Thanks to those that entered our Contest. We encourage you to refer your friends and family to enter for a chance to win $156 worth of Gourmet Teas Beautifully Packaged. This month we have chosen 2 lucky winners!!

Inside this issue, you will find recent Contest Winners, Tea Blending, Tea Trivia, History of Tea, a Tea Recipe, and much more. I have kept the Tea for All Ages topic for the next issue.

Are you interested in placing an order? Tea Connexions and its independent distributor members ensure that your orders are processed simply and safely. Through our system of localized distribution, you have the opportunity to order from your nearest distributor for prompt, courteous, and cheerful service. Local service benefits you because it decreases shipping time and costs. It also benefits you because you are not dealing with a head office in another state or country, but a local representative better able to serve your needs, answer your questions, and address any concerns you may have. Many of our distributors offer gift-wrapping and other gift giving services to facilitate your gift giving needs. To find out about these services, simply call your nearest distributor or send them an e-mail. Do remember that all of our products carry a 100% money back guarantee! To find your nearest distributor, please click here.

I look forward to giving away many more cups of FREE tea. Remember our motto: Gourmet Teas. Beautiful Packaging. Superior Service. Exceptional Value.

Yours sincerely,

Daisy Lieu
Marketing Director
Tea Connexions

P.S. Feel free to share this newsletter with your friends and family.
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2.Tea4Free Contest Winners
The Tea4Free contest is ongoing and winners are posted here.

Congratulations to our 2 recent lucky winners: Viki P. of New York, NY. and Alice E. of Menasha, WI.

• Matt Shanley, of www.shangrilagourmet.com, presented the tea4free prize to our lucky winner, Viki P. of New York, NY.
• Sue Jenks, of www.teathyme.biz, presented the tea4free prize to our lucky winner, Alice E. of Menasha, WI.

To date, nearly $579.00 worth of FREE gourmet teas beautifully packaged have been given away to tea lovers throughout North America. That is enough tea to make nearly 56,650 cups of free tea. WOW!
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3. Tea Trivia
Test your Tea Knowledge!

Email your answers to get a chance to win some free tea.

Inventions and Inventors
Match the items on the left with the appropriate person:

Tea and Health
Fill in the blanks:
1. The principal group of antioxidants in tea is called ________________.
2. Tea is one of the few natural sources of ______________ and has been shown to have a positive effect on preventing tooth decay and gum disease.
3. Tea contains two to three times less _______________ than coffee.
4. Taken without sugar or milk, fresh brewed tea, hot or iced, contains approximately ______________ calories.
5. Tea flavonoids may potentially reduce the risk of ______________, the most frequent cause of death in Western societies.
6. The amount of antioxidants in one cup of tea is equivalent to that found in approximately one serving of ____________________.

Quotable Tea Quotes
Fill in the blanks.
1. Tea for __________.
2. Not for all the tea in ____________.
3. Tea and _____________.
4. ________________ and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea.
5. Not my _________________ of tea.
6. No _______________ tonight in my coffee, no ______________ tonight in my tea.
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4. Tea Blending
At Tea Connexions, we like to experiment blending of our own tea products. Here are some favorites...

• President Sanjay Gupta's choice is combining one part Assam High Elevation and one part Darjeeling Summer Tips to make a nice royal favorite.
• Our Business Specialist, Brian Mang, enjoys mixing Royal Selection Orange Pekoe and Cinnamon Tea for his morning sipper.
• Marketing Director, Daisy Lieu, loves her Ginger Tea with Earl Grey, to create a nice citrusy refresher.
• Warehouse Manager, Clayton MacDonald, discovered equal parts of Apple and Cinnamon Tea is the ultimate tea fusion.
• Web Designer, Suruchi Gupta, gets creative and suggests combining pinch of Apple Tea and splash of Black Currant Tea for a fruity combination.
• Lihui Tang, from Design Services, enjoys Jasmine tea, but suggests adding a lemon tea bag for a nice flavor.
• Membership Services Director, Jenny Truong's choice is combining a pinch of Ginger Tea with Darjeeling Oolong for a nice smooth tea.
• Tina Mehla, our Customer Services Rep, suggests blending Apple Tea with Darjeeling Organic Green Tea for a unique combination.

