In the month of May, we are dedicating 8 minutes of each work day to tap out of technology and tap into a tea experience. This “8 Minute Digital Detox With Tea” campaign will challenge you daily to unplug yourself from all your devices- computers, phones, and other social gadgets to focus on the ritual of preparing tea.

Why Tea?

Since tea has been used universally for over 5000 years as a natural remedy for the mind and body, tea is the perfect vessel to reconnect with yourself. Tea is typically known to calm the mind, ignite focus and awareness, and sooth the body. Disconnect from technology to reconnect with yourself. Find a quiet space where you are not tempted to respond to an email or text. You can even set aside a box to hold your cell phone, iPad, and all other electronic devices. Join us in tapping out of technology to tap into tea!

Why 8 Minutes?

We usually get a 10 minute break during a work day, so we invite you to use 8 of those minutes to hone in on the art of tea, so to speak. Most teas take 3 to 5 minutes to steep. Tisanes or caffeine free blends can steep longer at 5 to 7 minutes, so it is manageable to prepare tea within an 8 minute cap. Also, the number 8 is a lucky number in China, which is where we source many of our teas.

Day One- My Tea Ritual

I chose to steep an oolong tea called Bao Zhong Pouchong to kick off this digitox cleanse. First, I prepared my Smart Tea Maker by adding two heaping teaspoons of tea. Then, I poured hot water over the leaves. I quickly gathered my teapot and perfect tea timer, and headed outside. I set my pot down and watched the leaves infuse into the water for the remaining 2 minutes. I could see the leaves slowly dancing in the water, which is known as the agony of the leaves. Oolongs are especially eye catching to witness steep because like Bao Zhong Pouchong, the leaves are more tightly rolled and twisted. When the leaves are submerged in hot water, they dance as they unfurl during steeping. After multiple steeps, the leaves fully unravel, so you can see the full size of the leaves expanded in the pot.

While I took a few sips, I purposely engaged my senses to focus on my surroundings. It was a beautiful and sunny California day with a slight, cool breeze. I could smell the garden of white roses blooming beside me. I could even hear birds nearby chirping in the midst of cars driving pass. The warm cup of tea was comforting and perpetuated a serene ambiance.

This was my first time tasting Bao Zhong Pouchong. I could tell by the green color of the dry leaves that this oolong was less oxidized than others. It tasted similar to a green tea. It had sweet yet buttery notes that created a well-balanced flavor on my palate. The steeped leaves created a champagne hue and smelled mildly floral.

When I returned to my desk, I felt less stressed and rejuvenated to finish the rest of my work day. My tea experience provided a little escape from constant emails and text messages this digital age allows at the touch of a button. It was delightful to step away from all my technology and intentionally indulge in a moment to enjoy tea.

Now it’s your turn. Join us in our “8 Minute Digital Detox With Tea”. Learn more tips and facts, and share your digitox thoughts and pictures on our Facebook page. Click on tab: #8MINDIGITOX. We would love to hear about your digital detox experiences. Remember, take your pictures and post on social media networks after the 8 minutes. Drink tea, and be well!

-MELISSA CHUA

Melissa is the Business Development Manager at Art of Tea. Contact her directly with any feedback, ideas or questions via Google+.

Spring is here, which means Mother’s Day is right around the corner. We have the perfect home crafted gift idea that involves finding your inner green thumb. Rick Houck, our quality control expert helped us create a beautiful terrarium from a glass teapot. Terrariums are petite sized greenhouses growing in a glass container such as a mason jar, light bulb or glass ornament. Since we are a tea company and in keeping with our sustainable efforts, we repurposed an old glass teapot that was missing its infuser as our home for our terrarium. This easy activity is a great gift for mom but also can be enjoyed by all nature lovers. It makes for a nice centerpiece for parties or everyday décor to bring the beauty of a garden indoors.

