Debt-ridden Aberdeen City Council bans tea and toast

Aberdeen City Council, which is £50million in the red, is considering a blanket ban on 'unauthorised' electrical appliances as part of a new financial rescue plan.

But staff are unhappy at the prospect of having to go without toast, cups of tea and desk fans and claim the move will only serve to further depress morale.

Mighty Leaf tea launching three new flavors

Mighty Leaf tea, which uses biodegradable tea bags for its organic teas, is launching three new flavors: Organic Green Dragon and Organic Detox Infusion (in September) and African Nectar, made with African rooibos with mango and vanilla (in October). The 15-count boxes retail for $10 at Whole Foods Market, 7401 W. 91st St., Overland Park, or online at www.mightyleaf.com

Green Tea Facial

Lina Tanaka thinks green tea is more than just a thirst quencher. The skin-products expert believes it's also great for her skin. When Ms. Tanaka brews her daily cup in the morning, she sets aside a small serving to cool. Once the tea feels cold to the touch, she uses it to tone her skin. Ms. Tanaka likes to pour a little of the tea into her palms and splash it directly onto her face.Read More

Breast cancer risk unconnected to drinking coffee or tea

A study analyzed data on 85,987 cancer-free women who, on average, were in their mid-40s at the start of the study. In a 22-year span, 5,272 of them were diagnosed with breast cancer. Women who reported drinking the most tea or coffee (four or more cups a day, caffeinated or decaffeinated) had no greater or lesser risk of developing breast cancer than those who drank virtually no coffee or tea.

Read More

Green Tea Lowers Cholesterol

According to a Taiwanese clinical trial, women who took 400 mg of green tea extract three times a day for 12 weeks experienced significant reduction in LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Black Tea May Reduce Risk of Parkinson's

A new study conducted by the researchers at the National Neuroscience Institute in Singapore has shown that drinking one cup of black tea a day may reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease by as much as 71 percent.

Healthy Innovations has launched VidaTea

Healthy Innovations Inc has launched VidaTea, a sparkling green-tea drink infused with antioxidants and sweetened with organic agave nectar. The company claims it provides a better alternative to sugar-laden soda, diet soda, energy drinks and even plain green tea. It comes in desert pear, pomegranate and wild berry, and more flavors are planned.

Tea May Improve Attention And Focus

According to new research published in a supplement to the August issue of the Journal of Nutrition, drinking four to five cups of tea a day may help maintain a healthy mind and body. One study's results suggest that four to five cups of tea a day may improve attention and focus

Tea Temperature

There are telltale signs when a cup of black tea is served at below-optimum temperature: The liquid will look clear, and there will be a brown ring around the bottom of the cup.

Near-boiling water is required to extract the most flavor from black tea. After 3 minutes of steeping, the tea should be about 185 degrees, he says.

For white or green tea, cooler temperatures are required, around 165 to 185 degrees.

Senator Obama Prefers Black Forest Berry tea.

Recently it was revealed that on the campaign trail, Obama's drink of choice is Honest Tea in Black Forest Berry flavour.

Compounds in Green Tea May Protect Against Neurological Damage

Compounds in green tea may protect against neurological damage from obstructive sleep apnea, according to a new study.

For the study, researchers examined the effects green tea polyphenols (GTP), administered through drinking water, on rats who were intermittently deprived of oxygen during 12-hour "night" cycles, mimicking the intermittent hypoxia (IH) that humans with OSA experience.

People with OSA have been reported to have increased markers of oxidative stress and exhibit architectural changes in their brain tissue in areas involved in learning and memory.

Woman poisoned, green tea laced with herbicide

A bottle of "Sokenbicha" tea made a woman in Japan became sick after it was laced with a poisonous herbicide.

A 54-year-old woman from Kato, fell sick and was taken to a hospital after drinking the green tea on Sunday.

Police detected traces of the herbicide glyphosate in the tea.

A similar incident surfaced in Tokyo earlier this month, in which a 43-year-old man from Nerima-ku suffered diarrhea after drinking "Healthya" green tea from a PET bottle his wife had bought at a supermarket last month.

Glyphosate is mainly used to remove weeds. Though its toxicity is low, it causes nausea, headaches and diarrhea when consumed by humans.

