Hudson Valley, NY . . . Tea Trip

Dear Friends in Tea,

I recently returned from a "tea" adventure through the Hudson Valley, NY, with an outstanding group, The Royal-Tea Club (www.TheRoyal-teaClub.org). We started our tea journey a week ago today boarding our Elite Coach in York, Pennsylvania, under the very capable leadership of club member and newsletter editor, Sharon Hart and coach driver, Greg Miller. Joining me on all my travels was a well-filled Tea Travel Buddy. The tea of choice to begin my travels was a lightly oxidized Taiwan Oolong. 

Our first tea stop was at Charlotte's Tea Room, Warwick, NY. Charlotte's is a very beautiful Victorian home located in a quaint New York village -- the first of many we would be visiting throughout our journey. The tea of choice for the afternoon was a traditional Earl Gray to accompany delicious scones, tea sandwiches, and tempting sweets to end the luncheon. This refueled us to continue our journey to the historical and culinary enticing Hudson Valley.

   

 

Next, we arrived at West Point (www.usma.edu/visiting) to explore one of the Nation's select Military Academies. We were joined by a guide to tour the Academy grounds. The view of the Hudson River is amazing. I wondered how did these young women and men concentrate on their studies with this amazing view just a window away. We were fortunate to witness these young military professionals go about their daily routines of study and exercise. 

To close our first day of travel we motored to the River Grill (www.therivergrill.com) where we dinned on luscious seafood, chicken, and pasta. 

Since most of us had started our day at approximately 5:00 a.m. EST we were ready to check into our hotel and hit the pillow to rest up for a second day exploring the scenic New York Hudson Valley.

Tea . . . A Beverage For all Phases

I recently had an opportunity to sit and contemplate my cuppa tea. You ask, why in the world would you do that? Well, that is an easy question to answer -- the tea leaves were aromatic prior to steeping and when once steeped the aroma was amazing -- sweet, spring-like (even with all the snow and cold surrounding me), and a sweet fruity citrus taste that had a very slight hint of apricot. Wow! now, can you beat that? 

All this stimulation started me thinking about all the times my beverage of choice is tea, whether it be served hot, cold, iced, or at room temperature. Taking a deeper look into my thought process . . . when surrounded by happiness and joy my tea selection is normally a fruity iced tea. This brings my inner self a pick-me-up without added sugar -- the fruit or fruit flavoring does job.

Should I feel a little overwhelmed with life's challenges, I find that a very bold Chinese Yunnan or Indian Assam hits the spot. A bold black tea always provides me a cuppa of calm comfort. I often turn to a bold black tea or the earthyness of a Pu'erh when deep in reading a novel too. 

Now, should I be reading an intense Tea book to enhance my tea knowledge I will choose a Japanese green tea -- either a sencha or a Matcha -- to stimulate the brain to retain all the detailed facts being presented. For me green tea increases my ability to concentrate and retain. BTW, I make it a norm to start each day with a cuppa Matcha. I find the wellness properties and theanine are a needed daily ingredient for me.

While doing a very stressful (at least to me) task like blogging, I often find myself selecting a Chinese green tea with perhaps an addition of the appropriate herb for the situation. A future blog will address the potential of herbs to choose as an additive to a cuppa. 

When I just want to relax, enjoy my surroundings, and find my inner peace the tea of choice is a Taiwan Oolong -- Ruby 18 if possible. To me an highly oxidized Oolong immediately relaxes my senses, brings a feeling of calm throughout, and says, "Relax, enjoy, and laugh." 

Here's to you Tea of Choice -- May you always have Inner Peace and Joy,

The Tea And Hat Lady

Matcha Tea Connection

For all those wonderful ladies I met last Saturday (February 23, 2013) at the First United Methodist Church, Mechanicsburg, PA, with an interest on the wonders of Matcha Tea. I am so very happy to share my Matcha connection with you --- http://www.aiya-america.com . These tea people are very knowledgeable and open to working with anyone with a genuine interest in their teas. 

These Methodist Women spent many hours planning, baking, gathering precious china and teacups to honor those among our community who are 24/7 caregivers to a family member. They gathered local professionals to offer these caregivers a day of hair styling, make-up, nail care, eyebrow waxing, hand waxing, massage therapy, reflexology, relaxation techniques, and wellness workshops. I was thrilled to be part of their Tea Room by offering a tasting of three different specialty teas -- a familiar Earl Gray, a white tea blend, and a white/green tea blend. 

