buds and beans

light em up!

2010-01-21T00:20:00.000-08:00

Great news for those without any self respect. A new study has found the drinking copious amounts of green tea may help to dampen the effects of smoking on your lungs. Now if only it could help with the secondary smoke your kids have to suck in, the nicotine stains on walls and clothing and the damage it does to the environment. heres the article

CORONADO, Calif.—Drinking green tea could alter the effect of smoking on lung cancer, according to a study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research-IASLC Joint Conference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer Jan. 11-14.

Researchers enrolled 170 patients with lung cancer and 340 healthy patients as controls. They administered questionnaires to obtain demographic characteristics, cigarette smoking habits, green tea consumption, dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, cooking practices and family history of lung cancer. They also performed genotyping on insulin-like growth factors as polymorphisms on the following insulin-like growth factors: IGF1, IGF2 and IGFBP3, which have all been reported to be associated with cancer risk.

Among smokers and non-smokers, those who did not drink green tea had a 5.16-fold increased risk of lung cancer compared with those who drank at least one cup of green tea per day. Among smokers, those who did not drink green tea at all had a 12.71-fold increased risk of lung cancer compared with those who drank at least one cup of green tea per day.

Researchers suspect genetics may play a role in this risk differential. Green tea drinkers with non-susceptible IGF1 (CA)19/(CA)19 and (CA)19/X genotypes reported a 66-percent reduction in lung cancer risk as compared with green tea drinkers carrying the IGF1 X/X genotype. Heavy smokers carrying susceptible IGF1, IGF2 and IGFBP3 genotypes also had a higher risk of lung cancer compared with nonsmokers carrying non-susceptible IGF1, IGF2 and IGFBP3 genotypes.
Sources:

* American Association for Cancer Research: Green Tea Could Modify the Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Lung Cancer Risk

tea poetry

2009-06-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

If you are cold, tea will warm you;
If you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are excited, it will calm you.
-William Gladstone, British Prime Minister (1809-1898)

tea poetry i picked up while visiting templar tea

white tea inhibits fat!

2009-05-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

German Researchers: White Tea Can Affect Fat Life Cycle
Friday, 15 May 2009
Concern over increases in obesity-related diseases prompted research into the effects of white tea extract on the human body.

Researchers in Germany conducted in vitro studies to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying fat metabolism, more specifically the effect of white tea extract on cultured human subcutaneous preadipocytes and adiopocytes (fat cells).

The findings, published this month in Nutrition & Metabolism, found that white tea extract effectively inhibits adipogenesis (the production of fat) and stimulates lipolysis activity (the destruction of fats). According to the abstract, this means white tea extract “can be utilized to modulate different levels of the adipocyte life cycle.”

The abstract and full study can be found here, on Nutrition & Metabolism’s Web site.

tea cocktail winning recipes

2009-05-08T01:22:00.000-07:00

Top Tea Cocktail Finalists

Chocolate MarTEAni
Submitted by: Hale Tea Company
Tea Used: Organic Vanilla Black Tea and Creamy Cacao White Tea
Dessert anyone? The delightful blend of organic Vanilla and creamy Cacao teas make this decadent drink very smooth on the palate, yet light on the calories. Serve with vodka and crème de cacao.

Recipe:
4 parts organic vanilla and white cacao tea blend, sweetened
1 part creme de cacao
1 part vodka
DoMatcha-tini
Submitted by: DoMatcha Japanese Green Tea
Tea Used: Matcha
DoMatcha’s signature martini – Cacao DoMatcha-tini brings out the best of the best. 360 Vodka, Remy’s Cognac, Crème de Cacao and our Ceremonial DoMatcha. A bitter sweet taste of fire.

Recipe:
1 oz Grey Goose Vodka
1 oz Remy’s Cognac
1 oz Crème de Cacao
¾ tsp DōMatcha Ceremonial matcha
ice cubes
powdered chocolate (optional)

Eight Treasures
Submitted by: Serene Feng, Radiance Tea House & Books
Tea Used: Jasmine Tea
A slightly modified version of this traditional favorite with a wonderful display of colors and taste, served over ice bringing a sweet refreshing feeling perfect for those hot summer days.

