A Cup of Morning Tea

How do you start your morning? If you have breakfast, this often includes a meal with carbohydrates and protein and a beverage to give you a slight jolt to start your day. More often than not, this beverage is coffee. While coffee has recently been found to have antioxidants, not everyone drinks it black. The list of ingredients to coffee has since expanded from a bit of cream and sugar to syrups and whipped cream. If you cannot stand the taste of black coffee and want to eliminate the excess calories of added milk and sugar products, consider drinking tea instead.

Black tea, which contains the most caffeine out of all common varieties, can be closely likened to coffee with a milder taste. Although plain black tea is often found in varieties like Earl Grey and English breakfast, flavor infusions, which add taste but not too many calories, have become popular. Each blend of flavored black tea contains some dried fruits, spices, or even flower petals. When the tea is steeped, the flavors from the fruits or spices are released and mixed in.

From a different species of the camellia sinensis plant, green tea has also gained in popularity over the past 20 years. Even with less caffeine, green tea can still give you a morning jolt, but the beverage has come under attention for supposed health properties. Studies ranging from reducing risks of heart disease to weight loss have been done with green tea, but the results of all indicate that the beverage, even in concentrated form, is not a substitute for proper medical attention or a dieting and exercise strategy.

Brewing Oolong Tea

For the best tasting tea, always start with high quality oolong tea. This is the first key to a great final result. Because there is such a difference in the oolong varieties, you cannot brew every oolong tea the same way. The water temperature and steeping times will vary. In general, the darker oolongs need boiling water and are steeped longer than lighter oolongs. It is also recommended that you use a clay teapot. A good clay teapot has properties that enable it to absorb the tea flavors. The flavors are then released into the next pot of tea. Good quality water is also important. Be sure the water is fresh, filtered or bottled. The quality of the water is another key to an excellent cup of oolong tea.

Oolong tea is thick and coarse and requires very hot water to open the leaves and let the flavor out. So, boil the water. After the water boils, give it a few seconds to cool and then pour over the tea leaves. As it is brewed, the leaves expand; be sure the teapot has room inside for the leaves to fully open. The brewing of the tea is actually a two step process. The first brew should be a small amount of water poured over the tea leaves. This first brew should be thrown out - it is much too bitter to drink! Now, the oolong tea leaves have opened up and you can proceed with the second brew. Depending on your personal taste, the oolong tea should be infused for one to three minutes. You will need to experiment with the timing and temperature until you discover your perfect taste.

All teas can hold multiple infusions but oolong tea maintains full flavor into at least the third infusion. This is another opportunity to experiment with oolong. You can try different water temperatures, various steeping times and experiment with how many infusions continue to provide great taste.

Using high quality oolong tea also gives you the advantage of a great cup of tea even if you're brewing technique and process was less than perfect. High quality oolong is more reliable and, therefore, more forgiving of our lack of skill in brewing this wonderful beverage. You can expect different flavors and a new taste with every pot your brew.

All about Electric Tea Kettles

Before, boiling tea used to take a lot of time and effort, since you had to rely on basic heat just to make a great cup. Today, there are so many available electric teas that you can choose from. Each of these boasts of excellent features and great functionality that will truly give you a whole new experience. Since there are so many to choose from, you have to know which traits to look for and at least have some basic guidelines of what you should have when investing in these. Here are some tips and tricks.

About the Design

First of all, you need to carefully consider the design of the electric tea kettle. There are many raw materials to choose from, with varying grades as well. You will find tea kettles made from different materials like steel, silver, copper, brass or aluminum. The aluminum types are usually the most affordable. You should consider the style or check your budget before investing in any of these materials. The style and appearance might change slightly, depending on the current trend and season. The fashion changes in electric tea kettles include color, shapes, safety features, functionality, convenience and parts like the handles and base.

