When consumed without sugar, tea is extraordinarily good for the mouth as a whole.  It fights the Streptococcus mutans bacteria that causes cavities and strengthens enamel.  As a result, not only are teeth spared the risk of decay, but the gums also experience a positive effect.  There is less receding and bleeding from having the harmful bacteria reduced that causes cavities.

The components present in tea that help in aiding dental health include flavonoids, which are antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, and fluoride.  So when consumed on a regular basis, green tea acts as a pleasant and refreshing attribute to a normal dental health regimen.

A useful way to add green tea to your diet to encourage great dental health is to have a cup at the conclusion of meals or snacks.  You will also experience the positive health benefits of green tea that include hydration, an increase in the intake of antioxidants, help with weight loss, great skin, and many others.

For a delicious, loose leaf variety of green tea to enjoy on a daily basis, browse our catalog, and find one that you love!

Enter: The iPhone Teaflection App.

Because Teaflection realizes the importance of access to great tea, even when on-the-go, we have created an iPhone app that allows users to view our entire catalog, place orders, and manage their accounts right from their phones.  The app makes shopping with us immensely easier than trying to view the full website from a smart phone web browser, and best of all, it’s free!

Therefore, all tea enthusiasts are now able to restock their favorite items during those dull moments of waiting at the dentist or for a meeting, or create a wishlist for later purchase.  But even more importantly, apps are a great way to define your interests, and if your interest is premium-quality loose leaf tea, then having a full catalog of loose leaf tea at your fingertips is a must.

Download our free Teaflection App today, and realize the possibilities in having access to premium loose leaf tea…right from your phone!

Green Tea:  These varieties are quite light, vegetal, and refreshing, but range in depth of taste depending on the area and method of cultivation.  Because most green teas are hydrating and delicate, they work well with savory foods.  For example, salty snacks and deli sandwiches are perfect, everyday choices that can be enhanced by a cup of green tea, such as Japanese Sencha or China Dragon Phoenix Pearl.  Also, spicy foods that require a refreshing beverage, like many Asian dishes, benefit from the unobtrusive nature of green teas.

Black Tea:  In contrast to green tea, black teas are much more bold and robust in nature and should be paired with foods that can neutralize the strong effect they have on the taste buds.  Classically, pungent varieties, like Lapsang Souchong (a Chinese black tea), work well with sweet deserts, such as ice cream and fruity pastries.  Many red meat dishes are also enlivened by the flavorful and dark taste of black teas, which bring out subtleties in flavor by the same method as red wine.

Oolong Tea:  Because oolong teas are a middle-ground between green and black teas, as far as processing is concerned, they have characteristics that allow them to be combined with some of the same foods as both aforementioned varieties.  Shellfish, spicy foods, and light desserts all go well with oolong tea, though it has such delicious complexities that it is also quite nice alone.

Herbal Teas:  There is a huge range of flavors present between tea varieties in the herbal tea category, but as a general consensus, these are not the best alternatives to use in pairing with a uniform type of food.  Technically, herbal teas do not originate from the Camellia sinensis plant, so they are not truly “tea” in the same sense as green, black, oolong, and white varieties.  Usually, the flavors present in herbal tea are so poignant that they are best savored alone or paired according to their individual flavor profiles.  Conversely, these tea varieties offer the widest range for experimentation in possible combinations with food, and each individual tea drinker may find a great match between his or her favorite herbal tea and a food group that is unbeknownst to even the finest culinary wizard.

The spectrum of foods that can be combined with different types of tea is immense, and formulating various pairings presents a fun challenge to undertake.  Though we have offered some useful tips on matching teas with food, remember that the best fusion of flavors always comes from experimentation and creativity on the part of the consumer.

Oolong tea is created through the partial oxidation of tea leaves.  Naturally, green tea is tea in its freshest form, whereas black tea is completely oxidized.  Therefore, oolong tea is a middle ground between the two.  This golden-brown tea has unique chemical composition contains both caffeine and unique polyphenols that work hand in hand to cause the body to burn fat stores and block the absorption of fat.

Although oolong tea is primarily heralded now for its weight loss properties, it also is rich in antioxidants that can aid in cancer prevention when consumed regularly, and contributes to a healthy immune system.  The complex and refreshing taste of this variety is another quality that has helped in maintaining its popularity throughout centuries.  The extensive range of oolong teas can be anywhere between floral, earthy, and lightly roasted, as each version of oolong tea is baked in a specific way to bring out different flavor characteristics.

Enjoy the health benefits and delicate taste of oolong tea, and visit our catalog to order our premium, loose leaf varieties.

