So, as I pondered the meaning of life whilst sipping away at my latest teasession (tea + obession -- I make up words just so you know), a cool breeze drifting in the window, prominent Canadian artist Sam Roberts' latest album pumping through my living room, I thought, "Hey -- this would be a fantastic time to write my first blog entry on The Manly Teas."
So, here I am. Since I have nothing important to say, I thought I would take a few minutes to talk about how I became obsessed with Tea. I should let you know -- there is a dark part of this story. I spent many years of my life as the anti-tea. I simply couldn't handle the thought of drinking 'unsweetened, *gasp* tasteless' liquid. That, combined with the fact that I've never been much for hot drinks of any sort, led me to a long period of darkness in my life.
September 2007. I took a life altering journey to Utah USA (wait just a sec -- this life alteration had absolutely nothing to do with Jesus - lol). It all started right around the time I pulled into the McDonald's drive-thru in Missoula Montana and ordered some grease with Iced Tea on the side. I consumed my McMeal in my hotel room and went for a big swig of the liquid stuff... Hark, what's this?
It might be important to notate here (in case other Canadians haven't done so yet), anywhere you go thats north of the border, "Iced Tea" means sweetened iced tea. It's practically soda, but without the bubbles.
I was taken aback at first. It wasn't my normal 'cup o tea' so to speak. To make a long story short, my life changed drastically in Utah and one thing I took back home to Canada with me is my love for unsweetened tea.
The teasession has done nothing but build since then. My stash of specialty tea rivals that of my long-time-tea-lover wife. I'm clearly hooked. Perhaps hopelessly addicted. But that's "okay" with me. My addictions are few & far between. My other extremely prominent addiction is FRISK mints... My desire for a good FRISK has even diminished since the discovery of tea. After all, I need to keep my taste buds primed and ready for the next symphony of the senses.
Tea, it's what's for dinner.
~Brian
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Coca-Cola Buys Major Share in Honest Tea
This is interesting news. I haven't tried any of Honest Tea's products yet but, since I get to Whole Foods Market often enough, I'll have to give them a try. I like that they're organic. I wonder what my co-bloggers think about the mass production issue. Inimino? GreenTeaGeek? Any thoughts?
Monday, January 7, 2008
Drink Up in January
Hey boys, it's already January, and you know what that means, right? You don't? Well, then, let me tell you: January is National Hot Tea Month. How cool is that?
Of course, we don't need any particular reason to drink tea (other than the fact that it is great stuff), but hopefully, we can use January as an opportunity to try some new teas and spread the word about how amazing tea truly is. Please spread the word, and remember to tell your male friends that "real men drink tea!"
Hat tip to Teapot Diversions for the information about National Hot Tea Month. In addition to learning that tea has its own month (I wonder if there is also a national iced tea month?), I have discovered a new blog that has some great content.
Of course, we don't need any particular reason to drink tea (other than the fact that it is great stuff), but hopefully, we can use January as an opportunity to try some new teas and spread the word about how amazing tea truly is. Please spread the word, and remember to tell your male friends that "real men drink tea!"
Hat tip to Teapot Diversions for the information about National Hot Tea Month. In addition to learning that tea has its own month (I wonder if there is also a national iced tea month?), I have discovered a new blog that has some great content.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Happy New Year
May your year be filled with black, white, green, oolong, pu-ehr, red,* and herbal teas!**
Have you ever noticed how comforting a hot cup of tea can be on a cold winter's night? Despite the biting January frost, the tea warms my whole being. Ahhhhh, great stuff!
It's January 3. With the holidays slowly becoming a memory, I want to focus on more tea drinking and, of course, tea blogging. I'll have plenty of teas to savor and mention here, because my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew gave me a lot of tea as gifts for Christmas and for my birthday (November 28). I look forward to drinking them and writing about them.
Here's to a safe, healthy, happy, prosperous, peaceful, and tea-filled 2008!
* Or rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) herbal infusion.
** Or herbal infusions.
Have you ever noticed how comforting a hot cup of tea can be on a cold winter's night? Despite the biting January frost, the tea warms my whole being. Ahhhhh, great stuff!
It's January 3. With the holidays slowly becoming a memory, I want to focus on more tea drinking and, of course, tea blogging. I'll have plenty of teas to savor and mention here, because my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew gave me a lot of tea as gifts for Christmas and for my birthday (November 28). I look forward to drinking them and writing about them.
Here's to a safe, healthy, happy, prosperous, peaceful, and tea-filled 2008!
* Or rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) herbal infusion.
** Or herbal infusions.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
New Tea Place
Thanks to the fine folks at the Mercury Cafe, I've discovered a new tea retailer here in Chicago: Tea Essence. Today, at Mercury Cafe, I enjoyed Tea Essence's 7th Heaven black tea. It's a full-flavored tea with just a hint of floral taste. It's sweet and bold, but not overpowering. It's perfect for a cold December day.
Tea Essence expresses some of its philosphy on its home page:
A tea out there for everyone? That's an interesting idea. I'm happy to see the reminder about the health benefits of tea, too. They are fairly close to where I live, so I will have to head there soon and explore. Ah, tea--one of life's delights!
Tea Essence expresses some of its philosphy on its home page:
"Here at Tea Essence we believe that tea is more than a beverage: it’s your gateway to a happier and healthier life. There is a tea out there for everyone and we’re here to help you find yours.
"We offer a vast selection of fine, organic loose-leaf teas, each offering a wide spectrum of health benefits, from fighting heart disease and cancer to boosting your immune system."
A tea out there for everyone? That's an interesting idea. I'm happy to see the reminder about the health benefits of tea, too. They are fairly close to where I live, so I will have to head there soon and explore. Ah, tea--one of life's delights!
Friday, September 7, 2007
Bottled Teas
I haven't posted anything about bottled teas here. I want to change that because bottle teas seem to be growing in popularity. If you have any suggestions for bottled teas to review, let us know. Thanks.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
The (Lost?) Art of Making Tea with Loose Leaves?
Hey, inimino! This one is for you!
