Yerba Mate: Drink of the Gods

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Yerba Mate is found in Uruguay and is considered to be the "Drink of the Gods". It is a beverage made of the leaves and stems of a powerful tree, native to the subtropical rainforests of Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. The tree looks a lot like an orange tree. It has a grayish trunk about twenty five to thirty centimeters in diameter.

Yerba Mate has many health benefits that include cholesterol lowering properties, anti inflammatory and low density lipoprotein (LDL) that help in the prevention of diabetes and heart disease. It is also considered an antioxidant powerhouse. It also has vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin, B3, B5 and B complex. These items are essential to the energy boost that Yerba Mate provides.

Other benefits include that it stimulates focus and clarity. It also boosts physical energy. People have said that it can help individuals that suffer from depression. Of course, as with any stimulant it is only a temporary fix and not a permanent one for depression.

It can also make your headache go away. It can be used as a weight loss support and can be an important part of a weight loss program that includes Yerba Mate, diet and physical exercise. This product also aids in the elimination process.

People of Uruguay say that Yerba Mate, has the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate all in one beverage". They hail it as the "Drink of the Gods.

Yerba Mate is a stimulant and has high levels of caffeine. It is a natural caffeine but caffeine all the same. It is to be enjoyed occasionally and not on a regular basis. It is definitely better if consumed in moderation. Another concern is that there are rumors that it may cause cancer if it is not prepared correctly or reused.

The proper way to prepare Yerba Mate is to put the leaves and twigs in a gourd and steep it with hot water. When the twigs and leaves have been properly steeped in hot water then it is ready to drink.

When you explore Uruguay you will realize that they use hot water in comparison to Paraguay where they use cold water. The proper and safe way is to prepare it in hot water to assure the safety of the drink. The leaves and twigs should be thrown out after they are used and not reused. This makes a tea-like beverage that is very popular in South America. It can be found online and in health food stores.

Whether you believe the health benefits or not you can be assured that Yerba Mate will give you an energy boost at the very least. Even though it is an energy boost it will only last so long. It does not have long term benefits. It is much like the energy drinks that we consume. Energy drinks have become very popular as of late but this drink has been supplying energy to South Americans for ages.

Bubble Tea - The Introduction

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Have you ever wonder what can tea have in common with a bubble? The cool bubble' thing' that I mean is a tapioca pearl that added to tea make Bubble Tea drink (also named Boba Tea). Tapioca pearls are produced from the root of a plant named cassava (also called yuca or manioc). Those black balls floating near the bottom of a cup make the drink so special.

The beverage originated in Taiwan in 1980 as an experiment: the clever guy - Liu Han Chie came up with the idea combining milk tea with fruits, syrup, chewy yams and tapioca pearls. After showing those 'snowballs' on Japanese TV, the boba tea has been gaining popularity among the whole teataster's world. Why? The answer is a special taste and the look. So get ready for the boba test!

Bubble tea is commonly available in two categories: fruit-flavored tea and milk one. There are also hybrids e.g. fruit milk teas.

A standard features of the bubble drink are: liquid, flavor, sweetener, creamer and the texture.

When you see the Bubble Tea for the first time black balls are floating near the bottom of the cup. That unique texture of the drink is created by famous tapioca pearls. You can find them online in two forms: semi-cooked and raw. Instead of tapioca pearls you may also use a jelly de coco, konjac, grass jelly or beans (Azuki bean, mung been (green been)).

Bubble tea is sweet beverage. If you like it to be even more tasty, you can add white or brown sugar or honey.

To make Boba drink you just need a tea ( black or green) or water, some fruits, milk and the bubble pearls of course. There are various types of the bubble tea, depending on the tea house. So that you can find recipes which recommend serving the beverage with fruits and fruit syrup or ice. This tea can be prepared in many different ways. There is a possibility to create a unique recipe. Do the favorite Bubble drink yourself - just follow your own sense and taste of preferred ingredients and... go with the punch!

Beside spiritual feast the Bubble Tea offers something for our body. A tapioca ball contains some vitamins (thiamin B6) and minerals ( calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium); ingredients that help you to keep a good health condition.

Remember that if you come across the names: Boba Tea, Foam Tea or Frubble you are dealing with 'the bubble issue'.

After this short intro into the "bubble thing" why don't you pop in the bubble tea site and find some more info about this amazing drink?

I am bubble tea fan. Interested in everything which is unusual, one day I found some rumors about the boba tea drink. From that moment I started gathering more and more info about this interesting beverage. If you want to know more about bubble tea and tapioca pearls please visit my site at http://www.bubbleteainfo.com/.

Milk and Tea - A Bitter Debate

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

I am an American, and I have never tried milk with my tea. I do take it with my coffee, just a bit for color, but I have never (not even once!) tasted it with black tea. The English would be appalled.

There have been bitter debates over the proper way to prepare and drink tea for nearly as long as the leaves have been harvested. This may sound a little melodramatic, but I'm not exaggerating-the debates have been bitter, and they have been long. People take their tea very seriously. Several years ago, before I started working in the tea industry, I read a brief essay by Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) called, simply, "Tea," in which he urged Americans to try loose leaf tea. Among his other suggestions, Adams addressed milk: "Some people will tell you that you shouldn't have milk with Earl Grey, just a slice of lemon. Screw them. I like it with milk. If you think you will like it with milk, then it's probably best to put some milk into the bottom of the cup before you pour in the tea. If you pour milk into a cup of hot tea, you will scald the milk. If you think you will prefer it with a slice of lemon, then, well, add a slice of lemon." As a footnote regarding pouring the milk first, he adds: "This is socially incorrect. The socially correct way of pouring tea is to put the milk in after the tea. Social correctness has traditionally had nothing whatever to do with reason, logic or physics. In fact, in England it is generally considered socially incorrect to know stuff or think about things. It's worth bearing this in mind when visiting."

Then, after I had been working with Maya for about a year, a customer brought in for me an article written by George Orwell (Animal Farm) entitled "A Nice Cup of Tea," in which he described his personal "golden rules" for tea preparation, of which there are eleven. His tenth rule opposes Adams's in regards to milk: "Tenthly," he says, "one should pour tea into the cup first. This is one of the most controversial points of all; indeed in every family in Britain there are probably two schools of thought on the subject. The milk-first school can bring forward some very strong arguments, but I maintain that my own argument in unanswerable. This is that, by putting the tea in first and stirring as one pours, one can exactly regulate the amount of milk whereas one is liable to put in too much milk if one does it the other way round."

Something you may not know about me: I am a literature buff, a real book-junkie. Douglas Adams is one of my personal heroes, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for George Orwell. Both of these men were English, and both took their tea with milk-in fact they insisted on it. So naturally, I think I ought to give it a try.

This morning I brewed a strong cup of English Breakfast, appropriately I thought. I went to the fridge and looked for milk. The jug on the second shelf had a pink lid, and something in my psyche told me that both Orwell and Adams would object to my using skim, but in all of their directions neither of them made any mention of what type of milk ought to be used, so I put their hypothetical objections conveniently out of mind.

I poured the tea first, and the milk second. My natural instinct is to go with Adams on his milk-first defense, it is an argument that makes natural sense to me and is a method that I have applied to my coffee habits in the years since reading his essay. But today, for tea, I took Orwell's suggestion to heart. I have never before had milk with my tea, and I wanted to screw it up as little as possible.

I didn't know how much to add. I poured a little, stirred. I took a sip. I turned to my boss, Manish, absorbed in email across the room-"Does this look right?" He turned his head, his brows twisted in a look of question. Add a little more, he said. I do. I took a sip. "How about now?" He looked at the glass and then at the jug of milk in my hand.

"What kind of milk is that?" he asked. I turned the jug from side to side, showing him that there was no label. "That's your problem right there," he said. "It's skim." I knew it, I thought.

"It's all that we have. I think it'll be fine..." I answered. I took another sip. The color looks about right, I think. Slightly lighter than I usually take my coffee. I'm sure this is about right. I took another sip.

It's not bad, but is it better than drinking tea on its own? In my opinion, no. Douglas Adams would disagree. George Orwell would dismiss me for ignorance. Manish would insist that I had done it wrong (though he prefers plain tea as well). But amidst these connoisseurs and their bold opinions and arguments, I take solace in the notion that this was a simple experiment. Flawed? Certainly. But interesting.

I take one more sip of English-Breakfast-with-milk and then set the glass on the counter top. I reach for my coffee, ready and brewed, with plumes of milk settling into its layers. This is natural for me, and comfortable-what more could you expect of this American girl?

Sarah Price was born and raised in the Sonoran Desert in Tucson, Arizona. She has worked as a member of the Maya Tea Company for five years, and has recently joined the production crew of Steeping Around, an all-tea podcast. For more information about Maya Tea Company or for a list of available tea blends, go to http://www.mayatea.com/. For more information about Steeping Around, visit their website at steepingaround.com.

Yerba Mate - The Drink of the Gods

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Visit any village in the South American countries of Paraguay, Uruguay, southern Brazil, or northern Argentina and you'll be greeted with a warm or cold cup (depending on the time of the day you visit) of herbal Mate tea. Yerba Mate is traditional, centuries old refreshment used by the Gaurani Indians to cool them off in sweltering heat. In fact, it isn't odd to find everyone from elders to youngsters sipping the brew from sunup to sundown. The tea is either brewed with sugar or taken cold without sugar. The cold version of the tea is popularly called Terere.

The tea is known for its medicinal value. The leaves are said to be rich in vitamins E, A and C, pantothenic acid, chlorophyll, and choline. Besides this the tea is said to contain other powerful antioxidants that are very beneficial to the body. No wonder, the Guarani Indians referred Yerba Mate as the 'drink of the lords'.

