Turmeric Tea, Anyone?

turmeric teaRead an article today online regarding the health benefits of turmeric and it reminded me of an article I once wrote about turmeric tea.  I have been aware of turmeric tea for quite some time.  It is very popular in certain parts of Japan where it is regularly brewed and served though it is a little difficult to find here in Australia, even online!

Studies cited in the article mentioned that elderly people in India have a far less chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease because of the active ingredient, curcumin, present in turmeric.  Indian Ayurvedic medicines often use turmeric in the preparations they make, where it is reputed to not only be beneficial for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease but it is also used as an anti-inflammatory agent, and it is said to be helpful as an anti-depressant and alleviates anxiety as well.  There are some cautions when it comes to turmeric though: drinking excessive amounts of turmeric tea is not recommended for anyone with liver problems, circulatory problems or those taking blood thinning medication.

turmeric rootAs mentioned above, people from Okinawa, Japan have been apparently imbibing turmeric tea for centuries.  While it is readily available in Japan, it can be difficult to find here (though there are quite a few capsules and supplements available.)   Not to worry, you can actually make tea using the dried turmeric you buy from the spice section of the supermarket.  

Here are some different recipes that I have tried:

  • Measure 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric into three cups of water.  Simmer gently for 7-10 minutes and it’s ready to drink.  You may want to add a little honey and even a squeeze of lemon to make it more palatable.
  • You can also make a tea using milk instead of water, although in this case you should heat up the milk gently, making sure it does not actually boil.
  • Make a paste out of turmeric and honey – this can be kept in the fridge for a few days without spoiling.  Use 1/3 cup of honey and 3 teaspoons of dried turmeric powder.  Then, when you want a cup of turmeric tea just put a teaspoon of the mixture into a cup and pour boiling water onto it.
  • If you are prepared to spend a bit more time on your tea you can actually buy fresh turmeric root, grate it and use that as the base for your tea.

Spice up your tea:  As well as adding honey you can also spice up the tea by adding a touch of freshly ground black pepper , squeezing a lemon or lime into it, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, or some grated ginger to the cup.  Adding a cinnamon stick to the brewing tea also makes for a nice variation–especially if you are making it with a milk base.

Incidentally, apparently a paste made from turmeric and honey works wonders when applied as a face mask 🙂

10 Health Benefits and Uses for Turmeric

Update: We apologize that we no longer sell Turmeric tea online here. We do however have our popular Turmeric and Ginger Herbal Tea as well as some other Robyn Lee Teas available on Amazon Australia. Feel free to take a look at our teas and order directly from our Amazon Australia Tea Store Free shipping available when you start an Amazon Prime membership

US and Canada customers can buy our teas here: Zi Chun Teas

Rooibos Tea Secrets

640px-Rooibos_(Aspalathus_linearis)PICT2813_

Rooibos Flowering Plant — Native to South Africa

Rooibos (pronounced roy-boss) is a broom like flowering plant which is found growing in South Africa.

For generations, those living in South Africa have made a tea is from the thin, needle like leaves of the plant.   While its introduction to the rest of the world is fairly recent, for years in South Africa the tea was used to treat a variety of ailments ranging from colic and respiratory problems to skin problems.

The tea is prepared from the leaves in a very similar manner to how regular tea is processed – giving the final product a reddish color.  Unoxidised Rooibos leaves produce a “Green Rooibos” however the most common tea exported is the reddish, oxidised Rooibos.  Higher grade Rooibos teas, those with a higher leaf to stem proportion, are usually what are exported.

Natural Rooibos Tea

Natural Rooibos Tea

Today you will find a wide range of Rooibos teas available, ranging from the standard Rooibos tea to flavoured Rooibos teas.  It can be served with milk, sugar or honey may be added.  Some prefer it without any milk – preparation often depends on what additives accompany the Rooibos and whether milk would blend well with the overall flavour.  You can also find Rooibos iced teas on many supermarket shelves.  Lemon slices are a nice accompaniment to black Rooibos.

Studies from South Africa as well as other locations worldwide have shown that, similarly to green and oolong teas, there are high levels of antioxidants in Rooibos tea.  It is caffeine free and has very low tannin levels.  Because of this it is easy to see why it is becoming a healthy alternative as a hot beverage.  Flavonoid compounds also found in the tea are said to help steady the nerves.

Who Should Drink Rooibos Tea?

Rooibos tea should be considered by anyone concerned about health and nutrition.  It is safe for children, pregnant and nursing mums to consume – so is ideal in situations where caffeinated drinks are not recommended.

What Does it Taste Like?

Rooibos tea is a full-bodied tea, with some suggestions of it having an earthy or slightly nutty flavour.  Some teas may be considered an acquired taste (Pu-erh tea, in my case) and it seems that Rooibos is a little similar. In other words, some people fall in love with the taste immediately while others take a while to learn to enjoy it.

Taste differs depending on how long the tea is steeped, though unlike regular tea it does not become bitter the longer it brews – just stronger.

rooibos_spicey_1_2

Spicey Rooibos

For starters, you may want to try unflavoured Rooibos before deciding whether you do or do not enjoy the taste.  Some customers have mentioned that they thought they did not enjoy the taste when in fact they did not like the particular blend of Rooibos they were trying.   There are plenty of blends available, with fruit and nut blends being some of the more popular.

Rooibos Tea Preparation

Most Rooibos teas are better if steeped for at least five to six minutes in boiling water, using one teaspoon per cup of tea.  As mentioned above, it does not oversteep as regular tea does even if you leave it longer

Traditionally, in South Africa, some will have a kettle of Rooibos simmering on the stove all day long!  Once the tea is depleted, more water and Rooibos leaves are added to the kettle—apparently the brew improves as the day goes by.

You can also experiment with adding the tea leaves to boiling water versus boiling the leaves in a kettle on the stove.  Both of these options can tend to make a stronger brew, but you may find that’s just how you like it.

Perfect for Blending

Rooibos tea is a great tea for experimenting with if you enjoy making your own blends.  It blends well with green or black teas, with fruit teas and with other herbal teas.  There’s no end to the different flavours you can come up with if you use a little imagination and creativity.  A great tea to have on hand for those times you want a hot caffeine-free beverage yet also do not want to be tied down to only one or two flavours – simply create your own flavoured tea, using other tea blends or even herbs and spices from the kitchen.  Incidentally, you can even add it to regular Chai blends for something different.

Recommendations

  1.  Try the regular Rooibos tea first, just buy a sample pack to see if you enjoy the tea on its own. Then branch out into some of the flavoured teas.
  2. Experiment with brewing methods and times till you find what’s right for you – don’t worry, you won’t over steep it.
  3. Try a cup with milk and honey, and another ‘black’ tea with a slice of lemon.
  4. Brew some Rooibos and leave it in the fridge overnight for a refreshing iced-tea drink in the morning.
  5. Have some regular, unflavoured Rooibos tea on hand and come up with your own blends.  No need to buy larger packs of different blends when you can easily make your own flavoured teas.

5 Reasons I Use Glass Teapots

They Look Great!
They Keep Tea Warm
They are Easy to Clean
Perfect for Displaying Tea
Visual Guide to Brewed Tea

Not only do I sell glass tea ware but I also regularly use it at home, often in preference to using other teapots.  Yes, you do have to be somewhat careful with glass teapots — like any glassware it will break if dropped (then again, so will a ceramic teapot).  The other day, when asked what type of tea pot I used at home, without hesitation I answered, “a glass teapot.”  When asked why, I could not immediately answer–perhaps it is simply because it’s sitting there on my kitchen bench ready to use?  No, that wasn’t the reason, there are plenty of tea pots hanging around begging to be used.

 

Any given time you walk into my kitchen you will find quite a collection of teapots sitting around on benches, kitchen shelves and on the shelf above my sink–and that’s not counting the numerous other teapots patiently waiting their turn to be used in various kitchen cupboards. There are Ipots, clay Yixing teapots, stainless steel teapots (not many of those, though) and a Handybrew aside from an assortment of glass tea pots. Overall, in order of use, we probably use glass teapots the most. Next would be the Handybrew, then Yixing or other small, Chinese clay teapots.

 

1) They Look Great: Even as a decorative item, glass tea ware looks beautiful. Whether sparkling in sunlight streaming through a window, or reflecting soft candlelight glass ware is eye-catching. It looks crisp, clean and begs you to use it. I know some of my customers buy glass teapots purely to display.

 

2) Keeps Tea Warm: Paired with a glass candle warmer, they will keep tea warm for at least an hour.  If you are brewing tea for several people and intend on offering top-ups, a glass teapot sitting on top of a lit candle tea warmer will definitely keep tea drinkably warm for long enough to finish all your tea.  At our market stall we prepare a blooming tea in a tall Jewel teapot and set it on a lit warmer. It is still very warm to the touch even a couple of hours later, although the tea may be a bit too lukewarm and over steeped by then to enjoy.

 

3) Easy to Clean: Glass can be a bit delicate to care for.  No, you probably shouldn’t put it in the dishwasher with all of your other dishes and be particularly careful of spouts and handles if you have a ceramic sink.  Aside from that, though, they are fairly easy to clean. What I like is that it is very easy to see any stains or discolouration–the sooner you notice it and clean it off, the better shape your teapot will remain in. This is preferable to me, to ceramic or stainless steel teapots that hide stains until they’ve built up to where they are very difficult to clean.

 

4) Displays Teas:  Anyone who has watched tea brewing knows how fascinating this is. I’m not talking about the tea fannings that are often sold in supermarkets as “tea”, rather I am talking about whole loose leaf tea. It starts off small and slowly unfurls into whole tea leaves while the tea is brewing.  Additionally, flowering teas (blooming teas) are even more unique with the leaves hiding flower petals that both open to a magnificent display.  How better to watch this magical process than with a glass teapot.  That’s not to mention the vast variety there is when it comes to the colour of brewed tea — ranging from the dark black teas, to the golden oolongs and the light green teas.  You can see it all through a glass teapot.

 

5) Provides a Visual Guide to Brewing: Everyone has their own preference when it comes to tea strength.  Brewing tea in a glass tea pot gives you an instant view of how steeped your tea is. You will soon begin to realise the strength of the tea simply by watching the colour change as the tea brews.

 

I also like the fact that the glass teapots I sell and use are all individually hand blown, meaning each tea pot is unique in some way. They match well with any tea set or table setting. You can use them equally in a casual social setting or at a formal dinner.  There is no need to try to match them to other dinnerware you are using–glass blends with everything.

I could go on, but I imagine by now I have convinced you of the reason for my preference when it comes to brewing tea in glass teapots. Whether you merely want to display your glass teapot or put it to everyday use, you really can’t go wrong with choosing a glass teapot.

Our Commitment

tea_leavesWe are committed to providing our customers with fresh teas from China. Taiwan and India at affordable prices. We believe that the best teas are those that are fresh and newly harvested. In keeping with this belief, our teas are regularly imported according to demand and are shipped to customers as soon as possible.

We value our customers and want only to provide the best — after all, that’s what you deserve.

Handy Brew Tea and Coffee Maker – So Simple to Use

I am a great fan of this Taiwanese patented, award winning tea maker, we use it all the time at home.

Using the Direct Immersion Brewing Method, (think in terms of French Press coffee), it produces really high quality tea or coffee.  And it is very simple to use. For a quick demo, please go here.

It is 500ml, which is plenty for one mug of tea or coffee or for two smaller mugs or cups.

 

For US customers the Handy Brew Tea Maker is available from our affiliate HERE

What I Like About This Product

There is a lot that I like about the Handy Brew.  The design is fantastic. From speaking with the person who trademarked this brewer I know that a lot of trial and error went into perfecting it, with their ultimate goal being that it would simply be the best — it is.  It is patented in quite a few different countries in an effort to keep “copies” off the market — mainly because it is so well designed and they do not want their reputation to suffer as a result of inferior copy products being made.  Knowing all that went into the actual patented design, I am confident that it is simply one of the best on the market.  Along with the design, the material it is made from is very high quality BPA free plastic. It is sturdy and heat resistant.

It is also very versatile.  You can use it for either brewing coffee or for steeping loose leaf tea.  I have used it for both. If brewing coffee I’d suggest using a fairly coarsely ground coffee for best results. Really though, it does produce a great cup of  coffee providing you let it brew for about five to six minutes before pouring.  It also brews a perfect cup of tea, no different than brewing tea in a glass teapot with infuser for example.  I use it at home, but we have also used it at the office mainly because it really is a ‘no mess’ way to make a great cup of tea. It is not insulated, of course, so it does not work like a portable tea infuser as such (one that keeps tea hot once made).

The ease of use is also another plus with this item.  The handle is designed for a very easy grip.  The top opens up easily yet seals very well when it is closed. The true beauty of this design is the method used for pouring tea.  You simply place the handy brew on top of a cup or mug and while the infuser is pressed against the lid of the cup the liquid flows out. As soon as you pull it up off the cup it stops — instantly! No drips, no mess. That makes it very easy to use if you are drinking from a small size cup and want to refill or if you are serving tea (or coffee) to a couple of people.