Tea Guy Speaks points us to an article from Australia lamenting the decline of brewing tea from loose leaves and the rise of the ubiquitous tea bag.
Yeah, inimino is going to be all over this one. :-)
Tea Guy Speaks points us to an article from Australia lamenting the decline of brewing tea from loose leaves and the rise of the ubiquitous tea bag.
Yeah, inimino is going to be all over this one. :-)
New Tea Spot
During the past few weeks, I have visited a cafe called HiTea twice. On its Web site, HiTea calls itself an "urban tea experience" and boldly proclaims, "We believe that Tea is art." Located in the South Loop, at 14 East 11th Street, HiTea offers a tea oasis in the midst of tall buildings, a bustling center of commerce, and the nearby University of Illinois at Chicago campus.
HiTea has a wide variety of black, green, oolong, Pu-Erh, and white teas, as well as several varieties of rooibos, herbal infusions, and Yerba Matte. When I was there last Friday, I sampled the Earl Grey and a charming green tea from Japan that was flavored with the perfect touch of cherry blossoms.
At HiTea, I experienced some moments of supreme happiness, of mindfulness. As I sat by a large window facing the seat, the sunlight flooded the room as I sipped my tea. A few times, I noticed that I was really present with the tea. I was absorbed in the drinking. I smiled as I recognized that my sitting there and sipping that tea was a wondrous reality.
For several years, when Zen people would tell me that I could "become one with the tea" or that "drinking tea is simply an amazing reality," I would smile and try to understand them. However, afterward, I mostly dismissed such quaint notions as something that was outside the realm of my experience and really beyond my capabilities. I think my mindfulness was not so strong then.
On Friday, I had a small flash of understanding, of insight. I appreciated, if only for a moment, what those more experienced meditators were saying. Of course, as soon as that happened, my mind happily leaped into overdrive. Immediately, it started cranking out thoughts like, "Aha! I have arrived. This is it! Now, I can take this experience and describe to people in the West my great awakening to ultimate reality as I savored some tea."
Happily, about as soon as those thoughts started bubbling to the surface, I smiled and mentally noted them. "Ahh, grandiosity," I sighed. "Craving (enlightenment)." I smiled again and returned to the cup of hot tea that seemed to welcome me back from that brief reverie.
Again, I was content, at least for a short time. I formed a half smile on my face, lifted the cup slowly, took another sip of the tea, and enjoyed it deeply.
HiTea has a wide variety of black, green, oolong, Pu-Erh, and white teas, as well as several varieties of rooibos, herbal infusions, and Yerba Matte. When I was there last Friday, I sampled the Earl Grey and a charming green tea from Japan that was flavored with the perfect touch of cherry blossoms.
At HiTea, I experienced some moments of supreme happiness, of mindfulness. As I sat by a large window facing the seat, the sunlight flooded the room as I sipped my tea. A few times, I noticed that I was really present with the tea. I was absorbed in the drinking. I smiled as I recognized that my sitting there and sipping that tea was a wondrous reality.
For several years, when Zen people would tell me that I could "become one with the tea" or that "drinking tea is simply an amazing reality," I would smile and try to understand them. However, afterward, I mostly dismissed such quaint notions as something that was outside the realm of my experience and really beyond my capabilities. I think my mindfulness was not so strong then.
On Friday, I had a small flash of understanding, of insight. I appreciated, if only for a moment, what those more experienced meditators were saying. Of course, as soon as that happened, my mind happily leaped into overdrive. Immediately, it started cranking out thoughts like, "Aha! I have arrived. This is it! Now, I can take this experience and describe to people in the West my great awakening to ultimate reality as I savored some tea."
Happily, about as soon as those thoughts started bubbling to the surface, I smiled and mentally noted them. "Ahh, grandiosity," I sighed. "Craving (enlightenment)." I smiled again and returned to the cup of hot tea that seemed to welcome me back from that brief reverie.
Again, I was content, at least for a short time. I formed a half smile on my face, lifted the cup slowly, took another sip of the tea, and enjoyed it deeply.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Easing into the Summer with Rooibos
Work has been really hectic lately, so I haven't written much about tea. Happily, that should change soon and I can get back to more regular tea-blogging. Even though I have not been writing about tea, I have certainly been drinking it.
Recently, I have been enjoying a somewhat different drink: rooibos. Made with the Aspalathus linearis plant, and grown only in South Africa, rooibos (sometimes called "red tea," even though it comes from a different plant than tea) is an enjoyable drink with plenty of flavor and plenty of health benefits. Here's an overview about rooibos:
http://coffeetea.about.com/od/typesoftea/a/rooibos.htm
and here's a picture of the rooibos plant:
http://www.rishi-tea.com/store/rooibos_detail/rooibos.html
Over the last few weeks, I have been drinking two varieties of rooibos from Rishi-Tea:
Recently, I have been enjoying a somewhat different drink: rooibos. Made with the Aspalathus linearis plant, and grown only in South Africa, rooibos (sometimes called "red tea," even though it comes from a different plant than tea) is an enjoyable drink with plenty of flavor and plenty of health benefits. Here's an overview about rooibos:
http://coffeetea.about.com/od/typesoftea/a/rooibos.htm
and here's a picture of the rooibos plant:
http://www.rishi-tea.com/store/rooibos_detail/rooibos.html
Over the last few weeks, I have been drinking two varieties of rooibos from Rishi-Tea:
Both of these are organic, fair trade products. I have a lot more to say about these, but I'll save that for a later blog entry. More to follow soon!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Pesticides and Tea
Tea is grown all over the world and one of the great pleasures of tea drinking is sampling teas from various countries and tea plantations. Unfortunately, not all countries have the same standards regarding pesticide use, and as a tea aficionado it can be difficult to know what you may be exposed to.
