The right way to have tea – An Evening with a Tea Taster
May 30, 2011
I love tea. With milk and sugar, and so much ginger that your throat would shout out for Burnol. Though I am against tea bags but accept it if it is put to boil along with milk and sugar, and of course, ginger. So you can consider me a tea philistine.
A tea garden near Jorhat
Just the type of butterflies found in tea gardens can blow your mind away
Just the type of butterflies found in tea gardens can blow your mind away
We were briefed by one accomplished Ph.D after another in area ranging from bio-technology to entomology . Yes, entomology as insects can be both, the best friends and worst foes of tea.
As impressive as all the research done at the institute is, it was an evening with Mr. Gogoi, the tea taster at the institute that was an eye-opener.
We entered a space that looked more like a chemistry lab than a tea lounge. There were even process flows pinned on the walls to accentuate the lab feeling. But the science ends here, and the art begins. With a lifestyle that will never qualify Mr. Saikia to be a food-walk guide or a Chef at Large blogger, he believes he has managed to keep 7000-8000 of the taste buds in working condition. That is almost a requirement for being a tea taster, and mere mortals like us may have much less. If Mr. Saikia had his way, those in love with bhoot jholakia or Guntur chillis, and Old Monk rum wouldn’t even qualify for food tasting.
Carefully following the process laid down, Mr. Saikia prepared the brew by infusing the tea for around 5 minutes. He decanted, rather than strained the brew. I am incapable of capturing the beautiful colour of the resulting liquor either through my writing or my camera.As he tasted the tea with a loud slurp, and spit it out after swirling it around his mouth so that most taste receptors than give their feedback, he got down to giving us tips on how we can enjoy our tea.
Guidelines for tea tasting
Everyone is all ears for Mr. Gogoi
First, he said, chose water which does not have a high mineral content, else everything else is useless. Second, never let the water boil over. It should be just under boiling point so that it does not lose oxygen. Since we do not use thermometers to make tea, he suggested we remove the water off the heat at first signs of bubbles of in the water. A gram of tea for every 150 ml of water, and 3-5 minutes of infusion depending on strength desired. Also use porcelain for the kettle and for the cup, as it is inert. Little sugar is ok, but no milk.
Aided by my hosts in Jorhat, I bought some premium quality tea determined to mend my tea drinking ways. Unfortunately I have returned to milk-sugar-ginger combo and dunking a sooji rusk or two , but there is still hope. Someday…I will learn to have tea the Tocklai way.
A good tea should appeal to all senses - a beautiful sight to begn with, followed by its aroma, and then taste
Source: Culinary Yatras
Author: Siddhartha Singh
5 Health Benefits of White Tea
May 29, 2011
White Tea, just like Green Tea, is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. However, this specific type of tea is produced from the younger buds which are harvested when they are still covered in the fine white hair and are yet to fully mature. This unique technique of processing means that White Tea contains much higher levels of antioxidants than other types of tea such as green tea or black tea. These antioxidants provide a number of health benefits.
These health benefits are primarily due to the ability of antioxidants to destroy and absorb free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that are able to cause chain reactions and when these occur within cells they can lead to damage and often cause the death of the cells. Due to this, free radicals play a role in a number of illnesses including cancer, altitude sickness and coronary heart disease. The antioxidants present are able to provide a plethora of health benefits. A few of these are listed below:
- Lower Blood Pressure
The antioxidants present also aid in the thinning of blood. This helps lower blood pressure, maintain a healthy blood pressure and can even reduce the chances of suffering a stroke or a heart attack.
- Cancer Prevention
Antioxidants stop free radicals from causing the damaging reactions that can occur inside our cells. Because of this antioxidants are able to minimise the number of harmful mutations that may lead to a multitude of cancers including colon, stomach or prostate cancers. In addition to antioxidants a key class of chemicals known as “polyphenols” are also found in white tea. These chemicals have been shown to inhibit mutations that may cause cancer.
- Lower Cholesterol
A specific group of antioxidants called “catechins” are also present and are extremely effective at reducing cholesterol. These chemicals prevent the hardening of arteries that result in restricted blood flow.
- Antibacterial and Antiviral Properties
White Tea is not the only tea to have antiviral and antibacterial properties. All the teas produced from the Camellia sinensis plant have antibacterial properties. It has been suggested that at some point in the near future that tea extract may have some use in antibacterial medicines.
- Healthy Skin
The antioxidants are able to protect the skin oxidative stress and immune cell damage often associated with prolonged exposure to the sun. This oxidative stress occurs at a cellular level and can cause cell damage that can result in skin cancer, mottled pigmentation or wrinkling.