They drank the tea to boost immunity, cleanse the blood, tone the nervous system, reduce stress and fatigue, and also to stimulate the mind. Recent studies have proved that the tea is helpful to cure migraine, neuralgia, insomnia and headache. Regularly drinking of Yerba Mate is known to aid digestion among people suffering from gastro intestinal problems. The tea also inhibits the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath. A number of dieticians refer the tea for its weight reducing qualities. The tea is known to speed metabolism and suppress appetite.

To make this tea, dried Yerba Mate leaves are put in a vessel that's made from cow's horn. To these leaves is added hot water. A metal straw with a strainer on its bottom is placed on the tea. The host then passes on the vessel to his guests who drinks it and then passes it over to the next guest, who will have to add hot water to drink from the tea.

The leaves were introduced to the west by Jesuit missionaries, who found that the locals never got tired after chewing the leaves of the plant. Today, there are many takers for the tea, who like it for its health benefits. While it's common knowledge that drinking the tea gives people a 'kick', the levels of Caffeine in the tea are less than they are in green tea.

The leaves are traditionally obtained by cutting branches of a tall and bulky tree. The cut leaves are then placed on brushwood and roasted slowly in holes sunk in the ground. However with an increase in demand, the tea is now cultivated as a crop and exported to countries across the world.

The author is a loose tea expert and has studied the health benefits of herbal teas throughout the world. Find Premium Yerba Mate Tea related info at the website http://www.fusiontearoom.com/

Green Tea: Does It Really Fight Cancer Like a Miracle?

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

For a large number of years, the Chinese as well as Japanese have long been drinking green tea. It continues to be attributed for helping fight off different forms of illnesses in addition to helping weight loss, and this brew has also been linked to fighting cancer.

Only recently, green tea started to be introduced to the west. And, people love them. A lot of people say that they never felt healthier in their entire lives, and health buffs even said that this tea is really a miracle drink. Ever since then, the whole world is currently drinking green tea for a regular daily basis.

So, is green tea really that wonderful? Does it really fight off cancer?

For starters, green tea has numerous benefits. The primary good thing about this brew is that it has antioxidants which can be recognized as a knight to fight off disease/cancer cells. So, to answer the issue on whether green tea can prevent cancer, the answer is yes. It eliminates free radicals from one's body which leaves it free from toxins that will cause cancer.

This brew is filled with the antioxidant called epigallocatechin-3 gallat or what exactly is more often known as EGCG. Unlike black tea, green tea is absolutely not fermented, which preserves EGCG. For this reason, this brew is even more beneficial than black tea and includes more positive effect in fighting diseases, especially cancer.

So, what is free radicals? Body processes need oxygen. This element is abundantly found inside the air and with proper intake, it burns the glucose and fat present within the body to provide the needed heat and energy. So you can understand, oxygen is a very important element required by our body but anything in excess is harmful and too much oxygen can even have negative effects we previously do not aware of.

The byproducts of oxidation are free radicals. Sometimes, other molecules interact with the free radicals and so these molecules are also changed into free radicals which often can disrupt the normal functioning of the cell molecules. If this keeps on happening, it may lead to tissue damage and eventually cell destruction, causing degenerative disease.

One can extrapolate that sometimes the abnormal functioning molecules can cause certain degenerative diseases for example Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, artherosclerosis, cancer, heart diseases, and Parkinson's disease. Humans are quite fortunate because their bodies are pre-loaded with the right defenses in order to prevent the free radical's harmful effects. How about if you are the unfortunate one? If your immune system gets sick? You may get diseases and even cancer.

It's important to keep in mind that when free radicals enter our body, it will eventually have an impact to our cells. If this happens, it can make abnormal cells, which may end up in cancerous cells that could reproduce throughout your body creating tumors.

Apart from spontaneous production from our body metabolic process. Free radicals can enter your body in several different ways as well. It may be as a result of exposure to cigarette smoke, pollution, and it could possibly even be a consequence of exposure to excessive sunlight.

It's important that we must always eradicate free radicals from our body so that you can keep your body healthy and cancer free. Although a number of food we eat contains antioxidant, you need to understand that it's not likely enough to fight off the total amount of free radicals that enter our body. So how to counter free radicals? This is by taking in more antioxidants into your body. This really is where green tea comes in.

Because green tea has a superior concentration of antioxidants, it can fight off free radicals more effectively. With just three to four cups per day, you are able to ensure that you can probably keep your body healthy and cancer free.

Actually, green tea is so effective that even the National Cancer Institute conducted studies on this so-called miracle brew and located that it does assist in preventing cancer. Today, scientists have become investigating green tea as being a key part of making cure for cancer. In time, as a result of this century-old brew, we are going to see a cancer cure for the very first time.

One study even found the fact that antioxidants present in green tea was capable of shrinking tumors and prevented it from reproducing more cancerous cells and growing.

As you can see, green tea does help in preventing cancer. Considering the scientific studies being done with green tea today, it is just a matter of time that we we can see a cure for cancer.

If you are interested on this topic, you can visit my blog

Tea Experimentation - The Secret to Daily Tea Drinking

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Everybody knows about the benefits of drinking lots and lots of tea. Drinking tea on a daily basis is one of the best ways to get healthier and boost up your antioxidants in your body!

Unfortunately, many people have a hard time drinking tea often. It's a habit change and most people can't get into the routine of drinking tea on a daily basis.

The thing is, in order to reap the benefits that many say tea can give you, you need to be drinking at least a few cups of tea per day! How can this be accomplished?

Variety!

This is I started drinking tea all day every day! I tried only drinking green tea as I heard all the rumors about how great it is for you. And I did enjoy the taste. It was quite good. The problem happened when I got sick of the taste and drinking it every single day! I eventually stopped.

What I found that works is not drinking the same tea, but having a wide selection of teas that you can choose from. There are so many different varieties that it is ridiculous!

For example, you can taste:

Rooibos TeaGreen TeaBlack TeaSpearmintWhiteBlackHerbalOolong VarietiesFlowering or Blooming TypesPu-erh Teasetc

This was just the list off the top of my head. I am positive that there are at least a hundred common types of tea that are readily available for your taste buds!

They also have packets that you can get at most stores which have a wide variety of selections in a "variety pack". These are fine, however, not the best of quality for your health or taste. The better option would be to pick and choose your favorite brands and flavors of a particular tea.

The cool thing is that within each of these different types of drinks, there are often a lot of variances. Thee fermentation process can be altered slightly to produce a different taste and color as well! So, you can be drinking herbal teas but having a different flavored and colored type every single day for a month and never run out of different and new options to try to use.

Overall, your goal should be to get healthy by drinking two to three cups of this beverage per day. This is how you will see the most benefits of your drinking!

Check out The Persimmon Tree for great tasting tea! Also, for info on tea check out this Tea Articles!

Matcha Green Tea - A Different Kind of Tea

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

More and more people are learning what many in Japan have known for centuries: to get the full benefits of the green tea plant - the maximum healthy impact - you have to use the very best leaves and consume the nutrients in the entire leaf. That is exactly what you get with Matcha. It is definitely not your average green tea.

What is Matcha?

This Japanese tea has been known for centuries for its energy-boosting, mind-focusing, and metabolism-fuelling properties. It is the very high-quality, stone-ground powdered form of whole, select shade-grown Japanese green tea leaves. So, when you consume Matcha powder, you are actually consuming the whole leaf rather than just tea leaf-infused water. This way, you get the full nutrients of a very high-quality leaf. Additionally, Matcha has much less caffeine as compared to coffee. It's also a healthy alternative to sugary drinks like bottled tea, soda and sports drinks. It has a very fine texture similar to baby powder and can be brewed either thick or thin depending on your personal preference. The taste of Matcha is smooth and mellow, and not at all bitter.

Benefits of Matcha

• It is proven to possess anti-viral and antibiotic properties, which assist with digestion to kill harmful bacteria and help prevent colds and flu.
• It increases your mental alertness and sharpness.
• It contains naturally high vitamin C, fluoride and chlorophyll content, among other vitamins and minerals.
• Naturally sugar-free, it is an ideal drink for diabetics and others desiring to reduce their sugar intake.
• It contains major components that promote fat loss, such as catechins, caffeine and theanine.

Why Drink Matcha?

As you can see, drinking Matcha can lead to many health benefits. Because you consume the entire leaves, you get a beverage approximately 10 times more powerful than regular brewed green tea. Additionally, Matcha contains about 70 times the antioxidants of orange juice and 9 times the beta-carotene of spinach.

Today, Japan only exports about 4% of its precious Matcha. It is not only a highly treasured specialty green tea, but it is also used frequently in cooking and baking. It is also used in health foods and western-style beverage creations, such as Matcha lattes and smoothies. Therefore, even if you do not like drinking tea, you can still enjoy its healthy benefits. So, there you have it - the Matcha difference and how it can help you live a healthier lifestyle!

You can find delicious matcha green tea with all the health benefits listed here from Jade Monk, makers of high-quality, stone-ground matcha powder.

Earl Grey (Earl Gray) Tea - Origins

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Like any timeless classic, the origins of Earl Grey Tea (sometimes incorrectly spelled as Earl Gray Tea) are shrouded in mystery. The blend was named for the Second Earl Grey, who was a British Prime Minister in the 1830's.

According to some stories, the blend was presented to him by a Chinese Mandarin whose son was saved from drowning by one of Lord Grey's men. Other accounts have the tea arriving as a gift given to one of Lord Grey's envoys, while he was traveling in China, with orders to deliver it to his Lord upon his return to England.

