Wouldn’t it be wonderful if losing weight was as easy as sitting down to a relaxing cup of tea? Well, that dream could be creeping its way into reality if you’re sipping on Wu Yi green tea.



With all the products on the market claiming to help you lose weight, it’s hard to sift out the scams. Wu Yi green tea does have an actual science behind the extraordinary claims. The tea has a high natural concentration of polymerized polyphenols. In simpler terms, these compounds activate enzymes that bread down fat and increase your metabolism.

Many users claim that they lost 20-30 pounds within just a few months by drinking the recommended two cups of Wu Yi green tea on a daily basis. However, it takes a little more effort than that. Wu Yi tea is not a scam because of the clinically proven efficient compounds, but it is not a miracle. Dieters are yet to be freed from the chains of dieting and exercise.

Don’t get discouraged too easily though. Wu Yi green tea has plenty of other benefits that the other weight loss products cannot offer due to their processed nature. A common complaint among dieters is the feeling of fatigue. A cup of tea contains a little less caffeine than the typical cup of coffee. It also contains antioxidants that support a healthy immune system. Wu Yi green tea is not your average green tea. It is widely known that incorporating green tea into your diet is a step towards a healthy body, but Wu Yi takes it even a step further than that.

Read full post at Herbal Tea Boutique

Ginseng tea has been used for centuries as a natural tonic and remedy for a variety of ailments. The ginseng plant is botanically called Panax, which means, “all heal” in Greek. In addition, just as its name depicts, this tea is highly effective at improving health. The tea comes from the fleshy root of the plant. It contains natural components called Ginsenosides, which is where the healing abilities are said to come from.

There is a variety of different types of ginseng tea, all from various forms of the plan found around the globe. In India, the tea is called Ashwagandha. Asian teas are some of the most popular forms, though there are also Brazilian, American, and Siberian forms as well. Each is slightly different and tea aficionados say they can taste the various flavor differences based on the region the plant was grown in.

Healing Benefits

However, what are the healing benefits of this form of tea? It has long been used to treat just about any type of ailment, but there are some areas that are seen as more promising. Science has yet to prove these health benefits as of yet, but Ginseng has been used for 5000 years to help cure some of these conditions.

Ginseng is seen as an ideal way to lose weight. It helps to increase metabolism in the body. It also improves digestion. It is able to restore and maintain the immune system and is said to help fight ailments such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, cancer, stomach ulcers and diarrhea. It is also able to improve blood circulation and reduce both physical and mental stress. Some even say that it is can be used as an aphrodisiac.

With all of these marvelous wonders, there is no doubt that ginseng tea has become an important tool in various herbal remedies. The good news is that it is also quite tasty and affordable to purchase. Virtually all aspects of the plant can be used to aid in improving health, though the tea seems to be more beneficial when it is made from the root of the plant.

Source: Bestorganictealeaves.net

Next time you’re making a cuppa, new research shows it might be wise to opt for a white tea if you want to reduce your risk of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or even just age-associated wrinkles. Researchers from Kingston University teamed up with Neal’s Yard Remedies to test the health properties of 21 plant and herb extracts. They discovered all of the plants tested had some potential benefits, but were intrigued to find white tea considerably outperformed all of them.
Professor Declan Naughton, from the School of Life Sciences at Kingston University in South West London, said the research showed white tea had anti-ageing potential and high levels of anti-oxidants which could prevent cancer and heart disease. “We’ve carried out tests to identify plant extracts that protected the structural proteins of the skin, specifically elastin and collagen,” he explained. “Elastin supports the body’s natural elasticity which helps lungs, arteries, ligaments and skin to function. It also helps body tissue to repair when you suffer wounds and stops skin from sagging.” Collagen is a protein found in connective tissues in the body and is important for skin, strength and elasticity, he added.

Results showed white tea prevented the activities of the enzymes which breakdown elastin and collagen which can lead to wrinkles that accompany ageing. These enzymes, along with oxidants, are associated with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Professor Naughton said: “These enzymes and oxidants are key components of normal body processes. However, in inflammatory conditions, suppressing the activities of these excess components has been the subject of decades of research. We were surprised to find such high activity for the white tea extracts in all five tests that were conducted.”

The researchers were blown away by exactly how well the white tea had performed. “We were testing very small amounts far less than you would find in a drink,” Professor Naughton, one of the country’s leading specialists on inflammation, said. “The early indicators are that white tea reduces the risk of inflammation which is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers as well as wrinkles.”
Eight of the other plants and herbs analysed also helped protect against the breakdown of both elastin and collagen. After white tea, bladderwrack performed well followed by extracts of cleavers, rose, green tea, angelica, anise and pomegranate.

