Introducing White Tea

White tea has only about 200 years of history and is the youngest among major tea types such as Green, Oolong and Black tea. Even though tea has been enjoyed for about 5000 years since its serendipitous discovery by Chinese Emperor and "Divine Healer" Shen-Nung in 2737 B.C, White tea did not come to existence until at much later time.
For her kindness and courage, people honored her with the name of Mother Taimu and named the mountain Taimu Mountain. While taking refuge up in a cave in the mountain, Lan Gu found a special tea tree to help cure them. According to a legend, White tea tree varietal was discovered by a girl named Lan Gu from Fuding county of Fujian Province in China where the beautiful Taimu Mountain is located.
This legend parallels the same divine healing spirit of tea discovery by Shen-Nung, only more than 2000 years later.
According to the history, White tea was first produced in Fuding in 1796 and later spread to two other counties (Zhenhe and Jianyang) in Fujian.
There are three different cultivars of White tea tree - Big White, Narcissus White and Vegetable White with the Big White as the finest and most popular. There are also three different types of White tea based on different ways of plucking - Silver Needle (only one bud is plucked), White Peony (one bud together with one leave down) and Longevity Eyebrow (one bud with two to three leaves down). Silver Needle is also known as its original Chinese name "Bai Hao Yin zhen" and is the most precious and exotic.
Due to the minimal processing, White tea preserves most natural compounds and potentially has the most health benefits. White tea is also called a lightly fermented tea positioning itself between the unfermented Green and semi-fermented Oolong tea. White tea brews to a pale yellow color and has a slightly sweet flavor.

During the process, there is light oxidation occurring. The leaves are withered and then dried. The process only consists of two steps. White tea is the least processed among all types of teas.
In 2002, a research paper by Oregon State University scholar Roderick H. Dashwood published in Foods and Food Ingredients Journal of Japan "White Tea - A New Cancer Inhibitor" provides insight into the anticancer and anti-mutagenic properties of White Tea.
They also found that the anti-viral and anti-bacterial effect of white tea might be greater than that of green tea. In 2004, at the 104th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Researchers at Pace University presented their finding that White Tea Extract (WTE) may have prophylactic applications in retarding growth of bacteria that cause Staphylococcus infections, Streptococcus infections, pneumonia and dental caries.
In addition, several companies started marketing White tea flavored "Ready to Drink" (RTD) bottled beverages. Recently, White tea has found itself used in anti-aging skin care and beauty products.
If you find the price for White tea is generally higher than that of Green and Oolong teas, you now know why. If you find the price for White tea is most exotic and rare due to the rare White tea tree varietals and short harvest time (high grade Silver Needle is only made from the youngest bugs plucked during only a couple of days of spring). White tea is most exotic and rare due to the rare White tea tree varietals and short harvest time (high grade Silver Needle is only made from the youngest bugs plucked during only a couple of days of spring).
White tea could be the tea of the future with its legendary spirit, exotic nature and wide applications of health benefits.
Jay is a tea lover and the owner of
Taimu Tea
- a premium Chinese tea store that focuses on tea knowledge, news and education in addition to providing quality fresh teas from Taimu Mountain and its surrounding areas in Fujian province of China.
http://www.taimutea.com
tea@taimutea.com

Chinese Wedding Custom 3- Wedding Tea Ceremony

Wedding Tea Ceremony 敬茶
The tea ceremony is one of the most significant event in the modern chinese wedding ceremony, second only to fetching the bride. The bride and groom are formally introduced to each other's family through this ceremony.
Order of service
If some members are not available, supplementary sessions can be conducted at the wedding dinner or at other convenient times and locations. It will usually take place on the wedding day when most of the family members are present.
The order of service is usually
- parents, - grandparents, - grand-uncles and grand-aunties, - uncles and aunties, - elder brothers and sisters, - elder cousins.
Within each generation, dad's relatives are served before mum's relatives. Within each generation, dad's relatives are served before parents. Within each generation, dad's relatives are served before parents. For some family, grandparents are served before parents.
To kneel or not to kneel

In very traditional family, the young couple is required to serve tea whilst kneeling down. Most modern family only requires them to bow while serving tea.
Do you use a special tea set?
Popular designs include those with double joy, dragon and phoenix, or poeny flowers and gold trimmings. It usually comprises of four tea cups and a tea pot without any milk jar and sugar pot. A new tea set is included in the bride's dowry.
Otherwise, a new tea set can be used. On the bride's side, the parent's tea set from their own wedding will be used if it is still available. On the bride's side, the parent's tea set from their own wedding will be used for the groom's side tea ceremony.