Yet another account holds that the original recipe was given to George Charlton by Earl Grey himself. Mr. Charlton was a partner in Jackson & Co., and Jackson of Piccadilly claims that the recipe has been in constant production since, and has never left their hands.

To add an additional twist to the myth of how the tea came to be, the Grey family themselves reports that the blend was created by a Chinese Mandarin for them, specifically to suit the water at Howick Hall in Northumberland (which is the Grey Family Seat). Bergamot was chosen in particular to help offset the high lime content in the local water supply in that area, and the blend first gained prominence because Lady Grey used it for entertaining in London, and was eventually asked if it could be sold to a broader market.

In order to facilitate this, a company called Twinings was given the recipe, and marketed it from that point on as 'Earl Grey Tea.' (note that although many websites, and even a fair number of printed materials list it as 'Earl Gray Tea' there is no brand bearing that particular spelling. This is mostly a function of slight differences between the Queen's English and American English).

Whichever of these stories is ultimately correct (and it is possible that all of them contain certain essential truths), one thing that can be fairly said is that Earl Grey Tea, by whatever spelling, is probably the best known of the English teas, at least on the international stage. There have been countless references to it in books, movies, and television series over the years, and its distinctive flavor makes it hard to forget.

Find out what ELSE you may not know about Earl Gray Tea and related blends, by visiting us on our website: http://britishshoppe.net/teas/100-earl-grey-tea-50-bags.html

Rooibos Tea Is Really Healthy Tea

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Tea is most popular beverages in the world, with many kind of tea had been made by people in the world. Every country have more than one kind of tea, one of them is rooibos tea, The tea is made from the leaves of the red bush plant, Aspalathus Linearis member of legume family which growing in south Africa, in first rooibos was harvested by the Khoisan tribe, who harvested the herb for medicinal purposes and for its great taste, and most people in south Africa usually drink rooibos as tea without milk or other additive, natural rooibos taste is sweet.

In the late 1960's a South African women, Annique Theron published a book about the benefits of the tea which caused a craze for the tea and its medicinal properties. In the last few years, demand for this tea has gone up by fifty percent. Most noticably drunk in Africa, Asia and Europe, it is finding its way into drinkers in the Americas as well. and recently many tea house in Europe and United States modified new taste of rooibos tea. Most popular variant is served and presented in the style of ordinary espresso, This has given rise to rooibos-based variations of coffee drinks such as red lattes and red cappuccino. other variation can also be made using Rooibos steeped in steamed milk with vanilla syrup.

Besides in taste, people drink it for health too, as black and green tea, rooibos tea contain high anti oxidant, a new research have a conclusion that rooibos tea contain 30-50 times more anti oxidant than black tea, as we know that main function of anti oxidant is decrease the effect of free radical to aging and declining immune system. Asian people, mention rooibos tea as "Long Life" tea, they believe that Rooibos seemly Red tea is not only a wealth of health, but also a fountain of youth. Rooibos also containing of several phenolic compound like flavones, flavanols, flavanones and dihydrochalcones. With anti spasmodic content, rooibos tea is very effective to relieving colic in baby or children and also solving stomach cramp, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and stomach ulcers. Japanese scientists had research about rooibos tea and explain beneficial rooibos tea in treatment of acne because containing levels of alpha hydroxyl acid, zinc and superoxide dismutase.

Roibos tea can drink in all times, in the morning after breakfast, to solve thirsty during a day and at the night before sleep it make you relax and help you to sleep well.

Selecting the Highest Quality Dragon Well Tea

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Dragon Well tea, also known as Longjing tea in China, is a beautiful variety of green tea, produced in West Lake in the Hangzhou, Zhejiang province of China, and is most widely known for its high quality and refreshing flavor. Dragon Well tea has also earned the title of "China's Famous Tea".

China has a very unique and interesting tea culture. The culture of tea in China stretches for thousands of years, and even modern day China has very unique and fascinating tea drinking rituals and culture. Dragon Well green tea is one of the teas enjoyed most by the Chinese and is also enjoyed by many other cultures around the world.

Although in China, drinking green tea has been a tradition for years, it is only fairly recently that the Western world has discovered the enjoyment of green tea. Green tea provides many anti-oxidants and other health benefits, which is why many people drink Long Jing tea, in order to retain the health benefits of green tea. Green tea has also been shown to help with weight loss, preventing and releasing toxins in the blood, relaxation, anti-aging benefits and many other purported health benefits.

Because of the different ways of picking and processing tea leaves from the tea tree, not all green teas are alike. There are many different classifications and varieties of green tea, depending on which leaves were picked, where they were picked, and when they were picked. Elevation and the time of year which they were picked make a huge difference! Another difference in green teas is the method by which they were turned into the final product which you can buy in stores. Here are the several ways green teas are classified, so that you can tell the difference between a high quality Dragon Well green tea and a lower quality.

The Differences Between Dragon Well Green Teas

The Dry Leaves Prior To Brewing:

In Dragon Well green teas, the appearance of the dry leaf is smooth and tender with a broad flat leaf with a spear-like tip. Note that in the Grade A dry Dragon Well tea leaves, the color of the dry leaf is yellow-green with a smooth flat body. Each leaf and its bud are well-proportioned, with a light, aromatic grassy fragrance.

The Grade B Dragon Well green tea, which holds a much deeper green color in its dried leaves. It should have a much more intense fragrance, flavor and aroma than the Grade A Dragon Well tea. It also has a very elegant nuanced flavor to it.

The leaf of Grade C Dragon Well green tea is a very deep forest shade of green. The leaves are tight and heavy with some curvature. It smells very mild and light without as much fragrance as the Grade A or B Dragon Well teas, and DOES NOT keep well in storage for as long as the other grades.

Differences when Steeping Dragon Well Tea

Flavor and Aroma of the Longjing

Brewed Grade A Dragon Well tea presents a delicate and aromatic fragrance, or nose, that is smooth and long lasting, similar to that of a freshly picked green bean or a sweet meadow-like scent. It has a deep flavor which is very fresh, smooth and mellow, with just a hint of natural sweetness to it on your tongue. It will brew up to a very light, clear greenish-gold color. Dragon Well green teas are one of the best tasting, most refreshing green teas in the world!

If you are brewing a Grade B Dragon Well tea, the leaves will brew up slightly differently and the liquor will be a much brighter green color with no golden hues. Grade B Longjing has a mellow and fresh taste that has no sharpness to it, and is smooth and delicious, with out leaving a "dry" finish. Grade C Dragon Well tea will not store for very long before going bitter or rancid. However, if brewed while still fresh, it has a very mild flavor, somewhat similar to the Grade B Dragon Well tea, however the leaves brew up a much darker deep green than Grade A or B Dragon Well leaves will.

The Brewed Tea Leaves and Buds of Dragon Well Longjing Tea

You can also easily tell the difference between different grades of Dragon Well green tea by carefully observing the brewed tea leaves. As you can see from the photograph, the Grade A is still very brightly colored, even after brewing. Grade B leaves which have been brewed present a slightly darker green color, and the Grade C brewed leaves present a deep forest-shade of green.

Additionally, the Grade A Dragon Well tea leaves are always tender, with slight tippy thin leaves with a very light appearance, while the other grades look thicker, and the leaves appear broader and deeper in coloring.

The Fragrance of the Brewed Tea

To properly brew Dragon Well Green Tea, add approximately 3 grams of tea into your teapot and brew with hot, purified or spring water that is approximately 85 degrees Celsius or 175 degrees Fahrenheit for about 4 minutes.

Then pouring your tea into your cup, observe the brewed tea. The color should be a clear greenish-gold (deeper with lower grades of Dragon Well green tea) and it will be light and delicate, with a lightly floral fragrance that lingers. Even after the tea begins to cool, the lightly grassy floral fragrance remains, like a sweet meadow scent lingering in the air, which relaxes and calms you.

The Color of Brewed Tea

Observe carefully the color of the brewed tea liquor. For this reason we suggest brewing your tea in a transparent glass teapot and/or teacup, so you can fully appreciate all the sensory input from your tea. A high quality Dragon Well tea has a tender green, clear and bright color, with a touch of yellow. The darker the liquor is colored, the lower the quality of the Longjing tea.

The Flavor of the Brewed Tea

The best way to distinguish a nice, high quality Dragon Well tea is by its flavor. It is just as aromatic, smooth and mellow to taste as its nose leads us to believe. A high quality Dragon Well tea will always be soft and mellow flavored, never grassy or harsh. If there is sharpness to the tea, you may have over-brewed it, or added too hot of water to steep it in. The higher quality Dragon Well teas often have a slight floral note in their undertones, with very green and smooth overtones.

Lastly, always observe the tea as it is brewing to notice the color, flavor and depth; the more subtle notes in a fine Dragon Well tea are often the most appreciated by tea aficionados. A fine Dragon Well tea will be light and spear-like, with mellow and slightly floral notes, while the lower grades of Dragon Well tea brew up darker with a more grassy flavor which has more prominent notes to them.

You can find more tea knowledge from http://www.teavivre.com/info/

Plants As Your Tea

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Mother nature has gifted us with so many varieties of plants possessing health benefits that we are constantly learning of new plants and benefits every day. One such medicinal plant that has surfaced as a potential super food is hoodia, which more often than not is being marketed with green tea.

Although these plants have been in use for a long time in different parts of the world, today they are being used together so as to maximize the benefits that can be extracted from this vital combination of herbs.

The world in general has become familiar with the benefits of green tea. This is because much scientific research and clinical testing has been conducted on green tea and the results have clearly indicated the extensive health benefits that green tea has to offer. But what exactly is hoodia and why is it being used with green tea?

