My Tea Break

Rediscovering Tea around the world

Monthly Archives: November 2011


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Special T from Nestlé

Last year, Nestlé launched a new concept , Special T,  which brews Tea from capsules.

“Special.T by Nestlé offers a selection of 25 tea varieties – ranging from green, black, blue, red and white teas, to flavoured teas and organic herb teas – which are carefully sourced from selected tea farms in China, Japan, Sri Lanka, India and South Africa. 
The high quality tea leaves are protected by aluminium capsules, with each dosage measured to precision. The perfect brewing time and temperature for each individual tea variety is calculated by the innovative Special.T machine system, which in turn, releases the full benefits and infusion of the tea beverage.”

“I have never tasted the Tea capsules and, to be honest, this is definitely not my cup of Tea! Although I´ve got to say it is a very creative idea!” Mariana

“I actually tried it last weekend as my uncle just bought one. I was quite suspicious about its quality but actually I enjoyed it. I tried a Rooibos capsule and it had a pleasant smooth and fresh flavour. It also comes out with a small layer of foam on top which gives it an  Espresso look and feel ” Tania

Click here for more information about Special T.

Happy Tea break!


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BistroTea: A different concept

“Der Bistrozucker Müchen” is a German company that developed the exclusive T-tube. The T-tube has an innovative design and enables the proper dosage of Tea.

The concept behing this is “Make Tea Simple” and the company aims to keep a practical way of making Tea with excellent quality.

The package is made with Aluminium foil which protects the aroma, flavour and the fragrance and is resistant to high temperatures.

T-Tube Classic Collection

There are 5 collections: T-tube Classic, T-tube exotic collection, T-tube Black Tea, T-tube  Green Tea and T-tube herbs.

This package already received several international awards including the prestigious FPA Gold Award Winner in Packaging Excellence and the European EAFA Alufoil Trophy Winner Europe 09.

Happy Tea Break. :)

Tania


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Tea Bag Designs

I love to see Tea & design together.

Despite not being a big fan of Tea bags I have to say that I enjoy some of the creative and interesting Tea bag designs that exist.

Here are some of my favourites:

1. Hang me some Tea by designer Soon Mo Kang

2. Origami Tea Bags by designer by Natalia Ponomareva

3. Tea Party by Donkey Products

4. Tea for Health was designed by The House Cafe in Instanbul as a a way to associate herbal Tea with a healthy lifestyle using cut-out images of people doing outdoor sports  attached to the strings of their herbal Tea Bags.

5. Lighting Bag by Designer/Bookmark Maker Wonsik Chae

6. The Tea-to-go sticks by Jeeyun Michaella Chung allow you to attach the Tea bags inside the teasticks so there is no need of using sticks separately for stirring nor to throw away the Tea bag.  This design was inspired by the Japanese Chasen (Loose leaf Tea stirring tool) which bring the feel of traditional procedure of making your cup of Tea.

7. Tea Diver by AbelPartners Design Studio

Happy Tea Break.

Tania


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Tea and Reiki

Did you know that according to the American Medical Association, stress is a factor in more than 75 percent of illnesses?

Life is difficult, as M. Scott Peck wrote on his great book “The Road less travelled”.  Life can be quite stressful with the increasing career and family demands, economic uncertainty and other factors. There are times when we feel down, lost and alone. We forget to take care of ourselves and to ensure our well being. Finding a way to balance our life can be challenging, although I feel that it is our duty to ensure we have the right tools that allow us to relax and feel good about ourselves.

In order to be happy and relax people pursue activities like cooking, sports, travelling, reading, going to the cinema, meditation, massages or even art. The way I escape stress is by taking time for Tea and by doing Reiki.  These two instruments have been very useful in ensuring I keep an equilibrium in my life.

Reiki means Universal Life Energy, an energy which is all around us. Reiki is a natural healing process that gently balances life energies bringing health and well-being to our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual state.

For me Reiki and Tea are a great (and a natural) combination, as both allow me to stop and connect to my mind, my body and my spirit. Both allow me to feel calm and relaxed. Both allow me to feel more balanced. I feel that I have been very lucky to have found these two great tools, which contribute to my happiness.

Different people have different ways of relaxing and feeling balanced. The important thing is that you find out what is right for you.

Happy Tea break,

Mariana!


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Morning Lemon Infusion

I’ve always heard many people saying they drink a lemon infusion (with real lemon) first thing in the morning. A friend of mine recently did a 3-day detox and the first rule is to start each day with a glass of warm water and a slice/wedge of lemon.

