Tag: tea

Fast Food for the Brain

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As you’ve figured out by now, I do a news chum post when three or more collected bookmarks form a theme. That’s happened again, and the theme for this post is junk food:

  • The Twinkie Defense. Evidently, there is a baker’s strike, and as a side effect of the strike, Hostess Brands may file for liquidation if it continues. Yes, folks, that means the maker of the popular snack cake may go out of business (as early as today), and the branded Twinkie (as well, I guess, as Hostess Cup Cakes and Ding Dongs) may go off the shelf. But don’t worry. The ones left on the shelves will never go stale.
  • Ruining Tea. Most people don’t go to Starbucks because their coffee is good. After all, if it was, why would they feel the need to doctor it with so much fattening crap. It’s gotten to the point where real coffee drinkers prefer McDonalds Coffee. Luckily, us tea drinkers have been relatively safe. Until now. Starbucks has purchased Teavana for $260 million. Teavana, which already had overpriced and overmarketed tea, is a perfect match for Starbucks. Starbucks said it plans to expand Teavana’s existing 300 mall-based stores while adding a “high-profile neighborhood store concept.” According to Starbucks, the Teavana deal is a “signal that we have moved our plan to fundamentally transform the consumer tea experience in both North American and international markets into high gear.” Sigh. I love tea because I drink it black… and I already have great sources for tea (Upton, Stash, Franklin Tea). I also believe it is important to support your local coffee or tea shop, not the megachains.
  • Your Drink is Bad For You. We’re learning more and more what we drink is often bad for us. First it was large sodas. I’ve just talked about the junk people add to coffee.  Today’s news brings a report of another hazard: it appears the calories people get from booze nearly equals the calories they get from sodas. According to the report, soda and other sweetened drinks are the source of about 6 percent of the calories adults consume, on average. Alcoholic beverages account for about 5 percent. A 12-ounce can of regular Coca-Cola has 140 calories, slightly less than a same-sized can of regular Bud. A 5-ounce glass of wine is around 100 calories. Now people are asking whether New York will ban large alcoholic beverages. Of course, I’ve got a different question. I only drink black tea. So where am I getting my extra junk calories :-).

 

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It’s Tea Time Again

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Back in March 2011, I placed my last big tea order. Guess what? I’m almost out of tea at work. So it’s time for another order, and time for me to share what I ordered:

Franklin Tea

Franklin Tea is this great little tea shop we discovered on a visit to Tennessee in 2007. They have some of the best flavored teas around. From Frankin, for work, I ordered:

  • Caramel Tea. Just a wonderfully smooth caramel flavored black tea. 4 oz @ $1.89/oz.
  • Chocolate Tea. A great distraction from a chocolate craving, a Belgian chocolate craving. 4 oz @ $1.80/oz.
  • Cosmopolitan Blend. A hearty blend of teas from Ceylon, Kenya, India and China. 4 oz @ $2.25/oz
  • Vithanakanda OP1. A smooth Ceylon with extra large and wiry leaf. Fair trade. 4 oz @ $1.98/oz.
  • Keemun. A well-toasted leaf, known as the ” Burgundy” of teas. 4oz @ $1.68/oz.
  • Berry Blend. A delicious blend of deep fruit flavors, enjoyed hot or iced. 4oz @ $1.89/oz.
  • Black Current. … with dried black currants and berry flavor. 4oz @ $2.16/oz.

Additionally, for home, we also ordered more Caramel (4oz), Chocolate (4oz), Berry Blend (4oz), Black Currant (4oz), Chocolate Nut (2oz), Masala Chai (4oz), Spicy Chai (4oz), Paris (2 oz), Peaches and Ginger (2oz), and Decaf. Masala Chai (4oz).

