"Single Estate Tea"

Tea is a beverage commonly prepared by pouring hot water over processed leaves of the tea plant ( sometimes boiling with milk also).  After water, Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. It has a cooling and astringent flavour that many people enjoy. "Single Estate" refers to any tea that comes from only one Tea Estate or garden or specific Tea plantation as opposed to being a blend from various estates. Single Estate Tea is unblended. These teas tend to have unique characteristics particular to that estate for that season. Single estate tea can be identified by the name of the estate. The flavor, quality and character of tea depends on the region, the altitude, the type of soil and climate in which it is grown. Because of variables in weather, single estate teas can never be exactly the same each time. The region in which a tea is grown can influence its flavor in profound ways. Even if the production process is similar, geographical factors such as climate and soil can change how the final tea tastes. Single origin tea allows to experience the diversity of flavors and aromas of tea produced in different regions.

Tea ( Chai ) Flavorings

People like to combine two or more flavors sometimes.  Some of the most commonly used flavorings are:

Ginger:  A winter favorite, all you need is a tiny slice of ginger, either pounded or grated. Mix with tea while brewing.

Cardamom:  One pod for 1-2 cups (depending on how strong you want it), pounded.

Fennel Seeds (Saunf): One fourth of a teaspoon per cup of tea makes for a superbly aromatic blend, ideal for warm days. It helps in  digestion.

Tulsi: Also known as Holy Basil, tulsi adds a wonderful flavor.

Mint: A nice substitute for tulsi leaves. Its gives a minty flavor.

Cinnamon:  a half inch stick per cup is adequate to give a nice flavor.

Fennel Lemongrass: A popular Thai ingredient that adds fresh citrus flavor.

Spice Blend: The most popular blend contains five elements in equal quantities – fennel seeds (saunf), cardamom, peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon. This masala is so strong that you only need a pinch of it per cup of tea.

Green Tea - An healthy drink

What is Green Tea?

Green tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. It is prepared in the same way like other types of tea are prepared barring a few processes.  It has recently become more widespread where black tea is traditionally consumed. Many varieties of green tea have been created in countries where they are grown. These varieties can differ substantially due to variable growing conditions, horticulture,production processing, and harvesting time.

Over the last few decades green tea has been subjected to many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long-purported health benefits, with some evidence suggesting that regular green tea drinkers may have a lower risk of developing heart disease and certain types of cancer.Although green tea does not raise the metabolic rate enough to produce immediate weight loss, a green tea extract containing poly-phenols and caffeine has been shown to induce thermogenesis and stimulate fat oxidation, boosting the metabolic rate 4% without increasing the heart rate.

According to a survey released by the United States Department of Agriculture in 2007,the mean content of flavonoids in a cup of green tea is higher than that in the same volume of other food and drink items that are traditionally considered of health contributing nature, including fresh fruits, vegetable juices or wine. Flavonoids are a group of phytochemicals in most plant products that are responsible for such health effects as anti-oxidative and anticarcinogenic functions.However, based on the same USDA survey, the content of flavanoids may vary dramatically amongst different tea products.