How to Make Great Iced Tea

Summer time is a great opportunity to get the recommended daily healthy intake of 3-4 cups of tea per day, by making refreshing iced tea at home. Any category of loose tea can be made into iced tea, whether it is a black Indian Assam, to a Chinese green or white tea--and of course herbal tea (tisanes) also make great iced teas. Personal flavor choice and preference should be the driver of what type of tea you choose to use for preparing your iced tea.

Some tea friends I know love to make iced tea with TeaMoka's British Blue Mountain Earl Grey, whereas I typically prefer to use a green or white tea. "To each his own"--especially when it comes to tea! As far as how much loose tea to use when making iced tea actually depends on the process you are using to steep your tea. In general, you want to use enough tea to make it concentrated (i.e. more than what you would use when steeping hot tea), because you will then add ice which will dilute the liquid. If you are steeping tea on the stove, you can bring a little bit of fresh cold water(about a cup) to a boil (for a black tea), add 2-3 teaspoons of loose tea, and then steep for about 5 minutes. Once this liquid cools, add fresh cold water, and then pour over ice to make several glasses of fresh tea.

If, on the other hand, you use an automatic tea brewer like I'm currently using, then you simply fill the inner container with fresh cold water, add ice to the pitcher, then add about 2 tablespoons of loose tea in the top of the brewer and press start. Tea brewers make it so fast and easy to prepare iced tea and then you can just place the pitcher in the refrigerator and enjoy tea all day long.

The way I grew up of making "sun tea", where you place a jar of tap water and tea bags out on your deck and let the summer sun heat the tea, is now being frowned upon as a way of making iced tea due to the chance of bacteria growing in the jar (because the water is never brought up to a boil or near boil). Somehow I survived childhood enjoying tea this way, but I have to admit that making tea in an automatic brewer is so much easier and faster...and I guess there is extra piece of mind knowing that it's bacteria-free!

To me, iced tea is just one of those few simple little pleasures of life that I enjoy so much. So the most important thing to remember is to just savor your tea this summer--any way you like it!

Upcoming Event

You're invited to join TeaMoka Specialty Tea at the women-only shopping event of the year!

Haute Market Shopping Party
DATE: Thursday, July 16th
TIME: 4:30pm-9:00pm
LOCATION: Ritz Charles, Overland Park, KS
EVENT: Shop from over 30 trendy boutiques and enter for a chance to win a trip to New York City during fashion week!

Tickets for this event are $10 in advance available at www.HauteMarket.com. The first 4 women to respond to this post can purchase tickets directly from TeaMoka for
$5 each! Plus, for anyone that attends this event you'll receive 25% off any one TeaMoka tea or teaware item!

White Tea

One tea category that was all a buzz at this year's World Tea Expo was White Tea. Alot of conflicting information abounds about the differences in green tea vs. white tea, how white tea is produced, and whether a tea can technically be categorized as white or not.

I started drinking white tea many years ago and have always enjoyed the subtle elegance of this type of tea. If you've never tried it, give it a chance and you might find it to be a truly sensory experience. In the meantime, here's a bit of basic information to get you started on understanding white tea.

Production: White teas are generally harvested in early spring and are carefully sun-dried for several days to remove moisture. White tea is the least processed of all teas, in that it does not undergo much processing like black teas and even some green teas. The buds (or tender shoots) of the Camellia sinesis plant are plucked from the top of the tea plant and these buds often display a downy white fuzz, thus giving the tea its name of White Tea.

Infusion: The infused liquor is very pale in color and is often very mellow, fragrant, and slightly sweet. Most white teas are often steeped best at water that is just steaming (not boiling) as the leaves are tender and you should avoid scorching them. I've found that usually 2-3 minutes is the optimal steeping time for most white teas, but always steep to your personal preference.

Caffeine: Most information available usually states that white tea is lower in caffeine than even green tea; however the latest scientific esearch indicates that white tea can actually have slightly more caffeine than green tea. This is due to the younger tea shoots from which white tea is plucked containing more caffeine in the leaves than older, "more mature" leaves. Caffeine in the tea plant is nature's self-defense against plant disease and insects. Isn't nature amazing? So unless your body is sensitive to caffeine, don't use caffeine as an indicator of whether to choose green or white tea.

