food sectionfood sectionAuthentic Chinese tea sets are collectors' items. Tea has been a part of Chinese culture for centuries and the tea sets are used for the tea ceremony. Modern reproductions of Chinese tea sets are often hand-painted with calligraphy, flowers and birds. To keep the tea set in top condition and maintain the artwork requires special care.
Tea is made from the leaves of a small Chinese shrub of the camellia family. Like tea itself, the history of tea consumption begins with China. Other countries have learned to enjoy tea and a few treasure it just as deeply, but no country has as deep and rich a tea culture as the land of its origin.
You may think that all salads are healthy, but they are not. Slathering your lettuce with high-fat dressings, cheese and croutons does no favors for your waistline. However, you can make plenty of which actually help you lose weight, as they satisfy your appetite while only containing a few calories. With a few ideas, you can learn how to make a nutritious, filling, slimming salad.
Tea is to China what wine is to France. Tea masters pick, process and age the tea. The end product is a far more rich and subtle drink than anything that can be purchased in a tea bag. If you brew your Chinese tea carefully, it will reward you with unparalleled flavor and aroma.
Tea drinking originated in China and spread in popularity to Europe during the 17th century when it was brought home on a ship with a Portuguese Jesuit priest returning from China. What we call tea refers technically only to leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant. How the leaves of this plant are processed determines the type of tea: white, green, oolong and black. White and green teas have been lightly steamed, while oolong and black tea leaves have been fermented, giving these teas stronger flavors.
Originating from the Zhejing province of China, gunpowder tea gets its name from the leaves' tightly rolled, gunpowder-like appearance, and its slightly smoky taste. Gunpowder tea falls into the green-tea category, although it has a stronger taste than most other Chinese green teas. Also known as pearl tea, gunpowder tea is also produced in Taiwan and Sri Lanka; these varieties resemble oolong tea more than green tea.
Preparing Chinese tea can provide a calming and new tea drinking experience. Serving Chinese tea often involves green tea, although China produces a significant amount of white and oolong teas that are also used for this process. The type of tea you use determines which type of brewing vessel you should use: dark oolongs work best in a yixing clay teapot, while green tea, white tea and lighter oolongs steep well in a gaiwan, or brewing cup.
Chinese "slimming" teas are believed to enhance the body's ability to resist digesting oils and animal fats. The active ingredient in Chinese slimming tea is tannin, an astringent-tasting antioxidant compound that builds complexes with a variety of starches, protein and cellulose -- a mix that inhibits absorbability. Though Chinese slimming teas alone will not decrease caloric intake, the blends are believed to enhance weight loss.
The tea cart has been around for centuries as both a functional and decorative piece. Though not as popular today, it was once the centerpiece of the dining room.
The history of tea cups spans hundreds of years and several continents as the popularity of tea spread from China and India to England and the West. Over time, tea cup designs changed as different cultures embraced tea.
Maybe you have been to a Chinese restaurant and enjoyed the tea so much you wanted to have it at home. Here are timely tidbits for Asian teas.
Serving excellent Chinese tea can bring great pleasure to both you and those who enjoy tea with you. There are two common methods of brewing and serving Chinese tea: gongfu style and gaiwan style. In gongfu style, one uses a Yixing pot, a type of teapot made from a special unglazed clay that absorbs the flavors of the tea. In the gaiwan style, the tea is brewed in a special ceramic bowl known as a gaiwan.
Brewing Chinese medicinal herbs and herbal teas is a science as well as an art. It is a meticulous process intended to preserve the strength, fragrance and, in some cases, medicinal benefits of the tea. The brewing process varies slightly depending on the herb and the leaf. If you are brewing for medicinal purposes, make sure you have a clear guideline from your herbal doctor on the correct dosage. If you are simply brewing Chinese tea, check with your retailer beforehand about any specifications, such as cleansing or the required type of tea pot for a particular tea leaf.
