January 16, 2012
If you are a tea fanatic, you understand that storage is very important. If tea is stored improperly, it can go stale or it can even go rancid. Proper storage will ensure that your tea lasts as long as it can with the purest taste to it and making sure that you aren’t compromising the flavor is really important. You should know how to store your tea properly so that it is going to taste the best way and you can really enjoy each cup. There are five things that make tea go bad, they are light, air, heat, color, odors, and moisture. Avoid these and keep your tea fresh.
Dark Area
You want to make sure that you are storing your teas in a dark place. You never want to store tea in a glass jar or a clear jar, because sunlight will always get in there and the UV rays definitely break down your tea extremely quick. What you will also find is that sun can bleach your tea, which is going to drastically change the flavor or it and the aroma also. Keep your tea in a dark place is an extremely important factor.
Don’t Let Air Get In
Air is also an enemy of your tea, if air is able to get into your tea leaves that you have stored, it will allow moisture to absorbed into them which can change your tea. It will also cause odors from the air to be sucked into your tea and change the flavor that way too. Don’t leave your tea leaves out hanging in the air, or don’t leave too much air in the bag, it is just going to cause you to have an issue. Tea leaves are a porous material which means that air wants to get into the pores and wants to get air from, so avoid air at all costs to keep your tea fresh.
Heat and Tea
You will find that you want to keep your tea at room temperature or below. Heat is bad for tea and it will ruin your tea. So, make sure that you are keeping it out of areas with sunlight, which can raise temperatures, and also near stoves and ovens, which are going to create heat and are going to cause your tea to take on moisture.
Keep your Tea Away from Odors
Teas that are stored are susceptible to taking odors on. So, if there is a strong odor, your tea is going to assume it and it is going to taste like it, so you need to avoid that at all costs. This is how a lot of teas actually get their flavor is through absorbing the aromas that they encounter. However, this can cause you to have some issues also. You will find that the more odors there are in your house, the different that your tea can taste. Be sure that you are taking care of this so that it doesn’t taste like everything else that is in your house and it maintains that great flavor that you bought it for.
Keep Your Tea Dry
Moisture is bad and it is going to ruin your tea, it can even ruin it within minutes. If you let your dry tea leaves get into moisture or absorb it, it can quickly ruin your tea and leave you scrambling to get some new ones. Be smart and keep your tea away from the humid areas of your home such as your dishwasher, your refrigerator, and keep it in cool dry places where humidity just isn’t an issue.
Good Storage Ideas
The best thing that you can do when you are trying to keep your tea leaves safe and dry is that you can have the best storage from them. For storage, you want to make sure that these are opaque containers, so that they are going to be the containers that can’t pick up light. You also want to make sure that they are non-reactive metal containers or even glazed ceramics. You want containers that don’t have an odor to them at all. Do not use wooden containers or use sandwich bags, they are going to mess with the quality of your team.
You always want to make sure that with any container they have a tight seal that won’t let in any light, heat, air, odors, or moisture. A good way to ensure this is to use a double lid and to make sure that you are using things like odor-free plastics or silicone. If you found that you’ve purchased tea and it was packaged, make sure that it is transferred into a better packaged container.
Another great tip is don’t buy more tea than you can drink, you want to make sure that you have enough to keep you going but that it isn’t going to go to waste. You also need to know the shelf life of your teas so that you can keep up with them. The better you store your teas, however, the better that they are going to last for you. Find a great place where you can keep your teas safe from light, be smart, and separate your aromatic teas from the other ones out there. Do what you can to keep them fresh and tasting great.
Make sure that you are following the guidelines given to you throughout this article, using these tips will help you have the best tea out there. So, the next time you go to brew a cup, you are going to know that it is going to taste great and be fresh.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angel_Chen
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December 26, 2011
After the indulgence of Christmas, most of us will choose losing weight as a New Year’s resolution. Did you know that drinking tea can help put you on the right track?
Tea has been widely recognised for its amazing health benefits such as:
o Boosting the immune system
o Decrease high blood pressure
o Reducing the risk of heart disease and lowering cholesterol
So how can drinking tea help me lose weight? Well, good quality loose leaf tea contains three components that work in conjunction with each other to increase metabolism and decrease your appetite. The components are:
1. Caffeine is a stimulant, making the heart beat faster and therefore helps you to burn more calories. The jittery effects of caffeine (associated with highly caffeinated drinks) doesn’t occur in tea as it is counteracted by the second component:
2. L-theanine is an amino acid that works to counteract the caffeine effects by promoting relaxation, improving
learning performance, heighten mental acuity and promoting concentration. Did you know for instance, that Buddhist Monks in China and Japan drink green tea because it helps them to keep mentally alert (caffeine), whilst the calming effect of the L-theanine is the perfect yin and yang: ideal for meditation.
3. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is an antioxidant that stimulates your body’s metabolism which means you are actually burning fats as you are drinking tea! EGCG is said to lower the levels of triglycerides in the blood and inhibits the accumulation of fatty acids in the fat cells, thus making it a significant anti-obesity agent. Tea is high in antioxidants which help to protect your body from free radicals. Free radical damage has been implicated in diseases such as cancer.
Okay enough with all the science, already. Here are a few tips to help you on the way as part of your weight management programme:
o Find teas that you like and drink them all day.
With loose leaf tea, did you know that you can use the tea leaves again and again? Use use filtered water if you live in a hard water area, use the correct temperature of water for your chosen tea and ensure that you steep the tea for the correct amount of time.
o If you find yourself reaching for the biscuit tin, reach for a tea instead.
There are so many teas that are bursting with floral sweet flavours that if you have a tea, you’ll forget about those naughty snacks. Remember that tea helps to suppress your appetite so why not try a Tie Guan Yin Oolong tea that has hints of orchid; or drop a few Jasmine Dragon Pearls into your cup. For a vegetal and nutty flavour, why not try a Japanese Genmaicha (popcorn tea).
o Try cooking with tea.
There are many recipes that use loose leaf tea, so why not try experimenting today? Recipes such as Green Tea Steamed Bass, Lapsang Souchong Gravalax and Oolong Boiled Shrimp is surely going to tickle your taste buds as they are very low in fat and low in calories.
Remember, drinking tea alone will not help you lose weight, but incorporate tea drinking (without milk or sugar) as part of your chosen weight management programme.
If you have any further questions then please do not hesitate to contact us on info@maykingtea.com
Not sure what tea to buy? Go to http://www.maykingtea.com for more details. Thank you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=May_King_Tsang
Technorati Tags: benefits of tea, drinking tea, Health Benefits Of Tea, tea for new year
November 21, 2011
Thanksgiving is a true folk festival that finds poetry in the beauty of harvest and seed time, the turn of the seasons, the ripe products of the year and the deep connection off all these things with God. Indeed! Thanksgiving is the one day where the turkey is brought out and a meal fit for a king is served.
Are you one of those people who religiously observe Thanksgiving and go all out on a cooking spree to serve a fantastic meal? Then you need to know that ‘herbal tea’ is the ingredient of the year. But is it really possible to make a delicious, mouth watering meal from an ingredient like tea?
Yes! Deliciously naughty deviled eggs that are partially boiled and covered with a mixture of lapsang souchong and bits of herbal tea are the in thing for your herbal tea theme party. Surprisingly the tea, imparts a beautiful marbling effect on the egg whites, and adds that perfect dash of smokiness.
Broccoli casserole is yet another dish that’s prepared from a blow of rice and green tea instead of plain water. The green tea gives the dish a very natural and earthy taste.
After eating these tea kissed dishes, don’t forget to compliment the chef!
Today, the day of thanks is much more somber. It’s filled with meaning and it is a day where the most nonfunctional families come together to give thanks. The food served, has also undergone a drastic change, although the turkey still holds the coveted spot on the table. For instance, herbal tea themed Thanksgiving menus are gaining a lot of attention. Its easily become part of the holiday tradition in most families that give it a try.
Hors d’oeuvres start off with an organic loose leaf tea that beautifully compliments the baby root vegetables with Lapsang Souchong aioli. Next, mushroom cappuccinos are served in doll-sized tea cups.
The first course usually starts off with herbed yam and sweet onion tea sandwiches that blend in well with any type of herbal tea. Next, the Turkey tea sandwiches and pumpkin dumplings seem to be a great hit in every household. This can be followed by a Persimmon and mesclun salad with slivered almonds and complimented with a tea vinaigrette.
Finally, the main course starts off with a vegetarian stuffing and cranberry chutney, followed by a grilled tea-brined turkey. But it’s the herbal tea once again, that brings out all these delectable flavors.
Overall, this is a menu that will capture your senses, right from the first whiff up to the very last sip.
Art of Tea is a tea wholesaler and importer, that is based in Los Angeles, California. They custom craft and hand blend, some of the world’s finest botanicals and organic teas. But more importantly, their teas are carefully selected and grown and each one seems to offer its own unique story.
To know more please visit http://artoftea.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Prasad_Josh
Technorati Tags: benefits of tea, best tea, healthy tea, herbal tea, tea for thanksgiving
September 28, 2011
Nothing beats drinking a hot cup of tea early in the morning. It is the perfect recipe to shrug away the lazy, sleepy feelings and become active, ready to face the day ahead. Most people drink tea as a part of their daily routine. They do not savour it, nor do they appreciate its taste, but they want it to be a part of their day, and without it they feel restless for the rest of the day. This might be the normal attitude of people drinking a cup of tea everyday. But the truth is that everyone, even who does not appreciate the taste of the tea they are drinking, will notice a difference if they miss their regular cup of tea, or if they drink a different kind of tea.