Source: spoki.lv via Sumia on Pinterest

I tried doing it this morning and it is tasty and refreshing but wanted to know the health benefits.

Due to its very low sugar content and high alkaline mineral content, the lemon raises the alkalising effect of the water and release enzymes that help to kick start the metabolism. One would think that lemon is acidic but once digested it has an alkalising effect in the body .

Main benefits:

    • Cleanses and stimulates the liver and kidneys that releases toxins
    • Contains calcium, magnesium and potassium
    • Helps treating infections
    • Provides vitamin C and can relief cold and flu symptoms
    • Can relieve asthma
    • Cleans your skin
    • Prepares your body for digestion

By starting our day with lemon water we are literally revitalising our body and digestive system to clean out toxins and kickstart our day in an energised and refreshed way.

If you are worried about the effect of citrus on your tooth you can drink your lemon water through a straw.

Happy Tea Break.

Tania


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Interview with Filipa and Andreia Guimarães from Chá Clube – Porto, Portugal

During our trip to Porto, Portugal, we visited Chá Clube. This is a very traditional, warm and refined Tea house. We tasted very good Teas and they also have wonderful food – we definitely recommend the scones!

Filipa and Andreia have been very kind in answering a few questions for our blog. Thank you!

M&T. What is Chá Clube´s Concept?

F&A. This is a classic Tea house. We opened 22 years and we have always had the same decoration and philosophy: maintain quality and refinement that have always been part of this Tea house.

M&T. What can your clients expect from Chá Clube?

F&A. At Chá Clube our clients can, not only find a warm and a refined environment, but also, a high quality of the products we offer.

M&T.  What are your favourite Teas?

F&A. EarlGrey in the Black Teas range; We have a great Pu-Ehr with Ginger-lemon; and in relation to green Teas, we are extremely proud of “our” Gorreana, from Azores.

Have a great Weekend, Mariana!

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Na nossa visita ao Porto, tivémos a oportunidade de visitar o Chá Clube – uma casa de chá tradicional e bastante requintada. Não só os chás são de boa qualidade, como a comida é deliciosa! Recomendamos os scones!

Gostavamos de agradecer à Filipa e à Andreia por terem respondido a umas perguntas para o nosso blog!

M&T. Qual o conceito do Chá Clube?

F&A. O Chá Clube é um modelo clássico de casa de chá. Existimos há 22 anos sempre com a mesma decoração e com a mesma filosofia: manter a qualidade e o requinte que marcam esta casa desde sempre.

M&T. Qual é o cliente-tipo desta casa de chá? O que é que eles procuram?

F&A. O cliente que procura o Chá Clube sabe que pode aqui encontrar um ambiente acolhedor e requintado onde estão garantidos produtos de alta qualidade, e é, por isso, naturalmente um tipo de cliente que está disposto a pagar o preço justo.

M&T.  Qual é o vosso chá preferido?

F&A. Dentro dos clássicos chás pretos, o EarlGrey é o nosso eleito. Em relação aos Pu-Ehr o chá Gengibre-Limão é um dos melhores. Quanto aos chás verde orgulhamos-nos do “Nosso” Gorreana.

Tenham um óptimo fim de semana! Mariana



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Bubble Tea

Have you tried Bubble Tea? Bubble Tea is a type of flavoured Tea (Fruit or Milk based) served with chewy natural tapioca pearls that you drink through a straw. It can be served hot or cold.

Bubble Tea was invented in the early 80’s in Taiwan and there around 8,000 Bubble Tea Cafes in Taiwan. Apparently in North America, bubble Tea is already a cult drink and Londoners are getting into this drink since the opening of  Bubbleology, a new café in Soho that specializes in bubble-tea making.

The Fruit based Teais made with a choice of green, white or black/red Tea and then infused with natural fruit flavouring. There are 6 available flavours including mango green Tea, passionfruit Green Tea, Ginger Red Tea among others.

Source: google.com via Kirby on Pinterest


The Milk based Tea is a flavoured fruit drink ith a milkshake texture and a shot of green, white or Black Tea. There is a wide variety of flavours – jasmin, coconut, almond and Vanilla.

The process of making Bubble Tea involves a special shaking machine that creates small floating bubbles.

Source: bubbleology.co.uk

Want to try?  You can try one of this in the Bubbleology shop in Soho (49, Rupert Street) or on the 5th floor of Harvey Nichols. I’m quite intrigued and this is definitely on my to do list for my next trip to London. If you already tried we would love to hear your feedback on this.

Happy Bubble Tea. :)

Tania

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