Coffee, Tea and Me» Tea

Five Most Commonly Sold Drinks

Annabelle — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:05:54 +0000

The most commonly sold drinks vary from hot beverages, to soft drinks (from your Westinghouse fridge), to alcohol and the list even includes water. Bottled water is a popular drink to buy even though you can easy get it from the tap. It is likely the popularity of bottled water has increased due to the convenience as well as the taste. Tap water usually tastes of chlorine and other contaminants although this can be removed by a water filter or water purifier.

Coffee

Coffee is one of the most commonly sold drinks and people who are coffee lovers know exactly how they like to have it. Coffee is made from coffee beans which are ground up and when added to hot water makes the drink of coffee. As well as instant coffee that most people drink at home, coffee can be served in many different ways. It can have milk added to it or flavour, it can be drunk extra strong or with frothy milk, and coffee even varies from country to country. There are different types of beans which can produce coffee with a different aroma and taste.

Coca Cola

Coca Cola is one of the most popular drinks in the world and easily one of the most commonly sold. Interestingly it came into existence by mistake. A man named John Pemberton was trying to make a headache tonic, which he created at home and then sold at a pharmacy a few blocks from his home. A customer bought some of the syrup, which was supposed to be mixed with water, but the person dispensing the syrup accidentally mixed it with soda water instead. The customer proclaimed that it was delicious and Coca Cola was born.

Beer

Beer is the third most popular drink in the world and the top four producers and consumers of it are the Czech Republic, Ireland, Germany and Australia. Throughout the world almost one hundred and forty eight billion litres of it is produced in a year. Beer makes up a large portion of the drinks sold in liquor shops and is served in pubs on tap. Different countries have their own unique blends of beer and the taste can vary quite significantly. There is also light beer, which has a lower alcohol content, beer with a lower carbohydrates and even beer with added flavour.

Water

Bottled water has become one of the most commonly sold drinks. Often people purchase bottled water when they are travelling to countries where the water is not fit to drink, while some people buy water in bottles simply because they believe it to be better for them than tap water. Water from the tap can have contaminants and chlorine in it and bottled water does taste better. You can solve this problem by having a water filter installed on your tap.

Tea

Tea was first discovered by the Chinese and was used for medicinal purposes as well as drunk for pleasure. It wasn't until the trade route to the Far East was established that tea came to Europe. It is a popular beverage in Britain as well as many other parts of the world. It comes in many different flavours, popular varieties being English breakfast and Earl Grey. You can also buy herbal teas and green tea, which has enormous health benefits. Remember to keep all of those cups clean in your Bosch dishwasher!

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It's Time to Get a New Iced Tea Maker and other Appliances

RT Cunningham — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:13:52 +0000

I need a new iced tea maker because a few weeks ago, my local electric company did something stupid and overloaded the 110v line coming into my house. The end result is that everything using 110v (that was plugged in at the time) no longer works. I know how to make iced tea the old-fashioned way, so it's more of an inconvenience than anything else. Still, it burns my butt that I have to replace appliances due to the actions of stupid people. I would sue those clowns, but it would probably cost me more in the long run than just replacing everything I need replaced.

A New Iced Tea Maker

I still have the burned out Hamilton Beach Iced Tea Maker. I'll probably toss the machine while saving the decanter (or pitcher, if you prefer that term) once I get a replacement. They're not sold locally, so I have to rely on my wife to send a new one (she's in the United States until she decides she's had enough of our son's family) and it may or may not be the same brand.

It really doesn't matter which brand of ice tea maker I use, as long as it isn't more complicated than doing the saucepan routine with the teabags.

A New Coffee Maker

Luckily, I didn't own one when everything got fried. It was one of those "wait for the opportunity" kind of things because the only brand I found locally wasn't very good. I would prefer a locally made coffee maker with 220 voltage because then I wouldn't have to unplug it all the time when not in use.

I'm okay with instant coffee – I really don't have much of a choice until my wife or my son decide to send me something that's a lot better than what I can find here.

Other Appliances

An old TV, which used either 110v or 220v was plugged into the 110v line. It was my other son's TV (the one that lives with me) that he bought in 2005. It was a CRT, so it needed to be replaced anyway. He's using my 19" LCD TV temporarily – I never watch TV anyway.

My rice cooker, made in Japan, was purchased in the US, so it ran on 110v. Yep, it got fried too. I've temporarily replaced it with a local brand, but that rice cooker sucks. It burns the rice if I leave it plugged in. I need my wife to send another one because neither of us is going to be hunting for rice cookers outside of Olongapo.

