California Tasting

Each time I return, I convince myself that I must have imagined it. Can a place really be so perfect?

Well, I’m back again, and the answer is yes.

I’m on the southern California coast, and just a quarter turn of my head presents me with the ocean. Another quarter turn – rolling green hills dripping in sunshine.

And the food – words fail me, you lucky, lucky Californians! California cuisine is fresh, gently handled and absolutely delightful – even my poolside veggie sandwich consisted of lovely mixed greens and light mozzarella cheese on whole grain bread, lightly brushed with olive oil. I enjoyed all of my salad greens, felt each one interact differently with the mix of lemon juice and cilantro and spices. There was simply no need to douse, sauce, fry, smother, or hide this food.

And what does this have to do with tea? I’m getting there, my friend. Eating this way reminds me how to eat and drink always and everywhere – mindfully and with total attention and awareness. As you know, I always advocate drinking tea in just this way.

So, be still with that cup in your hands. Sip, wait, breathe. How does the ginger interact with the fennel and licorice in this cup of tea. And in that cup, how does it interact with the mint? How does that black tea feel on your tongue – and how is it different from the green? This sort of mindfulness while tasting tea is a meditation of sorts, a way to be entirely in the present moment. So, baby, sip, consider, savor your tea.

--Chai, Baby!

What are you putting in your mouth, baby?

“There’s a growing sophistication in drink as there has been with food,” says Eric Seed, an importer of tough-to-find liqueurs. In a recent Atlantic Monthly article (“Spirits of the Dead,” April 2009), Wayne Curtis described Seed's business and the growing interest in cocktail liqueurs that have been long out of use -- liqueurs with flavors like walnut, apricot, and even violet.

The popularity of such drinks reflects a gradual change in the way we consume food and drink. It seems that, as people become healthier, they pay deeper attention to what they put in their mouths and consequently demand subtler, more flavorful food and drink items. This is precisely why I find the world of tea so (forgive me) delicious. The varieties of teas and blends are virtually endless and always intriguing and interesting.

Instead of grabbing a drink on the run, I love to sit with my tea, and allow it to be what it was intended: an experiential drink. I love to breathe it in, to taste it on every part of my tongue, to savor its goodness and uniqueness. After all, my next cup will afford an entirely different experience !

Remember -- always drink extraordinary tea!
- Chai, Baby!

Steeping Your Tea the "Right" Way

I get interesting questions about tea every day: "Where is tea grown?" "How much caffeine does it have?" "Is it healthy?" Occasionally, I’ll get a particularly fun one: “Is it OK if I bob my tea bag up and down while it’s steeping?” (Yes, baby, bob away.)

By far the most common question is about the “right” steeping time for various teas. Of course, there are some general guidelines you can follow: 5-6 minutes for black tea, 3-5 minutes for green tea, and 2-3 minutes for white tea and herbal teas.

Really, though, such guidelines are just a starting point. As I always love to say, tea drinking is an experience. More accurately, though, tea drinking is your experience. If you prefer a 6 minute steep time for your green tea . . . well, then, 6 minutes is the "right" steeping time.

Whenever you try a new tea, spend some time experimenting with different steeping times. Eventually you will find the perfect balance of flavor and astringency for you.

Get well soon, baby!

The truth is, I haven't been feeling so well. And I'm guessing that there are several of you out there who have fallen victim to cold and flu season. I know that, even when we're feeling well, hydration is critical to regulating body temperature and functions. And I've been told repeatedly by my doctor that it's doubly important when we're sick.

So, I've really been doing my part this time, sipping countless bowls of soup and (of course) many, many cups of tea. Then, in the midst of all that sipping, I got to wondering whether the the temperature of these hydrating liquids mattered.

Weirdly coincidentally, the New York Times just published an article on January 26, 2009 answering this very question. Anahad O'Connor reported a recent study finding at the Common Cold Center at Cardiff University in Britain: there is a benefit to hot beverages vs. drinks at room temperature. According to the researchers, "[t]he hot drink provided immediate and sustained relief from symptoms of runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness and tiredness . . . whereas the same drink at room temperature only provided relief from symptoms of runny nose, cough and sneezing."

Well, I'm sold. Load up on some piping hot tea with me, and let's get well soon, baby!

Tea Research Update

World Tea News reported a study indicating that tea drinking may decrease the risk of breast cancer. The study, conducted at the Moffitt Cancer Center, was published in Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. The research team observed that participants who consumed three or more cups of tea per day had a "37 percent reduced breast cancer risk when compared with women reporting no tea consumption."

Though research must continue to occur in order to support the many and varied health claims related to tea, it's nevertheless striking that positive research results are pouring in from all over the globe. I think we're just beginning to understand what a truly amazing plant this is. So, drink up, baby!

January is National Hot Tea Month

Baby, it's cold outside! Remember that tea is a great way to warm up and, just as importantly, fill up with disease-fighting antioxidants. Also, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard University have published research that theanine, an ingredient in tea, strengthens the immune system. Just what we need during these cold winter months!

This is a great time to develop a tea-drinking habit. Keep warm, baby!

Can your cup of tea help a farmer across the world?

Absolutely! A Fair Trade Certified&trade label ensures that the entire tea supply chain -- from garden to market -- has undergone inspection and certification for certain standards of quality and social responsibility. The Fair Trade Certified&trade label guarantees that tea workers receive a fair wage, decent working conditions, as well as additional revenue for their communities. Workers have spent such additional revenue on community vaccinations, continuing education and re-forestation programs.

So, when you purchase Fair Trade Certified&trade tea, you are helping farmers, their communities and the environment. You're contributing to a better world!

For more information, go to www.FairTradeCertified.org.