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+.

For all the jasmine lovers, you are in for a treat. Art of Tea now carries Jasmine Rings exclusively until our supply runs out. This premium green tea from Fujian, China is similar in quality and flavor to Jasmine Pearls. As the jasmine flowers naturally impart a lasting aroma and flavor, the effect is more intense in the Jasmine Rings. Supreme quality green tea leaves alone (unlike Jasmine Pearls, which contain the leaf and bud) are handpicked and carefully hand rolled into rings.

As I cupped the tea, I noticed the dry, silvery and pearly green leaves that formed into unique, varying ringlets. I watched the leaves unfurl slightly as I poured the hot water over them. The steeped leaves were just as beautiful dry because the ringlets were still intact but looser. The leaves were a brownish green and engulfed by the jasmine’s fresh and organic floral scent. I took one sip, and I was immediately overwhelmed with the floral notes of the jasmine. This tea is so delicate and pure that a mere two minutes is just the right amount of time to infuse.

I also re-steeped the rings twice more. With each steep, it was entertaining to see how the ringlets uncurled further and still released a consistently robust jasmine perfume. The re-steeped leaves had a more mild and balanced jasmine flavor that wasn’t quite as overpowering as my first steep. I found the tea to taste better each time.

-MELISSA CHUA

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

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+.

Happy 2013! New Year’s resolutions have been made. As many embark on the journey to weight loss for the new year, it’s fitting to explore the increasingly popular, paleo (Paleolithic) diet. The paleo diet has been around since humankind, but there has been a rise in this particular diet because of CrossFit, a trending fitness regimen that involves constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity within a community environment. As a CrossFitter, I immediately saw that paleo is the diet for CrossFit enthusiasts. It was first introduced to the CrossFit community by Robb Wolf, former CrossFit nutrition adviser and author of The Paleo Solution. News of this low carb, high protein diet quickly spread throughout the CrossFit community and eventually replaced the initial CrossFit Zone diet because it produced results to be lean, energized and strong.

What is Paleo?

Known as the caveman or hunter-gatherer diet, this nutritional plan entails consuming unprocessed foods with high protein, lean meats from grass fed animals and complimented with moderate fruit and vegetable intake for healthier carbohydrate sources. The diet restricts: processed foods, dairy, grains, legumes and sweets. When in doubt, ask, “What would a caveman eat?”

Paleo and Tea

Water is the recommended beverage of choice, but is tea accepted in the paleo diet? Paleo purists would probably shake their heads no, but nowadays, modern Paleoists make exceptions to fit these modern times. Bacon is a processed meat, but many paleo dieters can’t resist it. Along the same lines, tea is a subjective topic for paleoists. Purists forbid it because of its caffeine content; while some say caffeine free blends or tisanes are fine.

Nonetheless, paleo palates can enjoy tea-like substitutes from Art of Tea’s rooibos blends. Although rooibos is part of the legume family, a dietary restriction, paleoists still drink it for its many health benefits. This caffeine-free red bush from South Africa is notably rich in antioxidants and helps fuel the body with iron. French Lemon Ginger, Italian Blood Orange and Rooibos alone are great tisanes to start with.

Other paleoists argue that organic teas or least processed teas are accepted. Given that reasoning, white teas are the least processed tea type (simply picked and dried) and so are often referred to as the most organic. Paleoists who don’t mind the caffeine can drink organic white teas such as Silver Needle, White Picked Monkey and White Peony.

Paleo-coffee fanatics also known as caffeine lovers can still get their caffeine in healthier doses through green tea. It’s widely accepted because of its natural health benefits. In keeping with the Stone Age premise of the diet, we recommend Art of Tea’s minimally caffeinated Kukicha Twig Tea and Green Kukicha. These earthy greens  are made of the twigs and leaves from the tea plant Camellia Sinensis.

For more information about the paleo diet, check out Wolf’s website at  http://robbwolf.com/. Another plan that follows a stringent nutritional structure similar to paleo is Whole 9. Learn more at http://whole9life.com/start/.

-MELISSA CHUA

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

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

Warming the hearts of many, Earl Grey has become a timeless tea enjoyed most frequently in the West. Earl Grey is said to be named after English Prime Minister Charles Grey, who was also the second Earl of Britain in the 1830s. Historical tales say Lord Charles Grey rescued a drowning boy in China. The boy’s father who was a tea blender showed his appreciation by giving the prime minister the famed black tea recipe, later known as Earl Grey. There are a number of varied accounts, but it is questionable in all the stories whether Grey ever visited China. If he did, bergamot oranges were not harvested in China at that time, nor was it common for the Chinese to drink black tea.