Wine and tea linked to diabetes benefits

Antioxidant-rich red wine and tea could help regulate blood sugar levels in diabetics, suggests a new study from the University of Massachusetts.

Tea Stolen

Sports cars worth hundreds of thousands of pounds were stolen from a new dealership - along with the office teabags.

Crooks made off with a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Porsche 911, two Subaru Imprezas, three Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions and a Renault Clio V6.

The eight cars, worth a total of £350,000, were stolen from Extreme UK in Stourbridge, West Midlands.

165 million cups of tea a day

The UK Tea Council claims Britons drink 165 million cups of tea and 70 million cups of coffee each day.

Mourners Drank To Much Tea

Mourners in a town in Donegal Ireland recently drank so much tea and coffee at three separate wake houses that the local council reservoir ran out of water. According to Donegal County Councillor, Tony McDaid, council staff couldn't work out how the reservoir serving the St. Johnston area had suddenly run out of supply. He said it later emerged the three wakes in the locality had caused the problems.

Fairtrade Tea A Farce

The founder of global tea brand Dilmah says the Fairtrade labelling scheme is a well-intentioned "farce" that does little but put money into the pockets of middle-sellers.

"It's no more than another marketing strategy," he said of the Fairtrade label, which is designed to give a warrant of ethics to produce from developing countries.

Three Cups A Day, Keeps The Doctor Away

Women who drink three cups of tea a day may be protecting themselves against heart attacks and strokes. They are less likely to have plaques - dangerous build-ups of fat and cholesterol - in their arteries, researchers have found.

Tea A Cure For Anthrax.

A new study by an international team of researchers from Cardiff University and University of Maryland has revealed how a cup of black tea could be the next line of defence in the threat of bio-terrorism.

According to the team of scientists from the Welsh School of Pharmacy at Cardiff University and the Biodefense Institute, part of the Medical Biotechnology Centre of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute in Baltimore. A cup of black tea could well be an antidote to Bacillus anthracis, more commonly known as anthrax, a disease potentially lethal to humans and animals.

Victorian Tea Party

In Victorian times it was important to understand the rules and regulations of drinking tea at the home of another.

When taking tea at some one's home it was strongly advised that you should never pour tea or coffee into your saucer, or drink with the spoons still in the cup or "drain the cup or glass."

When attending a "tea party," you were not, under any condition, to request more than one or two spoonfuls of sugar with your tea as it appears greedy to do so at the table of another.

Extending your ring finger and small fingers when drinking from a tea cup was considered to be an affectation which bespeaks arrogance and not refinement.

Victorian Tea Party

In Victorian times it was important to understand the rules and regulations of drinking tea at the home of another.

When taking tea at some one's home it was strongly advised that you should never pour tea or coffee into your saucer, or drink with the spoons still in the cup or "drain the cup or glass."

When attending a "tea party," you were not, under any condition, to request more than one or two spoonfuls of sugar with your tea as it appears greedy to do so at the table of another.

Extending your ring finger and small fingers when drinking from a tea cup was considered to be an affectation which bespeaks arrogance and not refinement.

Victorian Tea Party

In Victorian times it was important to understand the rules and regulations of drinking tea at the home of another.

When taking tea at some one's home it was strongly advised that you should never pour tea or coffee into your saucer, or drink with the spoons still in the cup or "drain the cup or glass."

When attending a "tea party," you were not, under any condition, to request more than one or two spoonfuls of sugar with your tea as it appears greedy to do so at the table of another.

Extending your ring finger and small fingers when drinking from a tea cup was considered to be an affectation which bespeaks arrogance and not refinement.

Victorian Tea Party

In Victorian times it was important to understand the rules and regulations of drinking tea at the home of another.

When taking tea at some one's home it was strongly advised that you should never pour tea or coffee into your saucer, or drink with the spoons still in the cup or "drain the cup or glass."

When attending a "tea party," you were not, under any condition, to request more than one or two spoonfuls of sugar with your tea as it appears greedy to do so at the table of another.

Extending your ring finger and small fingers when drinking from a tea cup was considered to be an affectation which bespeaks arrogance and not refinement.

Victorian Tea Party

In Victorian times it was important to understand the rules and regulations of drinking tea at the home of another.

