Happy holidays, baby!

During this holiday season, we want to thank all of you -- readers, customers and friends -- for your support this year.

We wish you a warm and wonderful holiday and Happy New Year! Happy Sipping in 2010!

-Chai, Baby!

Himalayan Baby

Wow -- lots of customer questions about Himalayan Bath Salts. Well, sit back, baby, and I'll tell you the tale . . .

Imagine a time long before humanity, when the ancient seas surrounded the mighty Himalayas. Imagine a pristine and perfect world.

From this time and place comes the purest salt in the world: Himalayan sea salt. These salts contain 84 essential trace minerals and elements, including potassium, calcium, bromide and magnesium, that can be absorbed into the skin. The pink salts contain the highest mineral content.

Now fast forward to the first human cultures, who discovered and mined this salt, and began to use it for therapeutic baths. Over time, it was learned that a Himalayan sea salt bath could restore healthy mineral balance to the body, improve blood flow, soften and moisturize the skin, and much more.

And now fast forward to the end of your own busy day. Imagine yourself placing into a bath tea ball some beautiful pink Himalayan sea salt and anti-inflammatory green tea, naturally fragrant with lavender and rose buds. Imagine steeping your own bath tea and then stepping into some well-deserved luxury while your body rehydrates and rejuvenates.

You deserve it, baby!

Try Chai, Baby! Himalayan Bath Salts in three luxurious combinations: Lavender & Rose, Springtime in Paris and Water Baby. On sale through 12/31/09.

Multi-purpose your tea!

Every day, we hear more about the healing properties of green tea. Usually, we think of those benefits in connection with drinking this wonderful beverage. However, there is also a tremendous benefit to be gained from applying steeped green tea to the skin.

Green tea naturally possesses anti-inflammatory, firming and repairing properties for skin. Tonight, step into a luxurious green tea bath – you know you deserve it!

Chai, Baby! baths salts combine pink Himalayan sea salts with sencha green tea for a double dose of wholesome skin moisturizing. Click here to learn more.

You're getting warm, baby!

Baby, it's cold outside! I'm looking out my window at the brilliant fall sunshine, the wild scatter of leaves and the blue, blue sky. And I'm holding -- you guessed it -- a mug of hot tea. The naturally sweet spices are rolling around on my tongue, and in this perfect moment, I am absolutely, blissfully filled with warmth, hope and happiness.

What does your tea do for you, baby?

Be fair, baby! October is Fair Trade Month.

What does the Fair Trade Certified&trade label mean? Well, this label ensures that the entire tea supply chain, from garden to market, has undergone inspection and certification for certain standards of social responsibility. It guarantees that tea workers receive decent working conditions, a fair wage and additional revenue for their communities.

So, when you purchase Fair Trade Certified&trade tea, you're helping farmers and their communities. You're contributing to a better world, baby! For more information, go to www.FairTradeCertified.org.

Chai, Baby! is proud to offer a selection of Fair Trade Certified&trade teas.

What's in your cup, baby?

What's in that teacup of yours, baby? A lovely, wholesome, delicious beverage, of course! But is that all there is to it?

Are you watching your tea leaves swell and unfurl? Good. Now, close your eyes. Breathe in the natural aromas of your ingredients. That's it . . . breathe in, breathe out. Now, slowly take a small sip from your cup. Hey, don't rush! Are you tasting with your entire palate? Really? Try again. What flavors do you taste -- and do you taste them simultaneously? Or do they reveal themselves slowly, gradually, layer after layer?

Tea is so much more than a beverage. It's an opportunity to experience the world around us with senses engaged and with an open heart and mind. It's an opportunity to live in the moment!

Engage, baby!

We just read an interesting article by Dr. Eva Selhub about the way our bodies naturally and accurately communicate with us. Whether our symptoms are physical or emotional, the discomfort we feel is extremely important information. If we continue to ignore this information, then bodily stress accumulates.

Dr. Selhub proposed 8 methods to prevent this accumulation of stress. Most of these methods we’ve all read about often: exercise, good nutrition, meditation, sleep, laughter, etc. Her last method, however, really caught our eye because it’s rarely discussed. The word she used is “engage.”

By “engage,” she meant participating in an activity you love so that the mind experiences what she referred to as “enjoyment and flow.” Well, this is precisely why we love to drink tea regularly throughout our day. A visually beautiful, aromatic, delicious tea provides a drinking experience that automatically engages all of the senses as well as the mind.

