Tea Tuesday

Tea Tuesday: Vahdam Premium Green Tea Chai

April 20, 2016 · Leave a Comment

I am thrilled to say that I have finally found a Chai green tea that is the proper balance of tastes. I have spent years trying to find a tea that has the wonderful spice of Chai, and the health properties of green tea.

The closest I came before was a White Chai Tea, but I could never find a green that I liked until I tried Vadham Premium Green Tea Chai. I like fresh loose leaf green tea, and any chai varieties I tried always ended up a weird blend of a vegetal taste with a vague cinnamon top note. Not a great combination.

Vadham’s Green Chai gets it right, though. The green tea is sweet, not vegetal at all. The Chai spices (cinnamon, cardamom, clove, Black Pepper) blend beautifully to create a delicately spicy brew. I really enjoy that it can be re-brewed a couple of times before it loses potency, so my brewing travel tumbler can just be refilled with hot water through the morning before I have to change out leaves,

What is also wonderful about this tea is that it is truly a full-leaf green tea. Standard green tea bags only contain remaindered dust of green tea, not the true leaf. By brewing the full leaf, you will get so many more of the health benefits of green tea: anti-oxidants, EGCG, etc. This particular tea has even more anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties since it is a chai tea, and the spices in chai teas are anti-inflammatory in nature. So in addition to tasting amazing, it is really good for you as well!

While green tea is much lower in caffeine than coffee or black tea, it still does contain some caffeine if you are sensitive. But that is true of all green tea (there are some decaf versions out there, but those are more processed than the original leaf, so it is a balance.)

The packaging is also wonderful. To maintain freshness, each batch is packaged quickly. There is an expiration date to assure that you are using fresh tea, and the package seals tightly. There are step by step instructions on how to brew the tea, so if you are new to green tea, you will find it easy to brew!

As a side note on the instructions, it is recommended to brew the tea at a temperature of 194-212 degrees. Usually green tea gets brewed at lower than the boiling point. I tried both boiling and at about 192 degrees, and found the lower temperature produced a better taste.

I am truly thrilled to have found an excellent Green Chai after all these years!

Vahdam Premium Green Tea Chai

Tea Tuesday: VidaKai Loose Tea and Fruit Infuser Bottle

April 12, 2016 · Leave a Comment

I have a lot of infuser bottles that I quickly disappoint me. The mesh infuser allows loose leaf tea into the water, the bottle leaks, or it is awkward to drink from. But my Infuser Bottle Prince has come with the VidaKai Loose Tea and Fruit Infuser Bottle.

First off: I haven’t tried it with fruit, but the infuser size is much better suited for tea, I think. It is a generously sized infuser, but I don’t think one could get too much fruit in there, and there are better bottles out there for infusing fruit waters. But it is absolutely perfect for allowing full leaf teas to unfurl and brew.

The infuser doesn’t let a single speck of tea into the brew. I tried it with a green chai tea. Chai teas typically have ingredients in the spices that are prone for getting loose, but the mesh keeps them all in without compromising the taste. It quickly brewed a wonderfully full and robust tea without any metallic taste, as happens with some infusers.

The bottle itself is made of BPA-free Tritan Plastic. It really feels and looks like glass. It is certified to withstand 225 degree heat and it comes with a nice looking sleeve so carrying it is no problem. It also retains heat beautifully: it stays hot through my morning commute.

I really enjoy being able to brew tea in the morning and bring it with me. To make the morning easier, I fill the infuser the night before with tea and then just add water in the morning. Since the cap locks air-tight, the tea doesn’t oxidize at all. Then in the morning I just add hot water and let in brew as I head out the door. Since it has a reasonably large sized infuser, I can re-brew the same leaves a few times before having to change them out. Cleaning it is no problem: both the bottle and the infuser clean quickly and don’t leave a lingering taste of the last brew of tea, so I can go from a rich black tea to a subtle white tea with ease. I have been hand-washing it, but it is indeed dishwasher safe.

The aesthetics of this bottle are really impressive. I said to my sister that it is kind of like if Ralph Lauren make a tea infuser. In addition to the Tritan plastic looking like glass, it has a brown loop strap that really looks like leather, and it makes carrying the bottle incredibly easy.

I really am thrilled with this infuser bottle. It is durable, brews well, and is gorgeous.

