Ito En Flagship Store

If there was a tea heaven, this place is it. I made the trek to the Ito En flagship store after become addicted to their Dong Ding oolong at Amai. The staff was incredibly sweet, knowledgeable and helpful. They offered assistance but gave me plenty of space so I could browse their museum-like teaware displays. I wound up with three onces of Dong Ding, pricey but so very worth it. Two cute little cups followed me home as well. They go perfectly with the funky kyusu that I ordered from Hibiki-an.

Taken from http://teaformeplease.blogspot.com/

All of a Sudden, Astronomy Is Even More Interesting

I remember as a kid in school learning about the constellation Sagittarius. This constellation was to look like an archer, a centaur archer actually (half-man, half-horse.) What I never learned is that the brightest stars of this constellation make up an "asterism" (an informal star pattern) that is called The Teapot - 2 stars in the handle, 1 for the spout, and 1 for the lid. OBU Planetarium says that the some of the cluster of stars of the Milky Way even look like steam rising from the teapot.

According to the article in The Boston Globe the cluster is easier to spot right now because Jupiter is appearing very close to The Teapot. Apparently here in the eastern US, I just need to look South and it will be bright and very obvious. I must admit that other than Orion and the Big and Little Dipper, I generally cannot make out any of these constellations in the sky. With the graphic from the Globe and an estimated time to look (9:40 p.m.) I just might have a shot this time!

There is more information on this and other asterisms at a Space Wiki you can view here.

Happy star gazing.

Taken from http://teapages.blogspot.com/

Nice Assam

Even though it's the first kind of tea I was exposed to, I often find it too assertive and lacking subtley. I sip it much more reluctantly than I do a green tea. But I'm incredibly open-minded, so I keep trying.

In my kitchen, black tea usually ends up getting mixed with other flavors. It doesn't mind- it's bold enough to not lose its integrity. One of my absolute favorites is a Gujarati recipe that combines the bright flavors of lemongrass with Assam tea, rendering a soothing but invigorating brew.

Assam, located in the lush, tropical northeastern corner of India, is the largest tea producing region in the country, and has been for centuries.


When the tea-thirsty British tromped into Assam the early 1800's, they found rumo(u)rs of cultivation in the region to be true. Even though they failed to realize it initially- the Assam tea bushes were different than the Chinese type that the British assumed was the only true tea producer- the indigenous tribes had been tending and consuming a wild variant of tea for centuries.

You can see why even before the first sip: It brews up a gorgeous burnt sienna, with a nuanced aroma. The luminous liquid has an almost malty flavor and a smoothness I rarely taste in black teas. When mixed with a vibrant floral kiss of lemongrass, something magical happens.

Leelee Chai

Thinly slice the bottom 6 inches of 2 stalks fresh lemongrass and combine with 4 1/4 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Strain the water into a teapot and stir 5 teaspoons Assam tea; cover and steep five minutes, then strain and discard tea. Serve plain, or with milk and sugar.

Not surprisingly, I've always chosen the sugar route. But I was brave this morning and for my second cup, poured it straight up.

You'd assume (much like those know-it-all British) that combining the tannins in such a vibrant black tea with the astringency of citrus would result in a mouth-puckering taste, but it's actually not so at all.

Even without the creamy-sweet roundness of milk and sugar, the fresh, springlike bouquet of the lemongrass unfurls in the steam from the fragrant tea, then in each smooth sip.

And if you're as sick of winter as everyone else seems to be, this is a welcome reminder than warmth is on the way.

Don't be an assam. Give it a chance.

Taken from http://teaspotnyc.blogspot.com/

Wildflowers at Tea

Seeing things through the eyes of a child is very interesting. They see the world with such delight. I love the attention to detail that children give to certain objects or things. These drawings were given to me by Ginger and Gracelyn, darling daughters of Revee from Country Roads. I am entering them in the Wildflowers in Winter contest this week in the catagory of "children's art". Although both drawings depict tea themes, if you look carefully there are flowers, wild ones to be sure, throughout. The teapots and teacups have floral decor and if you observe closely you'll note that the stitchery sampler has a flower as its central theme. Did you note the other details in the drawings? I love the needle, complete with eye and thread. The spilled tea is interesting and I feel like wiping it up immediately (or else like telling someone not to jiggle the tea table!). And each individual sugar cube in the sugar bowl makes me want to prepare a hot cuppa tea right now! The scissors are accurately detailed and I believe the rectangle hanging over the edge of the table is yardage just waiting to be cut out for the next project.

