Ginger as an anti-inflamatory

I was in the shop today filling spice jars.  Boy we looked sort of picked over.  One that needed my attention was ginger.  This is the very flavorful root that is used so often in Asian cooking, ginger snaps, ginger ale, etc.
People who suffer from arthritis have found that it also is an effective anti-inflamatory agent and can ease joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.  Try to use more often and see for yourself.  We even have "Candied Ginger" for snacking or for relief of indigestion - tasty and spicy!
http://www.harborteaandspice.com/

Healthy Hibiscus

We have discussed the health benefits of tea (Camellia Sinensis), but those who are sensitive to caffeine feel left out. That is where Herbals come in to play. We have several in the shop, but one that is overlooked quite often is Hibiscus.
HIBISCUS
(Caffeine Free Herbal Tea)
Country of Origin: Sudan
Region: Nile River
... Grade: First Grade
Altitude: below 2000 feet
Manufacture Type: Field grown, sundried
Cup Characteristics: A lovely deep red infusion similar to grenadine with a taste close to lemonade.
Infusion: Scarlet red to deep burgundy - depending upon amount used.
Information:
Hibiscus (hibiscus abelmoschus and hibiscus sabdariffa) a native to Africa is related to a bushy ornamental shrub that decorates many tropical gardens, has become a popular showy houseplant in Europe and North America and is a flowery accessory to many young women in the tropics. The calyces (often referred to as the hibiscus flower itself), which form the outer covering of the flower buds, are dried and used to make a rosy citrus flavored tea.
There are more than 200 species of hibiscus. The type used for tea is Abelmoschus or Sabdariffa. Hibiscus is rich in Vitamin A and C and beta-carotene making it a good antioxidant. Many purport that its health benefits are:
- Replaces electrolytes and quenches thirst during and after athletic endeavors.
- Eases symptoms of colds, flu and coughs
- Thought to have a positive effect in lowering blood pressure.
Tea uses - Hibiscus petals are commonly used as a base for herb and fruit infusions. When blended with rosehips and various other dried fruits the resulting drink is lively, fruity and Vitamin C and A healthy. If you are using hibiscus petals in a tea and you intend to add milk to the tea, keep the ratio of hibiscus to tea low, as hibiscus will curdle milk. Hot tea brewing method: (this makes a popular Egyptian drink called Karkadé)
To prepare as an infusion, use 1 teaspoon (for a stronger infusion use 2 teaspoons) per cup of tea (about 8 ounces). put into your teapot and add boiling water. Let steep for 5-10 minutes and then pour. It is not necessary to strain the hibiscus as they sink to the bottom of the teapot and are not easily ‘stirred up’. For additional flavor add a large slice of orange or lemon or three slices of fresh juicy peaches. Sweeten to taste.
You might want to read more here:

Study Shows Consuming Hibiscus Tea Lowers Blood Pressure / November 10, 2008 / News from the USDA A

 

At only $1.49/oz. it is very reasonable!  And it can be used in combination with other teas to add a fruity flavor.

http://www.harborteaandspice.com/

Decaf Tea? or Uncaf?

It seems everyday a customer asks if I have decaf tea.  Well, there are teas (camellia sinensis) that have had the caffeine removed.  More times that not, what they are really looking for are Herbals or "Tisanes".  These are also plant-derived, but do not have caffeine - never had it in the first place so it doesn't need to be removed.
One of the most important of these is Rooibos.  It is from the African Red Bush plant from the Western Cape Provence (Cedarburg area) of South Africa.  My personal opinion is that it is a little tart, (that is just me) but when you add ingredients like vanilla, or a combo of cranberry and orange (we call it African Autumn), or cinnamon, the result is quite special!
Rooibos is also very healthful:
It contains similar amounts of antioxdents and has been shown to be anti-cancer, and  anti-inflammatory
It is naturally caffeine-free so is ideal for people who want to cut back on caffeine or want to drink it before going to bed. Actually it’s recommended you drink it before going to bed as it can help with insomnia. It’s also very low in tannins. 
It contains calcium, manganese and fluoride for strong teeth and bones.
It is also full of vitamins and minerals such as zinc, copper, calcium, manganese, magnesium, potassium.
Try these wonderful Rooibos blends: African Autumn, Lemon Rooibos, Vanilla Rooibos, or  Herbal Hot Cinnamon Spice.  Enjoy a caffeine - free delicious beverage.

This is Rooibos

http://www.harborteaandspice.com

Green tea and Cinnamon

Yesterday we discussed the health benefits of Cinnamon as it relates to triglycerides.  What could be better that combining the benefits of cinnamon and green tea?  Introducing Green Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea.

This is a new version of our popular Hot Cinnamon Spice which is built around black tea. Starting with Chinese green teas and then adding three types of cinnamon. The result is lighter in body than the original black tea, but still with bracing hot cinnamon flavors.  In the cool damp weather it will warm you from the inside out.  It is delicious and satisfying!
http://www.harborteaandspice.com/

Cinnamon and heart health

I was just paging through a Woman's World magazine that my wife purchased and stumbled upon something that may interest you.
Excess blood sugar is converted to triglycerides by the liver.  Abnormally high levels apparently can increase the risk of heart disease.  Thankfully there is a tasty spice that can be beneficial in lowering these high levels of triglycerides - cinnamon.  It stimulates the body to use the blood sugars before they are converted to triglycerides.  According to this article, 1/2 teaspoon everyday can ease these high levels down to normal range in a month or so.
At our house, cinnamon is a very important  part of serving oatmeal in the morning.  The fiber in oatmeal help lower LDL cholesterol, but a sprinkle of cinnamon will also aid in triglyceride reduction at the same time.  Try making your oatmeal with apple juice instead of water.  It is much tastier; and you know how well apple and cinnamon combine.  Saigon cinnamon is the best, most intense cinnamon. Wonderful.
http://www.harborteaandspice.com/

