Not too long ago, I drove down Fairview Street here in Boise, Idaho and noticed a coffee shop called Brew Awakening. What a perfect name for a coffee shop!The space is now empty.It looks like someone’s dream not being realized.Even with high traffic street, cars speeding by don’t always stop. Morning commuters driving faster than 35 mph don’t usually stop for products or services. I hope the owner advanced to a better space. 

Here I am trying to offer you some simple guidelines on a perfect brew cup of tea.The way to a perfect cup of tea is as deep as the history of tea.The process of brewing tea keeps us present in the moment.The three elements that keeps our attention and being present in the moment are temperature, brewing time and serving traditions.The steps are just as important as the drink.The Japanese created a tea ceremony that sets intention for all its moves and meaning for each gesture.Taking all actions wtih mindfulness and care allows you to be present in the moment. This is recommanded when brewing tea.

Kung Fu tea is a Chinese tradition that encompasses the reflective spirit, the etiquette, and the skills of making and pouring the tea. Drinking Kung Fu tea is not to crush thirst, but to experience the tea through the fragrance and the taste.The tea taste better with each brew when clay teapot is used.Clay tea pots absorbs the fragrance of the tea.Over time, the teapot aged with the aroma of the tea.

In modern days, the general guidelines are 2 to 5 minutes for steeping black tea.Oolong tea steeps longer, about 5 to 8 minutes. The best water temperature is 180-190. Green tea takes about 2-4 minutes at 160 to 170 degree water.  White tea steeps for 4-6 minutes at 180 degree temperature.  Second infusion will take twice as long for the flavor to infuse.  Steep time for Rooibos and other herbal tea varies, but most of them needs to steep 5 minutes or more.Adjust the recipe to your personal taste. 

Whatever method or tools you use, be with the process and enjoy the experience.Savor your tea time and have a brew awakening.

Orchids are some of Mother Nature’s most cheerful creations. For many of us, they create joy merely by gracing our living spaces or our gardens. Nevertheless it must be said that other than their loveliness, orchids have little practicality for human beings, with the single exception of that estimable orchid that give us our vanilla flavoring.

If you had lived around eighty to 100 years ago, though, you perhaps would have had occasion to sample a wonderful tea created from the leaves of an uncommon orchid. The drink, commonly called Faham tea, achieved some celebrity in France in the early part of the 20th century. To be specific, it was brewed from the pungent leaves of the Angraecum fragrans orchid (also recorded as the Jumella fragrans).

The rare orchid was a native to the Reunion Island off the coast of Africa. An epiphytal species known  to the locals as “faham,” its usage as tea is credited to Reunion’s indigenous people, who are are said to have been the first to discover how tasty it was.

An article in a horticultual magazine of 1924 observed that so-called Faham tea had been sold in France, where many consumers were drinking it as a substitute for “Chinese” (i.e., regular) tea. “Every work on botany of any importance similarly places it in the foremost rank of the beneficial productions of  this favored clime (Reunion),” the writer says. “One of our most illustrious writers George Sand eulogizes it in the midst of the fine description of the Island of Bourbon.” Bourbon was an earlier name for Reunion Island, incidentally.

The orchid involved was known to grow very high on the mountain slopes of the island, deep inside virtually inaccessible forests. The difficulties attendant on gathering a sufficient amount of the plant meant that Faham tea, as a commercially viable item, was doomed to failure. Despite widespread acknowledgement of the tea’s tastiness, it was for the most part forgotten by mid- 20th century.

Most of us won’t ever learn what Faham tea tastes like. But, if you happen to be lucky enough to be growing a specimen or two of the right kind of orchid, you could sacrifice a handful of leaves and actually make some up for yourself. To brew the tea, you first bring water to a boil in a tea kettle. Then you put in some dried orchid leaves (about as much per cup as you would regular tea) to the water, turning off the heat and permitting it to steep for a few minutes.

