Loose Leaf Tea and the Tea Room – A Valuable Partnership

The growth in demand for high quality loose leaf tea enthusiasts consume greater quantities of tea, the relationship between tea suppliers and the tea room increases in importance.
This addition of value is essential to the growth of the loose leaf tea market in the United States This addition of value is essential to the growth of the loose leaf tea because the tea room bundles high quality loose leaf tea with other food products, services and an ambiance that create a very pleasurable tea experience. This addition of value is essential to the growth of the loose leaf tea because the tea room bundles high quality loose leaf tea because the tea room bundles high quality loose leaf tea with other food products, services and an ambiance that create a very pleasurable tea experience. Tea rooms are critically important to suppliers of loose leaf tea with other food products, services and an ambiance that create a very pleasurable tea experience.
The basic element in the relationship between the tea supplier and the tea room however, is quality loose leaf tea. Many high quality tea rooms offer a broad choice of loose leaf teas, complimentary food products like sandwiches, fruit, and pure water beverages in a pleasant, warm environment.
Loose leaf tea is all about quality and service. The owner of the tea room makes a substantial investment of time and resources including the choice of an attractive location, high quality furnishings and staff in order to create a quality brand. In order to maintain the integrity of the tea room brand the basic tea offering must be one of consistent high quality.
Many tea rooms are constantly on the look out for new vendors of loose leaf tea because new tea lines are easily integrated into their tea offering. In addition a broad product line of teas offered by the supplier offer the tea room's customers choices and the excitement of new blends and flavors. Quality tea rooms often look to increase the quality of tea and then maintain the consistency of the tea offering.
Where the supplier provides marketing and customer support the relationship tends to be close and very profitable for both parties. Generally speaking, the commercial relationship between tea importer suppliers and the tea room is a wholesale one with discounts off of retail provided based on volume of tea purchases.
What Should Tea Rooms Look for in A Tea Supplier?
Some of the characteristics of the best tea suppliers from a tea room perspective are: There are a number of tea suppliers in the marketplace but not all are the same.
• High quality loose leaf tea recognized in the marketplace
• A commitment to the tea room industry
• A commitment to quality that is evidenced by tea cupping of each bulk shipment import
• A broad product offering that includes varietals, blends and flavored teas
• An e-commerce site with features that provide easy ordering, flexibility of delivery and good prices
• Marketing support including information about tea and tea commerce
• Open lines of communication that solicit feedback from tea room customers
• The highest quality customer service and a dedication to tea room customer satisfaction
Relationships that are based upon the highest tea quality and premium customer support and service will be valuable to both parties in the transaction. The relationship between tea rooms and tea suppliers is one of the mainstays of the loose leaf tea industry.
Golden Moon Tea's website is found at Stout is Chairman of the Board of Golden Moon Tea is a supplier of high quality loose leaf tea and high quality tea ware. Jon M.
http://www.Goldenmoontea.com

What are the Essentials of High Quality Loose Leaf Tea?

Critical elements in the process include: Demand for high quality loose leaf tea is experiencing strong growth and for those interested in high quality loose leaf tea is experiencing strong growth and for those interested in high quality loose tea, more information will aid in decision making.
Source of the Tea
Manufacturing Processes
Purchasing, Quality Control and Customer Service
Source of the Tea
All tea comes from the plant Camellia Sinensis but there is where the similarity between high quality loose leaf tea and other, lesser quality ends. From the time the tea leaves are plucked until the time the consumer tastes the brew, a number of critical events affect the tea experience.
High quality loose leaf teas are carefully selected as only the finest of these rare orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and hand-crafted with extreme care.
Tea, like wine, is harvested and processed into the final product on the grounds of the garden or estate. The taste and quality of any tea varietal depends upon the specific growing conditions. Factors such as altitude, climate, soil, weather, and plucking season all affect the final product.
To produce just one pound of quality loose leaf tea, it takes approximately 3,000 hand plucked leaves. Only the most tender leaves and young buds are selected. After the leaves are picked, the precise art of tea making begins.
Manufacturing Processes
Tea is manufactured by two different processes.
Most ordinary tea is machine processed by the C.T.C. method (crush, tear, curl). The resulting small, broken pieces are used in tea bags or iced tea concentrates. Less than 2% of the world's tea is of superior quality, hand-processed in the classic, time-honored method known as orthodox manufacture.
And, of course, only the finest. Connoisseurs will find no soggy paper tea bags and no trendy herbals from high quality loose tea suppliers; only real tea from the Camellia Sinensis bush. The highest quality loose teas are hand-plucked and meticulously crafted to enhance leaf character, aroma, color, clarity, body, complexity, and above all, flavor.

