Ever since green tea became shorthand for "miracle elixir that cures all ills" a number of offbeat products have come on the market that have attempted to cash in on this notion. Among the most peculiar - if you ask me - are Zenlet's Green Tea Bracelets.

Green Tea Bracelets, according to the manufacturer, allow "the green tea to absorb into your skin and body through a process called transdermal absorption. The bracelets should be worn for eight to twelve days before the green tea is completely absorbed. The bracelets are made with all natural ingredients and colors with no metal or plastic and environmentally safe."

Which is as good a gimmick as any, I suppose, but I'll stick with absorbing my green tea through my mouth for now.

Image: Zenlet.com

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All In This Tea has been mentioned in these pages before, but as the filmmakers noted in a recent email update, it's still making its way around the United States, playing in various venues. If you can't make it to any of these showings, you can also pick it up on DVD or perhaps catch it on one of the cable channels.

All In This Tea is a documentary film that follows "world-renowned tea expert David Lee Hoffman to some of the most remote regions of China in search of the best handmade teas in the world." The film is directed by Gina Leibrecht and Les Blank.

More info here.

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There's no such thing as a free lunch. But if this article in the Telegraph is to be believed, everyone arriving at a British airport may soon be offered free tea and biscuits.

Here's another article from the Telegraph, this one announcing that Orange Pekoe has been named the best tea to drink with a fry-up. Which, for those not in the know, is a traditional British breakfast made up of fried eggs, bacon, sausages, black pudding, mushrooms and baked beans.

What does the Queen eat for breakfast? More here, including some info on royal tea-drinking preferences.

Also from the British press, an account of a visit to the tea tasting room at the Taylors of Harrogate HQ.

Finally, here's a brief piece on the importance of tea in British culture.

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Clinical Trial Shows Cardiovascular Benefits for Rooibos, Popular Antioxidant Herbal Tea from South Africa
(from a press release)

The first-ever human clinical trial on a popular traditional South African herbal tea was recently conducted, testing whether the tea can possibly lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The new trial also generated the first human safety data in a controlled clinical trial environment, scientifically showing that short-term consumption of rooibos tea is safe for the liver and kidneys while keeping various blood parameters (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol levels, etc.) in a normal range.

Provisional results from this study indicate that rooibos tea protects the body against oxidative damage, as seen by the approximate 21% decrease in conjugated dienes in the blood. Conjugated dienes are products formed in large numbers during the early stages of oxidation (destruction) of important cellular components such as fats (lipids). These lipid peroxidation products may be implicated in the development of vascular disease.

The trial (entitled “Modulation of blood oxidative stress markers and DNA damage by rooibos tea in volunteers at risk for coronary heart disease”) was conducted by Jeanine L. Marnewick (PhD), senior researcher at the Oxidative Stress Research Centre at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, South Africa.

More

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Guayaki Launches San Mateo Yerba Mate
(from a press release)

Each of the yerba mates from the various regions of South America offer a unique flavor and style - just like regional specialty coffee, tea, wine and cocoa. Guayaki is celebrating yerba mate (pronounced ‘MAH-tay’) diversity with the announcement of San Mateo Loose Yerba Mate. Sourced from the rainforest in the San Mateo region of Southern Brazil, this air-dried organic yerba mate provides Guayaki customers with yet another delicious and invigorating yerba mate style to enjoy. San Mateo Yerba Mate provides “the lift of coffee, antioxidants of green tea, euphoria of chocolate and nutritional profile of wheatgrass” - all in one delicious eco-friendly beverage.

In South America, where yerba mate is a cultural phenomenon, techniques for processing yerba mate vary from country to country. In Paraguay and Argentina, many people prefer mate that has been wood dried and aged. Whereas in Brazil, “cruda yerba” (yerba mate which has not been roasted or aged) is often preferred. Guayaki’s new San Mateo blend is crafted in the Brazilian style by using an air dried, smoke-free drying process that yields a bright and lively herbal flavor and a clean finish. Unlike other brands in North America, Guayaki uses a premium cut which blends the whole leaf, tender stems and leaf powder to capture the potent ‘whole plant’ energy of the yerba mate tree.

San Mateo Loose Yerba Mate can be brewed like coffee in a French press, coffee machine or espresso maker, or it can be enjoyed the traditional way with a gourd and bombilla (metal filtered straw). Guayaki provides San Mateo in an economy sized 16-ounce bag for an SRP of $13.99.