Stash Tea

Stash is a regular source, but they have gotten much pricier. Thus, we have a much smaller order from Stash. My Stash items are:

  • Christmas Morning. Indian Assam imparts a malty and hearty flavor; the Formosa Oolong adds bright, fruity flavor notes; the China Keemun, a hint of smokiness; our first flush Darjeeling, a flowery note; richness from the Yunnan and Nilgiri black teas; and the jasmine green tea imparts a lingering, sweet fragrance. Overall, this breakfast tea is a rich, multi-layered drink that is sure to pick you up in the early morning. Full-bodied and with a lovely aroma, this tea is a new and interesting take on traditional breakfast teas like English and Irish Breakfast. Enjoy it hot or iced, with milk and sugar or plain. 100g @ 9.95 ($2.82/oz).
  • Bed & Breakfast Blend. A full-bodied blend of fine black teas, including Kopili Estate Special Assam, Tiger Hill Estate Nilgiri, and Kenilworth Estate Ceylon. Kopili Assam has the malty, full-bodied flavor of the best Assams and some unique flavor notes due to the garden’s location. Nilgiris are full-bodied Indian teas with light color and aroma. Tiger Hill Nilgiri produces a more robust tea then typical Nilgiris and has a darker liquor color, while still maintaining the fine characteristics of Nilgiri teas from South India. Ceylon tea is grown from sea level to altitudes exceeding 7000 feet. One of the most famous tea gardens in Sri Lanka, Kenilworth Estate, produces Ceylons with long wiry leaves and exquisite flavor. 100g @ $8.25 ($2.34/oz)
  • Feijoa. Our Brazilian Feijoa is a unique, full-bodied tea that blends premium black teas with the wonderful fruity taste of feijoa. Try this intriguing tea unsweetened or with a bit of sugar. It also makes a delicious iced tea. Imagine a combination of guava, pineapple, and strawberry flavors – that’s what feijoa tastes like. 100g @ $8.25 ($2.34/oz)
  • House Blend. A signature blend of rich Assam, exquisite Ceylon, smooth Darjeeling, fruity Oolong, smoky Keemun and fragrant Jasmine. Each tea adds its distinctive flavor notes to this special blend. 100g @ $8.25 ($2.34/oz)
  • Jamaican Butter Rum. A blend of fine Ceylon, Indian and Chinese black teas combined them with natural rum, sweet butterscotch, and creamy caramel flavors for a rich, aromatic and slightly sweet dessert tea. For a special taste treat, enjoy with a splash of milk and some sugar. 100g @ $8.25 ($2.34/oz)
  • Fusion Green/Black. Premium green and black teas make this an enjoyable morning tea. With Matcha. 100g @ $7.50 ($2.13/oz)

Upton Tea

Upton Tea is an online shop out of Mass. that was recommended by the tea group on LJ. From Upton, I ordered:

  • Orthodox TGFOP Darjeeling. Good whole leaf Darjeeling, producing a delicate, flavorful brew. 125g @ $5.80 ($1.32 / oz)
  • Tindharia Estate FTGFOP1 Second Flush (DJ-76) Organic. This selection represents one of the best values we have seen for Darjeeling teas in recent time. The golden-brown cup has a fresh aroma, with hints of rose and fruit. The finish has a subtle hint of mace. By purchasing the entire, rather large lot, we are able to offer this tea at an attractive price. 125g @ $7.80 ($1.77/oz)
  • Chun Mee Organic Fair Trade.  A very fine grade of a classic China green tea. Sweet and smooth, with surprisingly rich character. Subtle hints of chestnut round out the flavor profile. 125g @ $8.80 ($2/oz)
  • Darjeeling-Ceylon Iced Tea Blend. Half whole-leaf Darjeeling and half OP Ceylon. A great hot tea as well! The brewing information provided is for making an iced tea concentrate. 125g @ $5.40 ($1.23/oz)
  • Organic English Breakfast Blend. A hearty blend of rich CTC Assam and BOP Ceylon teas, yielding a cup with robust flavor and a brisk finish. This is an organic version of a classic, bracing breakfast blend. 125g @ $6.80 ($1.54 / oz)
  • First Grade Gunpowder Green. Superior grade of green tea in the style of gunpowder teas (tightly rolled tea leaves resembling gunpowder pellets). 125g @ $4.00 ($0.91/oz)
  • Mincing Lane Breakfast Blend. For this blend, we paired a hearty Assam with a smooth and flavorful Yunnan, for a cup that is highly enjoyable. The invigorating liquor has a full mouth feel, subtle spicy notes, and a lingering aftertaste. While milk is recommended, it is enjoyable plain. 125g @ $6.80 ($1.54/oz)