Find it at

VidaKai Tea Infuser Bottle Components

VidaKai Tea Infuser Bottle Components with Brewed Green Chai Tea

Tea Tuesday: Collect Teables Shakespearmint and AgathaChristea

April 5, 2016 · Leave a Comment

It is Tea Tuesday here at StyleChicks. I am a big tea fan, and always love to try new flavors and brands. I also find that tea is pretty popular and can often make a nice gift for either gender. I especially like when a tea gift can be combined with something else the gift recipient might love, such as music, literature, or art. So I was excited to see the themed series Collect Teables The Tea Book.

Aprilâ€™s theme is perfect for a tea loving bibliophile and makes a nice housewarming gift or for other occasions that your pithy bookworm friends would enjoy as a tasty treat while reading their favorite books. This line of CollectTeables teas are styled and named after famous literary authors, playing on alliterations of their pen names or actual names to entitle their teas. Each bag comes with illustrations of the author and a nod towards thematic elements from their most famous works depicted on Artistically Drawn Foils. And, for the especially clever, hidden references to their works are also seen in the images. Can you find them in the photo below?

I tried the two currently featured authors: AgathaChrisTEA and William ShakeSpearmint (see what they did there?) The beloved crime novel writer Agatha Christie/ChrisTEA is Earl Grey, and Shakespeare/ShakeSPEARMINT is, of course, a mint tea.

Every month a new themed series of Collect Teables will be released. They will include musicians, philosophers, politicians, or animals.

Haven’t heard of Collect Teables or theteabook.com? That’s because they are new, very new in fact. As in starting April 3rd and for a limited run kind of new. They are a new startup that is making some traction with their Kickstarter.

Check out the website at http://www.theteabook.com/collectteables/ and see their Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theteabook/the-teabook-the-smart-way-to-store-share-and-serve

Nice-to-know features:

The TeaBook and Collect Teables are zero waste companies. All Collect Teables are shipped box-less to reduce waste in shipping and packaging. (quoted from the Tea Book website).
All Collect Teables teas are Certified Organic by OCTO, and Certified Kosher by KSA.

I tried out both and think the Agatha Chris TEA makes for a fun inclusion to serve at a book party or mystery dinner themed night, they can help make for an easy decorating theme and conversation piece, as seen in the photo below.

Find these lovely teas at http://www.collectteables.com.

CollectTeables Agatha ChrisTeas

Collect Teables Shakespearmint Tea

Tea Tuesday: Ayo French Press

April 5, 2016 · Leave a Comment

A French Press is designed for use with ground coffee, espresso, and tea. The brewing method of a French Press lends towards a smoother, richer cup of coffee because it is a slower gradual brew than when water is run over coffee grinds in a coffeemaker. It is also an easy method to do espresso at home without the expense and mess of coffeehouse-style brewers.

But what I like about this French Press is that does loose leaf teas very well, allowing the tea to open and unfurl and thus reveal the full flavor, especially so with delicate oolongs, whites, and even some monkey-picked green teas that brew quickly. If you enjoy loose leaf teas, you will really like having a way to brew that allows the flavor room to breathe and it is intriguing to watch the tea brewing process. I enjoy brewing in a French Press instead of a tea ball or tea bag because it allows the tea to release the best flavors, and the French Press keeps unwanted tea leaves out of your brewed cup.

ABOUT THIS FRENCH PRESS
The premise of a French press is it is a cylinder shaped beaker often of glass (in this case, this French Press is made with heat resistant and Borosilicate glass) and a plunger that attaches to the lid. The piston of a French Press plunger is generally some sort of mesh. This French press does one better by having a heavier weight colander type multi-layer screen strainer that allows water to flow through but does not allow the grounds or tea leaves to pass into the water.

The French Press is small so it is the perfect size cup that will stay warm until served. There are no flimsy pieces, it feels durable and strong and the design suits various decors.

The French press is well made and easy to clean when brewing tea. Finely milled coffee grounds can get into the air holes in the strainer and require a bit more attention to clean, but no more so than any other coffee brewing method.

Because this particular French Press is made with Borosilicate glass, it makes for both a very sturdy and durable container that can withstand fairly high heat and exposure to cold. What I particularly like is this type of glass lends towards the cylinder NOT absorbing the taste of previously brewed beverages, namely, you will not taste a residual espresso taste within a later brewed delicate white tea. I prefer this to some plastic brewers that retain the flavorings of other previously brewed teas. To me, this is a big selling point.

