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Green Tea Caffeine – Why It Is Better Than Coffee

This is a very interesting article that was published this week in the American Chronicle. It really resonated with me since it is one of the first articles that I have read that shows just how simple the nature and benefits of tea can be. Most articles tend to complicate the issue, but Julian Tai was able to break it down almost as simply as we do at Cargo & James during our Tea 101 seminars. There are some minor errors, but otherwise a great summary.

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/61042

Julian Tai

May 07, 2008

Caffeine, long considered the perfect pick-me-up, has been getting a bad rap lately. Green tea caffeine is often considered to be gentler and less intense than that found in coffee or black tea. What is the caffeine content in different types of tea, and which one is right for you?

Types of Tea

All tea comes from the same plant, camellia sinensis. This plant grows in high altitudes in China, India and other Asian countries. The tea that ends up in our cups depends for its flavor and color on many different factors.

There are three main categories of tea: black, oolong, green and white. These are picked at different times of the year. The main difference, however, is in what happens to the leaves after picking.

Black tea is fermented, which makes it darker and stronger. Oolong tea is fermented less. Green tea is dried very quickly without fermentation. White tea is left to withered with the accompanying chemical changes with minimal cooking involved.

Caffeine Quality

Green tea plants tend to contain less caffeine than black tea plant, and far less than coffee.

In addition, the way our bodies absorb the caffeine is mitigated by the tannins. We tend to get a long slow boost from it instead of a sudden jolt. Because it is a gentler effect, green tea is an especially good choice for an afternoon or evening beverage. It can provide a pick me up without making you jittery or potentially keeping you awake when it´s time to sleep.

Loose tea provides less caffeine than bagged tea. Most tea leaves can be infused two or three times, with less caffeine making it into each cup. By the time you drink that last infusion, you may feel only a very mild lift.

Health Benefits

The popularity of caffeine has been decreasing lately. Perhaps all of those cups of strong coffee and energy drinks are finally taking their toll! In small amounts, however, caffeine is good for the health. It improves circulation, and helps in weight loss. It is invigorating and improves mental clarity and memory. It is even a natural antidepressant! Add that to the powerful antioxidants found in green tea, and you´ve got a healthful and restorative beverage.

What's Eating Theo?.... Cargo & James on TV

CityTV Edmonton - April 2008

Loose Green Tea Versus Tea Bags – Who´s The Winner?

By Julian Tai

Published in the American Chronicle April 16, 2008

The green tea revolution is here! Whether you brew loose green tea by the cup, or grab a bottle of iced green tea, the popularity of this delicious and healthy beverage is growing by leaps and bounds.

Just about every major tea importer has at least one type of green tea available. While many of us are accustomed to popping a tea bag into a cup, brewing a pot of tea from loose leaves is the traditional method. Should you be using loose leaves instead of bags?

Lower Cost

There are many different kinds of green tea. This plant grows throughout Asia, and is harvested at different times in order to get different flavors. Like any product that is sold so widely, the price of tea can vary greatly. Generally speaking, loose teas are less expensive than those in bags. They require less work to get to market.

Higher Quality

When tea leaves are prepared for bagging, they are chopped into tiny pieces. This increases oxygen exposure, resulting in tea that gets stale more quickly. The tea itself stays fresher and more flavorful if it remains in its original form. Because they are going to be cut up anyway, often leaves of lower quality are chosen for bagged tea.

Tea bags are made from paper. Unfortunately, this paper is soaked in the water along with the tea. Of course, quality of tea bag materials varies from brand to brand. However, as long as you´re brewing a bag along with your tea you are not getting a pure tea experience. Loose green tea gives you a higher quality brewed beverage.

Caffeine Levels

The caffeine content of bagged tea is higher than that of loose tea due to the greater exposure area. Because green tea has a lower caffeine content than black tea, drinkers are probably not looking for that added burst. In addition, extra caffeine gives tea a bitter taste.

How To Brew

A great cup of tea is not difficult to achieve. Follow these easy steps to get the best possible result.

Use about 3 grams of loose green tea leaves. You only want to brew this tea one cup at a time, although you can reuse the leaves 2-3 times.

Pour water that is just shy of boiling over the leaves. Let it steep for 3 minutes, then strain. This will give you a fresh delicious cup of tea every time! And as you can see it is really no more difficult than brewing tea in bags.

Why are Americans drinking 4 times more in tea bags than loose green tea? Why is so special about authentic Chinese green tea?

