Tea 4 Free News > Teazine Issue 15 - June, 2004

Inside Issue #15:

1. Introduction
2. Tea4Free Winners
3. Tea Growing Nations
4. The Afternoon Tea Gown
5. This Month's Featured Teas
6. How Strong is Your Tea Cup?
7. Tea Recipe
8. Health News
9. TEA-mates
10. Once Upon A Tea Time
11. Next Issue
12. Credits

Our new Chinese Organic Tea Series consists of:
• Chinese Organic White Tea
• Chinese Organic Green Tea
• Chinese Sweet Green Tea
• Chinese Organic Jasmine Tea
• Chinese Organic Oolong Tea
• Chinese Variety Tea Pack

Click here for more details.

NEW CATALOGS
We are pleased to announce that our new catalogs have arrived featuring our current 71 products. Tea Connexions has replaced our existing catalog with a brand new one. This new catalog is 15 pages filled with glossy images and descriptions of our tea products.

Click here for more details.

TEA BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Would you like to get more information about starting your own tea business? Email us with your full name, email address, mailing address and phone no. so that we can mail you the information package.

Congratulations to our lucky winner: Rita P. of El Paso, TX.

• Joe Reyes, of www.teas-r-us.com, presented the tea4free prize to our lucky winner, Rita P. of El Paso, TX.

India
India is the largest tea producer and exporter in the world. The three popular regions include Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri. Darjeeling tea is precious and accounts for only three per cent of India's total tea production. Therefore, Darjeeling teas command the highest prices at auctions and can only be produced in this particular region. Assam is characterized with its strong pungent full bodiness, while Nilgiris are relatively mild teas which are plucked year around unlike the seasonal Assam, and Darjeeling. They are famous for their bright and brisk liquors and their mellow light clear flavours.

China
Currently, China remains one of the largest suppliers of quality teas. Green teas represent 75% to 80% of China's current consumption. Chinese teas come from five provinces. The Yunnan region for its black tea denoting a rich flavor and no astringency. The low-lying Anhui region for Keemun, a black tea that gives a slightly chocolaty-flavored drink. This region also produces Chun mee and Sowmee green teas. Fujian and Jiangxi produces teas used mostly in blends and the Zhejiang region which is apparent for its gunpowder tea.

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka was not originally known as a country for producing teas, but rather coffee. Since the coffee estates were hit by a fungus epidemic, they began focusing on growing tea plants. Tea from Sri Lanka is still known by the country's former name of Ceylon. They produce many black teas, most popular being Ceylon Breakfast.

Taiwan
Taiwan is known for producing many amazing varieties of Oolong teas, many that originated from the province of Fujian province of China. Their specialty teas command a higher price in the international market due to their distinct aroma and taste.

Japan
The Japanese tea-growing region covers the southern half of Honshu and the smaller islands of Shikoku and Kyushu. Some of the finest teas still come from regions, such as Uji in Kyoto, that were originally planted a thousand years ago.

Gyokoru is Japan's finest grade of tea, usually reserved for special occasions. After a period of shading, only the freshest leaves are picked, then processed without delay.
A similar growing and processing method produces tencha tea. Tencha is the basis of the famous matcha powdered tea.
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4. The Afternoon Tea Gown
The Afternoon Tea Gown was first introduced by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford. The ladies would wear different gown styles based on the occasion and time of the day. This “beautiful era” was known as La Belle Epoque (1880-1914). Women had little financial restrictions and were able to satisfy themselves with fancy home entertaining and luxurious attires.

The three basic types of dresses:

Undress: worn in the morning, inside a ladies boudoir or 'deshabille robe de chambre', were of nightgown quality.
Half Dress: worn in the afternoon for visiting and receptions, in or out of the home.
Full Dress: worn in the evening, low neck lines, no sleeves and fanciful fabrics.
Many of these gowns are now preserved and displayed at museums, vintage fairs and shops throughout the country. One can still get a replica made, but could be quite costly.

If you own a tea gown and would like to share your tea gown picture with us, email me and we will post it in our next newsletter. The owner of the best gown will receive a special gift!
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5. This Month’s Featured Teas
These teas will also make great iced teas and as well as hot!