Recipe:
Jasmine tea, momordica fruit, ginseng root, licorice, goji berries, dates, raisins, chrysanthemum, rock sugar, agar-agar, sweet rice wine and a scoop of green tea ice cream. Genevrier Verte
Submitted by: Max Solano, Table 10
Tea Used: China Mist Pure Blackberry Jasmine Iced Green Tea with Lemonade
Max Solano, Mixologist for Emeril's Table 10 and Delmonico's Steakhouse, creates a tasty drink that he describes as a herbaceous fresh botanical tea drink. The frothy "Green Juniper" complements this China Mist Pure Blackberry Jasmine Iced Green Tea with Lemonade exquisitely.

Recipe:
1.5 oz China Mist Pure Blackberry Jasmine Iced Green Tea with Lemonade
1.5 oz of Hendricks Gin
¾ oz of Agwa Coco Leaf
½ oz fresh lime juice
¾ oz of vanilla/clove infused simple syrup (or bar syrup)
1 egg white
Garnish with cucumber wheel and mint

Iron Buddha and the Flower
Submitted by: Barnes & Watson Fine Teas
Tea Used: Organic Iron Buddha & Chrysanthemum
A “crowd pleaser” martini style cocktail combines the quintessentially unique flavors of the heady ti-kuan-yin and earth-rooted chrysanthemum flower. Aromatic maraschino liquor, lemon and yuzu create a refined elegance complete the refinement.

Recipe:
organic cane sugar & cracked black pepper – for edge of rim
2 ounces organic Iron Buddha & chrysanthemum concentrate
1 ounce Maraska maraschino liquor
½ ounce meyer lemon juice
3-5 splashes yuzu seasoning base*
lemon twist garnish

Moisten the edge of the martini glass and dip into the sugar-black pepper mixture to coat the edge of the rim (about ¼ of the rim). Pour the liquid ingredients over ice in a shaker. Shake well and served “up” in a martini glass. Garnish with a long lemon twist.

* Yuzu is a citrus fruit with a distinct fragrant aroma and a brisk tartness - Yamajirushi is a good brand found in Asian markets

Iron Buddha-Chrysanthemum concentrate:
Combine 1 ounce of Iron Buddha with ¼ ounce of chrysanthemum together in a 2-cup measuring cup. Add boiling water to about the 2 cup mark. Steep for 3-4 minutes. Strain, cool to room temperature and store refrigerated for use. Jasmine gingerTEAni
Submitted by: Adagio Teas
Tea Used: Adagio Jasmine Green
Using a versatile simple syrup infused with Adagio Jasmine Tea and fresh Ginger, this fragrant cocktail will be the highlight of any gathering. Try this instead of the usual Mint Julep for the upcoming Kentucky Derby party.

Recipe:
Make a Jasmine Ginger simple syrup:{ in a non-reactive pan (glass works great), bring 1 cup of water to 180 degrees, add 3 teabags of Adagio Jasmine Green tea, steep for 3 minutes, remove tea bags and add 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, stir to dissolve the sugar and heat to almost boiling. Sieve out the ginger, store the syrup in a covered jar for up to one month.}
Mix 1 1/2 ounce premium vodka with 3/4 ounce Jasmine Ginger simple syrup in a martini shaker filled with ice. Pour into chilled martini glass, enjoy!

La Vie en Rose
Submitted by: Two A Tea
Tea Used: Adagio Raspberry Tea
Imagine a starry night in Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background and the scent of roses in the air. That's what you'll get with this heavenly concoction of rosewater, raspberry tea, and rose champagne. C'est si bon!

Recipe:
2 teaspoons fresh tangeringe juice
1 teaspoon Grand Marnier
1 teaspoon rosewater
1/2 teaspoon simple syrup
2 oz. brewed raspberry tea (1/4 cup)
4 oz. rose champagne (1/2 cup)

Combine tangerine juice, Grand Marnier, rosewater and simple syrup in a champagne flute. Add chilled raspberry tea, and top with rose champagne. Matcha Ginger MargariTea
Submitted by: Lavender Lounge Tea
Tea Used: Matcha
A blend of Matcha, ginger and spearmint combined with tequila bring a unique twist to the classic Margarita. Smooth refreshing and a little too easy to drink!

Recipe:
1/2 teaspoon Matcha
1/2 teaspoon dried spearmint
1/2 teaspoon dried ginger
6 1/2 oz water
1 1/2 oz. Tequila
2-3 teaspoons Agave Nectar
3 cups ice
Sugar for garnish

Steep the ginger and spearmint in 6 1/2 oz. 180' water for 5 minutes, let cool. To a 18 oz. shaker add 2 cups ice, add the tequila, Matcha, steeped ginger-mint tea and agave nectar, shake very well to blend. Pour into a sugar rimmed 10 oz. glass over the remaining ice.

moTEAjo
Submitted by: Chris Cason, Tavalon Tea
Tea Used: Green Tea
A healthier version of the classic with all the same great flavors, plus green tea!