There’s more too:

  • Coffee oils not removed as they are when using paper filters
  • Portable — can be used at the office, no mess or dripping tea or coffee
  • No tea leaves or coffee grounds left in cup after pouring your drink
  • BPA free and complies with European Food and Drink Safety Regulations

How to Use

  • Add the loose leaf tea, or coarsely ground coffee to the Handy Brew
  • Pour hot water over the tea or coffee (water temperature depends on the type of tea/coffee you are making), close the lid and wait for the tea to steep — for coffee you will probably want to wait around 5 to 6 minutes.
  • Place your Handybrew directly on top of your cup or mug and the tea or coffee will flow into the cup.
  • Lift the Handy Brew up and the flow of liquid immediately stops — you can pour two smaller cups if you like, without any drips in between! It comes with a small stand to sit on in between use.
  • Leave tea leaves in Handybrew to steep more tea later

For US customers the Handy Brew Tea Maker is available from our affiliate HERE


Ever Wondered How GABA Tea is Actually Made?

I know I have.

How do you “nitrodize” (made up word, please note) rather than oxidize tea leaves.  After a little research I finally discovered just how it’s done.

As mentioned in a previous article on GABA tea, it was discovered more than 20 years ago when Japanese scientists were experimenting with ways to better preserve food–presumably with the use of nitrogen.  Surprisingly, when tea leaves were exposed to nitrogen, GABA levels rose enormously.

I will not reiterate the amazing benefits of GABA here, as I have already done so in previous articles. Let’s just say it’s REALLY good for you, it occurs naturally in the human body and has great anti-stress properties. It also lowers blood pressure and improves the clarity of your mental processes. It is also becoming the beverage of choice the morning after as a Hangover cure and support to hangover recovery.

Buy Organic GABA Oolong tea Online here

Here’s How It’s Made

The tea leaves are harvested normally.  The GABA tea we sell is made from Alishan Jinxuan Oolong tea.  I have read that it can also be made from green tea and presumably from any type of tea–which will, no doubt, slightly alter the taste of the tea. I have not yet experimented with GABA made from different types of tea, but I presume the type of tea used would affect the actual taste of the tea as each tea has subtle (or sometimes not so subtle) flavour and aroma differences.  Most sources agree that using higher grade tea is best as there are naturally higher levels of glutamic acid–the base ingredient that GABA is formed from–in better quality tea.

Also, tea grown at higher elevations benefits from warm days and cool nights — again something that is supposed to enhance natural glutamic acid levels in tea leaves.

The tea is shaded prior to being picked, which apparently increases glutamic acid levels even further. Once the leaves are picked they are placed in vacuumed drums, all oxygen is removed and is replaced with nitrogen. The length of time the leaves are exposed to nitrogen is a fairly well kept secret–though probably somewhere around 8 hours or so.  After that, the tea is processed as normal.

GABA tea is enjoying quite a bit of popularity now.  Some of the best GABA teas, in my opinion, are made in Taiwan where the Taiwanese produce it for export to Japan. In order to qualify as genuine GABA tea by Japanese standards the GABA levels must be measurable at 150mg of GABA per 100ml of tea. Most of  the GABA tea exported to Japan from Taiwan exceeds these levels, with the average being closer to 240ml per 100ml of tea.

As mentioned above, our GABA tea is made from Jinxuan Oolong tea–naturally grown at a fairly high altitude. It is all organically grown and hand picked. You can purchase it in either 50 gm or 100 gm packs. To brew, use around one teaspoon per 250ml teapot and steep for three minutes or according to taste. You can use the leaves for re-steeping at least three more times.  If you prefer a darker tea, similar to a black tea, you may want to steep for a little longer.

For US and Canada regions we now sell our Organic GABA Oolong on our Zi Chun Tea Online Shop and also on Amazon.


Flowering Tea Photo

Took some time over the last few days to set up my mini “home photo studio” — well, it’s really just a 60cm cube, lighting, backdrops and a stand for my camera but it will hopefully make it much easier to photograph new items as they are stocked, including new teas and tea ware, and “Fairy Flowers Spreading” flowering tea pictured here to the left.

I used to find it very difficult to successfully photograph glass ware, however now with my new setup, after spending hours reading up on how to properly photograph glass and having spent as many hours (or more) experimenting, I am now happy with how my photos are coming out.  I am certainly not a professional photographer. In fact, I am not even an amateur or hobby photographer. But at least I think the glass tea ware photos look fine. They do not have large areas of glare or reflected light and you can fairly clearly see not only the shape of the tea pot but also the infuser unit inside.

One key was getting the lighting right. I tried photographing some tea pots in the cube with a white and a dark blue background but the reflection of the cube was clearly seen in the tea pots — looked like they were filled with white fluffy balloons…  Others had large areas of glare reflecting off, or yours truly with camera shining right back at me!

Finally, the combination I settled with was to set up the cube behind the item with one of the lights sitting inside the cube, shining through the wall onto the item through a double white layer.  I placed a white sheet on a glass table, lit from underneath, and a grey gradient sheet of paper on top of that.  Using a tripod made all the difference — I manually set the aperture as wide as possible and the result was photos that I am at least not embarrassed with 🙂

I have added a few more glass tea ware products to my online store — please feel free to check out what is available here.  If you have any questions regarding the teapots just drop me a note via email or add to the comments section, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Happy tea drinking!

Chamomile Tea and Its Health Benefits

Chamomile tea is well known as a herbal tea that is very beneficial to drink prior to heading off to bed at night — as an aid to gaining a restful night’s sleep. Aside from that one property, there are actually quite a few other benefits gained from regularly drinking Chamomile tea, some of which are less well known than others.

Chamomile Flower

Photo By: Lorelei-Ranveig

While there are two main types of Chamomile plant, the main type used to make Chamomile tea is the German Chamomile. German Chamomile is an annual plant which needs to be re-planted each year. The other kind, Roman Chamomile, is a perennial plant and while it is sometimes used for tea it is also often used to make other herbal aids. Fortunately, for those who enjoy growing their own herbs and plants, both types of chamomile are easy to grow though the fact that Roman Chamomile is a perennial plant often makes it the one chosen. Both plants have beneficial properties though I have heard that many herbalists feel the German variety is more potent. Our Chamomile tea is made from the German Chamomile plant.

Harvesting and Drying the Flowers

Tea is made from the whole Chamomile flowers, which are clipped off the plant once they are in full bloom. Do not use the stems or leaves from the plant–just the flowers. The flowers are actually quite easy to use your fingers as a “rake”, pulling them through the plant to harvest the flowers. While you can use the flowers as soon as they are harvested, most people opt to dry the flowers so they can be used all year round. Most of the teas you buy are made using dried Chamomile flowers.

Air drying the flowers works quite well. Simply lay them outside on clean screens till they are dried–no need to wash the flowers first as it’s unlikely that there would be any dirt on th em. Of course, watch out for any summer rain storms! Once they are dry, store them in an air tight container, small Mason jars work well. Most recommend storing herbs for a year only.

Making Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is relatively easy to make. If using fresh flowers the ratio is one cup of flowers to a pint of water. Most people find using dried chamomile is more convenient. For dried chamomile, two tablespoons per cup of water is usually all that’s needed. If you find the tea is too strong or too weak, you can vary the ratio of chamomile to water till you find the right one.

I like to brew my herb teas using a tea infuser. Usually I’ll pop the leaves into the infuser unit of a teapot, pour on boiling water and let it sit for a while. You can also use the small ball infusers that you dunk into a cup of freshly boiled water although you would have to use a fairly large infuser in order to use the right amount of chamomile.

 

Chamomile Tea Benefits

As with many herbal teas and infusions, there are limits on how much you should drink each day in order to reap optimum benefits. Normally, adults should not drink more than two or three cups each day. You can get plenty of benefit from just drinking one cup before bed. Young children do not drink this tea — unless you are giving a little to calm an upset tummy. Normally, I recommend one cup a day.

Sedative Properties: This is perhaps the best known property of chamomile tea, and the reason many people drink it before bed. Studies have shown that Chamomile does have sedative properties and it is also a great help in soothing nerves.

Settling Upset Stomachs: You will often find chamomile one of the ingredients used, along with peppermint, to help calm an upset tummy. It has a soothing effect on the stomach muscles and lining, and is particularly useful for those suffering from any type of irritable bowel syndrome. A word of caution, it should not be used for morning sickness as chamomile is not recommended to drink while pregnant.

Antibacterial Properties: Some of the lesser known properties are its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Gargling with chamomile tea is great if you have a sore throat or use it as a mouth wash if you have mouth sores. Externally, a poultice can be made from chamomile flowers and placed on skin infections — though the mix of flowers to water would need to be about three times stronger if you are using it externally.

Side Effects-Chamomile Tea and Pregnancy, Other Precautions

Unlike green, oolong and black teas, there is a limit to how much you should drink each day. One cup per day (or night, before bed) will often prove beneficial — certainly no more than three cups a day should be consumed.

There are a few known side-effects. First of all, do not drink the tea if you are allergic to flowers such as daisies, ragweed, asters, chrysanthemums or marigolds you as it could cause an allergic reaction. It can interact with certain medicines, including blood thinning medication, so it should not be used if you are taking any kind of blood thinning medicine (including aspirin), nor should pregnant women or those with blood related disorders drink it. If you are using birth control pills you may want to check with your doctor to ensure it is safe to drink chamomile tea.

The Best Type of Chamomile Tea to Buy

It is relatively easy to find chamomile tea and other chamomile products online and in health stores. You can even find chamomile teabags in supermarkets. To gain the best results from this tea, I’d suggest purchasing the actual dried chamomile flowers. The powdered form of chamomile tea and chamomile tea bags do not have the same benefits as those derived from making tea using the whole flowers.

We have a selection of chamomile tea available for purchasing here.

Common Questions about Glass Teapots and Glass Candle Warmers

One of the things I enjoy the most about having a stall at the market is being able to talk and interact with my customers.  On average, only about one in every twenty people visiting my stall are knowledgeable about loose leaf teas, so consequently I end up fielding a lot of questions about teas in general and about the tea ware I sell.  I enjoy the opportunity of talking with customers, explaining the differences between tea types and showing them how to properly brew tea and I love answering the myriad of questions I am asked.

I hear many of the same questions over again so I am listing the more common questions I am asked about our glass teapots and glass candle warmers along with the answer I usually give below.  If you have any questions about glass tea ware that is not answered below, please feel free to drop me a line or add a comment below the post and I’ll do my best to answer.

Glass Teapots

Are they glass or plastic?”
“They are made from glass.”  (Often, at this point, the person will give the tea pot a little flick with their finger, or tap it with their fingernail, to verify my statement.)  “In fact, they’re made from a glass that is similar in properties to Pyrex. It’s called borosilicate glass and is designed specifically to be able to withstand high temperatures. It is the same type of glass that is used for laboratory glassware.”

What’s that thing inside (infuser unit) for?
I take off the lid and lift the infuser unit out to show them. “It’s the infuser unit. That’s where you put the loose leaf tea, see it has small slits in the bottom so the water can infuse the tea leaves.  Once you have brewed your tea you can actually take the infuser unit out and set it aside if you like. Or, if you are going to pour all the tea you can leave it in the teapot — it keeps the tea leaves from ending up in your cup, or getting stuck in the spout.”

How much tea do you put in the infuser?
“That depends on how much tea you are making, and which teapot you are using. For the smaller 600ml teapots, usually one teaspoon of most teas is sufficient.  For the 800ml teapot you may want to put in a heaped teaspoon and for the 1200ml teapot, you would probably want to put a couple of teaspoons of tea in the infuser.  Most people end up experimenting a bit with how much tea to use, it depends on the type of tea and how strong or weak they like their tea.  But those amounts are usually a good starting point.”

Why is the infuser so big, if you only put one teaspoon of tea inside it?
“Loose leaf tea is very different from most of the teas you buy from the supermarket.  See this one little teaspoon of tea?”  (They  nod. I scamper over to our tea sampling section and take out the infuser from one of our teapots that has already been used to brew tea.)  “This is what it looks like once it has been steeped in water — see how much it expands?

Hmm, “Made in China” — the quality probably isn’t that great!
(Usually said, as an aside, to the person they are with.)

“Let me ask you a question, where did tea first come from?”
“China?”
“Yes, that’s right. Did you know that China has been growing tea and making tea pots for hundreds and hundreds of years. In fact, they have perfected the art of making teapots and tea accessories to such a degree that most of the best (and oldest) teapots come from China — in 2010 a teapot was auctioned and sold for the equivalent of  $1,602,107.00.  These glass tea pots are hand blown, made from high quality glass and are very well designed. See the spout, it is made so the tea will not dribble out when you pour.  The shape of the teapots and design of the infuser unit are balanced to allow the water to freely mingle with the tea leaves, producing the best tasting tea. When it comes to teapots, I always buy those made in China.

Can I put them on top of the stove burner? I want to make Chai Tea.
No, these particular teapots are not suitable for sitting on top of the stove, although you can pour boiling water into them.

Are you sure I can put boiling water in it? Won’t it break?
No, it won’t break. I use this type of teapot all the time for brewing my tea. The type of glass it is made from is specifically designed to withstand very high temperatures.

Does the handle get hot?
“No, again due to the quality design the handle never gets hot.”

Does the teapot fit on top of the warmers you are selling?
“Yes, the 600ml, 800ml and 1200ml teapots all sit nicely on top of the warmers, see?” (Demonstration follows.)

I bought a teapot from you a few weeks back, but I dropped the infuser/lid. Do you sell replacements?
“We have an assortment of replacement pieces, so it’s likely we have something that would fit your teapot.  We don’t sell replacement pieces, but if you buy a pack of  tea we’ll be happy to give you the piece you need at no extra cost.” (Please note: If you are looking for a replacement piece, we will need to know the type and size of teapot you have–infuser and lid sizes vary.)

