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Feeling Peachy Keen!

The second tea from the new winter insert that I am sampling is Peaches & Cream.

The aroma of the dry tea as I unzip the packet is extraordinary. You really believe you are standing in a peach grove!

Lovely large white tea leaves compose this tea which is flecked with yellow and orange petals and small chunks of dried tropical fruit.

The flavour is smooth and light. As expected with a white tea, there is nothing bracing about it. I'd also suggest there's a perky quality to it, perhaps from the fruit. It seems to be a cheerful tea. Without any spice or vanilla creaminess that might suggest a peach cobbler or peach crisp effect, this tea truly emanates white tea and fruit and makes a delightful mid-morning tea. I would think that this would also be a lovely iced tea, and would probably be a refreshing base for a cocktail as well.

Let me know if you try it iced or as a cocktail, or any other recipes you use it in - I'd love to hear about it!

To get your own Peaches & Cream simply contact your Steeped Tea consultant, and if you don't have one, you can find one close to your vicinity by clicking here.

 

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!

It's such a Canadian thing to do: talk about the weather. And this year, the lack of the white stuff is giving us plenty to talk about. On the plus side, for all those who have to drive over the Christmas weekend, inclement weather should not add chaos to the drive - just smooth sailing. But we are used to seeing snow at Christmas time and so this year, it's looking a little different out there. Oh well, even if it's not white outside, it can be white inside - in your teacup. Why not put on a pot of white tea to sip while the family opens gifts on Christmas morning? From simple, naturally light Pai Mu Tan, to sweet Toffee Dream or aromatic Earl Grey de la Creme White, Steeped offers many ways to enjoy white tea. For those who like a fruit flavoured tea, try  Pomegranate or Blueberry Buckle, or if you need something a little snappy to wake up, Pink Lady with its pink grapefruit! Enjoy planning your Christmas morning meal and beverage. Keep dreaming, too, since the weather forecast is changing daily.

By the way, that gorgeous room is not my home, rather, I found the photo on the beautiful DesignLines blog, and if interior design is your thing, you'll want to make time to visit their blog. Meantime, I'll leave you with a quirky version of the classic White Christmas by 2 Canadian icons:

Autumn Flowers

For your Did You Know files:

 
According to the Chinese-American Tea Association, "the purest form of the Camellia Sinensis leaf, white tea is simply picked, washed and dried, giving it a fragile, flaky texture when dry and a very light gentle flavor. White tea is the least processed of all the teas, and therefore is highest in antioxidant, while it is lowest in caffeine."

The Association's blog also confirms what I've suspected for a long time, that any health claims that have been researched and proven true for green tea are also true for white tea.

If you haven't given Steeped Tea's Pai Mu Tan, a delicate light white tea, why not give it a try. You'll also see in the Steeped Tea catalogue several flavoured white teas.

Green Tea Improves Memory, especially as you age

Forgetting where you left the keys can happen to anyone at any age, but as we age, it can be very distressing as we struggle to remember significant details of a story we're sharing. When we mix up the locations or the people who were there, it can be confusing to us and the listener. If you had to appear as a witness in court, how would you do with the details?

The good news is that studies are showing that caffeine, especially that in tea, can help prevent the decline in memory. A study published in the 7th issue of Neurology in August 2008, describes how scientists studied the effects of caffeine on cognitive decline and dementia in people over the age of 65. They found that women over the age of 65, who drank 3 or more cups of coffee or tea a day, showed less decline in verbal retrieval and in visuospatial memory over 4 years than women consuming one cup or less. This benefit was shown to increase with age. Basicly women who drink tea seem to keep mentally sharp as a result of the caffeine in tea as they get older. Another study described at Anti-Aging.org suggests that the polyphenols, especially ECGC, available in green tea, seem to lower the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer's.

Although the studies have mostly centred on green tea, it would appear that white tea would also be effective as it also has high concentrations of ECGC. According to livestrong.com,

White tea is a good source of EGCG and is a viable alternative to green tea for people who seek a slightly different flavor but still want to take advantage of EGCG's health benefits. Studies show that the two types of tea are essentially equivalent in their catechin content, depending on the tea's source and processing. And, as shown in a 2008 "Journal of Analytical Toxicology" study, there is not an appreciable difference in caffeine content between green and white teas.

[Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/397497-does-white-tea-contain-egcg/#ixzz1XJbk3JNn]

As you stock up on your favourite Steeped Fine loose teas, be sure to include some green or white teas and work proactively on preserving your memory!

Gorgeous Grapefruit!

How gorgeous is this tea?

This is a lovely summer tea, available through your Steeped Tea consultant. You'll find it on the summer flyer.

Beautiful pink rosebuds and tangy citrus peel nestle in the delicate pale green-grey leaves characteristic of white tea.

The first time I tried this tea, it was iced and tasted pucker-up tart and invigorating. Unsweetened, it was a little bold and bracing. Next time, I would add a little agave or honey to sweeten it just a tad.

I was also curious to try it hot. As you draw the cup to your mouth, you are hit with the  fragrant citrussy aroma. Hot, it features the mild straw-like taste of white tea.  When I discarded the spent leaves later (into my rose garden - they love spent tea leaves as a mulch), the delicate fragrance of the roses wafted and reminded me of the gently refreshing cup I had enjoyed earlier. This tea seems light and refreshing for summer, but if you still had some in the winter, try steeping it with a cinnamon stick and some allspice buds and add a touch of honey before serving - I think you'll have a lovely winter warm-up.