You Will Need:

· Glass teapot with lid

· Shredded cedar

· Drainage rocks or marble pebbles

· Potting, sterilized soil

· Miniature plants such as succulents, tillandsia (air plants), preserved moss (not live)

· Water

· Sand

· Stickers (optional)

Instructions:

You can find all materials at a gardening store like Lowe’s or Home Depot. First, make sure your teapot is clean and dry. Line the bottom of the pot with drainage rocks. We used shiny blue and white decorative marble pebbles. Then, add a layer of shredded cedar. If you don’t have sterilized soil, bake the potting soil in the oven for about half an hour at 140-170°F. Mix the soil with a few tablespoons of sand to assist with drainage and create texture. Add water to moisten and slightly dampen the mixed soil and sand. Add the new mixture on top of the cedar. Finally, arrange your tiny plants with their roots into the soil. You can cut down succulents to fit into the pot as we did. Be creative and arrange to your preference. We added another layer of cedar and topped it with the marble pebbles for a water effect. We also added stickers to the outside of the teapot as a final touch. Have fun and show us how your terrarium turns out on our Facebook page!

*Tips: Keep under partial sunlight. Water once a week with a spray bottle. If the glass gets cloudy, remove the lid.

-MELISSA CHUA

Melissa is the Business Development Manager at Art of Tea. Contact her directly with any feedback, ideas or questions via Google+.

With all the unnecessary chemicals contaminating our food these days, why not use tea as an all-natural alternative to color your eggs this Easter? Here are some basic preparation tips and a few options to get your eggs colored to the desired hue:

You will need:
6-12 hard boiled eggs
1 Tbsp vinegar for each dye color
1 cup of strongly steeped tea (2 Tbsp or 2 sachets)

• Matcha Tea & Eisai’s Choice Sencha = Light Green
• Rosehips & Hibiscus = Gunmetal Grey
• Chamomile & Tumeric = Yellow
• Pu-erh Tea = Brown
• Rose Petals & Maqui Berries = Blue
• Italian Blood Orange Rooibos = Orange

Instructions:
Steep 2 heaping tablespoons of your tea or botanical of choice in 8oz
boiling water for 8-10 min or until a deep rich color brews. Strain brewed concoction into a vessel for dying the eggs. Stir in 1 Tbsp vinegar, add eggs to the mixture and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until eggs have reached their desired hues. Remove eggs carefully with tongs or a large spoon and set aside to dry.
We hope you have fun with this! We sure did!

With spring almost here and warmer days upon us, it’s the perfect time to host an afternoon tea party. Spring is the season for tea parties! Follow these tips to help plan your own afternoon tea party.

*Decide on a budget and theme. Do you want a formal or informal party? Spring themes often focus on spring holidays like St. Patrick’s Day or Easter. Other common themes are: “Alice In Wonderland” or “big hats for a garden party.”

*Finalize a date, time and location. Afternoon tea parties are typically around 2 to 5 p.m. Will the party take place indoors or outdoors, in a garden?

*Make a guest list and send out invitations accordingly. Evites (evites.com) are an easy, eco-friendly and free way to invite 10 or more people. Facebook (facebook.com) invites are also a great way to get the word out. If you’re having a more intimate gathering, it might be nice to get crafty with a handmade invitation or a phone call would suffice.

*Create the food and tea menus. Make sure to buy or make a variety of sweet and savory treats to complement the teas. Food infused with tea is an excellent way to showcase the tea. Try some of our favorites made by Katie Kirby, our social media maven. Click on these links to past posts for recipes: Matcha Cupcakes, Tea Truffles and Earl Grey Chocolate Cake.

Tea party menus typically include a mix of pastries and sandwiches. Think bite-sized appetizers or finger food. You can find many recipes on Pinterest.com with or without an account.

