SBSteas.com Blog

Mom, me and a cup of tea

2007-05-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

The official day to recognize mothers is just around the corner.

While it is important to remember our mom's all year round, this is a special time to really shine and show her how much you love her. Sometimes we have other "mom's" that we have been nurtured by as well. Be sure to remember them as well.

If your mom is anything like mine, she's probably accumulated a LOT of stuff over the years. Maybe instead of stuff this year, throw a special tea party or give the gift of tea. Memories are more valuable than anything you can give. And so many wonderful memories have been forged over a cuppa tea!

Here are some ideas for enjoying a lovely simple cup of Tea on Mother's Day.

Tea ideas, grab your favorite tea mugs
Samovar Blend Tsarina Tea
Iced Strawberry White Tea
Absolutely Fabulous Tisane
Set out a few tasty treats like
2 Pack Walker Shortbread Finger Cookies or Dark Chocolate Mint Sticks

Bring out your family photo album featuring classic moments with your mom and family. Enjoy your time together remembering pleasant memories from the past.

Thoughts on Tea

2007-03-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

Reverence, Awe, Ageless, and Mystical, I have stumbled upon the Holy Grail, which is TEA. Provinces of China, Japan, India and Africa, as well as many other exotic places, nurture their tea gardens, growing, tending, and handpicking, getting ready for their destinations across the globe. It amazes me how something so simple, yet complex, has rooted itself so deep in history, and has never went out of style. Its interesting how teas have their own personalities, like comforting friends, each with its own character, from subtle to sublime, from sweet to bold, and many in between. Some in passing and some that stay constant, flavors, scents, and colors amazing the senses, shape shifting according to mood. Yet it comes down to what it originally is, something that has tempted kings and commoners alike for centuries, such as what I am sipping in my cup, the unassuming Tea Leaf.

Thank you to Tracy for contributing her personal thoughts around tea. If you have a piece you would like to contribute, please email us for consideration.

Dog Drinks Tea Makes Headlines

2007-01-28T19:29:00.000-08:00

... It was bound to happen...

And so, as it would happen, I was sitting here writing with one of my
favorite teas beside me. Peach Melba from SBSteas.com. I adore this tea.
It's one of the ones that after purchasing an ounce for review purposes I
bought a pound. It is one of my all time favorite teas.

My little cottage has recently been rearranged so I only have my little
file box on the floor beside me. I sat my tea there. All of a sudden,
amidst deep thinking while answering an e-mail, I heard lapping. LOUD
lapping. I looked down and there was Moe, my lab-doby mix, lapping up the
tea with great delight.

I'm not sure this is something SBS Teas wants to use as a billboard ad,
but I thought the rest of you might get a kick out of it, and hey, now you
have both MY recommendation and my dog's.

You just never know what's going to happen when you get up in the
morning...

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

2007-02-08T07:47:00.000-08:00

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Dark Ages pervaded and the economic and agricultural systems that stemmed from the Romans crumbled. Most of the aesthetic gardens in the Roman colonies went to seed leaving only those that provided food, such as vegetables and orchards. Ironically it was during the Dark Ages that the science of herbal medicine made great strides and the unique trustee of ancient Roman and Greek scholars’ knowledge was the Catholic Church.

This was the time when monks pioneered agriculture. Each monastery had its own orchard, vegetable garden and a hortus conclusus, or closed garden. The closed garden was used to grow herbs that were both spiritual and curative. Lilies and roses formerly woven into the wreaths of the Roman gods Isis and Aphrodite were now used to worship the Madonna. The importance of these gardens was such that around the year 800, the emperor Charlemagne sent each of his intendants a list of those plants that were to be cultivated in his empire. The document was known as De Capitularis and of the ninety plants listed the iris and rose were first and second respectively; followed by several other commonly know herbs such as sage, rosemary, cumin, mint, mallow and coriander. These plants played important roles, both culinary and medicinal. They often conferred taste and color to foods and perhaps most important, they preserved foods and masked the taste and odor of over aged meats. During the 1100’s the Crusades came upon the Italian town of Salerno which was the site of a renowned medical school founded by four doctors, an Arab, a Roman, a Greek, and a Jew each of whom was appointed the guardian of the secular knowledge of their people. These men were recognized as true masters and their teachings would influence European medicine for centuries to come.

Rose petals and buds were used by women to enhance the beauty of their hair and skin. Not surprising, knowing that following the rose blooming a rose hip develops, and a rose hip contains a multitude of vitamins which have properties that enhance one’s skin amongst its other properties. There are more different kinds of roses than of any other plant in the herb category, and they all provide rose hips of one description or another. One variety of rose is even called ‘Tea Rose’ named for the resemblance of its fragrance to black tea.

