National Hot Tea Month!! 2014
January is National Hot Tea Month. It is an American holiday but I think I could adopt it.
What is National Hot Tea Month:
Nothing is quite as relaxing, reassuring or satisfying as a cup of hot tea. Hot Tea Month encourages you to branch out and try new types of tea to fit different moods, tastes and environments; English breakfast tea is great, but why not give green tea, chai tea or other varieties a try?
OK. So National Hot Tea month is to encourage people to try new kinds/types of tea. So I thought I would do a little post every day on different types of tea. Don’t get all excited, really I am just going to go to Wikipedia and copy and paste. I pretty much know what I do and do not like. It would, however, be nice to learn a bit more about those teas I may or may not be drinking. I am not professing to having tried every type of tea there is, but I have no need in my life to engage on such an adventure. I am a crusty tea granny who will drink what she wants, when she wants (except she can’t drink anything with caffeine after 3pm or she will be up all night).
There will be no Jan 1 as I have not yet figured out how to turn back time. If anyone has any ideas on how to do this, please let me know.
That’s a good idea, Lala! I’ll share this site that someone here shared with me awhile ago:
It has little chapters you can go through in order or not as you choose. And you don’t have to register or log in to read the articles. It’s been pretty informative.
I’m looking forward to your posts!
Thanks Nicole. I just did a quick preview and it looks like there is a lot of good info on that site.
National Tea Month? That works for me! I’ll look forward to your posts, Lala!
January 2, 2014
English Breakfast
From Wikipedia:
English breakfast tea is a traditional blend of teas originating from Assam, Ceylon and Kenya. It is one of the most popular blended teas and the most common form of tea in British tea culture.
English breakfast tea is a black tea blend usually described as full-bodied, robust, and/or rich, and blended to go well with milk and sugar, in a style traditionally associated with a hearty English breakfast.
The black teas included in the blend vary, with Assam, Ceylon and Kenyan teas predominating, and Keemun sometimes included in more expensive blends. Common brands of English breakfast tea include Twinings, Dilmah, Taylors of Harrogate, Ahmad Tea, Qualitea, Darvilles of Windsor and supermarket brands.
Accounts of its origins vary. Drinking a blend of black teas for breakfast is indeed a long standing British custom. The practice of referring to such a blend as “English breakfast tea” appears to have originated not in England but America, as far back as Colonial times.An additional account (referencing a period-era “Journal of Commerce” article) dates the blend to 1843 and a tea merchant named Richard Davies in New York City. Davies, an English immigrant, started with a base of Congou and added a bit of Pekoe and Pouchong. It sold for 50 cents a pound, and its success led to imitators, helping to popularize the name. Another account gives its origins in Scotland, where it was initially known simply as “breakfast tea”, and was in part popularised by Queen Victoria.
I celebrated with a bottle of teas tea jasmine green…but I think I’m doing it wrong.
it was just a little joke: drinking cold tea in celebration of National Hot Tea Month. my supermarket had Teas Tea on sale, so I’ve got a couple of small bottles in the fridge.
3 January 2014
Purple Tea
From The Tea Research Foundation of Kenya
Kenya is the third largest producer of tea in the world. Most black that is produced and exported from Kenya is largely considered to be lesser quality and therefore inexpensive. It is often used to blend with other teas. Purple tea is a clone of the camellia sinensis plant, which was developed for the purpose of having a higher quality and more health benefits, but also for higher purchase prices. Purple tea was also developed to be hardier for the harsh environmental conditions of Kenya. Development of this tea started 25 years ago. Purple tea is rich in anthocyanin. Anthocyanin is an antioxidant that is also commonly found in red grapes and red wine. Anthocyanins also give a purple hue when dissolved.
Kiwi – Butiki Teas has purple tea for sale. I haven’t tried any myself, though I do have their purple sunset oolong from my last order to try.
Butiki’s purple tea is easily one of my top 10 favorite teas, if you haven’t tried it I highly recommend it. The flavor profile changes quite a bit depending on what temperature you steep it at. I think Stacy suggested trying 160, 180 and 212 and I was amazed at the difference in flavor. It’s also a great tea to travel with since it steeps well no matter what temperature water you use.
04/01/14
Soba-cha
From the internet/various.
AKA buckwheat tea AKA black buckwheat tea AKA roasted buckwheat tea. It not actually tea. It has a rich, nutty, roasted flavor. Is claimed to have many health benefits including being high in B vitamins, zinc, copper, and potassium, as well as antioxidants. It is claimed to help with weight loss by being high protein and mineral content which helps curb appetite by making you feel fuller, longer. It is gluten free. It is fully edible before or after steeping. Great hot or iced.
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