TEA ADDICTED

What is a Quality Vanilla Jasmine Tea Garden?

2007-07-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

The vast majority of those who drink tea have tasted at least one variety of jasmine tea. However, vanilla jasmine tea, one of the most flavorful varieties of jasmine tea, is less familiar. But, you’ll not find a more delicious blend of tea than vanilla jasmine in terms of both flavor and aroma.

Jasmine is the most popular botanical for blending with tea, but combining it with vanilla is a logical, yet rare combination. Jasmine tea is China’s most popular flavored tea, and most jasmine tea is produced in China, typically using green tea leaves. However, jasmine tea, whether flavored with vanilla or not, is produced in every tea producing country in the world and can be made from any variety of tea.

Vanilla jasmine tea is not nearly as common as plain jasmine tea, so it is not as easy to find. And, since it can be made from every variety of tea in every country, it can come in a wide variety of qualities, too.

To a large extent, the quality of the tea you purchase is determined by the quality of the garden in which it’s grown. Growing tea is hard work, and careful attention must be paid to the details in order to produce the finest quality teas. In addition, to make the best vanilla jasmine tea, the gardener must use quality botanicals for combining with the tea.

The best vanilla jasmine tea gardens have skilled tea artisans who are experienced in producing vanilla jasmine blends along with the other teas they produce.

Tending a quality tea garden, regardless of the variety of tea, is a year round job.

The first work of the tea growing season begins in March, when the tea plants are pruned one last time before the first harvest begins. Then, in April or May, the tea begins being harvested. Vanilla jasmine tea made from the first plucking of the year will be the best for the entire growing season. This is because the tea leaves are the most tender during the spring. In the case of white jasmine tea, there is only one plucking each year, as white tea is, by definition a spring tea, plucked just once each year.

Once the first harvest is plucked, the tea is processed based on the variety of tea. White and green tea leaves will be simply dried and then fired or steamed before being blended with the jasmine petals and the vanilla bean and extract. Oolong teas will be fermented for a short period of time along with the drying process before they’re blended with the jasmine petals and vanilla. Black tea will be fully fermented and processed before the leaves are flavored with jasmine and vanilla.

One of the most important aspects of a quality jasmine tea garden lies in the quality of the jasmine blossoms and vanilla that are used and the blending expertise. The tea artisan must be experienced in blending the tea to ensure that the tea leaves are infused with just the right amount of jasmine and vanilla to produce the perfect flavor and aroma.

During the rest of the year, the tea garden must be tended to keep it at its best. In addition to harvesting the tea, the tea plants must be regularly weeded during the summer months. Then, in the fall, the plants must be fertilized, since this is when they grow the fastest. In October, the tea plants will be pruned in preparation for the winter.

Then throughout the winter, the tea gardener must watch any tea plants under four years of age, ensuring that they are protected from the cold.
You have many choices in vanilla jasmine tea. Depending upon the variety of the tea based used to make it; vanilla jasmine tea can have different flavors. Jasmine tea made with green tea will taste very refreshing and natural with a mild grassy flavor that is slightly sweet with a bold vanilla flavor and deep jasmine fragrance.

Vanilla jasmine tea produced from white tea will be very light in color, mild and sweet. The vanilla will be the most noticeable flavor, and the jasmine scent will be the overpowering aroma. Oolong jasmine tea will be fruity and aromatic with the subtle scent of jasmine and a vanilla sweetness.

Finally, black vanilla jasmine tea will contain the most subtle fragrance and flavor of the jasmine and vanilla, because of the stronger taste of the tea. Because there are so many blends and flavors associated with black tea, vanilla jasmine tea made from black tea can be the most varied in flavor. The tea will be largely affected by the region of the world where the tea is grown.

The best tea gardens can produce any tea that they grow to be high quality and flavorful. To choose a great vanilla jasmine tea, ensure that your tea vendor purchases his vanilla jasmine tea from a garden that is dedicated to producing quality teas, and that has the skill and experience to create a perfect vanilla jasmine blend each and every time. Then choose your vanilla jasmine tea based on quality and you’re sure to love it whether it’s a black, white, green or oolong vanilla jasmine tea.