There is evidence of measurable pesticide residues in tea available to consumers in various countries,[1,2,3] but an investigation by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) determined that the pesticide levels are within acceptable levels.[4]
There are more and more organic teas available on the market, which is an option for those who want to eliminate pesticide residue from their diet as much as possible. Another consideration is the effects of pesticide application and environmental residues on tea plantation workers.[5]
Finding information on this topic online takes time and energy. Most of the peer-reviewed studies on the subject are not publicly available (the hiding of information behind subscription paywalls is one of the issues we as a society must resolve before the Web will reach its full potential for improving the human condition, but I digress) and most of the articles I found with a quick Web search seem to be fairly biased. The issue is also highly politically charged, with national governments anxious to protect their citizens or their export industries, as the case may be.[6]
It's hard to come to firm conclusions on such a complex topic, but as with anything we consume, it's worth thinking about where it comes from, how it is produced, and what effects our consumption may have, not only for ourselves, but for those involved in production and for the environment.
[1] www.choice.com.au "Pesticides in tea"
[2] Z Lebensm Unters Forsch. 1986 Jun - Pesticide residues in black tea
[3] "Unsafe pesticide and lead levels: that's China to a tea", The Age, June 15 2002
[4] FSANZ "Pesticides in Tea"
[5] Occupational Environment and Skin Diseases in Pesticide Exposed Subjects in Some Tea Farms in Vietnam
[6] China Daily "Pesticide regulations impair tea industry"
There is evidence of measurable pesticide residues in tea available to consumers in various countries,[1,2,3] but an investigation by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) determined that the pesticide levels are within acceptable levels.[4]
There are more and more organic teas available on the market, which is an option for those who want to eliminate pesticide residue from their diet as much as possible. Another consideration is the effects of pesticide application and environmental residues on tea plantation workers.[5]
Finding information on this topic online takes time and energy. Most of the peer-reviewed studies on the subject are not publicly available (the hiding of information behind subscription paywalls is one of the issues we as a society must resolve before the Web will reach its full potential for improving the human condition, but I digress) and most of the articles I found with a quick Web search seem to be fairly biased. The issue is also highly politically charged, with national governments anxious to protect their citizens or their export industries, as the case may be.[6]
It's hard to come to firm conclusions on such a complex topic, but as with anything we consume, it's worth thinking about where it comes from, how it is produced, and what effects our consumption may have, not only for ourselves, but for those involved in production and for the environment.
[1] www.choice.com.au "Pesticides in tea"
[2] Z Lebensm Unters Forsch. 1986 Jun - Pesticide residues in black tea
[3] "Unsafe pesticide and lead levels: that's China to a tea", The Age, June 15 2002
[4] FSANZ "Pesticides in Tea"
[5] Occupational Environment and Skin Diseases in Pesticide Exposed Subjects in Some Tea Farms in Vietnam
[6] China Daily "Pesticide regulations impair tea industry"
Monday, May 7, 2007
Too much green tea can harm organs
Hindustan Times - Green tea will only help keep you healthy if it is taken in moderation, warn boffins. The drink is credited with keeping cancer and heart disease at bay, but too many cuppas a day could cause liver and kidney damage, say experts, who conducted a ...
Source: Too much green tea can harm organs
Originally published on Mon, 07 May 2007 11:43:00 GMT
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Tea Consumption is on the Rise in the USA
According to this article in the Chicago Tribune, tea is becomine a more popular drink in the USA. I'm not surprised. It's great stuff. I am happy to see that more people are drinking and enjoying tea.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Theanine
Alright, its pop quiz time. (Hah, they're not just for school anymore!) Quick--and without looking it up--in 10 words or fewer, tell us what you see in the picture below. No peeking!
** Licensing info appears below Is the suspense killing you yet? Yes, if you guessed that this is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional model of a theanine molecule, then you guessed right! If so, then celebrate with your favorite tea. Even if you guessed something else, go ahead and celebrate with your favorite tea.
Here's the empirical formula for all you chemistry geeks (you know who you are): C7H14N2O3
Why am I devoting an entire blog entry to theanine? That's a fair question. The reason is that theanine is an amino acid with some amazing properties, as this Wikipedia article attests.
Odds are good we'll write more about theanine here at The Manly Teas, because it's a pretty important topic. Until then, if you want more information about this amazing amino acid, look at these online resources.
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/lth_0296.shtml
http://www.drugs.com/npc/l-theanine.html
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search?term=theanine&submit=Search
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-green_tea.html
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/jan2006_report_theanine_01.htm
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/theanine.htm
http://www.prevmedctr.org/library/lib_greentea_esko.asp
I chose these sources as representative examples of the wide variety of information about theanine that is available online. Again, we'll most likely post more here, but I hope these sites will give you an overview of this amino acid and its nutritional importance.
** Licensing information: This image was created by Ccroberts in ChemAxon MarvinSketch and MarvinSpace October 24, 2006 and is governed by the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. Subject to disclaimers.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Where Are the Guys???
I am sitting here at the Argo Tea cafe at State and Randolph streets in Chicago. It's almost 1:45 in the afternoon. I estimate there are about 50 people here. It's fairly crowded. Aside from the staff, I see 6 men here, including me. This strikes me as odd.
I don't feel uncomfortable being in a place where the ratio of women to men is about 10 to 1. However, I am curious and a little disappointed. Where are the guys?
One of the purposes of this blog is to present tea in a guy-friendly manner. Yes, real men do drink tea. Yet, as I visually survey the patrons of this cafe, I see a lot of women enjoying a great beverage and very few men doing the same.
Of course, not everyone who walks into this cafe drinks their tea here. Many of the customers take their tea with them as they leave to go back to work, do errands, go sightseeing, or even return home. But the numbers for the latter group look about the same. I haven't seen everyone who came in and left and I haven't been counting them carefully, but it appears that nearly a dozen women come in and get some tea to go for every man who does the same.
Don't get me wrong. I think it's great that so many women are enjoying tea. In addition to tasting good, tea invites us to slow down, take a break, and savor each moment. I'm glad all these women are doing that, along with realizing the many health benefits that accompany tea consumption.
But where the hell are the guys? I don't know, but I'm determined to find out.
I don't feel uncomfortable being in a place where the ratio of women to men is about 10 to 1. However, I am curious and a little disappointed. Where are the guys?