A flyer from the 1920s extolling Faham tea avers:

It can be used as a substitute for tea on all occasions, as it combines its tonic and digestive qualities free from the sleepless effect. It possesses an aroma of great delicacy capable of being rendered more or less pungent according to the quantity used, and it gives forth a most agreeable perfume. After being drank, it leaves a lasting fragrance in the mouth, and in a closed room the odor of it can be recognized long after.

This beverage has the further advantage over tea, which requires to be drank at the time of making, in that it can be reserved for a future occasion if requisite, and may either be taken cold or made hot again. Milk or spirits in small quantities, especially rum, serve to develope its aroma and lending it additional delicacy or greater strength render it a delicious drink. Lastly this valuable plant is made use of to flavor custards and ices to which it communicates its delicate fragrance.

Sounds delightful. Faham tea, anyone?

Now, if you think you would like to try your hand at growing orchids, suitable for tea or otherwise, you will require accurate information.

Today there is an abudance of good, accurate information available for anyone who would like to grow orchids. The most complete guidebook to contemporary orchid gardening, I have found, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded from the Internet. Howard’s wonderful guide constitutes a complete education all to itself. And, it’s suitable for those just starting out as well as more seasoned orchid growers. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets site, which features an ever-expanding database of information on all facets of orchid care.

There are some people who think that green tea is a fairly new thing but the truth is that the Chinese have been enjoying the taste and health benefits for about four thousand years.  Some things that green tea is believed to help with include depression and even headaches.  Of course, there are many varieties of tea on the market.

If you believe that these claims have no scientific proof you would be wrong because there have been umpteen studies all carried out all around the world. In the 1994 edition of the Journal of National Cancer Institute, the results of an epidemiological study said that one of the health benefits of consuming green tea is that it can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by up to 60%.  This is just one of the health benefits of tea.

The green tea is simply rich is chemicals called as polyphenols, namely a sort called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). A strong antioxidant, EGCG can not only prevent the growth of cancer cells but can also kill them without harming cells that are healthy.

EGCG is a compound that has been disovered to have the wonderful benefits of reducing LDL cholesterol and also prevent thrombosis which is formed due to blood clots.  This therefore can help the reduction of heart attacks and strokes.

Aside from medicinal value, green tea can also {provide|offer} other health benefits, particularly when it comes to fitness. By consuming green tea, it has been found that you will burn more calories when you exercise. A recent study on the health benefits of green tea shows that the drink can help dieters. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1999, men who take both caffeine and green tea burn down more calories than men who only take caffeine or a placebo.

Another health benefit of green tea is its bacteria-destroying effects. The reason that this is so beneficial is that it can prevent tooth decay as well as food poisoning.

Do you think tea suits only Indians and Chinese? Do you avoid tea simply because coffee is easier to make? It’s time to do some serious tea thinking then! In contrast to popular belief in some countries, research shows that tea has many health benefits. It boosts immunity and has cancer fighting properties. Therefore, a hot cuppa or two can do you a lot of good and no harm.

You must have read about or come across different varieties of tea: black, green, and oolong. White tea is comparatively rare and expensive, and few have heard about it. It comes from leaves of the same Camellia bush as the other varieties of tea; the difference emerges from the way it is processed.    

Black tea is the fermented variety, and the fermentation leads to the loss of some beneficial components of tea leaves. Green tea undergoes no fermentation and is obtained by either steaming or slightly heating the leaves. It is a healthier option than black tea. Oolong tea lies in between these two varieties, in terms of processing.

White tea is made from the very young leaves and buds of the Camellia plant. The name white tea comes from the fine white hair on the young buds. Some researchers, however, suggest that the name comes from plain boiled water that was served when tea leaves were not available in humble Chinese homes. White tea has traditionally been associated with the elite classes in China.