When taking tea at some one's home it was strongly advised that you should never pour tea or coffee into your saucer, or drink with the spoons still in the cup or "drain the cup or glass."

When attending a "tea party," you were not, under any condition, to request more than one or two spoonfuls of sugar with your tea as it appears greedy to do so at the table of another.

Extending your ring finger and small fingers when drinking from a tea cup was considered to be an affectation which bespeaks arrogance and not refinement.

Victorian Tea Party

In Victorian times it was important to understand the rules and regulations of drinking tea at the home of another.

When taking tea at someone's home it was strongly advised that you should never pour tea or coffee into your saucer, or drink with the spoons still in the cup or "drain the cup or glass."

When attending a "tea party," you were not, under any condition, to request more than one or two spoonfuls of sugar with your tea as it appears greedy to do so at the table of another.

Extending your ring finger and small fingers when drinking from a tea cup was considered to be an affectation which bespeaks arrogance and not refinement.

Muslims Will Put You In Jail For Worshipping Tea Pot

A sharia court in Malaysia jailed a woman for joining a "tea-pot worshipping" cult.
Kamariah Ali, a 57 year old former teacher, was arrested in 2005 when the government of the Muslim majority country demolished the two storey high sacred tea pot and other infrastructure of the "heretical" Sky Kingdom cult.

World's Largest Tea Party

India has set a new world record as more than 32,000 people attended the world's largest tea party in Indore.

Thousands of tea drinkers queued outside the Nehru Stadium in Indore over the weekend for the record-breaking feat. Nearly 1,000 volunteers served tea to 32,681 participants while an electronic counting machine kept track of the total number of people taking part in the event.

Japan's Nishio city has held the record from 2006, when it hosted the largest simultaneous tea party. 14,718 people took part in that event.

Zen Green Tea Liqueur, made-in-Japan liqueur.

Zen Green Tea Liqueur is a premium liqueur from Japan that is made with neutral spirits that are infused with special Kyoto green tea leaves from a prestigious tea producer in Japan that has been cultivating tea for over 300 years, is blended with herbs including lemongrass and natural flavors.

Schools in England may stop selling tea

Schools in England could be told to stop selling tea to pupils younger than 16 under options being considered by education chiefs.

Hot coffee and tea pose potential health and safety risks for young children, the School Food Trust suggested.

Teachers are being asked for their views on whether the beverages should be restricted to adults under proposed new guidelines.

Teashops Becoming More Common In USA

According to the Tea Association of the United States, teashops are becoming more common, because consumers are more health-conscious. With many coffee drinks pushing 300 to 400 calories, switching to tea can be a way to loose weight. And many studies have linked tea to health benefits.

New York Lawmaker, Drinking Tea May Lead To Crime

A Queens lawmaker is asking store owners to pull Arizona Ice Tea off their shelves because he says the packaging glorifies graffiti. City Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. who has spent years making an issue of graffiti in New York says.

"Apparently Arizona thinks this is something that should be glorified," "They've come out with a drink called All City. All City is the name for a vandal that has destroyed property in much of New York."

A statement on the Arizona's website says they are paying tribute to the passion and creativity street artists. Artists who have made their mark in all five New York boroughs.

Tea May Be Good For Your Bones

Drinking tea regularly may be good for your bones. Researchers in Perth Australia studied over 200 women aged 70 to 85 and found that those who drank tea had higher bone density at their hips and less bone loss than women who didn't drink tea. Although the study did not find a link between the cups of tea consumed per day and bone mineral density, it found the bone density at two places at the hip was higher in tea drinkers than in non-tea drinkers. Tea drinkers also had less loss of bone density over a four-year period compared to the women who did not drink tea.

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.

Tea For Troops.

Judah Sanders and Dave Dahl, co-founders of the California-based Dragon Pearl Tea Company, are against the war in Iraq but they feel compelled to support the men and women who are serving there. The tea company has shipped almost $10,000 worth of green tea to the U.S. troops on duty in Iraq.

Two hundred and fifty cases of Dragon Pearl Tea were shipped this fall to troops in Iraq through an all-volunteer group called U.S. Troop Care Package

Second Annual Red Rose Tea Fair

The second annual Red Rose Tea Fair will be held on the weekend of Nov. 9-11 at the Hilton Garden Inn on Corporate Drive.