With these two powerful herbs combined the result is a mixture that helps to fight obesity and assists in the process of weight loss. The hoodia plant actually comes under the umbrella of the cactus family.

It is a native plant of the Kalahari Desert in Africa. Just like the Chinese have been reaping the benefits of green tea for hundreds of years the natives of the Kalahari Desert have been making use of hoodia for centuries.

The use of hoodia as an appetite suppressant has been an important part of life for many Namibian tribesman since time immemorial. The reason why it was so integral was that it enabled them to go on hunts for several days without food until they caught and killed an animal.

The consuming of hoodia by these hunters very often made the difference between life and death as it enabled them to carry on hunting for days on end despite the fact that they had not had anything to eat.

Hoodia is now undergoing a series of scientific tests to determine exactly what its benefits are, how it works and if there are any side effects. Although studies are ongoing, to date all findings seem to indicate that hoodia is indeed a marvelous drink that can help with weight loss.

Although we are still far from gaining a complete picture, what we do know for sure is that hoodia can definitely help people to lose weight. It does this by suppressing the appetite which means people start to consume fewer calories.

The reason why hoodia is often hailed as being most effective with green tea is because they are seen as complimentary. while hoodia suppresses the appetite, green tea gives a boost to the metabolism burning more calories which will speed up weight loss.

The result is that you are eating less while feeling satisfied. This limits the calorie intake anyways making sure that you are not packing on any extra pounds. The addition of green tea ensures that you burn off more calories than you take in which is the way the pounds begin to shed.

The effective combination of the two plants deals with the fat deposits of the body thereby resulting in rapid weight loss. The best thing about the mixture is that it is all natural thereby eliminating the chances of developing any side effects.

The author is a big supporter of cooking with powder green tea. For information on shedding extra pounds look at green tea hoodia weight loss.

Herbal Tea Weight Loss: How Herbal Tea Can Help You Lose That Flab

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

It is possible to rely on herbal tea weight loss plan in your zest to shed off some pounds? This is an ancient Chinese technique in losing weight and has been confirmed by scientists today. The problem is that they could not explain how this happens so let me make it a bit easier for you.

Herbal tea greatly increases the metabolic system. This explains why those who eat a lot put on less weight while others eat less and end up putting on more weight. This simply means that the body is able to burn the calories in its system than was possible in the normal state. Similarly, herbal tea prevents your body from converting the excess body energy into fats resulting in weight gain. It too reduces the food cravings while at the same time regulating our blood sugar levels. So herbal tea will not only help you cut weight but it will also reduce your chances of disease such as diabetes and heart disease.

In a journal published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, herbal tea has been proved to have some health benefits. The herbal tea is capable of nourishing and boosting our immune system. It was also found that those who consume herbal tea have a better digestive system.

There are various tea ingredients in the market. They include Guggul, Combogi, Cinnamon and Tamala. Besides the grate health benefits, they also come in great tastes and flavors. While most of these teas do not contain caffeine, some do but in very low contents.

Herbal tea also has an advantage because it has less caffeine unlike coffee. Experts have found that people who consume a lot of coffee find it harder to lose weight compared to those that do not. Additionally, herbal tea contains a natural relaxant which could be quite useful for people in rigorous exercise.

While preparing a tea weight loss, there are a few things you should consider. Always use cold rather than hot water. Use glasses and stainless steel to make them because aluminum tends to come off in the tea.

Unfortunately, there are so many herbal tea diets in the market and its becoming more and more difficult to know the right one. Some of the claims that they cleanse and melt away the excess fat may not be true. In fact, some of them may be harmful to your health.

With the herbal diet plan, there are two things one must always remember. The body reacts negatively to instant changes so do not consume too much in the name of wanting to lose much. Thus a longer duration will be better than a larger dosage. Make tea a part of your everyday diet but in smaller dosage. In the same way, combine this recipe with exercise in order to make it more effective for your weight loss. Studies have found double success with those that combine the two.

Armed with this information, you now know that you must not give up on your herbal tea weight loss plan. With the right approach, you can still shed some pounds.

To discover the secret to a successful and permanent weight loss, visit http://bestdiet101.net/ NOW! It's proven and it really works.

Don't let the fad diets fool you! If you're really serious about losing weight and you want to find out more about the best diet solution, then I suggest you Click Here

Why Drink Hibiscus Tea?

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

For people searching for a drink that is both delectable and full of possible health benefits, one has to look no further than hibiscus tea. The tea has vitamin c and minerals and possibly has the added bonus of supporting cardiovascular health. Below are only a few reasons it might be advantageous to include this beverage in your diet.

May Help Control Blood Pressure

One reason for the consumption of hibiscus tea is to help lower blood pressure. There have been studies conducted that show the tea could help lower blood pressure and manage cholesterol. In one study, test subjects who drank three cups of the tea daily had lower blood pressure at the end of the six-week test period. Research demonstrated that the tea lowered the systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) by the end of the clinical trial. The clear positive effect of lower blood pressure in people with mild hypertension is a decreased risk for heart attack and stroke. The studies are hopeful for people who are searching for natural methods to control high blood pressure. Experts are quick to point out that more research is definitely required to wholly validate the claims of these positive effects of drinking hibiscus tea on blood pressure.

May Help Weight Loss

Another reason to drink hibiscus tea is to facilitate weight loss. The tea includes an enzyme inhibitor which blocks the production of amylase (an enzyme that breaks down complex sugars and starches). Drinking a cup full of hibiscus tea right after a meal can decrease the absorption of fats and carbohydrates which can help people lose weight. The amylase inhibitors are found in their natural state in the tea, which makes them safer and better than those found in weight loss drugs. This is obviously great news for people desiring a natural alternative to artificial methods of enhancing weight loss. In addition to the weight loss benefits, it can also help cleanse and rid the body of excess fluids.

Pleasant Flavor

One last reason for drinking hibiscus tea is for its wonderful flavor. The tea has a nice tart, tangy flavor that is almost berry-like in nature. The flavor can then be enhanced by the addition of mint, cinnamon, or ginger. The taste can be quite tart for some people and may necessitate the inclusion of a sweetener such as honey or sugar, especially in stronger brews. The tea may be consumed hot or cold and is caffeine free making it a wonderful tea not only for a hot summer day but also a cold winter night.

In closing, it is apparent that hibiscus tea is a great drink that potentially has many health benefits. Studies have shown it has positive effects on blood pressure and cholesterol and also assists in weight loss. Hibiscus tea is a natural alternative for supporting good cardiovascular health while at the same time providing a refreshingly unique flavor.

If you are interested in more information on hibiscus tea, please check out http://www.hibiscusteas.com/.

Oolong Tea Is Perfect Tea For Losing Weight

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Oolong (wulong) is a very popular tea in many Asian countries like China and Japan. One of the major reasons why the people in leaving in those countries have such a tea is that they believe that by consuming that tea, they can lose weight. Like other kinds such as green tea and Chinese tea, even Oolong can effectively help in losing weight. There are many reasons as to why we can understand that Oolong tea is helpful in shedding weight.

The Oolong tea belongs to a plant called Camelia Sinesis which is the same plant from which green tea and black tea is taken. Camelia Sensis is well-known for its antioxidants. The major difference between these three kinds of tea is the time taken to process and ferment. It does not take much time to process the green tea. Hence, it retains the green color. The process period of black tea is the longest and because of this it loses its green color. On the other hand, the oolong tea falls between these two kinds of tea as far as processing are concerned.

Oolong is also known as Wu long tea. It is been observed that regular drinking of oolong tea helps in enhancing the metabolism system of your body. When the metabolic activity increases, your body can burn calories and fats faster. Asian people love to drink this tea while they have oily food because it helps in neutralizing the effect of oil present in the food.

A research was conducted by the University of Tokushima on wulong tea. Over a period of seventeen days, twelve adults were asked to drink the oolong tea. It was noticed that people who were administered placebo in the excretion of fat was considerably less than people who were asked to drink oolong. It was also observed by other researchers that it can effectively help in lowering the level of cholesterol.

As compared to green, wulong tea is not very popular. However, recently scientists have claimed that the nutrition value of oolong is much more than the regular green tea. It has the power to burn near three times more calories. From thousands of years, the Asians have realized the health benefits of wulong teas.

Oolong tea and weight lose go hand in hand.

The taste of the oolong tea may not suit you at first. However, when you realize its health benefits other than weight loss, you will keep on drinking it. Apart from helping to shed weight, oolong tea also promotes health and supple skin. If you are suffering from atopic dermatitis or other skin condition such as eczema, by drinking wulong teas, you will see a gradual change in your skin. A research was conducted to see the effects of oolong teas on skin. It was observed that nearly 50 percent people on whom the test was conducted showed visible signs of better skin. If you feel that your skin is ageing at a faster rate, then you should drink oolong tea as to slow down the speed of ageing of skin.

Since wulong undergoes less processing as compared to any other tea, it retains higher amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants are very important for strengthening our immune system. It improves the circulation of blood throughout the body. Since oolong is a rich source of antioxidants, it will keep you healthy and strong.

One of the reasons why people gain weight is because of sedentary lifestyle. If you lead such a lifestyle, you may gain weight and you will not know how to control your weight. Regular drinking of oolong tea will make you active and fresh.

Buy the best oolong tea at Tealux store

A Few Health Benefits From Drinking Green Tea

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Most people I know drink green tea for a variety of reasons. Whatever the reason maybe, they all can agree that the tea is good for your overall being. Some people have done some research to find out what health benefits you can receive from drinking green tea. They're also people who might not know what these benefits are, and what it can do for them in the long run. Well this article will help you get a basic understanding so that when you drink green tea, you know what it can do for your body if you consume the right amount.