I'm sure other appliances got fried, but I can't think of any right now. I have brain freeze.

Anyway… I'll be sure to mention what I get when I get it. I shouldn't complain about anything at all, though, because it's not like I'm working for living anymore. I have all the time in the world, or so it seems.

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Sweet Tea Southern Fried Chicken

RT Cunningham — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:42:59 +0000

If there's anything I like better than the beverages of coffee and tea, it's the food that's prepared with either of them. Now, rather than try to convince you that I know anything about cooking more than the average household food, here's a video from SmashMouthonTV:

Sweet Tea Southern Fried Chicken

SmashMouth on TV

Finding the SmashMouthonTV channel on YouTube was pretty easy after Allyn Hane shared the information about SmashMouth TV. Allyn is a pretty familiar face, being the popular video blogger at Blogger Illustrated (never mind the fact that he's whacked nearly all of the content there due to… umm… discontent, I think).

Anyway, I think Allyn is doing all of the videos for SmashMouthonTV himself – probably in return for a frequent feast. Heck, I'd do it too if I knew anything at all about doing videos (and I don't care to learn, really).

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Does Green Tea Increase Life Expectancy?

James — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:58:04 +0000

For years, green tea has been touted as a healthy beverage with anti-oxidant and anti-aging qualities. Studies in China and Japan have fully or partially confirmed many of the touted benefits of long term green tea consumption, including the prevention of age-related diseases. Green tea now belongs to the host of health products whose proponents claim to deliver multiple health benefits that include some that are yet to be conclusively proven by extensive medical data. Some claims, in fact, appear to be just overblown hypes and tall promises established on very shaky scientific basis.

There are, however, a number of researches on the benefits of green tea that warrant attention. In particular, the groups of substances collectively called catechins that are present in green tea have been studied and may actually possess some impressive health benefits. Some of these studies indicate that catechins may aid in maintaining cardiovascular health, prevention of certain cancers, and fatigue of the adrenal glands.

A study conducted in China demonstrated how green tea helped maintain the telomere length of men who regularly consume green tea. Telomeres are compound structures that are found at the end of a chromosome (chromosomes are a strand of DNA). Telomeres aid in cell division, help protect chromosomes, and restrict them from fusing into rings or combining with other DNA. Because telomeres naturally become shorter as a result of cellular wear and tear, they are used by scientists as indicators of cellular age.

A similar study of over 40,000 test subjects in Japan who were free from heart disease and cancer indicate that people who drank more green tea have lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and cancer. While research data remains inconclusive, the findings strongly imply that an increased consumption of green tea triggered beneficial effects that tend to increase the subject's life expectancy.

As most of the test subjects in the study have been drinking substantial daily amounts (five glasses at least) of green tea for up to 11 years, it is difficult to accurately determine the recommended amount for non-tea drinkers who wish to gain the demonstrated health benefits. Some nutritionists suggest incorporating green tea in your daily diet to help fortify your body against heart disease and cancer. In addition to these two benefits, green tea may also be used in weight loss programs, as powerful antioxidants, and as a means to prevent chronic inflammation. Remember that green tea may be consumed also in the form of health supplement pills in addition to being served as a refreshing beverage.

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The Top Five Hot Beverages Served at Cafes

Annabelle — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 01:27:45 +0000

In the cold winter months there is nothing like having a hot drink served in your favourite cafe. Relax where you are warm and comfortable with the world rushing by and settle back with a good book or the paper. Even sit out on the outdoor pavers under a gas heater and feel warmer with a hot cup of tea made with healthy water straight from a water purifier. Whether you choose tea, coffee, a hot chocolate or one of the more unusual flavours of hot beverages, nothing warms your soul better than a good hot drink.

Tea

The Chinese discovered the benefits of drinking tea as far back as five thousand years ago and used it to aid digestion, help with taking medication and for general health benefits. It wasn't until the Portuguese opened up the trade route with the Far East that tea was introduced to Europe. Tea has become a stable all over the world and it comes in many different flavours. The English are particularly fond of their tea and Australian's have followed suit. Cafes will generally serve the one variety, which will be brought to the customer in a pot for one. Some cafes will give the customer a choice of teas, popular varieties being Earl Grey and English Breakfast. Herbal teas are popular too with Green Tea having tremendous health benefits.