White tea is the healthiest option among the different varieties of tea as it undergoes little processing and no fermentation. It is made by steaming and drying the selected buds and leaves. Its taste is mild and sweet, and research indicates that it has greater cancer fighting power than green tea. Another advantage of white tea is that it is low in caffeine compared with green or black tea. It is also known to prevent skin from sagging. Consequently, reputed cosmetics manufacturers are making a beeline for white tea. A word of caution: avoid white tea if you suffer from stomach ailments.

The best way to prepare white tea is to add it to water before it boils. This variety of tea is mainly produced in China and Japan, but Darjeeling in India is also known for it. Fujian Province of China is famous for this type of tea. A variety of this tea is also grown in Sri Lanka. White tea has some interesting names like tribute eyebrow, silver needle, white peony, golden moon, and white cloud. 

Given the benefits of white tea, you can slowly take to it to refresh yourself and gain health benefits in the process. Researchers suggest that four cups of green tea per day is ideal for promoting good health. As white tea has more effective properties, just a couple of cups should keep you in the pink of health. Promote tea drinking at home and your workplace, and lots of recharged people are going to thank you!  

If you are a regular tea drinker then you are providing yourself with a lot of healthy benefits, according to the variety you like and how much you consume.

Much is written about green tea and the antioxidants it contains that help you fight aging and slow down the onset of fatal diseases. But there are other teas that help you too, you only have to look on the shelves at your favorite store.

Tea grows ever more popular and in lots of varieties too, my local supermarket now stocks about a 100 varieties.

The particular health benefits that are often talked about are that tea contains antioxidants which help fight cancer and delay the natural aging process and polyphones which help to fight plaque on the teeth and also increase the flow of your digestive juices.

Green Tea

Green tea now comes in an abundance of flavors, you are really spoilt for choice. Try a few different types and you should soon settle on one that you like.

The choice of varieties includes, pure green tea, Jasmine, Peony,green tea and orange, Dragon Pearl, White Monkey and there is even a blend called gunpowder.

The particular health benefits of green teas include a high concentration of antioxidants, so beneficial for slowing the aging process and stopping the damage to your body of the free radical particles that are harmful to your cells.

In addition, research is also identifying green tea as a positive benefit in the fight against cancer, arthritis, cholesterol control. New benefits are being proposed every year it seems.

White Tea

White Tea like the others listed here is made from the same tea plant, it is the method of cultivation that varies. White tea is made by harvesting the very young tea leaves that are still covered in down. Leaves do not receive fermentation. Instead, they are steamed and dried in the sun.

A reduced fermentation process allows white tea to retain many of its beneficial properties which are passed on directly for your benefit.

Because the leaves are still downy, the brewed tea has a silver-white appearance. It has a sweet aroma and fresh flavor. White tea varieties include Silver Needle, White Peony, and Jasmine Silver Needle.

Oolong Tea

A unique name and one which I did not think would appear in my local supermarket, but it was there. The flavor of Oolong Tea lies somewhere between the taste of green tea and black tea, rich but not too overpowering.

Oolong tea is known for relieving indigestion problems and lowers cholesterol levels in the body.

Oolong tea is made from large, mature trees and produces a full-bodied taste. The leaves are semi-fermented and after being picked, are left to wither, which removed moisture.

Oolong tea varieties include Jasmine, Hairy crab and ice peak.

Black Tea

This is probably the most popular drink in the Western world, certainly in the UK.

Black tea is the most processed of the varieties here, it goes through a full fermentation process that makes the leaves darken to a color that is almost black in appearance.

Flowery and fruity are some of the tastes some people think black tea evokes.

The varieties of black tea are too abundant to mention here but they include, English breakfast tea, Earl Grey, Ceylon, Lapsang Souchong and variants of each.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea, which is considered a floral tea, has a very aromatic, fruity flavor and is a member of the daisy family. This tea is known for helping aid with toothaches, insomnia, muscle cramps, and can help reduce the swelling of skin irritations.

I hope that this article has encouraged you to try some other varieties of tea. Tasting several varieties of tea may well reveal a tea that is the best you have ever tasted.