Tea Naturals

I came across a company that makes use of tea in their beauty products.
Here is their moto:

"We believe everything your skin needs to be nourished and healthy is found in nature. We use only safe, effective natural ingredients such as organic tea , organic botanicals, and essential oils. We never use synthetic ingredients such as parabens, PEGs, propylene glycol, or colors and fragrances."

They use lemongrass, lavender and Bergamot in their facial products as well as grape seed, carrots and cherry to gain the essential vitamins needed to enrich and protect their tea creams and facial products. I think it is a great idea. They say that tea is as good on you as in you, a clever biline. Check it out at: www.teanaturals.com

Book Review: The New Tea Book

The New Tea Book by Sara Perry is an excellent guide into the world of choosing and serving different teas. Perry provides a wonderful overview of the history and cultivation of tea and then goes on to discuss how to choose the right tea, how to prepare your tea and then how to serve your tea. She gives the reader an objective description of the difference between black tea, green tea, oolong tea, blended teas, and scented/flavored tea. In her overview of serving tea she discusses tea customs and tea accessories used to serve tea the proper way. After you have completed an overview of the different types of tea and how to serve them, you are rewarded with 40 pages of tea recipes such as: Catalina citrus sun tea, shrimp curry tea sandwiches, and gingerspice tea cake. This book is a must read for the tea enthusiast as well as for those interested in learning about the nuances of this magical beverage.

Dunbar Tea Shop

Looking for a place to have a cup of tea and a delicious lunch? Located in the heart of historic Sandwich Village in Massachusetts is the Dunbar Tea Shop, open daily for lunch and afternoon tea.

From owner Paula Hegarty:"The Dunbar Tea Room has become a unique institution and an integral part of a trip to Sandwich. We have developed a great reputation over the years for our homemade goods, our selection of quality teas and our innovative menu. We also have a fine selection of British ales and European wines, ports and sherries. The cozy and intimate atmosphere has been known for providing the perfect setting to catch up with an old friend or to meet a new one. It has the reputation of a place where memories are made."

They have recently been in the headline of local newspapers and magazines, as well as an appearance on NECN's TV Diner. Check out their menu, photos, and more information on hosting an event at the Dunbar Tea Shop at: www.dunbarteashop.com

Tea Forte

There are many ways to enjoy tea. Often tea drinkers like to feel as though the time in which they drink tea is special and having the right equipment makes all the difference. Tea Forte is a company that has come out with a unique looking teabag: " Our unique Silken-Tea-Infusers are individually hand crafted, and provide the world's finest method to brew a cup of tea. The open weave of the fabric allows the water to flow freely around the teas, allowing the tea leaves to unfurl and the flavors to mingle in the large open form of the infuser. We use only exquisite whole-leaf teas and rough cut herbs and our unique design allows the subtle flavors of these fine teas to infuse into the water. It's like brewing a pot of tea in your cup!" " Unwrap the protective cover and stand the infuser in your cup. Pour boiling water in and exquisite tea starts to brew, the infuser maintains its elegant form, and the upward lifted leaf and cotton stem creates a handle. A feast for all the senses, Tea Forte is quite possibly the finest, most elegant cup of tea of all time."

They also sell a teacup with lid that accomodates the pyramid shaped tea bag:Our elegant porcelain tea cup ensemble is a great way to brew Tea Forte silken infusers. The custom cover keeps tea hot while brewing and reveals our signature leaf. Remove lid and enjoy a piping hot, aromatic cup of tea. Each cup beautifully packaged in handcrafted wooden box.

For more information about this product see: http://www.teaforte.com

Tea riding wave of coffee craze

An ancient beverage is making a comeback.
Tea, thought to have been first consumed in China in 2737 B.C., is brewing in teahouses, retail shops, grocery stores and restaurants throughout the country.
Teahouses "were primarily in major metropolitan areas five years ago," said Joe Simrany, president of the Tea Association of the USA, a New York trade group. "They're in towns big and small now."
The group estimates 1,500 to 1,700 tea shops are in the country today, compared with 200 five years ago.
Teahouses are part of the $6.16 billion tea industry, which 15 years ago was a quarter of its current size. Bottled teas, frozen teas and tea bags of traditional black and specialty flavors also are riding a wave of popularity, bolstered by the coffee craze of the 1990s and the increased awareness of tea's health benefits.
Green tea in particular is high in antioxidants, which preliminary studies have found lowers the chances of developing some forms of cancer and arthritis while helping weight loss and strengthening the immune system.
Tea drinkers swear by tea's health benefits.
Julian Jung, 35, of Falls Church, drinks a cup nearly every other day.
"Our bodies need something from the plant kingdom, and tea is a way to get those intangible substances," he said after buying a cup of lemon-grass tea from Teavana tea shop in Tysons Corner Center on Monday.
Drinking tea can be a chance to socialize with friends or an opportunity to unwind.
"I don't know anyone who rushes a cup of tea," said Pearl Dexter, editor and publisher of Tea A Magazine, a trade publication based in Scotland, Conn. "The health benefits come from not only the beverage itself, but the ability to slow down a bit when you're drinking it."
http://www.washtimes.com/business/20060217-105336-3865r.htm
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Shawna H. Weekly