HOW TO BREW LOOSE LEAF TEA WITH THIS FRENCH PRESS
Remove the plunger and strainer component to add the tea underneath. Replace the plunger and strainer. Secure the lid and press the plunger down as far as it goes without touching the tea leaves. Add enough hot water for the first brewing only and replace the cap. Allow enough room for the tea leaves to unfurl by slowly raising the plunger up to about the halfway point. It is very pretty to watch the tea brew, even if it is a simple black or Earl Grey, and it is a functional piece that is sturdy despite being glass. After the appropriate brewing time (use a timer for very delicate brews to avoid a bitter taste), pour off all the tea. If a second brew is desired, use only new water to not diminish the taste due to over-brewing. This is different than when brewing coffee in a French Press as a longer brew time does not make the coffee bitter.

SELF-STIRRING COFFEE MUG/TRAVEL MUG
This particular French Press came with a free gift: a self-stirring coffee mug. This is useful for bullet-proof coffee recipes as it keeps it frothy and well blended. It is often recommended in bullet-proof coffee recipes that one keeps stirring the coffee so as to keep the mixture well-blended and avoid congealing of the coconut oil/butter ingredients. A self-stirring coffee mug is ideal for this purpose. Since it can also serve as a travel mug, the set makes it helpful to brew your own coffee blends at the office or before leaving for work to have custom coffee without the time it takes to brew a whole pot of coffee only to throw most of it away.

Durable, sleek and attractive, this French Press is ideal for making a personal serving (or two) of tea, coffee or espresso. Easy to use and to clean.

Ayo French Press

Tea Tuesday: Chuester UpCup 14oz Travel Mug

March 29, 2016 · Leave a Comment

I drink tea all day long, and on the mornings when I have a long commute, I relish a cup of tea to keep me energized and hydrated. The Chuester UpCup 14oz Travel Mug is a great way to carry my tea on the go and enjoy it all through the day.

The UpCup is made of double walled glass, and I found that it keeps my tea warm for a decent length of time. This is important to me: my office’s runs on the cold side and tea that I brew in a regular mug gets tepid fast. If I brew a cup and then get immersed in a lengthy e-mail, sometimes I end up not getting a single hot sip off of a tea brew. With the UpCup, tea stays warm for long enough that I can linger over a cup and enjoy it hot. The outside stays tepid to the touch so it isnt uncomfortable. Its not 100% cool but it is in keeping with the heat distribution of a comfortable china mug or insulated thermal mug.

The mug has a nice grip to it, which is important in a travel mug and especially important in a glass travel mug. I donâ€™t tend to travel light so being able to hold my purse, briefcase, and not have to be ginger with the mug is nice. Another appealing feature of the mug is the opening on the lid. I find that drinking tea out of a travel mug to be a frequently cumbersome experience when the opening is too narrow. The opening on the UpCup is wide enough to take a nice slow slip without a gush of hot tea in your mouth or an annoying sputter.

I am impressed that the mug doesnâ€™t retain taste: I can use it for coffee and then wash it out and not have any lingering coffee or cream taste when I use it for a nuanced white tea.

This mug is amazing for blooming teas: those lovely bundles of tea that unfurl into a colorful flower when they brew. Itâ€™s a shame to just admire the bloom for a moment and then toss it. Since itâ€™s made of glass, you can leave the bloom in the mug to admire. Since most blooming teas have several brews in them, you can just add more hot water to the mug and enjoy both the taste and the view of the bloom in your mug. The fact that the mug comes in pink and mint, two colors that compliment the beautiful, subtle colors of fine teas, is a lovely added bonus.

I also love the fact that the mug is chemical free. Part of why I drink tea is for is the many health benefits. It doesnâ€™t make sense to negate the benefits with BPA or other health hazards, so I can enjoy my tea far more knowing that Iâ€™ll be getting the health benefits of the tea but not the risks that come with other travel mugs.

I am very impressed with the Chuester UpCup. It is attractive, highly usable, and works great for a mobile lifestyle.

Chuester UpCup

Find the Chuester UpCup at http://www.chuester.com.

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and I was compensated for my time and effort, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.