Scented teas can be infused with many fragrances.Chrysanthemum, Gardenia, Osmanthus, Rose, Magnolia and Jasmine are some of the more common flower scents in tea. By far, Jasmine is the most popular fragrance of them all. This is also my favorite tea. Many cities in China produce Jasmine tea. The best Jasmine tea comes from Fujian Province in China. Due to the favorable weather conditions and good soil, Fujian Province is perect for tea farming. This region is also known to produce excellent Oolong tea.

Making Jasmine tea takes two steps. The first step is to pick young tea leaves in the spring. Tender young leaves are the best for making the base tea. The processed tea will store in a cool place until the Jasmine flowers blossom in the summer. Tea leaves are air dry and prepare to be infused with the fragrance from the flowers. Jasmine flowers are plucked during summer months. To be precise, they are plucked between July and September, from noon to 4pm. They look for blossoms that are ½ inch in size and just turning from ivory to a white color. For the next 4 hours after plucking, the Jasmine flowers are kept at a warm temperature with the base tea. This encourages the flowers to open and the scent to infuse with the tea. To create a strong scent, some tea receives multiple infusion of the flower scent. The flowers can be discarded after infustion; they may be kept for showing customers.

Adding Jasmine tea to food gives it the extra luxurious aroma.This Jasmine sauce is so delicious when added to fruit salad. Brew 2 teaspoons of Jasmine tea in 1/3 cup of hot water.  Melt 2 tablespoons of honey and  add zest and juice of 1 lime. Marinate fruits for just one hour before serving. 

Another way to use Jasmine tea is to add it when cooking rice. When cooking rice, try to replace part of the water with tea. The extra goodness of the tea and the aroma of the Jasmine flowers add more to the palate.  

Morning Glory Teahouse now has Jasmine Ring from Fujian Province. Order it today at www.MorningGloryTeahouse.com.

English Teapot, More exalted Than Just A Teapot

Life today has become very rushed. Many city dwellers live out their lives on a constant caffeine high and rarely give tea a second though. The very real truth is that taking the time to enjoy properly made and served tea as well as the tea itself can be greatly rewarding.

Titillating Teapots And Tartaric Tea in an English Teapot

Properly making and serving a cup of teaneeds at least a teapot. An English Teapot is a great choice when choosing a vessel to brew your tea in as the traditions surrounding tea have many of their roots in Brattain.  Many an English Teapot is made of traditional bone china. This fine white china makes an English Teapot stand out from the crowd and adds value to your teapot as an heirloom to be handed down from one generation to the next.

You can, of course, serve your tea in a full tea service set with your English Teapot as your star china attraction. However, if you think that the fuss of making it in a teapot is effort enough then the rest can be left to what you have in your kitchen cupboards. Your English Teapot will create all the enchantment you need. Serving tea, even if it is just for yourself, will make you take some time out of your busy day. This time can be used for some much needed rest and can be used as an excellent way to steal a few moments of me time for yourself.

When you serve tea in an English Teapot you add an air of elegance and pampering to your “tea and me” time which often makes you feel more relaxed and valued. Not to mention important. To add more relaxation oomph to your stolen moments of self indulgence you can brew up some Chai Tea. This tea is an aromatic blend which is rich in taste.

So when you need some tea and a few moments’ peace why not try this tea. Blended with cloves, cardamom, cumin seeds, coriander, sweet cumin seeds, lemon grass, curry leaves and pamper leaves. Soothing to both the pallet and the soul this tea perfectly compliments the beauty of your English Teapot and completes the feeling of indulgence when serving your tea. Next time you see that beautiful English Teapot  on a shop shelf or sitting on your home shelf gathering dust you know that is worth more that just sitting around as a white elephant.

Not too long ago, I drove down Fairview Street here in Boise, Idaho and noticed a coffee shop called Brew Awakening. What a great name for a coffee shop!The space is now empty.Many coffee shops were closing in the past year and this looks like one of them.   Even if you have the benefit of high traffic street, cars don’t always stop. Morning commuters going faster than 35 mph usually don’t stop for products or services.  Perhaps the owner found a better location. 

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 can be as deep as the history of tea.  The whole process of brewing tea reminds us to be mindful of what we are doing.  It keeps us being in the present moment and pay attention to the detail of the three elements: the temperature, brewing time and serving traditions.  The steps are just as important as the drink itself.  The Japanese has gone as far as to creating a tea ceremony where every move has an intention.The process of brewing tea slows down the mind like mediation.

With Chinese tradition, the Kung Fu tea 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.  This clay absorbs the fragrance of the tea.Over time, the aroma of the tea becomes part of the teapot.

In modern days, the general guidelines are 2 to 5 minutes for steeping black tea.Oolong tea takes longer to brew, about 5 to 8 minutes. The recommended water temperature is around 180 to 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.Brewing the second pot will take twice as long.  Steep time for Rooibos and other herbal tea varies, but most of them needs to steep 5 minutes or more.Change the recipe to your own taste. 

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