Candle Warmers

Do the candle warmers work? How do they work?
“Yes, the candle warmers do a great job of keeping tea warm.  You light the small candle, place it inside the warmer and set your brewed tea on top of the warmer. It will keep your tea warm for quite a while.  I recommend taking the infuser unit out while keeping your tea warm, as the might end up over-steeping.”

How long will it keep the tea warm?
“That depends on the size of the teapot and how much tea is left.  As long as the candle is burning, the tea will stay warm though I would recommend drinking it within half an hour or so.”

Won’t the burning candle make the bottom of the tea pot black?
“No, it does not burn the bottom of the tea pot.  We use a candle warmer to keep our sample flowering tea warm, and see, the teapot is not black at all.  The candle itself is smokeless.”

What type of candles should I use?
“You should use tea candles.  There are different types of candles, we have found the best to use are the small, white odourless candles.  Don’t use scented tea candles as they could alter the taste of the tea.”

Do you sell the candles too? Where can I buy them?
“No, we do not sell tea candles at present. They are very common, though, and easy to buy.  You can buy them from the “hot dollar” type shops, or at Kmart or other similar stores. Remember, though, look for the scentless, white candles. They come in packs and are inexpensive to buy.  One candle can usually be used several times before it needs to be changed.”

New Flavoured Teas Now Available

I’m happy to let you know that I now have a selection of flavoured teas available for purchasing online.  We have a selection of teas made with a black tea base, and one tea with a green tea base. The teas are:

  • Cinnamon Black Tea
  • Apple Black Tea
  • Vanilla Black Tea
  •  Mint Green Tea

My two particular favourites (though I enjoy them all) are the Cinnamon Black tea and the Mint Green tea.

Cinnamon Black Tea: I personally enjoy the cinnamon flavour mixed with black tea.  It is a warm mix of a spicy-sweet tea that is perfect for drinking when you feel like you need a bit of a lift. The cinnamon flavour is not too over-whelming, and the tea lends itself well to adding a little milk (or cream) if you like.  A perfect after-dinner accompaniment to dessert.   While some cinnamon tea blends can be a little over-powering, particularly if you’re not that fond of the spicy aromatic cinnamon taste, the cinnamon flavour in this tea is not strong.   For an interesting combination, try blending it with the Apple Black tea — YUM.

Mint Green Tea:  I love mint and I love herbal mint teas — and I love mint green tea. I do not drink a lot of green tea myself (I am more of an oolong tea drinker) however I found this combination great.  The light taste of the green tea contrasts well with the cooling sensation of the mint.  It is also a great after-dinner tea, mainly as it is a great palate cleanser, refreshing to drink after a heavy meal and it also aids in digestion.  I would not suggest adding milk to this tea — but a dab of honey or a touch of sugar is fine.  For a great mix, try brewing a strong mint green tea, cool it down with ice-cubes, add a touch of fresh lemon juice and enjoy on a hot day.

Apple Black Tea: The fresh apple flavour coupled with fresh black tea makes for a great combination also. Try varying your infusion times to get a different tasting tea.  The apple flavour adds natural sweetness to the tea, and the tea itself smells fruity and earthy.  It has more of a black tea taste than an actual apple taste — and it can be sweetened with a little honey or sugar if you like.  You may want to add milk to the tea though I prefer it as a black tea without any milk.  It’s a perfect tea to snuggle up in front of a fire with on a cold day, especially if you blend it with the cinnamon black tea.  It also makes a great iced tea.

Vanilla Black Tea: If you like a sweet, fruity based tea this is the tea for you. This is a great stand-alone sweet tea, a perfect ‘comfort’ tea. However, it is also an amazing tea to use as a base for blending with other teas — try it with the Cinnamon Black tea for example.  It is definitely sweeter than some of the other blended teas, again making it a great ‘after dinner’ choice.  I would not recommend it as an iced tea, though when mixed with another blended tea–particularly a berry tea, it is excellent served either hot or cold.  Great standalone tea for those who enjoy a sweet tea.

Buddha’s Tears Tea Top Selling Favourite

And Other News

As it has been a while since I updated my Blog, I thought it was time to do so.  There have been a few new developments with Robyn Lee Tea, but first up I’d like to share our most popular selling products for this month.

Popular Products:  

Our most popular selling teas have been:

  • Buddha’s Tears (aka Jasmine Pearl Tea)
  • GABA Tea
  • Strawberry Green Tea
  • Osmanthus Oolong Tea
  • Flowering Teas

Our most popular items have been:

  • Premium 800ml Teapot
  • Premium Tea Set (Tea Pot, Candle Warmer and 2 Bodum Glasses
  • Tea Pot and Warmer
  • Candle Warmer

Where You Can Find Us:

For US customers you can order our teas here: Zi Chun Teas Online Shop 

You can now find us at various markets and festivals around the Sydney area.  We are at Parramatta Market (Church street) most Thursdays and Saturdays.  We are also looking into having permanent stalls at other markets in the area. I’ll keep you posted, once we have our regular market plans finalised. We are very excited to be branching out into the world of markets. It’s a great chance for us to interact with you, our customers, it’s a lot of fun and we get to talk with everyone about our passion — tea! We have great plans for our marketing, where we are aiming to not only sell tea and tea ware but to also offer information on tea, its health benefits, brewing methods and more.

If you enjoy taking your chance bidding on tea ware, you can also find items on sale on eBay — look for the seller robynleetea. 

Adding New Teas:

We are in the process of adding more varieties to our selected teas available.  Soon we will have English BreakfastEarl Grey Tea, Blended Fruit teas,  and Fruit teas — hopefully they will be in stock within a week or so.  As our flowering teas have also been top sellers we’re getting in more varieties to choose from.

Plans for Tea Ware:

We are also looking into selling more tea ware — specifically different types and sizes of tea pots.  For this upcoming Christmas gift season we will also be making gift sets available — ranging from the high end Lin Family Ceramics to beautifully packaged glass tea sets. These have already been popular items and we are sure, once they are specifically gift packaged, they will be even more in demand.

Bulk Purchases:

If you are interested in making bulk purchases of tea ware, we do have a bulk and wholesale price list available, with discounted prices for purchase over 10 items. Please drop me a line if you are interested in buying bulk.

This about wraps up the latest news for October. More specific posts will be coming soon and more items will be added to my online store, so please keep checking back in for more updates.

“Spring Special” Three Amazing Tea Choices at Discount Prices

Rose Oolong Tea

I’m excited to offer a chance at buying some incredibly great teas at discounted prices, in celebration of Spring! For my spring selection, I chose one green tea, one oolong tea and one black tea, including two spring flavoured teas!

The Rose Oolong tea is a delightfully scented, and high-quality oolong tea with a subtle rose scent. In fact, you can see some of the tiny rose petals still in evidence amongst the tea leaves.  Normally, this sells for a minimum of $15.99 per 100gm. With this tea, tiny rose petals are added to  premium hand-picked Jin Xuan oolong tea, making for a terrific blended tea.  Choosing the right snacks or food to go along with a specific tea is as much of an art as wine and food pairing. Try eating some stronger, hard cheese and crackers with your Rose Oolong, or serve along with a chicken or turkey meal.

Jasmine Green Tea

Jasmine Green tea, a favourite amongst many tea-drinkers, is another of my Spring choices. The scent of jasmine always reminds me of spring and this tea hasa sweet and fragrant scent to it. The brewed tea should also have a faint jasmine aroma. Green teas generally pair well with salads and also with seafoods. Of course, this particular tea is great for drinking on its own.

Black teas are often traditionally people’s first choice of breakfast tea. High quality Keemun black tea, which normally retails at around $22 per 100gm, is no exception. This tea is a great breakfast choice as it has a very subtle chocolate flavour, albeit without the sweetness that is normally associated with chocolate. This makes it an ideal beverage to end your breakfast with or to accompany a pancake breakfast, for example.  It also pairs well with curry dishes or other spicy foods such as Mexican, Thai or Chinese foods.

Keemun Black Tea

I hope you enjoy the three choices I have prepared for my “Spring Special”. If you are new to drinking loose leaf tea, these three choices will give you the ideal opportunity to explore the difference in taste between green, oolong and black tea. For seasoned tea drinkers, you will hopefully enjoy the freshness of these different types of teas and enjoy experimenting with drinking them at different times and pairing with different snacks and meals.

Hopefully, soon I will post a more in depth article on tea and food pairings, as the opportunities are endless. If you have your own favourite tea and food pairing choice, please let me know as I’d love to include it along with my favourites.

In the meantime, enjoy your Aussie springtime and your teas.  I will be presenting other “Specials” in the coming months, so please do take advantage of this great offer: Three premium quality teas originally priced at $52 for only $40 — my Spring saving gift to you this September!

Lin Ceramics – High Quality Chinese Tea Sets and Other Chinese Tea Ware

History of Lin Ceramics

Starting out small, at the advent of the 1980’s tea culture revival in Taiwan, Lin’s Ceramics was established in 1983.  What made their brand of tea ware stand out from many others was their belief that in order to establish high quality tea ware it was necessary to utilize their cultural knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the tea culture, in designing simple daily utensils with specific types of tea in mind. The result; an absolutely breathtaking selection of some of the finest and highest quality Chinese tea ware available.

From their initial single pot design, they branched out into complete tea sets and a comprehensive range of tea accessories. Early Lin Ceramics, pioneered by founder, Lin Guorong are clearly differentiated from tea ware made in the early 2000’s, by the signatures impressed into each piece of tea ware.  By the mid 2000’s, it is estimated that over 80% of tea houses in Taiwan were using Lin tea ware.  Today, they have stores throughout mainland China and Taiwan.

What has made Lin Ceramics so popular? Creative and artistic design, practicality, a deep knowledge of tea and best brewing practices and a desire to make tea ware that can be easily integrated into everyday lives, both at home and at the office.  They suggest using different types of tea ware for preparing and drinking different types of teas – this, along with the extremely creative, beautiful design, has made their tea ware some of the most sought after, high-end products of this type currently available.

Quality of Lin Ceramic Tea Ware

Aside from the professional design, the actual quality of this tea ware is definitely a cut above much of the other Chinese tea sets and tea ware currently available. All of the clay and other materials used in making the tea ware are of very high grade. The clay is mixed carefully and each piece is individually shaped by one of the many talented craftspeople in their employ. While much of the cheaper teaware available on the market today is mass-produced, each piece made by Lin Ceramics can be thought of as a piece of art more than merely a tea cup. Once the piece is shaped, natural mineral or plant glazes are applied.  Great care is then taken with the next stage – firing the products, sometimes up to three times in order to achieve the perfect result. No harmful or unnatural substances are used at any stage of the production.  The result?  Artistic, unique, hand-crafted tea ware.

Different Teas Can Be Better Enjoyed By Matching Tea to Tea Pot

It is well known that different teas, ranging from green to oolong to black, are best brewed at different temperatures. Non or lightly fermented teas are best when brewed at lower temperatures – these teas include green teas and high mountain oolongs . Partial or semi-fermented teas, such as yellow oolongs, are best brewed at medium temperatures.  The more heavy or fully fermented teas, including black tea, or other aged or highly fermented teas need high temperatures to bring out their best qualities.  Keeping this in mind, there are three categories of Lin Ceramics with each type matched to different teas.

Porcelain is high in heat conductivity, meaning that the pot itself loses heat quite quickly. This is why their porcelain range of products is best suited for teas that are best steeped at lower temperatures. Teas you could consider using porcelain tea ware for include green teas, scented green teas and the famous Taiwanese high mountain oolongs.

Their Pottery Series best serves the yellow oolongs and other partly or semi-fermented teas that are best brewed at a slightly higher temperature than green tea. They are great for larger leafed oolong teas as the teapots themselves have plenty of room for the tea leaves to expand.

The porous Purion series of teapots have very low heat conductivity, keeping the water at a higher temperature for longer periods of time. This is needed in order to bring out the rich flavours of some of the famous black teas, roasted teas, heavily fermented or aged oolongs and of course Pu-erh tea.

 

What Is Available

Each of the different ranges; the Purion series, Pottery series and Porcelain series have a complete selection of Chinese teapots, tea cups and serving pots. The Pottery series has a wide selection of different items that are available in up to five different natural colours. There are different styles and sizes of cups and pots available.  The Purion series includes a fantastic selection of tea stands and incense holders, as well as the regular tea pots, cups, tea jars, water pitchers and serving pots.  The Porcelain series has a collection series closely resembling the style of some of the more renowned Song Dynasty craftsmanship.

There is also a complete range of kettles (and stands) available. The kettles are very versatile in that they can be heated using electricity, charcoal, gas or alcohol stoves.  For those wanting a genuine, authentic look, a traditional charcoal set may be more to your liking. A wide range of bamboo trays are available in different shapes and sizes, as well as bamboo traveling sets comprised of a bamboo carry case complete with carry bag.  Finally, there is a complete range of gift sets – an ideal Christmas or birthday present for any tea lover.

While this is nowhere near a comprehensive list of what Lin Ceramics has to offer (there are a lot of other accessories that can be ordered) hopefully it provides you with some idea of the variety offered by Lin Ceramic Studios. Keep an eye out – I will shortly be offering some of these high end Chinese tea sets for sale on my site.

Jasmine Pearl (Buddha’s Tears) Teas

Our Jasmine Pearls tea comes directly from China, where it is harvested at Fu Ding in the Fujian province. We offer two varieties of Jasmine Pearl tea: Jasmine Pearl in a white tea base and Jasmine Pearl in a green tea base.  As with regular teas, the Buddha’s tears tea with the white tea base is quite a bit more expensive than that with the green tea base. Currently we have the Jasmine Pearl tea in a green tea base in stock. This is the tea I am featuring today.