Guayaki


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Is Argo Tea poised to take on Starbucks? Well, perhaps that's overstating things a bit, but a pair of recent articles about the Chicago-based chain both dropped the name of the coffee giant. Read what the Chicago Sun Times and the restaurant trade magazine QSR had to say about Argo.

Looking for a gadget that claims to brew tea directly in the cup? Look no further than the BoilingPoint. More here.

For iced tea fans with a desire for something a little stronger, here's Twisted Tea, a "hard iced tea" that comes in a variety of flavors.

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Dilmah 'Single Origin' 100% Pure Ceylon Tea Expands U.S. Market Penetration With Availability at Major Grocery Chains and Specialty Gourmet Outlets
(from a press release)

Dilmah and Unity Brands Group have joined together to bring the splendor and quality of Dilmah Teas to the U.S. and have announced that they have expanded availability of the Dilmah Gourmet, Dilmah Single Estate and Dilmah Green Tea brands throughout the Eastern Seaboard and Southeast. Grown, handpicked, cured and packaged by family-owned company Dilmah Teas, the premium brand has emerged as a gourmet alternative to mass-produced, "blended" products and is currently the leading single origin, ethically produced Ceylon tea in over 90 countries.

The luxurious Dilmah Single Estate teas are among the most exclusive, boutique teas in the world and include Lover's Leap Estate, Somerset Estate, Dombagastalawa Estate, and Nilagama Estate. Among the traditional varieties in the Dilmah Gourmet Series are Earl Grey, English Breakfast, English Afternoon, Irish Breakfast, and Ceylon Supreme. The Dilmah Green Tea offerings include renowned Ceylon Green Tea with Real Cinnamon, Real Ginger, Natural Lemongrass, Moroccan Mint, and Natural Green Tea.

Dilmah

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Here's another bunch of tea blogs that were just added to the master list. As always, you can find the list here.

New Additions - 09/06/2008

California Tea and Coffee Brewery
Heaven of Tea (Teavana)
Kung-Fu Cha
Steepin' it Loose! (The TeaSpot)
Tasting Room (Japanese)
Tea In Your Life
TeaLove


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Regular TGS visitors may have noticed that things have been quiet around these parts lately. While I post here now and then, most of my tea writings are turning up at the Twinings Tea Blog, where I typically write five short articles a week.

Here are some of the more recent ones. Dig around at the site for more.

Gongfu Cha: Tea Preparation in the Chinese Style

The Leaf Magazine Rolls Out Issue Three

More Chinese Tea - Special Olympics Edition

Health Benefits of Tea: Odds and Ends

Chinese Tea Culture and History: Special Olympics Edition

China's Teas: Special Olympics Edition

The Tea Drinkers Bookshelf 7: Upcoming Tea Books

Health Benefits of Tea: Theanine

Decaffeinated Tea: An Overview

How Much Caffeine is in Tea?

From the Australian press, here's an article in which actor Jack Black reveals that he replaced cigarettes with iced green tea. He also admitted that he would like to one day "produce his own flatulence for his film roles." I guess it's good to have a goal.

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Sweet Leaf Tea Named One of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies
(from a press release)

For the first time in its 10-year history, Sweet Leaf Tea, makers of premium and all-natural ready-to-drink beverages, has been named to the Inc. 5000 Index, Inc. magazine's annual list of the nation's fastest-growing, privately-held companies. Known as well for its irreverent corporate culture as its award-winning products, Sweet Leaf Tea has been ranked # 891 on the 2008 Inc. 5000 list.

According to industry reports, ready-to-drink beverages are a $2.8 billion industry with the premium segment growing at an annual rate of 25%. Sales of ready-to-drink teas are expected to top $4.4 billion in 2011.

Sweet Leaf Tea was founded in 1998 by Christopher, then 25, when he couldn't find a bottle of iced tea that tasted like the delicious, homemade tea his grandmother used to make for him when he was growing up in Beaumont, Texas. Shortly thereafter, Christopher's childhood friend, David Smith, joined the company and the two began production brewing their homespun tea in 50-gallon crawfish pots, using pillow cases as tea bags. Made from all-natural ingredients, including purified water, pure cane sugar and high-quality organic tea leaves, Sweet Leaf Tea is made and brewed based on Clayton's grandmother's recipe and technique.

Today, the company sells 11 classic iced-tea flavors as well as three lemonades, including a series of limited-edition lemonades sold in the summer months in environmentally-friendly, reusable Mason jars. Retailers who carry Sweet Leaf Tea products include Kroger, Safeway and specialty food stores, such as Whole Foods, nationwide. Retail prices range from $1.00 to $3.99.