Companies exhibiting at the fair will include Redco Foods (the makers of Red Rose Tea), Wade Ceramics Ltd., C&S Collectibles, Wade New England, The Water Closet, the Tea House Times, Happy Wadeing, Curiosity Collectables and PaulaWalla Imports.

The weekend-long event will include a Welcome Dinner and Tea Cup Auction, Wade vendors from the U.S. and England, Swap-n-Sell tables for collectors, an Edwardian Tea Party, tea leaf readers, and Wade authors Ian Warner and Mike Posgay.

Fair hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. A shuttle will be available to transport visitors to various off-site events from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Sunday.
Admission to the fair is $5.

The Windsor Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee developed this event in conjunction with Windsor's Economic Development Director Jim Burke and Redco Foods.
For more scheduling and event information, visit the Web site
www.windsorcc.org.

Poci tea

Poci tea originates in the Central Javanese city of Tegal. Mixed with jasmine flowers and brewed in a special earthenware pot (the poci) that is only ever rinsed with clear water —thus imbuing it with its heady scent and making it more delicious each time — it has a unique aroma that has made it popular all over Java.

High tea at the Ritz

Following a £40 million refurbishment, the Ritz is back to the former elegance. High tea at the Ritz, Piccadilly is £32 per person and served daily by reservation only at three sittings, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm. Bookings can be made either through the Reservations office on 0207 300 2305 or book online at www.theritzlondon.com.

Tea Table Sells for $6.7 million

At Christie's last week, a Philadelphia tea table in a remarkable state of preservation sold for $6.7 million, three times the expected price and a record for Philadelphia furniture sold at auction. Experts say the table is worth every penny.

It had passed from generation to generation in the same family since its crafting in the mid 18th century. Most recently the table sat quietly in the family's Main Line, Philadelphia home until a local appraiser clued them in that the table could be worth more than the house.

Tea tables became fashionable in England as the tea trade with Asia gained steam. Upper-crust Americans quickly fell in love with the style and began commissioning their own tea tables from the finest Colonial craftsman. Historians tell us that in the 1760s, many important meetings relating to the planning of the American Revolution took place around these early tea tables, adding to their cachet today.

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Life Is A Beach. Drink Tea.

Thousands of bottles of barley tea drinks washed ashore on Kouyuwuan Beach in Taiwan, drawing crowds of local residents to come "clean up" the beach by collecting the "suprise gifts".

The tea came from the freighter "Tan Ting No. 2, " which sank Friday in bad weather while transporting the tea drink cargo to Xiamen, China. The ship had been carrying 3,900 cases of the Mugicha tea drink.

Women are like tea-bags - put us in hot water and watch us get stronger

"Women are like tea-bags - put us in hot water and watch us get stronger."

Well this blog is not really about tea. But I like the Quote. If you want to know more about it go toTea Bag Lady

Tea In The National Museum of China

Wuyi Mountain is renowned for the quality of tea leaves grown there. A sample of the leaves collected and baked in Wuyi Mountain entered the collection of the National Museum of China in Beijing this week.

The sample leaves were picked from a 350-year old tea tree, in May of 2005. The leaves were baked and processed exactly in accordance with ancient technique. They were among the last leaves harvested from the tree. It came under government protection in 2006. This marks the first time the National Museum of China has included contemporary tea leaves in its collection.

$2 to 6 million Tea Table

In January 2008, Sotheby’s will offer one of the greatest masterpieces of American Furniture, the Fox-Tilghman Family Chippendale Carved and Figured Mahogany Tilt-Top Piecrust Tea Table, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1755, as the centerpiece of its sale of Important Americana 2 during Americana Week 2008. The table is expected to fetch a estimated $2 to 6 million.

Tea and weight loss

Severl recent studies indicate that drinking green tea can help you loose weight.But what does green tea have that other beverages dont? Some scientists say the magic lies in it's EGCG, a powerful anti-oxidant known to stop the growth of cancer cells, blood clots, and lowers cholesterol levels.

Tea treatment for attention deficit disorder

Neuroscientists have evidence that the amino acid theanine, which is found in green, black, and oolong teas, causes a decrease in the brain's "alpha rhythms" when people perform complex attention tasks, causing them to pay closer attention. This may help people with attention deficit disorder.

