What was the (Honorable) East India Company?

The Honorable East India Company was a state supported, privately owned English trading company that had an enormous impact on world trade.

Founded in 1600 and disbanded in 1858, the East India Company created valuable trading links between Asia and Europe and helped establish English trading dominance throughout the world.

Using the backing of the English Crown, the East India Company became a state in its own right and its actions, while profit driven, were not always honorable. Many abuses and much corruption characterized the activity of the company particularly in the latter years of its existence,

One of its most profitable products was tea. Without a doubt, the East India Company was the driving force behind the growing, transportation and marketing of tea throughout the world.

The East India Company controlled all aspects of the world wide tea business and was largely responsible for the tea industry as we know it today.

Loose Leaf Tea vs. Tea Bags - What's the Difference?

There is a very real difference between loose leaf and specialty tea compared to tea made from tea bags.

Generally speaking, loose leaf tea is processed by the Prthodox Method that has been provedn to create quality tea throughour the ages. Using the Orthodox method, the whole leaf and bud structure can be maintained . It is almost universally agreed among tea entusiasts that the Orthodox Method prepares a more robust, flavorful tea drink.

Bagged tea, on the other hand uses the CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) method that is based upon machine processing of the whole leafs that results in small cut pieces that are called fannings and dust and create little flavor. Machine processing is required because the cost of packaging (the bag is an extra cost) which requires high volume processing in order to be price competitive. The result, however is a tea drink that is weak and watery in flavor.

Whole leaf teas are unable to be used in ordinary tea bags because the paper bag does not allow whole leaf expansion and infusion. Some whole leaf reas are marketed in silk bags that do allow expansion but are very expensive.

If you want whole leaf flavor and value - stay with loose leaf tea.

Tea Health Benefits

n recent years, tea has attracted a lot of attention for its many health benefits. For years Asian cultures have used tea for many medical purposes, and science is proving out what Asians seem to have known all along - tea has many healthy benefits.

Among tea, green tea seems to provide the most health benefits. This is because green tea, unlike black tea is not fermented during its processing. Green tea leaves are left in their more natural state, compared to the leaves that are fermented. In their natural state, tea leaves retain all of their natural anti-oxidants, known as catechins.

Anti-oxidants are important to our health because they protect our bodies from free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen containing molecules that are created as a by-product of our digestive processes. Free radicals left unchecked damage our cells and DNA, leading to disease and aging.

Anti-oxidants keep these free radicals in check, ensuring that theyre wiped out of our bodies before they can do damage. Anti-oxidants are found in many plant products, including fruits, vegetables, cocoa and coffee. But, it seems that the most potent anti-oxidants may be those found in the tea plant. The primary protective anti-oxidant, or catechin, in tea is a substance known as EGCG.

EGCG is associated with a lower risk of cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease. It also appears to naturally regulate blood sugar, so it may have potential in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. EGCG has also been associated with assisting in weight loss.

A Great Way to Find the Best Tea

There are a great number of specialty tea products on the market today and the loose leaf tea drinker is faced with many choices.

Often this can be time consuming, expensive and difficult.

Now however there is a tea sampler product that is cost effective, convenient and makes a unique gift for all occasions. Golden Moon Tea has created a sampler set that offers all of their 31 delicious teas in an attractive sampler package.

Each tea sampler makes one (1) cup of perfectly delicious tea.

It is an ideal way to enjoy the world of premium teas. It makes a perfect and unusual gift by itself or compliment it with beautiful teapots, Whole Leaf Brew-in-Mugs or other tea ware.

As we approach the holiday season, this set is an ideal gift set for the Holidays and special occasions .

For more details go to click here

What is Pu-erh Chai Iced Tea?

Pu-erh tea is quite different from other tea varieties. It gets its name from the province in China where it was harvested for the first time. It is made from a variety of tea plant that has good-sized leaves.

Pu-erh tea is a green tea, but after it has ripened, it has been mistaken for a type of black tea because of its color and how the tea looks after it is brewed. Pu-erh chai tea is made from aged tea leaves, and the resulting tea liquor is a beautiful dark color.

The spices in Pu-erh chai iced tea are usually cinnamon bark and cardamom pods, and some also contain ginger root, star anise, black pepper and cloves. These are combined for a tantalizingly delectable brew that seems to be even more flavorful, if that is possible, when prepared and served as iced tea. Pu-erh tea has been subjected to a number of scientific studies, and it has been shown to have health benefits that cannot be claimed by other varieties of tea.