Because herbal and flavored tea are so versatile in their combinations and possibilities, many teas have flavors inspired by the holidays and are a perfect, fat-free way to enjoy a holiday treat.  Why not choose a zero-calorie, delicious cup of apple spice tea to invigorate your shopping ventures, rather than an approximately 300 calorie cup of apple cider?  With the wide array of choices available, you can indulge in your favorite holiday flavors and save yourself some calories to spare on the desserts you just cannot let pass (for me, the gingerbread cookies).

Here are some of the classic flavored teas that are perfect for the holidays:

Clove Tea:  Rich with the taste of evergreens, clove tea reminds us of Christmas trees and the decorations of the season.  Often found in hard candy, clove flavoring is a great compliment when added to a soothing cup of tea.

Chocolate Mint Flavored Tea:  Chocolate and mint are two of the most popular ingredients in holiday desserts.  In tea, these flavors create a sweet and refreshing beverage that is a much healthier choice than peppermint patties.

Peppermint Tea:  Though peppermint tea remains a favorite throughout the year, during the holiday season, it is a warm, but cooling beverage—much like a candy cane in a cup.  Also, it is an excellent remedy for a sore throat that may develop as winter approaches, or as a digestive aid after a large holiday meal.

Orange Blossom Spice Tea:  The warm and poignant orange blossom spice tea conjures memories of fall and Thanksgiving, as it shares similar flavors found in pumpkin, spice, and carrot cakes, which are popular around the harvest season.  In tea, the orange and black color scheme also makes it a festive choice around Halloween.

Enjoying the traditional flavors of the holiday season does not have to lead to making unhealthy, high-calorie food or beverage choices.  The many varieties of holiday tea can function as a satisfying and festive substitute for some selections, though you should not cut yourself off completely from the great holiday treats that await you in the coming months.  To get in the holiday spirit, find a tea variety that includes your favorite flavor and indulge!

Overall, green and white tea are the most popular teas to use in regard to skin care.  The same antioxidants present in these teas that benefit internal health act as balancing agents for the skin, as well as protect it against damage.  Specifically, these teas are useful in providing hydration to the skin, neutralizing free radicals, and protecting it against inflammation.  In reducing the amount of stress put on skin by outside factors, green and white tea can subsequently reduce the rate of aging and protect against sun damage.

Many anti-aging lotions and serums have been created with green tea or white tea as one of the active ingredients, and some anti-acne regimens include these types of tea for their balancing properties.  Though green and white tea are similar in their benefits for skin, white tea has proven to be richer in antioxidants, and thus, slightly more effective in fighting free radicals and preventing aging.  Another aspect of both green and white teas that is great for skin is the amount of caffeine in both, as caffeine acts as an energizer for the skin by increasing blood flow.

As mentioned previously, there are many beauty products infused with green and white tea that can be purchased from cosmetics retailers, but there are also ways to simply use your own fresh brewed tea for the same effect.  The easiest methods are to either use tea bags that have been recently steeped and cooled to lightly press on the face, or to use the room temperature prepared tea to splash on the face directly.  Other home-prepared methods that include slightly more complex directions include creating a green or white tea mask, lotion, or face scrub; there are many recipes online for each of these, so when feeling adventurous, find one and give it a try.

To find an excellent tea to enjoy either as a beverage or as a skin care product, browse through our catalog, and find an excellent selection of premium loose leaf varieties.

With all the variations of tea available, you can utilize different selections for parings that awaken fresh and complimentary flavors in traditional dishes.  Also, tea can be added to recipes through numerous methods, thus making it a versatile and flexible ingredient in the kitchen.  The best feature of using tea when cooking is that the possibilities for culinary innovation are truly endless, because there are so many varieties of traditional and herbal teas that can be used in different ways when preparing food.

For example, tea can be used as a spice, especially in vegetable and meat dishes.  To bring out the tea’s flavor in this application, it is best to use a grinder to finely chop the leaves.  The tea spice could then be used as seasoning for chicken, fish, or tofu to create a simple, but refreshing taste.  Along the same lines, tea can be used in marinades for meat, not only as a seasoning, but also as a natural tenderizer.

Other interesting ways to add the flavor and aroma of tea to food include using brewed tea to baste meats and vegetables, or to replace boiling water when making dishes like cous cous.  As a whole leaf, tea can be cooked or prepared to compliment vegetables, like steamed green beans, roasted carrots, or a simple salad.  The uses of tea when cooking, however, are not exclusive to savory dishes, as there are a multitude of recipes that use tea in deserts, such as (the classic) green tea ice cream.

Therefore, tea lovers and connoisseurs should not limit their love and evaluation of tea flavors with the beverage itself.  Get creative, and see how you can combine your favorite teas with familiar dishes in new and delicious ways!  If you are in need of excellent loose leaf teas to use in creating new recipes, visit our catalog, and find premium varieties today.