Tea's Make You Smarter

A growing number of scientists theorize that tea is far more complex than most people might think. As a result, they are exploring new ways to uncover the chemical secrets nature has tucked into the leaves of green and black teas.

Read More

Iced Tea Makers Recalled As Fire Hazard

West Bend is voluntarily recalling 10,000 iced tea makers because some components could fail and pose a fire hazard.

The product, IT400 Iced Tea Makers, were manufactured in China. No reports of injuries or incidents have been reported, according to a notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The products were sold at Bon-Ton department stores and hardware stores nationwide, the JCPenney catalog, and Internet retailers from April through July 2007 for between $40 and $50.

Rainforest Alliance Certified Tea

Unilever Foodsolutions has launched the first Rainforest Alliance Certified Lipton Kericho Estate Tea, to the UK. The new Lipton Kericho Estate Tea will come directly from Unilever's own 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified tea estate in Kericho, Kenya.

Earl Grey Tea at Buckingham Palace

"Earl Grey is the most-often served tea at Buckingham Palace," notes Darren McGrady in Eating Royalty. "It is a black tea flavored with oil of Bergamot – a fragrant citrus fruit – and named after the second Earl Grey in 1830.

Jane Seymour, Let Them Drink Tea.

More than 50 of actress Jane Seymour neighbours arrived at her estate near Bath to dispute a 24 hour entertainment licence granted to St Catherine’s Court, a venue which Seymour rents out for functions. Locals complain the noise and increase in traffic is making their lives miserable.

Seymour has responded to the protestors camped outside her English country home in a unique way - by instructing her butler to serve them tea.

Instead of confronting the protestors, Seymour’s estate manager Hein van Borstenbosch provided them with refreshments, in fine bone china, and accepted a 200-signature petition.

Women and black tea antioxidants

Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology monitored the intake of antioxidants called flavonoids, found in tea, in 500 women aged between 40 and 80.
The study found 81 per cent of the women's flavonoid compound intake came from drinking black tea.

Magical Mushroom Tea

For thousands of years, health-conscious Chinese drank kombucha, a fermented tea said to benefit drinkers with everything from better digestion to thicker hair.
Now the brew, which tastes like carbonated vinegar, is going mainstream. It's on the shelves at local health food stores and at Whole Foods, where you can find it near refrigerated juices.

Believed to have originated in China around 250 B.C., kombucha is called mushroom tea because the culture used to brew each batch is mushroom-shaped. You won't see mushrooms in your bottled tea, though those feathery solids are drinkable remnants.

The drink's supposed therapeutic benefits include better skin, weight loss, increased energy and detoxification.


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Tea Leaf Green is a Band?

Well I guess I am getting old. When looking around the net for something to Blog about I came across Tea Leaf Green. As it turns out Tea Leaf Green has nothing to do with Tea. Apparently it is a San Francisco Rock Band. However from what I have found online they are quite good.

Of course this is not surprising considering the name of the band.

Armed Gunman Takes Pint Of Ice Tea

A man armed with a gun took money, cigarettes and iced tea from a Rutters Farm Store early yesterday. The man entered the store at at 1:20 a.m. Sunday, displayed a handgun and demanded money, according to state police.

Police said the man then fled the store with an unknown amount of money, a carton of cigarettes and a pint of iced tea. He was wearing black shorts, a green sweatshirt and a red baseball hat and fled in an unknown direction.

War in Iraq Hurts Tea Workers In India ?

In an interesting look at how events in one country can effect people in another. Indian tea exports have recorded a decline in the first six months of 2007. Exports fell by 11.74 million kg for the period. Industry sources attributed the fall to low buying from the main consuming country “Last year’s major buyer Iraq is inactive in the market.

2.3 billion served

In the last year fast-food restaurants in the U.S. sold some 2.3 billion servings of iced tea.

Look Good Beauty Tea

A Boston company has developed a brand new category in the beauty market. Tea that will make you look better. The "Look Good Beauty Tea" or Sipping Beauty as it is called is the first and only beauty tea line.

Sipping Beauty is the first line of specifically designed beauty tea. The line packs six blends that can be brewed hot or cold. Tea benefits include: keeping skin looking young and getting a full night of beauty sleep. Other selections in the line help with complexion, detoxification, weight management and even a tea formula that keeps breath smelling fresh.