Order Jasmine Pearl from our online shop here

For US and Canada customers teas can be ordered here: Zi Chun Teas Online Shop 

This tea is known by quite a few different names, here is a list of what you may see it called – rest assured, no matter what name is used, the tea should be the same type of tea—though some may be made with white tea, others with green tea.

  • Jasmine Pearl Tea
  • Buddha’s Tears Tea
  • Jasmine Dragon Pearl Tea
  • Jasmine Dragon Pearls
  • Dragon Tears Tea
  • Jasmine Pearl Green Tea

Jasmine Pearl Tea in Green Tea Base

Rolled Jasmine Tea Balls — Tear Shaped ‘Buddha’s Tears’

The tea we stock is grown at a fairly high elevation of 1,200 metres. Basically, it consists of spring harvested green tea leaves that are hand rolled into tight balls resembling pearls (or Buddha’s tears).  Once the balls are made, they are left to dry until the Jasmine flowers are in bloom. The tea, which remains rolled into a ball shape, is then scented five to six times with Jasmine flower petals. It is a natural tea, made from freshly harvested tea and jasmine petals.

I am often asked about the concept of scented teas – how the process is accomplished and how natural it is. In essence it is an extremely easy step.  You may have heard, or read elsewhere, how important it is to keep your teas sealed well and set away from other food substances such as coffee, herbs and other aromatic food stuff. The reason for doing so is that tea very easily and naturally absorbs odours. Flower petals are very fragrant (as are many herbs and spices used to scent tea – think of the peppermint or ginseng scented teas).  Mixing odour absorbing tea and fragrant flower petals is the perfect way to come up with a natural, organic tea blend.

Once the tea is infused, the balls unfurl and a delightful jasmine aroma is released. Although most of the jasmine leaves are removed once the scenting process is completed, high quality Jasmine pearl tea should retain the subtle Jasmine flavour and aroma even after several infusions. Usually, the brewed tea is a soft yellow-green in colour. A good tea should have a mellow taste that lingers gently on your tongue.

How to Brew Jasmine Pearl Green Tea

With this green tea base, the water temperature should be around 95-100 degrees or just under boiling temperature. (If you are brewing Jasmine Pearl White tea, the water temperature should be lower.) About 4 gm of loose tea is sufficient to make 100 ml of tea. A common mistake, when making this tea for the first time, is to put too many tea balls into the teapot. You do not need many, as the leaves are tightly rolled. Steep for about three minutes.  You should be able to get two or three infusions from your initial brewing. This tea is best brewed in a glass teapot, that way you can see the leaves unfurl and enjoy the whole experience of not only tasting the tea but also watching it steep.

Other Interesting Facts

The dry leaf used to roll into balls is pale green and covered with a fine white “down”.  These leaves are tightly rolled into round shapes of a consistent and uniform size. You should clearly smell the jasmine aroma when smelling the dry tea.  Once infused, the leaf unfurls and is a yellowish-brown colour.  Again, you should be able to smell the jasmine aroma in the brewed tea.

Health Fact—Jasmine Pearl Tea Health Benefits:  We all know the benefits derived from drinking organic green, white, oolong or black tea. But, did you know that there are also health benefits attributed to Jasmine?  Jasmine is purported to have been used as a treatment for depression and anxiety. It is also helpful for women going through menopause, apparently lessening certain symptoms.  Not only is it helpful in treating these conditions, but it also helps boost your body’s immune system making it less likely that you will catch all those pesky colds and flus as they go around!

In summary, this is a delightfully refreshing green tea – a real favourite for those who like to drink moderately priced jasmine scented teas. It’s healthy, affordable and a great tea to drink any time of the day. Try pairing it with a summer salad, or a chicken dish (it’s especially good when served with a Chicken curry dish!) Or simply enjoy it on its own.

For US and Canada customers teas can be ordered here: Zi Chun Teas Online Shop 

Yixing Teapots — Tips on Their Use

purple Zisha-3First of all, what exactly is a Yixing Tea Pot? It is a clay teapot made with clay originally from the Eastern province of Yixing in China. During the mid 1500’s a monk from the region began hand crafting tea pots from this particular clay.  Being very elegant and high quality, these became favourites among scholars and other influential people in China and were much sought after. Today, most of the teapots are made in  Dingshan  — which is part of the Yixing area.

There are several reasons why these teapots are so popular. Many, especially those made hundreds of years ago, are considered national treasures. Hand made teapots are usually more expensive than those that are mass produced using a mould. Other factors determining price include the artist who crafted the teapot, the design, age and the type of clay used. Very much a tea collectors item, they are also very good reasons for choosing a Yixing teapot for brewing especially oolong or black tea.

During the steeping process, amounts of the tea seep into the porous clay so that eventually, with use, a film coats the inside of the teapot which helps to retain both the taste and even the colour of the tea as well. For this reason it is usually recommended that only one type of tea is brewed with each teapot, as eventually it will enhance the flavour of the tea even more.  This is why you may well see many small Yixing teapots on display when sharing a cup of tea with a dedicated loose leaf tea drinker.

_APThere are standard types of teapots, such as the one shown at the top of this post, and there are more highly decorative types such as the one you can see to the right of this paragraph.  You can also find Yixing drinking cups and other ornamental items — though the tea pot is perhaps the most famous and widely known item made from Yixing clay.

Is Shape Important?

Yes, shape can be an important consideration. The main thing is that the water is able to circulate freely around the tea leaves. For this reason, the cauldron shaped teapot is a favourite and you really won’t go wrong in buying one of this shape.

Other Considerations

You may want to make sure that the lid of the teapot fits snug onto the top of the teapot. Some of the better made ones actually create a little vacuum when the lid is taken off. The spout should be well formed, you don’t want tea dribbling down or around the spout when you are trying to pour a cup of tea!

Preparing the Teapot for Use

Thanks to a post I have just read on the Tea Guardian site, I have learned something new–that is how to properly prepare a teapot for first time use. You can pop over and read it yourself if you like, otherwise here is a summary of  ‘s tips:

  • Rinse the pot in water
  • Totally submerge the pot (and tea lid) underneath water and let soak overnight
  • The following morning, rinse the teapot with fresh water again. Fill a deep saucepan with water, set on the stove and completely submerge the teapot in this water. Boil the teapot in the water for five minutes.
  • Finally to actually prime the teapot you pop it back on the stove, submerged in a large pot of water and bring the water to the boil. Once it comes to the boil, turn the stove plate off and pop in tea leaves of the type of tea you are going to brew in this particular teapot. Steep the tea pot in the tea over night.
  • Lastly, rinse the pot again in fresh water the next morning and set it down to dry naturally.

Your Yixing teapot is now ready to use! Remember, one type of tea per teapot whenever possible in order to get the optimum taste from your cup of tea.

Tea Tasting Party Options

Are you looking for a novel idea for a bridal or baby shower?  Or are you part of a group who meet together regularly and occasionally share social occasions together?  One idea that is quickly gaining popularity is that of including tea tasting at your social event or party.

Tea Tasting?

Wondering what tea tasting is?  After all, don’t all black teas taste pretty much the same?  Do green teas actually taste different from oolong teas? (By the way, what is oolong tea?) When thinking of tea tasting, think in terms of wine tasting as it’s a very similar experience.

There is definitely a difference in taste between black, oolong, green and white teas.  Learn to tell the difference and become a tea expert.  Learn to differentiate between different green teas or different oolong teas and become a tea connoisseur.

Perhaps you and your friends have heard about the benefits of drinking loose leaf teas such as green tea or oolong tea but don’t really know where to start when it comes to selecting the right tea for you.  People definitely have personal preferences when it comes to the type of teas they enjoy (my favourite, for example, is oolong tea – High Mountain Oolongs, in fact!) Some people love the more earthy taste of green teas while others prefer the taste of oolong tea.  If you are transitioning from drinking black tea, made from off the supermarket shelf teabags with added milk and sugar, there are teas that make the transition much easier.

Love the ease of preparing teas from teabags, but have heard that “real teas” can’t be enjoyed that way?  Wrong, there are healthy and delicious options available.

Are you fascinated with the concept of switching to drinking loose leaf teas but don’t know where to begin?  How long do you steep them?  How do you make them?  What is needed to prepare these teas?

All of these concepts, and more, can be explored and explained in a fun way during a tea tasting party. For specific details check out this page.

What Happens at a Tea Tasting Party?

Usually, you need to set aside a minimum of one hour for the tea tasting of Chinese origin teas.  To begin, a brief summary is given of the more common types of teas, how they are made and what makes each different from the other.

Then the tea tasting begins.  Normally I like to provide six different types of teas (often two types of black tea, two types of green tea and two types of oolong tea – though this can be tailored to the audience participating in the tea tasting.) A tasting sheet or card is handed out to each participant. This card lists the tea name, where it is grown and a brief description of the tea.  After sampling each tea, guests evaluate the tea using guidelines provided. Participants will be asked to describe the tea’s aroma, flavour, appearance, and texture.  Don’t worry – copies of the tasting terms to use in the description are handed out along with the tasting sheet. If you want to use your own terms to describe the teas you are totally welcome to do so. (Hubby drinks a very old tea which has a musty, very earthy flavour. Not my favourite so I have termed it “mud tea”.)

Finally, I am also happy to devote some time to answering people’s questions about tea, how to prepare it, the health benefits, etc.

Free samples of your favourite tea are always provided to each guest as a thank-you for participating in the tea tasting!  Simple tea-tasting games can also be added to the presentation.

Basically, at the end of the tea tasting session, everyone participating should have enough information to make an informed choice on what type of tea they would like to drink and how to prepare it – even if they knew nothing about loose leaf teas prior to the tea-tasting.

How Many Participants?

Ideally the number of people sampling tea should 10 – 15 (no more than 20 people, more than this and the tea tends to get cold before everyone is served J ) If you would like to provide tea tasting for groups larger than 20, please get in touch.  Prices will vary for more than 20 participants as I may have to bring a helper along with me and more tea and other items will need to be provided.

More Alternatives

If you wish to spend more time on the theme of “tea”, there are optional activities that can be enjoyed. In fact, these are often enjoyed as much as the tea tasting. Here are some other ideas of what can be included as a part of your tea tasting party:

  • Explanation of the utensils used for brewing loose leaf tea and examples of how to use them.
  • Additional tasting of some of the more unusual loose leaf teas (yes, I can bring along some of hubby’s “mud tea” if you like J )
  • Examples of loose leaf tea in tea bags.
  • How to prepare iced teas.
  • How you can take loose leaf teas to the office or anywhere, and prepare them ‘on the go’.
  • What I Will Leave With You
  • Everyone will receive a sample of their favourite tea.
  • Fact sheets are provided that go over the benefits of tea and summarise how to make the different types of teas.

How Much Does it Cost?

I charge a $100 per hour booking for the tea tasting plus $10 flat rate/person, with an additional charge ($25 – flat rate per party) for parties held on the weekend – providing the party is held within the Western Sydney Suburbs*. (Travelling Sydney takes time so additional costs may be incurred if I have to travel outside the areas listed below.)  Payment is due on booking.

Any tea parties cancelled at short notice (within 7 days of the party) will generally not be refunded the booking fee, though all monies paid for additional items or services will be refunded in full. Cancellation fees ($20) are deducted from your full refund for any parties cancelled from 7 to 14 days of the party.  No cancellation fees if you give me at least two weeks’ notice of your cancellation – that gives me enough time to schedule another booking.

Finally, there is a small fee per item consumed or left with the participants (not including the free sample giveaway) including a minimal cost for the teas used for sampling – a price list is provided when booking the party and you can choose the options you would like.  For example, some hosts like to include small tea-oriented items in gift packs for their guests or buy items that are given as prizes.

For a basic one-hour tea tasting party within easy driving distance of my location, the average cost would be from $150-$200 depending on which day of the week the party is held. Naturally, if you choose additional teas to taste or items to give to your guests, the cost will be added to this standard fee.

Do It Yourself Tea Party Packs

If you would prefer to host the tea-tasting yourself, I also have prepared tea tasting party packs that come complete with instructions and a video on how to prepare the teas, the fact sheets for each of the teas, and tea pots, tea cups and other items needed for preparing the tea.

Contact Me

If you are interested in discussing this option, please contact me via my contact form or phone me at: 04 321 15563

Bookings are best made at least one month in advance if you wish to secure the day you would prefer.  Weekends and evenings are usually fairly easy to accommodate, daytime bookings (before 4 p.m.) require a little extra juggling on my part—the more advance notice I have, the better.  Week day evenings are charged at the regular rate, daytime or evening weekend bookings incur an additional $15/booking.

I will do my best to accommodate any special requests you have. Again, timing is important if you have special requests. More detailed explanation of what is presented is provided here.

* Standard fees in place for:

  • Annangrove
  • Baulkam Hills
  • Beaumont Hills
  • Bella Vista
  • Box Hill
  • Carlingford
  • Castle Hill
  • Cattai
  • Dural
  • Glenhaven
  • Glenorie
  • Kellyville
  • Kenthurst
  • Leets Vale
  • Lower Portland
  • Maraylya
  • Maroota
  • North Parramatta
  • North Rocks
  • Northmead
  • Winston Hills

(Will also consider parties in the greater Parramatta area.)

For pricing on other Sydney suburbs, please contact me—prices will be adjusted only according to the time needed to travel to the location.

