http://souviatea.com/blog Everything you need to know about Tea Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:55:55 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en   Just like wine connoisseurs, tea aficionados appreciate the difference in aroma and taste of teas, which is dependent on factors  like harvest time, growing region, soil texture and climate. Single origin teas can therefore have subtle changes in their character from year to year or region to region.  Many tea drinkers also enjoy ... http://souviatea.com/blog/2010/07/23/the-art-of-cupping-tea-2/   Latin Name:  Hibiscus sabdariffa Parts Used:  Flowers Contra Indications: none known Hibiscus is a beautiful red flower native to Egypt and North Africa. There are over 200 varieties of this plant, most of them are of the "garden" variety and the only species used for tea is the Hibiscus sabdariffa. Hibiscus has long been ... http://souviatea.com/blog/2010/07/19/herb-of-the-week-hibiscus/   Unable to view this newsletter?         Teas and Trees   Caffeine   News       Featured Products   2 Liter Iced Tea Maker makes brewing iced tea a snap     Sencha Pina Colada a summer favorite as temps rise!       Cordless SmartKettle heats water fast to just the right tea temperature     Urban Beans in Phoenix now offer Souvia Teas brewed in the shop    Got a college bound student - Set up them up with the "Dorm Pack"     Latest ... http://souviatea.com/blog/2010/07/16/trees-caffeine-and-iced-tea/       It seems there is no real consensus among experts on the answer to this question. While some consider it harmful, recent studies praise its potential health benefits. Fact is that caffeine is a bitter substance, naturally occurring in some plants as their protective measure against insects and microbes – a natural ... http://souviatea.com/blog/2010/07/13/caffeine-friend-or-foe/   Latin Name:Melissa officinalis Parts used: Leaves and Flowers Side Effects and Contraindications: None known Lemon balm, a member of the mint family,  is an aromatic perennial sub shrub, native to the eastern Mediterranean region and western Asia. It is widely cultivated throughout much of Europe.  The flowers and leaves of this plant contain volatile oils, tannins ... http://souviatea.com/blog/2010/07/06/herb-of-the-week-lemon-balm/ Not only is tea a delicious drink, it can be incorporated into cooking in many different ways. Try it as a tenderizer, a rub or a marinade. Next time you boil your rice, try cooking it in jasmine tea rather than just in water and see how wonderfully aromatic your rice will ... http://souviatea.com/blog/2010/07/02/cooking-with-tea-sencha-soup/ We are celebrating  Independence Day for a whole week - from June 28th 0 July 4th! Independece Week is a statewide celebration of local and independent businesses and was established by the non-profit organization Local First, eight years ago. Local businesses are the back bone of our economy and therfore we members of Local ... http://souviatea.com/blog/2010/06/25/independence-week-at-souvia/ Latin Name: Astragalus membranaceus Parts used: root Properties: mild adaptogen, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiperspirant, heart and immune tonic Contra-indications: Astragalus is generally regarded as safe  and regular use is unlikely to cause any adverse effect. (always check with your physician if you are pregnant, nursing or on any medication.) Astragalus is native to China and plays ... http://souviatea.com/blog/2010/06/17/herb-of-the-week-astragalus/ World Tea Expo   We are back from the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas.  This event is attended by thousands of buyers and scores of vendors.  There are classes, workshops, tastings, and demonstrations over the 3 days of the main event.  It is our 5th year attending this show and it ... http://souviatea.com/blog/2010/06/17/vegas-flushes-and-dads/ We've created a cool gift from our Manly tea list.  Perfect for Father's Day or anytime you need a classy, personal gift for Dad. Elegant Wooden gift box includes 6 tins filled with 6 teas from the Manly List -   1.     Lapsong Souchong – This black tea has a smoky campfire-like flavor from ... http://souviatea.com/blog/2010/06/11/new-product-the-manly-tea-sampler/