The Sipping Beauty line was created and is distributed by Maswel Brands. To learn more about Sipping Beauty, please visit http://www.sippingbeauty.net .

Kids Trash Tea Hall

In a strange bit of news a pack of young vandals wrecked a Women's Institute tea party as they flooded a village hall with water and trashed members' cars.

The perpetrators of this evil deed acquired entrance to the cream tea and tabletop sale by telling the lady on the door they wanted to use the toilet - but once inside the true purpose of their visit was made clear.

They blocked drains, squirted soap and left taps running. They also scratched cars and slashed tyres before being chased away by the caretaker in Illogan, Cornwall.

One woman was in tears after finding "b@#*h" scratched on her bonnet. President Ruth Palin said: "It was upsetting."

green tea may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases

Animal and epidemiological studies suggest that green tea catechins may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases [e.g., coronary heart disease (CHD)]. The health benefit of green tea has been attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; however, considerable evidence suggests that green tea and its catechins may reduce the risk of CHD by lowering the plasma levels of cholesterol and triglyceride. The available information strongly suggests that green tea or its catechins may be used as safe and effective lipid-lowering therapeutic agents.

Green tea good for skin

Green tea may help treat inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, dandruff and lupus-induced lesions, concludes a Medical College of Georgia study to be published in the Aug. 18 issue of the journal Experimental Dermatology.

The researchers found that a bath of green tea extract mixed with water slowed the development and severity of psoriasis symptoms in mice genetically predisposed to develop the condition.

Tea from Vietnam has pesticide residues

Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported that on July 27 the Food Sanitation Bureau under the Taiwanese Department of Health has discovered pesticide residues in a batch of green tea imported from Vietnam.

Taiwanese authorities have decided to return 21 tonnes of o long (black dragon) tea imported on July 10, which contained the higher-than-allowed level of pesticide.

Cheng Hui-wen, Director General of FSB as saying that the batch of green tea discovered on July 27 contained the residues of dicofol with the concentration of 0.15 ppm.

Prior to that, a batch of 21 tonnes of o long tea was discovered to contain dicofol 0.09 ppm. On June 28, FSB decided to take compulsory examination on tea imports from Vietnam.

Rhinos, elephants create havoc in tea garden

At least three rhinoceroses and 30 elephants have been causing havoc in the Jadavpur tea garden in Jalpaiguri district of India. The animals have put a complete stop to work in the garden as panicked workers refused to report for duty. More than 200 tea bushes have been destroyed by the frenzied herd of elephants in the garden, which is located close to the Gorumara National Park.

USP proposes label cautions for black cohosh and green tea extract

The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) is proposing to require cautionary statements on the labels of dietary supplements that claim to contain USP-grade black cohosh (Actaea racemosa syn. Cimicifuga racemosa) or green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract. The proposed statements are:

Caution: In rare cases black cohosh has been reported to affect the liver. Discontinue use and consult a healthcare practitioner if you have a liver disorder or develop symptoms of liver trouble, such as abdominal pain, dark urine, or jaundice.

Caution: Must take with a meal. In rare cases extracts from green tea have been reported to adversely affect the liver. Discontinue use and consult a healthcare practitioner if you have a liver disorder or develop symptoms of liver trouble, such as abdominal pain, dark urine, or jaundice.

Fake Tea A Danger

Belgian customs officials intercepted a shipment of 20 000kg of fake Lipton tea from China last year. A factory in Pakistan has 20 people making at least a ton of counterfeit tea a day. The tea often contains sawdust or dyed wood chips. Colgate-Palmolive this week warned US consumers that fake Colgate toothpaste had been found that might contain a toxic chemical.

Last year EU customs officers seized 253 million fakes, up from 85 million in 2002. Seizures of toiletries rose to 1.6 million items from 112 132 items. Officers caught 1.2 million food and beverage products, up from 841 000.


The Bottom Line.....Be careful what you put in your mouth.

A Bug In My Tea

Dr. Rong Jun Zhao at New Nam Foo Ling recommends cicada tea to his patients with colds and laryngitis. The essential mixture is made this way: water is brought to a simmer or boil. Then the cicada shells are dropped in and cooked for, in some recipes, hours.