Pu-erh iced tea helps the digestion, especially if you have eaten fatty foods. It seems that the metabolism of fat is improved after partaking of Pu-erh. It also is believed to help your cholesterol levels to go down. Some people have also claimed that Pu-erh tea will cause you to lose weight if a glass of it is taken after every meal.

How did Monkeys Influence the Spread of Tea?

For thousands of years monkeys have had a symbiotic relationship with the Camellia Sinensis (Tea) plant. It is a fact that over 40% of the tea plant is comprised of phenolics in the leaf.

Phenolics are ranked among the most powerful anti bacteria substances known to man and it is a fact that monkeys have the ability to consume plants that they perceive to be beneficial to their health.

When the tea leaves were consumed by monkeys, the phenolics cleansed their mouths and digestive tracts as well as wounds and sores on their skin. And tea had an evolutionary effect on monkeys as the healthier ones who fed on the tea plant thrived and travelled throughout Southeast Asia.

Many scientists have concluded that the existence of healthy, well travelled monkeys spread the existence of the tea plant into southern China and merchants and farmers soon noticed the beneficial effects of the tea plant.

The History of Iced Tea

Iced tea is a popular drink in the United States, and is becoming more popular in other countries, though it will probably never reach the level of consumption by Americans. Surveys have shown that around 2.2 billion gallons of tea are consumed in the USA every year, and at least 85 percent of the total is iced. With a host of choices for their iced drinks, such as powdered, canned, and bottled for a quick pick me up, and the traditional brewed drink using either bags or loose leaves, people in the United States have proven their love for this delicious beverage.

For many years, it was believed that iced tea was first introduced at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. A man by the name of Richard Blechynden, who was the Commissioner of Tea for India, was also the director of the East Indian Pavilion at the fair. Mr. Blechynden had prepared samples of hot tea for fairgoers, and noticed that no one was taking advantage of them, as it was an unseasonably hot day and everyone was going for the coldest beverages they could find. He had the idea of icing down his hot mixture, and presented it to the public that way. The crowds loved it, and word spread of this delicious way to enjoy a healthy drink. Mr. Blechynden did not invent the iced version, but made it more popular with Americans.

Tea Trends

Trends in the Wholesale and Retail Loose Leaf Tea Industry

The tea industry in the United Sates is a growth industry and the role of retailers or value added resellers has played an important part in the overall expansion. Value added resellers and retailers add significant value to the tea industry as they bundle tea offerings with quality dining and other services but they must be supported by comprehensive wholesale programs that are reliable , consistent and profitable.

What trends are driving the market?

In most countries in the world, tea is the second most popular beverage after water. The one exception is tea drinking in the United States. But the market for quality loose leaf tea has unlimited upside potential for tea drinkers in this country.

The market for high quality loose leaf tea is experiencing strong growth and this is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The growth of revenue and profits in the value added retail sector of the market is also very strong particularly when tea is prepared and presented as a part of a total offering in tea rooms, fine dining establishments and hotels.

There are a number of factors influencing this growth in loose leaf tea demand:

• The incredible good taste of tea and blends.
• The health benefits of tea.
• The wide variety of tea flavors and blends.
• A growing awareness about the enjoyment benefits of loose leaf tea .
• An expansion of the value added reseller network for quality loose tea.
• Many consumers are looking for an alternative to coffee as a hot or iced drink of choice.
• Consumers are tired of the "tea bag mentality" where the taste and quality of tea is sacrificed for the convenience of the tea bag.

The market for loose leaf tea is large and expanding. Try a quality tea and you will surely like it.

June is Iced Tea Month

On a hot sunny day there is no more pleasurable cold drink than a glass of quality iced tea. Iced tea is a thirst quencher as well as one of the healthiest drinks you can consume. It has polyphenols and anti-oxidants and iced tea is consumed in almost every restaurant in the United States.

Iced tea is so popular during the summer that an entire month, June is dedicated to the consumption of iced tea. And, the amount of iced tea that Americans consume is growing rapidly.

One problem with iced tea in the past however was that all iced tea tasted the same and the flavor was at times flat. This is because most iced tea was made from lower quality bagged tea.Now, however, specialty loose leaf teas are starting to enter the market and offer better flavor as a robust drink. These specialty teas usually don't cost more that iced tea based on cheaper bagged tea but they certainly deliver more taste, refreshment and satisfaction.

Next time, instead of ordering a cheap iced tea based upon weak bagged tea, ask your waiter if flavorful iced tea like Coconut Pouchong, Jasmine Mint, Honey Pear, White Persian Melon or other great flavors are available.