Orange Pekoe Darjeeling Tea Savor the dark color and rich taste of Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe Darjeeling. This slightly coarser whole leaf is delicious with or without milk. (100 grams/3.5 ounces)
Royal Selection Canister The striking Royal Selection tin depicting Indian royalty makes an ideal gift for those tea enthusiasts seeking a more regal taste. (1/2 pound/250 grams of Fine Tippy Golden Orange Pekoe Darjeeling) To learn more about other teas or order any of these teas, please click here to find your nearest distributor.

Antioxidant Tips
Keep it loose. Tea made from loose leaves has more antioxidants than tea bags, which tend to have lower-quality, powdered leaves.

Steep teas in hot water for 3 to 5 minutes to thoroughly release antioxidant activities.

Watch your water. Chlorine in tap water can lower antioxidant levels if it is not brought to a full boil first. For the best -- tasting tea, use distilled water; the minerals in water change tea's flavor.
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7. TEAmptation Recipe
Summer is here…why not give your tea mug a little break and bring out the frosty ice tea cups and savour the wonderful flavours of iced teas! One of my favourites is enjoying a notorious bubble tea drink. Bubble tea is a different, light-hearted, fun way to approach this old fashioned beverage.

Bubble Tea Recipe

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup chilled, cooked large tapioca pearls (Refer to tapioca pearls recipe below.)
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 1 cup very strong chilled black tea (or orange pekoe tea) (Refer to tea recipe below.)
• 1 cup milk
• Honey or sugar syrup to taste

Method:
Place the pearls in a large glass. Combine all remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until mixture is frothy. Accordingly, the more froth, the stronger the flavor. Pour into the glass and serve with thick straws.
For variation, you could add sugar or other flavorings like almond, sweetened condensed milk or green tea. You could even experiment with fruit juice flavorings like mango and green apple or add in small fresh fruit pieces. Just mix in the following proportions: 2 parts juice to 3 parts tea.

Preparing the tapioca pearls:
Usually, the more water, the better the tapioca pearls will cook. For best results, use about 7 parts water for one 3 kg of pearls or 3 litres for cooking 1 kg of tapioca pearls.
1. Add in the tapioca pearls into a pot of boiling water gradually. Remember to spread out the pearls and prevent them from sticking to each other.
2. Allow them to boil for about 30 minutes or until they are soft, stirring often.
3. Turn off the fire and let the tapioca pearls steep for another 30 minutes with the lid on.
4. Next drain and rinse the pearls with cold water using a strainer until the water is clear.
5. Place the tapioca pearls in a solution of hot water and sugar syrup. The solution prevents the pearls from sticking to each other.
6. For the sugar solution, a combination of brown and white sugar is recommended and usually 1 part water to 1 part sugar is preferred.
7. Soak the pearls for a few minutes before serving.

Preparing the sugar syrup
2 parts white sugar
1 part brown sugar
3 parts water
Bring the water to boil and add the sugar. Reduce the heat and allow the sugar to dissolve.
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8. Health News

To submit health news, e-mail us.

TEA AND AGING
Studies have shown that Oolong tea may display positive effects on aging. Scientists from America, Taiwan and Japan have discovered that drinking Oolong tea may slow the aging process by decreasing the amount of hair loss, age spots, wrinkles and other factors associated with aging.

TEA AND ALLERGIES
Researchers say they have found an ingredient in green tea that stops a key process in producing an allergic response and the symptoms that follow. In laboratory tests, Japanese researchers have found that the antioxidants in green tea block the biochemical process involved in producing an allergic response. Green tea may be useful against a wide range of sneeze-starting allergens, including pollen, pet dander, and dust.

TEA AND PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Tea consumption may be protective against developing Parkinson’s disease. For example, the polyphenols in green tea have been found to have a preventative effect. These chemicals act within the brain to improve the flow of dopamine between portions of the brain. Parkinson's is caused by a lack of dopamine in one part of the brain, and these polyphenols could prevent that depletion.
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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.

This featured Tea Story is from Maureen Apperson of West Warwick, RI:

I visited my long time friend in California just before she was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. She had come up with the brilliant idea of gathering all her favorite women friends for a "High Chai" party. We had a mock tea party in the beauty of northern California at her house, and everyone dressed up in great costumes.

The rules were that your outfit couldn't cost more than $10.00 and you could not wear any shoes. The dress was outstanding! It was like playing "dress-up" in your grandmother's closet! Some of the women wore great hats and Victorian dresses.

We served pastry and finger sandwiches and then built a great bonfire and sat around and listened to one of the women play guitar. I truly felt a part of the sisterhood, and have some wonderful pictures as memories.