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Elixir News - April 2010

Wed, 04/07/2010 - 13:51 — admin
Food & Tea Pairing
 

Tea & Food PairingWhen one thinks of food pairings, most of us are probably going to turn immediately to wine. This is no surprise. However, with the tea renaissance, there's a lot more attention being paid these days to the notion of pairing food with tea. Tea pairing with chocolate, with cheese and of course, with foods of the world.

 

In the tea growing regions of China, Japan and India, local cuisine and the varieties of teas evolved together - in much the same way as cuisines and wines evolved to complement each other. Tea has many different styles and flavours. When selecting from the very many teas to pair with the same vast choices of foods, tea and food pairing can be a science. But in reality, pairing relies on one's palate to explore the natural interplay between tea and food. "In the end, goodness is for the mouth to decide." - Lu Yu.

 

Traditionally regarded as an after dinner libation, pairing tea with food (during meal) is a delicious way to both heighten the joy of eating and to expand one's appreciation with the world of teas and their diverse flavours. To be able to enhance the food and emphasize the flavours of tea is mutually rewarding.

 

When deciding on tea and food pairing, remember what Lu Yu had said. Tasting does not require an extremely sophisticated knowledge of food or tea. Ultimately, your palate will decide. If you already enjoy tea and food on any level, you probably have some tasting vocabulary. Start by talking about the characteristics of what you're eating and drinking. Never be afraid to describe what comes to mind when you are tasting tea, because no impression is too slight, and there is no wrong answer-it's all what you experience.

 

As we continue to explore the interplay of tea and food, we will share our findings in future issues of Elixir E-News. 


Tea of the Month : Pineapple Mango 
 

Pineapple Mango
Pineapple Mango
Two of the tropics finest offerings, tart pineapple and sweet mango, combine here to create a refreshing brew. Excellent hot and a customer favourite when iced.

 

Enjoy 15% off purchases of 50 grams or more.


Upcoming Events

 
Sunday April 25, 2:00PM

Summer Flavours of the World
Join us in tasting 5 summer teas from around the world, paired with summer treats like tropical fruit salad, ice cream.
Price: $10 per person
 
Limited Seating
Please RSVP by Sunday, April 18
RSVP by calling (403)270-4377 or emailing info@elixirfinetea.ca


Loose Leaf vs Tea Bag: Health Benefits
 

Whole Leaf VS Fannings
Loose Leaf VS Tea Bag

The question of loose leaf or tea bag has come up often.There are many brands and flavours of tea bags available on supermarket shelves. But if you have had the chance to try loose leaf tea, most will agree that it is superior in almost every way.

Both types of tea start off in the same place in that they both come from the tea plant. They are tea leaves, harvested, and depending on which type of tea is being made, the leaves will then be processed and packaged. With tea bags, the leaves are broken up into dust, or 'fannings.' During this process, a lot of the essential oils that make loose teas so flavourful can be lost. As far as flavour goes, it's also important for water to circulate around the leaves. This obviously isn't as easy within a cramped little bag. So, the flavour aspect isn't really up for debate. If you enjoy the taste of tea, it's loose leaf all the way. Next, come the health benefits. Everyone knows by now that tea is healthy. There are a whole host of health benefits associated with drinking tea. But, as with flavour it is the loose leaf that yield the most health benefits.

Because loose leaf is brewed in its natural state and hasn't had the life pounded out of it, the antioxidant levels will be much higher. Scientific studies have shown that young tea buds, found in loose leaf, contain the highest level of L-theanine and EGCG. L-theanine promotes calmness while enhance focus, and boosts our immune system. EGCG is the most powerful and abundant antioxidants present in tea. That's not to say drinking tea from tea bags has no health benefits; it's just that loose leaf varieties are generally healthier.