Coffee

Coffee dates back to the thirteenth century where it is believed that the Ethiopians first found the coffee bean could be ground to provide an energising drink. Coffee hit Europe in the 1500s and the first coffee house opened in Venice in 1645. Today coffee is served all over the world and is a hugely popular drink. It is also served in many different ways including cappuccinos, espressos, cafe latte, liqueur coffee, iced coffee, Vienna coffee and many more. Cafes will often make certain types of coffee as their trademark drinks and there are specialised coffee houses.

Hot chocolate

The Mayans revered chocolate as part of their culture and had created a chocolate drink around 1400 AD. The Europeans were introduced to chocolate by the Mexicans and since then it has taken on different identities unique to the many countries who have adopted it. Hot chocolate can be served at a thinner consistency with plenty of milk or can be a thicker, much richer drink with a texture almost like velvet. They can be served frothy, with marshmallows and in summer it makes great milkshakes and iced chocolates.

Hot cider

Cider can vary in alcoholic strength but it is a drink that is traditionally made from special cider apples. Cider is a popular drink in Britain and is often served on tap at pubs. Hot cider, or mulled cider, is popular in America and is heated to just below boiling point. It is served with spices such as nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon, as well as orange peel. A different drink, it makes a pleasant change from the usual tea and coffee.

Herbal teas

Herbal tea is made from different leaves, flowers, herbs and dried fruits, and the ingredients will vary depending on the type of tea. Herbal tea has been consumed for as long as history has been documented and has enormous medicinal benefits. Herbal teas have been a later inclusion in cafe menus.

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Drinking Hot Tea vs. Hot Coffee

RT Cunningham — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:29:09 +0000

One of the things I've noticed about myself lately is that I drink way too much coffee. It's not really a bad thing, in my opinion, because what I consider too much isn't what others might consider too much. I don't like cold coffee (iced coffee or anything like that) because then I drink more than when I drink hot coffee. Although I've cut down to under 10 cups of coffee in a 24-hour period, I have a different reason for saying it's too much. All types of coffee (whether flavored or not) are starting to taste the same to me.

Let's Try Hot Tea

I don't always drink hot coffee. By saying less than 10 cups a day, I'm leaving the actual number open to interpretation. I've been known to drink no coffee at all for days at a time, but when I do drink coffee, it tends to be 4 to 6 cups a day.

When it comes to iced tea, however, I only drink it when it's hot (when I've spent a lot of time outdoors) and that's only when I don't want to drink plain cold water. I never drink hot tea and I recently started wondering why.

In some places, people drink hot tea like I drink hot coffee. It can't be bad or they wouldn't be doing it. I'm going try to switch to drinking hot tea for about a month, instead of hot coffee, to see if I'll like it better. I'm not going to use instant tea; I'll be using tea bags and this is going to take some work since I'm not familiar with doing it by the cup.

Tea Varieties

Just like coffee, there are many varieties of tea. Of course, I'm talking about tea that comes from a tea plant, not some other concoction called tea.

I don't like flavored coffee and I don't like flavored tea. While I prefer the regular black tea, I'm not opposed to green tea or other versions.

I'm limited in what kinds of tea I can drink by the availability of what I can buy locally. Black tea and green tea varieties are in abundance while the others are not. I also have to be careful that it's not tainted with added flavoring that I don't like, like lemon (or raspberry or just about any fruit flavor). I don't mind cinnamon, but I don't like it like that very often.

Coffee or Tea instead of other Beverages

People may wonder why I talk about coffee and tea. Well, it's because I don't talk about other beverages. When it comes to expenses, even though coffee isn't that cheap anymore, it's still cheaper than a lot of other beverages.

I don't drink plain water, coffee or tea exclusively. I also drink fruit juices and on occasion, some kind of alcoholic beverage. My primary beverages, at least in the foreseeable future, are always going to be plain water, coffee and tea, so I'd be lying if I said otherwise.

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South-East Asia: The Land of Tea

Annabelle — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:05:09 +0000

There's been a surge of interest in the teas produced in South-East Asia: Thai teas, Malay teas and Indonesian teas are more and more popular in the Western market. Not obvious tea destinations (India and China hotels offer tea plantation visits, for example), South-East Asian countries still produce some of the best teas in the world. Read on for more information about where these teas are grown and how they are drank by locals.

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Some of the best tea to come out of South-East Asia comes from the Cameron Highlands. The highest spot accessible by car in the entire country, the Cameron Highlands are a set of five settlements dating from the late 1800s, when a British surveyor (named Cameron) visited the place. The British eventually installed a hill station for tea farming and health resorts.

The high altitude and temperate climate are perfect for the growing of tea. There are a number of varieties being cultivated there, but the favoured variety remains Oolong. Tea plantations in the Cameron Highlands are open to visitors and offer tea tasting. You can also buy your favourite blend right there on the plantation.

