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Purple Tea

Black, white, green are all colours that come to mind when we think of tea. Perhaps red if we consider rooibos (though it's not technically tea). But have you heard of purple tea?

Purple tea is a relatively new variety that originates in Africa. It has been in development for about 25 years in Kenya, which is one of the world leaders in the production of black tea. In development for a quarter of a century, purple tea was submitted to the Kenyan government for approval earlier this year, and just this past August, for commercial production.

According to Tea Research Foundation of Kenya, purple tea is high in anthocyanin, a flavenoid and powerful antioxidant with health enhancing properties.

You see plants that contain anthocyanin quite often, especially at this time of year as leaves change colour.

Dark purple pansies, bright red skin of apples, the red pigmentation of blood oranges, and the dark skins and pigments of cranberries, blueberries and raspberries.

Although more research is required, it would appear that foods rich in anthocyanins, there is laboratory based evidence that there is potential health benefits against cancer, aging and neurological diseases, inflammation, diabetes and bacterial infections. None of this research is associated with the purple tea yet, but based on pigments in berries such as black raspberries.

It sounds like it may still be some time before purple tea is readily available in Canada. Meantime, you'll just have to enjoy your favourite black, white and green varieties available through Steeped Fine Loose Teas!

Purple tea. Now you know!

 

Tea over the Holidays

Maria Uspenskie shares the following upbeat article on T Ching - some of these tips we've shared here before, just not within the context of Christmas holidays. Here's a fun list of ways to enjoy loose leaf tea over the holidays. Enjoy whichever ones you decide to partake in!

10 Ways to Brighten Your Holiday with Loose Leaf Tea 

1.    Throw a traditional holiday tea party.

The most obvious, of course, as they’re dominating the newspaper holiday events page these days.  But putting a tea party together for friends can be a truly memorable way to welcome them.  You can go as fancy as you like, but there are easy ways to get festive with a tea party as well.  Serve up at least two different types of tea – it’s always good to have a caffeine-free variety – peppermint’s a great holiday choice – and then steep up a pot of your own favorite.  The best part of holiday entertaining isn’t gifting, but sharing, and we tea lovers do like to share our newest finds!

2.    Consider Earl Grey cookies - they’re delicate and delicious.

They’re perfect for your holiday tea party, or as a uniquely spiced sugar cookie addition to your Christmas cookie platter.

3.    Spruce up your hardwood floors.

As if there wasn’t enough to keep us busy this season, the holidays seem to be when we’re cleaning house the most.  However, you can lighten your load and deodorize your house by throwing some of your least favorite (!?) teas on your hardwood floors an hour or two before you plan to sweep.  You’ll be surprised – the tea leaves help you gather more dust than you’d ever manage otherwise.  And, even if the tea you used is less than stellar for drinking, it’ll freshen the atmosphere.

4.    Use tea for potpourri or incense.

Here’s another way to take advantage of the absorbent quality of tea leaves.  Here again, a tea that turned out not to be your best friend in the cup will do wonders for your home.  In the evenings, after cooking, I love to burn tea leaves in an incense burner in the kitchen.

5.    Roast a turkey with tea.

6.    Make an Egg Nog Tea Latte.

We suggest a Breakfast style loose-leaf black tea at and have a special place in our hearts for this tea latte’d up with some amazing egg nog.

7.    Sip an Irish Earl Toddy.

Try some Bailey’s splashed into a mug of hot Earl of Grey.

8.    Remember that tea-infused vodkas make lovely after-dinner drinks and holiday hostess gifts.

9.    Gift some tins of tea.

Your friends will never tire of it, and nor will you.  The beauty and variety of loose-leaf teas are nothing short of amazing.  Package it up in a pretty tin, and you don’t even need to wrap it.

10.    Darjeeling, Darling.

I couldn’t finish a holiday teas post without mentioning my favorite tea-time tea.  In my world, there’s no better tea than Darjeeling to pair with almost any baked holiday dessert – be it fruity, spicy, or chocolaty.  And to ring in the New Year, you can bring tea to the party - just chill down some Darjeeling, and turn your champagne into tea cocktails with a 50-50 mix of the two.  You’ll love both the sophisticated color and the flavor.

Happy Steeping to all, and to all a good night!

Bling Your Teabag?

Just came across this. One of the Weird but True , 10 Outrageous Facts in September's National Geographic Kids magazine tells us that the world's most expensive tea bag was decorated with 280 diamonds and cost around $14,000!

We were curious and went looking for it online.

It seems the blingy tea bag was made by a British jeweler to commemorate the 75th anniversary of PG Tips  in 2005.

The tea bag was then donated to a charity auction and the proceeds went to the Manchester Children's Hospital.