The Chinese Tea Secrets

Red, black and green tea

As connoisseur of teas, whether real or herbal, a sample of the all natural, organic oolong tea was a refreshing change. A trip to the local coffee house gave me the opportunity to try this Asian delight. The taste was smooth with a small bitter aftertaste that can be remedied by a small splash of crème or milk. The color was a dark yellow or orange and the aroma smelled of an herbal garden in the noon day sun. It was a relaxing cup of tea without the usual overtones of fruit or spice as with some of the Celestial brews that come from Colorado. It was hearty but not with overshadowing added flavors.

Grown in China using traditional, organic methods, the Oolong Tea is becoming more and more popular in the United States. It seems that the taste and aroma is not the only reason people are drinking this powerful liquid. The health benefits of Oolong are numerous and have shown proven results in Japanese studies. The tea is a mixture of black (fermented) tea and green (non-fermented) tea. The two teas are blended together to make a wonderful combination of taste and health benefits. The green tea is shown to reduce oxidants thus reducing the risk for cancer. Cardiovascular disease is also shown in reduction with intake of the green elixir. Research has shown that consumption of Oolong tea in quantities of 4 cups a day is even seen as a control for body weight and obesity. As with any herbal product, the results are different with each individual and should not be used as a sole dietary plan. Exercise and sensible eating should also be used as part of the daily routine. [Read more…]

Types of Coffee Machines

Coffeemaker

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Well known for its taste and aroma, coffee is a widely consumed beverage throughout the world. The best coffee is made from freshly roasted and ground beans. Traditionally crude methods were adopted to brew coffee. The beans were dried, roasted and powered before boiling in water to make the decoction. It was a time consuming process. Much of its aroma or flavour will be lost because of the exposure and improper heating. Later coffee making methods underwent many changes. In an endeavour to make tasty coffee, using hygienic methods, machines were introduced. Today there are many types of coffee machines available in the market. Machines adopting different technologies and with varying capacities are introduced in the market to cater the needs of the consumers.

Dip brewing is a very common method. To make a few cups of coffee at a time, a machine with one to four cup capacity can be preferred. Uniform heat will be applied to attain the required temperature for the brewing. In some models, the water holder is detachable. It will facilitate to remove the water holder for the purpose of filling water. In some other models burr grinders are used in the place of blade grinders, to avoid the beans getting burnt due to inherent friction. Some of the machines will provide for detachable grinders, but it will occupy more counter space. To store the prepared coffee for a longer time, it is better to go for a thermal pot. The Insulated pot will retain the heat and aroma of the coffee. Glass pots or carafes are also available. Many new features are incorporated in modern coffee machines. Cone shaped filter baskets will facilitate water to flow evenly and to make the coffee more consistent. Timers are provided in the machines for the convenience of the user. Coffee can be ground and mixed with water before going to bed. The timers which are programmed will enable to start brewing process in the early morning automatically. [Read more…]

The Metabolics Of Chinese Tea

Automatic brachial sphygmomanometer showing gr...

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Chinese Tea Comes in Many Forms

You will learn many things about tea as you read this article. One of the things you will learn is that there are several ways to buy Chinese tea. You can buy tea from a tea shop (there are shops all over the country these days); you can purchase tea over
the Internet; and you can buy tea in grocery stores, convenience stores, and even
pharmacies.

That’s not to mention every place you can get tea already brewed for you. Every dining establishment, from a five-star restaurant to a roadside diner and even the ubiquitous coffee shop, serves tea, both hot and cold. When you are buying Chinese tea to brew at home, you can get it in two forms: loose leaf tea or tea bags.

You are probably most familiar with tea bags. This is known as commercial grade tea, and it is made of dust and fannings, the by products of the tea-making process. Dust is the tiniest particles of tea, and fannings are broken tea leaves one grade larger than dust. Here’s the first thing you need to know about tea bags: You get the same health and weight-loss benefits from tea whether you brew it from dried loose tea leaves or from a paper tea bag, as long as it is white, green, oolong, or black tea. The second thing you need to know is that a paper tea bag is meant to be used only once (you will understand why that is important as you read on in this chapter). The flavor you get from a tea bag may not be as rich as the flavor from loose leaf teas, but the only way you will know which you like best is to do a taste test. [Read more…]

What is Cappuccino?

What is cappuccino? Many people confuse this coffee drink with a caffe latte, another form of Italian coffee found at most coffee houses in America. The main difference between the two is that a caffe latte has twice the amount of milk (usually whole milk, but one can order it with 2 percent or even skim) and no milk foam.

The milk foam that floats on top of a cappuccino is what distinguishes it from most other coffee drinks, in fact. Served traditionally in a porcelain cup, the foam acts as an insulator and keeps the drink hotter longer. Additionally, the porcelain acts as another heat retainer. Paper and glass cups tend to allow the heat to seep out faster.

A cappuccino starts out with a shot of espresso. The barista then steams the milk, which is the second most important ingredient. If the texture and temperature of the milk is wrong, the drink won’t be as good as it should be. [Read more…]