Whole-leaf varietals retain the subtle nuances of flavor so prized by discriminating palates throughout the centuries. High quality suppliers are dedicated to offering outstanding, whole-leaf teas of the greatest quality and finesse.
Purchasing, Quality Control and Customer Service
Nevertheless, quality tea is easily available through e-commerce outlets on the internet. Most loose leaf teas are not available in retail outlets. Access to high quality loose leaf tea is the final element.
Loose leaf tea is ideally suited to e-commerce because it is light and easy to transport. Increasingly e-commerce over the internet has proven to be an efficient and easy way to purchase quality products and those e-commerce sites that are customer friendly also offer convenient and low cost home delivery.
When evaluating e-commerce sites, the consumer should consider those sites that are interactive, easy to use and offer rich features such as auto shipping, multiple destination shipments, gift shipments and delivery flexibility.
The loose leaf tea experience is all about quality and quality does not end with manufacturing. Those suppliers that are truly dedicated to quality will maintain quality control over each shipment received from the producing tea garden.
Since almost all quality loose leaf tea comes from other countries such as China, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and others, choose a supplier who cups or tastes each shipment before acceptance. This measure of quality control will guarantee consistent quality but most loose leaf tea suppliers skip this important step. Check with a potential supplier to determine their cupping commitment.
Since the purchase of high quality loose tea tends to be a long term relationship, consideration of the needs of the customer and customer satisfaction is paramount. In addition to quality control, customer service is a critical element in the loose tea relationship.
The best suppliers have a culture of customer service, open lines of communication to customer service personnel and solicit feedback from customers as a way to maintain consistent quality.
Golden Moon Tea's website is found at Stout is Chairman of the Board of Golden Moon Tea is a supplier of high quality loose leaf tea and high quality tea ware. Jon M.
http://www.Goldenmoontea.com

Loose Tea in the American Marketplace

The American tea market
Traditionally, the marketplace for tea drinkers in the United States has been limited.
Although loose tea was extremely popular in colonial times, the consumption of loose tea gradually changed and recently the American market for tea has been generally confined to iced tea and tea in bags.
Loose tea was introduced to America at the same time of introduction to Europe. As early as 1650 Dutch traders were active in the tea trade and Peter Stuyvesant, as an early governor of the New York colony, brought the first tea to New York. Loose tea was so popular in colonial New York that at one time the small colony consumed more loose tea than all of England. This popularity was equally evident in the other colonies.
America made two unique contributions to the tea world in the form of bagged tea. Gradually however, the American tea market changed.
There is growing resurgence of demand for loose tea in the United States however, driven by a greater awareness of the health benefits and quality of the loose tea experience. As demand increases, new opportunities arise for the entrepreneur who wishes to market and sell loose tea.
How do loose tea and tea bags compare?
Most experts compare loose tea and tea in bags in four ways:
1. Most of the tea that goes into bags in not high quality. Tea bags usually contain broken grades so infusion takes place quickly
2. Whole leaf loose teas come in a larger number of varieties than bagged tea and some higher quality teas are only found in loose offerings
3. Bags are semi-nonbiodegradable additions to biodegradable tea leaves with implications for the environment
Generally speaking, tea bags have historically offered greater convenience although e-commerce now offers tea drinkers the convenience of on line ordering and home delivery 4.
Is loose tea more costly than tea bags?
Many advocates of bagged tea in believe that loose tea costs more than tea in bags. Actually, most good tea is not very expensive and can be very cost effective. When you buy tea in bags, most of what you pay for is the process of putting the teas in the bags, and the brand name advertising. Fancy tea is generally sold loose, and the price per cup is often lower than for commercial bagged tea.
High quality loose leaf tea is typically not available in supermarkets; but a good mail order web site will accept and process orders rapidly and offer the convenience of home delivery. When one considers that most loose teas support multiple infusions the prices drop dramatically. Some truly fine teas retail in the United States retail for less than US$20 per pound, which means less than 10 cents per cup.
E-commerce and affiliate programs
Opportunities for sale of loose tea are particularly attractive when combined with effective e-commerce through affiliate programs.
The affiliate arrangement is a way for a company to sell its products by signing up individuals or companies ("affiliates") who market the company's products for a commission.
Affiliate programs afford a small entrepreneur the ability to leverage the website of the tea manufacturer through their own affiliate site. Through this technique the affiliate can minimize their investment and maximize their return. An affiliate relationship is established by agreement between the affiliate and the manufacturer whereby each party benefits.
Most good affiliate programs share a number of characteristics: The affiliate must be provided with marketing support, account feedback and prompt payment of earned commissions. There is more to an affiliate relationship than a simple agreement however.
• Real-time reporting statistics
• Real-time email alerts upon each sale
• Payment on a consistent monthly basis for initial and repeat orders
• High price-point products that are easy to sell and allow for substantial affiliate commissions
• A comprehensive package of rich content articles and banner advertising that the affiliate can reprint and use for marketing
Of special note for marketing support is the availability of banner ads that are high quality and effective. These are particularly useful affiliate marketing tools.
The customer service issue:
Tea drinkers are very loyal but demand high quality products and premium customer service. As a result, customer service in the form of rapid and correct order processing and fulfillment, notification of orders and shipments, proper pricing and an emphasis on customer satisfaction is a necessary part of the affiliate relationship.
If customer service is inadequate then this will severely impact affiliate business and the affiliate reputation. Conversely, if customer satisfaction is high, a steady stream of repeat orders will be ensured and the affiliate will share in the additional revenue.
Choose a loose tea supplier that has a rich affiliate program, a reputation for consistent high quality products, an e-commerce site that is powerful and allows easy ordering and a company with a reputation for excellent customer service.

