New Favorite: Cadiz Cup

I had the opportunity to visit a nearby Anthropologie store this past Sunday, as I gallivanted and caught up with a good friend.

Anthropologie's Cadiz Cup
with Twinings Ginger/Lemon tisane

I fell in love with this Cadiz Cup (in green) and haven't looked back since. At only $10, it's both delicate and feminine, as it is rustic and solid. It's helped me as I recover from a terrible head cold.

Adorable flower accent

I've been sipping soothing hot ginger tea, both Twinings Lemon/Ginger tisane, or freshly homemade MMM

My new cup aids my recovery via a constant reminder of the sunnier side of things. I peruse and follow the flowery motif, as my hands absorb the comforting warmth.

The meditation continues with each sip as the flower motif continues inside the cup well.

Sometimes, the most unexpected can bring the most amazing little joys in life. Always keep your eyes open for the next opportunity to smile.

Tea-ing Off

Today I received my Borrowed Earth Cafe (raw food restaurant in Downers Grove, IL) e-newsletter. I am borrowing text published under their Ask Aunt Edna section, in order to share the benefits of various tea varieties:

Green tea
Studies have been done to show green tea may help with weight loss and prevent or slow:

• Cancer (bladder, colon, esophageal, stomach, and pancreas)
• Heart disease
• Arthritis
• Liver diseas
• Tooth decay

Black tea
Naturally high in flavonoids which can:

• Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
• Lower cholesterol
• Reduce inflammations
• Improve blood flow
• Maintains sugar levels

Examples: Jasmine, Earl Grey, English Breakfast

Oolong tea
Contains more polyphenols than black and green tea (which help protect against health conditions and diseases)

• Revs metabolism to promote weight loss
• Improves skin appearance
• A cup contains half the caffeine of a cup of coffee

White tea
Studies have shown that white tea may:

• Boost immune systems
• Prevent dental plaque buildup
• Protect skin cell damage

Herbal tea
An infusion of anything from dried leaves, pieces of ripe fruit, flowers, grasses, nuts, barks, seeds or other botanicals that give the tea it's flavor or health benefit.

Examples:
Hibiscus - reduces high blood pressure and helps with menstrual cramps
Peppermint - calming and aids stomach and digestive problems
Chamomile - calming and anti-inflammatory

Rooibos tea
Herbal red tea that has no caffeine:

• Many natural minerals and antioxidants
• Contains aspalathin, a flavonoid, that protects against heart disease
• Anti-inflammatory and calming properties
• Aids in digestive problems, nausea, stomach cramps, and constipation

PS #1 - I tried finding a URL for their latest newsletter and linking it here, but I was unsuccessful. Perhaps there isn't yet a repository for their newsletters on their website.

PS #2 - My latest tea acquisition is a Twinnings naturally decaffeinated English Breakfast Tea box (teabags), which is perfect with lemon or lime and a couple of spoons of raw, organic, demerara.

New Tea Acquisition

I got a new tea for my collection, it's Republic of Tea's Get Lost (pic on right is borrowed from the same website where this link goes to). It's actually meant to inhibit appetite, but since I'm not that concerned about my appetite, what caught my attention are the fab ingredients (it is a rooibos tea with cinnamon and other great ingredients).

I really was not prepared for the aroma when I opened the can. The smell is absolutely the most fantastic cinnamon smell I've ever smelled. It's not the cloyingly sweet smell that emanates from the shopping center's cinnamon pastry shop. Nor is it the strong smell you might get from a cinnamon-infused holiday beverage. It's really delish and makes the tea not only great tasting but an aromatic journey as well.

This is my new favorite rooibos, versus the plain, loose rooibos by Numi that I got for the office. I've never been disappointed with Republic of Tea products, and this is yet another obsession-worthy bagged tea. :o)

Techie Tea Kettle

One of the most expensive -- if not the most expensive -- tea kettle that's come my way in a long time. The Casa Bugatti Vera Electric Tea Kettle at a mere $300. But look at those lines! Drool worthy. The colors, bright and cheery!

Now that's something for chi-chi holiday gift lists everywhere dahling.

The Tea Times: New Tea Acquisitions

I spotted something that totally screamed: buy me!!
Buuuy Mee!!!
It's Numi Organic Tea's Single Origins Tea Set.

It's made up of a little teapot and leaves strainer, two asian-style cups, and four different samples of loose tea: Darjeeling, Gen mai cha, White rose, rooibos. It was in a discount store so it came out much less than the suggested retail price at other locations.*

Numi is famous for their blooming/blossoming tea sachets. I've tasted their products before at a restaurant/cafe, but I can't recall where or when.

I'm trying the rooibos (decaf) as soon as I'm done eating lunch: seaweed salad and curry udon soup--yum!

*photo borrowed from Costco, where this retails for $29.99

The Tea Times: Update

I've enjoyed two teas, in two different ways since my last post.

The tea geschwendner Ayurveda Vata Mut Bold tea bag was delish for breakfast. It was a little astringent and tasted like ayurvedic tea. Great for bfast on an empty stomach. No sour notes which was a pleasant change from prior "ayurvedic" teas when they steep a little too much.

Last night I received my Bodum french press coffee pot, so I immediately dove in with the ITI (teavendor.com) Ginger Orange Green Olong loose. This was delicious and tasted like light oolong with heavy perfume notes.
Really liked it--though realized the only downfall of this steeping method: oversteeping risk, since the leaves remain at the bottom of the pot. I like strong tea so this is not a problem, but it might be for "unflavored," unadulterated, black tea--should I try that in the future.

Lesson learned: steep more only when flavors don't risk turning acidic, sour, or too intense.

The Tea Times

I'm going to start drinking all the teas I have in my growing collection. It's silly to let them go by the wayside, especially as we're entering the coldest season. Can't think of anything nicer than a hot cup of tea to warm up the cockles of the heart (and the chilly guts) at home or work.

I've decided I'm going to start a series of posts titled The Tea Times. These posts will also incorporate posts about teas I have at restaurants or that otherwise lie outside of my direct collection.

Here's a rundown of what's in my pantry right now:

• Trader Joe's (1)green tea bags, (2)organic mint melange tea bags
• 7 Day Round: (3)Darjeeling, (4)vanilla almond, (5)English Tea, (6)Green Tea, (7)Earl Gray, (8)Peach
• Guayaki Yerba (9)Mate Chocolatte bags
  
• (10)ITI (teavendor.com) Ginger Orange Green Olong loose
  
• Tea Gschwendner (11)white tea lychee loose, (12)Ayurveda Vata Mut Bold tea bag
  
• Republic of Tea Daily Green Tea (13)Wild Berry Plum tea bags, (14)Green Tea and Honey tea bags
  
• (15)China Mist Gourmet Iced Tea Raspberry tea bags
• Alvita (16)Chamomile tea bags, (17)Dandelion Root (roasted) tea bags
  
• (18)English Breakfast loose tea (from India)
• (19)Yogi Tea Peach Detox tea bags
• (20)Takaokaya Genmai Cha (green tea and toasted brown rice)
• (21)Sempio barley tea bags
• (22)Bigelow green tea bags
• (23)Lipton black tea bags

Disclosure: when I say this is "my" tea collection, I'm being honest. The significant-other unit rarely drinks tea, and when he does, he uses Brooke Bond Red Label in the traditional Indian chai-walla style (boil loose tea in milk, cardamom, and then strain and oversugar).