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I can never seem to escape Williams-Sonoma without a bag full of something. At $11 I came out of there relatively unscathed.
Here's my new toy:
I own a standard mesh tea ball steeper. It gets the job done.
But this...She is a thing of beauty!
This is the Ultimate Spice and Tea Infuser, and it was parked on the display near the same location I usually buy my replacement $6 tea infuser ball. Apparently this baby came out during the holidays and quickly sold out. I just got mine a couple of weeks ago.
Why do I love her so?
1. It has a better locking device than the standard tea ball.
See that L shaped groove at the top? See the little protrusion the picture below? That's the lock. You simply line up the two and turn the top...no leaves escaping out into the pot.
2. It's easier to clean.
You can just dump the used contents right into your waste or compost container. With a standard tea ball I had to pick leaves and twigs out of the mesh. And it rinses clean so your tea doesn't taste like whatever was in it last.
3. You don't have to chain this guy down or chase it around the pot. It's flat on the bottom, it floats right-side up, and it will rise to the top with plenty of room for the lid to your tea pot. If you insist on plucking it out of red hot water, you can use tongs.
4. Finally, It's a multi-use product. For me that's a bouquet garni or mulling spices for hot cider. For a lot of people it's used in place of anything that requires cheesecloth and a piece of kitchen twine. This is truly $11 well spent!
 Introducing the first ever tea for dogs, Machu's Blend. An all-natural, herbal tea blend formulated to keep your best friend healthy, happy and lower the stresses that shorten the lifespan of urban dogs. We have a Great Dane named Machu Picchu who has become a bit of a mascot here at California Tea House. Machu spends most of his time laying around on his enormous day bed, soaking up the sun and welcoming guests while we scramble around blending and tasting new teas.
Like all dog lovers, we want only what's best for Machu. We feed him all-natural, grain-free dog food, he sleeps on an organic mat and we use only herbal, topical treatments to prevent ticks and fleas. So naturally, when we needed to treat a skin condition that was causing Machu to shed, we sought a healthy, organic alternative to the chemical, traditional treatments that, until now, were the only option.
After consulting with numerous veterinarians, and compiling research on herbal treatments for canines, we put our tea blending skills to work for our canine companion. Machu's Blend is a once-a-day herbal tea comprised of Chamomile, Ginger Root, Fennel Seed, Skullcap and Calendula that not only promotes healthy skin and coat for your dog, but also lowers stress and aids digestion of dry dog food, easing the stomach and reducing gas. In addition, Machu's Blend is great for treating dogs that suffer from seizures as well as motion sickness caused by car rides.
Brew up some Tea for your Dog today, and enhance your best friend's quality of life. Click here to go to Machu's Blend.
The health super-hero, green tea, does it again.
There are lots of studies showing the positive effects of green tea and its role in combating countless types of diseases including many forms of cancer, IBD, liver disease and it even helps lower cholesterol. Recent medical study results were released indicating that green tea can even combat and help prevent lung cancer. To make these findings even more compelling, the reduction in the risk of lung cancer due to drinking green tea even had this effect on cigarette smokers.
According to an article published this year in oncology and hematology journal, HemOnc Today, a study was conducted in Changhwa Christian Hospital using 170 lung cancer patients and 340 healthy, control patients, and the results were fascinating. Individuals who drink one cup of green tea a day have a significantly reduced lung cancer risk. This result indicates that smoking-induced pulmonary carcinogenesis may be modulated by green tea consumption. Polyphenols in green tea can halt the growth of cancer cells. The tests also took into account the correlation between genetic factors, cooking fumes and other pollutant exposure.
These findings don't at all mean that you can light up as long as your cup of green tea is handy, but it certainly adds to my already long list of reasons to enjoy my daily cup (or three).
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When a cowboy sidles up to a bar, he seldom orders a bubblegum-pink martini. Cinderella probably didn't chug beers at the prince's ball. Why not? Because many people believe that what you choose to drink says something about you. So what's your tea saying?
Truth is, I don't know. There's something oddly open-ended about a cup of tea, which can really suit anyone from sweet elderly folks to high-powered CEOs, from kiddos in shiny dress shoes to dirt-smeared laborers - and from john Wayne to a Disney princess. Though all true teas (but not tisanes) come from the same plant (Camellia sinensis), different leaf treatments and handling yield brews that range from the Zen of a fine green tea like Jasmine Pearls to the imagined classicism of Vanilla Creme Earl Grey.
Tea may almost act as a liquid Rorschach test, where nobody but the drinker knows its true meaning. A steaming cup of Organic Darjeeling may get you revved up in the morning, or it might be a warm wind-down to your day. You may indulge in Pistachio Gelato for dessert... or for breakfast. Fruity blends may strike your palate as old-fashioned flavors or as innovative creations.
Today the rain is pouring down, and I'm seeking comfort (plus a little caffeine boost) from a mug of English breakfast. It's a pretty traditional choice, which may speak to me love of routine. what are you drinking - and what do you think it says about you?
You probably think you've never heard of epigallocatechin gallate, but you have heard everyone from your hairdresser to your favorite celebs to the experts at the Mayo Clinic raving about the practically-magical EGCG. What is it, what will it do for you, and where can you get some?
EGCG is a good-for-you antioxidant found in green tea. It's been shown to aid with weight loss thanks to its appetite-suppressing qualities. (It does this by upping levels of CKK, a hormone that makes you feel full - thanks, Julie Daniluk, RNC, via Dr. Oz.) A blog all about the health benefits of green tea claims that EGCG can nearly double the rate of your metabolism, so you'll naturally burn more calories. Other health benefits include reduction in leukemia cell counts (Mayo Clinic research) and promising findings on prevention of Alzheimer's, treatment of diabetes, heart health, and more.
EGCG (or green tea extract) is available in a concentrated liquid, as a powder, and in pill form. However, sipping a soothing cup of green tea is easily the tastiest way to get your EGCG fix. I couldn't dig up any information on whether you can get too much of this good thing, but be careful with supplement dosages. Score one more for brewing up the tea: even if you're inclined to down several mugfuls a day, you won't risk ODing on your EGCG. Raise a mug to your health!
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