Tea uses - Rose petals are commonly used to make a tea blend or infusion colorful and visually appealing. If you want to create their own signature blends, rose petals and buds can make your blend distinctive and a blend that only ‘you’ can create. A lovely recipe using rose petals is called Rose Orange Cinnamon Tea - a delightful mix of rosebuds with an orange cinnamon zest that can be consumed hot or iced. This tea is best consumed without milk. For each serving you will need: 1 1/2 teaspoon of SBS Teas Cinnilla Moon tea, a large pinch of rose petals and buds, a teaspoon of orange peel and a pinch of cinnamon. Mix everything together and prepare as you would for a normal cup of tea.

Sizzling Love Potion

2007-01-24T19:08:00.000-08:00

Sizzling Love Potion
by Rachel Johnston

1 cups water
1/4 cup honey
1 cup apple juice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 oz SBS Teas Spicy Cabana Boy Tea

Prepare tea in a separate container
Bring water and juice to a boil. Stir in honey and cinnamon. Add the Spicy Cabana Boy Tea. Remove from heat. Let stand for a few minutes, add whip, sit back, sip and fall in love! Caution this beverage is hot hot HOT! :)

Love is in the Air

2007-01-24T19:04:00.000-08:00

Camomile Tea

Outside the sky is light with stars;
There's a hollow roaring from the sea.
And, alas! for the little almond flowers,
The wind is shaking the almond tree.

How little I thought, a year ago,
In the horrible cottage upon the Lee
That he and I should be sitting so
And sipping a cup of camomile tea.

Light as feathers the witches fly,
The horn of the moon is plain to see;
By a firefly under a jonquil flower
A goblin toasts a bumble-bee.

We might be fifty, we might be five,
So snug, so compact, so wise are we!
Under the kitchen-table leg
My knee is pressing against his knee.

Our shutters are shut, the fire is low,
The tap is dripping peacefully;
The saucepan shadows on the wall
Are black and round and plain to see.

Katherine Mansfield (1888 - 1923)

Is Black Tea Good For Your Health? by Rene Graeber

2007-01-11T18:02:00.000-08:00

For thousands of years, the Chinese people have been drinking tea because of its refreshing and soothing effects. Like all three of the major Asian teas in the market, black tea comes from the plant called Camellia sinensis. But the difference between the tea types lies in how the leaves are processed, not on where they come from.

In the case of black tea, the leaves are first dried and then fermented. Black tea undergoes full oxidation, which actually accounts for its aromatic and rich taste. Compared to green tea and oolong or black dragon tea, black tea has a fuller taste and tastes better with age.

However, black tea is not only known for its intriguing flavor (comparable to wine!). New research suggests that it may be a major contributor of health-promoting nutrients in the U.S. diet.

Black tea health benefits lies in the presence of flavonoids in tea. Before, scientists believed that the process of fermentation changed the beneficial flavonoid polyphenol in black tea into another form, which is not thought to have any beneficial effects at all. However, newer studies showed that polyphenol or not, black tea health benefits can certainly do you a lot of good.

Below are the top black tea health benefits enjoyed by those who love their cup of tea every morning:

Antioxidants

This is actually the one black tea health benefit you can get from drinking tea. Antioxidants are substances commonly found in vegetables, fruits, and beverages such as tea. Because of their disease-fighting abilities, antioxidants have been the subject of various scientific studies investigating their many benefits, from heart disease to cancer prevention.

Think of antioxidants as the rust-oleum paint that you put on your outdoor furniture to keep it from rusting. Just as oxygen in the air around us cause iron to rust, the oxygen particles in our blood can sometimes be destructive. In scientific circles, they call these highly reactive oxygen-containing substances as free radicals, and they are the reason why our body undergo massive cellular damage as we age or undergo degenerative diseases like cancer and heart illness.

The function of black tea health benefit antioxidants is to seek out these free radicals and destroy them. In so doing, these black tea health benefit antioxidants help protect your body from the ravages of aging and the effects of pollution.

Caffeine

Unless you consider yourself a coffee connoisseur, one black tea health benefit that you would surely appreciate is its caffeine content. Black tea does the job that your coffee does – that is, to give you a little push as you wake up in the morning after pulling up an all-nighter. But while coffee has the unfortunate reputation of causing heart palpitations because of too much drinking (and hence, too much caffeine), your chance of suffering the same with drinking black tea is nil. That’s because black tea has two to three times less caffeine than coffee. An eight-ounce cup of coffee contains around 135 mg. caffeine, while black tea contains only 30 to 40 mg. per cup.

Rene Graeber graduated from the University of Munic in Educational and Sports Science and from the Paracelsus School of Medicine in Hamburg from Naturopathic Medicine.

A note from SBS Teas:

Articles, contents, and informations presented on this site are for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional.

Be sure to browse the large variety of flavored and unflavored Black Teas and Accessories that SBSteas.com offers for your everyday needs.

Green Tea And Your Health

2007-01-11T17:47:00.000-08:00

Green tea has been used as for medical remedies in China since ancient times. It was said to have many health benefits and be a remedy for many ailments. It is also said that the Japanese owe their slim figures to green tea.