A cicada is an insect with big eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. Many people around the world regularly complement their standard diet with cicadas: the female is prized for eating as it is meatier. Cicadas have been eaten (or are still eaten) in Ancient Greece, China, Malaysia, Burma, Australia, North and South America and the Congo. Cicadas are employed in the traditional medicines of China and Japan for hearing-related matters.

Earl Grey

The Earl Grey blend is named after the 2nd Earl Grey, British Prime Minister in the 1830s, who reputedly received a gift, probably a diplomatic perquisite, of tea flavoured with bergamot oil.

Green Tea Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts Taiwan menu includes such foreign flavours as green tea and honeydew melon donuts, while Mister Donut also offers green tea and flavours like strawberry and sesame. Mister Donut hopes that flavours like green tea will create a more healthy image.

Need A Cup Of Tea Fast?

Researchers have designed a kettle, which, according to them, can produce a cup of hot water in only three seconds, reports the Daily Mail. The Tefal kettle uses a new spiral heating element that almost instantly makes piping hot water. While the water the machine produces is very hot, it is not quite at boiling point. As a result, tea lovers may find it doesn’t draw as much flavour from a tea bag. However if you need your tea fix fast this may be the device that you have been looking for.

The kettle also includes a water filter, which is intended to clean up the tap water it uses, reducing chlorine.

Big Red Robe Tea

Da Hang Pao ("Big Red Robe Tea") is a legendary and much revered oolong tea which is grown in the Fujian province of China. Appreciated by sophisticated tea drinkers around the globe" this tea sells for over $300 for a half pound. What makes this tea so exceptional is the way it grows. It grows on rocks in the Wu Yi Mountains where water trickling down the crevices nourishes the tea plants throughout the year.

Antwerp Tea Houses Sell Tea With A Real Zip

An undercover journalist working a current affairs magazine programme was able to buy drugs at tea houses masquerading as social clubs for the members of Antwerp's Moroccan community.

Many people in the Moroccan community say that enough is enough and that it's time that the police and the judicial authorities got tough on tea houses that sell drugs.

World Tea Expo Opens Next Week in Atlanta

The world's largest trade show dedicated to tea and tea-related products. 300 exhibitors and 5,000+ buyers gather in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center, June 9-11, for three days packed with new trends and educational workshops.

They will have a New Products Showcase, over 50 Workshops and Seminars, cooking with Tea Demonstrations and lots more.

To register visit the website, www.worldteaexpo.com.

A Brief History of Time and Tea. Part 1

They say the second emperor of China, Shen Nung, discovered tea. We do not know if this is correct but in about 350 A.D. a Chinese dictionary cites tea for the first time as Erh Ya.

Europeans first learn about tea in 1589 when a Venetian author credits the lengthy lives of Asians to their tea drinking. In about 1610 the Dutch start to bring back green tea from Japan. The Dutch East India Company market the tea as an exotic medicinal drink, but it’s so expensive only the aristocracy can afford it.

Health Canada Approves Several Health Claims for Tea

Health Canada's Natural Health Products Directorate has deemed tea to be a natural health product and has officially recognized tea for its role in maintaining good health. After a period of extensive review, the NHPD has approved three health
claims for tea. All types of tea infusions (black, green and oolong) are
recognized as a source of antioxidants for the maintenance of good health. Tea
is approved for increasing alertness. And tea is further accredited as helping
to maintain and/or support cardiovascular health.

Chocolate And Tea Could Improve Your Memory

A chocolate bar with your next cup of tea could help your memory.

A British study has discovered that Falvanol, a chemical found in chocolate, tea, grapes and blueberries improved the memory in mice.

Think I will go have a cup:)

Tea Tasters Could Lose Their Jobs

Scientists have developed a mechanized ‘nose’ that can detect complex odours and potentially help lead to better quality teas. The instrument uses sensors to detect and discriminate complex odours. An odour stimulus generates a characteristic fingerprint or pattern, and based on these patterns the teas can be classified, identified and graded as odour lends flavour to tea.

Tea tasters who manually taste teas could lose their jobs to this ‘nose’ that can also act as a tongue. The computing system of the instrument is capable of sensing compounds of tea and predicting the scores that are otherwise manually calculated by tea tasters.