If we can bring 100% of our awareness to the act of drinking tea, we feel that we will learn to live every part of our lives in the same way: alert, mindful, engaged!

Go to article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eva-m-selhub-md/when-the-body-screams-hel_b_251218.html

Resist, baby!

Uh oh. It’s 2:30 in the afternoon. The last few bits of lunch in your belly are dissolving rapidly. Your eyes are drooping, your head is nodding, and you just read the same sentence on your computer screen four times.

The vending machine is calling. The ice cream bar in the freezer is calling. The chocolate jar on your evil co-worker’s desk is calling.

Well, not so fast, baby!

You’re not alone. Most people experience a downward swing in their blood sugar in the mid-afternoon. And that’s the time that they reach for the sugar or caffeine that will provide a false energy spike and an inevitable crash.

The next time you’re teetering on the edge of that downward plunge, reach for a cup of caffeine-free peppermint tea instead. The natural fragrance will open your eyes, and the rich, potent flavor is guaranteed to reawaken your body and mind.

If you can take your tea cup for a walk around the office, or better yet, outside in the sun, so much the better.

Happy sipping!
-Chai, Baby!

Try Chai, Baby!’s organic Energy Blend, with Eygptian peppermint, ginger and cinnamon, every afternoon for one week. Then, let us know your experience!

Is this July or October?

I don't know about you, but we've been having truly bizarre weather this July. Cold, dank, wet, rainy -- in a city that usually tops 90 degrees by June.

Well, this morning, I decided not to let the weather get me down. I took a cup of jasmine & rose tea outside and sat down on the front step, with a towel under me. At first my mind wouldn't let go, but eventually it yielded to the aromatic jasmine buds and thoughts of tropical warmth, color and sunshine. Ahhhhhhhhh!

It just goes to show -- summer is definitely a state of mind.

Happy sipping!
-Chai, Baby!

How does your garden grow, baby?

A tip from several of our green-thumbed customers: after you drink your tea, empty your tea bag into your house plants or garden plants. A natural -- and naturally fragrant -- nutritional boost for your greenery!

Some Like it Iced

Baby, it's hot outside! Though many people drink hot tea year round, some prefer only iced tea in the summer. Luckily, iced tea is surprisingly simple to make. An important tip to keep in mind: don't over-steep your tea! Some people steep their tea too long in order to produce a tea liqueur that stands up to melting ice. However, over-steeping simply produces bitter tea.

Try this technique for a wonderful summer iced tea:
1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, and then turn off the heat.
2. Add 3 or 4 tea sachets to the boiled water and allow to steep for 5 minutes only!
3. After this decoction cools, pour the it into a large pitcher and add 2 quarts water.
4. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

Or, for a quicker cup, steep 2 tea sachets in one cup of boiling water for 3-4 minutes. Then, pour the tea over a tall glass of ice. Stay cool, baby!

Bai, Bai, Baby! revisited

Coincidentally, our White Tea & Lemon Myrtle blend was reviewed by The Tea Review blog soon after our last post. Check it out, baby! http://www.teareviewblog.com/?p=4008.

Bai, Bai, Baby! A profile on Bai Mudan tea

Many of you have asked about the type of White Tea used in Chai, Baby!’s White Tea & Lemon Myrtle. Well, we use tender Bai Mudan white tea, from the Fujian region of China. It’s picked as a tightly curled bud with 2-3 young leaves, and then steamed and dried. At that point, it looks like a little silvery bud surrounded by curled green leaves.

Bai Mudan tea produces a pale yellow infusion and a smooth, mild flavor. We’ve added lemon myrtle and lemongrass to our Bai Mudan blend for some lovely citrus notes and a truly unique taste. To prepare, pour very hot water (just about to boil) over the tea and steep for 2-3 minutes. Sip and be refreshed, baby!

Are you a Pod Person? A spotlight on green cardamom

This intriguing little spice, found in tiny greenish-brown triangular pods filled with small black seeds, has a lovely, aromatic fragrance and unique taste. This particularly expensive spice is used to flavor food and drink, and always adds wonderfully subtle and complex layers of taste.

Growing up, cardamom (we always called it elaichi) figured largely in my home kitchen. It was used daily to make sauces, rice, desserts and, of course, tea. I guess it makes sense that its distinctive smell and taste always take me back!

Cardamom is also commonly used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to treat conditions such as bronchitis, asthma and digestive disorders.

(Would you like to sample the unique, natural taste of cardamom in your tea? Give Chai, Baby!’s Masala Chai and Relaxation Blend a try!)