Select teas that will pair well with your food options. Here are Art of Tea recommendations:

Black Teas: Earl Grey, Earl Grey Crème, Tali’s Masala Chai, English Breakfast, Starry Night

White Teas: White Coconut Crème, Silver Needle, White Acai, Amore

Green Teas: Jasmine Pearls, Green Pomegranate, Happy Tea, Sencha

Oolong Teas: Mandarin Silk, Iron Goddess of Mercy, Plum Oolong

Pu-erh Teas: Naked Pu-erh, Pu-erh Tuo Cha, Coconut Cacao Pu-erh

Herbal/Tisanes: French Lemon Ginger, Egyptian Chamomile

If you want to serve one tea at a time, we recommend tasting light to dark for a smooth transition for your palate. Take your guests on a tea journey starting with white; then green, followed by oolong and ending with black or pu-erh tea if adventurous. If you are new to pu-erh teas, refer to this two-part article on re-steeping pu-erh: Part 1 and Part 2. You should also have herbal blends available to accommodate guests who do not want caffeine.

Lastly, since tea is the star of the party, you may want to share more fusions or unique teas like blooming teas such as Halo or Beach Flower. If you want to go a step further, you can make tea cocktails or tea-tinis! Check out these recipes from past posts: Happy Hour with AOT’s Blooming Teas and Hibiscus Cooler cocktails.

Learn about recommended steeping times. We recommend 1 tsp per every 8 oz.

*Make sure you have the proper teaware and accessories-teapots, teacups, kettle and water heater. Get some teaware tips from the last post on: How To Choose The Right Teapot. If you don’t have enough mugs, you can ask your guests to bring their favorite teacup, which will also add to the party décor.

Hope these tips were helpful! Enjoy sharing cups of tea with great company. Cheers!

-MELISSA CHUA

Melissa is the Business Development Manager at Art of Tea. Contact her directly with any feedback, ideas or questions via Google+.

Everyone indulges in sweets during the holidays. It’s tradition. Whatever your guilty pleasure may be, Art of Tea has healthy alternatives to satisfy your sweet tooth. Butterscotch, Chocolate Monkey and Vanilla Berry Truffle are just a few Dessert Teas we offer. Drink them as is or concoct fun and festive beverages that will certainly fare well with your banquet. Forget about counting the calories with these healthy dessert options. Here are three tea recipes using Art of Tea’s dessert inspired favorites: Apple Pie, Blueberry Cheesecake and Lemon Meringue.

Apple Pie Spiced Cider

Art of Tea’s Apple Pie fuses together all the ingredients necessary for an apple cider. This caffeine free tisane is a rooibos blend of honeybush, cinnamon, apple bits, coconut, ginger, pink peppercorn, black peppercorn and nutmeg.

You Will Need:

· 1 heaping tsp Art of Tea’s Apple Pie

· 1 Mug

· Cinnamon Sticks

· 2 tsp Cloves

Instructions:

For 5 to 7 minutes, steep the Apple Pie blend in your mug. Add the cloves and mix well. Add one or two fresh cinnamon sticks to garnish.

Blueberry Cheesecake Gin and Tonic

Art of Tea’s tisane, Blueberry Cheesecake marries all the quintessential flavors to create a blueberry cheesecake without all the carbs. This rooibos blend contains honeybush and blueberries decorated with cornflower and marigolds.

You Will Need:

· 1 oz. Art of Tea’s Blueberry Cheesecake, steeped

· 3 oz. Gin

· 3 oz. Tonic water

· Blueberries

· Ice

· 8 oz. Glass or double-walled glass teacup

Instructions:

First, add ice cubes into your glass. Add the rest of the ingredients, stir and enjoy!

Lemon Meringue Drop

Art of Tea’s Lemon Meringue, a caffeine free tisane, is a green rooibos blended with orange peel, rose petals and cornflowers. This is our tea-tini take on the popular vodka infused, Lemon Drop martini.

You Will Need:

· 2 oz. Art of Tea’s Lemon Meringue, steeped

· 1 oz. Vodka

· Shaker

· Ice

· Martini glass

· Sugar on a plate to rim the glass (optional)

· Lemon/lime wedge (optional)

Instructions:

First, rim the glass with sugar by wetting the rim with a fresh lime or lemon wedge. Then, gently dab the glass face down into the plate of sugar, rotating it until the entire rim is lined with sugar. Next, pour the vodka and steeped Lemon Meringue into a shaker over ice and shake until completely cold. Carefully pour contents into the martini glass.