Professional tea tasters of major brokerage firms taste the teas manually before fixing their grades. All this can now be avoided if the teas come with score cards done by a machine. Tea tasters here say it is too early to say if the new nose is any better.

Let your tea steep

Scientists have established that the traditional way of making a cup of tea releases more cancer fighting chemicals than simply dunking a tea bag in a cup of boiling water.

Scientists at the Rowett Institute in Aberdeen Scotland found that the concentration of antioxidants reaches its peak after about five minutes. Scientists found that blood antioxidant levels were 60% higher among people who drank tea that had been brewed for five minutes than those who drank tea that had steeped for only one minute.

Cutty Sark Fire

The 280ft vessel Cutty Sark was ravaged by fire in the early hours of Monday and police believe the fire, which caused £25 million damage, may have been started deliberately. Donations have poured in since the blaze left the 138-year-old vessel in charred ruins. But despite firefighters doing all they could to save her, the tea clipper will need millions of pounds spent on her if she is to rise from the ashes.

Forensic examination of the remains of the Cutty Sark has failed to establish how the fire started. Scotland Yard said tests on the remains had proved "inconclusive".

Named after a fleet-footed witch in the Scottish legend of Tam O'Shanter, it has become one of London's biggest attractions. The 280ft vessel, built in 1869, was once the world's fastest tea clipper sailing from Australia to England in a record 72 days in 1885. The Cutty Sark left London on her maiden voyage on February 16 1870, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope to Shanghai in three-and-a-half months. She made eight journeys to China as part of the tea trade until steam ships replaced sail on the high seas.

Bid on a chance to have tea with Nelson Mandela

Bidding opens on eBay Monday for an online auction of 50 "priceless moments" with renowned South African and international figures to raise money for seven African children's charities.

Up for grabs is afternoon tea with anti-apartheid icons Mandela and Albertina Sisulu. Also up for grabs is a visit to one of Richard Branson's charity projects with Branson plus two nights at the entrepreneur's private safari lodge.

Bidding for tea with Mandela which is expected to be the hottest item opens at 1400 GMT on Monday and other items will be posted at five minute intervals.

Bidding on the world's biggest online auction site eBay lasts until May 24.

Green tea an effective measure against acne.

Green tea is used to cure and prevent many illnesses in Asia. Green tea is a healthy alternative to the many creams and lotions that have been widely popularized as acne medicines.

Changes to Lipton PureLeaf

The Pepsi-Lipton Tea Partnership has announced that Lipton PureLeaf, the leading U.S. brand made with fresh-brewed tea, has just arrived on store shelves with all- natural ingredients, new packaging and updated graphics. Formerly known as Lipton Original, Lipton PureLeaf now offers pure, delicious tea with no artificial flavors or colors.

"Consumers have told us how important it is that their tea is pure, straight from the leaf, as nature intended," said Stacy Reichert, vice president and general manager, Pepsi-Lipton Tea Partnership. "As leaders in the ready-to-drink tea category, our master tea blenders have the expertise to produce the kinds of healthy, great tasting teas consumers are seeking."

Tea drinkers may have lower skin cancer risk

People who drink tea may have a lower risk of two common forms of skin cancer, new research suggests. In a study of nearly 2,200 adults, researchers found that tea drinkers had a lower risk of developing squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma, the two most common forms of skin cancer.

Men and women who are regular tea drinkers, one or more cups a day, were 20 to 30 percent less likely to develop cancers than those who didn't drink tea.

The effect was even stronger among people who have been tea fans for decades, as well as those who regularly had at least two cups a day, according to the findings published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The theory is that tea antioxidants may limit the damage UV radiation inflicts on the skin. In particular, a tea antioxidant known as EGCG has been shown to reduce burning on UV-exposed skin.

The Tea market has grown

The Tea market has grown from a $1.8 billion industry in 1990 to $6.5 billion last year, according to the Tea Association of the USA.

Black tea has given way to or at least been been joined by red, white, green and what seams like a million herbal blends. And they come in the traditional bags, large conical sacks, perforated foil tubes, loose leaves and more. In addition to hot tea, cold bottled tea drinks are growing in popularity and account for the majority of tea consumed in the United States.