Green tea can help with the prevention of Cancer. Some studies have shown that it can prevent the growth of cancer cells in the body. Some Scientists have claimed that it contains a compound called Epigallocatechin Gallate also known as EGCG. This Catechin called EGCG stops cancer cells from growing by combining with an enzyme called Dihydrofolate Reductase inside someone's body. These studies aren't backed by everyone, and they're more research that needs to be done to come to an accurate conclusion of the subject.

It can also help with protecting your heart. The antioxidants in the tea help with controlling your blood pressure along with your cholesterol levels. Studies also have shown that it can help with the minimizing of thrombosis formation which is a huge factor in whether or not you get heart disease. Preventing this type of formation is a key benefit in green tea.

If you are someone who has trouble with weight loss, drinking this type of tea can be very beneficial. It can help with speeding up your metabolism. When your metabolism is fast, you can burn more calories which helps you prevent gaining a lot of weight. Basically it helps to stimulate the metabolism while simultaneously blocking fat from being absorbed in the body.

The protection of the liver is very important. This is where green tea can be so helpful in the long run. We all need our liver to function at a high level. It helps to filter out toxins from our bodies. The antioxidants help to strengthen the immune system which makes the liver even more capable of filtering all the bad substances that we either eat or breathe into our systems.

You can add honey with your tea. This is one of my personal favorites. Some people might just like to drink it plain with no additives. It taste fine whether it is hot or cold. The tea can be very refreshing and healthy, and you can consume as much of it as you please without the risk of anything bad happening to your body.

Green Tea Benefits - Cancer Prevention and EGCG

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Many population studies would suggest that green tea has properties that protect against the development of various cancers and countries that consume green tea on a very regular and frequent basis, like Japan or Taiwan, tend to have lower cancer rates. But these broad sorts of studies and inferences can't tell us for certain whether green tea helps prevent cancer in humans. They can't even prove whether green tea had all that much to do with it or not. However, a flood of new animal and clinical research that has been conducted over the last decade, coupled with this population based data, can help us paint a more complete picture.

Antioxidant compounds in green tea, particularly EGCG(epi gallocatechin gallate), effect different cancers in different ways, here are some examples of studies conducted on bladder cancer and colon cancer;

· Bladder Cancer-
In an issue of Clinical Cancer Research, published February 15th 2005, researchers showed how green tea could prevent the cancer's becoming invasive by affecting the process of actin remodeling. Actin remodeling plays a major role in cell movement and is regulated by a series of signaling pathways, of particular interest is the Rho pathway. By inducing Rho signaling, green tea made the cancer cells more mature and bound them more closely together. Both the maturity of the cells and this binding inhibit their mobility and by dent of that their invasiveness.

· Colorectal Cancer-
Researchers from the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University published a study in 2003 of a group of mice predisposed to developing intestinal tumors revealing that after 12 weeks of treatment with green tea had developed significantly fewer tumors than those who had received no treatment.(Carcinogenesis, February 2003)In research reported by Dr. Hang Xiao from the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University during the Sixth International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention (sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research) showed that mice treated with a standardized polyphenol preparation containing mostly EGCG were less than half as likely to develop colon cancer when azoxymethane, a chemical that produces colorectal tumors with many similarities to human colorectal cancer, was introduced into their systems.

"In the control group, 67 percent of rats developed malignant tumors while in the treated group only 27 percent of rats had malignant tumors. Most important, tea polyphenols decreased the number of malignant tumors per rat by 80 percent compared to the control group" said Dr. Xiao in his statement to the conference.

These are two kinds of cancer, with only a few scientific studies to illustrate the efficacy of green tea as a weapon in the fight against them, but the picture these examples start to paint is a very clear and hopeful one. There is a wealth of this research and information on green tea's effect on other sorts of cancers such as prostate cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, stomach cancer and on and on and on. Knowledge is power and tea is medicine, make sure you have plenty of both and live well!

For more information on Tea and great deals on Premium High Mountain Tea, direct from source, you can visit William Harrison at his blog Or on Facebook

Treat Yourself With a Cup of Ritz Tea

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

The Ritz is known for offering luxury and sophistication to the visitors. It exceeds the expectation of visitors by giving them an opportunity to sample the most prized London afternoon tea in its spectacular Palm Court.

The Ritz itself is known for luxury, sophistication and elegance. It is considered as one of the best places where you can treat yourself with traditional afternoon tea in London. Tea at the Ritz is an institution in itself. The Ritz has become one of the most frequented tea venues as it has successfully impressed tea lovers with excellent service and high quality tea. Not to mention that it has already earned itself an enviable reputation as the best place to stay and enjoy great food. And with the London afternoon tea, this Ritz has given a new meaning to sophistication and luxury.

Afternoon Tea at the Ritz is a modern concept. The Ritz has been running for over a century and has become a benchmark for other hotels. Through the centuries, The Ritz has served a lot of royalty, celebrities, diplomats and demanding customers who value the richness of their heritage. Tea at the Ritz is served in the spectacular Palm Court, which occupies an area to the left of the Grand Gallery and in the middle of the lobby and restaurant of the Ritz. The mirrors in the background with the reflection of the marble pillars and French circular windows and cornices create a perfect environment to enjoy Ritz tea. The central glass roof allows a flow of light rays that illuminate the atmosphere. In the evening candles and lamps of gold wrought iron light up the whole environment.

When it comes to serving tea at the Ritz, the luxury hotel exceeds expectations. Enjoy sampling a fine selection of teas served by a knowledgeable and friendly staff of the Ritz. While you take every sip of the tea at the Ritz, London, you get an opportunity with a world of tea that has inspired the tea menu served here. In addition to delicious tea, you can also relish savoury delights such as cakes, pies, fresh baked pastries and sandwiches. So, have the pleasure of enjoying your cup of afternoon tea at the Ritz. The tea at the Ritz in London is something that you should not think of missing. Book your table at the Ritz, 12 weeks in advance to enjoy this tradition in the long term.

More information on Tea at the Ritz | London Afternoon Tea please visit book-afternoon-tea.com

How To Choose The Best White Peony (Bai Mu Dan) Tea

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

White teas are a type of tea which comes from the Camellia sinensis or tea plant. White teas are very lightly fermented, with little fermentation, producing a light, refreshing mellow liquor which is rich in minerals and anti-oxidants. One popular type is called White Peony Tea, or Bai Mu Dan. White Peony tea is a beautiful white tea which has a very bright colored clear liquor that has no actual Peonies in it, however the aroma has a very light Peony fragrance to it.

It is predominantly produced in the Fujian Province of China, where it is treated with careful, non-intrusive methods of picking, drying and packaging the teas so that they do not break the leaves and their cell structure, so that the beneficial properties of the tea leaves remain intact.

White teas such as Bai Mu Dan have wonderful detoxifying properties as well as being known for helping with stress relief, protecting the body from toxins, helping with toothaches and the prevention of sunstroke, among many other purported health benefits!

While you are brewing your tea, which should be brewed in water that is approximately 75-80 degrees Celsius or 175-180 degrees Fahrenheit, it will unfurl with elegance, showing broad leaves and beautiful white tea buds amongst the water. Because of the aesthetic value of the tea, we recommend using a clear glass cup or teapot to brew your leaves in so that you can experience the full beauty of the White Peony tea.

You should brew your tea for 3-5 minutes, depending on how strong you like your white tea. The brewed tea is a gorgeous light apricot color which is clear and bright with no impurities. You will notice that the fragrance is meadow-like with a soft aroma of peonies. The flavor itself is smooth, mellow, relaxing and fresh.

As white teas are becoming more popular worldwide, and especially in the United States, you can now find tea shops easily which carry white tea varieties. White Peony tea is one of the most common varieties of white tea, so you can find it now in many places, however you should know how to select a high quality Bai Mu Dan tea, rather than settling for a lower grade. In the remainder of this article, I will teach you to select a high quality top grade White Peony Tea.

Identifying a High Grade White Peony Bai Mu Dan Tea

When selecting a high grade White Peony tea, you need to consider the two most important aspects of selection. The first aspect is the appearance of the dried tea leaves which is a major indicator of how it was processed, and how it will taste after brewing. The second indicator is the experience of the tea itself. Both of these things will allow you to choose a delicious and incredible Bai Mu Dan.

Appearance of the Dried leaves:

In selecting teas, the first thing you should make note of is the appearance of the leaves, and this is especially true of white teas such as White Peony teas. In general, when you are shopping for a high quality White Peony tea, you should look for leaves which are still tender and small, with lots of buds. Having more buds in your Bai Mu Dan is a definite indication that it is high quality. The buds and backs of the leaves should be covered in fine downy hairs that are in good condition.

The leaves themselves should have a consistent color, and should be smooth to the touch, without any impurities or small particles of dust in the tea. Depending on the White Peony tea you select, you should get a clear color while brewing the tea leaves, though some teas produce a darker coloring than others, making the brewed liquor between a light peach color and a dark apricot color.

Be sure to choose your White Peony tea that has one or two leaf buds attached to tippy smooth tender young leaves that should have very strong, stretched thick tips that have a silver tone to them. Inferior or lower quality White Peony teas have thin leaves with less tips and broken leaves. Stay away from these teas as they will not produce a fine, elegant tea like a higher quality Bai Mu Dan will. White Peony tea is so tender and young that it should be consumed as quickly as possible, since the dried tea leaves will go stale or rancid if stored for a long time. You should drink your teas at their freshest, because the older, more cured dried white tea leaves will produce a vastly inferior and almost undrinkable cup.