Today, scientist in Asia and the west are providing scientific evidence that green tea is a benefit to our health. An anti-oxidant call EGCG that is in green tea is the main cause of this.

Green tea has been shown to do many things including:

- Inhibit the growth of new cancer cells and kill existing cancer cells

- Promote weight loss helping the body burn up to 10 percent more body fat.

- Increase energy expenditure up to 4 percent.

- Prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.

- Reduce the risk of colon, breast, and lung cancer.

- Boost the immune system.

- Have an anti-inflammatory effect making it a good supplement for those with arthritis.

- Help in the prevention of tooth decay.

Green Tea Differs from Other Types of Tea

What makes green tea different from other tea is the process in which it is made. Made from the plant of Camellia sinensis, the leaves are steamed after being removed from the plant so that oxidation of the leaves is prevented. By doing this the leaves remain green and active substances that are contained in the leaves keep their healthful qualities.

Side Effects of Green Tea

There are no reported harmful side effects in drinking green tea or taking green tea extract capsules. Thus making green tea one of the best supplements available.

Use of Green Tea

There are many ways of supplementing your diet with green tea:

- Drinking green tea: 2 to 3 cups daily.

About the Author:
Josie Anderson is a personal trainer and is the owner of http://www.weight-loss-program-101.com providing weight loss resources to help with many weight loss goals and overall general health.

A note from SBS Teas:

Articles, contents, and informations presented on this site are for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional.

Be sure to browse the large variety of Green Teas and Herbal Health Tisanes that SBSteas.com offers for your everyday needs.

Year Round Baking with Lavender

2007-01-10T12:08:00.000-08:00

Here at SBS Teas, we offer organic lavender buds and lavender sugar. Recently a wonderful customer asked how to use our lavender sugar. Here are some tips on use and a nice recipe.

Lavender sugar is great in pink lemonade, over desserts, on top of cake frosting and much more. It is really good in earl grey and regular black tea.

The fresh organic lavender buds actually flavors the tea in a natural way instead of using a chemical type flavoring.

Brenda Hyde of Old Fashioned Living offers up this recipe:

Lavender Lemon Shortbread

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
grated zest of one large lemon
1 tablespoon lavender flowers, finely chopped
2 tablespoons lavender sugar

Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until well blended and light. Sift the flour and salt together in another bowl, and add to the butter and sugar mixture. Add the vanilla, lemon zest and lavender. Mix thoroughly. Roll the dough into a ball and wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours. Press the dough into an 8-inch square pan. Sprinkle with lavender sugar and chill for another 45 minutes. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes until the shortbread is lightly browned. Cool in pan and cut into squares.

Enjoy! And let us know what other recipes with lavender you come up with.

____________________
Stay Steeped!
Rachel - Founder
http://www.SBSteas.com
Brew our Tea, Taste the Magic!

Did you know?

2007-01-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

That the active constituents in green tea are powerful antioxidants called polyphenols (catechins) and flavonols.

One cup of green tea can provide up to 10-40 mg of polyphenols and can yield antioxidant effects that are better than eating a serving of broccoli or spinach. Just one more reason to add fresh loose green teas to your life!

When brewing tea, you use 1 teaspoon of loose tea for each 6 oz cup of water.

For a full range of quality loose leaf teas from SBS Teas, click here.

The Great Tea Pyramid Scam

2006-09-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

Before I start, I would ask you to think of these things first.

First think environment and our children, and petroleum byproducts, then plastic/nylon.

I have had several emails about this "new" tea bag that people have been seeing on TV being offered by a huge tea company.

Last year, I wrote an article about this very thing that was being flushed into the tea market by other tea merchants. My worst feeling has come true.

This is the article (below), it can also be found in our blog if you would like to link to it to spread the word.
http://www.sbsteas.com/blog/2005/04/socially-responsible-tea-packaging.php

I am interested to know what you think about these new revolutionary tea bags.

This is why we really try to promote re-usable infusing methods like the amazing brewer or tea balls (and you know how much I like tea balls lol).
I also feel it is VITAL that we spread the word about this environmental scam as well.
*****************
April 2005

This is something that we have been wrestling with for months now.

How to provide products in packaging that is re-usable and environmentally responsible.

There is a new rage in the tea world of a fancy albeit cool looking new tea bag or some call it a tea sachet (how elegant).

It contains (usually) quality loose leaf tea and is in the shape of a triangle. It allows you to have loose teas "on the go". What the manufacturers and merchants don't tell you is the bags are made of are made of a "high quality nylon that is heat tempered" and are NOT biodegradable.

Worse yet is the fact that large manufacturers are now "private labeling" these "revolutionary" bags so they are now available to every tea Tom, Dick and Harry to propagate our land fills with yet more plastics.