The Heat Source

Before, making traditional tea involves having to heat the kettle over charcoal or fire. Now, you simply rely on electricity to do all the work. You can expect to heat tea or water in just as little as 2 to 5 minutes, depending on what type you're getting. The heating element should also be checked. This is the thermostat that tells you if the tea is too hot, just right or not yet well brewed. You might find some designs that show you the exact temperature of the tea or if the water's already boiling. There might also be an on and off switch or a thermostat that automatically shuts the kettle off once it reaches the ideal temperature.

Choosing the Brand

There are different manufacturers of electric tea kettles. However, you should invest in the proven names in the industry who have proven to be very effective in creating the most durable and convenient models. Do not quickly pick the cheapest one available, since you might be compromising on quality and features. You should do your research and find the brand that works best for your setup. You should also consider the parts, just in case you need to repair the electric tea kettle later on. Some manufacturers are located abroad so it might be difficult to get certain parts if your unit breaks down.

Green Features

If you're a bit of an environmentalist and wish to save more energy in the process, you might want to invest in some excellent units that feature green or energy-efficient designs. These are usually more expensive than the usual models but you can save more in energy over the long run. The materials used in manufacturing the electric tea kettles are also sourced properly so you can help conserve the earth through your wise purchase.

Health Benefits of Peppermint Tea

Peppermint Tea, also known as mint tea, is an infusion made from peppermint (Mentha piperita). Peppermint was first grown in England back in 1750 by combining spearmint and water mint. This caffeine-free drink is typically used to calm the nerves and even heal some illnesses because of the menthol it contains.

People often drink peppermint infused tea to relieve symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. Breastfeeding mothers are often advised to drink peppermint tea to prevent and reduce the occurrence of colic in babies. Because of its cool, menthol smell, this tea is also used to get rid of bad breath. Although it doesn't cure serious illnesses, it can decrease the severity of colds and asthma. It should be taken into account however, that although many people recommend peppermint tea as a natural remedy, no clinical trials have been made to measure its effectiveness and health benefits.

On the other hand, peppermint has been proven to be effective in relaxing a person's muscles. This has made tea made from peppermint a favorite treatment for relaxing muscle spasms and treating colic, indigestion, intestinal gas and diarrhea. However, this also means that it can make stomach contents move back up the esophagus by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter. Because of this, people who have GERD, or gastro esophageal reflux disease, are advised against drinking peppermint tea.

This tea is most commonly made by pouring hot water into a cup with dried peppermint leaves at the bottom and letting the concoction sit for about 10 minutes. Drain off the leaves before serving the tea. Many people find the taste to be simply divine.

Assam Tea History

Assam tea is named for the area where it is grown: Assam, India. Assam is located on the Brahmaputra River, and borders Burma and Bangladesh. The area gets extremely high precipitation and daytime temperatures of 103 degrees Fahrenheit on average, which creates a tropical greenhouse effect on the teas grown here. This tropical heat and humidity are what give Assam tea its malty taste.

Assam is harvested only from the Camellia sinensis plant, with the specific variety being assamica. The tea is known for a strong and bright color, full body, malty flavor, and briskness. Blends with Assam contained in them are frequently sold as breakfast teas: Irish, English, and Scottish varieties among them.

The Assam area does produce some smaller amounts of green teas and white teas which have different and distinctive characteristics. This area is the second largest tea production region in the world, after southern China, which are also the only two regions which have native tea plants. The tea bushes grow in the lowland region, full of sandy and rich soil because it is a floodplain. Each year, the area yields over 1.5 million pounds of tea.

The tea is harvested twice a year, in what are called the "first flush" and "second flush." The first flush occurs in late March, and the second flush much later. It is the second flush which produces the sweeter and fuller-bodied teas.

The British began cultivating tea in Assam in the early 1800's, after an explorer saw the Indian natives brewing the leaves and sampled it. They originally brought Chinese seeds to the area, believing them better than the local variety. In the end, a version that is a hybrid of the Chinese and Indian tea plants proved most successful in the terrain and climate of the Assam area. Today there are six hundred tea gardens in the region.

Always begin with cold water when brewing Assam tea, and bring it to a boil. While your water is heating, fill your teapot with hot water to warm it. Just as your water begins to boil, remove from the burner, empty the warm water from your teapot, and add 1 teaspoon of Assam tea leaves per cup of water, using a loosely-packed tea ball. Let your tea steep for three to five minutes, strain, and enjoy!

