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Mecha
2007-10-03 09:11:00
Mecha or bud tea is a special Japanese green tea made of early leaf buds. It is known for its flavour depth and bitter green aftertaste.Mecha is harvested in spring and made as rolled leaf teas. To be more precise, Mecha tea is made from collection of leaf buds and tips of the early crops. Quality Mecha tea has clear, soft yellow appearance.Considering the above mentioned bitterness, Mecha tea is a good tea to drink after meals to cleanse the palate.
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Tea tasting terms
2007-10-02 13:06:00
Professional tea tasters (brokers, agents, buyers) use numerous terms, expressions. Here are some of them...as presented at Relax, Sip & EnjoyBody - The weight and qaulity of the tea on the tongue. Can be describedas wispy, light, medium, or full. Brassy - Strong and bitter; caused by underwithering of black tea. Bright - Lively, fresh, and high quality. Brisk - Opposite of "flat"; pungent without being undesirably high in tannin content. Burnt - An off flavor caused by overfiring. Chocolaty - A desirable flavor quality of fine Darjeelings. Coarse - Bitter or overly acid; attributable to improper processing. Dull - Muddy looking; the opposite of "bright" or "brisk." Earthy - May be inherent to the leaf, or caused by damp storage. Flat - Off, stale taste; usually a property of old teas. Full-bodied - An ideal combination of strength and color. Green - When said of black tea, refers to immaturity of character due to underoxidation or underwithering. Harsh - Very rough in flavor; a...
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Houjicha
2007-10-01 08:53:00
Houjicha is a pan-fried or oven roasted green tea available in Japanese teashops. Houjicha is very little bitter, refreshing...The tea is fried at high temperature...As result of it tea leaves become red...There are two main types of Houjicha - light and deep-fried. Deep-fried tea has stronger, roast aroma and taste. Houjicha has distinctively red appearance and are low in caffeine. Houjicha can be drank with all kind of food. Japanese people are often drink itafter dinner. Houjicha is excellent as Iced tea too. Houjicha is not expensive, but it is rarely used in the West.How to brew it? Until you decide what time of brewing is the most suitable for you, check your tea every 30 seconds or so...Start by using 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of tea to 170 grams of water. Experiment with water temperature to get different flavors.

Genmaicha
2007-09-30 09:27:00
Genmaicha ("brown rice tea") is the Japanese name for green tea combined with roasted brown rice. Koreans call it Hyeonmi nokcha. During roasting process few grains of rice pop...plus it resembles popocorn. That's whysome people also call it "Popcorn tea".Genmaicha used to be a drink of poor Japanese cause rice added to this tea made it cheaper. Today all parts of Japanese society drink this tea.Genmaicha has mild flavour, combining fresh flavour of green tea and aroma of roasted rice...You should brew Genmaicha with water at temperature of 80-85°C (175-185°F). Tea is ready for drinking after 3-5 minutes, depending on how strong tea do you like....

Rohat tea house
2007-09-27 15:49:00
Rohat tea house or Rohat Choykhona is located in the Rudaki avenue, near President's Palace of Dushanbe city, Tajikistan . Here is short video for you to see the inside of it...
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A Tea Story
2007-09-25 10:55:00
I have just found rather unusual love story...An animation film with tea bags as main characters....Well, here it is...Enjoy!!
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Tea brewing...little extra
2007-09-23 10:36:00
Here is a video about tea brewing....general stuff...but maybe you'll find some extra details...Enjoy!!
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More on tea in Vietnam
2007-09-21 10:40:00
Typical Viet nam ese green tea is known as "hook-shaped curly tea", because the leaves curl up after roasting. Some people think that the proper term is mac cau or "areca mold" tea, because the curly dried leaves have a thin white coat, like the mold on an areca palm leaf.Thai Nguyen Tea from Vietnamese province Thai Nguyen province is the best tea in Vietnam.