For home, we also ordered 125g packages of Monk’s Blend, Hearthside Chai, Orange Spice Imperial, Melange de Chamonix, and Rote Grutze, as well as a sample of Season’s Pick Vietnam Black.

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Tea Time Again

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It’s been a little over a year since my last large tea order, so it’s time to restock. Here’s what I’m getting this time:

From Franklin Tea, a little tea shop I discovered in Franklin TN a few years ago:

  • Caramel Tea. Black tea accented with rich notes of caramel flavoring. 4oz @ $1.89/oz. This is the best caramel tea that I’ve found.
  • Toffee Almond Supreme This black tea blend is wonderfully smooth, rich, dark and sweet. It brings to mind Creme Brulee. Contains black Chinese tea, almonds, calendula petals and flavor. 4oz @ $2.25/oz.
  • Chocolate. A great distraction from a chocolate craving, a Belgian chocolate craving. 4oz @ $1.80/oz.
  • Decaf. Vanilla Ceylon Decaf Ceylon black tea with pure vanilla. 4oz @ $2.64/oz.
  • Scottish Breakfast (Organic) A blend of Ceylon and Assam teas. Malty hardiness with a bright crispness. 4oz @ $2.07/oz.
  • Gunpowder Green. A classic green tea made up of leaves hand-rolled into tiny pellets. 4oz @ $1.41/oz.
  • Cosmopolitan Blend. A hearty blend of teas from Ceylon, Kenya, India and China. 4oz @ $2.25/oz.

From Stash Tea:

  • Christmas Morning Black Tea 100g. Exquisite blend of Darjeeling First Flush, Indian Assam, China Keemun and Yunnan, southern Indian teas, Formosa Oolong and Jasmine Flower. $9.95.
  • Stash Bed & Breakfast Blend Black Tea 100g. A full-bodied blend of fine black teas including Kopili Estate Special Assam, Tiger Hill Estate Nilgiri, and Kenilworth Estate Ceylon. Very smooth finish. $8.25.
  • Brazilian Feijoa Black Tea 100g. Blend of black teas and natural feijoa flavor. Exotic feijoa fruit is native to South America. Fruity flavor notes of guava, strawberry and pineapple. $8.25
  • Stash House Blend Black Tea 100g. This smooth, rich blend of Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, Oolong, Keemun and Jasmine teas has a delicate floral aftertaste and is good for everyday drinking. $8.25.
  • Ceylon Breakfast Black Tea 100g. An ultra smooth version of English Breakfast with a beautiful golden color in the cup. $7.50.. An ultra smooth version of English Breakfast with a beautiful golden color in the cup. $8.25.
  • Organic Ambootia Darjeeling Black Tea 100g This beautiful tea has a sparkling amber color and flowery aroma. The flavor is smooth and mellow with a distinct fruity note. $11.50
  • Cherry Almond Black Tea 100g. Divine cherry taste and aroma with bits of dried cherries and natural almond flavors blended with select black teas. $8.25
  • Gunpowder Temple of Heaven Green Tea 100g. This green tea is tightly rolled into a tiny pellet resembling gunshot. Leaves delicately unfold during brewing. Light body and a distant smoky, spicy flavor. $8.25.
  • Organic Decaf Korakundah Green Tea 100g. Mellow green tea with a delicate, yet distinct character. Naturally decaffeinated. Fair Trade Certified. $8.25
  • Premium Green Tea 100g. Steamed fresh from the garden, our Premium Green tea retains its color and natural flavor, leaving it rich in antioxidants. Pale green in the cup, with a slightly sweet flavor. $7.50.
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Thursday News Chum: Gyros, Tea, Sand, Sponges, Sandwiches, and Typewriters