If there were going to be a revolution in tea, I would prefer it to be focused on Fair Trade implementation and less exploitation of tea estates, people and the planet.

The earth doesn't need a revolutionary tea that fills our dumps with more plastic products. Besides who knows what the long term effects of drinking plastics that have had boiled water poured over them or even been put in a microwave?

We have finally started to see major players in the tea arena get away from the bleached tea bags that they have been using for years. A step in the right direction... is this a classic case of one step forward two steps back?

Something to ponder over a cup of tea that is for sure.

Tea Leaf Reading Made Easy

2006-10-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

There has been considerable debate as to the validity of Tea Leaf Reading Divination over the years (hundreds of years in fact). Regardless of the arguments on either side, the art of reading the cup is no less fascinating today than it has been in times gone by.

Recently, I happened upon a free e-text from The Gutenberg Project by Cicely Kent entitled Telling Fortunes By Tea Leaves. If this sort of reading is your cup of tea, be sure to read the on line version or download it to read at your leisure. Of course, if you are limited on time, you can always visit the SBS Teas pleasingly accurate tea leaf reading service The Daily Tea Leaf as often as you like. Drinking your favorite SBS Tea of course!

All of our leaves are packed

2006-10-16T05:34:00.000-07:00

All of our leaves are packed and we are ready to go......

And go we did! It is official, SBS Teas has moved into our new larger digs and are frantically making up for lost time!

While we didn't move far, the journey was no less tedious. With the help of our awesome employees, friends, countrymen well you get the gist, we made it! A HUGE thank you to all that have helped in so many ways. Your continued support and enthusiasm is what keeps us boiling on into the future!

To all of our valued customers thank you for your patience during this very important time for us. We couldn't have done it without you!

Tea In a Museum?

2006-10-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

Over the course of my life, I have had the opportunity to visit some interesting museums. Imagine my surprise when I recently found the Tea Guy had compiled quite a lengthy list of tea museums around the world! Including the Boston Tea Party Museum.

So, before booking your next vacation to an exotic part of the world or even closer to home in the US, be sure to check out the Tea Museum list and be sure make it a part of your itinerary.

We expect a full report on your findings, or at least some photos! :)

A Tea Journey of Kindness

2006-09-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday afternoon, and we are just sitting down to enjoy another cup of a new favorite black tea. Keemun 2006

This full bodied, with a slightly smoky flavor. It is a delight and holds its own with no sugar or cream. Definitely a cup to be enjoyed for it's tasteful beauty.

As I sit here checking in with my family of tea friends on our forum and via email, I feel a nice contented warmth flow over me. My email contains yet another wonderful message from our dear Maitri. Maitri is the artist and creator of a very special blog and yahoo group called Tea Mind Be Kind. Each of her entries are a joy to read, to see how she connects her everyday life through words, tea, fiber art and other magical things. She is a true inspiration to me, and I am blessed to know her in my life. A friendship blossomed by tea leaves of all things!!

Take a moment and immerse yourself in a bit of kindness and sail away through the Tea Mind Be Kind blog. You will be glad you did!

Winners in the SBS Blog for Bling Contest!

2006-10-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to these wonderful participants who were chosen as the winners of our September Blog for Bling contest winners. Be sure to stop by thier blogs and see what htey have t say, and congratulate them!

2 - $50.00 Gift Certificates
http://zevcards.wordpress.com
http://zevcards.wordpress.com/2006/09/14/a-cute-tea-party-or-get-well-soon-concept/

Donna: http://valhallasoap.com/blog/2006/09/watching-blues-pinks-with-special.html

4 - $25.00 Gift Certificates
Lisa: http://www.rpsoapworks.com/?p=168
Jenn: http://mnsfibers.livejournal.com/123304.html
moiraeknittoo: http://www.threefatesfiber.net/blog/2006/09/28/too-many-tasks
Saphyre Rose: http://sunandmoonsorcery.blogspot.com/2006/09/tea.html

2 - Tea Starter Packs
Tina Sams: http://theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/2006/09/blending-teas.html
JJLoa: http://jjloa.livejournal.com/224015.html

Blog for SBS Teas Bling Contest!

2006-08-31T15:43:00.000-07:00

Addendum added 9/15/06
"Due to an overwhelming response from people who don't have an online journal, we invite you to post right in the thread regarding your experience with SBS Teas over the years.
You don't have to have an online journal. BUT if you do have one, and you post there, you get 2 entries instead of one per week starting this week.
Hurry Week 2 is almost over!"

*****
Everybody loves a contest right? Well, okay, almost everybody. We know from past experience that our SBS Teas customers definitely love them. And if you have been around awhile, you know that we haven't had one in ages, so this will be an awesome one to make up for lost time!

The contest is pretty simple. All you have to do is Blog about SBS Teas during the month of September. What? Blog? Yep that is it! There must be a catch right? Right, there is, but it is small and worth it!