Tea custom from Vietnam
2007-09-20 14:06:00
Here is an interesting tea custom from Viet nam ...According to the customs of Vietnamese people, on moonlit nights, devotees set their boats on the lake and ponds when the lotus flowers are in bloom. They open the about-to-bloom lotus flowers and place a lot of tea inside each blossom, then close them with ribbon or string. Then they get the moonlit dew from the lotus leaves . By dawn, the living scent of lotus impregnates the tea , and the gatherers have enough dew to add to their teapots. After a few hours of sleep, they enjoy a blissful afternoon of tea.Source: Future Generation Co., Ltd (FGC)
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Mugicha or Bori cha
2007-09-19 11:26:00
Mugicha (in Japanese) or Bori cha (in Korean) is a type of herbal tea (tisane) made from roasted barley. In Japan it is popular summer bevarage. In Korea people drink it hot in winter and cold in summer. Mugicha contains no caffeine.As to the study by Japanese food company Kagome, drinking Mugicha increases blood fluidity. This happens because of the chemical alkypyrazine which exists in Mugicha. The Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products in China claims that Mugicha can reduce stress in those who drink it.Koreans combine Bori cha with Okusu cha (roasted corn herbal tea)...Okusu cha is sweeter...and influences bitter taste of Bori cha...

Tieguanyin tea
2007-09-18 18:32:00
Tieguanyin tea is a variety of Chinese oolong tea grown in Anxi, Fujian Province, China. It was named after the Buddhist deity Guan Yin. Some translate it as "Iron Goddess of Mercy". It is very expensive. For 1 kg of this tea you have to pay $1,700... That is really to much for me...One of reasons why Tieguanyin tea is so expensive is the "gung fu" style, which means "great skill". The tea can be brewed with multiple infusion...three or four times...each time becoming more tastier.The tea should be brewed with fresh water at 85°c using smaller intervals of time when steeping rather than smaller amounts of tea. Tieguanyin tea has a fragrant orchid-like aroma when steeped, the tea may be very floral or very fruity too.

Nilgiri tea
2007-09-17 10:39:00
Nilgiri tea (The Nilgiris means the "Blue Mountains") is very aromatic, flavorful tea grown in the southern part of the Western Ghats mountains of Southern India . Most production exists in the Nigil distric of Tamil Nadu state. The tea has high "cuppage". It means that it provides a higher number of cups per measure. It is manufactured in so called CTC process. Leaves arepassed through a series of cylindrical rollers with hundreds of small sharp "teeth" that Crush, Tear, and Curl.Nilgiri has a bright amber colour and a refreshing, delicate taste. Nunsch is good example of Nilgiri tea. It has large leaves.When brewing Nilgiri tea you should use one tea spoon of loose tea per 180 ml (6 oz) of water. The water should be boiled thoroughly before being poured. Wait for 4 to 5 minutes...
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Linden tea (infusion)
2007-09-16 18:51:00
Linden (Lime tree) has been used in European folk medicine for centuries to treat many health problems. Linden flowers, leaves, wood, and charcoal (from the wood) parts used for medicinal purposes.Linden flowers include flavonoids (which act as antioxidants), volatile oil, and mucilage components (which are soothing and reduce inflammation). The plant also contains tannins that can act as an astringent.Linden is among other forms available as a tea (infusion). How to brew it? Add 1 - 2 tsp flowers in 240 ml (8 oz) of water. Steep covered for 20 minutes. Drink three cups of hot tea daily.
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Green tea and oral cancer
2007-09-15 09:52:00
Green tea stops growth of oral cancer cells and breaks down and kills existing oral cancer. The polyphenols in tea areantioxidants, which work to remove free radicals (oxidants) which cause the mutation of genes which lead to cancerous growth. By drinking 4 to 6 cups of green tea a day the polyphenols can inhibit the growth and spread of cancerous cells. The results of research at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, USA indicated compounds in green tea selectively induced cell death only in oral cancer cells while ignoring normal cells.In China where green tea is extremely popular, oral cancer rates are 1/2 that of North America, even though smoking rates- a known risk factor for oral cancer - are 3 times higher in China.
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Green tea - antirust substance
2007-09-13 14:28:00
Today post is rather short...still I hope some of you are going to find it useful...Wiping a steel pot or knife with used tea leaves can prevent the item from rusting. Catechin, an ingredient of green tea, makes an anti-rust coating on the surface of steel.