Sweet Leaf Tea


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As noted here previously, Barack Obama is a fan of Honest Tea, most notably the Black Forest Berry flavor. Which wouldn't be worth mentioning again if not for the fact that McCain's people have brought it up. Apparently a taste for organic tea-based beverages might be an indicator of some sort of character flaw. Well, better that the sordid truth come out now than later. For more, look here and here.

Also mentioned previously at TGS, a product known as Red Espresso. This is a rooibos-based product formulated to be made in an espresso machine. David Kiley at BusinessWeek presented an in-depth review of the product recently, concluding that it's no substitute for coffee-based espresso, but isn't so bad overall.

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(New Additions - 07/27/2008)

Tea of the Month - Art of Tea
The Tea Circle - Portsmouth Tea Company
Tea of the Month Clubs - Tavalon


Adagio Teas
Aqua Maestro (Water of the Month)
Tea of the Month Clubs - Culinary Teas
A New Tea Every Month - Dean & DeLuca
Golden Moon Tea
Tea of the Month - Harney & Sons
igourmet.com
Imperial Tea Court
In Pursuit of Tea
Tea of the Month - Jing Tea
Matcha Source
Peet's Coffee & Tea
Silver Tips Tea
World Tea Club - Tao of Tea
The Tea Emporium
Edmon's Special Reserve Collection - TeaGschwendner
Edmon's Reserve Passport - TeaGschwendner
Tea of the Month Club
The Tea Smith
The Tea Table
Tea of the Month Club - Teavana
Two Leaves and a Bud

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tea, green tea, food, food and drink

So...are tea drinkers second-class citizens? Forget about the fact that tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, after water. If you live in a coffee-centric society - such as the United States and many others - getting a decent cup of tea when you go out can sometimes be quite tricky.

Chris Mobbs elaborates further on this theme in Coffee Has Spoiled the Tea Party, an opinion piece from the Australian press. He also offers "10 simple rules for eateries" who serve tea or who might be considering it.

What do you think? Are we second-class citizens or just a bunch of whiners?

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Earlier this month, New York Times food critic Frank Bruni kicked off a new feature called That Costs WHAT?!? While the gratuitous punctuation seems...unseemly for such an august publication, it's interesting to note that first of these columns tackled the issue of tea.

Specifically, in this case, the tea served at a joint called BLT Market. While the specifics are not completely clear it seems that this was mint "tea" served in a bag, perhaps of the pyramid type. What's not so unclear is that the bill for this beverage came to $7. While there may be $7 cups of tea out there that are actually worth $7, it's highly likely that this is not one of them.

Features a pretty lively comments section, if you have the stomach for that sort of thing.

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Irish Breakfast
Satin Oolong
Avalanche Rooibos
Portsmouth Tea Company

The good people at Portsmouth Tea Company sent along samples of a few of their teas recently. Here's my two cents worth.

Irish Breakfast
I haven't run across many breakfast blends that I really liked, but this one was a happy exception. Though they don't get as much attention as other types of tea, a topnotch Assam is a thing of wonder. This "hearty Assam blend" compares favorably with some of the best I've tasted and the tin was empty in no time.

Satin Oolong
I'm still not sure what to make of this one. It's described as a "milk-infused oolong," which means that the leaves are soaked in milk. This gives it a very strong buttery aroma. Not being a fan of butter or its awful aroma, I was put off by it and set it aside for a while. When I finally gave it a go I found that I could get past the aroma and the tea itself was quite good otherwise.

Avalanche Rooibos
Portsmouth calls this one "a delightful combination of apple bits, lemongrass, ginger, orange peels, basil and red pepper." Works for me. I don't care much for rooibos served hot, but I've taken to drinking quite a bit of it iced these days. This made for a nice change of pace from straight up rooibos, though my preference was to tone this one down a bit by mixing the two.


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England's Number 1 Tea Now Easily Available to US Consumers
(from a press release)

Previously, fans of England's number 1 tea had to try and find their favorite brand. Now, the full selection of authentic PG Tips tea can be found at teadog.com, an Internet tea retailer.

English tea drinkers can get PG Tips in 80- and 240-tea bag boxes, PG Tips Decaffeinated in 40- and 80 tea bag boxes, PG Tips Loose in an 8.8 ounce box and PG Tips Special Blend in an 80 tea bag box. Scottish Blend, a blend of PG Tips created for the soft waters of Scotland, also is available.