Bet you didn't know there was a song called Grapefruit Tea. It's by an artist called Olivia, and you can check it out here.  

The lyrics are posted on the lyrics time website, if you're curious...

Tea Tasting - Coconut Calypso

The photo does not do this pretty tea justice. There are large pink rose heads snuggled with pretty blue petals, long white strands of coconut, and large mossy green leaves.

The fragrance is heavenly, which doesn't tell you much, I know.

A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to spend a week in Spain. It was gorgeously hot every day and the evenings cooled to a pleasant but never cool temperature. At dusk, there were little white flowers that opened their blooms and the fragrance floated on the evening air. That fragrance does not match the fragrance of this tea, but the feelings it evokes does.

I love white tea and how it gently supports delicate flavours. This tea is gentle, floral, delicate, calming, sweet, feminine, relaxing.

I realize that I've told you more about how this tea makes me feel than how it tastes. The taste reminds me of something that I cannot easily put words to. Sometimes coconut flavours and fragrances help us recall beach parties and limbo contests, but not in this tea. Coconut Calypso helps me recall that calm, relaxed, end of day feeling. And I love sipping on it any time of the day, especially on these snowy (again) days when I'd love to be somewhere more tropical and hot!

 

Sipping Tea in a Winter Wonderland

In November, we presented you with 2 new themes as an option that hostesses can discuss with their consultants as they plan for their tea party.

We are excited to unveil the latest theme: Winter Wonderland! A tea party featuring all things white... white tea, and white snack and decor ideas. Book your party with your consultant now to get the best date! (P.S. Don't forget to enter our Name that Steeped Tea contest on our Facebook page - contest ends TODAY!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday Tastings - Tahitian Twilight

Today we're tasting another new tea, Tahitian Twilight. This is a lovely looking blended tea. It's a very pretty tea with long yellow petals in 2 shades nestled against twisted black leaves and the silvery green of the white tea leaves. White chunks of coconut stand out by their colour and shape.

Because of the black tea leaf content, I steeped this one, after pouring near-boiling water over the leaves, for 3 minutes.

The scent is truly tropical. You know how some coconut flavoured products have a distinctive, perhaps pleasing, yet clearly artificial, fragrance to them? Think suntan lotion, or Malibu rum... That is not what you pick up as you inhale the aromas from this tea. You smell fresh tropical fruit and it's delightful.

The taste is smooth with tropical fruit overtones, not surprisingly. As the tea cools a bit, I notice how nicely the pineapple is blended with the coconut, with the coconut being the lingering taste in my mouth after I swallow the tea.

The tea is quite cool now, but with the white tea leaves blended in, there is no astringency. I consider how yummy this tea must be iced.

This is an absolutely lovely tea that would beautiful in the mid-morning, or would make a delicious afternoon pick me up. It would hold up nicely served with dessert at dinner, as well, especially with something light like angel food cake, I think.

You can purchase this exquisite tea from Steeped Tea consultant at a party, on her website (you'll find it under white tea), or by calling her. If you do not have a consultant, you can find one on our website, or perhaps you'd want to consider becoming one yourself, so you have access to all of our fine tea products and can have fun, and earn income, while sharing them with others!

The Visible Effects of White Tea on Your Skin

I read this article on T Ching the other day and thought it was a good one, so I am sharing it here. The author is Gold Kelly.

Eighty percent of our skin’s weight is from collagen, the protein that keeps our skin in shape from the inside out.  Beauty products have targeted this large population of proteins for a reason - its degeneration is behind the feared wrinkles and softening of the skin’s natural elasticity.  But instead of applying facial creams or getting injections, why not drink a cup of white tea?  For those of you who already drink white tea, you are on the cutting edge of anti-aging practices!  White teas, like many other teas, contain antioxidants and damaging enzyme inhibitors that benefit the body in numerous ways.  White tea stands out among products with extrinsic anti-aging properties in that it has large amounts of anti-collagenase and anti-elastase enzymes.

Anti-collagenase and anti-elastase enzymes battle against the body’s own enzymes, collegenase and elastase, which break down the components (collagen and elastin) that help retain the structure and flexibility of the skin.  White tea contains high levels of these enzymes, more so than most teas.  Kingston University in London performed tests on 21 plants that are believed to possess anti-aging mechanisms and found that white tea was able to inhibit 89 percent of elastase activity and 87 percent of collagenase activity; in short, with white tea, the majority of harmful enzymes are prevented from attacking the skin’s cells.

White tea not only offers protection against harmful enzymes, but against other substances that could damage skin cells.  The antioxidants in white tea slow the oxidation process caused by chemicals, UV rays, and the body itself, protecting the skin’s cells from deterioration.

If you haven't tried white tea yet, why not taste some at your next Steeped Tea party, or browse our catalogue and order some. Mild, smooth, sweet and delicate!

Did You Notice It?

We now carry TWO kinds of matcha! We've shared the benefits of matcha both in newsletters and here on the blog, but a review is always good, and as we rediscover Japanese matcha, perhaps we'll learn some new things about the Kenyan matcha, too. So follow along over the next few days as we explore matcha!

Today, here's a very informative video (found via Tea Guy), filmed in Japan, about matcha. It is the first of 5 made. Very well done!