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Tea Sherpa - recipe
2007-09-12 17:48:00
Tea Sherpa Take : Half a glass of red wine. Half a glass of tea liquid. A slice of lemon Sugar to taste.The hot liquid tea should be poured into the wine and mixed gently. Then the mixture should be topped with lemon and sugar.source: Indian Tea Association
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Earl Grey tea
2007-09-11 10:36:00
Earl Grey tea can be found anywhere where tea is sold. Who was Earl Grey? Earl is a title...And his name was actually Charles Grey (13 March 1764 - 17 July 1845). He was England's second Earl Grey. He was a political reformer and England's prime minister between 1830 and 1834. But his true fame is in the world of teas. A blend of black tea scented with the bergamot oil was named after him. It is claimed that while serving as diplomat in China Grey was given a special tea recipe by a Chinese mandarin.
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Green tea - great deodorizer
2007-09-10 14:10:00
Green tea with its many antioxidants makes it one of the healthiest drinks available. Benefits of green tea certainly do not stop here. The catechins, or commonly known antioxidants, in green tea have antibacterial features, which make tea leaves very good for fighting odor.Here is what to do...When finished brewing tea put leaves into a strainer or colander and press out as much liquid as you can...Spread the leaves on a piece of paper to dry well...If needed you can repeat the whole process...Food odors in a refrigerator can be removed if you place a small uncovered bowl of tea leaves or used tea bags in the refrigerator.You certainly noticed that smell on your hands after preparing fish, chopping garlic etc. To get rid of it just rub your hands with wet green tea leaves. Rub those tea leaves on areas where you prepared the food too. It should help... Sprinkle dry tea leaves on your carpet, leave them for 10-15 minutes, then vacuum. This will refresh your carpet and deodorize you...
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Tea cards
2007-08-23 18:43:00
From the 1940s to the 1980s many packages of loose tea in the United Kingdom included tea cards. These were illustrated cardsand were intended to be collected by children.The most famous the Typhoo tea, Brooke Bond, the latter of whom also provided albums for collectors to keep their cards in. Some artists like for example Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe illustrated the cards. Many of these cards are now valuable collectors' items.
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Tibetan butter tea
2007-08-20 16:00:00
Butter tea or Po cha is the most typical Tibetan drink. It is also drank by people of Buthan and Chinese minorities in southwestern China.It is made of black tea leaves, yak butter and salt. Butter make it very good source of energy for people living at high altitutde. It is Tibetan custom to drink butter tea in seaparate sips. The host refills the bowl after each sip. For those who do not want to drink anymore it is the best to leave full bowl of tea until leaving, and then drain the bowl. That way host will not be offended. How to brew butter tea? Well, here is the recipe I from ThingsAsianButter tea (Po cha)6 cups water3 tea bags (ordinary black tea)1/4 teaspoon salt2 tablespoons butter1/2 cup milk or 1 teaspoon milk powderFirst boil six cups of water. Put three tea bags one heaping tablespoon of loose tea in the water and steep for 2 minutes. Remove tea bags (or strain the tea leaves if you use loose tea). Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of butter, and 1/2 cup of milk or...
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More of tea poetry
2007-08-19 09:45:00
Tasting Tea by Tai Bing (translated by Martin Tai, 1998)Fetch my own spring water,Fragrant with fallen flowers,Set up a fire in a marble stoveTry out my new tea,Lying under the green shades in a tranquil gardenListening to the beesReporting their latest harvest
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Lu Tong - a tea poet
2007-08-18 09:20:00
Lu Tong (790-835) was a Chinese poet known for his study of tea culture. Very nice poem he wrote is "Seven Bowls of Tea"...Enjoy!!The first bowl of tea moistens my throat,the second breaks my loneliness, andthe third bowl racks my brains, bringing to light the texts of 5,000 volumes.The fourth induces perspiration whereby all ills evaporate through my pores.The fifth makes my muscles and bones feel light, andthe sixth links me to celestials.Be careful when drinking the seventh bowl,as it makes you feel as if a cool breeze were coming from your armpits.
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Yellow tea
2007-08-17 14:23:00
Yellow tea is a special kind of tea...which is processed in a smilar way as green tea but the drying phase lasts longer.Yellow tea..as its name tells us...has very yellow-green colour. It has mild and refreshing flavour.A way to brew yellow tea...It is recommended to use glass-based or porcelain tea ware. Rinse tea cup and teapot with hot water. Use about 2.5 - 3 grams of tea leaves (1-2.5 teaspoons) for every 225ml of water. Steep tea leaves in hot water at 80°c to 90°c for 1 minute or so. The most famous yellow teas in China are:1) Junshan Yinzen ("Silver Needle") from Hunan ("south of the lake") province in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting2) Huoshan Huangya from Mt. Huo, Anhui province in eastern China, across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River.3) Meng Ding Huangya from Mt. Meng in west Chinese Sichuan Province4) Da Ye Qing ("Big Leaf Green") from Guangdong province in southernChina5) Huang Tang ("Yellow soup") from Zhejiang p...