Dr Pauline Hili, Technical Director for Neal’s Yard Remedies, said: “We are really excited by this research as it helps us to remain innovative and at the cutting edge of natural skin care. Celebrating the plants used in the Neal’s Yard Remedies products and understanding their specific actions on the skin is what it is all about. The Kingston University research program helps us to create safe, highly effective and cutting-edge products so it’s an ideal partnership for us.”

Article Source. TheMedicalNews.net

Did you know that you can improve your health just by adding green tea to your diet? This tasty little eastern beverage is packed full of great health promoting benefits, and here we'll be talking about just those!
Natural health has recently grown in popularity in the western hemispheres, and with it has come many foods that have been commonly used in eastern cultures for a very long time. Green tea is a natural drink, made from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis bushes, which has been fermented for an unusually short amount of time. This short fermentation process causes the tea to retain most all of its polyphenols which would have otherwise been removed, and which are believed to be the cause of many of green tea’s health benefits. Its use has been dated back in some areas as long as 5000 years ago, and eastern cultures still regularly use it because of its application to health. It has many different health benefiting properties, but here are the three most prominent.

Western society has recently become extremely focused on youth and retarding the aging process. People want to look, think, and feel younger, and movie stars pay millions for products that promise smoother, younger skin. Antioxidants have been revealed to be a powerful agent in keeping people youthful, as they can reduce the aging effects of free radicals on our bodies. Green tea is an excellent source of these antioxidants, and the antioxidants in green tea have proven to be very potent.

One reason for green tea’s recent popularity in the west is its benefits for the cardiovascular system. Heart disease and cardiovascular related illnesses are at all-time highs in the United States, and are currently on the rise. It can be very difficult to avoid the factors that cause cardiovascular stress, but green tea is one substance that can actually help. Although it is high in caffeine, which is not generally good for the cardiovascular system, its rich antioxidants have the power to lower a person’s cholesterol and help prevent future heart problems. It has also been shown to help prevent diseases that affect the arteries.

Green tea’s recent increase in popularity, although attributed to many of its properties, is most likely the primary result of its effect on weight loss. It’s no secret that out of control weight has become a serious problem in western culture, and as a result there are thousands of different dieting plans, exercise routines, and even pills that are designed to take off the weight. Although green tea will not cause you to shed pounds directly, one special property of it will greatly help any attempt you make to do so – its ability to speed up your metabolism. This drink actually has the ability to increase your body’s metabolic rate by helping your body process calories at a more efficient rate.

While green tea is a completely natural drink and does have many positive health benefits, it is not recommended for everyone. Because it is so unique, and happens to contain somewhat high levels of caffeine as a result of its short fermentation, people who have heart problems are not advised to take it. Despite its positive impact on cardiovascular health, its amounts of caffeine are simply too much for a weak or damaged heart and can cause problems. Also, if you are a pregnant woman or are breast-feeding, stay away from green tea until your child has been weaned.

If you’re new to tea drinking, it may be difficult to understand how one tea differs from another in terms of quality. The beginning of a good tea starts with a good tea garden that is tended by a skilled tea artisan. Proper care of the garden along with careful tea plucking and harvesting creates the best tea.

Flavored white teas are becoming increasingly popular. White tea is fairly new to the Western world, but is becoming more popular each year. White tea is the mildest of all teas, so it is a natural choice as a base for flavored tea, since the additional flavorings really shine in white tea. One of the most popular flavored white teas is white licorice tea. White licorice tea is a flavorful blend of licorice and the best white tea.

White licorice tea is also extremely healthy. Because of the way that it’s processed, white tea has more anti-oxidants than black tea, making it effective at preventing many serious diseases like cancer and heart disease. These healthy benefits are another reason that flavored and unflavored white teas are becoming so popular.

If you’re new to tea drinking, it may be difficult to understand how one tea differs from another in terms of quality. The beginning of a good tea starts with a good tea garden that is tended by a skilled tea artisan. Proper care of the garden along with careful tea plucking and harvesting creates the best tea. For white licorice tea, it’s also important that the best quality star anise be used to flavor the tea and that the tea artisan is skilled in infusing the tea with the licorice appropriately.

White tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, just like other teas. However, harvesting and processing white tea is quite different than harvesting and processing other teas. White tea is harvested much earlier than other teas, before the leaves are fully open and while the buds are covered with fine white hair, which is why it’s called white tea. In addition, white tea leaves are not fermented like black tea. This lack of fermentation ensures that the tea is sweet and mild and contains all of its natural anti-oxidants.

The best white tea gardens pluck the tea by hand, selecting only the completely unopened and undamaged buds, and, in some cases, the top two leaves of the plant. The harvester ensures that the buds and leaves are not damaged during plucking. The best white tea buds are harvested only in March and April and only when the weather is just right. There must be no rain on the day of harvest. There should have been no frost on the previous night, and the morning’s dew must be dry. It’s critical that the tea garden pay careful attention to these environmental factors when harvesting the tea.

