Alexander Litvinenko and a cup of tea

The death of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko by polonium-210 is still damaging relations between the UK and Russia. The evidence suggests that the polonium was added to a cup of tea served in the bar of the Millennium Hotel. Later, after it had been washed, the pianist drank out of the same cup and also showed evidence of polonium ingestion.

Polonium is a metal, so in order to be used as a poison it would have been administered as a soluble compound similar in form to table salt. To be fatal, all that would be needed would be about ten millionths of a gram, a speck almost too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Black tea could lower Parkinson's risk

A new study claims drinking black tea could help prevent the onset of Parkinson's disease. People who drink 23 cups of the beverage a month are 71 per cent less likely to contract the disease, said researchers from Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and National Neuroscience Institute.

Theft Of Tea

Police are hunting for the owner of a warehouse, and a company that forged documents used to steal up to Sh30 million worth of tea leaves meant for export from the port in Mombasa. The forged documents claimed that the consignment in eight containers were wrongly marked and were therefore being recalled for correct marking. On Monday evening, the police were tipped off that the consignment had left the port, and was in the process of being diverted into the local market. The consignment was originally on its way to the United Kingdom.

Turmoil In Kenya Has Disrupted The Tea Supply

The political turmoil in Kenya has disrupted the tea supply across the world. Prices to consumers have not yet gone up in Europe or North America but they may if the turmoil in Kenya persists.

Ozzy Osbourne loves his tea

The former Black Sabbath frontman and Rock star Ozzy Osbourne says that he loves to drink tea. He even keeps a popular British brand of tea in his Los Angeles home.

Tea Time

According to English tradition Tea time occurs around 4 p.m. High tea is a casual family meal where a savory supper of leftovers was served, low tea is more formal. The names probably refer to the height of the table that was used.

Kenya tea exporters affected by violence

Tea exporters in Kenya are feeling the affect by post-election violence. Last week’s outbreak of political violence has paralysed operations in the tea industry. Rioters blocked major roads and the weelky tea auction in Mombasa was suspended.

Industry officials said blockades caused by the political unrest in the main tea growing areas of Rift Valley have hampered distribution to key international markets such as Pakistan and the Middle East.

Old Silver Elephant Tea Pot On Ebay

I found this old silver elephant tea pot on Ebay and I thought it was nice.

Just go to Ebay and use Item number: 120203786989

Robot Serves Tea

Engineers at the Honda company have taught Asimo the humanoid robot how to serve tea to guests.

The tea needs to be prepared by a human and placed on a tray on a cart. Asimo will then push the cart to the table, lift up the tray and place it on the guest's table. The robot then takes a couple of steps back and bows, as is the tradition in Japan.

Tea as a cooking ingredient

Tea, used as a cooking ingredient, adds depth and subtlety to a variety of dishes.Tea Cooking

World's Largest Tea Bag in Toronto

On Saturday, December 15, 2007 Toronto's is host to a Tea Party and Guinness World Records record-breaking attempt sponserd by Celestial Seasonings. Measuring 12 feet x 12 feet, the World's Largest Tea Bag is the highlight of this wintertime outdoor tea party. Guests can warm up with cups of hot complimentary Celestial
Seasonings tea, see the future in tea leaf readings and "tea off" at mini golf to win some great prizes. Costumed characters will entertain the crowd while Celestial Seasonings' tea blendmaster reveals secrets of the tea trade through tales of worldwide travels in search of tea. The Tea Association will be on hand to discuss the role tea plays in maintaining good health, and donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation are encouraged. The Tea Party is located at Yonge-Dundas Square, Corner of Yonge Street and Dundas Street.

Tea Plants

Camellia sinensis is an evergreen plant and grows in tropical to sub-tropical climates. Many high quality tea plants grow at elevations up to 1500 meters (5,000 ft), as the plants grow more slowly and acquire a better flavor. Only the top 1-2 inches of the mature plant are picked. These buds and leaves are called flushes, and a plant will grow a new flush every seven to ten days during the growing season. Tea plants will grow into a tree if left undisturbed, but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking. Two principal varieties are used, the small-leaved China plant and the large-leaved Assam plant.

Tea Container Exhibit At DeWitt

Museum goers have just a few days left to view a rare exhibit of Tea Containers.
On view through Sunday at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum in Colonial Williamsburg, The Wallace Museum is accessed through the Public Hospital of 1773, Francis and Nassau streets, just south of Merchants Square. Call 757-220-7724 or log on to www.history.org/history/museums for more information.

CRANBERRYSPLASHED GINGER ICED TEA

CRANBERRYSPLASHED GINGER ICED TEA

Serves: 4

3 cups water

2 tea bags

4 (1-inch) pieces fresh ginger, peeled

1 cup sugar-free cranberry juice cocktail

2 to 3 tablespoons pourable sugar substitute (such as Splenda)

In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring the water to a boil.

Remove from heat, add tea bags and ginger and steep for 2 minutes.

Remove the tea bags. Let the ginger and tea stand for 20 minutes.

Pour the tea and ginger into a small pitcher, add the juice and sugar substitute and serve over ice.

Add Some Vitamin C To Your Tea

A new Purdue University study suggests adding citrus juices or vitamin C to green tea may raise its antioxidant goodness, a new study suggests. The antioxidants are called catechins, and they are believed to be responsible for some of green tea's reported health benefits, such as reducing the risk of cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Using a laboratory model that simulates digestion in the stomach and small intestine, green tea was tested with a number of additives, including juices and creamers. It was found that citrus juice increased absorbable catechin levels by more than five times, while vitamin C boosted recoverable levels of the two most abundant catechins by six and 13 times.

So add some citrus juices to your cup after brewing.

Black Tea Could Provide Protection Against Suns Rays

According to researchers black tea gel could provide double the protection against harmfull UV radiation by absorbing UV rays and repairing DNA damage inside the skin. Topical application of black tea gel significantly reduces skin redness after exposure to UV light.

World's First Tea Espresso

A South African company has started selling what is being called "the world's first tea espresso." The tea is produced by the Red Espresso Co., in Cape Town, South Africa. A special, patented grind of the tea leaves gives the tea "a rich espresso intensity."

Is that Mold In My Tea?

A Michigan man got a nasty suprise in an unopened bottle of Gold Peak Sweetened Iced Tea. Shane Smith describes what he found as "slimy...with dark spots...a gooey gunk." The button seal on the bottle has never been disturbed and its expiration date is February 25, 2008. Smith called the 800 number on the bottle and talked to a Coca Cola spokesperson. The spokesperson said from what it sounds like the substance in the bottle is mold from heat exposure when the bottle was stored after shipping. He said the mold will not pose a health hazard but the product should not be consumed. They will offer Smith a replacement product.

Kenya Top Exporter

Kenya is the world’s largest exporter of tea this year, surpassing Sri Lanka and China.

Green Tea Could Be the Cure for Sepsis

Researchers at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have found that a component in green tea might help in the treatment of severe sepsis, which is an abnormal response of the immune system to a bacterial infection.

They discovered that there is an ingredient in green tea called EGCG, that can save mice from dying of sepsis. The laboratory results are so promising that they could lead to clinical trials in humans.

Sepsis a condition that kills 225,000 Americans each year, has puzzled researchers for years. No matter what techniques they used, half of those who contract sepsis die.