Best Tea and Honey 
Loose Leaf Tea, the Oldest Brew
The Chinese legend goes thusly: the Emperor was in a parkland, resting and dealing with a headache. When he had these headaches, one thing that made him feel better was to sip hot water. On this lovely autumn afternoon, as the ruler sat in his park sipping, a few leaves from a nearby tree fell into his drink. Before he realized it, the Emperor had sipped a few drops. The leaves were from a nearby tea tree, and they had already released some of their flavor into the Emperor’s cup! The Emperor savored the taste of the tea, and then realized that his headache had vanished. He called for an investigation! By the next day, the ruler decreed that tea trees wold be planted and harvested for their leaves, and so was the tea industry born. In hearing this story, keep in mind that various emperors are usually credited with most of the discoveries of Chinese civilization. Almost certainly, villagers who lived near the native habitat of the tea tree first brewed the leaves millenia ago.
Herbal Teas and Red Tea
The plant that produces the leaf that makes true tea is called the Camellia Sinensis. It grows in tropical regions throughout the world today, after being imported from its native lands in the mountains of Southeast Asia. Yet while the Chinese brew a wonderful liquor from the leaves of the Camellia, healers all around the world have discovered many other leaves, seeds, flowers, and other parts of other plants, usually called herbs, that taste great and also have medical properties too, if brewed correctly. These herbal teas are properly called tisanes, while the brew of the Camellia plant’s leaves are true tea. In South Africa, one tisane called rooibus, which is simply Afrikaans for “red bush,” has an uncanny resemblance in flavor to true tea. Keep in mind that while rooibus has the usual herbal virtues of flavor and medical application, it is not a true tea!
Fine Loose Leaf Teas from Around the World
Newcomers to the world of gourmet teas may wonder if there really is a difference between leaves from India and China. Let us reassure these beginners that tea can be as varied as the fine wines of France or California! The first first factor that beings to differentiate fine teas is the time of the harvest. Some teas are picked at one certain early date, while others can be harvested in seasonal cycles throughout the year. The location of the tea tree is a second factor. In China, there are certain mountains that are considered to be the only places that offer Silver Needle tea, and any tea grown anywhere else using that name is fraudulent. In India, on the Lower Himalayan Mountains, near the town called Darjeeling, the tea trees are renown for their deeper flavors. Naturally, Darjeeling Tea is usually considered a gourmet brand around the world. The world of teas is most definitely like the world of fine wine!
Using Loose Leaf Tea in Baths!
Did you know that ancient healers prescribed tea for the bath? They were well aware that green tea has a beneficial effect on the bloodstream, which we now interpret as lowered blood pressure. They also knew that tea cold have a strong medicinal effect on psoriasis and other skin problems. There are now many wonderful tea sachets and packets available online, and they create an incredibly aromatic effect in soft steamy water! Our hosting site, Red Leaf Tea, now offers Teas for Baths on its pages, and we recommend the highly. The Wind Tea Bath and Fire Tea Baths both use Traditional Chinese Medicine to create different medical effects on the human body, and they both infuse the water with delicate floral aromas. Try ordering them online today, at www.redleaftea.com.
Loose Leaf Teas: Starting at the Beginning
It is always amazing to think about the limited availability of loose leaf teas in the United States today. When teas began to arrive on American shores in the early 20th Century, they were quickly absorbed by importers who embraced the latest in mass production techniques - and that meant tea bags for the tea industry! Now, it is important to note that tea bags consist not of leaves, but of what is called “tea dust.” Tea dust is easy to store, compactable, and provides a decent cup of recognizable flavors when brewed. While it is certainly possible to get a fine cup of tea from a teabag, the superiority of loose leaves is a reality that can’t be denied. Just as major league baseball is better than minor league, loose-leaf tea offers a better brew. The unbroken leaves release more flavors as they steep, and they provide a deeper body to the liquor. When you begin exploring the world of tea, start out with this fundamental truth. Teabags are fine, but loose leaves are the real deal!