PG Tips is one of the United Kingdom's top brands and still made in Manchester, England. In the UK, 150 million cups of tea are consumed daily with 35 million being PG Tips tea.

PG Tips was formerly introduced in the 1930s and quickly became one of the United Kingdom's top brands. In 1960, PG Tips in tea bags was introduced. PG Tips Decaffeinated became available in 2004 for tea drinkers preferring a caffeine-free option.

In 2005, PG Tips celebrated its 75th birthday and introduced a special limited edition tea. PG Tips Special Blend Limited Edition Tea was originally intended to be available for a short time. But the tea proved so popular it became a permanent addition to the PG Tips family of tea.

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As noted here a few months ago, the Charleston Tea Plantation ("America’s Only Tea Garden") has begun hosting a First Flush Festival around harvest time each year. This year's event has come and gone, but for now you can still get your hands on some of their First Flush Loose Tea.

The American Classic Tea that's made from leaves grown at the plantation is blended with black teas from elswhere, but the First Flush is 100% American-grown.

For ordering information, click here and scroll about halfway down the page.

Image: Charleston Tea Plantation

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Tea Forté Re-Imagines Iced Tea with the Introduction of Tea-over-Ice
(from a press release)

Tea Forté, the innovator of the contemporary tea experience, today announces the re-imagination of iced tea with Tea-Over-Ice. This revolutionary expression of iced tea begins with extravagantly blended tea infusions that are brewed fresh and then flash-chilled using the innovative, sculptural Tea-Over-Ice brewing pitcher. This unique flash-chilling technique locks in the fresh, luscious flavors and healthful antioxidants that have long been associated with hot tea.

At the heart of the Tea-Over-Ice experience are Tea Forté’s signature tea infusions, specially blended for iced tea using nature’s bounty of luscious fruits, healing herbs and flowers. Four Tea-Over-Ice blends have been developed, each delivering an extravagantly delicious taste profile that carefully balances the fruit-forward flavors that are perfectly suited for iced tea.

The Tea-Over-Ice brewing pitchers ($42.00 SRP) and specially blended iced teas ($24.00 SRP for 12 infusers) are available at specialty retailers nationwide beginning April 16, 2008. For more information or for online purchase please visit Tea Forte.

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What's the unhealthiest tea-based drink? Men's Health magazine recently weighed in on The 20 Unhealthiest Drinks in America and offered up a few thoughts on the matter.

Their nomination for Worst Tea-Like Substance went to SoBe Zen Tea. For Worst Iced Tea they gave the nod to Lipton Iced Brisk Lemon Iced Tea. Worst Chai Tea Drink? That would be Caribou Coffee Large Chai Tea Latte. The Worst Drink in America, by their reckoning, has nothing to do with tea. It's the Baskin-Robbins Large Heath Bar Shake.

Speaking of tea-like substances, here's an article from a gardening expert that expounds on the question - Can Instant Tea Kill Weeds?

From the other side of the Atlantic, here's an article about a tea bar at Winchester prison that's staffed by volunteers from the local area. For more on tea and prisons, refer to this article, which discusses Russian prison tea, also known as chifir. It's a high-octane drink that's most definitely not for the fainthearted.

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(from a press release)

Renowned tea masters James Norwood Pratt, James Labe, Bruce Richardson, and Chas Kroll will be leading the American Tea Masters Association's first 13-week Tea Mastery Certification Course in San Diego, California, starting July 14, 2008.

The distinguished faculty will be leading the 5-day Comprehensive Tea Mastery Course, the first of the two-part 13-week Tea Mastery Certification Course™ training program. The 5-day course will be held at the Wellspring Tea Room, 4538 Park Boulevard in the University Heights section of San Diego. Ample parking is available behind the tea court.

The association's prestigious Certified Tea Master designation, along with its coveted engraved brass lapel badge, is awarded to graduates completing the training.

Additional information on the Tea Mastery Certification Course is available on the association's web site or by calling (619) 330-9017. The course is open to a maximum of 24 participants. A $250 tuition-deposit is required to reserve a place at the training.

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If you've ever been overcome with a burning desire to see what other people's tea shelves/cabinets/warehouses/whatever look like, you're in luck. Over at the TeaChat forum there's a thread underway that covers just that. I used to think I had a fair amount of tea lying around but I'm not even in the same ballpark as some of these people.