Find out more about green tea
Source: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/57793

Happy Valley Tea Garden

I just came accross this article in the Hindu National , online edition. Here is a very creative use of a very old tea garden which is steeped in tradition... it was almost 6 years ago now when James visited Darjeeling at he was most enamoured with Happy Valley.


http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/25/stories/2008032555021300.htm

National

Tea factory to be open to tourists

Special Correspondent

Kolkata: One of the highest tea factories in the world where equipment installed way back in 1854 has been zealously preserved, the Happy Valley tea factory in Darjeeling, located at an altitude of 6,800 feet, will soon be opening its gates to tourists.

Tea museum


They will be given access to a unique working tea museum, set up at a cost of more than $ 1 million and witness the entire tea manufacturing process including withering, processing, rolling, drying of tea leaves till it are finally sorted and packaged.

On display will be the equipment of a by-gone era including the single piston slow-speed engines, and the shaft machines — all in working condition.

Interactions with workers


The “Happy Valley experience” on offer for the tourists, who will have educated youth drawn from the families of the estate’s employees as their guides, will include interactions with workers explaining the intricacies of tea plucking and other field activities across the estate’s 435 acres.

“This will be the first working tea museum of its kind in the country and the intention is to provide a first class experience of how tea is manufactured and why it is so unique,” Sanjay Bansal, chairman of the Ambootia Tea Group that owns the tea estate told The Hindu on Monday.

“We have had to dismantle the old factory that was in a derelict condition after taking it over in March 2007 and erect a new one. But we have been careful in preserving much of the old machinery that will be on display at the museum with four floors which we plan to open in June,” he said.

Indian Chai - March 23, 2008

In India, chai tea is often served to guests
the moment they enter a family’s home. Often mixed with heavy milk, chai
tea is a staple of the Indian diet. However, it is quickly spreading
westward to American cafés and coffeehouses as a great alternative to a
cup of joe. Like coffee, there are caffeinated and decaffeinated versions,
although there is much less caffeine in any chai tea than in coffee, as a
rule.

Chai tea is rooted in India and Siam, with ancient royal ties. It is told
that a king loved the recipe of tea and milk, and popularized the drink
among the people of the country. Traditional versions of Indian chai tea
are a sweet blend of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves,
peppercorn, and star anise. All of these ingredients are blended together
and boiled, then added to black tea for a potent mixture. Then, the entire
concoction is strained and mixed with heavy milk.

At Cargo and James, we mix our chai spice blend with black tea for you,
so the process is simplified in your home or restaurant. It is ready to be
brewed and mixed with milk, honey, or whichever ingredient best fits your
fancy. We offer several Indian chai tea choices, including Maslas Chai,
Rooibos Chai online and India Mocha chai and Indian Spiced Chai in our
stores.

We are a definite leader in the retail end of our specialty tea ventures,
with nearly a dozen cafés selling our teas already. We invite you to offer
our amazing chai and other teas at your home. Your friends and family will
adore our products and will keep coming back to enjoy their rich, vibrant
flavors.

Have a look at our Chai

Tea in India - Becoming less than competetive

A recent post from my friend Rajiv's blog...

... with any luck we will be able to help with the marketing of Indian grown tea very soon. It is unfortunate the predicament they find themselves in, but Sri Lanka and Kenyan teas have taken over the lower grades and are starting to capture some of the high grade market as well...

_____________________________

http://weblog.xanga.com/lochantea/648445607/tipa.html

Export performance of Indian Tea in 2007...



Eighty first Annual General Meeting of Terai India Planters Association was held here where Sri Ashok Narayan Bhattacharya, our West Bengal Government Minister presided and it was read out by Sri Rajat Sengupta, current Chairman, that there is a significant downfall in exports.

Nobody dares talk of statistical percentages or the real reasons of this downfall of this shameful act.

I was invited on the podium and put forth my view of the Cost of Governance (CoG) in production of tea in India, which being very high renders our teas uncompititive. Our teas are really good in quality but we are out of race with Sri Lanka, Kenya, China and others due to pure economic and political resons.

And if we have to survive we have to control this.

The inefficient government machinery has to be taken to task and made to perform.

Lets hope for the best.

Cargo & James - Facebook 'fan' page

Hi All..

I have been asked on a regular basis to keep people posted on the most recent developments of Cargo & James Tea.... so yesterday I created a page on Facebook where I can try to keep everyone updated on a regular basis.. I will try anyways..

Here's the link:

Cargo Facebook Page

Tim