That is the reason most people prefer sticking to a particular brand of tea, so that they do not have any sort of uneasiness while drinking their regular cup of tea. If you are such a person too, then you might want to ensure that you have enough stock of your favourite brand of tea available. Otherwise one fine morning you might wake up and realise that there isn’t any tea left! To make matters worse, there might not be enough stock left at your nearest store as well. To avoid such a situation, and to ensure that you always have a good stock of your favourite tea, it is advisable that you start ordering tea online.
Now that might sound silly to a few people – going online for something that can be bought at the local store – but in reality, it is just more convenient for you. Using the Internet you will be able to select your favourite brand of tea, its quantity, and flavour. Then you can choose to get it delivered at your door, which is no doubt very convenient. You can even get the specific kind of tea leaves or aroma tea that might not be available anywhere in your locality. The choice is yours, and this is what makes ordering tea online such a rewarding experience. If you are one of those people who would like to try out something new, then you can do so by looking through the wide assortment of tea brands available for purchase, and you might even find something that is much better than your regular choice of tea.
As you might have noticed, there are indeed a lot of benefits associated in ordering tea online. All you need to do is to get on the Internet and find a good website where you will be able to order your favourite kind of tea, and then get it delivered to your doorstep without having to go out and start a hunt among the various stores in your locality. Ordering tea online is both convenient, and saves time too. So if you haven’t already given it a try, then it is high time that you do so!
Some nights there is nothing better than a nice cup of tea. I usually have a variety of green tea, black tea and some herbal teas to suit the dessert I might eat.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrea_S_Watkins
Technorati Tags: online tea, ordering tea pnline, tea online
September 13, 2011
Although there is only one tea plant, camellia sinensis, there are around 3,000 varieties of tea products. Differences in tea growing area and conditions, tea processing, and age of the plant also affect the final tea product. Considerations should be given to the following factors when you choose your favorite tea.
Region of Growth
Tea is mainly grown and produced in China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Japan and South Africa. Tea in Europe and the U.S. is mostly imported from the above-mentioned nations. Different geographic regions have different climates, soils and humidity factors. All of these factors contribute to the overall nature of the leaf. It is understandable that most regions pride themselves on the uniqueness of their products. You may prefer your products from one particular region to the other regions.
Type of Tea
Black, green and oolong are major tea categories. Black is completely fermented, green is unfermented and oolong is semi-fermented. Different categories of tea have different levels of caffeine content. Black has some caffeine (about half as much as coffee), green has one-third as much as black, and oolong has half as much as black. Decide your caffeine tolerance when you shop for your tea.
Loose Leaf or Tea Bags
Obviously loose leaf has higher quality than tea bags. Tea bags are convenient, but generally contain low quality leaves that are powdered or broken, called fanning. When you make a purchase of this beverage, a choice has to be made between quality and convenience.
How Much to Spend
Tea is a remarkably inexpensive luxury. There is a wide choice of prices. However you get what you pay for. Buying this product just because it is cheap doesn’t automatically give you a deal. In a matter of fact, really rare and great tea is very expensive and sometimes hard to get.
Taste, Taste and Taste
Chew the tea leaves carefully. Good leaves have a fresh mellowness. You can also infuse some tea to see if the leaves extend smoothly and sink to the bottom slowly. Another indicator of the quality is the color of the liquor. Good liquor is emerald green or golden. It has a tint of bitterness with a lasting sweet aftertaste. The liquor brewed from stale tea is malodorous and dark brown.
Other Considerations
Time of Picking: There are a number of harvest periods in a year, referred to as flushes (spring flush, 2nd flush, and autumn flush). Each flush offers a distinct flavor. For green tea, the first flush is considered higher quality.
Method of Picking: The method of how tea is picked and processed changes the quality of the final tea product. Hand picking and processing is the least damaging and produces better quality. Machine handling could damage the leaves causing quicker oxidation and fermentation which in turn degrades the nutrient levels as well as the flavor.
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If you are a tea fanatic, you understand that storage is very important. If tea is stored improperly, it can go stale or it can even go rancid. Proper storage will ensure that your tea lasts as long as it can with the purest taste to it and making sure that you aren’t compromising the flavor is really important. You should know how to store your tea properly so that it is going to taste the best way and you can really enjoy each cup. There are five things that make tea go bad, they are light, air, heat, color, odors, and moisture. Avoid these and keep your tea fresh.