On the bride's side, the parent's tea set from their own wedding will be used for the groom's side tea ceremony. On the bride's side, the parent's tea set from their own wedding will be used for the groom's side tea ceremony. This new tea set will be used for the groom's side tea ceremony.
What's in the tea?
The sweetness symbolises harmony and sweetness in the couple's union. Red dates 红枣 (hongzao), longan 龙眼 (longyan), and lotus seeds 莲子 (lianzi), represents the family's wish for the couple to have sons soon after the wedding 早生贵子(zaoshengguizi). Sweet tea boiled with dried longan, lotus seeds and red dates are used for the Tea ceremony.
Red packets money gifts or jewellery?
This is referred to as "adding to her dowry" 添嫁妆. Usually the relatives of the bride will present her with jewellery rather than red packets. The tea ceremony gifts such as red packets or jewellery are presented on the serving plate after drinking the tea.
When will you have the tea ceremony for the bride's side?
Sometimes the distance between the bride and groom's home is too far apart for the bride's side tea ceremony may be conducted when the groom arrives to fetch the bride. Sometimes the distance between the bride and groom's home is too far apart for the bride's home visit. The tea ceremony for the bride's home visit.
Jina Boo is the editor of
http://www.chinese-wedding-guide.com
The website features: , a website dedicated to preserving chinese wedding customs and culture.
- significance of chinese wedding custom and traditions, - the items and persons needed to perform them, and - suggested timeframe for preparation of chinese wedding.
A guide for drafting your own chinese wedding invitation is also included.

Birthday Tea Party - Your Daughter Will Love This One

A
birthday tea party
is an elegant and fun way to celebrate your child's birthday party.
Your daughter
and all her invited guests will have a wonderful time with this kid birthday party theme.
And you can put together lots of
fun activities and games
that will keep everyone busy and having lots of fun.
You can also use your tea party theme to teach your child and all her friends
proper manners and etiquette
.
Tea Party Invitation
Set the stage for your child's tea party by making your invitation elegant but fun. And you'll have your invited guests excited if you tell them you'll be doing makeovers and playing dress up.
You might word your invitation like this:
birthday." "(First and last name of the birthday girl) invites you to join her for a birthday tea party celebrating her (number of birthday) th.
"For your tea time with (birthday child's first name) please wear a party dress for high tea. You can also wear your dress up hat and gloves."
To make your invitation really special and exciting you might include a pair of white gloves with the invitation.
If your birthday tea party is for younger children, you might ask them to bring a favorite doll or stuffed animal with them.
And don't forget to give them all the important information too.
"Our special tea party will take place on (month and date) at (start time for your party), ending promptly at (end time)."
Giving an end time for your party will keep you from having party guests stuck at your house waiting for a parent to pick them up.
"Our party location will be (street address and other important location information)."
You can also mention that you will be doing make overs and playing dress up.
What fun! You can deliver your invitation by postal mail or you can have a gentleman in a butler suite or tuxedo hand deliver the invitations.
Anything to make your invitation elegant and fun. If you send your invitation by postal mail, consider using a special envelope and stationary.
Birthday Tea Party Decoration
Think elegant, pink and fun with balloons, streamers, ribbon, confetti and glitter.
Mix pink, white, gold, silver, royal blue and red.
Use balloons
to create a pink and white ceiling. You can also use red ribbon tied to the balloons as streamers so your guests can get hold of the balloons and play with them. Have some balloons on the floor as well.
A tea party pinata is also a great idea.
And don't forget to use some balloons and streamers outside to decorate your mail box or doorway.
Set An Elegant Table
You might want to roll up each fork and spoon setting with an elegant napkin and tie it with a nice ribbon. You'll also need forks and spoons. Set your table using a table cloth, plates, cups and napkins.
Decorate your table cloth with glitter.
Use a colorful tea pot
as a fun centerpiece. Attach a small helium filled balloon bouquet to the tea pot.
A ring, a fun bracelet or even a tiara for each guest. To make your table setting really exciting, you can put a few party favors by each place setting.
Birthday Tea Party Games
Get things started as soon as the first guest arrives, this will keep everyone from just "standing around" while they wait for all your guests.
Give everyone some indoor
bubbles
to blow.
Have your guests make a tiara
Give each girl a coloring page from the tea party in the Disney movie "Alice in Wonderland."
You might even have the tea party scene from "Alice in Wonderland" playing on a DVD in your living room or family room.
Make Over
Pick up a small mirror and comb set for each guest. You can also pick up an assortment of lipstick and nail polish.
Let the girls help each other with a make over.
Just for fun
you can also pick up a few colorful costume boas, hair clips, costume jewelry and even high heel shoes.
This is a great way to save some money and give a little back to your community at the same time. You can always pick up a few dress up items at a local thrift store.
Pass The Ring
Have all your guests stand in a circle.
Now place a small ring on a long piece of string and tie the ends of the string together.
Now have your guests hold the string while your birthday girl puts her hand over the ring.
To start the game, have one player stand in the middle of the circle as all the other guests pretend to be sliding the ring along the string and secretly passing the ring to each other.
The player in the middle tries to guess who really has the ring.
That person switches places with the player in the middle. When the player guesses who has the ring.
Birthday Tea Party Food
If your group is very young you may want to stick with cake and ice cream. Think elegant, think fun!
Small finger sandwiches
Sliced veggies
A crackers and cheese plate
Pizza cut into small squares
Grapes
Melon balls or slices
Strawberries dipped in chocolate
Elegant Mint candies
Jello Jigglers
You can easily add a very elegant touch to the serving of food and treats by asking an older male to put on a a tuxedo or a suit and tie and serve the food.
This can be a lot of fun especially if the male actually pretends to be the butler by asking the birthday girl what she would like and serving it to her and her guests.
Birthday Tea Party
You can easily put together an elegant cake for your daughters tea party.
One things for sure, your birthday child is going to have an absolutely wonderful time at their
fun birthday tea party
.
To learn more visit Mike Dougherty has lots of experience putting together successful birthday parties for his children and grandchildren.
http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com/birthday-tea-party.html