From the Strange Food/Beverage Department, comes an article about a tea composed of excrement from the larvae of grain moths that have been fed tea leaves. Yum. It's called Poo Poo Puerh - among other things - and you can read more about it in this article I wrote for the Twinings Tea Blog.

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Even after reading the recipe I'm still not quite sure what Frozen Iced Tea is. But if you'd like to give it a go, here's the link.

According to London's Telegraph, the tea bag turns one hundred this year. For more on its origin, evolution and all that sort of thing, look here.

This isn't the place to discuss politics and so I won't. But it's probably not a political statement to say that I don't see President Bush as the type to be taking tea. According to a recent report that's what he'll be doing when he hangs out with the Queen tomorrow.

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What's Brewing?, from Veria TV, to Debut in Fall 2008
(from a press release)

Veria (pronounced ver-ee-ah) -- a growing natural health and wellness company dedicated to bringing natural wellness to the mainstream through its television network, local wellness centers, and lifestyle-focused website -- today unveiled a new line-up of original television series scheduled to premiere on the company's television network, Veria TV, in the fall of 2008. Veria TV is currently available on Channel 9575 on the DISH Network(TM).

Veria's new programs include:

"What's Brewing?" - Jody Rudman, owner of Dallas-based Tempest Tea, explores the wisdom of some of the world's oldest cultures by highlighting ancient beverages, such as teas, yerba mate, xocoatl and herbal tisanes, which can have benefits for today's busy lives.

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New York City Breakfast
Serenity
After Dark
Organic Kama Chai Sutra
Tavalon LLC

The good people at New York City's Tavalon recently passed along samples of a few of their blended teas and tisanes. Here's the lowdown:

New York City Breakfast
"A hearty blend of the world's best black teas from India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia created for the New Yorker palate."
A new one on me and apparently a Tavalon creation. I like Assam and Yunnan black teas, but have never been much of a fan of breakfast blends. This one was better than most when served hot and even better than that iced.

Serenity/After Dark
"A relaxing caffeine-free herbal blend consisting of Chamomile, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Rooibos and Vanilla."
"A sweet & sour, caffeine & sugar-free blend of Chamomile, Blood Orange, Cranberry, Apple, Cherry and Hibiscus flowers."
Chamomile is another "tea" that's never done much for me. But both of these tisanes benefit considerably from the fresh and intensely aromatic ingredients that have gone into them. Serenity worked better for me than the very fruity After Dark, but that's a personal preference again.

Organic Kama Chai Sutra
"An organic blend of Assam tea, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla beans."
I've tried to come to terms with chai (Earl Grey and lapsang souchong too). I really have. But I've determined that none of these items are really my cup of tea. Once again, though, the ingredients in this one seemed to be very fresh and flavorful. If you are a chai lover it might be worth looking into.

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Steeped in Japan's Finest Tea-Making Tradition, Iyemon Cha, Premium Japanese Green Tea, Launches in San Francisco
(from a press release)

Iyemon Cha, a refreshing new premium bottled Japanese green tea from Suntory to be distributed by Calistoga Beverage Company, a subsidiary of Nestle Waters North America, makes its U.S. debut this May in San Francisco, the first stop on a planned national rollout. Free of preservatives and sweeteners, this pure, all-natural organic green tea is steeped in rich tea-making tradition. Iyemon Cha (pronounced ee-yeh-mon cha) is available in two varieties: Original Green Tea and Roasted Green Tea.

The world's finest green tea or "cha" (Japanese for tea) comes from Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan and the original source of Japanese green tea. It is here that Iyemon Cha is made at the esteemed tea company, Fukujuen, founded more than two centuries ago in 1790 and today one of Japan's top three sellers of leaf tea. Iyemon Cha is the only bottled green tea from this historic purveyor of fine teas, now available in America for the first time.

Iyemon Cha is the only bottled tea in the world to add a touch of matcha, a stone-ground tea of the highest quality, for extra richness. Matcha is made from the finest, youngest leaves of the tea bush, which is covered for several weeks before harvest to slow down growth, imparting a more intense sweetness and depth of flavor when pulverized into a fine powder. Prized for its superior quality, matcha is the centerpiece of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony and a unique, essential ingredient in Iyemon Cha.

Iyemon Cha is made entirely in Japan from 100% Japanese tea leaves using the purest refined water to bring out the best flavor. It is imported from Japan and bottled in a stylish, environmentally conscious glass bottle (12.2oz /361 ml) with a suggested retail price of $2.75.

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