How Do You Drink Tea?
Tea, it's the second most consumed beverage in the world, beaten only by water. It has a place in almost every culture on earth, and has been drunk for what historical documents suggest to be over 5,000 years.
There are four main types of this beverage which are white tea, green tea, oolong tea (wu long tea or brown tea), and black tea. However, each type of tea comes from the same species of plant called Camellia sinensis, and it is the processing that the tea leaves go through which determine what type they will ultimately become.
Many studies show that there are a number of health benefits that can be obtained by drinking tea. This beverage has many goodies floating around it like antioxidants, catechins, and polyphenols which can shield our immune system, prevent certain tumor growth, and aid in a healthier heart. One study out of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggests that drinking green tea can help abate esophageal cancer, while another from Pace University reveal that drinking black tea can help destroy oral virus such as herpes, as well as prevent diarrhea, pneumonia, cystitis, and skin infections.
Having mentioned all that, the way we drink tea can strongly influence not only the health benefit aspects, but also another that goes unnoticed...the flavor benefits. Many folks drink tea simply because it taste great, and not just for benefits. I happen to be one of them!
There are two main methods of brewing tea, loose leaf style, and by tea bag. But only one method will give you ultimate tea flavor and benefits!
In America, just about 90 percent of folks brew their tea by tea bag and remain unaware of the true way tea is meant to be enjoyed. Even drinking white and green teas that are in iced tea form in bottles sold in stores does not provide the same taste and benefits. The reason is because tea bags consist of fannings (or tea dust) which happens to be the lowest grading of tea. All the natural oils and nutrients that give us that great flavor and health benefits are in little abundance in these dried up tea particles. And as for the chilled teas in bottles, well, they are loaded with sugar so noticing the subtle taste in the mix is hard.
Steeping tea using whole loose leaves brings out a whole new beverage loaded with more healthy benefits and much more flavor since these leaves still have most of their oils. I'll never forget my first cup of loose leaf, and till this day I have enjoyed over 100 varieties, with hundreds more to explore. Trust me, loose leaf tea is the way to go, it offers more varieties and drinking pleasure over any tea bag!
Now that we've discovered loose leaf brewing, there are a couple of other factors on taste. First, make sure that your tea is young, that is, loose teas are best enjoyed within the first six months of the flush. Second is about what kind of water you will be using to brew it. Good water makes great tea, so avoid plain tap water since the impurities will influence the taste and instead use either natural spring water (not distilled), or well filtered water.
Pay attention to the steeping time that came with your loose leaf tea since over steeping can lead to a bitter cup due to the excess release of tannins. Water temperature is also important! White and green teas are delicate, so be sure to let the boiling water cool down for around 30 seconds before pouring. For brewing oolongs and black teas adding boiling water is fine since the leaves are more oxidized and "tougher".
So if you're a tea bag dunker, I hope this article introduced you to something new, and the next time you hear that whistle from the kettle you ditched that tea bag! If so, years of loose leaf drinking enjoyment await you, along with a healthier lifestyle!
Learn More Interesting Facts About Tea.
Comments (3) 11.07.2007
Can Tea Prevent Alzheimer's Disease?
One of the most frightening health concerns facing the aging is Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer's progresses, victims sometimes experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation. In addition, some patients have hallucinations or delusions.Doctors don't fully understand what causes Alzheimer's, though much research is ongoing. Once diagnosed, the disease may progress very slowly or very quickly. The first functions to be affected are memory and thinking, but as the disease progresses, cells die in other parts of the brain, too. Eventually the patient requires complete care. Though most Alzheimer's patients die from other health issues, Alzheimer's itself can be fatal, once enough brain function is lost.
As with most serious illnesses, research focuses on two areas; prevention and treatment. Today, though there is no cure for the disease, there are treatments available that can improve cognitive function, at least for some period of time. In terms of prevention, since little is known about what causes the disease, we also don't know a lot about how to prevent it.
Continue reading Comments (1) 08.01.2007
Tearooms return to tackle high street coffee culture
Here is a great article about how tea is still clawing it's way into the coffee culture.The British tradition of afternoon tea is enjoying a renaissance. Sales of speciality teas are growing at record rates, there are two-month waiting lists for afternoon tea at London’s top hotels, and a new chain of high street tearooms is set to open.
William Gorman, executive director of the Tea Council, said that women between the ages of 20 and 40 were leading a boom in tea drinking. He said: “We drink 165 million cups of tea per day, as a nation, compared with 70 million cups of coffee, but 90 per cent of tea is drunk in the home. The market is ripe for a new, public, tea venture.”
Continue reading Comments (0) 07.18.2007
Tea Immersion Week
Immerse yourself in the hypnotic world of Tea . . .Spend a week exploring the riches of the Chinese and Japanese cultures that lie at the heart of Tea. Experts on music, Asian culture, and the world of tea will guide your journey through Tan Dun's musical and theatrical world, Chinese and Japanese tea ceremonies, raku ceramics (including a special "Tea in Your Own Bowl" event), yoga and tai chi, and themed dinners in several of Santa Fe's finest restaurants. Guest speakers include the noted tea expert and author James Norwood Pratt. Your journey will be capped by the American premiere performance of Tea: A Mirror of Soul.
The Tea Immersion Week is housed at Sunrise Springs, a 70-acre resort retreat noted for its lush solitude, with towering cottonwoods, healing gardens, and spring-fed ponds, and the contemporary elegance of its guest casitas, each of which includes a kitchenette, master bathroom, computer alcove, fireplace, and private patio. Luxuriant spa treatments, including reiki and hot-stone massages, are available at Spa Samadhi. Click here to learn more about Sunrise Springs.
The Tea Immersion Week begins on Monday, July 16 and concludes on Sunday, July 22. Click here to see a complete outline of planned events.
Click here for Tea Immersion Week pricing information or if you can't make the whole week, click here for details on Day Passes.
Comments (0) 07.03.2007