Next, the white tea leaves are dried and steamed. The best tea gardeners know exactly how long to steam the leaves to ensure the best flavor.

Finally, for white licorice tea, the tea must be mixed with star anise to give the licorice flavor. The best tea gardens use only whole pieces of star anise in the tea, and they know exactly the right combination of tea leaves and star anise to get the perfect flavor.

Once the tea is processed, it must be stored and packed for selling. This is the end of the process for this year’s white licorice tea harvest, but it’s not the end of maintaining a good tea garden.

Throughout the year, the tea gardener has work to do to ensure his tea garden is maintained properly so that he can produce fine tea each and every year.

During the summer, the tea garden must be constantly weeded. In addition, if the tea garden produces black and green tea as well as white (as most of them do) there will be tea to harvest throughout the summer. Most black and green tea plants are harvested three or four times each growing season.

Tea plants do their most vigorous growing during the autumn. So, it is during this time of year that the tea gardener will fertilize the tea plants and plant any new plants for the year. By October, the tea plants will need to be pruned in preparation for winter.

During the winter, the tea gardener will pay close attention to any tea plants in his garden that are less than four years old. Depending upon the severity of the winter, they may need protection from the cold during the winter months.

In late February or early March, the tea plants must be pruned in preparation for the spring. Then, the entire tea harvesting cycle begins all over again.

As you can see, tea gardens require constant work and attention. Only the tea gardeners who work diligently to harvest and process the tea appropriately and who maintain their gardens throughout the year will be able to produce the very best tea.

Tea gardening requires a great deal of skill, patience and attention to detail. Most tea gardeners learned the skill from their parents, and may be tending a tea garden that has been in their family for generations.

A lot goes into making that delicious cup of white licorice tea. As you sip, savoring the flavor and aroma that makes white licorice tea so special and distinct, remember that labor and love that went into producing this cup of pleasure.

Article written by Jon Stout, Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, black tea and wholesale tea go to www.goldenmoontea.com 

How do you prepare your tea? Are you a "bag dunker", or do you steep gourmet loose tea in your infuser?

Only one of these methods will give you tea the way it was meant to be enjoyed!

Which is it?

At the conclusion of this article, tea bags may be a thing of the past for most folks! But don't throw them away, they make good odor absorbers in the refrigerator, in fact, that is all they will seem good for after experiencing tea the way it was meant to be consumed.

Five Interesting Things To Know About Gourmet Tea

1) As hinted above, gourmet loose tea will provide much better aroma and flavor over ordinary tea bags. The simple reason why is that loose leaf tea contains more essential oils since there is more surface area. The result is a fresh cup with a very appealing aroma which tastes very inspiring. Each sip will reward the senses.

Ever remember that great glass of wine or awesome cup of gourmet coffee you had at a cafe? Was there a difference from the usual? The same may go for your new tea experience...

Tea bag tea contains fannings, also called "tea dust", and while this may be great for tea leaf reading, will never yield a cup that rivals its larger loose leaf brothers. A big reason why is because tea bag leaves are crushed which depletes most of the oils. Another is that most tea bags can be over a year old, which means more of a stale flavor. All tea is best enjoyed within 6 months.


2) Gourmet tea also contains more antioxidants and polyphenols which are responsible for teas amazing health benefits. Some benefits include, lowered blood pressure, lowered cholesterol, a stronger immune system, and even weight loss! Since loose tea is fresh and contains more oils, naturally they will give us more of the goodies health conscious folks are looking for in each cup.



Tea bags will offer little of these benefits, and although you may receive some, they are not in the numbers as with loose leaf.


3) Gourmet loose leaf yields way more varieties compared to what a selection may be at a supermarket! There are four main types of tea, white, green, oolong, and black. But each type branches out into thousands of varieties.

Seasoned tea drinkers are always looking for a new cup to discover, and this is one of the most simple pleasures gourmet tea is known for.





  
4) Another thing gourmet loose tea excels at is it makes a great gift idea! For a loved one, you're always on the hunt to impress them with something, well, different. Depending on a person's likes, loose leaf tea is a good choice and one way to bring out a "WOW!" when they open the present.

Purchasing little tea tins with an infuser, cup set, tea pot, and fitted in a small box or gift basket is the perfect way to make a person feel surprised.

It may very well make them form a healthy new habit as well!


5) Are you thinking that gourmet grade tea is expensive? The truth is, loose leaf will cost a little more, but in the long run, you are getting what you pay for. In the long run, you're saving money. Look at it this way, a normal cup of tea-bag brewed at a restaurant will cost around a dollar.