Thank you for visiting Gracious Hospitality. Please come back soon!

Taken from http://www.gracioushospitality.blogspot.com/

Green Tea Benefits ARE Skin Deep

When you enjoy green tea regularly, it shows. A recent article from Examiner discusses the success of various studies that used green tea in the treatment of acne.

It discusses "a University of Miami study published in the April 2009 issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology [which] reported on the use of 2% green tea lotion in 20 patients who had mild to moderate acne vulgaris. The participants applied the lotion twice daily for six weeks.
At the end of the study, the mean total number of lesions had declined from 24 before treatment to 10, for a reduction of 58 percent. The severity of the lesions also declined by 39 percent."

Another study "compared the use of 2% green tea lotion with 5% zinc sulfate solution (which is frequently used to treat acne)," showing that "patients who had used green tea lotion experienced a statistically significant reduction in acne lesions compared with the patients who had used zinc sulfate."

Yet a third study compared the use of "3% green tea lotion and 4% benzoyl peroxide (a common treatment for acne) in patients who had acne [finding] that both treatments offered similar improvement, yet the green tea did not cause the dryness and irritation associated with benzoyl peroxide."

The article explains that "credit for the benefits are given to the high antioxidant levels in green tea, especially the catechins, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which also have antibacterial properties, and suggests not stopping with the lotion:

Many people find that applying cooled, steeped green tea bags can offer relief, reducing inflammation and redness, and helping kill bacteria on the skin. After you steep the green tea bags, many experts recommend drinking the tea, as much as six to eight cups daily. Utilizing green tea both topically and internally can improve treatment results.

A great way to enjoy the health benefits (and delicious taste) of green tea is trying Teaquilibrium's newest blend. Green Power mixes traditional whole green tea leaves and powdered matcha for a refreshing and slightly sweet drink.

Source: Examiner, "Acne treated successfully with green tea"

Taken from http://teaquilibrium.blogspot.com/

Twilight

I am slowly sinking
Into a hole
Whose bottom I cannot see,
And on walls that encircle me
My hands grope for answers.

Soft against the sky,
I see the outlines of a tree,
One familiar to me
In a past life
That was only yesterday.

In the approaching twilight,
My tree inclines its silver branches
Towards my reaching hands.

Taken from http://teamusings.blogspot.com/

Le prix du thé

Pour Teaparker, de tels thés mériteront ces prix lorsque même les riches buveurs de thé européens ou américains seront prêts à les payer. Un exemple de réussite sont les Grands Crus classés du Bordeaux. Leurs prix élevés sont planétaires et on les vénère aux 4 coins de la planète.
Teaparker rappelle que Taiwan a, à la fin des années 80, été pris d'une autre fièvre: celle des théières yixing dont les prix se sont également envolés dans les millions... avant de retomber, comme le Nasdaq.

Cela me rappelle aussi mes cours de marketing sur le luxe: plus le prix est élevé, plus l'objet suscite de l'intérêt. En effet, qui voudrait d'un diamant qui ne vaudrait que 10 euros? L'idée de luxe suppose la rareté et donc les prix élevés.
Mais le vrai amateur de thé est un buveur quotidien (au moins il essaie). Il goûte le thé pour sa ses odeurs, son goût, les sensations qu'il lui procure, pas pour son prix et sa rareté.

Pour ma part, j'ai décidé de ne pas publier le détail de ma liste de prix sur Internet. Je préfère la communiquer aux personnes intéressées qui m'en font la demande par mail (stephane_erler@yahoo.com). Un lecteur m'a dit que ce secret risque de faire croire que je ne vends que du thé hors de prix. Pour couper court à de telles craintes, je veux bien indiquer que mes prix varient d'environ 7 à 80 euros pour 100 gr (sans frais de port). N'ayant ni frais généraux associés à un magasin, ni employés, et vivant à Taiwan, pays du thé, où les prélèvements obligatoires se montent à 13% du PIB (contre 52% en France), il est clair que mes prix sont compétitifs. Mais plutôt que vendre de la qualité basse ou moyenne à prix imbattables, je préfère proposer exactement les mêmes thés de qualité, découverts auprès de véritables de thé, et que je bois personnellement. Mais comme c'est un sujet ennuyeux, je vais m'arrêter là d'en parler.

Taken from http://teamasters.blogspot.com/