What are the prizes?

Well, it really depends on you! The more people who post about SBSteas.com, the more prizes we add. So, once you have posted, tell your friends about the contest so they can post on their blogs too. If your friends haven't had an SBS Teas experience yet, they have the whole month of September to make one! They can make a purchase, or being the kind and generous friend that you are, you could give them an SBS Teas Gift Certificate! OR if you haven't purchased from us, but have items you would love to try, you can blog about those too! :)

As the blog posts about SBS grow, so does the treasure trove of prizes!
We are going to start out the contest with the following items:

2 - $50.00 Gift Certificates
4 - $25.00 Gift Certificates
2 - Tea Starter Packs

Waiting stage left are a multitude of other prizes eager to be added, including but not limited to:

Yxing Tea Pots (will be pictured when added)
Complete Tea Sets (will be pictured when added)
$100.00 Gift Certificate to SBS Teas
Free Perks Club Memberships
Tea of course!
Tea Accessories
and much more!

Only you can determine how many of these choice prizes will be available to win. Remember, the more prizes, the greater your chances of winning! New Prizes will be added once a week according to the volume of new blog posts.

Who, what, where and how to enter:
You must have your own blog either via your own site, Blogger, LiveJournal, WordPress, Xanga, MSN spaces, My Space etc. etc. If you don't have a blog, have fun and create your own at any of the sites above! It is typically free, and fun to do.

So, what do you have to write about?

Your blog posts must be at least 2 or more paragraphs long and talk about your favorite SBS Teas products, service experiences, friends and connections you have made as a result of being part of the SBS family, memories you have created with others as a result of being a part of our family...pretty much any positive experience relative to your experience with us over the years. We ask that your posts contain links to http://www.sbsteas.com and have relevant links to products or areas of the SBS Teas website where they are available. You must have at least one link in your post to our site. If you haven't purchased from us, but have items you would love to try, you can blog about those too!

Once you have your blog entry created, come back to this entry and post your blog and the link to your posting. All posts are moderated. Once we verify that your blog entry is on your site and meets the contest criteria, we will add your blog post here so others can get to know you and visit your blog too. That's it! It is that easy!

Wait! There's more, it gets even better!! You can post once a week about us in your blog to have additional entries for a total of 4 chances to win a prize. Of course you can post more than that, but you only receive the four entries. :)

If you choose to link to a photo from our site, please do NOT hot-link the image (i.e. save the image to your webhost or a free photo site like Flickr).

A BIG thank you to Vivian Cheng of Blend Creations for the awesome idea for our contest. Check out her site, and show her some love. She has some of the most gorgeous Washi Pendants. Tell her we sent you!

On October 1, 2006, winners will be randomly chosen from the magical tea pot from all those who entered. The winners will be notified via email, and we'll announce the winners on our site the first week of October along with their blog site. One prize per person per blog. The blog you post on must be yours. Multiple people posting in a blog are not eligible, only the owner. If you have multiple blogs, you can write different blog posts, and enter each of those. The posts DO have to be different and you can only submit a maximum of 3 blog sites. We will not approve or accept any blog posts from sex sites, abusive sites, anybody who promotes hatred, racism, bigotry, sexual intolerance against any race creed or religion, SPAM, link farms and sites that we feel are a conflict of interest. Don't join and don't ask. We hold the right to reject any entry as we see fit for any reason with or without warning. In the event that you win, you must provide your first and last name, a valid email address and mailing address that we can ship your prize to. Entries outside of Canada and the US are permitted -- we just need to be able to mail to you. Certain countries have restrictions on what can be shipped. Entrants who live in states, provinces or countries that prohibit them from claiming free prizes via the internetet or have other restrictions, will not be eligible to win.

The Pyramids Don't Crumble

2006-09-21T18:19:00.000-07:00

According to a recent article by the Smithsonian Magazine

http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2006/august/pla.php?page=1

ahhh and here we have the flip side of what large companies using this silken sachet. AKA polylactic acid, PLA

This is another type of "bio-degradable" materials that some sachets are made of. Others are simply plastic.

This is a continuation of the "Great Pyramid Scam" I blogged about on 09/09/06

Excerpts from the article.

"PLA is said to decompose into carbon dioxide and water in a controlled composting environment in fewer than 90 days. What's a controlled composting environment? Not your backyard bin, pit or tumbling barrel. It's a large facility where compost acessentially, plant scraps being digested by microbes into fertilizer and reaches 140 degrees for ten consecutive days. So, yes, as PLA advocates say, corn plastic is biodegradable. But in reality very few consumers have access to the sort of composting facilities that can make that happen. "

"Wal-Mart's Kistler says the company isn't about to take back used PLA for composting. We are not in the business of collecting garbage,he says. How do we get states and municipalities to set up composting systems? That is the million-dollar question. It's not our role to tell government what to do."

