Saturday, April 7, 2012

Green tea can save lives, and your breath.

We all know drinking one or two cups of green tea every day is not only a tasty way to relax. But a new study published in the Journal Archives of Oral Biology (say that 3 times fast) tell us it could help you fight bad breath and even prevent mouth and esophageal cancer. Not that we really needed another reason to love green tea.

In this latest study Dr. Meenakshi Bajaj, dietitian at the Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital. Shares along with fellow researchers that the antioxidants, called polyphenols, found in the tea, help in eradicating several compounds in the mouth that can lead to bad breath, tooth decay and even mouth cancer. You had me at eradicating compounds.

The properties of Polyphenol an antioxidant found in the tea, called epigallocatechin 3 gallate or better known in the tea world as (EGCG) (watch the ninja tea video from an earlier post for more on that) helps reduce dental plaque and thus destroys the bacteria that cause bad breath. Knowing this may just increase green tea orders on the first date, especially if you ordered the garlic chicken.
Dr. Bajaj points out that “Green tea is rich in flavonoids and has a lot of antioxidants. The presence of polyphenols makes it anti-carcinogenic and helps in preventing cancer. Green tea also increases the metabolic rate and reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s,” plus don't forget... It tastes great AND is less filling!

Prior studies show that tea helps reduce cardio-vascular problems, helps with weight loss, is a great immunity booster and it's unconfirmed, but rumor has it that it also makes you look really cool in front of your friends.
We see green tea popping up everywhere, it's in the news, on TV and it's becoming quite the "beverage to be seen with" amongst the stars, just check out the site: http://famouspeopledrinkingtea.tumblr.com/ if you don't believe me.

“A lot of people are consuming green tea these days and it is a healthy trend. However, it is potassium high, so patients suffering from kidney failure should refrain from drinking green tea,” said Dr Bajaj. But let's not focus on the negative, for all it's benefits, Dr. Oz in the May issue of Woman's Day (my wife gets it... Really) tells us "green tea is a great replacement for soda, and high calorie energy drinks which give you a quick sugar rush but then you crash." And with 1/4 the caffeine of coffee it won't give you the jitters reminiscent of those late night college cram sessions.

So drink on for your health and feel confident that your breath and your body exude a healthy glow...

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Elephant Tea


The newest craze in high dollar tea is Elephant Tea it's high grown mountain Darjeeling First Flush that is passed through an elephants trunk. This process allows enzymes in the elephant saliva to begin a slight fermentation process that brings out very complex floral notes as well as an earthy balance that some are saying make this the best tasting April Fools Day joke around... Happy April Fools Day!!

Friday, March 23, 2012

March Tea Review: 365 Tea Vanilla Blossom


This is a very smooth Pouchong is blended with Lemon Myrtle, Organic Marigolds and vanilla essence, creating a wonderful balance of flavor while not loosing the lovely Pouchong tea base.

Pouchong is found somewhere between green tea and an Oolong tea due to its lack of the sharper green tea flavors. Pouchong is a milder, lightly fermented (oxidized) tea ,with a twist shape, and subtle floral notes. While this tea has traditionally been found in the Fujian region it is now widely cultivated and produced in Pinglin Township near Taipei, Taiwan.

This particular tea is a wonderful afternoon tea to sip while you unwind. the great balance of flavor make a favorite among tea critics the world over.


Sunday, January 22, 2012

Numi Organic Tea Moroccan Mint - Full Leaf Herbal Teasan

If you are looking for a good start into the world of Tisanes (teasans) basicly this means an Herbal drink that doesn't contain actual tea, "sans" tea, then this may be a good place to start (but you do need to like mint).

This was one of the first mint tisanes I tried years ago. It was a good intro to mint teas, and reasonably priced as well as easily accessible since you can find you it at Walmart. This has a strong mint flavor as it should and is a good tisane to get your mint whistle wet, its basically tastes just like if I made tea out of my spice cabinet mint jar. On a day when I need a bit of a refreshing pick-me-up, this can do the trick.

Monday, January 16, 2012

A-Z Tea

I know it's been like 4 months, what the hey...... I can't believe I did that!! Its not like I haven't had some awesome tea this year and would love to share it with all of my fellow Tea Lovers, what can I say its been a crazy last few months.
I thought I would try to make a list, of all the teas I have had a chance to sample some from around the world. But I realized that would take FOREVER, and I don't have another four months to do that, so instead I decided to create an A-Z of Tea. To be honest that wasn't as easy as you may think... There are some tough letters out there to find a tea for. But I pulled through, I took up the challenge and I did it, (ok I cheated on a few and listed some growing regions, but cut me some slack, you try to find a tea that starts with X or Z... {if you do let me know})


Here is a list from A-Z of Tea:

Assam- black tea named after the region of its production, Assam, in India.

Bancha- Japanese green tea, that is harvested from the second flush of sencha between summer and autumn.

Ceylon- Now known as Sri Lanka, known for its black tea, with a crisp, citric aroma.

Dragon Well- Also known as Longjing tea this is a variety of roasted green tea from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Its rated as one of the finest green teas.