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Tea on the web - part 1
2007-08-16 10:37:00
Hello everyone!! In this post I would like you to recommend you two great web sites about tea...The first one is China National Tea Museum web site. The museum itself is located 180 km southwest of Shangai in Hangzhou, Zhijiang province. It was opened in 1991. The web site include lot of information about tea culture in China. There are many interesting texts and photos...It is definitely the web site worth visiting...Enjoy!The second web site I would like to draw your attention to is Japanese green tea museum put on the web by the Japanese tea wholesellers Kaburigen Co. Ltd. This web site is not so rich in content like the above mentioned Chinese one. Still, if you want to learn something about green tea in Japan...just log on there...
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Green tea and body weight
2007-08-15 10:55:00
The most important active component of the green tea are the polyphenols like catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, gallaogatechin, epigallocatechin and apigallocatechin gallate (also known as EGCG).The EGCG is a natural antioxidant. It is good thermogenic andthat way can burn of callories. People who use green tea have their energy expenditure and metabolic rate risen at rate of 4%. This will certainly influence changes in body weight.Green tea catechins will also act as a glucose regulator. It regulates the of insulin in the body and inhibits the sudden riseof insulin in the body after the food, which may initiate the fat conversion. The lowering of the insulin level prevents the sugar level rise and the fat storage, which ultimately prevent the weight gain.Level of blood sugar has certain influence of person appetite. It is tought that continuous using of green tea naturally decrease appetite and that way influence body weight.
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Chinese love tea
2007-08-14 16:28:00
It is true that almost a month ago, or to be precise on July 19 2007, I have already written about Chinese teas...But when I saw this video I told myself...I must put it on my blog for others to see...and here it is..Enjoy!
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Tea trivia
2007-08-11 10:59:00
Hello everyone! Let's start this weekend with couple of interesting facts about tea. Top tea consuming countries, per capita tea consumption in 2005:Ireland 2.96 cupsLibya 2.92 cupsQatar 2.89 cupsIraq 2.42 cupsKuwait 2.29 cupsGreat Britain 2.24 cups(source: International Tea Committee, Washington Post Weekly, October 2005)World leading tea producers are Argentina, China, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.The average person in the UK will consume around 80,000 cups of tea during their life.Tea can be found in 80% of American households. Each day 127 million Americans drink tea.Now..here are several facts about tea plant (Camellia sinensis) itself...1) It takes from three to five years for the young plant to grow into a bush ready for plucking.2) One Darjeeling garden in India has approximately 3 million tea bushes and each bush is hand plucked every week, about 32 times a year.3) The two uppermost tender, young leaves and a small unopened bud called "tw...
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Tea cups at a graveyard
2007-08-09 11:55:00
It is quite common that Japanese put tea cups or some other small objects on the graves of their loved ones...These objects were important to the dead person when she or he was alive...
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Tea and art
2007-08-08 16:00:00
Here is one example of tea as theme in art. Jackson Pollock (28 January 1912 - 11 August 1956)The Tea Cup (1946)Oil on canvas, 101.6 x 71.1 cm (40 x 28 in) Collection Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden (Germany)

Tea in Morroco
2007-08-07 10:22:00
Morrocan tea culture or as it is called Atai in Arabic is definedby the way green tea is prepared and consumed in this northafrican country. This tradition has spread to other countries of NorthAfrica, parts of the Sahel (the border zone in Africa between the Sahara to the north and the more fertile region to the south) and even southern Spain. Green tea is cleaned with boiling water before being dried. That way it is cleaned from dust collected during shipping. Local people also believe that it makes the tea less bitter. Tea is then added to boiling water. After that, sugar (5 tea spoons forevery spoon of tea) and fresh mint are added and mixed into a teapot with a long, curved spout. This allows the tea to be poured into tiny glasses from a height of approximately half a meter to form a foamy head (surface). It is then returned once or twice to the teapot for a good mix.