Is Imperial Formosa Oolong Tea Available from India or Sri Lanka?

2007-07-10T00:16:00.000-07:00

Fans of oolong tea are clamoring to get Imperial Formosa oolong tea. Because oolong teas in general are fairly rare, many people want to look to other sources to find their favorite oolong.

Oolong teas are produced in China, where oolong tea originated, Taiwan, and a small amount is produced in the Darjeeling region of India. Creating oolong tea is a labor intensive process that cannot be managed by large scale tea gardens that produce tea in a mechanized fashion. This is why oolong teas can be rare and harder to find than some other teas.

To produce oolong tea the gardener plucks the tea leaves early in the day by hand as they are ready. This may mean several pluckings over several days, as it is critical that the leaves be plucked at their exact time of readiness.

Next the leaves are spread out in the sun or in sheds to wither. They must be observed so that they are moved when the moisture is appropriately removed.

Next, the leaves are shaken to slightly bruise the edges. This bruising causes the oxidation process to begin.

The tea artisan then wraps the leaves in cloth, forming a ball. The leaves will be tumbled regularly during the remainder of the oxidation period in order to ensure that the oxidation process is even. Some oolong teas will be tumbled every hour during the oxidation period.

Once the oxidation period is completed, when the leaves are about 30% fermented and about 70% green, the leaves are inspected and picked through to ensure that the leaves are not sticking together. Pouchong oolong teas, which come only from Taiwan, are often fermented only about 15%, giving them a flavor much closer to that of green tea than other oolong teas.
Next, the leaves are fired to end the oxidation process. In many cases, oolong teas are fired over charcoal, giving them a bit of a smoky flavor.

Then the leaves are sorted according to grade and sent off for packaging.
So, as you can see, making oolong tea is time consuming, which is why there’s less of it around. Therefore, that Imperial Formosa oolong tea that you love may be more difficult to find. Thus the question, “Can I get Imperial Formosa oolong tea from India or Sri Lanka?”

Well, the short answer is “No”. You can get oolong tea from the Darjeeling region of India, known as Darjeeling oolong. Darjeeling oolong is a very rare and very delicious oolong tea. However, it’s not Imperial Formosa oolong tea.

Imperial Formosa oolong tea can only come from Taiwan. Taiwanese teas are all referred to as “Formosa” teas, because Formosa was the original name for the country of Taiwan. Therefore, all Imperial Formosa oolong tea comes from Taiwan.

As with all other teas, Imperial Formosa oolong tea’s flavor is largely affected by where it is grown. All teas gain a good deal of their flavor from the soil they’re grown in, as well as the climate of the region in which they’re grown. Even the type of trees that grow near the tea garden affect the flavor of the tea produced there.

So, that delicate blend of orange blossoms, chestnuts, dates and cedar that makes Imperial Formosa oolong tea cannot be duplicated with a tea grown anywhere else in the world.

Each region of the world produces teas that are uniquely flavored, and this is one of the things that makes tea so varied and gives us so many unique flavors from which to choose. Every part of the world is home to its own unique soil type, vegetation, climate and tea processing methods. And all of these variables combine to make each tea what it is.

So, you may want to sample an oolong tea from the Darjeeling region of India. You’ll find it very fruity and fragrant, with a distinctly muscatel flavor, like all Darjeeling teas. Like Imperial Formosa oolong tea, Darjeeling oolong can be difficult to find because very little of it is produced. But, when you do find it, it’s likely that you’ll love it.

But, it won’t be Imperial Formosa oolong. This special variety of tea can only be produced in the climate and soil of Taiwan using exactly the oolong processing methods that are used in this region of the world.

So, you may still have to shop around to find the Imperial Formosa oolong tea you’ve come to love. However, this unique tea is well worth the search. Once you’ve found a reputable tea merchant who carries Imperial Formosa oolong tea, it’s likely that they’ll be able to secure this delicious tea for you on a regular basis.

In addition, you may be able to buy your favorite Imperial Formosa oolong tea in bulk, so that you never need worry about running out.