The White Peony Tea Experience:

Your experience of your White Peony tea is the most important part of the process in selection of white teas. When we speak of the experience of the tea, we mean experiencing the aroma of the brewed tea, the actual liquor the brewed white tea produces and its flavor, and the appearance of the brewed leaves.

After brewing your selected White Peony tea leaves, the first way to experience your white tea is through smelling the aroma of the brewed leaves. The aroma of a very high quality top grade Bai Mu Dan will be lightly floral, but mellow and soothing.

Also pay attention to the appearance of the brewed tea as well. A high grade will have a bright clear apricot color with no cloudiness or impurities. You will also notice that the darker the liquor produced, the lower the quality of the White Peony tea leaves.

Next taste your brewed White Peony tea to experience its actual flavor. The taste should be smooth, relaxing and mellow with subtle nuances and layers to the flavor that hint of floral undertones and slightly smoky nuances. It should not be bitter or astringent, if it is, you have either improperly brewed your White Peony tea or have selected inferior tea leaves. Inferior teas, or leaves that have been stored too long may produce little to no flavor at all. To assure that your dried tea leaves are the most fresh, look at the dried leaves before brewing and make sure that they are well-proportioned with many buds, and have a light, not a dark color. White tea leaves which are broken, mixed or colored black yellow or look as if they were burnt should not be consumed.

Now that you know what to look for in the perfect cup of Tea, you should always choose the most optimal tea leaves and brew your white tea properly so that you can enjoy a fresh, mellow and sweet cup of tea which is relaxing, healthy and rejuvenating! Please read our article on How to Properly Brew White Peony tea http://www.teavivre.com/info/guide-to-making-white-peony-tea/ to find more information on the proper brewing of White Peony Bai Mu Dan tea leaves to achieve the perfect cup of tea!

Why Is Chinese Oolong Tea the Champagne of Chinese Beverages?

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

All tea originates from the Camelia sinensis plant. The different varieties of tea, available on the market differ according to their origin and how they are processed and cured etc. making some variants black, some green and some yellow. The most popular among the Chinese varieties is Chinese Oolong tea, also called black dragon tea because of its long curly black leaves. This beverage is not only a connoisseur's favorite but it also has many health benefits. It has long been acknowledged to assist digestion and may also reduce incidence of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Often slimmer's blends are available that are said to help you reduce weight. Authentic Oolong is a good 'diet tea' but the blended varieties are not to be taken over long periods of time as they often contain laxatives and diuretics to increase weight loss. Oolong leaves mixed with Jasmine flowers is a beautiful aromatic beverage that helps soothe and relieve headaches and tension. Tea in general helps to reduce swelling within the intestine and elsewhere in the body. Drinking a cup after a heavy meal aids digestion and cleanses the system.

When buying Chinese Oolong tea, you should know some of its special characteristics:

No matter how long it has been infused, Chinese Oolong tea never becomes bitter. It characteristically retains its rich flavor and long aftertaste through multiple infusions.

Most Oolong leaves usually look whole once they are infused. Rock Oolong leaves are comparatively brittle and usually less than whole.

The leaves look tender, fresh and supple once the beverage is made. Bad Oolong is characterized by leathery, old and thick leaves - caused due to late picking.

Highest quality Oolong can be brewed multiple times. Re-brewing is even said to improve flavor. It is common to steep the same Oolong leaves a number of times, the third and fourth brews are said to be the best flavored.

Nowadays, supermarkets store a wide variety of blended variations of tea. Most authentic teas are quite different from those we buy in tea bags from stores. The tradition of brewing and steeping of the leaves is quite an experience that gives it its unique taste. Whenever possible it is advisable to buy the beverage loose and brew it in a ceramic or clay pot. This technique really enhances the taste and has been used for centuries. As mentioned earlier, Chinese Oolong tea leaves can be brewed numerous times and each brew is said to improve taste.

Mountain Tea Company sells the most flavorsome Chinese Oolong tea online. For the best flavored Oolong teas: milk Oolong, ginseng and green apple Oolong and many other combinations, visit the Mountain Tea Company website.

Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

It's that time of year again and I am stocked up for the fall and winter with my thoroughly researched and tried home remedies for all kinds of sickness.

One of the top items on my list that I swear by is Rooibos tea (pronounced roy-boss). I discovered Rooibos tea a few years ago and it has worked miracles for me, in terms of my chronic sinus issues, allergies, colds, etc. Since drinking this amazing tea, I have only needed an antibiotic once in the last 2 1/2 years, which is unbelievable, as I was usually on an antibiotic 2 to 3 times per year over the fall and winter months for sinus infections and colds.

Rooibos tea is very rich in antioxidants and flavonoids. Flavonoids have anti inflammatory effects and reduce allergic responses and histamine release. For me, not having to take an over-the-counter medicine and just drinking a hot cup of naturally sweet tea to clear me up is so great. I am not myself on any over-the-counter medicine and love that I do not have to take them anymore.....knocking on wood as I type

Rooibos tea is also recommended for those suffering from stomach problems, indigestion, stomach ulcers, constipation, etc. It has antispasmodic properties that relieves stomach cramps and similar issues. It is also safe to give to infants for colic! Isn't that amazing! Any of you out there with a colicky baby will love to try this I'm sure. I was lucky enough that my babies did not have colic and only screamed because they were in a bad mood or spoiled rotten.

Rooibos tea also contains no caffeine and has soothing effects on the nervous system. It is highly recommended for those suffering with insomnia, headaches, and mild anxiety and depression.

I'm telling you, this tea is so great for just about everything. It is even great for your skin. You can actually make a Rooibos mask and apply it to your face. One mask I often use is a honey Rooibos mask. After I make a cup of Rooibos, I take equal amounts of organic raw honey (which is an antibacterial and great for your skin) and mix it with the Rooibos tea leaves and apply it to my face. I love it! It is very soothing. You can be creative and mix the Rooibos tea leaves with anything you want. You can get many different recipes by Googling Rooibos tea face masks

If Rooibos tea can keep me out of the doctors office like it has and away from antibiotics and over-the-counter medicines, I'll drink it forever. Also, I know I can always count on it for a good night of sleep, any stomach issues or anxiety I might be having, and a great face mask! Talk about versatile!

Happy tea drinking,
Heather Jablonski

The Story of Matcha

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Matcha has been around a long time - since the late 12th century in Japan, a good 300 years before the printing press was invented, and centuries before Copernicus, Michelangelo, and da Vinci were born. But its origins go back even further, to 8th-century China, when it was thought of more as a an art form, akin to poetry, with which one amused oneself, than as a daily beverage.

Chinese zen (chan) monks were the ones who discovered the joys of pulverizing green tea leaves (which had first been steamed, then dried, then packed into tight molds for easy portability). They would prepare their tea by breaking off a chunk, mashing it with a mortar and pestle until they got a fine powder, and then whisking the tea powder and hot water together in a wide, shallow bowl. Preparation and consumption of this tea played an important part in the lives of lots of early Zen Buddhists, and, eventually, elaborate rituals were formed around this idiosyncratic green tea.

An influential Japanese Buddhist monk (in the Tendai sect) by the name of Eisai Myoan, on a trip to China in the late 1180s, became rather smitten with two important Chinese practices: Zen Buddhism and matcha. He came back to Japan pretty fired up about both, and devoted the rest of his life to writing about and teaching both zen and matcha.

Matcha fell from favor among Chinese intellectuals - it's never been quite clear why - and was slowly replaced by other forms of Chinese tea (especially pu-ehr), but its popularity only grew in Japan, thanks initially to Eisai's incessant efforts (his two-volume Kissa Yojouki ("Book of Tea and Mulberries" has been a classic ever since).

It's rare that a single non-political individual could influence the culture of a civilization to the extent that Eisai did, but he really hit one out of the park as a result of that trip to China: zen buddhism and matcha have been integral, and complementary, to Japanese culture and history for almost a millennium.

Zen monasteries in Japan took to matcha quickly. They favored matcha for a few reasons: 1) it kept them awake and alert during long periods of meditation, and 2) they knew it had valuable medicinal properties that we now have a very scientific handle on (see The Health Benefits of Matcha).

Matcha soon became appreciated by the higher strata in Japan's caste-oriented early society, especially among the samurai class, and it grew in popularity through the end of the 16th century. It was during this time that tea growers, mostly in Uji, Kyoto, really began to understand the best cultivation techniques. With time, they kept learning about and producing better matcha.

Consuming and appreciating matcha, in addition to simultaneous pursuit of Japan's other traditional arts like poetry, flower arrangement, and painting, gave one a kind of cultural clout; fluency in matcha was considered a good way to "rise above one's station" in life. People aspired to matcha. Feudal politicos/bosses (known as daimyo) retained tea masters on their payrolls for the prestige they brought, and collected tea paraphernalia like ceramics and utensils, which were considered prized cultural possessions.

Somehow along the way, then, the use and enjoyment of matcha in China waned, but it was transmitted to Japan, where it developed independently, at first in zen monasteries, and then on to the general public in the form of chanoyu, or the tea ceremony. Tea rules emerged from the many rules that tightly govern daily life in zen temple.

By the 14th century, professional tea masters, such as Sen No Rikyu, developed the tea ceremony into a highly choreographed ritual that makes use of many art forms, including ceramics, painting, lacquerware, culinary arts, architecture and design, calligraphy, flower arrangement, and even gardening. It's hard to think of another pursuit that draws on so many disparate artistic pursuits.

The enjoyment of matcha was at first practiced exclusively by men (monks and influential leaders, mostly), but, over time, women became increasingly involved. Today, women far outnumber number men in the pursuit of chanoyu.