To begin experimenting and trying out these tea blending ideas, please visit your nearest distributor who carries these teas.

If you have any tea blending ideas that you would like to share with us, please email me.

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5.This Month’s Featured Teas

Valentines Gift Ideas For that special lady: FT04 - Rose Tea A brilliant blend of Darjeeling leaves and rose petals, rejuvenating Rose Tea produces a pleasant aroma reminiscent of young romance.
B1001 - Brass Jar Today, this fine hand-painted brass tea jar bears delicious organic Darjeeling. Tomorrow it becomes a beautifully accent piece. For that special man: AT04 - High Elevation Assam Take time to relish the darker leafted High Elevation Assam. Rich and strong, this black tea transports the soul to India's higher planes. Its smoky aroma lends itself especially well to Indian Chai. Season with milk, sugar, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Aniseed, or Ginger for a perfect balance.
W005 - Sheesham Cylinder This limited edition hand-crafted tea holder brings together nature's best: the warmth and durability of Sheesham wood and the artistry of India's skilled craftsmen. Sure to be a favorite for him. Lovely Gift Sets: CL03- Rosewood Jewel Case This carefully handcrafted rosewood case with brass inlay Taj Mahal makes a breathtaking jewel case. This tea lover's delight holds 1000 grams/3.5 oz each of Darjeeling Second Flush, Assam Summer Tips, Nilgiri High Elevation, and Earl Grey Teas. CL04- Deca Tea Majestic brass-inlaid hardwood houses 30 grams each of delicious Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, Green Tea, Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Masala, Cinnamon, Ginger and Mint teas. To learn more about other lovely tea gifts or order any of these teas for Valentines, please click here to find your nearest distributor. - - - top - - -

According to Chinese mythology, in 2737 BC the Chinese Emperor, Shen Nung, scholar and herbalist, was sitting beneath a tree while his servant boiled drinking water. A leaf from the tree dropped into the water and Shen Nung decided to try the brew. The tree was a wild tea tree.

Conversely the Indian and Japanese legends both attribute the discovery of tea to Bodhidharma the devout Buddhist priest who founded Zen Buddhism. The Indian legend tells how in the fifth year of a seven year sleepless contemplation of Buddha he began to feel drowsy. He immediately plucked a few leaves from a nearby bush and chewed them which dispelled his tiredness. The bush was a wild tea tree.

From the earliest times tea was renowned for its properties as a healthy, refreshing drink. By the third century AD many stories were being told and some written about tea and the benefits of tea drinking, but it was not until the Tang Dynasty (618 AD - 906 AD) that tea became China's national drink and the word ch'a was used to describe tea.

The first book on tea "Ch'a Ching", circa 780 AD, was written by the Chinese author Lu Yu. It comprises three volumes and covers tea from its growth through to its making and drinking, as well as covering a historical summary and famous early tea plantation. There are many illustrations of tea making utensils and some say that the book inspired the Buddhist priests to create the Japanese tea ceremony. The spread of cultivation throughout China and Japan is largely accredited to the movement of Buddhist priests throughout the region.

The modern term "tea" derives from early Chinese dialect words - such as Tchai, Cha and Tay - used both to describe the beverage and the leaf. Known as Camellia Sinensis to Western botanists, tea is an evergreen plant of the Camellia family.

To learn more about history of tea, click here.
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7. Valentines Tea Recipe

Tea'Ra Misu

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons unflavoured gelatin
2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup water
6 egg whites
4 ounces soft goat cheese
3/4 cup plain goats milk yogurt
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 packages ladyfingers
1 cup strong tea, jasmine or orange
2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Instructions:
Mix gelatin and orange juice in a small saucepan and heat until gelatin is dissolved. Cool.

Combine sugar and water. Cook over medium heat until the syrup reaches 234 - 240 degrees, or soft ball stange.