One of the best features of The Harney & Sons Guide To Tea is its sense of organization, which makes it a great reference resource.  The book begins with chapter on the process of tea tasting, which is excellent for those who are new to the process or unsure about the best tools to use when preparing tea, from a general standpoint.  Also, this chapter succinctly describes the steps to properly assess the quality and flavor profile of different teas.

The rest of the book is divided into chapters about each type of tea, such as “White Teas,” “Chinese Black Teas,” etc.  Within each chapter, there is a quick reference for several common tea varieties in each category, which includes brewing temperatures, brewing time, color, aroma, and other aspects.  Each chapter describes the origins of the tea categories extensively and describes variations in the approach to brewing them.  The chapters also detail the overall characteristics of each tea group.

Though The Harney & Sons Guide To Tea is utilized well when doing a tea tasting or preparing a new type of tea, I also enjoy using the book to find new teas to try, as the descriptions of individual varieties give insights into the anticipated flavors and aromas of each tea.  However, do not expect to find information on brewing tisanes, or herbal teas, in this book.  Tisanes do not come from the same plant as true ‘tea’ and the book only includes teas from the Camellia sinensis plant.  Overall, The Harney & Sons Guide To Tea is a wonderful book to add to your collection, whether you are a connoisseur or a novice in the art of preparing and tasting tea.

Often, in the afternoon, I get a craving for a tall glass of iced tea. I do have cold green tea on hand, but I prefer black tea in the afternoon.

Here’s how I make a quick iced tea:

• Pick whatever black tea suites your mood. For me, it is loose leaf Chinese Black: Flowery Orange Pekoe from Teaflection’s catalog; yesterday, it was Earl Grey.

• If you have access to very hot water, such as at an office or hotel, you can use that, or heat your own. I put a mug of water in the microwave for 2 minutes.

• Drop in your tea infuser or tea bag

• Fill up a tall cup, like a pint-size glass, completely with ice. The larger the cup of ice, the longer you let your cup of tea steep. I recommend not using an actual glass, as it may break due to the change in temperature.

• If you want sweet tea, now is the time to add your sweetener to the cup of tea. I sometimes use Agave nectar or honey. Lemon is also sometimes nice. Personally, with the great flavors of tea available, I have found little need for sweetener and really enjoy floral and citrus hints, such as in the Orange Pekoe.

• The final step is to pour your mug of hot tea into your cup of ice, stir and enjoy!

*Helpful Hint – Match the time you let your tea steep to how much ice you use in order to determine the strength of your iced tea. The more ice you use, the more diluted it becomes. I try to make my mug of tea twice as strong as I would normally prefer when enjoying hot tea, because I am diluting it with ice.

Why are loose leaf teas better?  There are several factors that go into this answer, but ultimately, it is the difference in quality and flavor.  If you prepare tea from a pre-packaged tea bag, the resulting taste can be quite unpredictable when compared to its loose leaf counterpart.  The tea itself is often crumbled and dried out with an almost dusty appearance that does not produce a great cup of tea, and usually the taste is stronger and possibly more bitter than the same loose leaf variety.  In using smaller fragments and particles of tea in tea bags, the essential oils that flavor each variety can evaporate easily, which results in the loss of taste, and the particles can often escape the tea bags into the cup leaving you with a cloudy beverage.

However, loose leaf teas are fresher and have bigger leaves than tea that goes into tea bags, which produces a well rounded and less bitter taste when prepared correctly.  Larger leaves mean more essential oils to contribute to the tea’s flavor when brewed, and they stay intact when being prepared for greater clarity.  The profound difference in taste from loose leaf varieties can make those who never thought of themselves as tea lovers have a change of heart, as the experience of drinking a great cup of tea can overshadow previous, lackluster impressions.

The convenience of tea bags is their readiness.  They are portable for when you are on the go, and they require no further preparation than to simply add them to a cup of hot water.  Loose leaf tea, in contrast, does require measuring and the use of other utensils, such as a tea ball infuser, strainer, or ceramic tea pot, but the results are so much better that to many, the extra effort is well worth it.  In meeting the needs of consumers who would like the benefits of a loose leaf tea and the easiness of a pre-prepared option, many tea manufacturers of quality varieties are offering silken tea sachets, also known as pyramids or envelopes, which are loose enough to allow the tea leaves to unfurl and contain the preferred larger, fresh tea leaves, but also are convenient and portable.

Therefore, the time is now to start drinking loose leaf tea instead of using tea bags.  The difference in taste and quality will surprise you if you haven’t yet experienced it, and there are even pre-packaged loose leaf tea options to make the transition easier.  If you are in need of a great loose leaf tea, feel free to browse through our catalog to find your favorite variety; all orders come with a free tea ball infuser to help you in your preparation.