Into the Serenity of Arya Tea Estate

It has always been an exciting moment for me when a particular tea garden visit is on the calendar. From the hustle and bustle of a busy township and far far away from the madding crowd, I have always found the tea gardens spread its wings, engulfing me with a delight of happiness, energy, clean air and above all absolute silence which is pierced only by the chirping birds. It's a tremendous feeling. Today, I am posting about my visit to one of such tea gardens -
Arya Tea Estate
.
Upon enquiry, I was told that it was Last year as I was having a private meeting with a business partner (at his house), both of us were served tea manufactured at Arya Tea Estate.
"Arya Ruby"
I liked the tea very much and instantly made up my mind to procure this tea when the time was right. - A special tea made from AB-2 clone bushes (AB-2 is a particular type of clonal bush; there are other varieties of clonal bushes as well; AB-2 is one of the best) and purely bio-organic.
Our driver gave up the idea of driving downhill and we didn't want to take the risk. It was a downhill drive and so steep that a four-wheel drive could also fail while returning back if the driver was not experienced to traverse such steepness. Ruby is no doubt a very good tea, but the road to Arya is really bad.

My friend Chandan and I jumped on to the seats and drove towards Arya. Now it was time I put on my boots and walk towards fulfillment of my resolution to procure ‘Arya Ruby'.
Guess what will happen to this road during the monsoons when most of the roads become slippery. We lowered our pace fearing that we would tumble down. Both of us started hiking down the hill and as we were walking, we could feel the tremendous gravitational force acting upon us. Guess what happened next?
Yes, only the women folk are allowed for tea plucking during the peak first flush season because it is believed that "tender hands do tender plucking". The only thing we could hear is the birds sing and yes of course tea pluckers gossiping while they were busy engaged in picking the tea leaves with their tender hands. It was a tremendous feeling to walk in-between the tea bushes; touch them, smell them and even rest on them . We could see Darjeeling town hanging in the sky, and seemed as if it was resting on beautiful patches of white clouds.

After a while, the hustle and bustle of a busy township was left behind and a complete silence blanketed the entire environment.
We too had to shout. Some shouting from below and above the hill occurred in order to communicate - he was quite at a distance and normal conversation volume could be unheard. It was a fellow tea garden worker who had noticed us taking a rest after a perspiring walk. Do you like the garden?", a shout came from above the hill.