Java, Indonesia

Java is not only a place for coffee: it also offers amazing tea varieties. Java grows mostly green tea but exports some black tea for export. Most of the plantations are located in West Java, where there are high plateaus with a perfect temperature for tea farming.

Visit the Pagilaran plantation near Semarang (in Central Java) or head out west and higher in the mountains for the Puncak plantation. 1 to 2 hours away from Jakarta, hop on to one of the organized tours to Bogor tea plantations.

Thailand

The Thai have their own national tea drink, commonly called "thai tea". Called "cha-yen" in Thai, it's an iced tea made from strong black tea, a mix of spices, condensed milk and sugar. It's usually topped with evaporated milk to create a creamy appearance.

The spices added to Thai tea can include star anise and tamarind. The Thai can add orange blossom water or lime juice to their teas. Different regions have different spice blends so it'll always be a tasty surprise. In Thailand, cha-yen is served in clear plastic bags filled with ice. More Western restaurants serve it in a tall glass or blend it into a frappe.

Vietnam

Vietnam has many tea-growing regions almost unknown outside of Asia. Growing a variety similar to Keemun and Yunan teas, the Vietnamese are known to produce a high quality lotus tea, similar to jasmine tea. In lotus tea, the tea leaves are either left inside lotus leaves for a day and then removed, or lotus leaves and petals are ground up and mixed in with the tea. This kind of tea is very strong, and usually requires less than 2 minutes for brewing.

Ask the desk of your Vietnam accommodation for a taste of these exclusive and high-quality teas. They are available all over the country, but if you are staying close to the highlands, you might even be able to visit a plantation and witness the production process.

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Hotel Mini Bar – Mostly Bad for Your Health and Diet

Annabelle — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:14:52 +0000

Unless you stop and have a think about it, you have probably never realized that your hotel mini bar is an abomination for your health. For those who are regularly traveling and working, this is a very serous issue, especially when you consider that is their option normally 5 days out of every week. Here is an obvious look at those items in most hotels and other paid accommodation, in a hope that something will be done about it.

Hotel mini bars can be a real trap for anyone staying in a hotel or other paid accommodation. Some hotels are starting to think about our health, but most of them, and most of us, are thinking about our indulgence. Let’s look at some of the common items you will find in a hotel mini bar or fridge, and how you should deal with them. You might have to spend more time in the gym, or actually go there for a change! For those of us who are working and traveling a lot of the time, it is a serious issue. It is not like you have as much control over what you are really eating when you are living in hotel rooms and eating in all those restaurants.

Tea and Coffee. Tea is always good for you. It is about the amount of sugar you put in it. You can drink hot tea, and it will cool your body. Tea must be one of the best drinks for our bodies. Green tea is also very good if you can get used to the bitter taste. The key to drinking green tea is not to let it stand for too long, in which case it will actually taste much sweeter. The same cannot be said about coffee. Considering the coffee in your room is instant, there is not too much concern. The reality is, it is nothing like the real coffee you get in a coffee shop. Moderation is the key. Thankfully, some hotels have begun to offer green coffee, coffees that are better for our health and work much in the way teas do for us.
Chocolate. Always somewhere in the hotel room when you arrive. Unfortunately, most of the chocolate that gets dished up to us is full of sugar. If you are someone who really enjoys chocolate, it is worth spending the money on quality chocolate that is not loaded with sugar, and some amount each day will actually be very good for you. Most of the time in hotels, this will not be the case. Read the ingredients.
Drinks. Again, we will find the mini bar loaded with fizzy drinks. How on earth did our world get to the state where we think we need all those fizzy drinks and all that sugar? All they will do is make you feel thirsty, want more, and give you a sugar rush. A sugar rush means you will have a lot of energy for a short time, and then you will feel tired. Over years of consuming this way, you can expect to get age-onset diabetes – something that many of us are getting and is a very serious issue.
Alcohol. Here we go again, if this drug was introduced today, it would be illegal. Only consume what you should, around 2 glasses maximum per day, and it will be good for your health. Unfortunately, this is not the case and has a lot to do with the obesity in our modern societies – which is an epidemic, I must add!

What we can say about hotel mini bars is simple – there is not much good in there for you. Obesity has become a norm and is something you should think about. Get into the habit of advising your hotel of what you need before you arrive. As someone working and travelling, you will need to put in some serious effort.