Pure Water and Fine Tea

Tea originated in China 5,000 years ago and the selection and brewing of tea has been refined to an art with health and spiritual aspects emerging as part of the process.
Experienced tea drinkers throughout the world generally follow established guidelines for infusion or brewing of tea and the infusion process is often as important as the initial selection of tea. For many tea enthusiasts, brewing tea is the most soothing and spiritual part of their day. Brewing a good tasting cup of tea releases tensions for many and has a definite comforting effect.
It is a fact that since 99% of tea is water, better water makes better tea and water is critical to the final outcome of tea preparation. Brewing tea can be complex or simple. For many tea enthusiasts the brewing process is an important part of the tea experience that culminates in the preparation of a satisfying beverage and a way of life. Fine teas are especially sensitive to the nature of water for infusion.
The best water for successful tea infusion is low in mineral content, free of contamination and additives and high in oxygen content.
Water Quality and Brewing Tea
Good tasting tea requires good tasting water. A simple test is that if the water tastes good by itself, the resulting brewed tea will also have a good flavor. Because a brewed cup of tea is mostly water, the quality of the water is often as important as the quality of the tea leaves. The water must be free of contaminants and minerals and contain enough oxygen to enhance the natural tea flavor. Moreover, there are a number of additional factors that will affect the taste of the infusion. These include water temperature, the mineral content of the water used and the continued presence of a sufficient quantity of oxygen in the water.
If one is using tap water, filtration is often required. Many tap water suppliers use chlorine to kill bacteria and chlorine in tap water combined with mineral and chemical deposits can significantly affect tea taste and the tea drinker's overall health. The brewer will want to remove chlorine and other chemicals as well as sediment from the water. It is best to check the composition of tap water on EPA or AMWA websites. Frequently there are also local water quality analysis data available.
Chlorinated tap water for example destroys the flavor of tea. No matter how skillful the preparation or spectacular the tea, bad water will make a bad cup of tea.
Water Temperature
Most experts recommend that one never boil water for a prolonged period or re-boil a previously used supply. The more that the water boils, the more oxygen that is driven out of the water .When water is boiled, oxygen evaporates, and the crisp taste in the brew is lost.
Fresh cold water is important. In areas with poor tap water, use bottled or filtered water that is free of contaminants. Never use water from the hot water tap. If only tap water is available, run the water until it is cold and has a chance to aerate and infuse oxygen.
Poor quality tap water, containing mineral content and other contaminants, even if it is very cold, should be avoided since its chemical treatment imparts undesirable flavors and odors which interfere with the delicate aromatics of tea.
Mineral Content - Soft vs. Hard Water
Water described as "hard" is high in dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium. These minerals accumulate in the water, adversely affect the taste and clarity of the tea and accumulate in teapots and infusers. Teas brewed with pure water containing no minerals produce a crisp flavor and a clear brew that is aesthetically agreeable.
High mineral content bottled water has the same negative impact on tea as hard water particularly when bottled water does not include significant oxygen. Hard water often results in an undesirable chalky taste and can also reduce the aesthetic portion of the tea brewing process by bleaching the color of the leaves. Hard water can also affect the appearance of tea by making it dark and murky.
Oxygen and Water
Oxygen plays an important role in brewing because it helps to release the best flavors of tea. As a result, one must use water that is aerated (full of oxygen).It is an established fact that the presence of oxygen in water is required to maximize tea flavor. Aeration is particularly important when brewing fine teas.
Avoid re-heating water because previously boiled water will have lost much of its dissolved oxygen which is important to bring out the tea flavor Always use freshly drawn water that has not previously been boiled to maximize the oxygen content of the brew.
Water Quality, Purity and Taste for Tea Drinkers in the United States
Historically, in China, great attention was give to supplying high quality water from a reliable source. The emperors of China appointed royal springs reserved for use in tea brewing and developed special messengers that would guarantee the freshness and availability of supply. This procedure was repeated throughout history and in other tea drinking areas of the world. Supply of water was an integral part of the tea experience.
In the United States utilizing a pure water supply is also critical to proper brewing but the water supply generally comes form one of three sources: Municipal water, spring and well water and bottled water.
Municipal water is the predominant form of water supply and is controlled by standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. It is important to note that EPA Regulations do not eliminate the presence of harmful minerals from water but merely set upper limits on the presence of contaminants. In addition, chlorine is often added to municipal water to kill bacteria but this chlorine has a distinctly undesirable taste.
Spring and well water are a major source of water in rural areas but it is unregulated and subject to serious contamination from organic, chemical and human sources. Individual wells and springs must be tested to determine the source and level of contamination.
Bottled water is the best for brewing flavorful tea but care should be taken to determine the source of the bottled water. Bottled water from springs is subject to contamination while mineral water often contains the minerals that are most detrimental to good tasting tea. Of the various sources for bottled water only purified water is best for the brewing of good tasting tea.
Purified water means that all minerals and contaminants are filtered and removed from the water using a purification process but that is only the first step. For tea brewing purposes purified water must also be infused with oxygen to guarantee the best flavor. Only those companies that use a multi-step process of filtration, purification and oxygenation should be considered as a reliable source for the brewing of good tasting fine tea. For more information on purified water visit http://www.ElementH2O.com
Jon Stout is the Chairman of the Board for Element H2O, a bottler in Chantilly, Virginia offering only Ultra Pure bottled water products and private label opportunities for small and large businesses in all 50 states and Canada.
Element H2O's clients include a wide array of businesses in the health and fitness and hospitality industries, including martial arts studios, fitness centers, gyms, private trainers, physical therapy clinics, sports medicine clinics, large and small hotels, day spas, restaurant chains, catering companies, and many others.
Visit the Element H2O website at
http://ElementH2O.com
You can reach Jon Stout at 1-866-4-PURITY, or by email at jon.stout@ElementH2O.com