The good news is that, today, the popularity of matcha has never been greater or more widespread, far more so than it was during the period of its heyday in the Edo Period and prior to that.

Our belief is that, once matcha becomes increasingly disconnected to chanoyu and is enjoyed on its own - perhaps with a small, personal ceremony of one's own - its popularity will skyrocket.

Teacups And Tea Drinking

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Although teacups and tea drinking is very commonplace all over Britain, they both share a point of origin in the country of China. Both the teacups and tea drinking revolve around the beverage produced by the tea plant which is native in the Eastern and Southern parts of Asia and were mostly found in countries such as India, Burma, China and Tibet. The earliest historical recording of tea being used as a form of beverage dates back to the 10th century B.C. in China. This beverage quickly become popularized and by the Qin Dynasty (The first imperial dynasty of China), it was one of the most popular beverages.

In fact, the popular cultures found in Japan and Korea were both derived from similar cultures found in China. Additionally, this beverage was not traded in Europe until the 16th century during the Portuguese expansion. Like the tea itself, the cups originated from China and were shaped as small cups without any handles where the drinker had to grip the handle around the rim. Drinking cultures however, have more specific methods when it came to drinking the beverage.

These cups were made originally with clay and then later during the Han Dynasty (200B.C.), porcelain was the main material used for them. It wasn't until the export of the tea leaves to the west that their European counterparts appeared. The European teacup consists of a similarly small cup but with a small handle for holding with a thumb and a finger and is usually accompanied by a saucer. As a matter of fact, Europeans have not only invented their own version of the teacup but also their own methods of drinking the beverage. In fact, if you compared the preparations found in both China as well as Europe, one could easily confuse the other for a different beverage.

Because it originated in China, drinking tea is somewhat a matter of connoisseurship. Tea-tasting events were even held in the Song Dynasty similar to that of modern wine tasting parties. China experienced two phases in their tea drinking culture which are the tea brick phase (Uses bricks of ground tea leaves) and the loose-leaf tea phase (direct use of prepared tea leaves). The tea brick phase involves the whisking of the tea powder and is still practiced in the Japanese tea drinking culture of drinking Green tea. In Japan, tea drinking is a much celebrated cultural tradition where the green tea is used for serving guests and also for celebrating special occasions and enjoyed with snacks.

One of the most well-known of these special occasions is the Japanese Tea Ceremony where tea is prepared and presented ceremoniously following traditional methods. As for the British, tea drinking is such a common habit that the British are the second largest tea consumers in the world. Tea here usually means black tea with milk added occasionally with some sugar added. However, despite existing cultural traditions, tea drinking in Britain has become such a habit that some people drink it all day long.

For a great range of Tumbler varieties as well as coffee mugs and other similar items, come shop with us.

Tulsi Tea and Its Health Benefits

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

In the market you can find many kinds of tea such as black tea, green tea, white tea, Chinese tea, etc. One tea that is known for medicinal advantages it the famous Tulsi tea from India. It is also known as Holy Basil Tea. Tulsi tree that can be found in abundance in India has always been known for its medical benefits.

A study was conducted to understand the health benefits of Tulsi. It was noticed that helped greatly in controlling the blood sugar levels among people who suffer from diabetes. Another study revealed that it lowered the cholesterol levels. Tulsi is considered to be one of the most powerful Ayurvedic medicine. In Ayurveda, Tulsi is commonly used for treating general health issues like headaches, fever, cold, etc.

Here are some of the manifold benefits of the Tulsi tea:

- Helps in maintaining the health of our respiratory system.

- It improves our vision.

- The antioxidants present in the tea helps in strengthening our immune system.

- Helps in beating stress by calming your senses.

- It also boosts your stamina and makes you feel energetic

We all lead a very stressful life and we are so caught up with our life that we do not have time to beat the stress. This is where Tulsi tea comes into play. Tulsi is grown organically and its extracts are used to prepare tea. It is completely free for harmful things like caffeine. The taste of the Tulsi tea is somewhat pungent. Since it is completely from side effects, it can be consumed more than twice in a day. It replenishes you completely and refreshes your mind. When you consume the tea which is rich in antioxidants, it frees your body from harmful radicals. These harmful radicals should be expelled from our body. If they remain in our body, it can destroy our cells and tissues.

When the stress level increases, there can be an increase in the blood pressure. Since Tulsi tea does will in controlling the blood pressure level, cardiac patients are advised to consume it. It cleanses our blood from the impurities and facilitates proper blood supply to the heart and from the heart to the rest of our body.

Tulsi tea has numerous health benefits. However, its benefits can be experienced differently by different people. For instance, some people who are suffering from cardiac problem can benefit from it whereas others who suffering digestive problems can benefit from it. It elevates the stamina and endurance level of the body. Since it does well in improving our respiratory system, it facilitates full and efficient usage of the oxygen we inhale. Tulsi tea will make you appear younger thanks to its anti-ageing properties.

Tulsi tea health benefits are manifold. Buy Tulsi tea today at Tealux.ca

What Is Matcha Tea And What Are Matcha Green Tea Health Benefits?

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Matcha tea is a natural tea from Japan green tea leaves. The leaves are dried through a special procedure and then the leaves are grinded to make a fine powder of it. It is a very rich source of essential nutrients and antioxidants, fibers and amino acids. Apart from drinking it as tea, it is widely used for flavoring various kinds of food items such as cakes, candies, noodles, smoothies, ice-creams and lattes. Some people also like to consume it by mixing it with other kinds of teas and even with alcohol.

Tencha is the name of the leaf that is utilized for preparing Matcha. In order to make tencha, the harvesters put mats over the tea bushes so that it is completely covered so that direct sunlight does not come in contact with the tea bushes. The growth of tea bushes takes place at a slow pace under the covering. It first produces amino acids. Production of amino acids brings about two changes. First, the tea becomes sweet and second, the leaves become dark. It attains dark green color. The leaves are then harvested by drying it flat indoors. All the stems and veins are removed from tencha. The best quality ones are ground by using stone and the ones that are of low quality are ground by using a machine. The resultant powder is nothing Matcha green tea powder.

When you compare Matcha tea with any other type of tea, you will realize that former is blessed with numerous health benefits. One of the reasons is that while making Matcha tea powder, not just the buds but the entire tea leaf is used. Also, it contains a very low quantity of caffeine. Here are the some of the benefits associated with Matcha tea:

Cholorphyll
When matcha tea is prepared for grinding, the harvesters cover it securely so that sunrays do not reach the leaves. This procedure helps in maintaining the cholorphyll content of the tea. Since the presence of cholorphyll is present in good levels in Matcha, it helps in eliminating the toxins from your body.

Improves your concentration
When you are having a tough time concentrating on your studies or work, have a cup of Matcha tea and see how it helps you in staying focused. It helps in improving your reflexes and makes more alert. Also, it does well in soothing your mind. This helps in staying calm.

Weight loss
People do a lot of things to shed weight. One of the most effective ways of shedding off oodles of weight is to drink Matcha green tea regularly. The three vital elements of it namely catechin, caffeine and theanine greatly help in losing weight. Also, it will prevent your body from accumulating fats. It has the ability to heat inside our body which in turn helps in elevating the metabolic activity of our body.

Immunity
Do you often suffer from fever and cold? The reason behind this is that you do not have a strong immune system. In other words, the defense system of your body is not that strong it stops any disease from occurring. Drinking Matcha tea greatly boosts your immune system and you will not become victim to viral attacks and cold frequently.

Antioxidants
For the preparation of Matcha tea the entire leaf is used which makes it possible to utilize all the essential nutrients of the tea leaves. Lime juice and blueberries are considered to be rich source of antioxidants. However, Matcha tea is known to have even more higher content of antioxidants.

Buy the best matcha green tea powder and green tea at Tealux store

Found in More Places Than You Might Think Earl Grey Tea

 Found in More Places Than You Might Think Earl Grey Tea

Virtually everybody has at lowest heard of Peer Colour tea, and if you're a bailiwick untruth fan, you've no incertitude heard Patrick Histrion's characteristic tune organization "Tea, Peer Southern, hot" from the replicator station in his quarters on the USS Initiative, but it may disruption you that Earl Organization tea leaves are victimised in a reasonable periodical of slipway that render cured beyond flavoring the most famous Sci-Fi ship's headwaiter's drinking.
For information, did you live that you can buy Kit-Kat candy bars in Japan that eff been seasoned with the combining? The identifiable meld is victimised as a flavoring for umpteen types of cakes and store, specified as chocolates and tasteful sauces. Where the sauces are afraid, the customary method of adding the flavour is to add tea bags to the cravat, stewing them for a few minutes, and then discarding the tea bags. For cloying recipes suchlike chocolates, varied amounts of unconstipated tea is adscititious to melted butter or hot take, then unnatural inaccurate after the flavoring is decently infused.

Matcha Green Tea Powder to Lose Weight

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Matcha green tea powder is an indigenous ground green tea leaf solution that is normally sprinkled into recipes as well as drinks. This powder in most cases has an astringent tasting especially to those who consume it. The tea leaves are carefully ground then steamed lightly in order to prevent any loss of antioxidants. The aftermath powder is usually emerald. This powder has commonly been used by those people who are looking forward to lose weight. This is because; it contains some ingredients that are believed to bring about metabolism in the body thus breaking any fatty tissues making a person lose weight.