More details on tea tasting parties can be found here: Tea Tasting Party

Beautiful Taiwan Tea Growing Country

Just had an opportunity to go through a lot of my older photos and in doing so realised that I had some terrific photos, and memories, of a trip we took to visit some of the high altitude tea growing areas in Taiwan. Taiwan is not on the regular list of ‘places you absolutely must visit’ however it does have some truly amazing sites and places well worth visiting. Remember, in the not too distant past it was called ‘Formosa’ which loosely translated means Beautiful Island. It certainly does live up to that reputation.

Eastern Coast of Taiwan

Enjoying the East Coast Views Taiwan

We started our journey by travelling down the rugged east coast of Taiwan which faces the Pacific Ocean. Rugged cliffs drop directly into the ocean, giving some astounding glimpses of the wildness of the area. There are some areas, such as Hulien, that have beaches though they are often pebble beaches or dark sand beaches. The white beaches are more commonly found towards the south of the island in the sub-tropical areas. Oh, another interesting fact, the northern part of the country is in the temperate region but the lower part is sub-tropical and you notice the change almost immediately as you’re driving south.

There are some great natural hot springs around the Eastern coasts, and many small hotels and facilities are set up with hot spring baths and pools. During our tenure in Taiwan we became totally addicted to hot springs. There is nothing better than relaxing (usually sans clothes) in a 37 degree natural spring water, watching the sun set over gorgeous mountainous settings, while the  temperature drops to five or six degrees. It is exhilarating and one of the most relaxing experiences I have ever enjoyed.

 

Central Taiwan Mountain Ranges

Bridge in Nantao County, Taiwan

From Hualien we travelled west over rugged mountain ranges through the small village of Ren-nai and down to Taichung which is a very mild climate city in central Taiwan. While we were not permitted to visit the higher mountainous areas such as the Yushan area we did stop by the Alishan range — yes you have probably heard of Alishan Mountain tea — an oolong that is actually one of my favourites. We also spent some time in the Nantou area where we stayed at a hotel that naturally had hot spring water piped into pools of varying degrees in the hotel grounds and visited with one of the tea farmers who provide us with many of the top quality oolong teas we sell. In spite of there being over 23 million people living in the small island (it’s total area is only around 35,800 square kms–much smaller than Tasmania which is 68,400 square kms) we travelled for kilometres through isolated areas.

Yes, the roads over the mountains were narrow, dangerous and very winding with rock slides a common occurrence especially after rains or post earthquakes, but the view was breathtaking. We were driving down from the Alishan mountain range as the sun was setting — a beautiful time of the day.  The sun reflections lit up the whole area with a mystical orange light and at for a good while we were well above the cloud layers. You could look down and see a blanket of clouds covering the ground below, with blue clear skies above. As we began our descent we passed by some farms though at the top it was quite barren and sparse with some vegetation — though not much.  At one point we stopped to take a break and walked along a path to the highest point on that particular mountain — and ran out of breath doing so.  The mountains are much higher than those you find in Australia so I was not expecting the breathlessness that accompanied very little exertion on my part! Must have not been as fit as I thought I was.

Sunset Looking Over Alishan Mountain Range

Aside from the great scenic views while travelling around Taiwan there is also plenty of other ‘must see’ locations. I could have spent days in the National Museum, unfortunately the kids weren’t as awed as I was by the treasures on display there. Apparently, when many of the wealthy fled China to settle in Taiwan they brought many of the Chinese national treasure with them including artefacts dating back thousands of years.  It is definitely worth setting aside a day to visit the museum.

Then, as with most Asian cities, you have an abundance of outdoor markets that sell everything from food to clothing, and plenty of great restaurants. Be sure to try a Taiwanese “hot pot” meal, the food is great and the fun of cooking your own soup in front of you usually ensures that you will return. Best of all, it is relatively inexpensive to eat out as well–though no where near as cheap as eating out in Thailand.

 

Sampling Taiwan’s Famous Teas

Driving Through Taiwan Mountains

Finally, there is no better place to experience Taiwan oolong teas. You can visit tea farmers and sample many of their newest teas. They are fresh and prepared perfectly. Some of my favourites are Organic GABA tea, Milk Oolong tea and Ginseng Oolong tea. While there, it’s a great time to shop for Chinese tea sets, clay pots and other utensils that help make brewing tea easy. Some of the tea sets are very expensive, though it is possible to pick up some great sets and teapots at much cheaper prices that you would find sold by local tea retailers here. Definitely a worthwhile place to visit if you are interested in, or sell, teas or teapots.

Introducing Rose Oolong Tea and Strawberry Green Tea

Two great new tea products I am promoting this month include a new green tea; Strawberry Green tea and a scented oolong; Natural Rose Oolong tea. As the names imply, both have subtle flavours with the Strawberry Green tea being a scented tea (the strawberry scent is added to the green tea) and the Rose Oolong a natural tea that has rose petals added in with the oolong tea.

Strawberry Green Tea

The packaging of both teas (which sell in 100 gm packs) is great with the Rose Oolong vacuum packed and the Strawberry Green tea loosely packaged. For anyone who likes scented or flavored teas these would be an ideal choice.

The flavouring of the green tea minimises the ‘green tea’ taste that many green teas have. While some people enjoy the more earthy flavour of green tea, many people would prefer something a little less strong. Let’s face it, lots of people drink green tea or oolong tea because they know they are a healthy drink alternative and they actually benefit a person health-wise, being full of anti-oxidants and having little to no caffeine. Still, the taste can be a little off-putting for people at first, especially those who have been drinking coffee or black tea all their lives. This green tea is lightly blended with strawberry essence to bring out the light aroma and taste–a simply delicious, healthy tea!

The Rose Oolong is a fresh, naturally cultivated tea. Rose petals are added to  premium hand-picked Jin Xuan

Rose Oolong Tea

Oolong tea. The process requires 2 to 3 days for the tea to properly absorb the aroma from the rose petals. The Jin Xuan Oolong tea used in this batch is freshly harvested spring 2012 oolong tea from the Nan Tou tea growing region in central Taiwan. While the aroma and taste add to this already excellent oolong tea, one of the things that I love about the tea is that you can see the small rose petals in the tea — it really is a very pretty tea, as well as being a healthy choice for those who like the slightly more oxidised oolong tea.

The product page will include more details regarding where the tea was grown, at which elevation, etc. I am also including photos here of the packaging and a sample of the actual Rose oolong tea in which you can see the rose petals blended with the oolong tea. Unfortunately, at present, I do not have a clear photo of the green tea however in general the leaves are unfurled which is why the packaging appears larger — it is loosely packaged as opposed to being vacuum packed. Both packs contain 100 gram of tea however.

The Rose Oolong tea is more costly than the Strawberry Green tea, mainly because the tea base is a very high grade tea.

Prices:

Rose Oolong Tea – 100 gm: $15.99
Strawberry Green Tea – 100 gm: $10

Orders for these teas will be shipped within 1 to 2 working days, with shipping to most parts of Australia only taking a couple of days.

Have You Tried Bubble Tea?

Photo: © Shanewar | Dreamstime.com

Bubble tea may be a new and novel idea for some people.  While not common here in Australia, it can be found at many tea stands, especially those featuring Asian teas and drinks.  Usually served cold, it contains rather large tapioca balls and is enjoyed through a very large, wide straw.  Having spent many years in Taiwan, where Bubble tea originated, my kids and I enjoyed it on a regular basis—especially during the hot, muggy days of summer.  It is a fairly new drink, having first been served in the 1980’s.  Claims of who first made the tea are made by two different tea houses in Taiwan and to date I do not believe either has been successful in proving they came up with the original Bubble tea recipe.

Green, Red or Black Tea Base

As the name implies, it is usually made from freshly brewed tea –either green tea or black tea though these days there are quite a few variations on the original recipe. In fact, when first made it was served hot rather than cold. Milk and either tapioca balls or candied taro are added to the tea. You can also buy it with small, hard jelly cubes added. Fruit flavours are often added to the teas as well. Like I said, there are many different variations available and most tea houses will strive to come up with something unique to their particular shop.

A Bubble Tea By Any Other Name is Still Bubble Tea

You may find it called a number of different names including foam milk tea, pearl tea or Boba tea. Most people, at least here in Australia, simply ask for Bubble tea. Tea containing large sized tapioca balls is by far the most commonly served.  Incidentally, it was not named Bubble Tea because of the tapioca balls; which is what I originally thought.  The tea is usually made in a large disposable cup and sealed tightly over the top with plastic. Before serving, it is shaken quite vigorously which results in a thick top layer of foam – and that is why it is called ‘Bubble Tea’.

Home Made Bubble Tea

If you like to experiment with making different teas, you may find it fun to make your own Bubble tea. It is really not very difficult to do, and in order to make it even easier, it is possible to buy “Bubble tea” kits online that are shipped complete with the right kind of tapioca and even a specific tea mix.

With a little ingenuity and shopping around you can also find the ingredients here in Australia fairly easily. While using a kit to make it may be simple, you will find that you can experiment much more if you search out the ingredients and make it yourself.  Whether you purchase an online kit or buy the separate ingredients yourself, your main challenge will be cooking the tapioca so it is just right. (“Just right” can be somewhat subjective, though most Bubble Tea enthusiasts agree that the tapioca should not be overcooked, nor should it be too chewy! As I said, while it is very subjective, people will often return to the same tea shop or tea stand time after time in order to buy tea with tapioca that is, to their taste, perfect.)

Bubble Tea Ingredients

First off, track down a local Asian store of which there are usually one or two in most of larger shopping centres, and look for some large tapioca balls (1/4 inch tapioca). If you do not see them on the shelves you should ask if they are available. If not, they will probably be able to tell you where you can find them.  You may also find some stores stock a tea mix or tea blend that is specifically made for Bubble tea. You may want to try it, but it is not essential. You should also buy the large sized straws as well – remember the straws need to be large enough for those ¼ inch tapioca balls to fit through.

It is possible to buy these ingredients online, on eBay for example, however I could only see white tapioca balls and not the usual black coloured tapioca. Other online stores sell it also, but you need to buy quite a large quantity – something you may not want to do if you simply want to try it out first.

The other ingredients can be bought in any supermarket. You will need:
– Sugar or fructose syrup
– Tea – preferably loose leaf tea.  As mentioned above you can use green tea, read tea, black tea or even oolong tea. If you can’t find loose leaf tea a teabag will suffice.
– Dairy creamer, milk or cream
– A cocktail shaker

Now, Onto the Bubble Tea Recipe

Here is a very basic Bubble tea recipe you can start off with. Once you are more adept at making it and you know exactly how long to cook the tapioca balls for, you may have fun experimenting with different recipes.

¾ cup of tea for each Bubble tea you serve
milk, cream or dairy creamer
ice cubes
¼ cup of cooked tapioca per serving
syrup—either fructose syrup or syrup made from dissolving sugar in boiling water.

Using the cocktail shaker, first of all shake together the brewed tea, milk and syrup till it is all mixed together.
Add your ice cubes to the shaker and shake until you see froth on top.
Add the tapioca balls into the tall serving glass and pour the tea into the glass.
Place the large straw in each glass, and serve.

Variations to the Bubble Tea Recipe

As mentioned above, there are quite a few variations to this recipe.

* First, try using different teas. You may find fruit teas are quite tasty. Some people enjoy Bubble tea made with ginger tea or with ginger flavoured loose leaf tea.

* For a slightly different taste, try using evaporated milk instead of regular milk or creamer.

* Finally, see if you can find some candied taro balls or small cubes as a substitute or make agar-agar squares.

Footnote: Cooking Perfect Tapioca

This is the most important step in making Bubble tea—properly cooked tapioca! While hard to explain the texture it should be, in essence it should not be too hard and chewy but not too soft or jelly like either. Of course, it will take longer to cook the larger sized balls of tapioca than it does regular minute dessert tapioca.

You should generally allow 8 cups of water per cup of tapioca balls and make sure the pot you use for cooking the tapioca is large as the tapioca expands quite a lot while cooking. Boil the water first and then add the tapioca to the boiling water. If the balls seem to be stuck together you may want to stir the mix to separate them. One way to tell that they are separated is if the tapioca begins to rise to the top of the boiling water. Boil for 20 to 25 minutes, turn off the hot plate and let the pot sit for twenty minutes more.

When ready, you can pour the tapioca balls into a strainer and then rinse them with barely warm water. Stir in some fructose or syrup—this helps to keep the tapioca balls separate. It is recommended that you cook only what you are planning on using as cooked tapioca should not be stored in the refrigerator – this ruins the consistency of the balls. You can apparently store them in a Ziploc bag, flatten them out and freeze them. When unfreezing, you simply put the frozen tapioca balls into already boiling water and boil for a few minutes.

Is it Worth The Effort?

Yes, it does take a bit of effort to make Bubble tea. First you have to track down the ingredients and then it takes time to boil the tapioca. The main advantage to making it yourself is that you can tailor your recipe to your particular taste, you can experiment with different ingredients and you don’t have to go out to enjoy it.  It also is a fantastic drink to serve to visitors on a hot day and quite a good conversation starter especially if served to people who have never tried it before.

Blooming Tea – Flowering Tea In Stock

I have just received my stash of blooming tea (also known as flowering tea) and I’m thrilled! There are ten different varieties, some with a green tea base but most with a white tea base. They’re beautiful.

You can see them all here.

They are not only a very pleasant tea drink but also a real attention getter when entertaining. Just stick one in a glass teapot,  pour on hot water and watch your guests become enthralled at the display. Honestly, even if you don’t drink the tea, the sight of the flower unfurling will be enough to wow most guests. Every one is hand made and each has its own personality. It takes between 5 to 10 minutes for one to totally unfurl.