One of the purposes of this blog is to present tea in a guy-friendly manner. Yes, real men do drink tea. Yet, as I visually survey the patrons of this cafe, I see a lot of women enjoying a great beverage and very few men doing the same.
Of course, not everyone who walks into this cafe drinks their tea here. Many of the customers take their tea with them as they leave to go back to work, do errands, go sightseeing, or even return home. But the numbers for the latter group look about the same. I haven't seen everyone who came in and left and I haven't been counting them carefully, but it appears that nearly a dozen women come in and get some tea to go for every man who does the same.
Don't get me wrong. I think it's great that so many women are enjoying tea. In addition to tasting good, tea invites us to slow down, take a break, and savor each moment. I'm glad all these women are doing that, along with realizing the many health benefits that accompany tea consumption.
But where the hell are the guys? I don't know, but I'm determined to find out.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Starvation stalks Indian tea plantations
This is a sad story. Apparently, several unfavorable conditions arose at the same time and damaged the tea crops. Additionally, it seems that the mechanisms of organized labor failed at a time when they were needed most. The result? Tea workers are starving to death.
Link to globeandmail.com: Starvation stalks Indian tea plantations
I am hoping my brother bloggers here, GreenTeaGeek and inimino, will have something to say about this. At the moment, all I can say is that this sad story reminds me of human interconnection. As you can see from the video I posted here a few weeks ago, a lot of people do a lot of work to make the tea that we enjoy. And that's just the humans who do the work, to say nothing of the work of the insects, microorganisms, soil, rain, sun, and innumerable other beings whose efforts must all happen just right to get that awesome tea from the fields to your cup.
I don't want to trivialize the value of being aware of all that hard work. In fact, cultivating an awareness and appreciation of the effort seems like an important first step in addressing the problems facing the tea workers in this news story. It just never seems like enough.
Link to globeandmail.com: Starvation stalks Indian tea plantations
I am hoping my brother bloggers here, GreenTeaGeek and inimino, will have something to say about this. At the moment, all I can say is that this sad story reminds me of human interconnection. As you can see from the video I posted here a few weeks ago, a lot of people do a lot of work to make the tea that we enjoy. And that's just the humans who do the work, to say nothing of the work of the insects, microorganisms, soil, rain, sun, and innumerable other beings whose efforts must all happen just right to get that awesome tea from the fields to your cup.
I don't want to trivialize the value of being aware of all that hard work. In fact, cultivating an awareness and appreciation of the effort seems like an important first step in addressing the problems facing the tea workers in this news story. It just never seems like enough.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Enjoying Earl Grey While Working on a Sunny Friday Afternoon
I have my notebook computer and am writing this from the Argo Tea cafe at State and Randolph streets in Chicago. I am supposedly working, but I am having a hard time concentrating because of concerns about my uncle who suffers from schizophrenia and has been quite delusional lately. I'm still reeling a bit from having spent all of Wednesday night visiting with him. Alright, so I am understating it: my mind is all over the universe today. Anyway, today is a new day and as long as I stay mentally in the present moment, I'll be OK.
I was hoping my brother would be able to join me here today, since his office is just a little over one block from here. However, he has to attend a parents' meeting at my nephew's school this afternoon, so he wasn't able to be here. We'll try to meet for a tea break next week. Paul and I were last at this cafe together about 2 months ago and it was enjoyable just to relax and enjoy some good tea with him.
Today, I'm enjoying Argo Tea's Earl Grey Crème. I like Earl Grey tea generally, but this variety as a bit more of the flavor of the bergamot orange, or the Citrus aurantium bergamia if you prefer. Even so, the bergamot is not overdone; the flavors in this blend are pretty well balanced. I also tried the Earl Grey latte, which is quite good. While espresso takes a break, tea steps in to do the job. It's an enjoyable variation on the classic latte, even if the milk may undo some of the heart health benefits of the tea. At least I had mine with skim milk.
Lunch was a vegetable sandwich. (Yes, I am spending a long time here today.) I had a desert of chocolate ruggelah. Filled with chocolate and raisins, they triggered a happy memory for me: some chocolate and raisin oatmeal cookies my mother once baked when I was a boy. More than 30 years later, I can still taste those cookies. How sweet. How delicious. How simple. Ah, a glimpse of heaven in a small baked food!
I was hoping my brother would be able to join me here today, since his office is just a little over one block from here. However, he has to attend a parents' meeting at my nephew's school this afternoon, so he wasn't able to be here. We'll try to meet for a tea break next week. Paul and I were last at this cafe together about 2 months ago and it was enjoyable just to relax and enjoy some good tea with him.
Today, I'm enjoying Argo Tea's Earl Grey Crème. I like Earl Grey tea generally, but this variety as a bit more of the flavor of the bergamot orange, or the Citrus aurantium bergamia if you prefer. Even so, the bergamot is not overdone; the flavors in this blend are pretty well balanced. I also tried the Earl Grey latte, which is quite good. While espresso takes a break, tea steps in to do the job. It's an enjoyable variation on the classic latte, even if the milk may undo some of the heart health benefits of the tea. At least I had mine with skim milk.
Lunch was a vegetable sandwich. (Yes, I am spending a long time here today.) I had a desert of chocolate ruggelah. Filled with chocolate and raisins, they triggered a happy memory for me: some chocolate and raisin oatmeal cookies my mother once baked when I was a boy. More than 30 years later, I can still taste those cookies. How sweet. How delicious. How simple. Ah, a glimpse of heaven in a small baked food!
Saturday, March 3, 2007
From the Fields to Your Cup: Watching My First Tea Video
Tea video? Yes, that's what I wondered when I saw the title of the link at CB's fine blog called Steepology Tea Info. Of course, being the insatiably curious type, I had to take a closer look. Here's what I found. (Thanks for the link, CB!) I hope you will enjoy it.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Tea Decaffeination Trick
Here's a quick tip I read about recently: Did you know that about 90% of the caffeine in tea is infused in the first 20-30 seconds of steeping? So, if you'd like to dramatically cut the amount of caffeine in your tea, steep it for 30 seconds, discard the tea, and then pour some new water over the leaves and start the steeping process again.