Loose leaf when purchased in the popular 2 or 4 ounce tins can be an average of 10 to 25 cents per cup. That is not too bad for something that you will enjoy is it? In addition, 2 ounces of tea will make many servings too!

Now while these are five top reasons to enjoy gourmet tea, I'm sure you'll find others. It is a good way to impress company, and is a perfect companion for a social gathering. In time, you may find yourself shaking you head every time you see someone dunking a tea bag and smile that it was the way you once enjoyed what you thought was "tea".

Article written by David Carloni. Source: FoodEditorials.com

Many tea drinkers are unfamiliar with Imperial Formosa oolong teas. Oolong teas, in general, are not as well known in the Western world as other teas, but they are certainly worth investigating.

Oolong teas are those that are fermented for a shorter period of time than black teas. This shorter fermentation period creates a tea that is a bit blacker than green tea, but a bit greener than black tea. This "middle ground" that is oolong tea produces an extremely fragrant cup of tea, with slightly more complex flavors than other teas.

Oolong teas originated, like most other teas, in China many years ago. Formosa oolongs, however are different than these traditional Chinese oolong teas. Formosa oolong teas are produced in Taiwan. They are referred to as Formosa oolong teas because Formosa was the original name for Taiwan.

Oolong teas are different from other teas in the special attention that they require for proper processing. Oolong leaves are plucked by hand, and then allowed to wither and dry. Chinese oolong teas typically wither in sheds while Formosa oolong teas are withered and dried in the sun. Then the tea leaves must be bruised slightly to begin the oxidation process. During this process, the leaves are often shaken or tumbled on a regular basis. Once the leaves are appropriately fermented, they are fired to end the oxidation process. All of these steps must be attended to by a skilled tea artisan to ensure that the oolong tea is properly prepared.

Because of the care required to make a good oolong tea, they are typically made by hand in small tea gardens. High yield, mechanized tea production doesn’t produce fine quality oolong teas.

Oolong teas have a different flavor than white, black or green teas because of their shorter fermentation period. Oolong teas are typically milder than black teas with less of a grassy taste than green teas. They are typically fragrant with distinct floral notes and have a fruity flavor, often slightly peachy.

Formosa oolongs are some of the most fragrant and fruity of all oolong teas. The peach notes are typically very noticeable in both the aroma and flavor, but it is often blended with woody and nutty notes. Many people describe Imperial Formosa oolong teas as having a chestnut flavor. Many people consider oolong teas to have the most sophisticated and complex flavor of any variety of tea.

Formosa oolong teas are graded differently than Chinese oolong teas. The government of Taiwan imposed a standard grading system for its teas that makes if easy to ensure that you’re receiving a high quality tea. The best grade of Formosa tea is called "Finest to Choice" and the second highest grade is called "Finest". In fact, Formosa oolong teas are some of the easiest to judge, as the grades really speak to the quality of the tea. By choosing loose Formosa teas of one of the highest grades, you’ll ensure that you’re getting the best quality for the money.

Formosa oolong tea, like other oolong teas is different, too, in the way that it’s brewed. Tradition calls for you to "awaken" the oolong tea leaves before brewing them. To do this, prepare your water by boiling it and letting it cool to about 180°F. Pour a bit of the hot water over the tea leaves, rinsing them and then quickly pouring off the water. This brings the flavor and aroma of the tea to life. Then pour more water over the leaves to actually brew the tea.

Formosa Imperial oolong tea should be brewed only about one minute. Over brewing this mild tea can cause it to be bitter. Brewing Imperial Formosa oolong tea with spring water that is high in mineral content will yield the best tasting tea. The mineral content in the water brings out the flavor of the tea. Formosa oolong tea leaves can be used to produce several infusions of tea. Each infusion will taste just a bit different. You’ll notice that different flavors are prominent with different infusions. Though each infusion is different, each will be delicious if you’ve selected a good quality tea.

Formosa Imperial oolong tea is a very healthy drink. Like all teas, oolong tea has a very high anti-oxidant content. The partial fermentation that oolong tea undergoes ensures that it is very high in the anti-oxidant polyphenol. Polyphenol is a very powerful anti-oxidant that has been shown, in particular to have strong powers to prevent heart disease and cancer. In addition, all oolong teas have been found to be an effective weight loss supplement. Oolong tea helps speed the metabolism and oxidize fat, both of which enhance weight loss.

So, Imperial Formosa oolong tea is good and good for you. You’ll find this sophisticated blend of nut, flower and fruit flavors to be especially pleasing to the palate. Combine this with the fact that it has the power to prevent disease and help you live a longer and healthier life and you must agree that Imperial Formosa oolong tea is one smart choice in beverages.

Article written by Jon Stout, Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, black tea and wholesale tea go to www.goldenmoontea.com