How did the pear-shaped citrus appear in the tea? Some sources say that during the Jewish diaspora, bergamot was used as the etrog, a citrus fruit used in rituals during the Jewish festival of Sukkot. The bergamot was obtained from Corfu, Greece, which became the British naval base in the Mediterranean. Britain’s tea loving, naval officers were then stationed in the world’s primary market for bergamot. There is a notion that a British commander possibly introduced the tea to Grey. Whether the stories are fact or fiction, Grey is remembered for his namesake tea. In fact, the English still refer to Earl Grey tea as “old stinky” as a nod to Grey’s foul odor and the tea’s distinct scent.

So what makes Earl Grey tea an Earl Grey? It’s the bergamot oil. A classic Earl Grey is black tea flavored with the oil from the rind of the bergamot orange, which is native to Italy. Nonetheless, we at Art of Tea find that Earl Grey is a versatile tea that can be blended with different tea types or even recreated in a caffeine free form creating fifty shades or blends of Earl Grey or at least a handful of Earl Grey varieties. The tea blending possibilities are limitless!

Art of Tea’s organic and fair trade certified Earl Grey showcases everything one expects in a classic Earl Grey with the Art of Tea touch—a hand-picked black tea from Sri Lanka flavored with oil of bergamot to produce that distinct fragrant, citrus zest revealed in flavor and aroma.

Earl Grey is distinguished as a strong black tea, so the astringency is often toned down with sweeteners like milk, honey and sugar. Kiss those sweeteners away when you try Art of Tea’s Earl Grey Crème. This bestseller and AOT office favorite has the great flavors of a traditional Earl Grey but perfected with a touch of vanilla. It is just heavenly—creamy, light and bold at the same time with citrus notes harmoniously dancing in your mouth.

Interested in a unique spin on Earl Grey? Try Green Earl Grey, a green tea with bergamot oil. Dr. Oz listed Art of Tea’s very own Green Earl Grey as one of his top favorite green teas in Oprah’s O Magazine. The organic green tea leaves are hand rolled and blended with Italian bergamot. It steeps a beautiful amber hue.

In a place where blending is second nature, Art of Tea created the beautifully aromatic Earl Grey Lavender. This tea marries organic and biodynamic black tea from Sri Lanka with lavender and bergamot oil. There is a delicate balance of sweet and floral with a mild citrus richness that will soothe the nasal cavities and gently warm the throat.

Defying all Earl Grey boundaries, Art of Tea caters to the tisane lovers with a caffeine free version. We use organic and fair trade South African rooibos in place of tea and pair it with the Earl Grey signature ingredient, bergamot oil to create Herbal Earl Grey. Enjoy similar profile flavors without the caffeine!

Whether you prefer to stick to the traditional Earl Grey, an award-winner at the World Tea Expo, or explore other shades of Earl Grey, you will be delighted with the aroma and distinct flavor profiles the bergamot fruit provides when complimented with different tea types and herbs.

-MELISSA CHUA

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

Nestled along riverbeds and amidst luscious forests, lies a region called Yame, where we source our Ceremonial Matcha. This city in Fukuoka is known as one of the leading tea producers in Japan. In this scenic oasis, premium green tea called Gyokuro is shade grown for 20 days. Harvested during the spring, these fresh and young leaves are picked and steamed. The veins and stems are meticulously removed from the leaves to produce tencha. The leaves alone or tencha is stone ground by granite into a fine, vibrantly jade green powder. Since Zen Buddhist Eisai introduced matcha to Japan in 1191, matcha has become a significant part of Buddhist tradition. Today, ceremonial matcha is used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies called chadō or “the way of tea”. We can partake in our own chadō tea ceremony or drink this tasty matcha daily.

How to Prepare a Sublime Cup of Ceremonial Matcha:

You Will Need:

-Art of Tea’s Ceremonial Matcha

-Matcha bowl

-Matcha whisk

-Freshly drawn water

-Bamboo spoon or teaspoon

-Teapot or water heater

-Cleaning cloth or chakin

-Sifter or strainer (recommended)

Art of Tea’s Complete Matcha Set includes everything you need to prepare ceremonial matcha!

Instructions:

First, pour hot water into the bowl to preheat and awaken the cells, aromas and flavors currently in the bowl. Pour out the water and dry the bowl with a clean cloth or chakin. Then, heat your freshly drawn water to about 140 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit. Since this is a delicate tea, water temperature is important and will affect the tea’s flavor. Use your bamboo spoon to measure about one quarter of a teaspoon and pour into the bowl. It is recommended that you sift the powdered tea with a strainer to remove any clumps. Carefully, pour the water into the bowl. Use your whisk in a brisk W motion starting at the bottom of the bowl and slowly make your way upward in the same W motion. Whisk until the matcha provides a frothy consistency. Enjoy this creamy and sweet cup of Yame Ceremonial Matcha! It’s delicious!

-MELISSA CHUA