate them. So what is the ideal water for brewing tea? Well, most experts agree that spring water, because of its purity, freshness, and high oxygen level. However, it might be difficult to find your local well or natural spring source in the middle of NYC. So why not give all those bottled waters a try, right? Yes and no, many of the bottled waters might have minerals added to them, or in case of distilled water it's so purified that is considered dead water.

So to wrap this up, be cautious what you prepare your tea with, and if you looking for a safe bet and you can’t get your hands on natural spring water, then use your tap water just make sure to filter out all heavy minerals and others additives that are in it.

Chai Tea Pertaining To Your Digestive System

Elena Popec — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 11:18:00 -0600

Legend, along with history, advocate that Chai Tea was in fact created by sovereign of India who held his recipe ingredients secret and sacred. Actually, chai tea is truly a remedy of Ayurveda, the knowledge of which goes as far back as five thousand years. The term chai doesn't relate to a specific kind of tea but the way in which it is actually made and served. As a rule, each and every household might have their very own recipe, ingredients such as, herbs and spices to combine with tea leaves. Chai recipes took its origin from obtainable ingredients on the market. This typically is a remarkably powerful combination which has countless therapeutic and wellness providing qualities. Among all these benefits associated with drinking chai frequently is to boost the digestion, calm and de-stress the digestive system, improve toxins excretion, increase fat burning capacity, and reduce cravings.

Researcher, without a doubt, are discovering tea as the primary ingredient for Chai, it’s a superb resource of anti-oxidants, beneficial to the cardiovascular system, in addition to lowering blood cholesterol levels. Furthermore, various herbs are blended with the tea leaves so it can have its authentic flavor as well as therapeutic properties. It's not one particular herb or spice that helps with digestive function but the mixture of several performing together.

Chai tea, just like the body system, is a homogenous combination of numerous ingredients performing and responding jointly in order to create tranquility. The constituents once steamed in water acquire and increase the flavors among each other right before fusing together to create one healthy and balanced decoction one can enjoy.

Chai reveals a unified mixture of all five tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and spicy) identified by the taste buds which are always pleasing to the other senses.

As mentioned earlier, there are literally limitless combinations of herbs and spices that may be utilized to produce Chai. Of course, there are a number of basics widely used in most, from the family recipe to store acquired. A description of components in many chai teas and their holistic applications can explain why limitless combinations may be utilized as a remedy to various disorders and conditions, most particularly those connected to digestive function.

Black Pepper is one of the initial elements to help inducing the body since it works along with the taste buds in addition to their connection to the stomach. The taste buds signal the stomach to excrete hydrochloric acid that is required for digestion of proteins as well as other food components. When food goes partly digested by the stomach this might remain inactive for several hours. This leads to symptoms associated with upset stomach and/or heartburns. Whenever undigested food proceeds into the intestinal tract it starts to rot. The intestines are designed for absorbing nutrients not digesting them. As the food begins to rot it results in intestines being an ideally suited place for gas generating, diarrhea causing, and even constipation triggering intestine bacteria. The external layer of the peppercorn aids activate metabolic process and even breaks down existing fat tissue.

Cinnamon is contemplated to be one of the most recognized spices on the planet. There was a period when it was in fact looked at as such a commodity that it was used as a sort of currency. It is discovered in almost every Chai blend. Cinnamon helps digestive function by simply soothing the stomach, combating bacteria and infection. It has been demonstrated to improve production of blood insulin and offering anti-nausea and diarrhea properties. Cinnamon additionally improves the benefits of other herbs and connects the gap between flavors.

Fennel has also been well recognized for hundreds of years by the Greeks, Egyptians, and Eastern civilizations for its culinary and healing properties. It is one of those super foods as it provides Vitamin C & B, promotes liver, gall bladder, and spleen function, as well as supporting food digestion by scattering flatulence producing bacteria. Fennel is also an excellent source of fiber, therefore it aids to maintain the large intestine and colon healthy.

Ginger is the only root utilized in remedies as well as cooking. It possesses a mild, fresh flavor that assists settle the stomach. The gingerols and shogaols discovered in Ginger root have been demonstrated to relieve the effects of motion sickness.

Cloves are usually found in a variety of Chai Teas. They are highly regarded for their capability to stimulate the digestive fire. Cloves are also beneficial for soothing the throat and mouth and are often included into oral sprays for such purposes.

Chai can be served hot or cold. Usually it is offered with milk and honey. The milk softens the taste of the various robust herbs and the honey balances the spices.