This is a handy trick when you're a new tea geek (like me) and end up having several cups of tea over the course of the day, but don't want to ultra-caffeinate yourself.
This is a handy trick when you're a new tea geek (like me) and end up having several cups of tea over the course of the day, but don't want to ultra-caffeinate yourself.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Getting Started with Loose Teas
For about six months now I've been exploring tea with an increasing level of seriousness. It started when I tried some green tea that I really enjoyed, which made me interested in learning more. It also helps that a co-worker of mine (who I first knew as a craft beer enthusiast) is really into loose teas, and showed me how simple it is to make single cups of tea with an infuser that rests on the lid of your mug.
I finally took the plunge last week and ordered a couple of sampler sets from Upton Tea Imports. They're just outside of Boston in Hopkinton, Massachusetts and they are, according to my co-worker Bruce, the ultimate source of top-quality loose teas.
For this review I'll discuss the teas I received in their Green Tea Sampler. Each tea was delivered in its own tin, which holds about 35 grams of tea leaves. This was an ideal size for sampling, since you can enjoy several cups of tea per tin, and decide whether you really like it or not.
Now I'm no tea expert, and my palate is not particularly refined. I tend to judge tea more in terms of "I like this and would get more of it" vs. "not worth getting again." But for this review I did my best to describe the tea in at least basic detail.
Japanese Sencha Special Grade
Preparation: 1 tsp/cup steeped for just over 2 minutes in sub-boiling water (recommended temp: 175 F).
Impressions: Very light body, yellow in color. Definitely a grassy taste, which I'm not too fond of. I've seen this referred to as a good "cleansing" tea, and I would agree. Plenty of crud seeped through the infuser.
Melfort Estate Gunpowder
Preparation: 1 tsp/cup steeped for just over 3 minutes in sub-boiling water (recommended temp: 180 F).
Impressions: This is by far my favorite green tea to date. A fully body and aroma of citrus fruits. The leaves unfurl to take up quiet a bit of volume, also making it easier to clean out of the infuser.
Young Hyson
Preparation: 1 tsp/cup steeped for just under 3 minutes in sub-boiling water (recommended temp: 180 F).
Impressions: This seemed like a fairly average green tea to me. Medium body, not particularly grassy.
Pi Lo Chun (Green Snail Spring)
Preparation: 1 tsp/cup steeped for 3 minutes in sub-boiling water (recommended temp: 180 F).
Impressions: This is an expensive Chinese green tea which has a slightly sweet, honey-like flavor. The curled up leaves do resemble snails, but I have no idea if that's why they named it Green Snail Spring. Definitely not a tea I'd want to have with a meal because its unique flavor deserves greater attention.
Well, that's it for my first tea reviews. I also picked up Upton's Ceylon Sampler, and am starting to try out these interesting black teas as well. I'll get some reviews of them posted soon.
I finally took the plunge last week and ordered a couple of sampler sets from Upton Tea Imports. They're just outside of Boston in Hopkinton, Massachusetts and they are, according to my co-worker Bruce, the ultimate source of top-quality loose teas.
For this review I'll discuss the teas I received in their Green Tea Sampler. Each tea was delivered in its own tin, which holds about 35 grams of tea leaves. This was an ideal size for sampling, since you can enjoy several cups of tea per tin, and decide whether you really like it or not.
Now I'm no tea expert, and my palate is not particularly refined. I tend to judge tea more in terms of "I like this and would get more of it" vs. "not worth getting again." But for this review I did my best to describe the tea in at least basic detail.
Japanese Sencha Special Grade
Preparation: 1 tsp/cup steeped for just over 2 minutes in sub-boiling water (recommended temp: 175 F).
Impressions: Very light body, yellow in color. Definitely a grassy taste, which I'm not too fond of. I've seen this referred to as a good "cleansing" tea, and I would agree. Plenty of crud seeped through the infuser.
Melfort Estate Gunpowder
Preparation: 1 tsp/cup steeped for just over 3 minutes in sub-boiling water (recommended temp: 180 F).
Impressions: This is by far my favorite green tea to date. A fully body and aroma of citrus fruits. The leaves unfurl to take up quiet a bit of volume, also making it easier to clean out of the infuser.
Young Hyson
Preparation: 1 tsp/cup steeped for just under 3 minutes in sub-boiling water (recommended temp: 180 F).
Impressions: This seemed like a fairly average green tea to me. Medium body, not particularly grassy.
Pi Lo Chun (Green Snail Spring)
Preparation: 1 tsp/cup steeped for 3 minutes in sub-boiling water (recommended temp: 180 F).
Impressions: This is an expensive Chinese green tea which has a slightly sweet, honey-like flavor. The curled up leaves do resemble snails, but I have no idea if that's why they named it Green Snail Spring. Definitely not a tea I'd want to have with a meal because its unique flavor deserves greater attention.
Well, that's it for my first tea reviews. I also picked up Upton's Ceylon Sampler, and am starting to try out these interesting black teas as well. I'll get some reviews of them posted soon.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Many people in North America have never been exposed to really good tea, which is remarkable given that tea is the most popular beverage in the world save water. The practice of tea drinking is not widely popular here. Why not? Surely much of the blame rests with what passes for tea in those horrid little bags sold in grocery stores and served in restaurants, but there are cultural factors at work as well. As my friend Steve has pointed out, men in our culture are often embarrassed about drinking tea, as though it is somehow unmanly or effeminate to enjoy something so elegant and refined.
I believe that those who experience the wide world of teas will quickly overcome this misconception and embrace the practice of tea drinking. Perhaps if our little blog can show that drinking tea doesn't make you any less of a man, a few more men will be encouraged to explore this wonderful experience.
As I write this I am enjoying an excellent longjing. Although there is mounting evidence of various health benefits, I drink tea for the simplest of reasons: I enjoy it. What could be more manly than that?
I believe that those who experience the wide world of teas will quickly overcome this misconception and embrace the practice of tea drinking. Perhaps if our little blog can show that drinking tea doesn't make you any less of a man, a few more men will be encouraged to explore this wonderful experience.
