The Great Canadian Tea Steep-Off

In 2006 at the Canadian Coffee & Tea Show. Vida Radovanovic and myself decided to launch a Tea industry competition. It was a good success, and will be reworked and retooled for the Toronto show in 2007.

I think that, like the Cdn Barista Championship, a friendly competition amongst tea afficionado's could be a good shot in the arm for the specialty tea business. We need to get the support of the entire Industry if it is going to grow legs and stride ahead.

Do leave me your thoughts.

Brendan

Japanese Tea Gardens

Some new pics from the trans herb website. These Japanese tea gardens are so beautifully manicured. No wonder the teas are so delicious from this small country.

Has any one got a story to tell about a trip to this magical tea kingdom?

Anyone care to guess what they may be producing here?

life is good....drink tea and see.

Brendan

Geisha Green

Chai Baba Teahouse in Kelowna just brought in this exquiste green tea from Japan. It's a blend of 5 top Japanese gems - Genmaicha, Gyokuru, Bancha, Sencha and Kukicha. It's been scented with strawberries and redcurrants. I have to say, this is one of the best scented green teas that I have ever consumed. I'ts soft, smooth and delicate.... just what you would expect from a high end Japanese green tea. The flavors are beautiful.
Tea drinkers here in the Okanagon are lapping it up - if your in the hood, go and get some!!!
Hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday - It's a warm and sunny day in Kelowna right now.

GO on...get out there and play while the sun lasts!
Happy sipping

Brendan

the teaguy.com

the teaguy.com

my website for consulting - the new site will be up in a few short weeks
It will be much more user friendly.

Stunning matcha green tea

SO how potent is Matcha green tea? Well listen to this - a study just completed by Tufts University and the USDA;

The ORAC (oxygen radicle absorption capacity) test, which is a scientifically controlled test, standardizes and quanitfy's the antioxident values in foods. This allows you to make accurate comparasons between different foods. Tufts and the USDA choose a broad selection of fruits and veggies and as well included the "known" superfoods.
1 gram of each was tested.

top antioxidant foods - orac units per 1 gram

fruits
cranberries - 95
wild blueberries - 93
black plums - 74
blackberries - 54
raspberries - 50
strawberries - 36
apples - 43
cherries - 19

vegetables
small red beans - 150
artichokes - 95
black-eyed peas - 44
broccoli - 31
red cabbage - 32
asparagus - 31
beets - 28
spinach - 27

superfoods
wolfberries - 303
gojiberries - 253
dark chocolate - 227
pomegranate - 105
acaiberries - 60
wheatgrass - 49
And then they tested 1 gram of Matcha:
matcha green tea 1384

'Granite ground teas contain the highest concentration of antioxidants compared to all known natural fruits and vegetables known thus far'

This study was done with the Matcha the we carry at Chai Baba, which is the most superior matcha available - or at least that I have found.

I think it is time to drink matcha today!
Brendan

U R intrigued by TEA

I am really happy to be here. My goal is to start an informative and enlightening blog for all things tea. I possess some real, useable knowledge about this wonderful beverage and would really like to share some of this with other people who are also passionate about tea.

Tea has been the focus of my life, professionally and spiritually for the past decade. I am loving every minute of it.

With the growing popularity of all things tea, there are sure to be people out there who are literally thirsting for knowledge about this super-healthful beverage. Throw out a few questions and lets start a discussion - over a pot of tea of course....

please, do leave me a post.