The world of tea is varied and exciting in part because no two teas are exactly the same. Like the humans that enjoy them each tea has its own unique color, personality and flavor. And there’s certainly no reason why we can’t love each and every one of them.

What is A Quality Imperial Formosa Oolong Tea Garden?

2007-07-10T00:12:00.000-07:00

Imperial Formosa Oolong tea is one of the most prized in the world. Oolong teas from Taiwan are becoming more and more popular as their delicious taste is discovered by more and more tea drinkers. Though oolong tea originated in China, and though most of the oolong tea produced in the world today is still produced in China, oolong teas from Taiwan, also known as Formosa oolongs are quickly being recognized for their quality.

One of the reasons that oolong tea is so prized is because it is rare. And the reason it is rare is because few tea gardens in the world are up to the challenge of producing this labor intensive tea.

According to Chinese legend, olong tea was discovered by accident by tea gardener Wu Liang. Wu Liang was busy collecting and processing tea leaves for green tea when he spotted a river deer. He stopped to kill and prepare the deer and it interrupted his tea processing for the day. He forgot all about his tea processing until the next day, by which time the leaves had begun to change color.

Wu Liang thought that the tea might have gone bad, but he decided to dry it out anyway. Once he was finished preparing the tea, he discovered that he had created a very special and delicious variety of tea – what we call oolong today.

Oolong tea is different from other teas because it is partially fermented. Falling between black and green tea, oolong is fermented, but for a much shorter period of time than black tea. This partial fermentation is responsible for the unique fruity taste and fragrant aroma of oolong tea. In addition, most oolong teas are created with larger tea leaves from farther down the tea plant.

This is said to be partially responsible for the fruity flavor of oolong teas. Today Imperial Formosa oolong tea is made in only the finest tea gardens in Taiwan. The tea is produced by hand following this intricate process:

The tea leaves are plucked by hand first thing in the morning as they are ready. This may mean several pluckings over several days, as it is critical that the leaves be plucked at their exact time of readiness.

Next the leaves are spread out in the sun to wither. They must be observed so that they are brought out of the sun when the moisture is appropriately removed. Chinese oolong teas are withered in sheds rather than in the sun.
Next, the leaves are shaken to slightly bruise the edges. This bruising causes the oxidation process to begin.

The tea artisan then wraps the leaves in cloth, forming a ball. The leaves will be tumbled regularly during the remainder of the oxidation period in order to ensure that the oxidation process is even. Some oolong teas will be tumbled every hour during the oxidation period.

Once the oxidation period is completed, when the leaves are about 30% fermented and about 70% green, the leaves are inspected and picked through to ensure that the leaves are not sticking together. Some Formosa oolong teas are known as pouchongs. These oolong teas are fermented only about 15%, as opposed to Imperial Formosa oolong and other true oolongs.

Next, the leaves are fired to end the oxidation process. In many cases, oolong teas are fired over charcoal, giving them a bit of a smoky flavor.
The tea is now ready to be sorted according to grade and packaged to be sold. Imperial Formosa oolong tea is graded according to the following standards:

• Finest to Choice
• Finest
• Fine to Finest
• Fine Up
• Fine
• On Fine
• Superior to Fine
• Superior Up
• Fully Superior
• Superior
• On Superior
• Good to Superior
• Good Up
• Fully Good
• Good
• On Good
• Standard

Because Imperial Formosa oolong tea is one of the best Taiwanese teas, it is typically made from Finest to Choice tea leaves.

The best Imperial Formosa oolong tea gardens pay careful attention to the steps required to create this wonderful tea. They use skilled tea artisans who are experienced in timing the fermentation process perfectly. In addition, they tend their gardens regularly, even outside of the growing season.

During the summer, in addition to harvesting tea, gardeners must pay careful attention to weeding. During the fall, tea plants do their most intense growing of the year, so it’s important that the tea gardener fertilize the plants. Late in the autumn, the tea plants must be pruned before winter. Even during the cold winter months, tea gardeners must watch their gardens, ensuring that their youngest plants are protected from the cold.

By March, the tea plants will need to be pruned again, in preparation for the coming growing season.