Recipe:
4oz moTEAjo mix (green tea+lemongrass+peppermint)
2oz light rum
1oz fresh lime juice
Small bunch fresh mint (about 10 leaves)
Crushed ice
Lime wheel (for garnish)

Muddle mint and lime juice with pestle, add ice, rum and tea mix. Stir thoroughly to combine, garnish with lime wheel. October Harvest
Submitted by: The Green Tea Frog Inc.
Tea Used: Masala Chai/Autumn Harvest Fruit Melange
A mouth water tantalizing spicy apple/autumn harvest sensation.

Recipe:
Pot spoon of Autumn harvest fruit melange
1/4 teaspoon of Masala Chai
2 tablespoons powered apple cider
1 shot of Smirnoff Twisted Green Apple Vodka

Pure MojiTEA
Submitted by: China Mist Brands
Tea Used: China Mist Pure Blackberry Jasmine Iced Green Tea with Lemonade
A tea-riffic twist on an island favorite our refreshing MojiTEA is sweetly satisfying and minty fresh. Tommy Bahama Rum tart limes and cool mint complement our China Mist Pure Blackberry Jasmine Iced Green Tea with Lemonade.

Recipe:
6 oz of China Mist Pure Blackberry Jasmine Iced Green Tea with Lemonade
1.5 oz of Tommy Bahama White Sands Rum
8 Mint Leaves
1tbsp of simple syrup (or bar syrup)
½ oz of fresh lime juice
1 lime wheel split in half
Garnish with lime wheel and mint Sencha Kamikaze
Submitted by: TeaZen
Tea Used: Sencha Lemon
The green tea adds a soft light green color and lemon flavor making the drink tasty and refreshing. Tea gently smooths alcohol taste making the cocktail simple delish.

Recipe:
2 oz Dry Gin (Bombay Recommended)
2 oz Triple Sec
2 oz Sencha lemon tea instead of lime juice

Shake the ingridients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime twist

Sencha n' Tonic
Submitted by: Maeda-En USA
Tea Used: Sencha
Try our fresh tasting, easy to brew Sencha with Shochu (Japanese wheat liquor), tonic, and a splash of lime. It’s a fun Eastern twist on a Western classic.

Recipe:
To make sencha infused shochu:
Take 1 PRTB Sencha and steep in 1/2 cup of shochu. Recommended Shochu brand: Ginza no Suzume, or something as mild

1 part Sencha infused shochu (Japanese Wheat Liquor)
2 parts tonic
Some lime wedges

Fill a glass with ice. Pour in shochu, followed by tonic water. Add a splash of lime juice, and garnish with a wedge. St. Jasmine
Submitted by: Art of Tea
Tea Used: Jasmine Pearls
Organic Jasmine Pearls meets wild Elderflower Liquor with a sweet floral and sublime taste Served Up.

Recipe:
1.5oz Hanger1 Vodka
3oz AoT Jasmine Pearls Tea – steeped double strength for 3 minutes
Splash of St Germaine Elderflower Liquor – about ¼ teaspoon
Two wide zests of lemon – use vegetable peeler

Combine in mixing glass over ice.
Stir to chill.
Pour into cocktail glass.
Garnish with two jasmine pearls that have been steeped and opened & three dried jasmine flowers floating on top.

ZEN GODDESS
Submitted by: Zen Green Tea Liqueur
Tea Used: Iron Goddess of Mercy Oolong Tea
Iron Goddess of Mercy Oolong Tea blends with ZEN GREEN TEA LIQUEUR, Smooth Cabo Wabo Tequila and Passion Fruit Juice to create the ZEN Goddess. Garnish with a large, thin Grapefruit slice.