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

I’ve lifted my head up long enough from the vacation thinking to find some tasty lunchtime chum:

  • From the “You Are What You Eat” Department: Ever have gyros? Ever wonder what the mystery meat was, or where it came from? Well, the New York Times found out. To me, the most interesting paragraph was:

    The process starts with boxes of raw beef and lamb trimmings, and ends with what looks like oversized Popsicles the shade of a Band-Aid. In between, the meat is run through a four-ton grinder, where bread crumbs, water, oregano and other seasonings are added. A clumpy paste emerges and is squeezed into a machine that checks for metal and bone.

    Bread crumbs? This means gyros may not be gluten-free; certainly not Kronos gyros. Other than that, they are shipped to restaurants as gyros-sicles for cooking. I think I’ll stick with Zankou, thank you very much.

  • From the “You Are What You Drink” Department: I’m a tea drinker. I pick what tastes good. Something tells me that I should visit Chinatown in San Francisco during our vacation, if only to go to Vital Tea Leaf. The SF Chronicle has an article on this establishment, where Stanley “Uncle” Gee recommends particular teas based on an individual’s needs. This guy is biased the same as me. He curses anyone who would think of adding milk and sugar to his sacred stuff, and as for coffee: “Do not drink coffee. Ever. It dehydrates you and makes you old.” Of course, his favorite drink? Single-malt scotch.
  • From the “You Are What You Touch” Department: Ever go to the beach? Ever play in the sand? Don’t. The San Diego U-T is reporting that it’s bad for your health. They are talking about a new study by the University of North Carolina and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that concluded (a) beach-goers who dig into sand are about 13% more likely to suffer from a stomach ailment than those who don’t, and (b) about 20 percent more likely to get diarrhea. Beach-goers who bury themselves in sand are up to 24% more likely to have gastrointestinal illness or diarrhea than those who don’t. They say it is due to all the gunk in the sand, and not washing hands before handling food.
  • From the “What Lives in a Pineapple…” Department: Speaking of odd things in the sand, SpongeBob SquarePants is 10 years old. This little yellow sponge has generated $8 billion in merchandising revenue for Nickelodeon, is seen in 25 different languages, and counts two world leaders as fans, President Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who say they watch with their children.
  • From the “An Interesting Sandwich” Department: The LA Times has an interesting article on a new sandwich, but not the edible type. Rather, it is a reflective roof paint consisting of a white tinted topcoat filled with tiny hollow glass balls that deflect heat, layered over a waterproof undercoat made of recycled rubber. The white coating deflects nearly 85% of the heat that hits it, reducing the surface temperature by as much as 50°. There is no information about when this will be available at Lowes.
  • From the “And I Bet They Use Pencils Too” Department: The NY Times is reporting that the NYPD is still using typewriters, primarily to fill out property forms. Public records show that the city signed a $432,900 contract for typewriter maintenance with Afax Business Machines in 2008, as well as a $99,570 contract with that company in 2009. Typewriter company Swintec received a $982,269 contract from the city in 2007. I wonder if they use the two-ink color ribbons?
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Chum For A Thursday Lunch

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

After a brief hiatus, here’s some lunchtime news chum, gleaned from the droppings of the papers scanned during lunch:

  • From the “Are You Going or Coming?” Department: U-Haul has released its list of Top 50 Destinations, i.e., where people are moving to. It is an interesting list. With the housing price drops, Los Angeles has become more affordable and is number 3 on the list, topped only by Atlanta GA and Houston TX. Las Vegas is #4. Austin, #9. Sacramento, #15, with San Francisco at #18.
  • From the “Peripheral Damage from Teabagging” Department: All these “tea parties” behind promulgated by the conservative right are having an unintended side-effect, and I’m not talking about teaching everyone about what teabagging really means. No, it is slurring the good name of the beverage known as tea. Specifically, there is the fear among tea drinkers that tea is being associated with a set of really negative emotions — anger, bitterness, divisiveness — and people are getting the idea that tea is something you can just throw around and waste. We need to show people that tea parties are a good thing, and good for their health, not a political statement.
  • From the “I Can’t Hear You La La La La” Department: Despite the fact that it is losing money in the US, Tesco is continuing the expansion of Fresh and Easy. They just opened their 64th store in Corona (and we’re eagerly awaiting the opening of their new Northridge store). Still they have delayed a planned expansion into Northern California despite having announced leases for 38 sites and, in many cases, having built out the stores complete with empty shelves and working cash registers. It will be interesting to see if this is an experiment that works, or crashes and burns. We hope it works, as they have a large selection of Gluten-Free products.
  • From the “So Will He De-Friend Me Now?” Department: According to the WSJ, via LA Buisness Observed (la_biz_observed), Chris DeWolfe and Tom Anderson (the founders of MySpace) have stepped down. Does this mean that I no longer have to have Tom as a friend?
  • From the “When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Go Shopping” Department: Tuesday night we had a program on Resiliancy of the Soul at our congregation, and we looked at how people deal with stress. Some go shopping. Well, it appears that teens who go shopping are increasingly price, not brand conscious. This is creating a significant slump at retailers that depend on teens to buy their overpriced merchandise, such as Abercrombie & Fitch (who in the old days, had wonderful professional clothing, but I digress). Nowadays, teens seem to favor stores like American Eagle and Old Navy, which fit their budgets better.
  • From the “How To Get Out of Traffic Tickets” Department: Ever wonder why elected officials don’t seem to get traffic tickets? It turns out they have special license plates, which make their records confidential. The program started with the shielding of information related to plates belonging to police officiers, back when anyone could walk into a DMV office with a license plate number and walk out with the car owner’s home address. In the first seven years of the program, lawmakers added judges, district attorneys – and themselves. Since then, the list of people afforded confidentiality has swelled to include jail guards, district attorney investigators and National Park Service rangers, as well as city council members and city attorneys, among others. Further, officials can keep the secret plates when they retire. If they change to a civilian job, they can stay shielded for another three years. To make things worse, they are talking about expanding the program to about 100 Board of Equalization investigators, as well as code enforcement officers, zoo veterinarians, humane society shelter workers and the five elected members of the Board of Equalization.
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There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea.

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Well, it’s that time again. I’m down to just a few teas left a work (some Lemon Myrtle Black purchased back in 2006 that is really too strong to drink except when I have a cold; some Whittard of Chelsea Badamtam 1st Flush Darjeeling that ellipticcurve picked up for me in the UK; some Caramel Tea from Franklin Tea purchased in March 2008; a bit of Rosebud, also March 2008; some Green Cherry Rose from Franklin Tea, from April 2007); and a few Harry & David Orchard Peach teabags by The Republic of Tea given to me by a co-worker who didn’t like the flavor (others must not as well, as it seem to be no longer made). I should also note that I had one additional dead soldier since the last order: a tin of Mariage Freres Marco Polo tea given to me by a co-worker who didn’t like the flavor (this is the same co-worker that passed on the Harry & David tea).