A nice refreshing, flavorful iced tea can refresh you and make your day!

White Persian Melon Iced Tea

White tea is one of the newest tea trends in the United States. The tea itself is far from new. Tea drinkers in China have been fans of white tea for centuries. However, very few people outside of Asia knew there was such a thing as white tea. Nowadays, the word is out, and it seems that those who have been introduced to this tea variety have nothing but good things to say about white tea. It has been predicted than once more people America have gotten acquainted with white tea, it will become “the” tea for everyone to enjoy.

The reason that most people have never heard of white tea is that for a time, it was relatively rare. And, only those who have made it a priority to learn more about tea realize that all tea comes from just one type of bush, which is called the Camilla Sinensis tea bush. Tea is made from the leaves of this bush, and once picked, the leaves can be processed in different ways to create different types of tea such as green, oolong, or black.

Black tea is made from tea leaves that have been crushed, partially dried, and then fermented. Green tea is made from tea leaves that are not fermented at all, but simply allowed to wilt just a bit and them steamed dry, rolled, and heated one final time to set the flavor. Oolong teas can be thought of as the middle tea. The leaves to create this variety are just partly steam dried and fermented.

Very little processing is done to the tea leaves to create white tea. In fact, white tea is probably the least processed variety of tea made. It is made from immature, young tea leaves that have not even fully developed yet. The leaves are hand picked before their buds are fully opened up, and are still covered with a silver colored downy fuzz. This fuzz turns a white color after the tea leaves have been dried, and this is where the name “white tea” is derived from.

There are several varieties of white tea, and these are based on how many tea leaf buds are mixed in with the tea leaves. Some have more buds than leaves, and some have more leaves than buds. The variety that is called White Peony contains one tea bud for every two tea leaves. The white tea, Silver Needles, is made entirely from buds that can only be picked during two days in the early spring. If the buds are picked at any other time, the tea is not considered to be the Silver Needles variety.

White tea has a very interesting, naturally sweet taste, and the aroma can be described with only one word - exquisite! White tea should appeal to those who claim that black tea is too strong in taste, and green tea is too “grassy” and “raw”. It is best to prepare white tea in a similar way to how green tea should be prepared. You definitely do not want the water to be too hot when making white tea, for these tea leaves are quite delicate. Boiling hot water will actually cook these tea leaves, and make white tea have a taste that is not at all pleasing to the palate.

One of the reasons why white tea has grown so much in popularity in the United States are reports of the health benefits from the consumption of it. It is said that white tea has more antioxidants than green tea, and can also help strengthen the immune system. There is talk of white tea also having the ability to help prevent cancer, heart disease, and high cholesterol readings.

Many people who are fond of white tea do not realize how absolutely delicious it can be when prepared and served as iced tea. A variety of white tea known as White Persian melon is one of the more delicious varieties. It has more flavor than plain white tea, and and added bonus in the form of the goodness of melon. All varieties of melon are full of antioxidants, too.

Combined with the antioxidant power of the white tea alone, White Persian melon iced tea may well be just about the best tasting and the best for you tea in existence. The type of antioxidant contained in White Persian melon iced tea is a little different from the ones in plain white tea. The melon antioxidants can cause our bodies to produce antioxidants of their own, necessary for healthy body cells and damage to existing cells.

It is very easy to prepare White Persian Melon iced tea. Simply prepare the tea as if you were making hot tea, only make more than one cup, of course! Sweeten if desired while the tea is still hot, and allow the tea to cool before pouring it over ice. Enjoy!

Since white tea is still relatively new to this country, it may be difficult for you to find the delectable White Persian melon tea in one of your local stores. However, you should have no trouble at all locating it online from one of the better tea vendors like

White Persian Melon Tea

How to Ruin a Nice Evening

How many times have you gone to a five star restaurant for a delicious meal with someone special or to celebrate a special occasion and had the enjoyment ruined by a bad cup of tea.?

It seems in America, no one knows how to brew a fine cup of tea. Usually you are presented with a tea box with a limited selection of bagged tea and then that sorry looking bag is slopped into a luke warm cup of water.

The end result is a terrible cup of tea and a disappointing evening.

Even the best restaurants use bagged tea and fail to steep the tea properly and a large amount of your money is wasted.

Now, when I make a reservation at a five star restaurant the first question is what type of tea do they prepare and how do they prepare it. I hang up on a lot of restaurants.