Let me extend my special thank you to all those responsible for organizing an outstanding event for the betterment of our small community. 

Think about the many ways you might add to your community through tea,

The Tea and Hat Lady

Tea Traveler Finds Quality Tea for the Road/Air . . .

The 2013 tea travel season is gearing up to attend Tea Festivals and Expos, Specialty Food Shows, and Gift Shows around the world as well as the many opportunities for tea education  through tastings, cuppings, processing, and networking. A concern for many tea enthusiasts while traveling to and from these events is how to enjoy quality tea while experiencing any and all issues provided us by the travel industry.

We know it is not always possible to steep loose tea while on the go and to purchase tea from a coffee cafe does not always end with a tasteful cuppa. Therefore, I am always on the lookout for a way to enjoy quality tea. That is why an ad and article in the recent issue of Tea Magazine (http://teamag.com/) interviewing Thomas Smith and his tea business caught my attention.

An open Tea Sachet for Blend No. 18 (Indian Assam teas paired with Ceylon teas).

As a result I wanted to know more about Thomas Smith -- his teas, tea experiences, and specifically his tea sachets. Wow, imagine my surprise when I was shopping at our local "artisan" grocery store and found them stocking Thomas Smith tea sachets. I viewed this as a message that I was meant to try them. I immediately purchased several boxes. (As I always listen to my inner Tea voice.) I am thrilled these tea sachets are not ordinary "tea bag." The tea selections are of prime  specialty teas -- no tea fannings or dust here. As the tea steeps you can watch the "agony of the leaf."

One of my tea travel woes has been solved, now if I could only convince airlines that having "hot" (not boiling) water is good for tea and that it is okay to serve a full cuppa water. 

Wishing you happy tea travels,

The Tea And Hat Lady 

Tea -- Make a Wellness Choice -- Make Tea Your Beverage!

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” – Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD. Tufts University

After attending the Fifth International Scientific Symposium on Tea & Human Health in Washington DC last week, I am confident that the “good tea” word I am teaching is a benefit for all who make tea a part of their  “life-style wellness program.” You respond OK, how do I do that? – well, it is very simple, drink 3-4 cups (8 oz. each) of green or black tea daily*. [Loose tea has been found to provide more health benefits, steeped and enjoyed without adding milk or sugar.] Just like this little lady to the right, no one will ever know the amount of the "healthiness" you are receiving from your cuppa tea! *I mention green or black tea because that is the tea used most in the reserach studies reported at the Symposium.

Were you aware that Tea is . . .

• Is not only one of the most ancient beverages, it is also one of the most researched.
• Black tea is the most consumed tea in the United States.
• The benefits of tea are often attributed to the phenolic compounds (flavonoids) (some of which are antioxidants). [Tea provides benefits beyond the content of antioxidants.
• Research suggests that tea can help reduce the risk of the most common chronic diseases associated with aging including heart disease, cancer, obesity, neurological decline, cognition, and osteoporosis.
• To receive the most oral benefit from tea it should not be consumed while very hot. Excessive heat is not beneficial for the mouth, throat, or esophagus. 

The results of the research reported at the Symposium generally confirmed – while definitely more human specific research is necessary – that tea may be an aid to weight loss and maintenance as well as lessen the degree of heart, cancer, and osteoporosis diseases in humans. Specifically in the case of osteoporosis studies have shown that the polyphenols in green tea appear to provide bone-building benefits including improving bone formation and decreasing bone degradation.

 While research on the effects of flavonoids on humans continues, it is known that tea is the greatest contributor of flavonoids in the American diet. “Scientific interest in flavonoids stems from the possibility that one or more flavonoids classes or compounds has beneficial effects in decreasing risks of chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers, as well as for improving bone health, cognitive function and weight management.” [Flavonoids: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go – Foods, Databases and Labels, Johanna Dwyer DSc, RD.

All in all the day was an extremely valuable tool that provided me and many others more facts on the “What, Where, and How’s” of tea. In conclusion I am more certain than ever that tea should be your wellness beverage of choice. Tea is definitely good for you, especially when enjoyed without additives.

Here's to your next cuppa of wellness,

The Tea And Hat Lady