Holidays are filled with many wonderful ceremonies and rituals, some unique to an individual or a family, others unique to a particular culture.

What would Thanksgiving be without the turkey, Christmas without a tree, or Hanukkah without a menorah?

Just like these traditions are kept alive and passed on from generation to generation, tea has a long history as well; and in many countries
it makes up an important part of the culture. Asian tea ceremonies, for example, emphasize the use of all five senses conveying the message that the experience of taking tea is meant to be a journey rather than a destination.

In China,
where tea was first discovered about 5000 years ago, it became so popular that traditions surrounding the preparation developed and special teapots and cups were created to drink tea. The most well known ceremony is the “Gong Fu” ceremony. Gong Fu means skill derived through practice and experience. Using special tea pots and tiny cups, this ceremony focuses on the quality of the tea itself and only the best is offered to an honored guest.

Japan

The Japanese tea ceremony, or chanoyu, is an aesthetic ritual featuring the serving and drinking of matcha, a powdered tea. This very
detailed ceremony was developed under the influence of Zen Buddhism and has its focus on the appreciation of simplicity, beauty and harmony – to which tea is merely the vehicle.

England

The most well-known tea tradition in the West, however, is the British afternoon tea. It has its origin in the 19^th century when the Duchess of Bedford found the time between lunch and dinner much too long and so began to invite friends over for an “extra meal” in the late
afternoon. This meal consisted of small sandwiches which were accompanied by a cup of tea, whereby the social aspect played a much larger role than the tea itself.

While the preparation and serving of tea may vary by culture, the essence, or meaning behind each ceremony is the same. Chado, the way of tea, is about appreciating the simple things in life, about taking time to focus on the presence and about spending time with friends.

We hope you take time during this busy holiday season and create your own tea ceremony – enjoy a cup of Souvia tea alone in reflection,
or in the company of friends and  loved ones.

We wish you, our wonderful customers, a joyous and relaxing holiday season!

Kerstin, Bret

The Souvia Team: Rachel, Megan, Alex, Kristi, Jamie and Zoe

On a recent show, Dr. Oz talks about the great health benefits of tea and describes the specific health properties of Black, Oolong and Green tea.

Click on the link below and watch the segment:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/teas-fight-disease-0

It is the season …..to be extra busy! There is cooking, baking, holiday parties and of course Christmas shopping.

If you feel a little tense and run down, draw yourself a bath and add this nerve soothing herb mixture to the water for some well deserved relaxation.

Combine equal parts of Peppermint, Spearmint, Chamomile and Rose Petals and fill a cloth bag with the mixture. Tie the bag closed and put it under the faucet when filling the bathtub. Squeeze water through the bag and use as a body sponge and aromatherapy inhalation.

Of course you can always enhance the relaxation effect by sipping a cup of your favorite tea!

Cloves

Cloves not only taste good in holiday baking, they also have the highest anti-oxidant rankings of any spice.

Cinnamon

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that one teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower blood sugar levels, possibly helping to control or prevent diabetes.

Sage

As an antiviral and antibacterial it helps keep those nasty germs and viruses at bay. A tea made with sage and a little honey is soothing to any sore throat. A study published in the journal Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior states that sage can also help boost your memory.

Thyme

More often used as a culinary herb, thyme is also a wonderful healing herb. The anti-oxidants and anti-viral properties in thyme can alleviate respiratory ailments such as bronchitis. Try making a tea or use it as an inhalant to rid yourself of sinus problems.

Peppermint

Peppermint is probably the most well known herb and often used to soothe an upset stomach. It is also relaxing for muscles and can there fore alleviate cramps, muscle tension and headaches.

Many of my customers have asked me about how to make elderberry syrup, so I thought it might be time to post this easy to make recipe on the blog once again.

Take 1/2 cup of dried elderberries and place them in 3 cups of cold water.

Bring everything to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.

Smash the berries and strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer and add 1 cup of honey.

Bottle the syrup and keep in the refrigerator.  Use within 2-3 months

Elderberry syrup is the most popular cold and flu remedy in Europe. Not only does it fight viral infections very effectively, it actually tastes good!

Try it yourself!

Tetsubin are cast iron teapots made in Japan and often used in a Japanese tea ceremony. A typical tetsubin teapot is small
and has a geometric, organic or animal pattern decoration on the side where its spout faces your right. Famous for their resistance to rust (specially coated inside), tetsubin ware require minimum of care. Thanks to their perfect design,
they won’t spill a single drop when pouring green tea at a Tea Ceremony (Chanoyu) or at your table. As with many Japanese products, high value was placed on achieving simplicity of design, clearly influenced by Zen Buddhism.
Elements most sought in design were gracefulness, calmness, rusticity and austere simplicity. Tetsubin pots and trivets made centuries ago are still around in various collections, proving that they can stay almost indefinitely

Tetsubin date back to the 17^th century and were originally used to brew tea or simply boil water over a hearth. During the 19^th century, when infused tea became more popular, tetsubin were considered primarily status symbols rather than functional kitchen items. Today they are used to brew and serve tea, however tetsubin are not normally placed on the stove. Instead, water is boiled elsewhere and then poured into the teapot to prepare the tea.

Visit us at the store to see the many shapes and patterns of these very beautiful yet very practical tea pots!

Everybody knows how busy the Christmas season is and there never seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done in time.  There are cookies to be baked, trees to be decorated and of course, presents to be bought (or made).

To help make taking care of your “Christmas List” a little easier, SOUVIA is open on Sundays during the month of December!

DECEMBER 4TH

DECEMBER 11TH

DECEMBER 18TH

From noon until 5PM,, you can take care of all your tea gifts or just come in and enjoy some time with friends over  cup of our holiday flavors.

We look forward to seeing you and wish you a very happy and sane holiday season!

Kerstin, Bret and the Souvia team