Check out our full selection of Dessert Teas and create your own healthy elixers! Happy holidays!

-MELISSA CHUA

The holidays are coming! Art of Tea’s gift giving guide will help you take care of everyone on your list. Shop our convenient and consumer-friendly online store without the hassle of long lines and crowded shopping malls and from the comfort of your own home. We are excited to offer some new gift ideas this holiday season alongside newly packaged favorites from last year that will certainly make an impression with the tea lovers in your life. Here are Art of Tea’s Top 10 Gift Ideas (arranged by price from low to high):

1. Buy a tin of White Winter Chai, and Art of Tea will donate $1.00 to the American Red Cross in support of the Hurricane Sandy disaster relief efforts. ($10.99)

2. Art of Tea’s new Sampler Packs (below) are now beautifully bundled in an elegant, branded presentation box showcasing a 4-tea variety that is individually packaged in a decorative tin. Choose from a selection of tea type categories. ($19.00)

3. Celebrate the holidays with Art of Tea’s Holiday Gift Set, which includes three signature holiday teas: Cran Marnier, Pumpkin Pie and Santa’s Little Helper. ($32.00)

4. You can always make time for tea when you’re on the go with the Travel Gift Set (below). Enjoy Art of Tea’s new branded travel press paired with two holiday teas. ($35.00)

5. For those who are new to loose leaf tea, we have the Loose Leaf Tea Starter Kit featuring our new sampler packs of your choice accompanied by a glass teapot with infuser. Watch the leaves unravel as they steep! ($38.00)

6. Art of Tea’s Tea of the Month Membership is the best way for any tea novice or connoisseur to explore a new tea each month. Now choose from six programs including new offerings: Iced Teas, Premium Single Origin Teas, Pyramid Teabag Teas and Wellness Teas! ($48.00- $180.00)

7. For the teabag enthusiasts, the Deluxe Teabag Sampler Gift Set is quite a treat. Indulge in the eco pyramid teabag sampler tin that comes with two double walled glass teacups and the perfect teapot made specifically for steeping a teabag! ($50.00)

8. The Glass Tea Gift Set is essential for steeping Art of Tea’s select holiday blends for two. This set includes two holiday teas, a glass teapot and a pair of double walled glass teacups. ($58.00)

9. The His & Her Travel Gift Set is the perfect gift for the couples in your life. Highlighting our Ayurveda blends, Tea For Him and Tea For Her, this includes a tin of each with a branded tumbler ideal for steeping—loose leaf or bagged tea, on the go! ($69.00)

10. Introducing Art of Tea’s new Winter Wonderland Wooden Box Tea Sampler (below), showcasing our holiday inspired favorites: Aztec Spice, Butterscotch, Holiday Berry, Hot Sweet Cinnamon, Santa’s Little Helper and White Winter Chai. Choose from other wooden box samplers in select tea categories. ($48.00)

For more holiday gift ideas, check out Tea Gifts and Tea Gifts Under $50. Happy shopping!

-MELISSA CHUA

We wanted to try a new recipe involving tea and happened to stumble across Chinese Tea Eggs online! What a find! They are simply hard boiled eggs, soaked in a mixture of black tea and spices, which give them an awesome flavor. The shells are partially cracked once the eggs are cooked to give them that beautiful tie-dye like pattern. Tea eggs are a very common street food in China.

There are several variations out there but here’s what we used to flavor our eggs:

2 x Art of Tea Organic Breakfast Teabags

3 x Art of Tea Ammo (or you can use 3 star anise & 1 cinnamon stick)

¼ cup of Soy Sauce

6 x Eggs

- Put the eggs in a pot and fill with water until they are covered

- Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and allow to simmer for 2 minutes

- Carefully remove the eggs from the pot (They will be hot!)