Healthy Life with Oolong Tea

In America, many people enjoy the tea that is provided in Chinese restaurants, in the small teapots and even tinier little cups. What most do not realize is that this "Chinese tea," called Oolong tea, is produced organically and according to ancient Chinese culture. This traditional drink in China is generally brewed to a full strength that is bitter but leaves a sweet aftertaste. It has a distinctive taste, unlike black teas which have sweet aromas, or green teas with grassy notes.

The leaves are produced in a couple of different ways; they are either rolled into long curly leaves, or pressed into a round form. The long and curly leaves are the ancient method. The translation of the names of the different types of Oolong teas means "black dragon tea."

This type of tea is manually produced in the time-honored traditions of China. The leaves are picked early in the morning, and only on a clear day. They are picked in exacting units: one bud and three leaves which must get immediate exposure to the sun. Next they are dried in barns to help promote fermentation, and only expert 'tea masters' know when the tea is exactly right and fermentation should be stopped. Because it is partially fermented, it is also known as semi-fermented tea.

The fermentation is typically stopped when the leaves are 30% red and 70% green. Then, the tea leaves are repeatedly rubbed to generate the flavor, texture, and aroma that is so well-loved in China, Japan, and the United States. Next, the leaves are charcoal dried, and at the final stage of production, a tea master is utilized to grade the quality by characteristics and flavor.

When Rachel Ray recently mentioned studies on Oolong tea that show it helps in reducing weight, it started a new diet frenzy, with some unrealistic claims. The tea does give you some benefits like increased energy and lots of antioxidants and drinking some can often stave off cravings for sweets and energy slumps. They taste wonderful, so why not add some to your diet?

Celebrating Valentine with Tea Party

The 14th of February is celebrated as the day of love and affection, across the globe. But aren't we all just fed up with those boring candle lit dinners and heart themed formal events? Believe it or not, but the day of love is a great time to host your very own Valentine's Day tea party. From fun filled craft projects to delectable dishes, you can have it all!

Every great party begins with a thought that manifests into a well-organized plan. For your very own tea party, you can start off by creating some customized invitations and decorations. But you need to make sure that your invitation cards have very earthy and organic notes.

Next, you can take some time off to master your table manners and your tea drinking skills. Remember that, in some cultures, the very concept of tea drinking is an art in itself. Once, you have your basic ingredients in place. You can start warming the pot. In other words, you need to get your menu in place and gather all the required ingredients. For the fun factor, at your tea party, you can choose some entertaining games and craft projects.

A Valentine's Day tea party can be a beautiful tradition. But some years you may find it hard to keep up with this elaborate style. But don't lose hope, for you can always keep it simple, with the help of a few dainty hearts, some cookies, chocolates and a whole lot off exotic teas. Hope these whimsical ideas, inspire and entice you!

Present below is a list of a few teatime treats and delicacies. These tiny appetizers will definitely give your tea party a healthy and wholesome boost.

1. First and foremost, a good quality tea is most essential! You can always try out the Earl Grey for its herbal, yet modest tones will soothe the harshest of palates.
2. Next, you can bring out that warm and nourishing cream soup with some homemade heart-shaped tea sandwiches. If you do have some more free time, then you can put in those extra hours and create some wonderful and unique fresh scones that can be served with sweetened jams, sweet mini strawberry tarts and even delicate Valentine petite fours.
3. If you want to become a professional Valentine's Day tea party host, then you need to remember that flavored tea should always be served before any food item. This must always be kept in mind, for flavored teas do not always compliment certain cuisines. For instance, this rule must strictly be applied to scones and sandwiches.

The great thing about any Valentine's Day tea party is that the menu is extremely simple and most importantly it can be made ahead of time. So on the day of your highly anticipated party, all you have to do is put on your fanciest clothes and be on your best behavior. Enjoy your well earned, scrumptious food items beautifully laid out table. Enjoy the day and have a blast!