As I write this I am enjoying an excellent longjing. Although there is mounting evidence of various health benefits, I drink tea for the simplest of reasons: I enjoy it. What could be more manly than that?
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Earl Grey on a Cold January Afternoon
It's a cold January day here in Chicago. I'm staying warm at the Mercury Cafe. Today I am enjoying the Organic Earl Grey tea from the Intelligentsia Tea Traders, a Chicago-based company.
Tea Reviews
BevNET is an interesting site. It's a commercial site for the beverage industry, offering news and reviews of products. All of the teas I have found mentioned there are brewed and bottled iced teas. As such, they may be outside the scope of what we're discussing here at The Manly Teas. (I will have to check with my fellow blogger inimino about that issue.)
However, if you're interested in the bottled and brewed teas--which have their own place in the beverage world and their own special charm--have a look at BevNET. You can use the "Search" feature near the top of the home page to find reviews of the teas. Just enter "tea" as your search term, click the "Search" button, and you'll get a list of several hundred pages of reviews and comments about the teas, as well as various news items about tea.
However, if you're interested in the bottled and brewed teas--which have their own place in the beverage world and their own special charm--have a look at BevNET. You can use the "Search" feature near the top of the home page to find reviews of the teas. Just enter "tea" as your search term, click the "Search" button, and you'll get a list of several hundred pages of reviews and comments about the teas, as well as various news items about tea.
Tea News
News4sites, an online news service, offers free news headlines about tea. Eventually, I'll post a link to those headlines in the right-hand column of the blog.
Can a Tin of Tea Really Make a Difference in the World?
That's the question Zhena Muzyka of Zhena's Gypsy Tea asks in this article about fair trade tea. Muzyka paints a picture of the impact fair trade tea has made on her life and the lives of tea workers.
Tea Seminar in New York City, January 28, 2007
Joyce Maïo, a tea consultant and advocate, will be hosting a tea seminar on Sunday, January 28, 2007, from 4 - 6 p.m. at the Kiva Café in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood. I have not attended any of Ms. Maïo's programs, but if the press release is accurate, it looks like it will be a good event. If you'll be in New York on Sunday, you may want to attend it. If you do, please post a comment here and tell us how you liked it. Thanks.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Got Milk? Great, But You Might Want to Keep it Out of Your Tea...
Over at the MH Today Blog, Bill Stieg reports on new research that shows that adding milk to black tea eliminates the tea's cardiovascular benefits. Hey, that doesn't seem fair! After all, when I was a little boy, Dziadek (the great-grandfather whom I mentioned here; Dziadek is Polish for "Grandfather") gave my brother and me tea with milk, and he lived to be 100 years old. Yeah, yeah, I know that's just one example and doesn't prove anything about the health benefits of tea, but it just doesn't seem right to give milk the boot after so long.
Anyway, this research doesn't say we can't enjoy tea with milk, just that we can't expect any heart health benefits--specifically, benefits to the "flow-mediated dilation (FMD)" of arteries. I wonder if this research finding holds up for soy milk? Almond milk? Grain milk? Coconut milk? Rice milk? Goat milk? As far as I know, the research tested only cow's milk, but it would be interesting to discover whether the milk substitutes I mentioned eliminate health benefits when they are added to tea. That would be especially important for people who suffer from lactose intolerance (the majority of the world's population), except, of course, for goat's milk which does contain lactose.
You can find additional coverage of this story at the following pages:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/tb/4826
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=60437
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070108191523.htm
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=26023
http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/news-28523-31.html
Of course, this is one research study and, apparently, a new finding, so we will have to wait for further research to learn more about this newly discovered relationship between tea and milk. As always, talk with your doctor about any concerns you may have concerning tea and its benefits for you.
Anyway, this research doesn't say we can't enjoy tea with milk, just that we can't expect any heart health benefits--specifically, benefits to the "flow-mediated dilation (FMD)" of arteries. I wonder if this research finding holds up for soy milk? Almond milk? Grain milk? Coconut milk? Rice milk? Goat milk? As far as I know, the research tested only cow's milk, but it would be interesting to discover whether the milk substitutes I mentioned eliminate health benefits when they are added to tea. That would be especially important for people who suffer from lactose intolerance (the majority of the world's population), except, of course, for goat's milk which does contain lactose.
You can find additional coverage of this story at the following pages:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/tb/4826
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=60437
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070108191523.htm
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=26023
http://www.healthcentral.com/heart-disease/news-28523-31.html
Of course, this is one research study and, apparently, a new finding, so we will have to wait for further research to learn more about this newly discovered relationship between tea and milk. As always, talk with your doctor about any concerns you may have concerning tea and its benefits for you.
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Tea in Milwaukee
So, you thought Milwaukee was limited to the Admirals, Bucks, Brewers, and beer, eh? In addition to those fine sports teams, it just so happens that Milwaukee has an active tea culture. This article in Greater Milwaukee Online offers an introduction to that culture and offers some hints on preparing tea from Ben Harrison, a co-owner of Milwaukee's Rishi Tea Company.
Friday, December 29, 2006
A Tea-filled Christmas
Thanks to my family, and many other people I couldn't even begin to list completely here, I had a very enjoyable Christmas. There was plenty of tea in the celebration, so let me say a bit about it here.
My parents and my brother and sister-in-law enjoy tea, so I gave them the Bodum Tea Press pot as gifts. I have been using this pot for a few months and I really like it. I still use my little ball infuser when I want to make one or two cups of tea, but it's nice to have the pot for those increasingly frequent times when I want to enjoy tea by the quart (liter).
Inimino, my friend and fellow blogger here at The Manly Teas, has informed me that the Yixing clay teapots are supposed to be the best to use for preparing tea. The Yixing pots are notable for their use in the Chinese gongfu method of preparing tea. When I recently became reacquainted with my old friend, tea, I did not know this. (Thanks for the info, inimino!)