If you are a tea lover, my suggestion is to let the tea make its presence known, let everyone have a sip of tea and then unveil your ‘best tea’.  For example, you could say, “Oh, wasn’t that great. How about tasting one of my premium white or green or oolong teas?” Then serve your best organic loose leaf tea. A winner. I’m sure.

If you have die-hard black tea drinkers (think Lipton and the sort) you can bring out your premium Red Jade tea and let everyone sample it. I have never added the ol’ “milk and sugar” to it, but I am confident that it would live up to the ol’ cup of Lipton 🙂

Honestly, tea is like wine. Once you have had a good one you will scorn everything else.

Aside from the fact that organic loose leaf teas actually do taste great, they are also very healthy for you. Think of these teas like coffee. Once everyone just drank instant (yuk). Now people buy coffee makers — even drip coffee makers, and enjoy a decent cup of coffee. Tea is the same. Introduce your friends to loose leaf tea and they will be hooked. Nothing quite tastes as good once you have had a decent, freshly brewed loose leaf tea. You can choose: green tea (with its earthy flavor), black tea (which tastes better than any teabag, oolong tea (same health benefits as green tea but a little less organic tasting), or white tea (served to Chinese royalty ONLY for many years.)

Do They Always Work As Expected?

And, back to blooming teas. Not only are they a delight to drink but they are fascinating to watch. Just think, each flowering tea is hand-made.  Most work as they should and (the first disclaimer along these lines I think) you do have the occasional dud. Yup, just like fire-crackers. Sometimes you will drop your tea ball into the boiling water and only half of it will unfurl.  OK, so the fire-cracker doesn’t go off–but the duds are VERY few and far between. We had one on the weekend; it didn’t live up to our expectations. Having said that, it is the only one so far (of many) that has not performed as well as we had hoped. That is probably why we sell 5 in each pack. All 5 should work as planned. If one doesn’t, send me a video of your fail and I will replace your tea x 2.

Blooming teas are exquisite. They are attention getters. They are hand-made, each one. They are a work of art.

Flowering Teas Available Soon

Hopefully, within the next couple of days, I will have some fresh blooming teas arriving from China!  These are made with either a green or white tea and they are simply gorgeous, taste great and are beautiful to watch unfurl as well.  I wrote previously about flowering tea choices and included a video at the end which shows one of these delicate teas unfurling. The article also included tips on brewing and serving these teas — so if you haven’t read it, you should  catch up on the tips and ideas given.

White Tea Blooming Teas

  • Fairy Flowers Spreading  (Jasmine, Lily blooms)
  • Jasmine with Love  (Jasmine blooms)
  • Love at first sight  (Marigold, Jasmine, Amaranth blooms)
  • Love Story By Tea (Marigold, Amaranth blooms)
  • Tea Flower Attaching (Marigold, Jasmine, Amaranth blooms)
  • Two Dragons Playing Pearls (Marigold, Jasmine, Amaranth blooms)
  • Whispered tea and flowers (Marigold, Jasmine, Amaranth blooms)

 

Green Tea Blooming Teas

  • Ruby (Amaranth blooms)
  • Peacock outspread (Marigold blooms)

 

White Tea

As mentioned in this article about green tea there are quite a few health benefits gained from drinking green tea and few, if any, side effects. What about white tea though?

White tea, just like green, oolong and black tea, comes from the Chinese Camellia sinensis plant. The difference with this tea, which is rumored to have been available only to Chinese Royalty, is that it is made from the buds and youngest leaves of the plants.  These buds and leaves are then left to wither in the sun, then are dried either naturally via sunlight or by other methods. In fact, the actual production of white tea is much simpler than the processes involved in green, oolong or black tea however the actual process of harvesting the tea itself — remember only the sensitive buds and young leaves are picked — is quite time consuming and great care needs to be taken not to damage the tender buds or leaves. For this reason, white tea is usually a little more expensive and up until recently less readily available than other types of common loose leaf tea.

Being from the same plant as green and oolong tea, it naturally contains most of the same health benefits. Some claim that it contains even more antioxidants than regular teas because of the little actual processing of the leaves.  The tea is light in colour and has a very mild, somewhat sweet taste. There are different types of white tea, with each type having a slightly different taste. The earthy or green taste of green teas is not present.

Silver Needle white tea is perhaps the most popular and the best quality of all of the white teas. There is a very short time frame within which the tea can be harvested — it must be harvested before the buds turn into leaves. Thus, this tea is made only from the tea buds. Buds are hand picked and the flavour is the most delicate of all of the white teas.

Next is the White Peony.  Tender buds and two leaves are harvested and made into this fine tea.  As the leaves are a little more mature, the tea is a little darker and slightly stronger tasting than Silver Needle white tea — but still retains the freshness and delicate flavor that white teas are known for.

Finally you will find other types of white tea, such as Snowbud and Tribute Eyebrow (don’t you just love the translations of the tea names!) white teas.  The blooming teas made with white tea that I will have on sale are all made with Silver Needle white tea.

Read More On Blooming Tea

Portable Tea Infusers – A Handy Alternative To The Teapot Infuser

Portable Infusers

Just recently I have been experimenting quite a bit with a couple of different portable infusers, which while very popular in other countries are not that easy to find here in Australia.  Consequently, we are trying out different portable tea infusers so we can get a good idea of which ones to import and sell.  So far we have a couple that are in the running, a selection of glass portable infusers and a very nice metal portable infuser made from brushed stainless steel.

While they appear to have more of a golden glow in this picture, unfortunately that is because of the limitations of the lighting in our kitchen in late afternoon and our camera.  Actually the stainless steel sections are grey not golden — but at least this gives you a fairly good idea of what they look like in general.

They are definitely very handy items to have on hand, great because they are very portable, enabling you to brew tea on the run, in the car, while at work, on holiday etc. without having to take an entire tea set with you. They are made so that you can drink out of the bottom section of the infusers if you want to, meaning that you do not even need to take a tea cup or mug with you — this (and your loose leaf tea of course) is really all that you need, providing you have access to hot water. You can even make your tea in advance and because of the nature of the infusers they will keep your tea warm for you for a while.

Open Infuser

How To Use A Portable Infuser

They are very simple and easy to use.  The infusers unscrew into three separate parts. The top section is the lid.  The next section has a metal infuser at the bottom. This is where you place your tea. Finally the larger bottom section is where you pour in your hot water.  Once the tea leaves and water are in their respective sections, you screw the infuser back together and then reverse it so the infuser with the tea leaves is sitting on the table. The water pours into this section and very effectively brews your tea.  After a few minutes–depending on the type of tea you are making–you can turn it back the other way, unscrew the middle section and sip your tea.

In theory and in principle this generally works very well. There are a few things you need to be aware of when using the infusers but once you have used them a couple of times you should not have any difficulties with them at all.

Pros and Cons of Portable Tea Infusers

Although we have only tested a smattering of portable infusers, we have noted some disadvantages or things to be aware of — although this does seem to be based more on the actual portable infuser rather than portable infusers as a whole.

The portable glass infuser is made from double glass. This makes it very easy to use even when filled with hot water. You do need to remember, however, that although you can hold the glass infuser comfortably the tea on the inside can be very hot.

Another problem we have seen is that sometimes the glass infuser at least can be a tad difficult to get to screw together properly, with the resultant effect being that the hot water pours out onto the table rather than into the bottom section of the infuser when you turn it upside down. Naturally, that would be a bother if it happened on your desk at work, or in your car and it is fairly disagreeable when it happens at home too!

Finally, the glass in particular seems to tighten once the hot water is poured into it and it is a little harder to undo though that is not really a problem as such–it merely requires that a little more effort to open it afterward.

The advantages are many. They are very easy to use.  They are extremely portable, enabling you to make tea on the go at any location providing you have access to hot water. They also brew a very nice cup of tea; just as good as those you would brew at home with a regular teapot. The infusers we have are also very nicely made and they look great with artful decorations on the exterior of the infuser.

Cost Of  Portable Infusers

Another advantage is that they are relatively inexpensive, though the stainless steel infuser is more expensive than the glass kind.  The stainless steel infuser is virtually indestructible and while the glass infuser made with two layers of thick glass is fairly sturdy it would potentially break if dropped on a hard surface.

We are still finalizing pricing for these items although we will offer a selection of different portable infusers, both medium and large sizes which will be priced according to both size and the materials they are made from. They make an interesting gift idea for any tea lover and as such we will be preparing a gift set as well that is artfully presented in a nice case.

I will keep you updated as we finalize our decisions on these infusers. Meanwhile, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to comment on this post or send me a note via my contact page. We’d love to hear what you have to say or any comments you have on these items as it will help us in making our decisions on what you are interested in.

 

 

 

 

Green Tea Side Effects? Are There Any?

There are quite a few sources online regarding green tea and the benefits gained from drinking it regularly. However, there are relatively few sources that outline side effects from drinking green tea. From my own personal research and from years of experience living in countries where green tea and oolong tea is one of the more common beverages consumed, I have concluded that there are few, if any, green tea side effects.

As with any food or beverage there are bound to be some side effects for some people, if moderation is not used. However, the side effects are not strictly related, in this case, to green tea but rather to people’s pre-existing intolerances or other existing medical conditions. In other words, while green tea is a relatively safe beverage to consume there may be some contraindications to drinking it regularly or in too great quantities.

Photo By: Shirokazan

 

Health Benefits

First, though, let’s take a look at some of the documented benefits of green tea. It has fairly low caffeine levels making it a great drink for people wanting to avoid heavily caffeinated drinks.

All teas, especially green tea and oolong tea, are rich in antioxidants. Green tea has anti-aging benefits, is said to help decrease the risk of certain types of cancer and the antioxidants help to cleanse and rejuvenate the body.

It likewise tends to increase the body’s metabolism which lends itself toward being a great supplement when dieting or simply trying to maintain a specific weight.

The  low caffeine levels make it non-addictive, unlike many other highly caffeinated drinks.

When Not To Drink Green Tea

Low Tolerance to Caffeine: I am often asked, “is green tea caffeine free?”  In short, no, it is not. Obviously, if you have a fairly high intolerance to caffeine, which many people do, you may want to either avoid drinking green tea or at least steep and discard the first cup of green tea brewed. Regular organic green tea leaves can be used to steep up to three cups of tea before you need to discard the tea leaves and start over with a fresh batch of leaves. The second and third cups of tea will have little to no caffeine. There are also decaffeinated green teas available however the decaffeination process can sometimes use chemicals that are more harmful to the body than a little caffeine would be. Generally, health benefits derived from decaffeinated green tea or oolong tea are likewise diminished due to the additional processing the tea undergoes.

Sensitive Digestive System: Although I disagree that green tea should be singled out as being harmful for people suffering from indigestion or those who have problems with bloating or nausea, it may not be the best choice of drink for those with such problems. However, it goes without saying that people with sensitive digestion should also avoid a myriad of other food and drink–not just green tea.  Some people find that oolong tea is easier on the digestion than green tea.

Do Not Drink When Pregnant Or Give to Children: In this instance I would say moderation was of prime importance.  The low levels of caffeine should not harm either pregnant women or children. Incidentally, there are much higher levels of caffeine in many carbonated drinks children regularly consume than are found in green tea.

Remember, in some cultures women have been drinking green tea for centuries and have not been harmed at all by doing so.  Some may argue that the health benefits of green tea far outweigh the issue of small amounts of caffeine being consumed when drinking green tea.

In Summary: While some people may find that green tea does have some side effects that they would prefer not to experience, most people are able to safely drink and profit from the health benefits found in green tea. Does green tea have caffeine?  Yes, but so do many other beverages. Overall, many people consume products on a daily basis that pose a  much greater threat to their health and overall well being than a cup or two of green tea would. Personally I feel that the health benefits far outweigh any green tea side effects or green tea extract side effects for most people.

 

Is Green Tea Caffeine Free?

While green tea is not totally caffeine free, it has much less caffeine in it than black tea for example. Still, it does have some caffeine.

Black tea, green tea and oolong tea all come from the same plant. The difference between the teas is the amount of oxidation they undergo and the type of processing the tea leaves undergo. Black tea is the most oxidized, green tea the least oxidized.  How does this affect the caffeine levels in tea? The more oxidation the tea leaves receive, the greater the amount of caffeine they produce. Thus, out of all of the different types of teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant, green tea has the least amount of caffeine.  Oolong has slightly more, but not as much as regular black tea has.

One regular sized cup of green tea has between fifteen to forty mg. of caffeine. A comparable cup of drip coffee contains over one hundreg mg. of caffeine.

Photo By: Mariela M.

Unless you have no tolerance at all to caffeine or you have a medical condition which precludes your having any caffeine, you may find that a little caffeine such as exists in green tea is actually beneficial to your body.  Recent studies have shown that not only does a small amount of caffeine help increase a person’s alertness and energy levels. There also may be some links between caffeine content and the anti-cancer polyphenols present in green tea.  If you are trying to lose weight and are thinking about including green tea in your diet program, you may want to consider the fact that the combination of caffeine (remember, caffeine levels in green tea are very minimal) and catechins in green tea help reduce abdominal fat.

Decaffeinated Green Tea

If you really do not want any caffeine at all, you could opt for drinking Decaffeinated Green Tea. There are many different types available, however did you know that decaffeinated drinks may not be that good for you because of the processes they go through?