"Despite PLA's potential as an environmentally friendly material, it seems clear that a great deal of corn packaging, probably the majority of it, will end up in landfills. And there's no evidence it will break down there any faster or more thoroughly than PET or any other form of plastic. Glenn Johnston, manager of global regulatory affairs for NatureWorks, says that a PLA container dumped in a landfill will last as long as a PET bottle.No one knows for sure how long that is, but estimates range from 100 to 1,000 years."

"Environmentalists have other objections to PLA. Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, questions the morality of turning a foodstuff into packaging when so many people in the world are hungry. Already we're converting 12 percent of the U.S. grain harvest to ethanol, he says. The USDA projects that figure will rise to 23 percent by 2014. How much corn do we want to food do we want to convert to nonfood products?

"Martin Bourque, executive director of the Berkeley Ecology Center, a nonprofit recycling organization, holds a dim view of PLA convenience packaging. Yes, corn-based packaging is better than petroleum-based packaging for absolutely necessary plastics that aren't already successfully recycled, and for packaging that cannot be made of paper, he says. But it's not as good as asking, Why are we using so many containers? My worry is that PLA legitimizes single-serving, over-packaged products.

Just released from Journal of the American Medical Association

2006-09-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

I am elated at the news that just passed my desk! I was on my way home and decided to check email one last time. WOW am I glad I did!

Green Tea Consumption and Mortality Due to Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and All Causes in Japan
The Ohsaki Study

Read the findings at JAMA

The Japanese study included over 40,000 people! This was mainly geared towards Cardio Vascular Disease. But over the 11 year period 4,209 participants died, while in the cause-specific seven-year segment, 892 participants died of Cardio Vascular Disease and 1,134 of cancer.

The exciting part is that women who drank five or more cups of green tea daily had a 31% lower risk of dying from Cardio Vascular Disease than women who drank less than one cup daily (that would be none). The women drinking five cups of green tea daily dropped the risk of stroke mortality by 62%!!! And all-cause mortality by 23 percent.

These numbers are astounding! Some of the oldest people in the world live in Japan and the Japanese have longest longevity in the world.

this story is being picked up by hundreds of major news media channels including:

National Public Radio
CBS News
Fox News
Medical News Today
and many more.

This is HUGE news everybody! This study is a watershed to further promote the awareness of tea and FDA-approved health claims.

But more than this, it is another key in our personal day to day health care for our bodies. Here's to your health!

What is tea ? The real deal

2006-09-11T14:24:00.000-07:00

There are about 8 billion (ok thousand) websites, books, cd's, videos out there that are related to tea. Each one has a slightly different version of what tea is (or is not). It can really make one's head spin, I know it did mine when I first got started.

My name is Rachel Johnston and I will be your hostess on this exciting journey! Let’s start with the basics. Tea is essentially a beverage made from the leaves, twigs and buds from the plant (tree) Camellia sinensis which is part of the evergreen family.

In the wild, the Camellia sinensis plant would grow anywhere from 16 feet (5 meters) to 50 feet (15 meters). Now that is one tall plant!

Tea grows in subtropical conditions (loves monsoon country). You can find this amazing plant anywhere from Northeast India, China, the Himalayas, Kenya, Japan, Taiwan (Formosa) and even in the UK and US!

Basically there are 4 basically types or ways you will see/consume tea of tea:
Black tea
Oolong tea
Green tea
White tea

They all come from the Camellia sinensis plant.
The difference in names and tastes comes from how the plant is processed after being plucked.

Some of the most common terms for processing tea leaves are withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying or firing.

We will explore which methods are used on which teas in a future article.

That, my friends, is what "tea" is. Shall we say, in a teacup!

Stay tuned for more opportunities to explore the world of tea. In the mean time, please feel free to post your comments and questions here in this post. I would love to hear from you!

Green Tea Chocolate Cake Recipe

2006-08-31T12:35:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
3 small eggs (2 large eggs)
1 2/3 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
2/5 cup butter
1 tbsp matcha powder (green tea powder)
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsps chocolate chips

Preparation:
Put butter in a bowl and stir well until soften. Add sugar in the bowl and mix well. Whisk eggs in another bowl. Mix eggs and butter mixture together. Sift flour, baking powder, and green tea powder together. Add flour in the egg and butter mixture and mix. Add chocolate chips in the bowl and mix together. Spread some butter and place baking wax paper inside of a medium loaf pan.
Pour batter into the pan. Bake in preheated 325 F oven for 30-40 minutes.
Remove and allow to cool. Cut and serve with your favorite SBS Teas Green Tea!
Makes 4 servings

Green Tea, Chocolate and Me!

2006-08-31T12:17:00.000-07:00

A recent study conducted by Holland's National Institute of Public Health and Environment has concluded an interesting and revealing study on one of my favorite foods, chocolate! And who knows chocolate better than the Dutch, with the exception of the Aztecs. Their conclusion was that "Chocolate contains up to four times the anti-oxidants found in tea.". The researchers specifically found dark chocolate contains 53.5 mg catechins (our favorite anti-oxidant!) per 100 grams. In comparison the average cup of green tea can have up to 42 mg of catechins.