I thought about getting a Yixing pot (or several, because they are supposed to work best when you prepare only one variety of tea in them), but as I read more about those interesting teapots on the Web, the whole process was getting a lot more involved than I had planned and I was worried that I would never get around to drinking any tea. So I settled on the Bodum pot that has served me well, and I hope Dad and Mom and Paul and Pat will get a lot of use and enjoyment out of theirs, too. I will eventually buy a Yixing pot, but right now, I did not want to complicate things too much for myself and I did not want to give a gift without knowing more about it.
Of course, I felt that a teapot without tea would be an incomplete gift (or at least one that obliged the recipient to spend some money to enjoy the gift), so I gave Mom and Dad the Holiday Tea Set (photo) from Argo Tea. This sampler contained three special blends of black tea: "Santa Tea," "Holiday Dream," and "Winter Blend." I gave the Holiday Tea Set to my brother and sister-in-law, too. Also, since my sister-in-law had not previously tried white tea, I gave Pat and Paul Argo Tea's "White Tea" and "Melon White." I hope Pat will enjoy white tea as much as I do.
Finally, my parents gave me the gift of white tea. Dad and Mom gifted me with Orange Blossom White Tea from the Republic of Tea, and Silver Needle Organic White Tea from Rishi Tea. As I write this, I have tried the Orange Blossom White Tea (I need to write a separate entry about it). I'll sample the Silver Needle soon.
All in all, it was a really enjoyable Christmas for many reasons. Tea was a nice element of the celebration and I am grateful for it.
My parents and my brother and sister-in-law enjoy tea, so I gave them the Bodum Tea Press pot as gifts. I have been using this pot for a few months and I really like it. I still use my little ball infuser when I want to make one or two cups of tea, but it's nice to have the pot for those increasingly frequent times when I want to enjoy tea by the quart (liter).
Inimino, my friend and fellow blogger here at The Manly Teas, has informed me that the Yixing clay teapots are supposed to be the best to use for preparing tea. The Yixing pots are notable for their use in the Chinese gongfu method of preparing tea. When I recently became reacquainted with my old friend, tea, I did not know this. (Thanks for the info, inimino!)
I thought about getting a Yixing pot (or several, because they are supposed to work best when you prepare only one variety of tea in them), but as I read more about those interesting teapots on the Web, the whole process was getting a lot more involved than I had planned and I was worried that I would never get around to drinking any tea. So I settled on the Bodum pot that has served me well, and I hope Dad and Mom and Paul and Pat will get a lot of use and enjoyment out of theirs, too. I will eventually buy a Yixing pot, but right now, I did not want to complicate things too much for myself and I did not want to give a gift without knowing more about it.
Of course, I felt that a teapot without tea would be an incomplete gift (or at least one that obliged the recipient to spend some money to enjoy the gift), so I gave Mom and Dad the Holiday Tea Set (photo) from Argo Tea. This sampler contained three special blends of black tea: "Santa Tea," "Holiday Dream," and "Winter Blend." I gave the Holiday Tea Set to my brother and sister-in-law, too. Also, since my sister-in-law had not previously tried white tea, I gave Pat and Paul Argo Tea's "White Tea" and "Melon White." I hope Pat will enjoy white tea as much as I do.
Finally, my parents gave me the gift of white tea. Dad and Mom gifted me with Orange Blossom White Tea from the Republic of Tea, and Silver Needle Organic White Tea from Rishi Tea. As I write this, I have tried the Orange Blossom White Tea (I need to write a separate entry about it). I'll sample the Silver Needle soon.
All in all, it was a really enjoyable Christmas for many reasons. Tea was a nice element of the celebration and I am grateful for it.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
ineeka Himalayan Black
Today, I have been working at the Swim Cafe. I like this place. It's a good spot for working and for writing and, on days like today, for seeing the sunshine and the blue sky. Yes, we're having a rare day of mid-December sunshine here today--how glorious it is!
I've been listening to an interesting mix of Christmas music that they're playing here. The fine folks at the Swim Cafe have treated us to some charming Cajun Christmas music: joyful bayou arrangements of the familiar carols and a few original songs for Christmas. I've also heard some of Vince Guaraldi's classic jazz tunes (think Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang). It's a pleasant place to work and to sip some tea.
Speaking of tea, I am enjoying some ineeka Himalayan Black. It's a whole leaf tea with a bright flavor and just a hint of spice in the flavor, but hardly noticeable in the aroma. This is a pleasant tea. The tin containing the tea pouches says "Intensity." That might be overstating this tea's flavor a bit. I'd call it more "smoothness" than "intensity," but reasonable minds can, of course, differ on matters of taste. Also, referring to this tea's smoothness is a compliment; I don't intend to disparage it by labeling it as something other than "intense."
A brief word about packaging. The ineeka Himalayan Black tea comes in pouches that look like a cross between a tea bag and a paper sack--the kind you might carry your lunch in. Surrounding the pouch is an interesting cardboard mechanism that allows you to pull the bag open and hold it expanded in the cup (or whatever container you are using to steep the tea) by stretching cardboard handles across the cup and anchoring them on opposite sides of the cup. This arrangement allows the tea to expand and drink up more of the hot water. It's still not the same as entirely loose tea, but I am learning that even the degree of looseness in the tea can be something that affects its flavor when brewed, and one can appreciate differences in the degrees of that flavor, too.
More to follow, of course. Drink up!
I've been listening to an interesting mix of Christmas music that they're playing here. The fine folks at the Swim Cafe have treated us to some charming Cajun Christmas music: joyful bayou arrangements of the familiar carols and a few original songs for Christmas. I've also heard some of Vince Guaraldi's classic jazz tunes (think Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang). It's a pleasant place to work and to sip some tea.
Speaking of tea, I am enjoying some ineeka Himalayan Black. It's a whole leaf tea with a bright flavor and just a hint of spice in the flavor, but hardly noticeable in the aroma. This is a pleasant tea. The tin containing the tea pouches says "Intensity." That might be overstating this tea's flavor a bit. I'd call it more "smoothness" than "intensity," but reasonable minds can, of course, differ on matters of taste. Also, referring to this tea's smoothness is a compliment; I don't intend to disparage it by labeling it as something other than "intense."