Catnip tea is made from the herb catnip, a mint that grows in mild climates in the Northern Hemisphere. Is it used for relaxation, and to relieve stress and anxiety. While it tends to make some cats frisky, in humans, it has a sedative affect.
As most people know, tea has been a staple in China for milleniums. Unlike people in the West, however, where tea is simply a beverage, the Chinese have used tea for much more than just drinking--it was used as currency, in spiritual tea ceremonies and as medicine.
A famous Chinese proverb from the Tang Dynasty says: "Although my neighbors are barbarians, and you are a thousand miles away, there are always two cups on my table." This proverb could mean many things: the speaker loves tea so much he plans to consume two cups; the speaker is always prepared to serve an unexpected guest; or perhaps the speaker intends to introduce civility to barbarians. Just as this proverb is ambiguous, so too is the history of tea in China. Because the ancient and religious mythology surrounding Chinese tea is so fundamental to Chinese culture, it is often…
According to legend, the idea of making a drink from plants was an accident. Camellia sinensis was the original plant source of green, black and white Chinese tea. Now, tea makers use many types of plants for Chinese tea. Chrysanthemum, ginger, honeysuckle and dandelion are used in Chinese flower-based teas, and Jasmine is used in green, black and white Chinese tea. Every plant lends its individual properties to tea, and many Chinese teas are used for their botanical healing benefits.
Bergamot orange tea, also known as earl grey tea, is a black tea flavored by bergamot orange oil. It is extremely popular in the Western world. Bergamot orange tea is most commonly simply consumed as a beverage, however, it is also used in flavoring various desserts, including chocolate, ice cream, cakes and puddings.
The practice of drinking tea originated in China. Aside from tasting good, Chinese tea has a number of side effects, both positive and negative. Each variety is unique, and lower grades of tea tend to have higher incidences of negative side effects.
For the Chinese, drinking tea is an essential element of life, often listed alongside rice and salt as a daily need. The Chinese have learned to cultivate, harvest and process a variety of teas that have their own flavor and character. Preparing a proper cup of tea is not hard to do, but there are some specifics involved if you want to do it correctly. Use good quality tea and water, pay attention to measurements and follow a simple timetable for proper Chinese tea.
One way to categorize Chinese tea is by how it is processed. White tea is made from the youngest leaves of the plant. Black teas are darker due to fermentation. The leaves in green tea aren't fermented. Oolong has partially fermented leaves. Scented tea contains flower essences. Brick tea is compressed into a brick-like shape.
Ganoderma mushrooms are red, white and yellow in color, making them one of the most brightly colored of all mushrooms species. It is prized for its many health uses, including its antioxidant properties. It is also used to lower blood pressure and as an anti-inflammatory, and has been studied as a potential cancer treatment. Some people also believe that the ganoderma mushroom is an aphrodisiac.
Next to water, tea is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world. While many regularly drink tea for health reasons, more and more people are becoming fond of tea because of its possible weight loss benefits. In truth, weight loss is the main side effect of diet Chinese tea consumption. However, its other side effects were discovered to cause some serious health risks.
The Chinese actually have several ways to brew tea each with their own special ceremony. A few of these traditions are used when brewing Chinese restaurant tea, and while they are not as intricate, they are still part of the tradition of brewing Chinese tea. The Chinese prefer their tea to be light rather than robustly flavored. That's why when you go to a traditional Chinese restaurant you may notice that the tea has a very light flavor and almost no color. In fact you may think at times that if it weren't for the very delicate flavor that you…
Chinese tea eggs are boiled and then steeped in Chinese herbs and black tea. The result is a savory treat with a unique cracked marble appearance. Start early, because to fully absorb the flavors, the eggs should steep several hours, or even overnight.
Chinese Dragonwell tea, otherwise known as Longjing tea, is famous and historically important in China. This powerful green tea contains theanine, epigallocatechin gallate and other compounds that help drinkers lose weight, prevent cancer and age slower. Buy Chinese Dragonwell tea cautiously by becoming an informed consumer and not falling for imitation Chinese Dragonwell tea.