"Sir, where are you from? We could also see that some parts of the garden were getting new tea bushes and laborers could be seen working.
a breathtaking view which only an eye which perceived it can describe it better. Oh! On the left we could see Orange Valley Tea Estate and further on to the next hill, Risheehat could be seen resting in serenity. Surprisingly other tea estates were visible from Arya.
A marvellous white tea with almost transparent liquor perfumed with veggie notes, but very expensive. Apart from Ruby, we tasted other teas like Arya White Tea. He welcomed us and we were offered some tea - it was just the tea I wanted and my dream to procure Ruby was fulfilled.

Roy, Manager, Arya Tea Estate, was expecting us. S. After an hour, we reached the factory where Mr.
Guess we are lucky to get it during the peak First Flush tea season. He further added that Ruby is produced on a very limited basis and was hard to fulfill the demand. This means that Arya Ruby is not available in abundance and is only with selected people like us . He informed us that none of the Arya products go to the auctions and all of their products are sold in private.

After tasting and payment paper work was done, we went around the factory and sat for a while chatting with the manager.
They have their own experienced drivers, but all of them need to do the four-wheel drive. The manager promised to deliver the goods at our place the following day. As you know that we had gone hiking, it was not possible to get the teas on our back and hike back.
We left the factory and went to Gaudan uncle's house. Mr. Gaudan Gurung is a close family friend of Chandan who lives in the tea garden area. He is not a tea labourer, but a renowned personality in the Arya area who has been burdened with the welfare of the tea laborers. We were offered lunch prepared with vegetables grown in their own neighbourhood - 100% organic. Ah! it was a real delight.
We were lucky for we didn't have to hike back uphill, Gaudan uncle was going to town on his vehicle. We hopped on to it and started on the uphill task which made my heart shriek. Guess, Mr. Gaudan's son who was driving, was an experienced driver and reached us in "One Piece".
Author:
You can check his Darjeeling Tea company's site at He has a tea company based in Darjeeling, which deals with exotic Darjeeling Teas. His love for tea has ignited a fire in him to write out his thoughts on tea and share it with the world. Benoy Thapa is a Tea Lover from Darjeeling, India.
http://www.thunderbolttea.com
. His personal tea blog can also be seen at
http://www.darjeelingcuppa.com

Green Tea A Healthy Alternative To Soda

One of the most refreshing ways to cool off on a hot summer day is drinking a tall glass of iced tea and what better than making it green tea? However sodas do not really quench your thirst and there are some other healthier more refreshing alternatives. In the hot days of summer it is easy to reach for a soda to help you cool off.
Japan is especially famous for this. In fact so important is this drink in these countries that there is special tea drinking rituals associated with this beverage. People From the Orient have long known the benefits of drinking green tea.
Green tea has also been found to have vitamin C and fluoride. It is higher in antitoxins than the traditional black tea drunk in the West. Recent research is revealing that this tea is particularly beneficial for your health.

Now Australia is trying to cultivate it so that green tea can be available in other months and supply the increasing need for this beverage. The best green tea is grown in Japan and is harvested in the spring months. Green tea: Is made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis tree.
Green tea has more of these properties than the traditional black teas because of the way it is processed It goes through little or no processing (fermenting or oxidizing) this brings out the antioxidants and vitamins but will reduce the stimulant quality (caffeine) of this tea.
Fast cooling will not allow the full taste to come out; so slow cooling at room temperature is best. You can just pour the hot water on it and let it cool slowly. When making iced tea it is good to steep the tea for about 20-30 minutes.

These are easily available in many grocery stores and most health food stores. The best way to make green tea hot or cold is to make it with loose leaves.
You can also make some good tea pops. Just fill an ice cube tray with green tea (cooled) and put toothpicks in each square and enjoy when fully frozen. You can also make regular cubes of green tea to add to beverages.
You can also add ginger as a real thirst quencher for those hot days. Citrus peels are especially refreshing with iced green tea. Anise and chicory are also added for a change in taste.

If you want to spice up your tea you can add citrus peel as it steeps.
However you chose to drink your green tea it is a nice refreshing change from soda and good for your health. It will not only quench your thirst but rejuvenate you too. As our world grows smaller we are becoming more aware of different types of foods and beverages. As more research is being done on this increasingly popular drink we will see even more benefits to our health. It is recommended to drink at least 3 cups or more per day to enjoy the health giving properties of green tea.