The higher levels of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds found in white tea compared to other teas means that the health benefits from white teas are greater than any other teas, even more so that green tea!
| To find out more health benefits associated with drinking White Tea visit www.whiteteas.co.uk! Learn about the different types of White Tea and how White Tea is produced!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Kinsella Image Credit: tea-health-benefits.com |
Organic Iced Tea – A Great Rejuvenating Beverage!
May 22, 2011
Tea is considered to be one of the most loved beverages all over the world. It is versatile and can be prepared in a number of ways. It can both be drunk cold and hot. It is drunk in all weathers – whether hot or cold, morning, noon, or night. Among the many varieties of tea, the once that are meant for drinking topped with ice are mostly preferred by a majority of tea-drinkers. It has many health benefits, more so, when you are buying the organically grown varieties. Organic iced tea is loaded with anti-oxidants, vitamins, and components that have positive effects on health and beauty. There are many tangible benefits of the organic variety like – it provides a rejuvenating effect in the body and is a comfort drink at the time of stress.
What is special about drinking organic iced tea?
The flavor and taste of organic iced tea is special and different from all other varieties. Organic tea is also grown and processed without using any form of pesticides or synthetic chemicals. So, while you enjoy a refreshing brew rich in healthy components, you are also ensuring that the environment is protected from harmful chemicals and pesticides that otherwise enter the food cycles of human beings and animals. Moreover, you will be able to indulge in all the goodness of drinking organic iced tea sans any chances of health hazards.
Organic teas are rich in polyphenols. These are basically anti-oxidants that have huge benefits for human body. Such anti oxidants are helpful in fighting free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that can cause damage to the cells therefore, getting rid of such substances definitely has a positive effect up on health. Drinking organic iced tea is also beneficial as it reduces the chances of heart disorders and cancers. Among the many variants, black and green teas are best known for their anti-oxidant benefits. One major advantage of organic brew over coffee is that the former is available in a wide range of color and flavors but, has lesser amounts of caffeine than that in coffee. Tea also comprises antibacterial properties, which improves oral health and prevents tooth decay and halitosis.
Drinking organic iced tea can also be the best alternative to soft drinks in the summers. Chilled brew, prepared without the use of any pesticides or chemicals can be the best health drink. You also do not have to stick to one boring taste as there are many varieties of iced tea available in the market today.
| You have to sip a cup of organic iced tea to experience the benefits of it. Buy tea from a company like Shangri La Tea Company where you will be able to find many different varieties of organically grown teas.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathleen_Chester |
The Best Tea For Weight Loss Diet
May 10, 2011
The best tea for weight loss is those that are from China and Japan. Why is that so? This is because there tea product is proven to work all through the years, some said over centuries but other would say three thousand years. Nonetheless, if you look at Chinese and Japanese people, they have lean body, beautiful skin and are healthy people. Of course, these only refer to people who incorporate tea in their daily meal.
Let us understand that people’s lifestyle have been changed through the years. So, some have been introduced to a different diet from other cultures. Acculturation is happening everywhere across the globe. This is especially internet plays a big part in educating people all over the world the different lifestyle. But in the southern part of China, you can still see that tea is served every meal time.
Anyway, tea has different types based on how they are processed. But these types of tea use Camellia Sinensis. Based on the studies conducted, this plant contains antioxidants, polyphenols, essential nutrients, theaflavins, and epigallocatechin gallate. These substances found in the tea make it beneficial to the human body, thus it enhances metabolic rate, reverse the effect of obesity, and other health benefits.
There are only two clinical studies conducted which have Japanese men as the subject. The first study revealed the result that catechins present in tea can really control the person’s body from becoming overweight. The Second study gave a conclusion that green tea has the thermogenesis effect in the body thus it boosts the heat production in the body at the same time improve the metabolic rate.
Other health benefits that a person can reap in drinking tea are controlled cholesterol levels and high blood sugar levels. Since the tea has antibacterial properties it also protects your gums from antibacterial infection and your teeth from having cavities. The best tea for weight loss is not only effective in trimming down excess weight but also in improving your overall wellness.
| Discover Tava Tea – a unique blend of three powerful teas namely Sencha, Oolong (Wu Long), Puerh species. Here are the benefits you will get – Burns 2.5 times more calories than Green Tea; Reduces the fattening effects when eating carbs; Fights the signs of aging with antioxidants; Completely natural, organically grown, certified by CERES and USDA.
Read more about Tava Tea at – http://www.weightlossteas.info Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jolie_Summer |