Just drink what you enjoy!

What Happens in Vegas...

What happens in Vegas......benefits you!

We are heading off to the 2009 World Tea Expo in Vegas to meet with tea growers from around the globe and bring new knowledge all about the world of tea back to you! It's going to be a great convention and we look forward to telling you all about it soon.

Stop By and Visit TeaMoka on April 18th!

TeaMoka will be participating at the Spring Vendor Fair on Saturday, April 18th!

Stop by to try samples of some of our newest fresh teas and check out our latest "ipot" teapots in new spring colors!

Event: Spring Vendor Fair

Date: April 18, 2009 9 am - 4 pm

Location: First Christian Church of North Kansas City
2018 N. Gentry, North Kansas City, MO 64116

10 Heathly Reasons to Drink Tea

Other than "because it tastes good", here are 10 smart reasons to drink tea!

1. Tea contains antioxidants. Antioxidants can help slow down the aging process, and help cells regenerate and repair. Many studies suggest antioxidants also assist our bodies in preventing cancer.
2. Tea can lower stress hormone levels. Black tea can reduce the effects of stressful events by lowering the amount of the stress hormone cortisol in the body.
3. Tea fights cavities and reduces plaque. Compounds in tea are capable of killing or suppressing growth and acid production of cavity causing bacteria in our mouths.
4. Tea keeps you hydrated. Every cup of tea you drink, especially low or no caffeine varieties, counts as a cup of water with the added bonus of providing antioxidants as well.
5. Tea may reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. Tea can help prevent formation of dangerous blood clots which are often the cause of strokes and heart attacks.
6. Tea can help lower blood pressure. Drinking green tea daily can reduce your risk of hypertension by up to 50%.
7. Tea aids your body in digestion. Tea has been used for thousands of years as an after-meal digestive aid. It can also help relieve stomach cramps.
8. Tea may help prevent diabetes. There is some evidence to suggest that green tea might help to lower the risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes.
9. Tea can help beat bacteria. An Egyptian study testing the effects of green tea on antibiotics found the tea to enhance the bacteria killing effects of the drugs.
10. Tea aids your immune defenses. A study comparing the immune activity levels of coffee drinkers vs. tea drinkers found the tea drinkers to have levels up to five times higher.

Study Finds Tea May Decrease Breast Cancer Risk

In case you need another reason to drink up...

A study led by a researcher at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., has indicated that drinking tea may help women under 50 stave off breast cancer. Published in the January issue of the medical journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, the study looked at potential links between regular tea consumption and the risk of breast cancer.

More than 9,500 women ages 20 to 74 were surveyed, some with cancer and others without. According to an abstract, the results indicated that "tea consumption was not related to breast cancer risk overall." However, when looking at results only for participants 50 years of age or younger, "those consuming three or more cups per day had a 37 percent reduced breast cancer risk when compared with women reporting no tea consumption."

While conceding that further work is needed to confirm their conclusion, the research team stated: "We observed evidence to support a potential beneficial influence for breast cancer associated with moderate levels of tea consumption (three or more cups per day) among younger women."

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

As never before, it's time to reflect on all that we have and we all have a lot to be thankful for. Family, friends, jobs, and homes among a myriad of other "things". Usually my type-A personality usually comes up with a list of things that I want to accomplish in the new year; however, this year is different. My resolution is a simple one. To stress less and enjoy more.

As I've recently been reflecing on things in life that bring me true pleasure, I realize that they have two things in common --they relieve stress and open my eyes to being in and enjoying the moment. Luckily for me, one of my life's little pleasures happens to be settling down with a hot cup of tea. Nothing destresses me more and puts things into perspective. Have you ever noticed that it's nearly impossible to feel stressed or to worry about something that may or may not happen tomorrow while wrapping your hands around a steaming cup of tea? I think by design it may be impossible. So I'm adding tea (yes, tea) to the long list of things that I'm thankful for. I'm truly thankful for this simple beverage.

Here's to the New Year and new beginnings! I wish for you all less stress, more enjoyment of being in the moment, and living life by the cup.