Turmeric Tea, Anyone?

Read 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.

As 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

Continue reading Turmeric Tea, Anyone?

Rooibos Tea Secrets

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

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

Continue reading Rooibos Tea Secrets

5 Reasons I Use Glass Teapots

Standard 900ml Teapot and Warmer

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.

 

glass candle warmer

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

Continue reading 5 Reasons I Use Glass Teapots

Our Commitment

We 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

handy brew

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

Continue reading Handy Brew Tea and Coffee Maker – So Simple to Use

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

Continue reading Ever Wondered How GABA Tea is Actually Made?

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

Continue reading Flowering Tea Photo

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

Continue reading Chamomile Tea and Its Health Benefits

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

Continue reading Common Questions about Glass Teapots and Glass Candle Warmers

New Flavoured Teas Now Available

mint green tea

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

Continue reading New Flavoured Teas Now Available

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 Breakfast, Earl 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

Continue reading Buddha’s Tears Tea Top Selling Favourite

“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

Continue reading “Spring Special” Three Amazing Tea Choices at Discount Prices

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

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

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

Continue reading Jasmine Pearl (Buddha’s Tears) Teas

Yixing Teapots — Tips on Their Use

First 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.

There 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

Continue reading Yixing Teapots — Tips on Their Use

Tea Tasting Party Options

blooming tea cup

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

Continue reading Tea Tasting Party Options

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

Continue reading Beautiful Taiwan Tea Growing Country

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

Continue reading Introducing Rose Oolong Tea and Strawberry Green Tea

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

Continue reading Have You Tried Bubble Tea?

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

Continue reading Blooming Tea – Flowering Tea In Stock

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

Continue reading Flowering Teas Available Soon

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

Continue reading Portable Tea Infusers – A Handy Alternative To The Teapot Infuser

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

Continue reading Green Tea Side Effects? Are There Any?

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

Continue reading Is Green Tea Caffeine Free?

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

Continue reading New To Asian Teas–Try Oolong Milk Tea

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

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

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

Continue reading Blooming Tea — Flowering Tea Choices

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

Continue reading Why Opt For Organic Loose Teas?

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

Continue reading

Where To Buy
Tea Online?

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

Continue reading Teapots With Infusers: When To Use Them

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

Continue reading What To Look For When Buying Glass Teapots