A brief word about packaging. The ineeka Himalayan Black tea comes in pouches that look like a cross between a tea bag and a paper sack--the kind you might carry your lunch in. Surrounding the pouch is an interesting cardboard mechanism that allows you to pull the bag open and hold it expanded in the cup (or whatever container you are using to steep the tea) by stretching cardboard handles across the cup and anchoring them on opposite sides of the cup. This arrangement allows the tea to expand and drink up more of the hot water. It's still not the same as entirely loose tea, but I am learning that even the degree of looseness in the tea can be something that affects its flavor when brewed, and one can appreciate differences in the degrees of that flavor, too.
More to follow, of course. Drink up!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Green Tea Tropical
My friend Scott, who lives in New Hampshire, introduced me to this tea: Green Tea Tropical from The Mighty Leaf.
This is a flat leaf tea and the preparation contains dried fruit (pineapple) and flowers. Green Tea Tropical has a cheerful, fresh aroma before steeping and a mild, sweet scent that persist after infusing it in the hot water.
The tea has a bright tropical flavor that reminded me of being in Hawaii. I like the packaging, too. While it's not loose tea, the Mighty Leaf's Tea Pouches(TM) allow the tea to expand more and to move more when the water envelops it than traditional tea bags permit. (I have not yet tried any of the teas in the new Lipton "Pyramid" tea bags, so I cannot make any comparison with those. Of course, it is just a matter of time before I try the "Pyramid" teas, too.)
I like Green Tea Tropical. It's a good tea for me. I'll go so far as to call it a joyful tea. I liked it enough to give some of it to my parents to try, and I bought a box of it for my brother. Thanks again for the recommendation, Scott!
This is a flat leaf tea and the preparation contains dried fruit (pineapple) and flowers. Green Tea Tropical has a cheerful, fresh aroma before steeping and a mild, sweet scent that persist after infusing it in the hot water.
The tea has a bright tropical flavor that reminded me of being in Hawaii. I like the packaging, too. While it's not loose tea, the Mighty Leaf's Tea Pouches(TM) allow the tea to expand more and to move more when the water envelops it than traditional tea bags permit. (I have not yet tried any of the teas in the new Lipton "Pyramid" tea bags, so I cannot make any comparison with those. Of course, it is just a matter of time before I try the "Pyramid" teas, too.)
I like Green Tea Tropical. It's a good tea for me. I'll go so far as to call it a joyful tea. I liked it enough to give some of it to my parents to try, and I bought a box of it for my brother. Thanks again for the recommendation, Scott!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Some Online Resources About Tea
There are some helpful resources available on the Internet to give you a lot of information about tea. Here are just a few of them.
The Usenet newsgroup, rec.food.drink.tea, available through Google Groups at http://groups.google.com/group/rec.food.drink.tea, provides a wealth of information and conversation about tea suitable for all readers from beginners to seasoned tea aficionados.
A particularly useful element of rec.food.drink.tea is its frequently asked questions (FAQ). Here is a link to the FAQ: http://pages.ripco.net/~c4ha2na9/tea/faq.html.
Finally, Birger Nielsen publishes The Tea Page, another treasure house of information.
More to follow!
The Usenet newsgroup, rec.food.drink.tea, available through Google Groups at http://groups.google.com/group/rec.food.drink.tea, provides a wealth of information and conversation about tea suitable for all readers from beginners to seasoned tea aficionados.
A particularly useful element of rec.food.drink.tea is its frequently asked questions (FAQ). Here is a link to the FAQ: http://pages.ripco.net/~c4ha2na9/tea/faq.html.
Finally, Birger Nielsen publishes The Tea Page, another treasure house of information.
More to follow!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Pink Lady Apple Green Tea: Supporting Cancer Research
It’s time to push the envelope a bit. So far, I have been happy with my choices for the teas I have sampled in the “Manly Teas” series. To date, I have picked fairly “safe” teas—the kinds of teas that one might expect a guy to like. There’s nothing inherently wrong with such an approach, but it does tend to become predictable after a while. And predictable is boring. And I get bored very easily. So let’s not go there.
On Thursday, I savored a pleasing green tea with small bits of apple—really a joyful tea for the autumn. I delighted in the tea’s potent apple aroma before taking each sip and I am happy to report that, while the sweet aroma was powerful and unmistakable, the tea infusion held only a slight taste of apple. I was able to experience the flavor of the green tea itself very easily, even as the scent of the tea held my attention firmly and invited me to keep sipping the bright green infusion in my cup. The tea was mildly sweet, but the apple flavor accentuated the green tea, rather than overpowering it.
As I write this, we’re almost at the midpoint of autumn in the northern hemisphere. Here, in North America, fresh apples are plentiful now. Being able to drink this apple tea is a great way to celebrate the autumn.
I mentioned that it was time to push the envelope. The tea that I have described qualifies as a manly tea for its powerful aroma and bold, confident flavor. What is this tea called? It’s the Pink Lady Apple Green Tea from the Republic of Tea. Huh? What? Yes, you read that right, the Pink Lady Apple Green Tea.
Hey, what kind of manly tea has “Pink Lady” in its name? This one does. I’ve already talked about its aroma and flavor. This particular tea has some other manly qualities going for it: compassion and protection. It reflects what we men are at our best: caring men and protectors of others. For every tin of this tea it sells, The Republic of Tea donates $0.75 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to support prevention, treatment, and a cure for breast cancer.
This cancer is an issue that is close to me. Both of my grandmothers suffered from breast cancer late in their lives. My father’s mother passed away at a very young age due to breast cancer, before I even had the chance to meet her. For that reason, and to help eliminate the suffering of those women and men who suffer from breast cancer, I am eager to support this work and enjoy some good tea while I do my very small part to help. Yes, while they comprise only about 1% of breast cancer patients, men do develop this cancer and the Komen Foundation supports prevention in men and a cure for them, too.
As you can see, manly teas come in a wide variety of flavors, packages, and names. Don’t let your assumptions and notions fool you. Real men can and do drink many teas that might surprise you. Some of those teas just might have terms