Sencha Pina Colada, one of our popular iced tea blends with a refreshing taste of coconut and pineapple was recently reviewed by the Sororitea Sisters.

Here is what they had to say:

Taster’s Review:

Even though I’m not much of a drinker of alcohol, I’ve quite enjoyed many of the classic cocktail flavored teas – like this one.

The Sencha base tastes refreshingly light and crisp.  This is a very smooth tasting Sencha.  There is not a strong grassy or vegetal taste to this one.  It is not bitter, but there is a little bit of astringency toward the tail end of the sip.  The astringency is dry and clears the palate nicely so that I can enjoy the sweet aftertaste of pineapple and coconut.

Even though the tea base is remarkably light, the flavors are still well-defined.  The pineapple is sweet and tangy and the coconut is creamy.  There is even a hint of rum to this cup.  The flavors are very unified… I not tasting one particular note trying to overwhelm the others.  In each sip, I can taste the pineapple, the coconut and the rum, as well as the bright flavor of the Sencha tea.  The taste is delicate and very refreshing.

I like this one hot, but, I think its even better iced!

Don’t wait – get your cup today and let us know if you concur with Jennifer and Ann – The Soroitea-Sisters!

Saturday I was at the local Farmer’s market to get my produce for the week. It was very obvious which fruits are in season – Melons! From water melon to honey dew to cantaloupe, there is no shortage on these wonderfully refreshing summer fruits.

There are many ways you can prepare and enjoy melons. I recently tried a recipe that caught my eye because it involved tea – “Tea Scented Melon”, it combines the refreshing, light taste of cantaloupe and honeydew melon with the floral notes of jasmine tea - Do I need to say more?

The perfect dessert or snack when temperatures are soaring; easy to preapre and even easier to eat!

Ingredients:  4 tsp (10g) of jasmine green tea

2 cups hot water (175F)

2 tbsp honey

2 pounds mixed melon: cantaloupe and honeydew

1/2 cup mint leaves

Steep the tea in the water for 2-3 minutes. Remove the tea and stir in the honey.

Arrange the melon wedges in a 9-by 13-inch baking dish, and pour half of the tea syrup over top. Sprinkle with mint, and refrigerate, flipping melon half way through for 45 minutes. Serve with the remaining tea syrup.

Last week, Bret and i took a little trip to Boulder, CO. The weather was beautiful and invited us to do much hiking and biking.

Aside from enjoying the mountains, bike trails and of course good restaurants, we also discovered a nice little tea house in the heart of Boulder.  Right off Pearl Street, the center of town, on 13th Street is , KuCha, a traditional Chinese tea room offering a variety of premium loose leaf teas and a nice quiet setting to enjoy these.

Just like Souvia, the KuCha tea house focuses on educating its customers with classes and tea tastings.  During our visit, we had the pleasure to experience a wonderful gong fu style tasting, skillfully presented by Matt, one of the tea consultants at the tea room. Matt prepared a Tung Ting which, even after the 6th steeping, had not lost its rich flavor and floral note.

Matt then showed us some of the special and rare teas KuCha offers and we ended up with a purchase of Meng Ding Yu Lu.  Harvested from the top of Meng Shan in Sichuan Province, this tea  was one of the earliest tribute teas dating back to the Tang Dynasty (9th century).

Since the owner is Chinese, you will find not only exquisite Chinese teas, but also some interesting, traditional tea ware.

If you are a tea lover and visiting Boulder, don’t forget to visit KuCha…..and say Hi to Matt from us!

Drinking green tea on a regular basis seems to have a positive effect on your cholesterol levels.

According to a study conducted at the Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, green tea may contribute to keeping the “good” cholesterol levels stable, while cutting the “bad” cholesterol levels. The findings of this research study showed that while levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol dipped, there was no change in high-density (HDL), or “good” cholesterol.

The research team pooled the results of 14 randomized trials in which participants drank green tea or took an extract for periods ranging from three weeks to three months, or were assigned to a placebo group.

On average, green tea reduced total cholesterol by 7.2 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) compared to levels seen in those taking the placebo. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol fell by a mean of 2.2 mg/dL, or slightly less than
2 percent.

The researchers stated that the cholesterol-lowering effects of green tea may be due to a decreased absorption of cholesterol in the gut for which certain catechins are responsible.  According to Nathan Wong at the Heart Disease Prevention Program at the University of  California, Irvine, this reduction is not substantial and therefore green tea should not be used to control high cholesterol levels in place of well-proven prescription drugs.

Rather than relying on green tea as a remedy to fix what is broken, it is much better used as  a preventative measure and most effective when you make it a part of your healthy diet!

Every year, at the World Tea Expo, we taste hundreds of teas in search of unique, rare and exceptional varieties, from new and upcoming tea gardens to ancient and hidden treasures of the traditional tea growing regions.

This year I was lucky to find several outstanding samples – one of which was a green tea from Korea.

Korean tea has a 1200 history and culture. Major tea growing regions are Hadong, Boseong province and Jeju island. Hadong teas are known for their superior taste, quality and traditional  pan-firing manufacture.

Jarocha is the best premium, handmade Korean tea from Hadong province. It is well known as the king’s green tea. Tea master ChoTae-Yeon produces this tea which has deep layered flavors and an incredibly smooth finish.

I fell in love with this tea at the first “sip”! While it is rich and full, there are no vegetal notes nor any astringency. It is sweet-tasting and lingers pleasantly, leaving you thirsty for another cup.

The leaves are tightly twisted and and can easily be steeped multiple times. I found even the fourth steeping still produced a satisfying cup.

Importing this tea directly from the tea garden in Korea, we will be able to offer you this one-of-a kind green tea soon at SOUVIA!

…are the colors of July! While we are celebrating our nation’s independence with fireworks (wherever they are still permitted), Mother Nature is creating a delicious firework of berries this month, bursting with color, flavor and of course healthful properties.

Number one berry this month is definitely the blueberry – one of the few foods that are naturally blue! A comination of sweet- and tartness, they make an ideal summer snack and can be used in a variety of recipes.

Researchers have found this berry to be a powerhouse of antioxidants (their antioxidant content is higher than that of kale and broccoli) that may protect our hearts and prevent early aging. Just 3 1/2 ounces of this little berries are enough to cover your recommended 5 servings of fruit or vegetables per day.

I found this recipe (serves 4) for a “Blueberry-Green Tea Slushi” in a magazine and think it would make a great addition to any 4th of July picnic.

Bring 2 cups water to a boil, then remove from heat and let cool for 1 minute

Add 3 -4 tbsp loose green tea (Japanese Bancha or Chinese Dragonwell) and steep for 3 minutes

Divide 1 cup blueberries between the compartments of an ice cupe tray

Cover with tea and freeze.

When frozen, puree in blender with remaining tea (1 1/2 cups) 1/2 cup water and 2 tsp agave syrup.

Garnish with blueberries and sprigs of fresh mint!

Cheers to your health!!!