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All Natural, Organic Hampstead Tea – Rediscover Iced Tea

RT Cunningham — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 01:56:59 +0000

During the hot summer months in the Philippines, I love to savor the flavor of a good iced tea blend. Unfortunately, the choices are limited to by what's imported to my local area. Nevertheless, the Hampstead Tea iced tea blends sound delicious. I won't bother to go into the details because they've been kind enough to send me a "press release" and without further ado, I'll let you read it for yourself.

Hampstead Tea invites you to rediscover tea

Try Hampstead Tea's new iced teas in recyclable Elopaks (500ml).

In brightly coloured packaging and eye-catching graphics, the three new Iced Teas contain no artificial flavourings or colourings and are 100% organic and Fairtrade. The choices available are Chai Orange, Darjeeling Cherry and Oolong Elderflower. Sweetened with agave syrup, these iced teas are suitable for diabetics and for those who watch their figure.

Oolong Elderflower was reviewed by the French magazine Madame Figaro as 'Sophisticated, rounded in flavour and without any bitterness'. According to the magazine, 'this iced tea is packed full of elderflowers, blended with the Oolong tea which is low in caffeine. Sweetened with agave syrup, this tea is low in calories.'

The products can be purchased in whole food stores, organic stores all around the world and other food halls such as Selfridges in London. To find your nearest store, go to www.hampsteadtea.com/stores where the new 'Store Locator' will guide you. To make it simpler, you can also purchase online by visiting www.hampsteadtea.com.

About Hampstead Tea

Hampstead Tea was created in 1995, in Hampstead, London.

In addition to the new iced teas, Hampstead Tea has a range of black, green, and white teas, as well as herbal infusions and what they like to call 'Special Reserve' teas. The teas come from Makaibari, an estate in Darjeeling, India. They have been certified Biodynamic, Organic and Fairtrade since Hampstead Tea's creation and still are. In the same spirit, the packaging also preserves the purity and authenticity of the teas.

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Do you like Fruit-flavored Coffee or Tea?

RT Cunningham — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:19:07 +0000

There are multiple ways to add flavors to both coffee and tea and some companies, in my opinion, take it to extremes. With tea, you can add flavors to the tea bags or to the instant version. You can also add it with flavored creamers. With coffee, it's almost the same thing. When it comes to fruit flavors, the question is why? I'll tell you what I think about the fruit flavors as I go along.

Tea and Fruit Flavors

Why is almost every tea brand sold with lemon flavoring added? Living in the Philippines, I can tell you it's hard to find tea without lemon flavoring added. Now, I actually like fresh-brewed tea with real lemon wedges added. It doesn't overpower the natural taste of the tea. I can't stand the artificial lemon flavor at all, and that's what most of the prepackaged tea drinks contain. One of the reasons I don't drink that stuff, or make instant tea anymore, is because of the added artificial lemon flavor. If I'm lucky enough to find instant tea without lemon, I find I just don't like the result as compared to brewed tea.

Don't get me started on other fruit flavors, something that Snapple made famous. Peach flavor? Yuck!

Coffee and Fruit Flavors

I watched a video about raspberry coffee at Coffee Cup News and tried to leave a comment, but the blog owner's anti-spam plugin doesn't like me or the Philippines or something. It was a video review of a K-Cup flavor (used in Keurig coffee makers). He seemed to like it. As for me, I don't like raspberries to begin with.

Like tea, I like my coffee plain and without flavoring. I've tried flavorings in the past, like Irish creme and mocha, but it just left something to be desired. Seeing as how I don't like popular flavors, you can probably imagine how I feel about fruit flavors. When I mentioned the raspberry coffee to my younger son, he said he like it. Of course, I had to ask where he got it and it was at someplace in Olongapo City called "Coffee Overdose". My only complaint to him was why he went to coffee shop and didn't bring me back a cup or something — the traitor.

The Color of Coffee and Tea

Frankly, I like my coffee brown, like my women (my wife is a Filipina). Of course, I'm joking just like I did with the traitor comment above. The thing is, I like both my coffee and my tea to be one shade of brown or another — there really is no such thing as "black" coffee. No clear stuff (or almost clear) and nothing that changes the color. I used to like adding some form of creamer to my coffee, but not my tea. I gave up creamer a long time ago (or so it seems) and now the natural brown color is what I look for.

Does adding the other fruit flavors change the appearance? I don't know and I don't care. As long as the coffee is 100 percent pure coffee from coffee beans (without any of that chicory nonsense) and the tea is 100 percent pure tea from tea leaves (none of that herbal nonsense), I'm good to go. You can call me old-fashioned or say I lack imagination, but I know what I like.

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