Tea Drinking and Stroke Defense

Body + Soul Magazine’s June 2009 issue reported a recent review of nine research studies connecting tea drinking and stroke defense. Researchers found that drinking three cups of green tea or black tea per day could reduce the risk of stroke by 21%. In the magazine article, Dr. Arpita Basu of Oklahoma State University said that tea’s antioxidants appear to reduce this risk in the following ways:
1. Fighting oxidative stress and inflammation
2. Maintaining normal blood pressure
3. Preventing plaque buildup in arteries
4. Promoting healthy blood vessel function

You know Chai, Baby!’s stand: tea drinking is a habit that has tremendous long-term benefits for your health and wellness. So, keep sipping, baby!

Thanks for listening, baby!

For those of you who had a chance to listen in to the Chai, Baby! story on BlogTalkRadio earlier today, thanks for your support and all your wonderfully positive responses!

And if you didn’t have a chance, then you can play back the recorded interview:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AlphaWomen/2009/05/26/Dheepta-Maturi-Chai-Baby-Specialty-Teas.

Catch us on BlogTalkRadio!

If you're a fan of interesting business ventures, then tune in to hear the
Chai, Baby! story -- and a great discussion of tea and entrepreneurship -- on Tuesday, May 26 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. The host, Freda Mooncotch, is the founder of the website www.alphawomen.com. Her corresponding weekly radio program covers a range of topics from business to culture to politics.

Be sure to listen in! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/alphawomen.

Derby Redux

Wow. What an exciting two minutes -- I was absolutely riveted! I’ve never paid much attention to horse racing, but now I think I’m hooked.

I appreciate all of your comments and messages about the Derby party. We had an amazing Southern spread – and I tried grits & breaded okra & mint juleps for the first time. Most importantly, I wore a gloriously, magnificently oversized hat! (Before the party, everyone told me that “it’s all about the hat,” and now I totally understand.) Thanks again to my Derby party hosts for a grand new experience!

And when it was all over – you guessed it – I sat back with a tall, cool glass of Chai, Baby!’s Energy Blend. Glorious mint & ginger tea over ice! I’m all about starting new traditions!

Derby Dreams

Guess where I’m going this Saturday? A few hints . . . thoroughbred horses, the Churchill Downs, a two minute run, Louisville . . . .

Yes, you’ve got it! The Kentucky Derby . . . party. No, I won’t be at the actual race, but I am attending my first derby party, complete with extravagant hat and (I hope) mint juleps.

Speaking of mint juleps, here’s a suggestion for Derby attendees and partygoers who want to replace (or space out) their drinks. Mint herbal tea (like Chai, Baby!’s Energy Blend) over ice is a wonderful – and stylish! – beverage for the Derby or your derby party. Simply prepare your tea as usual -- remember not to over-steep – and pour over ice into a tall, cool glass. Ooooh, I can taste it now.

Enjoy the race, everyone! And though it’s my dream to get myself and my fabulous hat to the Derby one day, I’m happy to report that Chai, Baby! has gotten there already. Chai, Baby!’s Energy Blend was selected for inclusion in the Kentucky Derby’s VIP gift bags!

Black tea benefits

Many new tea drinkers are surprised to find that all teas -- black, green, white, oolong -- come from the very same plant, camellia sinensis. Nevertheless, due to different processing methods, each tea type provides somewhat different health benefits.

All teas contain flavonoids, naturally occurring chemical compounds with antioxidant properties. During processing though, black tea is oxidized and therefore contains particularly complex flavonoids.

In a HealthNewsDigest.com article, columnist Michael Shaw listed various documented health benefits derived from flavonoids in black tea: increased immunity to flu, better bone density, reduced risk of heart attack, better oral health, as well as slowing of the progression of Alzheimer's Disease.

For more information, copy and paste the following link in your browser: http://www.teanewsdirect.com/?p=413#more-413.

What's your (tea) story, baby?

We at Chai, Baby! believe that tea drinking is so much more than consuming a beverage. Rather, tea drinking gives us quiet moments of mindfulness spaced throughout our very, very busy days.

Do you, too, feel passionately about tea drinking? Do you have memorable experiences and important events associated with tea? Consider submitting your true story as an essay for inclusion in the upcoming anthology Tea Memories: Living Life One Cup at a Time.

Essays are due June 30, 2009 to teamemories@yahoo.com. Check out all of the contest details at http://teamemoriesbook.googlepages.com, and write on, baby!

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.