In a bowl, beat egg whites to soft peaks and then gradually add hot syrup, beating constantly until cool. Beat in orange juice and gelatin mixture.

In a large bowl, beat together the goat cheese, yogurt, orange rind and vanilla. Fold in the meringue lightly in thirds.

Separate ladyfingers and line the bottom of a deep 9" glass bowl or 9 x 13" baking pan with 1/2 of the ladyfingers. Drizzle with 1/2 of the tea. Cover with 1/2 of the meringue mixture and sprinkle with 1/2 of the cocoa. Repeat layers.

Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.

Recipe courtesy of High Fields Country Inn & Spa Resort, Zephyr, ON.
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8. Health News

To submit health news, e-mail us.

TEA AND SMOKERS
According to scientists at Tea Health Research in the UK, data suggest that regular green tea drinking might protect smokers from oxidative damages and could reduce cancer risk or other diseases caused by free radicals associated with smoking.

TEA AND OSTEOPOROSIS
Studies at the Harvard Medical School have shown that tea enhances bone mineral density. Those that drink 3 to 5 cups per day have a higher bone mineral density, so they have less brittle bones than those that don't drink tea.

TEA AND VIRUSES
Previous tests prove tea can neutralize germs. New research by Milton Schiffenbauer of Pace University finds that black and green tea deactivates viruses, including herpes. Research at Harvard also indicate that tea chemicals stimulate gamma-delta T-cells that bolster immunity against bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it may also wipe out viruses in your mouth as well.

TEA TACKLES TANS
Scientists at University of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University have proven that ingredients in the tea can boost the immune function of skin cells and protect against the damaging effects of the sun.
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9. TEA-mates: Members of the Tea Connexions Buying Group

Tea Connexions is dedicated to providing the highest quality gourmet teas. Packaged beautifully, they make an ideal gift for tea lovers, health enthusiasts, and connoisseurs of fine art. Our mission is to offer you beautifully packaged gourmet teas distributed by an elite group of independent distributors that offer you superior service and exceptional value. Your satisfaction is assured; all of our products carry a 100% money back guarantee.

More than 100 distributors look forward to serving your tea and gift giving needs. For an updated list, click here. If a distributor is not in your immediate area, please choose the closest distributor. Please note, this list represents distributors whose online stores are live and active; missing are distributors whose stores are still under construction. To choose your nearest distributor, using a clickable image map, click here.
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10. Once Upon a Tea Time . . . Submit Your Fondest Tea Memory to Win Free Tea

Whether it's childhood memories of granny's kitchen, mom's healing hands or toasts to success, each month Tea 4 Free News - Teazine features favourite tea stories. We would love to hear yours. If we choose your story, we will send you a FREE carton of Darjeeling tea bags.

This featured Tea Story is from Tabitha Wilhelm:

My favorite memory is when I was a small child.

My father loved tea. When I was about 6 years old, I wanted to show my love for my father by making him tea. One Saturday morning, I boiled his favorite loose tea in a pot on the stove. (It was almost equal amounts water/tea/milk) He galantly took a sip of the 'sludge' and told me how wonderful I was. He then asked me if I wanted to learn how to make tea as he learned in China. When I said yes, he proceeded to show me how to boil water, warm the pot, warm the cups, rinse the dark tea leaves, and make tea.

This was the start of my life-long affection for making tea, drinking tea, and trying new teas. Since then, I have broadened my affection for green teas, herbal teas, and tisanes.

To submit a tea story, e-mail us.
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Next Issue . . .

- - - >Tea 4 Free Winners
- - - >Brewing Tea Tips
- - - >Tea Value
- - - >More Recipes
- - - >Tea for All Ages
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12. Credits

This issue of Tea 4 Free News - Teazine was researched and written by Daisy Lieu, Marketing Director for Tea Connexions. The html version of this newletter and all web sites www.leaftea.com, www.teabizinabox.com, www.tea4free.com, and www.leafteabiz.com are managed and created by our Creative Director, Suruchi Gupta. If you would like more information about how you can benefit from her services, click here.
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