Thus, it is tea order time. So what is in this order, you may (or may not) ask:

  • Ceylon Breakfast Black Tea 100g. An ultra smooth version of English Breakfast with a beautiful golden color in the cup. $7.50.
  • *China Keemun Black Tea 100g. (OP) The burgundy of teas from Anhui province in China. Full-bodied with a light, toasty taste. $6.75.
  • Gunpowder Temple of Heaven Green Tea 100g. This green tea is tightly rolled into a tiny pellet resembling gunshot. Leaves delicately unfold during brewing. Light body and a distant smoky, spicy flavor. $7.50.
  • *Tea of a Thousand Charms Green Tea 100g. Sublime blend of the finest China green teas – Huo Mountain, Young Hyson, Gunpowder, and Dragonwell. $9.95.
  • Organic Ambootia Darjeeling Black Tea 100g. This beautiful tea has a sparkling amber color and flowery aroma. The flavor is smooth and mellow with a distinct fruity note. $9.95.
  • Christmas Morning Black Tea 100g. Exquisite blend of Darjeeling First Flush, Indian Assam, China Keemun and Yunnan, southern Indian teas, Formosa Oolong and Jasmine Flower. $8.50.
  • Vanilla Creme Black Tea 100g. Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla beans are combined with premium black teas for a rich, smooth and sweet tea. $8.50.
  • Stash Bed & Breakfast Blend Black Tea 100g. A full-bodied blend of fine black teas including Kopili Estate Special Assam, Tiger Hill Estate Nilgiri, and Kenilworth Estate Ceylon. Very smooth finish. $7.50.
  • Stash House Blend Black Tea 100g. This smooth, rich blend of Assam, Ceylon, Darjeeling, Oolong, Keemun and Jasmine teas has a delicate floral aftertaste and is good for everyday drinking. $7.50.
  • Stash Millennium Blend Black Tea 100g. This blend of exquisite world-class teas include Kopili Estate Assam, Kenilworth Estate Ceylon, Green Darjeeling, Gunpowder Temple of Heaven, Dragonwell Special Grade, Formosa Oolong, Mutan White and Keemun Hao Ya. Each tea adds its distinctive flavor notes to this special blend. $9.95.
  • *Orange Passionfruit Green Tea 100g. Fruity, juicy blend of green tea, mint and natural tropical fruit flavors. Delicious hot or iced. $7.50.

In addition, for home, I’m ordering:

  • Organic Ceylon Black Tea 100g. Rich in flavor and color, this tea is from the Venture organic tea garden in the Dimbulla region of Sri Lanka, renowned for its organic black teas. $7.50.
  • *Organic Breakfast Blend Black Tea 100g. Rich, robust blend of premium black teas makes a great morning cup. Full-bodied and stimulating. Enjoy with a splash of milk. $7.50.

Now, most of these teas I have ordered before, or I have ordered variations (e.g., slightly different Gunpowder or Darjeelings). The ones marked with * are new ones that I’m trying. I like to do that each order… swap in a few new. I’ll also be bringing into work some additional of the Caramel that I have at home — I find that works wonderfully with some of the straighter black teas.

I’ve also got a co-worker joining me in this order… so, for the hell of it, here’s what he ordered:

  • YMY Genmai Green Tea 100g. A convivial drink in Japan shared at home with friends. This unique tea is made with green tea and brown rice. Light golden color and nut-like flavor and aroma. $6.75.
  • Dragonwell Special Grade Green Tea 100g. China’s most famous green tea. Named after a benevolent dragon in Chinese mythology. Flat green leaf yields a light, sweet tea with classic flavor and bouquet. $19.50.
  • YMY Jasmine Green Tea 100g. One of the most popular teas in China, jasmine is picked in the heat of the day when the tiny flowers are closed tight. The blossoms open in the cool of the evening when they are blended with the green tea leaves. A refreshing beverage. $4.99.
  • Dbl Bergamot Earl Grey Black Tea 100g. We made a good thing even better,adding double 100% pure bergamot to our award winning Earl Grey tea. $6.75.

ETA, for my notes, as there was no email confirmation: Order #1199565. Should ship by Fri Afternoon.

ETA #2: For my reference: Discussion on tea shops in los_angeles: Special Teas (a new mail order shop).

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