- Using the edge of a fork, tap the egg all around to lightly crack the shell’s surface

- Put the eggs back into the pot of water

- Add the teabags, ammo and soy sauce

- Simmer for 2 hours, adding more water when the level gets low

- Remove the eggs from the pot and carefully remove the cracked shells to reveal a beautiful tea egg!

The eggs can be eaten hot or cold for a snack or you could even chop them up and add them to fried rice, or any meal for that matter! They’re also great snacks on hiking or camping trips

Let’s cap off the matcha series with a green tea smoothie recipe. Culinary matcha or Art of Tea’s Grade A Matcha is most frequently used as an organic base flavoring for smoothies and lattes. Enjoy the nice, long weekend with this healthy iced blended matcha treat! This recipe yields 2 servings.

Matcha Green Tea Smoothie

You Will Need:

-1 tsp Art of Tea’s Grade A Matcha

-1/3 cup Milk or milk alternative (I used coconut milk.)

-1 cup Ice cubes

-1/2 Banana, sliced

-3/4 cup Blueberries

-3 pinches Cinnamon, grounded

-1 tsp Agave or honey

-Blender

-Tibetan Goji Berries (optional)

Instructions:

First, pour the ice into the blender. Then, add the milk followed by the banana slices and blueberries. Carefully sprinkle Art of Tea’s Grade A Matcha and pinches of cinnamon. Squeeze about a teaspoon of agave or honey. Start blending until the contents fully mix together to create a frothy consistency. Empty into serving glasses. Use Art of Tea’s Tibetan Goji Berries as a finishing touch. These organic certified berries act as a natural sweetener and provide cherry and plum-like flavor notes. Cheers!

-MELISSA CHUA

Grade A Matcha or culinary matcha is commonly used to flavor, season and marinate food items and drinks. Follow these three easy steps to make instant green tea flavored ice cream anytime you’re craving it!

Green Tea Ice Cream

You Will Need:

-Art of Tea’s Grade A Matcha

-Vanilla ice cream of your choice (I used Breyer’s lactose free vanilla.)

-Mixing spoons

-Measuring spoon

-Ice cream bowl

-Blueberries (optional)

Instructions:

1. Put a serving size of vanilla ice cream in the bowl.

2. Add about one quarter of a teaspoon of Art of Tea’s organic certified Grade A Matcha. We recommend about one teaspoon per pint size, but go with your taste preference.

3. Mix well with spoons. You can cover with plastic wrap and re-freeze or enjoy as is!

*Tip: Garnish with blueberries or toppings of your choice.

-MELISSA CHUA

Matcha Cupcakes

Here’s a fun, easy recipe using tea. Try to use a high grade matcha, such as Art of Tea’s Grade A Matcha since the quality will greatly affect the end result.

You Will Need:

• 24 cupcake liners
• 2 sticks unsalted butter (left at room temperature to soften)
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tbsp Art of Tea’s Grade A Matcha

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350.

2. Using a mixer or hand blender, beat the butter until soft.

3. Add sugar and beat for a couple of minutes, until light and fluffy.

4. Add eggs and egg yolks one at a time, making sure to combine each one with the mixture fully before adding the next.

5. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Then add this dry mixture to the batter and mix to combine.

6. In a separate bowl, mix the matcha in with the milk using a whisk. Add to the batter and mix to combine.

7. Use a spoon to put the batter into the cupcake liners, filling each one 2/3rds of the way.

8. Bake for about 22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

9. Allow to cool on a rack before frosting.

Matcha Frosting

You Will Need:

• 1 tub of Cream Cheese Frosting (I used Pillsbury Whipped Supreme)
• 1 tsp Art of Tea’s Grade A Matcha
• A few drops of green food coloring, if desired!

Instructions:

1. Scoop the frosting into a bowl.
2. Sieve the matcha into the frosting bowl to prevent lumps
3. Add food coloring and mix until combined!

Recipe adapted from Matcha Source by KATIE KIRBY