Recipe:
1½ parts ZEN GREEN TEA LIQUEUR
3 parts prepared Iron Goddess of Mercy Oolong Tea
1 part Passion Fruit Juice
1 part Cabo Wabo Tequila (White)

Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice.
Shake and strain into glass.
Garnish with large, thin Grapefruit Slice.

news flash- chubbies to become skinnies

2009-05-05T06:26:00.000-07:00

its decided. we are now opening a challenge to everyone who wants to bust a little butt and become meaner and leaner.

the Mate del Sol dieters challenge!!

we will be accepting applicants to go on a yerba mate diet that we will specially structure. the rules will be simple. become hot!
the best part - we will be sponsoring looots of yerba mate. that way even if you gain weight (unlikely) at least you will have drunk lots of yerba, and be a generally happier person for it

the best thing about coffee -the smell

2009-04-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

people continuously ask me if i drink coffee. i think its a kind of a challenge, implicit in the question are: - are you a health nut (freak!!)/nope, you got something against stimulants(whoose!!!)/nope, are you trying to make a statement(trouble maker!!)/nope again, you've probably never had a good cup of coffee(ignoramus!!)/well, actually i do know a thing or two about the bean, i do drink it occasionally (very rarely impressed) but quite honestly the most use i have for it, is smelling it!

coffee is a great way to clear your nose between cupping and flavouring of tea. its a great way to clean your slate, and "look" at a new tea from a fresh perspective.

rough!

2009-04-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

proof that its a no brainer to made a great cup of tea. here is news clip i picked up

Mississippi woman alert, coherent after being shot in the head
Thursday, April 16, 2009 By CHERIE WARDStaff Reporter
PASCAGOULA — A rural woman shocked deputies when they found her alert and coherent after being shot in the head at close range by her husband.

She even made a cup of tea, according to one of the deputies.

"There's no way she should be alive," Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said. "The bullet completely passed straight through her brain. It entered at the middle of her forehead and exited from the back of her head. She should be dead. It's one of the most unreal, bizarre things I've ever seen."

2009-04-16T10:31:00.001-07:00

google2db7a62a5b5f3156.html

2009-04-14T00:55:00.001-07:00

Huevos Haminados - brown tea eggs!

2009-04-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

Awesome! Pesach (Passover)is upon us. i have many fond memories of writhing in discomfort on the side of a road after gourging myself at passover seder. my wife standing over me gently proding me with a toe to see if i was still alive or if she should carry on walking home. good times! so i present here a recipe for a sefardic classic Huevos Haminados - tea eggs!! traditionaly prepared as part of the passover seders ritual meal in the homes of Jews deriving from Spain before it turned pear shaped.
tea. eggs. passover. matzah! im excited already
list of cooking stuff
1. eggs however many you like
2. onion peels
3. salt
4. oil
5. water
6. black tea

method
put the salt, eggs, glug of oil, onion peels and tea into a casserole dish with water. make sure there is sufficient water in it to cover the eggs. put into an oven and leave overnight on a low temperature.
the tea will colour the eggs through the shell, you can even lightly crack the shells when they are mostly cooked to make some patterning. the eggs themselves will have a rich and creamy texture.

tea tree house

2009-03-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

i found this tea house on a link from www.uncouthpalate.blogspot.com (nice blog), in href="http://www.dezeen.com/2009/03/12/takasugi-an-by-terunobu-fujimori/">

now thats how i like it. it doesnt work with tea cocktails but its still good with me

shaken and stirred

2009-03-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

thats it! not only has the world economy gone to pot, but tea is officialy in the drink.
Puza-faces will be delighted to hear about the upcoming pickling taking place in Vegas during Mays "world tea expo".

the rules are simple, come up with a winning tea cocktail in the online contest and you may be facing off against some other tea-totalers at the event. the final heat will be getting judged by some ardent foodies and the winners will become the object of love and adoration amoungst tea drinkers and alcohics everywhere

if it was possible to slur my typing, by this stage of the blog i would sound like i had a bag of marbles dribbling out of my mouth.

women cook, men BBQ (and billy tea)

2009-02-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"

one thing that's certain about tossing a bunch of hardened criminals to ferment on an island/continent, and leaving them to their own devices, is you are unlikely to get clubs of teabag collectors or doily crocheters.

rather you get real man tea! burn-yourself-to-a-beetroot-red-if-you-mess-up-tea, hard core knock a roo over the head with that tea, BILLY TEA!

Polly doesn't put the kettle on this one, in fact, Polly better clear of and get her man a cold one before she looses her eyebrows.

this is is the tea version of the BBQ, and its easy to get right if you have the cahanes (not sure how you spell those).
1. simply hook a billy (can with handle) filled with water over a fire, bring to a boil
2. throw a fistful of tea leaves into the billy
3. let it simmer around for couple of minutes
4. extricate billy from fire using welding gloves, rags, wifes old skirt, whatever stops you melting.
4. (now for the fun) to get your tea leaves to the bottom of the billy, and easy to pour off, start swinging the boiling hot tin in a large arc, hoping that newton had it right and let the centrifugal force keep the brew in the pot.

pour into fine china HOOHA!