First of all, it strips out a lot of the good antioxidants found in natural green and oolong teas. In fact, some studies have shown that decaffeinated Green Tea has only around half the amount of antioxidants that regular green tea has.  There are different methods for decaffeinating tea. The carbon dioxide process is the best method of decaffeination in that tea undergoing this process retains higher levels of antioxidants. Another natural method of decaffeination using Ethylene acetate, strips both antioxidants and lessens the flavor of the tea.  Another method which uses Methylene chloride during the process is actually restricted in some countries and it may be damaging to your health to drink teas decaffeinated using this process.

It’s All In The Brewing

You can lessen the amount of caffeine in your green tea by:

  • using less leaves when brewing your tea
  • letting it steep for a shorter amount of time
  • tipping out the first brewed cup without drinking it (whole leaf teas can be steeped several times using the same leaves.)

In Summary

So, does green tea have caffeine?  Yes. Green tea is not caffeine free unless you specifically buy decaffeinated green tea. However, even though it does contain small amounts of caffeine it is much less than you will find in coffee, black or even oolong tea. You can lessen the amount of caffeine by changing the way you brew your tea.  It is thought, too, that the small amount of caffeine in green tea actually aids the antioxidants contained naturally in green tea. In contrast, decaffeinated green tea may not be as healthy for you as regular green tea.  Will you experience any green tea side effects relating to the amount of caffeine in a cup of green tea? Probably not, unless you have an intolerance towards caffeine in general.

 

New To Asian Teas–Try Oolong Milk Tea

If you are interested in trying different Asian teas but are not really sure where to start, you may want to take a look at the selection of milky oolong tea. You will often hear this tea referred to as milk oolong tea, milky oolong tea, or simply milky oolong.  However, it is important to realize that there are definitely differences in the quality of the milk oolongs that are sold these days. Some are grown from the Jin Xuan varietal of tea plant; they are organically grown and naturally processed. Others are flavored teas that are also labeled as milky oolongs.

For US and Canada customers Milk Oolong can be ordered here: Zi Chun Teas Online Shop 

What Is Oolong Milk Tea ?

Even though the name implies that there is milk in this tea that is not the case at all.  It is a pure oolong  Jin Xuan tea, that when organically grown and processed simply has a subtle milk flavor. This flavor can be enhanced if the tea is lightly roasted or if the tea is given a longer oxidation period.  Changes in temperature can also sometimes affect the flavor as can the actual altitude at which the Jin Xuan tea plants are grown. In other words, the milky characteristic is due to the varietal of tea plants used to make the tea.

Buy Milky Oolong Tea Here

Because of the initial popularity of this type of tea, some tea merchants and even some farmers hoping to replicate the aroma and taste of the tea actually began adding milk flavor to the teas. These days it is still possible to find blended teas that have this flavor added, however if you want the best type of milk oolong go for the organically grown Xin Xuan non-blended milky oolong tea.

What Does It Taste Like?

An organically grown Milky Oolong tea will not have an over-powering milky aroma or taste. A high quality tea will have an almost buttery taste which actually complements the regular oolong tea taste nicely. It is also naturally slightly sweet. This aroma of milk and slight sweetness make it a great tea for regular black-tea-with-milk-and-sugar drinkers to begin their journey into the discovery of Chinese teas. It also blends well with other flavored teas.

 

How Can You Be Sure You Are Buying The Natural Milky Oolong Tea?

An honest retailer or merchant should state whether the tea is a blended tea or a natural and organically grown Jin Xuan Milk Oolong.   The leaves of the Jin Xuan plant are different to other trees, they are light green and are oval shaped although it is hard to tell that when buying tea that is already dried and processed.  Generally, the aroma from an organic milky oolong tea is fresh without much hint of a milky aroma. On the other hand, one that has been flavored will have more of a milk aroma.

Some people actually prefer the flavored teas and according to my husband, who sells both types, they sell well. The main thing is to buy from a reputable source that specifically states whether the tea is blended or flavored, or not.

Buy Milky Oolong Tea Here

For US and Canada customers Milk Oolong can be ordered here: Zi Chun Teas Online Shop 

What Is Gaba Tea and Why Is It So Good For You?

 

What is GABA tea?

Discovered over twenty years ago in Japan, GABA tea is made by exposing tea leaves to nitrogen during their processing. At the time this discovery was made, Japanese scientists were experimenting how to better preserve food. During their experimentations they discovered that exposing tea leaves to nitrogen actually increased GABA levels in tea.

That’s Fine…But What Is GABA Anyway?

GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid) is one of the main neurotransmitters for the CNS (Central Nervous System).  It acts as a kind of brake, in that it prevents over-excitement of the nervous system. For example, many common medications prescribed for stress or anxiety actually stimulates GABA receptors to provide greater relaxation. Decreased GABA levels in a human brain have been well documented by medical studies to be associated with many psychiatric or nervous system disorders.

GABA not only works on the nervous system, but it also affects the endocrine system as well. Human Growth Hormone has been found to increase naturally with people taking GABA supplements.

One hundred grams of GABA tea contains around 150 -250 milligrams of GABA. In comparison, regular green tea only contains six milligrams per 100 grams! Melon juice, also high in GABA, has 100-150 milligrams per 100 millilitres of juice.

Organic GABA tea is usually made from oolong tea though it can also be made from green tea and black tea.

Popularity of GABA Products in Japan

Because of the many benefits found in GABA tea, it is very much promoted in Japan. In Japan you can not only readily buy GABA tea, but you can also buy GABA soft drinks and even GABA chocolate! In fact, you will find GABA supplements included in all kinds of food that is sold in supermarkets there.

While less well known in other parts of the world, it is beginning to increase in popularity. It is fairly easy to find a GABA supplement, such as GABA capsules or other related items in pharmacies and health food stores, and even GABA soft drinks in some countries. However, as stated above, one of the best sources of GABA, and one of the cheaper sources, is GABA tea.

So, What Does GABA Do Exactly?

While there are many benefits attributed to including GABA rich foods in your diet, one of the main benefits is that it increases alpha brain waves. This, in turn, will help to improve a person’s mental focus and activity. In other words, it will promote a greater sense of well-being. Following is a categorized list of some of the documented benefits of GABA:

Circulatory System
– Lowers blood pressure, making it perfect for people suffering from high blood pressure.

Mental and Stress Related
– Provides stress relief, lowers anxiety levels
– Helps alleviate symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression
– Aids in better memory retention
– Is said to also increase overall mental alertness
– Has been proven to help people undergoing alcohol detox programs by making the withdrawal symptoms lessen.

Health and Beauty
– Aids in weight loss (as does most oolong teas)
– Has natural anti aging properties and as such helps to improve the elasticity of skin and prevent wrinkles  from forming
– Is a natural sleep aid, not only helping you go to sleep faster but also ensuring that your quality of sleep is great

Other
Aside from those benefits, there are a few other advantages enjoyed when your GABA nutritional requirements are met.
Hangover cure – Yes, GABA Oolong is being hailed as the new beverage of choice the morning after. its soothing calming and healing properties really do make a difference

– Increases your energy levels- Great for providing extra endurance when needed
– Has anti bacterial properties
– Increases sexual performance (perhaps that goes along with the extra endurance and energy levels?)

The great thing about GABA is that these benefits are actually very well documented through years of scientific study. Because there is valid proof of the health benefits of GABA, and no side effects, supplemental GABA is increasingly being prescribed by workers in the health industry.

In summary, aside from the regular health benefits that all organic tea has, such as the abundance of antioxidants and other healthy compounds, GABA tea also has exceptionally high levels of natural GABA. This combination makes organic GABA tea one of the healthiest choices available when it comes to organic tea.

Update: We apologize that we no longer sell GABA Oolong tea online here. We do however Organic GABA Oolong as well as some other Robyn Lee Teas available on Amazon Australia. Feel free to take a look at our teas and order directly from our Amazon Australia Tea Store Free shipping available when you start an Amazon Prime membership

US and Canada customers can buy our teas here: Zi Chun Teas

Blooming Tea — Flowering Tea Choices

 

 

Looking for Blooming Teas?

Buy blooming tea here.

 

 

Photo By: Catherine Bulinski

If you are looking for tea that perhaps epitomizes all that tea is about, you could look no further than the blooming tea or flowering teas. They are, perhaps, the most beautiful of all beverages as they are not only pleasant to look at but they have a delightful taste as well.

What Are Blooming Teas?

Blooming teas, or flowering teas as they are also called, are special blends of teas. Commonly, green tea is combined with naturally herbal flowers or buds. Black tea and oolong tea is also sometimes used. The way they are made is quite unique. Most are handmade, in that a bundle of flowers and tea leaves are tied together with thread into a tight ball. The bundles are made in such a way that when brewed the leaves and flowers unfurl into amazing designs where the tea leaves form the leaves of the flower and the bud or flower unfolds at the centre. In some instances the flowers unfurl into an arch, a dragon’s eye, or even a small boat. To give you an idea of some of the designs, here are some photographs of blooming teas in all their glory!

 

 

The Best Way To Showcase Flower Tea

Usually, blooming teas are steeped in glass teapots so the artistic designs can be easily seen. Some people prefer to brew tea in a glass teacup instead. Often it is served at the end of a meal where the teapot is set in the middle of the table so everyone can appreciate it. You will also find it served with a light afternoon or morning snack, again placed on the table so everyone can enjoy watching the flower unfold.

Our Blooming Teas

We have a selection of blooming teas available now. These teas are made using green tea or white tea as the base.

Our selection includes teas made with jasmine flowers, Osmanthus, Lily, Globe Amaranth, Marigold and possibly chrysanthemum and marigolds! If you are interested in buying blooming teas please take a look at the flowering teas now available in our store.

How To Brew Blooming Teas

There are a couple of different ways you can prepare your flowering tea, however most recommend that you first pour the boiling water into a glass teapot and then drop the blooming tea into the water. Naturally, you will want to prepare the tea in a heat resistant glass teapot. Another suggestion is to place the tea pot over a tea warmer and light small tea candles. The light from the candles will shine up into the blooming tea, making it even more unique and exquisite.

If you wish to prepare a blooming tea for each guest–which really is a great way to end a meal with friends–you can also prepare the tea in separate glasses or cups. Because you will want to see the blooming tea unfold completely it is recommended that you use large sized glass cups or even large wine or martini glasses (providing they are heat resistant).

Normally you would use one ball for about 500 ml. of water or for a less strong tea, up to 1 litre of water. With this tea you let it steep for at least three minutes as that gives the flower long enough to unfold. Though you may be tempted to do so, don’t try to stir the water in order to hasten the process as it will not have the desired effect.

As with other loose leaf teas, you can reuse the blooming tea and make several different steepings from it, however you should not keep the bloom to reuse the following day for making tea. You can, however, place the blooming tea in a vase or glass and admire it for several days until the flowers begin to wilt.

Some people mention that they prefer to place the blooming tea into the already freshly boiled water as small pieces do not break off as easily; you can always experiment to see what you prefer and what gives you the best tasting tea.

In Conclusion

I recently read an article from Hsiao-Ching Chou, written for the Seattle PI website, that I thought perfectly expressed the reason why blooming tea is such a wonderful addition to the table. As he said, ” This is definitely not a grab-and-go drink. Enjoying a flowering tea requires time and contemplation — and a glass teapot.”

Here is a quote from his article. Think about it, and then watch the video, courtesy of House of Blossoms, included at the end of the article. You’ll soon see why blooming teas or flowering teas are becoming so popular!

“I steeped two of the teas, one in each pot, and watched them reconstitute and relax in the hot water. It was a visual reminder that I need to soak in the comfort of a quiet moment, sipping green aromas and allowing the calm to blossom.”

 

 

Why Opt For Organic Loose Teas?

You may be very familiar with teas or you may be just starting your journey into exploring the delightfully fragranced and flavored teas that are available. Either way, chances are that once you have sampled some of the different organic loose teas that are now readily available worldwide you will never turn back!

My Introduction To Tea

Photo By: David Menino

In my home, when young, my parents and sisters loved their cup of tea–as they do to this day.  Being dedicated tea drinkers they refused to make their tea from teabags but instead bought Lipton tea (made from broken leaves, not whole leaves). Their tea ceremony began by pouring hot water into the small, well used teapot in order to ‘heat up the pot first.” Next several teaspoons of tea were tossed into the pot and boiling water poured over. It sat for several minutes and was then poured into cups–not mugs. Everyone in my family had their tea with milk. Sugar was an option, depending on who was dieting at the time! Long gossipy conversations usually ensued, especially when the aunts were visiting. That was the extent of my knowledge about tea. I drank coffee instead.

Learning About Asian Loose Leaf Teas

Upon moving to South East Asia, suddenly my knowledge of tea was expanded. I noticed that men, not women as was traditional in my home, prepared the tea. It was brewed in tiny, rotund pots and served in small cups without handles. You never added milk or sugar!

Photo By: Krista

In Myanmar, in a northern city, Mandalay, I was served tea leaf salad–apparently a rather famous dish made with fermented green tea leaves and other additives. I was surprised at how good it actually tasted. So, there was more to tea than I had originally thought.

It wasn’t until I went to live in Taiwan, however, that my tea education really began. My husband became fascinated with the whole concept of Cha Dao, or the ‘way of tea’. He learned about tea from various tea masters, participated in tea ceremonies and ended up drinking it frequently throughout the day. In Taiwan, oolong tea (or wulong tea, as it is also known as) is usually served. He has become so enthused with tea that he has started his own tea export company–it looks like tea has really become a part of my life!

But What Is All The Fuss About Organic Loose Leaf Teas

Here is where I get to explain why organic loose teas are far superior to tea made from broken leaves, or worse yet tea brewed from teabags made from tea fannings or dust.