Green Tea Diet For Weight Loss

I will keep only the Chinese people's green tea experience for later on in my article. That's why I will skip the past and go to present days. Green Tea has a long history, but I am sure everyone is aware of it, and is already bored to death reading about it.
What is Green Tea Diet?
You may take green tea as a drink, pill or weight loss patch. A Green Tea Diet is the regular intake of green tea.
Health benefits of Green Tea Diet
Although green tea has been used for more than 4000 years in China for treating a wide variety of ailments, I will list some recent medical and scientific researches into the health benefits of green tea diet in short:
+ anti aging effect
+ refreshing effect
+ lowers high cholesterol levels
+ lowers blood sugar level
+ promotes dental health
Clinical tests have shown that Green Tea:
+ prevents cancer by inhibiting the growth of new cancer cells and killing existing ones + lowers high blood pressure and prevents hypertension + lowers risk of atherosclerosis + protects the heart and prevents cardiovascular disease + thins blood and prevents thrombosis, which is one of the causes of heart attacks and stroke
Green Tea Diet also helps you:
+ protect against Alzheimer's disease + prevent rheumatoid arthritis + improve insulin sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetes + improve immune system defenses to fight against viruses (such as flu) + promotes dental health
What makes green tea diet so special?
Green tea extract is one of the best antioxidants. It's all about the great antioxidant effect of the green tea extract.
Those free radicals are result from metabolism and have bad oxidative effect that can seriously damage your body cells. The antioxidant effect of green tea extract is due to the green tea flavonoid polyphenols (also called bioflavonoids) that protect your body sells from the damaging free radicals.
The super antioxidant - Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG)
The polyphenols EGCG antioxidant is the most powerful compound of green tea extract. It is 100 times more potent antioxidant than Vitamin C and E.
EGCG also may prevent thrombosis, which is one of the causes of heart attacks and stroke. Clinical tests have shown that EGCG inhibits the growth of new cancer cells and kills some existing ones without damaging the normal cells.
Green Tea weight loss
To get rid of fat you either need to lower you food intake (follow a diet plan), or increase your energy expenditure (do exercising).
That makes Green Tea Diet a very smart choice for all people who hate strict dieting, or are tired of starving, or everyday exercising. The green tea weight loss effect is due to the EGCG antioxidant that increases energy expenditure and accelerates fat burning.
Green tea weight loss diet is a great way for everyone to lose weight easily and naturally, without any negative side effects.