Yixing and Oolong - the idiot guides

2009-02-03T13:03:00.000-08:00

although arguably the best oolong tea comes from Taiwan, the best pot for the job comes from China. Yíxīng tea pots refer to the small decorative, unglazed teapots that sell at astronomical prices. kuk and betaal for the best, only if you have something worth putting into it. for everyone else you can pick up a crappy imitation one at your local "China town",

There is much rambling about which pot to use for which grade/origin of oolong tea, but here is my idiots guide to Yíxīng teapots.

As a rule of thumb the lower grown or "rougher" the oolong tea, the "rougher" your pot should be. more absorbent pots will help to absorb astringency in the tea. smoother oolongs tea require less tampering around with, and one can happily choose even a glass pot, or fine gaiwan for prep' that wont be absorbent at all. try not to mix your pots and teas, if you can keep a dedicated pot per tea type. that way you will get a great cup of oolong instead of a drink that is more confused than David Bowie.

When judging the quality of Yíxīng teapots the following can be done:

Tap the pots lightly together: the ceramic should make a distinctly metallic sound.

Look at the fit of the lid into the pot, it should be flush and appear seamless.

Fill the pot with water, place the lid on, and begin pouring the water. it should pour smoothly

While pouring, place your finger over the hole on the lid, this action should stop the flow of water immediately and completely if the lid is well fitted.

Yíxīng teapots come in a number of colour shades, and you can even pick up a beautiful purple one if you are lucky. As the clay from the region gets depleted expect the cost to go up.

prep' for your Yíxīng teapot

Like a marriage, a new pot must be gently introduced into the relationship. one would not cock a leg and blast out a cloud of noxious vapours at a new bride any more than one should unceremoniously begin stuffing their pot with tea.

fist submerge your pot in cool, clean water. then bring the water up to a boil. the longer you expose your pot to this, the darker it will become.

later your pot will become as impervious to your slap dash preparations as your centennial wife is to your stained Y fronts and foul smells. gently does it.

The average Joe in the tea biz

2009-01-23T02:35:00.000-08:00

I just started working for a company(Teabox) in the tea biz specializing in exotic teas, like I said being the average joe in the biz I never knew there were that many teas out there! who would think you can get a tea that tastes like strawberries and cream, Mint and most amazingly one that tastes just like chocolate!

I am a person who also looks for the nutritional benefits in products and tea seems to be the pioneer of anti-oxidants and vitamins.

In my first week at the job I had been ravaged by spiderbites, the doctor said I should try detox my system to rid the mild toxins from my body and to get rid of the somewhat disgusting bite marks on my arm and as true as g-d after drinking a variety of different teas I feel stronger and the bite marks are disappearing! As a result I am looking forward to working in the tea game as it is very interesting due to the fact they are from around the world, a healthy drink on the job and new to my knowledge reduces the risk of cancer by an impressive percentage! I am going to continue in the tea biz as I may just be looking for a healthy drink at lunch time and BANG turn into Superman;-)

By JuGeRnAuT

T'Tea

2009-01-23T01:36:00.000-08:00

here is an interesting piece of research. Turns out that not only does coffee shrink breasts, but tea protects them!

Three cups of tea a day could help keep breast cancer at bay among younger women, researchers have found.
A US study discovered an increased intake of tea reduced the risk among ladies under the age of 50 by up to 37%.
The threat of another type of tumour, affecting the lobes deep inside the breast tissue, was cut by two thirds, the researchers at the Moffitt Cancer Centre in Florida found.
Britain's favourite drink may not help older generations fight the disease though.
The study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention found senior drinkers to be unaffected.
The results have prompted theories that tea can help fight tumours common among young women.
Thousands are battling breast cancer
Researchers compared the lifestyles of 5,000 women with breast cancer to a similar number without the disease.
The results will be welcomed by the 41,000 women, and around 300 men, who are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year.
Tea, particularly green tea, contains plant-based disease fighting polyphenols, which are believed to account for the cancer protection.
And that is not the only health benefits daily tea consumption brings.
Previous studies have found these to include a lower risk of heart attack and stroke, a lower cholesterol level, improved blood pressure management and alleviation of symptoms for common illnesses.
:: For more information and support see Breakthrough Breast Cancer or Breast Cancer Care.