We all know why organic is good right? Organic tea is grown without any pesticides or chemicals. It is simply much healthier to eat organic food of all kind than to eat food from animals that have been injected with hormones or crops that have been sprayed with insecticides and other chemicals. Following the same reasoning, drinking organic tea is a more healthy choice.

If you want to really taste a tea–just as you would taste a fine wine–you want to try loose leaf tea. The flavor is richer, there are more health benefits gained from drinking tea made from loose leaves and you will able to sample the true taste of the tea as it was meant to taste.

Aside from that, it is also a lot of fun to watch loose leaf tea brewing. The tea itself is dried yet when you pour water on top of it, the leaves gradually unfurl in a very beautiful and impressive manner. Try making a pot of blooming tea–you’ll be thrilled with what you see as it is guaranteed to impress.

Another reason for choosing loose leaf tea is that you can reuse the tea leaves several times over, up to around three times. How nifty is that? The flavor gradually lessens the more cups of tea are brewed with the same tea leaves but even after several cups you can still experience the unique taste of the particular tea you are drinking.

My Favorite Loose Leaf Teas

Everyone has their own favorites when it comes to tea. My husband is a great fan of GABA tea (more on that in another post). I prefer oolong tea to green tea, mainly I think because that is what I was first introduced to. Green tea, to me, tastes a bit–well–green and leafy.

Some of my favorites at the moment include JinXuan Oolong, Osmanthus oolong and Jasmine oolong. Of course, there are so many different oolong teas that it is difficult to choose only one or two–and my preferences also tend to keep switching from one tea to the other.

If you are new to drinking oolong tea I would definitely recommend the JinXuan Oolong which is also known as milky oolong tea. It really tastes great and has a slight hint of a milk tea flavor which makes it a perfect choice in many ways for someone transitioning from drinking black tea and milk to oolong tea.

The Red Jade tea is one of the more expensive black teas sold as loose leaf tea but it is, not so surprisingly, becoming very popular amongst tea lovers.

If you love teas with a flowery taste, you would probably like the Jasmine oolong and Jasmine green tea choices. Osmanthus oolong is another great choice as the blend of the Osmanthus flowers with the oolong tea is a perfect combination–giving off a beautiful, almost heady apricot aroma with a delicious taste.

More On Loose Leaf Teas

I will be doing specific updates on each of the teas mentioned above, as well as some other teas that I am able to supply. I hope you enjoyed reading about my personal ‘tea journey’ and my favourites. I’d love to hear about yours too! Also, if anyone has any specific teas; herbal, green or oolong that you would like me to review and post more information on please just get in touch and let me know.

 

Where To Buy
Tea Online?

Photo By: Michael Allen Smith

If you are looking for specialty teas such as organic loose leaf tea or some of the beautiful blooming teas you may want to start your search online — and Robyn Lee Tea is as good a place as any to start! In most supermarkets you will find a selection of teas on the shelves; however for the most part these are not usually what would be considered top quality teas and while there is usually a fairly good selection it is nowhere near as complete as you would find online.

Update: We apologize that we no longer sell teas online here. We do however have some of the popular Robyn Lee teas available on Amazon Australia. Feel free to take a look at our teas and order directly from our Amazon Australia Tea Store Free shipping available when you start an Amazon Prime membership

US and Canada customers can buy our teas here: Zi Chun Teas

Buy Tea Online From Local Stores or International Sellers?

There are pros and cons to buying tea online from a local online retailer and from going directly to the source and buying your teas internationally. In some instances you may be looking for a tea that is not commonly sold locally. For instance, it can be difficult to locate some of the very high quality teas online as they are usually not stocked by local retailers. However, if you look a little further afield you may find that some international online tea stores do stock the teas you are looking for and while you may have to pay additional for shipping it could well be the only way you will be able to buy them.

If you prefer to buy from an online retailers residing in your country, look for a retailer who stocks fresh teas. If cost is not such an issue and if you are looking for the freshest teas available, be prepared to pay a little more than if you bought them from the supermarket. It will usually be well worth doing so though as the quality is far superior.

What Type Of Online Stores Stock The Best Teas?

Many online tea stores will specialize in a specific type of tea. For example, some online stores sell mainly herbal teas whereas others sell Chinese and Asian teas. Still other stores will have a fine selection of British teas or black teas. The best thing to do is to look for an online tea store that seems to carry the type of tea that you are interested in buying.

Generally speaking, I would recommend buying your teas from online tea shops — looking for one that sells tea and tea ware, as opposed to a store that sells a little bit of everything. For example, while you can find organic teas on Amazon or eBay you will more than likely find a larger selection of better quality teas available if you shop from an online store that is dedicated to selling tea. These stores will not only stock a great selection of tea but you will usually also find a lot of very useful and informative information on the sites including what the teas are beneficial for, how to properly brew the teas and what type of tea accessories you may need.

Oftentimes they will also have a great selection of teaware available online and they will recommend choosing one type of tea pot or infuser for a specific type of tea. Obviously, that type of information is not as readily available on other larger sites that sell many different kinds of items.

In summary, if you really are looking for a great tea experience, buy from an online store that deals mainly with tea and tea ware. Don’t be afraid to buy from an online store, especially if you are shopping for premium teas. Finally, once you have found a great tea shop online that sells fresh teas at good prices, remember to bookmark them so you can continue to buy your teas from them.

Update: We apologize that we no longer sell teas online here. We do however have some of the popular Robyn Lee teas available on Amazon Australia. Feel free to take a look at our teas and order directly from our Amazon Australia Tea Store Free shipping available when you start an Amazon Prime membership

US and Canada customers can buy our teas here: Zi Chun Teas

Teapots With Infusers: When To Use Them

Photo By: Rob Chant

If you look at the variety of different glass teapots, ceramic teapots or metal teapots available you will find many come with an infuser. Oftentimes the teapot is designed so that the infuser can actually lift out of the teapot if you like. Why would you want to invest in a teapot with infuser and when would you use it?

What the Tea Infuser Teapot Is Useful For

Many people prefer not to have tea leaves swirling around in their cup of tea. This is especially true for those who drink loose leaf tea as the leaves, when unfurled, can oftentimes take up a lot of space inside the teapot. It is also quite a bother if they get stuck in the spout of a teapot as, unless you have the right accessories, they can be quite difficult to dislodge. This is where the teapot infuser comes in very handy.

Photo By: Lucius Kwok -- Loose Leaf Tea in a Teapot Without An Infuser

How To Use The Teapot With Infuser

They are very simple to use. All you need do it put the same amount of tea leaves in the actual infuser that you would have placed directly into the teapot. Pour boiling or just boiled water–depending on the type of tea you are drinking–over the tea leaves and allow it to brew as you normally would. The water will mingle freely with the tea leaves and you will have a nicely brewed pot of tea usually within minutes.

 

One thing that some people can tend to do is pack the infuser too tightly with tea leaves. This will not make for a better cup of tea. Instead, the water will not be able to freely mix around the tea leaves and you may well end up with a weaker tea than you  would have had you packed the tea leaves less tightly. In summary, usually you need to place the same amount of tea that you normally would for the amount of cups you will be pouring.

 

Another thing to determine before buying your infuser teapot is that the infuser is actually large enough for the teapot. This is not normally a problem when the teapot is sold with the infuser, but I have seen problems when people buy an infuser to use with their teapot and they end up buying one that is too small. For this reason, unless you are sure what you are doing, you may want to opt for the teapots with infusers rather than buying a separate loose tea infuser for your pot.

Cleaning Your Loose Leaf Tea Infuser

They are really very simple to clean. Once you have finished serving tea you should be able to detach the infuser unit from the pot. From there you simply tap the infuser on the side of the trashcan or food disposal unit till the leaves come out. Some people don’t mind pulling the leaves out with their fingers; others prefer to use some sort of tongs or other accessory so they don’t have to touch the limp and usually cold tea leaves. After that, rinse the infuser out under the faucet and pop it back into the teapot.

If the infuser does not come out of the teapot you’ll have to resort to using either fingers or tongs to get the tea leaves out. Again, rinse the infuser and teapot under the tap and set it aside to dry.

It is not recommended to leave the tea leaves in the infuser as tea can be a great thriving ground for mould–now, getting mouldy tea leaves out of an infuser is much more unpleasant. Believe me, I’ve experienced it!

 

What To Look For When Buying Glass Teapots

I love watching a blooming tea expand in a glass teapot. I am also fascinated when I see the loose leaf teas unfurl while brewing. One of my main problems is deciding which type of glass tea pot to choose as there are so many options to choose from. If you are thinking about buying one, here are a few things to keep in mind as not all glass teapots are the same quality and even though one particular design may look great you will want it to also brew a fantastic cup of tea and be easy to use and clean. You may also find the best teapots for sale wherever you buy tea from.

The best glass teapots are made from high quality borosilicate glass, just as Pyrex kitchenware in Europe is.  (Not all Pyrex is made from borosilicate though–in the US it is made from soda lime glass instead.) This glass is heat resistant, and while lightweight it is also very durable. Most of the teapots made from this glass are crystal clear however you can find some beautiful amber coloured glass teapots as well. Because they are made from borosilicate glass they are safe to use to brew tea and they are generally dishwasher safe as well. Some caution may be needed if the dry heat in your dishwasher is extremely high–but in general they are safe to use in most home and commercial dish washers. I would only recommend buying teapots made from top quality borosilicate glass–it should be clearly labelled as being made from this material.

What Style Of Glass Teapot Is Best?

Now, that is out of the way we can talk about what else you should look for when purchasing a teapot. What style of glass teapot is best? It really depends on your personal preferences and the type of tea you are planning on brewing. If you want to show off your blooming tea you will probably want to look for a teapot that is either tall–so the flower can expand up, or fairly rotund leaving lots of room for expansion inside the teapot.  If you love loose leaf teas you may want to opt for a glass teapot with infuser. Tea leaves are popped into the tea infuser and boiled water is poured on the leaves. The tea brews nicely but you do not have to worry about tea leaves getting stuck in the spout when you are pouring the tea–and glass teapots with infusers are also quite a bit easier to clean in some respects. Maybe you love watching the tea leaves unfurl to their full size–then buy a teapot that either has an infuser that you can take out if you want, or buy a simple glass teapot without an infuser.

Photo By: Lucius Kwok

You can also find some teapots that have a removable strainer in the actual spout of the teapot. These allow you to brew the tea without needing an internal teapot infuser so you can see the tea as it expands yet it will keep the tea leaves out of your teacup. While a glass teapot with strainer will work well with a blooming tea they are not as useful if you are using loose leaf tea as the tea leaves tend to clog up the strainer fairly quickly.

Another very neat design that I saw recently was a glass teapot that actually sits on top of the cup while the tea is brewing. When you lift up the teapot the tea pours into the cup. This unique design could come in very handy–and it is also a bit of a novelty if you are looking for something a little unusual.

Best Size Teapot To Buy

What size teapot should you buy?  How many people will you brew tea for? If you are brewing a cup or two for yourself then a smaller sized 400 ml. teapot may be sufficient. If you are planning on brewing enough tea for your family to sip after dinner you may want to look at the larger 1000 or even 1200 ml. teapots.

Some teapots are fairly simple in design, beautifully showcasing the tea inside. Other designs are more intricate. For example, it is possible to buy double walled glass teapots. These are designed to keep the tea warm while keeping the teapot itself cool enough to handle. Some are styled after Japanese teapots, Arabic teapots or the small Chinese teapots. Most have a smooth glass surface but you can also find some where the glass surface is faceted to where the teapot has a jewelled appearance. Again, you will probably have your own preference.

Other Features

Photo By: Rob Chant

Other features, relating to how well the tea pours, are also important to consider. In general, the spout of the teapot should be slightly higher than the lid. This allows for optimal pouring.  The lid should be tight fitting, with some kind of seal around it so that it does not come off while you are pouring the tea–loose lids really are awkward as you have to keep your finger on the lid when serving tea. On the other hand, the lid should not be that tight fitting that you have to struggle with it to get it off as that can result in damage to the teapot and lid. Another area to pay attention to is the handle of the teapot. The joins should be smooth–with some teapots you cannot see any join at all, and the handle should look sturdy and secure. This is especially important if you purchase a larger capacity teapot.

How To Care For Your Glass Teaware
We had a kettle; we let it leak:
Our not repairing made it worse.
We haven’t had any tea for a week…
The bottom is out of the Universe.
~Rudyard Kipling

Some are designed to be used directly on either a gas or electric burner, while others are not. Pay attention to the instructions for use as improper treatment of your teapot could cause it to break. Following are a few tips on caring for your glass teapot as proper care and handling will be sure to prolong the life of your tea pot.

Unless specifically stated, the teapot should not be placed over direct heat or a flame. In other words, if the instructions do not implicitly state that it can be used in this way that means that it cannot.

When placing in the dishwasher, do not leave it in for too long–drying time should only be around 15 minutes maximum. You may need to adjust your dishwasher settings if you regularly use high temperatures for longer periods of time.

Although I do not see the need for doing so, still you should not place your teapot in the refrigerator or freezer if the internal temperature is set to maximum coolness. If you want to cool down your iced tea I would suggest transferring it to another refrigerator safe container, or making sure the temperature is not too low. Remember too, it is not a good idea to place a hot or very warm teapot directly into a cold refrigerator.

Finally, when cleaning your teapot do not use abrasive cleaning agents or abrasive cleaning pads as they will scratch the surface of the teapot and not only mar its looks but also damage the teapot.