Earl Grey- A tea blended with with the rind of the bergamot orange giving a distinctive flavor and aroma.

Fugian Province- An area of China well known for its tea production including oolong, Wuyi Yancha, and Fuzhou jasmine tea.

Genmaicha - The Japanese name for green tea combined with roasted brown rice.

Hojicha- Japanese green tea that is roasted in a porcelain pot over charcoal; Most Japanese tea is steamed so this makes it a unique tea all by itself, (one of my personal favorites).

Iced (its a stretch but it works)- The most common tea drink in America (85%), its normally black tea, served with a lemon slice.

Jasmine Pearls- Green or White tea scented with Jasmine flowers, the most famous tea scent in China.

Kukicha- Known as Twig Tea, this is made from the stems and twigs of Sencha or Matcha.

Lapsang Souchong - This distinct tea is traditionally smoked over pine needles.

Matcha- Fresh leaves from a supreme Gyokuro green tea are stone ground into a fine powder. In the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, Matcha, literally “powdered tea,” is elegantly delivered by bamboo spoon into a bowl of hot water, then whipped with a bamboo whisk into a frothy, rich brew sipped right from the bowl.

Naked Pu-Erh- A post-fermentation tea where the leaves undergo a microbial fermentation process after they are dried and rolled. It stems from Yunnan, China and delivers a deep red infusion with a sweet woodsy aroma and mild earthy finish.

Orange Pekoe- A term used in the Western tea trade to describe a particular genre of black teas, not a flavor of tea.

Purple Oolong- Purple Oolong is Oxidized at 99%, its a very rich brew that delivers a full roasted dark purple infusion with solid notes of cinnamon, musk, and amber. A rare treat from Sumatra, Indonesia. This tea can be steeped multiple times.

Qilan- A very mild Wuyi Oolong tea, it has an obvious sweet and nutty aroma.

Russian Caravan- A blend of Oolong, Keemun, and Lapsang Souchong. It is described as an aromatic and full-bodied tea with a sweet, malty taste.its name originates from the 18th century camel caravans that facilitated the transcontinental tea trade from tea-producing areas (namely India, Ceylon and China) to Europe via Russia.

Sencha- Japanese green tea, specifically one made without grinding the tea leaves. It is the most popular tea in Japan, and represents about 80 percent of the tea produced in Japan.

Tirguanyin (Iron Goddess of Mercy) - Named after the Chinese Goddess of Mercy Guanyin, who is known in Japan as Kannon and in Korea as Guam-eum. Named after the legend of a poor farmer named Wei who after cleaning the temple repeatedly. One night, Guanyin appeared to him in a dream. She told him of a cave behind the temple where treasure awaited. He was to take the treasure and share it with others. In the cave, the farmer found a single tea shoot. He planted it in his field and nurtured it into a large bush, from which the finest tea was produced. He gave cuttings of this rare plant to all his neighbors and began selling the tea under the name Tieguanyin, Iron Bodhisattva of Compassion.
Over time, Mr. Wei and all his neighbors prospered; the rundown temple of Guanyin was repaired and became a beacon for the region. Mr. Wei took joy in the daily trip to his tea fields, never failing to stop in appreciation of the beautiful temple.

Uji Gyokuro- The most precious and sought after Japanese green tea. Select Tencha leaves are shade grown for two weeks then promptly deep steamed after harvesting, maintaining elevated levels of chlorophyll and resulting in a bright green vegetal cup.

Vanilla Chai- Traditionally Masala Chai is a beverage meaning literally "mixed spice tea", often mixed with milk. However western adaptations have come to include non traditional ingredients like vanilla, or even chocolate.

White Tea- A lightly oxidized tea grown and harvested almost exclusively in China, primarily in the Fujian province. It comes from the delicate buds and younger leaves of the Chinese Camellia sinensis plant. These buds and leaves are allowed to wither in natural sunlight before they are lightly processed to prevent oxidation or further tea processing. This preserves the characteristic flavor of the white tea.

Xiaguan- This tea factory is a major producer of compressed pu'erh tea, most notably túochá. Aged túochá and bĭngchá, particularly those produced in the 1970s and 1980s, are highly valued by collectors.

Yerba Mate- Not really tea in the purest sense since it isn't of the Camellia Sinensis plant. It is a species of holly (family Aquifoliaceae), which is native to subtropical South America in northeastern Argentina, Bolivia, southern Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. It's traditionally served in a hollowed out gourd called a guampa with a metal straw.

Zhenghe- Actually not a tea but a growing region for Bai Hao Yinzhen (silver needle), but I couldn't find a tea that started with Z. Silver Needle is the most sought after white tea and is only harvested for a few days each year. This magnificent tea has a light golden flush with a unique savory aroma and a woodsy body. The finish is pleasant with a lingering, yet balanced sweetness.

So there we are the list A-Z teas, I look forward to being able to do more with the blog this year. Let me know what you think, I want to make sure its worth reading and consequently worth writing, not that I have any doubts about weather or not tea is worth writing about, but rather that my insight and knowledge is worth it.

Hope you have a wonderful January and I look forward to next month!!

HAPPY DRINKING
RANDALL CHASE