yerba mate truffles

2009-01-14T07:18:00.000-08:00

here's a cool recipe i picked up from wholefoods

Recipe:
Coconut Maté Chocolate Truffles

Makes about 30 truffles

Coconut milk, extra virgin coconut oil and cinnamon combine with yerba maté, a traditional drink in Uruguay and other South American countries touted for its health benefits, in this sinfully delicious treat. Serve with orange slices for an especially sharp contrast on the palate.
Ingredients

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon extra virgin coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons loose yerba maté tea
Unsweetened cocoa powder for rolling the truffles
Method

Place a saucepan, filled halfway with water over medium-low heat. Place a small metal bowl on top of the saucepan to create a double boiler. Add the chocolate to the bowl, and melt over moderate heat.

Pour the coconut milk into a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the tea, cover, and remove from heat for 5 minutes. Strain the coconut milk mixture directly into the chocolate, using a fine-mesh strainer. Discard the tea leaves. Whisk the chocolate mixture well with a wire whip until the chocolate is uniformly melted and the coconut milk has been incorporated. Refrigerate the chocolate until firm, about 2 hours.

Sift cocoa into a bowl. Using a measuring spoon, scoop up 1 teaspoon of chocolate, and quickly roll into a ball about 3/4-inch across. Drop into cocoa; roll each truffle in cocoa to coat. Chill until firm. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition

Per 2 truffle serving (27g-wt.): 110 calories (90 from fat), 10g total fat, 6g saturated fat, 2g protein, 9g total carbohydrate (2g dietary fiber, 6g sugar), 0mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium

what the faq!!

2008-12-09T12:31:00.000-08:00

this is a great resource. it covers many of the basic questions about tea

http://pages.ripco.net/~c4ha2na9/tea/faq.html

cup half empty or half fool?

2008-11-13T12:18:00.000-08:00

Ah! the wondrous institution of marriage. Sacredly ordained and blessed with elaborate rituals since time immemorial. None quite so fitting as the "bachelors party". How better to embark on a life long (read the fine print on this one if you are marrying a celeb') journey and partnership, than to guzzle down liters of booze, clumsily grope at a semi clad lady covered in icing, and display a puke covered set of Y fronts to your prospective father-in-law. Good times.

Tonight i, like many others of my ilk, took part in the ritual, but with a few slight adjustments. One- the soberest participant turned out to be the groom. Two - there was no oversized cake forthcoming, never mind the awaited professional within and thirdly, there was a decided lack of degradation. In fact the groom maintained his somber yet cheerful disposition throughout the night. There where a few threats of tarring and feathering and some of the revelers enjoyed cider via a funnel and tube. Nevertheless all was calm on the front. As an admirer of the morbid, this would have been a let down had i not been expecting the night to be tame.

With this in mind therefore i would like to pose the following equation
satisfaction = perception(Actuality/Expectation) where the greater the variance between expectation and the actuality, the greater the cause for upset.

Long Jin green tea = crap. you will not be disappointed by this tea, because it is not in our stable, at www.teabox.co.za, nor will you shell out hard earned dineros at www.cafesakura.com for this tea as it will not be offered their in the foreseeable future

not cool

2008-11-03T13:30:00.001-08:00

Three cups a day keeps the breasts shrinking away

A new study shows that drinking three cups of coffee a day may shrink a woman’s breasts.

Scientists studied around 300 women, asking them about their breast measurements and how many cups of coffee they drink per day.

They found that drinking just three cups of coffee per day was enough to make the breasts shrink, even increasing the risk as more cups of coffee were consumed.

“Drinking coffee can have a major effect on breast size,” said Helena Jernstroem, a lecturer in experimental oncology at Lund University in Sweden. “Coffee-drinking women do not have to worry their breasts will shrink to nothing overnight. They will get smaller, but the breasts aren't just going to disappear. However, anyone who thinks they can tell which women are coffee drinkers just from their bra measurements will be disappointed. The problem is that there are two measures for a bra, the cup size and the girth, so you wouldn't be able to tell.”

While that news may be saddening to some, on a more positive note the researchers also found that drinking caffeine can help to cut the risk of developing breast cancer.

Scientists say that estrogen is affected by coffee because a woman’s metabolism can be changed by some substances in coffee, thereby lowering the risk.

Shrinking breasts? I wonder what my problem is because I don’t drink coffee at all. Maybe drinking coffee would have an opposite reaction on me, what do you think?