Preparation

Matcha green tea powder is basically a powdered tea that is very popularly known for it antioxidant aspect, chlorophyll content, mood enhancing aspects as well as its ability to cleanse the body of a human being thus removing any toxins from it. You can drink it directly or with a snack accompanied by a fruit in order to achieve a complete breakfast. This combination is very beneficial especially if you are trying to gain weight loss. When preparing this tea follow the following:

- Place one cup of milk in a blender and add another cup of ice cubes to it.

- Add another ¼ cup of cold water and ensure that you add one spoon of honey to it before doing anything else.

- Later on add the powder and mix the ingredients together using a lofty speed for duration of 1 minute. Ensure that the mixture you get is well combined.

- Once done, you are free to serve the tea in a sizable mug or glass.

Availability

In case you want to purchase Matcha powder, there is no limitation since it is readily available. You can either purchase it directly from the store or simply through online means. All your need to do is to ensure that you have carried out the necessary research on the powder before making your purchase. This is due to the fact that there are scammers who have discovered an easy way of luring unsuspecting customers into buying a fake green tea powder. While this is the case, make sure you fully do your research and even ask the seller to check out its purity before you can buy. This way, at least you will have a chance of buying green tea powder that is pure with not fillings added to it.

Effectiveness

Matcha green tea is taken for several reasons depending on the individual needs and preferences of a person. This means that this tea plays a major role in our bodies once we have consumed it. For instance, in case you have a migraine and take this tea, it works immediately to clear off the migraine due to its effectiveness. On the other hand, in case you have weight issues, you can incorporate this tea into your diet and within some few days or weeks, you will be bale to lose some pounds. As you proceed taking this tea with time, you will be able to get obtain the weight loss that you so desire.

Benefits

There are benefits that come with Matcha green tea powder which are very important to a person's life. Some of theses benefits include:

- This matcha green tea powder does not contain any sugar which plays a major role for those people who are diabetic. This is simply because there will be no increase of insulin levels and the blood will be kept in a regulatory state.

- This green tea powder is very rich with antioxidants which help in forestalling aging and at the same time preventing cancer and its related symptoms.

Buy the best matcha green tea and white tea at Tealux store

Black Tea Grading

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

The problem with tea grading is the fact that there really isn't a standard system for all teas. This is despite the fact that tea is a commercially important item globally. Everyone seems to have their own idea of what represents good tea and this is true for various countries and companies that produce tea leaves. Generally, all grading systems revolve around the species of Carmellia Sinensis used, the size of the leaf, the age of the plant when harvested, elevation and the country it was grown in. In the United states however, the grading system focuses mostly on the size of the leaf. This is known as the "Pekoe", or simply "P" grading system. Pekoe does not imply a specific quality during grading. Rather, it simply means that an entire leaf was used instead of broken bits.

This particular system almost always is used to grade tea of the black variety. Black tea undergoes full oxidation during processing, unlike green tea. Green tea experiences the least amount of oxidation along with white tea varieties. The Pekoe designation is usually used for grading teas from India and Sri Lanka. Below Pekoe, we have what is known as BP (Broken Pekeo). It simply means the use of leaves that were not whole. The two lower Pekoe designations are "Dust" and "Fannings" with dust usually describing the lowest quality black teas. Next on the list, we have "F" or "Flowery". The FOP designation deals with the actual quality of the leaf. Flowery simply means that unopened buds of the leaf were used in the making of the tea. But what is Orange? Orange ("O"), is used when describing a leaf that is larger than usual. As such, a tea with a FOP (Flowery Orange Pekoe) designation simply means the tea was made from whole unopened leaves and buds that were larger than usual.

Next up, we have G (Golden). G literally describes leaves that have golden tips. Golden tips are associated with higher quality in general as these leaves were harvested earlier in the season. This designation is similar to T (Tippy) as they both deal with leaves with golden tips. Tippy simply means that all the leaves used had golden tips during processing. The designations used thus far are for more common varieties of tea. But once you paying more for higher quality teas, you come across F (Finest). Yes, there is another F used besides "Flowery", further adding to the confusion. Finest stands for high quality processing and production. And the final letter used in the grading system is S (Special). Special refers to the highest possible production quality for tea leaves. Those with S and F designations usually cost the most on the commercial market.

To summarize:-

Pekoe (P) - Whole leaves
Broken Pekoe (BP) - Whole leaves were not used
Fannings - One grade below BP
Dust - The lowest grade size for black tea
Golden (G) - This tea was made with leaves with golden tips (Not all)
Tippy (T) - All the leaves used for the tea had golden tips
Flowery (F) - Delicate unopened leaf buds were used
Orange (O) - Indicates leaf sizes that are large
Finest (F) - High quality production standards during processing
Special (S) - Highest quality production standards during processing

It should be noted that some companies use additional designations which only adds to the confusion. This may be a marketing tool or it may reflect actual quality. A combination of the designations are used to describe teas, such as GFBOP (Golden Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe). This method of grading black teas is particularly prevalent in the United States and may or may not be followed in other countries.

For more on Green Tea Benefits and green tea products, please visit the authors website.

Drinking Green Tea

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

The drinking of tea has been around for at least 500,000 years mainly from India and China. Green tea in particular has been known for its therapeutic effects, one benefit that it has become popular is its effect on weight loss. It also has been used as a stimulant, diuretic (to promote the excretion of urine), astringent (to control bleeding and heal wounds), and improve heart health. It is also helpful with flatulence (gas), regulating body temperature and blood sugar, promoting digestion, and improving mental processes.

Within green tea there is a powerful antioxidant known as EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) that has thermogenic properties (fat burning). This antioxidant also inhibits the growth of cancer cells; it is also helpful for:

• High cholesterol levels

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Cardiovascular disease

• Infection

• Impaired immune function

• Tooth decay

• Atherosclerosis

• Liver disease

• Diabetes

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states that green tea extract is the most effective metabolism boosters that naturally occur in a plant or herb. The metabolic rate is increased by 4% within a 24-hour time frame. Researches say that the polyphenols, specifically the catechins, are responsible for the herbs fat burning effects. It releases antioxidants into the blood stream and help the fat burn faster and helps the body absorb the calories and convert them into muscle or energy. It also helps with appetite suppression and are natural and therefore completely absorbed.

In a recent study at the University of Geneva, researchers concluded, "Green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by its caffeine content per se". Previously it was believed that the caffeine content in green tea has this effect even though the content is low, much lower than coffee and regular tea. The weight loss benefits of green tea can be due to the fact that it prevents fat from being stored, increases protein levels, and promotes thermogenesis by triggering beta-adrenoceptor to action.

In a 2002 issue of Phytomedicine Dr's P.Chantre and D. Lairon of the Laboratories Arkopharma in Carros, France, the green leafs extract AR25 (Exolise) was analysed for its activity in the treatment of obesity. They found that the extract could directly inhibit gastric and pancreatic lipases, which are the primary cause of fat storage, concluding that green tea exhibits a weight loss effect that can solve obesity problems. They also found that green tea can stimulate thermogenesis, given to moderately obese patients it caused a decrease of 4.6% in weight and a reduction of waist circumference by 4.48% after only 3 months, confirming its weight loss benefits.

The polyphenols in green tea are the antioxidants that are classified as catechins, which give it its bitter taste; It also contains 6 catechins, EGCG being the most studied and most active. It also contains alkaloids which include caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline, which are the teas stimulating effects. L-theanine is an amino acid compound found and has calming effects on the nervous system.

Green tea does contain caffeine therefore should be used cautiously and should be avoided by pregnant and breast-feeding women.

Lancula are specialists in providing vitamins & minerals for more information go

For Health and Wellbeing products or Nutrition and Health information go to her website

Nettle Tea - A Good Fertilizer for Your Plants

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Regularly drinking it can help you to regulate your blood sugar or hormone levels and it's good on fighting health ailments such as hair loss, skin, respiratory and joint problems. But this powerhouse tea does not stop with your body! Nettle tea can also work on your garden and it is considered to be a good substitute for any chemical fertilizers.

Gardening at home may require too much time, work and effort such as visiting stores just to purchase fertilizers and giving it to your plants. Do you actually call it natural? The plants living in a natural environment do not need any fertilizer and they can live for years. On the other hand, using chemical fertilizers may not be advisable for your fruit or vegetable garden. Why put so much effort into growing a healthy garden when you will still utilize artificial fertilizers?

Here's this tea to help you! The high nitrogen and iron contents found in this tea gives much needed nutritional boost to leafy plants (although advocates recommend avoiding the use of nettle tea on roses and tomatoes, as its iron content may be too much for these plants to handle). Additionally, it also seems to give plants immunity to plant disease and insects when either added to the soil or sprayed directly on the plants. It works best when combined with manure to facilitate better fermentation process among your plants.

A less concentrated recipe is needed when nettle tea is used as a fertilizer than when it is drunk by people. There really is no need for exact measurements; simply grab a few handfuls of nettle leaves (wearing gloves, of course!), put them in a bucket, fill that bucket with water and let the mixture sit for ten to fifteen days. Once your nettle leaves soak in the water, your natural fertilizer is now ready! Keep in mind that this concoction will start to smell...horribly (doesn't all fertilizer?); make sure you keep it somewhere while it is fermenting where it will not become obnoxious to you or your neighbors (unless you do not like them!). It can be difficult to enjoy a scenic garden if there's a horrible smell around. Another important note when making nettle tea fertilizer is to continue using gloves when handling it. Nettle teas for human consumption have no stingers because it has been boiled. In contrast, the stingers are not deactivated (this may hurt you so be careful!) as this fertilizer is not boiled.

In addition, you can find easy to use, helpful information about Nettle Tea at http://nettleteahq.com/

Nettle Tea HQ is a site dedicated to helping everyone benefit from all that nettle tea has to offer. Drop by and say hi!