It takes time, patience and experience to produce a tea as delicious as Imperial Formosa oolong tea. Though few tea gardens will go through the labor and time required those that do can reap the rewards. In addition to the knowledge that they’ve created one of the best teas in the world, they are also able to charge more money for this rare and exquisite tea. Even so, most tea connoisseurs would agree that Imperial Formosa oolong tea is well worth the price they’ve paid to enjoy it.

Reduce Your Cancer Risk, Drink Green Tea

2007-07-09T23:49:00.000-07:00

Today, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and its incidence has risen dramatically over the last 50 years. This leads scientists to the conclusion that our lifestyle and environment must play an important role in whether or not we develop cancer.

There is still much more to learn about the factors that influence cancer development, but in the meantime, we should take to heart thing that we know cause cancer, and those we believe can prevent it. Here are some things you can do to reduce your risk.

The first is eating a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are rich in anti-oxidants, which can prevent cancer and other diseases. Anti-oxidants are very effective at combating free radicals that are created in our bodies as we process food.

We can’t stop these free radicals from occuring, but we can combat them with anti-oxidants. If we don’t combat them they cause damage to our cells and DNA, and this is what leads to premature aging and disease.

If you want to significantly increase the anti-oxidant level in your diet, pay special attention to the foods that can give you the most value. Get your fair share of artichokes, red beans, blueberries, pornegranates, tomatoes and green tea. Yes, that’s right – green tea.

In fact, in terms of dietary changes to help prevent cancer, green tea may be the best thing you can add to your diet. There has been much research in recent years on the effects green tea has in preventing, and even treating cancer.

Many studies have shown that green tea’s anti-oxidant power can be a powerful preventative againts cancer. Not only is this suggested by the significantly lower cancer rate in Asian Countries where green tea is widely consumed, but many studies have supported this theory.

In 1999, the Alternative Medicine Review reported that green tea appears to affect cancer in many ways. First, it is a powerfull free radical scavenger, and destroys more free radicals than many other forms of anti-oxidants.

Secondly, green tea seems to have the power to inhibit the growth of abnormal cells, many of which might have started as, or turned into cancer cells. Green tea also appears to be a very story detoxifying agent, helping to rid the body of potentially harmful substances.

Finally, the Alternative Medicine Review reported that green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Therefore, even in patients who have already been diagnosed with cancer, green tea may be helpful, because it may prevent the cancer from spreading.
Other studies have also shown that green tea can be an effective adjunct therapy for cancer, not only because it appears to inhibit the spread of cancer, but also because it makes traditional therapies more effective.

One study showed that when mice were given green tea in conjunction with chemotherapy, the chemotherapy drugs invaded the cancer cells in higher concentration than when the chemotherapy was administered alone.

Another recent study of breast cancer patients in stages one and two showed a significantly lower rate of cancer recurrence when the patients were given large doses of green tea.

Making Green Tea Part of Your Life

If you’d like to add green tea to your diet for its health effects, many doctors recommend that you start with about three cup per day. Experiment with the many flavor of green tea that are on the market, or stick with the traditional green tea so popular in Asian restaurants. Either will have the health benefits – hot or iced.

“ The average in China is 4-5 cups a day, and in Japan it’s estimated to be as high as 8-10 cups per day “

While most American doctors recommend that you begin with 3 cups of green tea per day, you should know that in Asian cultures most people drink significantly more than that. The average in China is 4-5 cups a day, and in Japan it’s estimated to be as high as 8-10 cups per day.

If you don’t think you can manage that much tea in a day, there are green tea extract supplements available at many drug stores and health food stores.

One of the great things about using green tea a preventative treatment is that there are no side effects. Green Tea is healthy and safe even to give to your children. Green tea has significantly less caffeine that coffee and even has less caffeine that traditional black tea. So, it’s well tolerated by nearly everyone.

In addition research to research showing that green tea helps prevent cancer, there is also evidence to suggest that it reduces your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease. It is also to slow the overall aging process.

What do you have to lose? It seems there is no downside to drinking green tea and there may be a great many benefits.