While chocolate is apparently slightly higher on the anti-oxidant scale, it is not far behind our beloved green tea.

Scientific research has only begun to scratch the surface of the numerous potential health benefits of green tea. Many of us have read about the benefits of green tea and cancer related illness. But what about the other chronic diseases millions of people struggle with every day of their lives? Case in point, a study by Cleveland's Western Reserve University concluded that "drinking four or more cups of green tea per day could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, or reduce symptoms in individuals already suffering from the disease."

On a sweeter note, what many of us have secretly dreamed of is now a reality, proven with scientific research! Chocolate is healthy, does it make it a health food? I say yes! Partnered with green tea, how can any healthy diet go wrong? You be the judge. Start your new diet today with this tasty recipe! Still a bit skepticalal about chocolate? We have the perfect solution for you! Our line of wildly popular chocolate teas, has wonderful selection of chocolate flavored green teas!

Including these SBS Teas favorites:

Chocolate Orange Truffle Green Tea
Temple of Chocolate
Bavarian Chocolate Cream Green Tea
Chocolate Mint Green Tea

August is National Peach Month

2006-08-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

Word down the peach vine from Hungry Girl, is that August is national Peach Month!

Lets celebrate. Who loves peach? ME! me me! Fresh peaches, peach juice, canned peaches and of course peach tea.
Next time you are enjoying a glass of SBS Peach Tea, try this yummy experiment, sweeten up your lovely brew by adding a bit of peach juice to your tea (hot or iced). MMMM
What are your favorite peach foods and beverages???

The peach or "Prunus persica", the scientific name of the peach, suggests that peaches came from Persia, but China is actually the peach's original home. Peaches were originally from an area near the city of Xian, China. They were cultivated in China at least 3,000 years ago. Wild peaches, called "Maotao" or "Yietao", still grow in remote areas of China. Peaches spread to Russia and Persia (present-day Iran) probably because Chinese traders dropped peach pits along their trade routes. Alexander the Great and his armies found the peaches in Persia and brought them to Greece. Most Europeans assumed that peaches came from Persia. Throughout the next centuries, peaches were spread all over Europe. The Spanish brought peaches to America.
Today, the peach is grown in at least 64 countries worldwide. The U.S. produces about 20% of the world's peaches.

In other news.....like many ancient traditions, the succulent peach has mystical attributes, and supposedly brings luck, abundance and protection. Dumplings shaped like peaches were often a special treat for birthday celebrations. Even the wood of the peach tree was carved into protective amulets in some countries. Today, brides in China carry peach blossoms which represent beauty, affection and fertility.

As well put by T.S. Eliot "Do I dare to eat a peach?". Here at SBS Teas, we say, yes, embrace and drink your peaches!

Stop by the website and type the word Peach into the search box and see our selection of over 15 types of peach teas, tisanes and goodies!

Yale University, Your Heart and Tea

2006-06-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

Last month, researchers at Yale University School of Medicine weighed in on the issue with a review article that looked at more than 100 studies on the health benefits of green tea.

More studies are needed, they said. But they pointed to what they called an "Asian paradox," which refers to lower rates of heart disease and cancer in Asia despite high rates of cigarette smoking.

They theorized that the 1.2 liters of green tea that is consumed by many Asians each day provides high levels of polyphenols and other antioxidants.

These compounds may work in several ways to improve cardiovascular health, including preventing blood platelets from sticking together and improving cholesterol levels, said the researchers, whose study appeared in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Specifically, green tea may prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the bad kind), which, in turn, can reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries, the researchers wrote.

It may be difficult for Americans to consume as much green tea as Asians, but they can get greater amounts of antioxidants in their diet by drinking some green tea, as well as increasing consumption of dark fruits and vegetables, drinking moderate amounts of red wine and even eating some dark chocolate, said lead author Bauer Sumpio, a professor of vascular surgery at Yale.

"The collective intake probably is of significant protection to cardiovascular disease," he said.

Sumpio said what swayed him is laboratory research on cells showing that green tea can act in a way that prevents heart disease and cancer.

"For me, there is no downside to drinking green tea," he said. "It's not like red wine with the alcohol issue."

Sumpio and his co-authors concluded in the article that "the evidence is strong that green tea consumption is a useful dietary habit to lower the risk (for) and treat a number of chronic diseases. ... The consumption of six to 10 cups of tea per day might constitute an aid to increased health, longevity and quality of life."

SBSteas.com Meets Lady Gayle!

2006-06-30T20:44:00.000-07:00

SBSTeas.com recently had the distinct pleasure of talking with and interviewing Gail Gastelu Lady Gayle.