Source: dailymail

Rane
Health Innovations
InventorSpot.com

Hola! Yerba Latte

2008-11-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

at long last! mate del sol Yerba Latte is finally ready to hit the shelves (and cups). so much for espresso being so "expresso". this sucker has taken an incredible long time (considering its relative simplicity) to get ready to join the party. so here is a little preview of things to come. you will be able to purchase a half kg of yerba latte mix (suitable for use in espesso machines - not automated) at www.cafesakura.com

some arb' facts and stats on Yerba Lattes thus far
1. the Argentinians think im stupid.
2. our 1st customer is a 5 star hotel (overlooking all gourmet tea for later- go figure)
3. 9 out of 10 trial subjects (there have been many) think they would prefer it as a regular drink to coffee.
4. 7 out of 10 gagged on a yerba espresso unsweetened and looked at me like i was trying to feed them a farm yard.
5. the 8 out of 10 of the 7 (excuse my math, i never did geography at school) immediately changed their tune with the "magic" addition of a touch of honey
6. yerba latte is probably less addictive than crack, but definately healthier.
7. Amy said that she definately felt more cocky after sinking her second latte in a row, and that honey was nicer than vanilla. Amy then proceeded to behave substantialy more cocky once she had worked her way through an "Americano yerba"
8. my new Argentinian assistant looked at me like i was some sort of twisted psycho when i handed her a yerba latte, (part of her initiation/interview). made some muttered remarks as to what her zeida would have thought of this, and promptly sunk the rest.
9. cold yerba latte is cool too

p.s. there is a sale on kg of tradicional loose leaf mate del sol currently available at www.cafesakura.com

tea processing flow map

2008-08-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

with thanks to William for the flow diagram

the many faces of tea

2008-07-26T14:20:00.001-07:00

this is a little tea suprise. there is another white tea, one that is far rarer than the more popularly known white tea. An Ji Bai Cha is derived from a recently discovered legendary tea bush cited in a 900 year old Chinese classic. thought to be purely legend until the discovery of a single teabush in the 80's (i thought everything from the 80's only came in luminous colours till now)this rare find has almost white leaves when infused and is technicaly a green tea - hence it is a white tea due to the colour of its leaves. most white tea is defined as such by the colour of its infusion as well as the nature of processing (i.e. no curative process). An Ji Bai is extremely rich in amino acids but falls down when it comes to polyphenols and cholorophyll. check out http://www.teaspring.com for a stockist of this tea

2008-07-16T03:22:00.000-07:00

A drinking problem?

2008-07-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

Yerba Mate is an everyday obsession with me, and I drink it continuously throughout the day, and I love it strong and in the traditional mate (calabash cup). I think some days I might even rival Argentinians, who have had laws passed to stop them from drinking and driving (drinking mate that is). Oolongs are about special times, but the yerba is everytime. To give you an idea of the love I have for the tea, let me take you with me (in thought ) to the average meeting I might have.

“Hi mr/mrs/notsurewhatyouare blab bla, thanks for taking the time to meet me, can I interest you in some tea? mate?” by this stage I’m either pouring or commandeering the persons staff to get cups, water, no not so hot (get it to the “crab eye” bubble stage – in my head)not hot enough, and generally ignoring any protests about how they may or may not have drunk enough for the day.

We talk, more often than not, I talk more than them, examine some tea, smell it, poke around the leaves, the pros and cons, slam CTC a little. Now comes the embarrassing part, if the person leaves their cup partially un-drunk. My eyes keep skipping down to the yerba simmering in there cup, getting stronger, and inevitably heading for over infused status. If it’s a delicate green tea in their cup, the whole episode plays out the same way but with a frantic pace as my heart beats out the 3 minutes infusion time, while the cup remains undrained.

By this time the client/supplier/whatever is starting to notice my repeated warnings of “ why don’t you finish up that mate?” or “don’t you like the tea?” “its going to get too strong” rising in tempo and progressively peppering the conversation more and more. Conversation starts to break down as concentration on the topic erodes, and any pretense of my interest in anything other than the cup slips away.

Now you may think, this guy is exaggerating, but there are quite some number of people out there, by now, who may slowly shake their heads and be reminded of the broken sentences ending with “ are you going to drink that already? Cause if you aren’t I will!” followed by my slurping down the remainders of their cup.

From the sublime to the sacrilegious – the sacrilegious

2008-07-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

Today Neil and I took the tea known as “the drink of the gods”, the green gold of the indios, the herbal brew that has been used as a sacred peace pipe for thousands of years amoungst the noble tribes of the Amazonia forests. We took this most hallowed tea and pushed it through an espresso machine, pumped it into smoothies and blended it with nuts, coffee and cacao beans, wizzed it with slushed fruit juices. Inspired by Patti from global wrapps we threw in mint and pineapples galore.And it was good!!