Health Benefits of Black tea vs. green tea

Nearly every day a customer comes in to the shop and mentions about the health benefits of gree tea. Those claims are true, don't let the green tea "hype" discourage you from enjoying Black tea. It too has many health benefits:
HEALTH AND WELLNESS NOTES:
• Black tea comes from the same plant as green and white teas, (Camellia Sinensis) and is an excellent source of antioxidants and polyphenols.
• Antioxidants and tea polyphenols are documented in various research papers as inhibitors of various types of cancers in some cases.
• A Dutch study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the risk of heart attack in people who drank 3 or more cups of black tea per day was 1/2 that of non-black tea drinkers. The study also found that the risk of dying from a heart attack, if they had one, was reduced by 1/3rd.*
*(Geleijnse, Johanna M et al. Inverse association of tea and flavonoid intakes with incident myocardial infarction: the Rotterdam Study. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;75:880-86.)
• In laboratory tests commissioned by The Metropolitan Tea Company Ltd, results noted that premium black teas grown at high altitude generally contained more antioxidants compared to low altitude common green teas.
• A cup of tea consumed without milk or sugar or any other additives contains no calories.
• Recently (since 2008) research has been done that indicates black tea can be consumed for reducing the risk of heart attack and kidney stones: a dose of at least one cup per day.
• Recently (since 2008) research has been done that indicates black tea can be consumed for preventing "hardening of the arteries" (atherosclerosis), 125-500 mL (1-4 cups) of brewed black tea daily.
• Some doctors suggest putting wet black tea bags on canker sores. Black tea contains tannin, a substance that can relieve pain
• Drinking black tea throughout the day helps to keep people alert, even after extended periods without sleep.
• Women who drink black tea seem to have an 8% lower risk of developing kidney stones.
• Women who regularly drink tea, including black tea or green tea, appear to have a significantly lower risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to women who never or seldom drink tea.
• There is some evidence from large-scale studies that people who drink caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and cola have a decreased risk of Parkinson's disease. For men, the effects seem to be dose-related. However, there seems to be a significant reduction in risk even with consumption of as little as 124-208 mg (4-8 cups of tea) caffeine per day. Drinking black tea also appears to reduce the occurrence of Parkinson's disease among people who smoke.
• In combination with various other products, black tea is used for weight loss.
• So far (Jan. 2011) there is some evidence that drinking black tea might be linked to stronger bones in women aged 65-76 years. Drinking black tea also seems to be associated with a lower risk of hip fracture in men and women who are older than 50.
• There is evidence that men who get more chemicals called phytoestrogens in their diet have up to a 27% lower risk of developing lung cancer than men who do not get these chemicals. Green tea and black tea contain phytoestrogens.
(courtesy of Metropolitan Tea Company - Toronto)

Good Water for Tea

Good Water for Tea

Tea is 98.5%  water

The quality of the water you use is equally  important as the quality of your tea. You could steep fantastic teas in poor water and the result would always be less than optimum.

Students of tea have always been aware of water's importance in the art of making good tea since Lu Yu, author of Cha Ching in 780 A.D, stumbled upon a glorious spring where the water was extremely clear and clean. He brewed tea with this spring water and found the tea tasted unexpectedly better than usual. Even the early settlers of Manhattan had designated tea water pumps to be used only for drawing water for making tea.

Most Americans are fortunate to have safe and affordable municipal water but that rarely means tap water is best for brewing tea until it has the chlorine removed. How can you enhance the quality of your home tap water for steeping tea? 

Here are four initial observations you can make concerning your water: 

The look of the water.  Is there anything floating in the water or is it off-color?

The smell of the water. Are there traces aromas of sulfur or chlorine?

The taste of the water. Can you taste any dominant minerals? 

The visual signs of water hardness.  Do you see heavy calcium buildup in your water kettle or around your faucets?  

Unless you have extremely hard water, the easiest solution for most consumers is a one or two-stage filter system. Simple counter top water filters will remove visible solids and chlorine and improve the taste of most water. But, they do not substantially alter the mineral content of water known as total dissolved solids or TDS. 

Mineral content can be removed by a reverse osmosis system that gives you totally pure water. The downside is that reverse osmosis removes all the minerals and that's not the best water for making tea. Some mineral content is needed—just not too much or too little. 

You can check your water sources with two inexpensive and easy to use gadgets—a TDS meter ($15) and a PH meter ($27.)  Both are available online at sites such as Amazon.

Here is the ideal tea water analysis if you have your water analyzed:

80 ppm Total Hardness
No Chlorine or Iron
150 ppm Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
40 ppm Alkalinity
6-8 pH

Does bottled spring water make the best tea? 

Be aware that all waters are not created equal.  Bruce Richardson (owner of Elmwood Inn) recently used a TDS meter to check the total dissolved solids in bottled distilled water, drinking water, and spring water from one national grocer.   

The distilled water of course showed zero TDS, the drinking water registered a desirable 170 ppm, but the spring water tested at 450 ppm, too high for good tea making.  Check the bottler's website for an analysis statement and compare it to the ideal analysis shown above.  Spring water may sound like the most natural source but those waters often have high TDS and PH levels.  Distilled water has no mineral content and is too flat for tea making.

One of the leading water designers for the professional coffee and tea trade is Cirqua Customized Water. They provide water used in brewing samples at major trade shows including World Tea Expo. Scientists at Cirqua have a developed a packet of liquid minerals called The Formula that can be added to a gallon of distilled or reverse osmosis treated water to insure the proper balance for tea or coffee brewing. You can read more about water for tea and The Formula at cirqua.com. 

Thanks and credit to Elmwood Inn Teas