Lady Gayle is the publisher of the unique and information packed Tea House Times. Read on to learn more about this fascinating and wonderful woman!

SBS: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us today. Lady Gayle tell me a little about yourself.

LG: I am Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Tea House Times, a bi-monthly afternoon tea publication. Readers of the publication refer to me as Lady Gayle; a nickname inspired by members of The Red Hat Society several years ago. I enjoy afternoon tea and the publication is a way to share that passion. In my spare time, I am also a Girl Scout leader.

SBS: How did you get into this particular field?

LG: Personal passion has led me into the tea field with particular attention to afternoon tea and Victoriana; areas that really interest me and most people who enjoy afternoon tea. The focus of a tea related publication puts my own personal skills to use while having fun with my passion for afternoon tea at the same time.

SBS: What made you decide to start writing and create a newsletter/publication?

LG: After years of working and raising children, most people re-think their lives such as I have. I want my work to be important, meaningful, and helpful in some way while still allowing important family time.

SBS: What makes Tea House Times so unique?

LG: Tea House Times combines everything enjoyable about afternoon tea such as beautiful Victorian decor, mismatched china, wonderful friends, and delicious foods, recipes, and tea. The Tea House Times is a celebration of friends coming together and offers relaxing reading and a fresh way to learn something new while keeping in touch with the past.

SBS: What is your favorite part of your job and why?

LG: Visiting tea rooms to write reviews is my favorite part. I absolutely love going to tea rooms. I love scones and clotted cream and it is fun to sample them from different tea rooms/restaurants. The scones are never the same, always different, always unique and delicious. Each afternoon tea experience is very unique and wonderful. And it is great to meet new people. And it is tons of fun to listen in on other conversations that people are having, which are always about how beautiful, how delicious everything is. It is such an enjoyable time and so special to share with friends and family.

SBS: In your life, what are you passionate about? What inspires you?

LG: I am passionate about teaching and passing on good values to children and sharing ideas with adults to pass on to younger generations. Afternoon tea is the perfect opportunity to pass on good manners, try new foods, learn how to be sociable, etc.

Inspiration comes in many forms. I am inspired by the uniqueness of each tea room I visit. I am inspired by the wonderful people I meet along the way. I am inspired by the innocence of younger generations. I am inspired by positive people in my own life and others who set good examples through various means to help other people.

SBS: What is your favorite tea?

LG: I drink a cup of green tea every morning and I do enjoy it, but when I have time for a full pot of tea, I prefer flavored green or black teas.

SBS: Describe the type of person you would like to reach with your publication.

LG: I want to reach people who share a passion for afternoon tea. That includes the great food, great times spent with friends, and those who thirst for knowledge while holding on to our past and good values.

SBS: What do you do to relax?

LG: Afternoon tea! Preferably not at home. When you run a business and a family, it is nice to get away from it all sometimes and just go to tea. And I do not mind if all my friends and family come along, I just want to be served and I want someone else to do the work and cooking for a change. When I find some quiet time to myself, I like to read or take in a good movie.

SBS: Where do you see yourself and Tea House Timesin five years?

LG: Five years, wow. Having come so far in just 3 years, I hope to go even farther. We havve already gone from a basic newsletter to a glossy publication in under 3 years. I would like to reach out to more people, help people relax, get loads of more subscribers to share our passions and help all of our fine subscribers, such as yourself, meet up with these like minded individuals.

SBS: Anything else you would like our readers to know about you?

LG: I am just your average mom, pursuing a passion and turning it into a full time business. I believe it is a passion most of us share especially in wanting to pass on good values, find time to treat ourselves to a relaxing tea with friends, and as the girls in my Girl Scout troop would say, make the world a better place.

SBS: Lady Gayle, thank you so much for your time today, it has been a pleasure getting to know you. We are excited to offer Tea House Times to our SBSteas.com customers, and look forward to many more years of wonderful reading.

Be sure to pick up your copy of Tea House Times today!

Bio
Gail Gastelu is founder and publisher of The Tea House Times, a bi-monthly publication for afternoon tea lovers available in tea rooms and by subscription. Gail shares her passion for Afternoon Tea and finds ways to help men and women relax and rejuvenate. Gail writes articles for several other publications promoting and sharing worldwide passions for afternoon tea. Gail works hard to help tea room owners find resources, marketing ideas, quality advertising avenues, and through Tea House Times offers numerous ways for tea room owners to communicate with customers to promote their passion for afternoon tea as well.

The Tea House Times is a bi-monthly publication Celebrating a Passion for Tea, Victorian Treasures, and Friendship. The Tea House Times is a valuable reference with entertaining, educational, enjoyable reading including Afternoon Tea Recipes, Tea Connoisseur, Readers' Choice Tea Rooms, Tea Room Reviews, Victoriana, Craft, Etiquette, Friendship quotes from the late 1800's, Book and Product Reviews, Events, a Society Page, and Travel.