Thankfully we are a few thousand miles away from South America else we probably would be roasting on tribal spits, or being stomped by enraged gauchos on horses. Nevertheless, after a lot of blending, steaming and grinding we managed to come up with some novel and delicious yerba mate blends, which do justice to Ilex Paraguariensis. I would not go pushing a yerba latte under Guarani’s nose for fear of offending him, but I definitely would recommend one to any South African looking for a smooth, elevating alternative to their coffee, rich in anti-oxidants. The smoothies will be hitting the counters of global wrapps in august.I look forward to popping into a global wrapps every now and then for a fruity fix on my many road trips.

Image: Neil running off a yerba shot for a hot nutty mate, date and cacao bean blend. Superfoods sounding decadent!

from the sublime to the sacrilegious - the sublime

2008-07-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

Just because Oprah says it Wulong doesn’t mean its not Oolong. The power of the cult never ceases to amaze me, but it does have its benefits.

For some time now we have been cautiously hording our supplies of oolong (Wulong to those of you who are followers) and trying in vain to share our love for this, most complex category, while not burning our fingers with a tons of tea that only we drink.

Now i drink a lot of tea, and i do mean a lot, and i am particularly a fan of oolongs, so you can imagine my delight when the calls started coming in asking for "wulong" tea, because Oprah says its good for the waist line. At last! an excuse to start beefing up our stocks of oolong and the hope of introducing it to enough people to keep up my drinking habits.

So out comes my favourite Gaiwan (yes, its meant to be drunk from yixing, but a Gaiwan does the trick just as well, with the added benefits of allowing for more nose) and the beer mug for my partner (a gaiwan would be like drinking from a thimble for him and don’t let me even begin to mention those tiny little cups its traditionally drunk from, they would just frustrate him) and a few weeks worth of drinking frenzy begins

Now i understand that for most of the people looking for wulong, they are simply looking for a tea that can help with weight loss and that even if that means choking down some awful, bitter, murky swill, as long as the promise of losing a few inches is there its worth it. I’m by no means knocking that, and if it works that’s great, and if it makes you feel good, that’s even better. Please don’t get the idea that im talking in a disparaging manner, i too am a firm believer in good health practices. However, to me, oolong is all about taste.

So in a fashion typical of my approach to Teabox, and totally contrary to economic sense i immediately began cupping some of the best Formosa oolongs available. My partner, also a sucker for the finer teas in life (with a particular shine for oolongs), buzzed around like a kid in a candy store downing liter after liter of the sublime liquors.

Gawping like fools we compared sweet smooth Ah Li Shans to spicy rich Wu Yi, juicy Li Shan to Oriental beauties with ethereal fragrances of flowery orchards. All hand picked! Processed by Kung Fu tea masters and with pedigrees longer than the most neurotic daschhund.

Now comes the crunch - customers want - "wulong" weight loss elixir, savior of Oprah’s ever threatening waist line. We want - tea from bush planted 100 years ago by celebrated Chinese tea master, philosopher and poet, hand picked, available in limited batches from spring flush, and expensive as the crown jewels.

So here i sit, nursing my 6th infusion of the gorgeous light honey coloured infusion, trying to excuse myself with the argument that had we bought the oolongs from the normal agents (most teas are sold via reputable brokers in the tea industry, who help to ensure quality, and break down quantities) rather than the producers themselves, whom we have a great relationship with, the tea would have been easily double the price.

In a way both objectives have been met, we now have a limited batch of exquisite tea, and the oolong may turn out to be "sliming" on the bottom line, (mine more than anyone else’s). But as i peer into the crystal clear infusion and marvel at the perfect cup of tea, i simply smile and melt into another moment of tranquility. ill let the coffee roasters worry about dollars & cents.

and first a word from the big bukowski

2008-06-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

how do you start a blog about explorations in tea, mate, coffee, cacao and other fanciful things? i defer to a master of drink (albeit drinks of another type) and legendary wordsmith - Charles Bukowski.

And the Moon And the Stars And the World

Long walks at night -
thats whats good for the soul;
peeking into the windows
watching tired housewives
trying to fight off
their beer maddened husbands

Charles Bukowski

compulsive drinker

2008-06-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

oolong for too long