The Chestnut Hill Garden Festival- May 3, 2009

Don't forget that the Garden Festival is this Sunday! We will have lots of fun activities going on so stop by and try one of our new iced tea blends. Our outdoor garden will be open.

11am- Face Painting for the kids by watercolor artist Ginny Lang
11am-1pm- Madam Olga will read your tea leaves and explore your past lives
11am-5pm- Stop by our tent on Germantown Avenue for iced tea

The festival is located at Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19118

Double The Weight Loss Power!

I have been blending specialty tea for the past year- and having a great time doing it! Over the last 3 weeks I have been reading some new studies (2008) about the weight loss benefits of oolong tea and green tea. I usually drink 2 cups of oolong each day and 3 cups of green tea in an effort to get as much weight loss power as possible. Today I decided to mix some Formosa oolong and green tea together for double the weight loss power- and it was fabulous! Try it at home, instead of 1tsp loose tea per cup just use 1/2tsp of quality oolong mixed with 1/2tsp quality green tea. Tomorrow I am going to try mixing orange oolong with lemon flavored green tea.

Green Tea Mojito- A Springtime Favorite!

Last year we experimented with numerous Green Tea Cocktails and our overwhelming favorite was The Green Tea Mojito. We served samples of the cocktail at our various Garden Events and everyone loved it!

Green Tea Mojito
From The Hill Tea Bar
Serves 4
Brew 3 ¾ cups of Green Lemonade Tea and pour into a 1 qt. heat proof pitcher. Add sugar to hot tea and stir until dissolved. Add peppermint leaves to tea and stir. Allow tea mixture to cool. Add lime juice and rum to cooled tea. Fill 4 tall glasses with ice and pour Green Tea Mojito over ice. Garnish with a sprig of fresh peppermint.

1. 3 ¾ cups freshly brewed Green Lemonade Tea (or plain green tea)
2. 15 large peppermint leaves
3. ½ cup granulated sugar
4. Juice of 1 small lime
5. 4 ounces white rum (optional)

Be a Part of a New Tea Anthology!

Calling all Tea Lovers! A fellow tea blogger has asked that you share your special story or memory and be a part of an exciting new tea themed anthology. Full information about the project (including the Call for Essays and Submission Guidelines) is available at http://teamemoriesbook.googlepages.com The submission deadline is June 30, 2009.

CALL FOR ESSAYS

A new anthology, "Tea Memories: Living Life One Cup at a Time," is in need of your original, non-fiction essays.

Have you "taken tea" in a unique place or under unusual circumstances?

Do you have a story about sharing tea with someone special in your life?

Have you made an important decision over a cup of tea?

Whether humorous or touching, serious or inspiring, your stories of events, experiences, and transformational moments are welcomed. The most important criteria is that the stories be true and that tea plays a role in your essay.

Our intent is to show that tea is far more than something that quenches your thirst. Tea provides comfort, a time for reflection, and a starting point for conversation. Tea plays a supporting role in the stories of our lives. "Tea Memories" aims to share the ways that tea has changed our lives, one cup at a time.


Published and unpublished authors of all ages are encouraged to submit essays for consideration. The best essays will be selected for inclusion in the "Tea Memories" anthology.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Essays should be 800 to 1800 words in length.

The piece should be submitted as an e-mail attachment in .rtf format with "Essay submission" as the subject line of the e-mail.


Include your name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, and a short (60 word max) biography.


Submit essay by June 30, 2009 to teamemories@yahoo.com

Spring Cleaning- With Tea

The town that I live in has been promoting "Go Green" for the last six months. Recently my son told me that at his school they were going to start using "green" cleaning supplies and suggested that I follow suit (actually, he told me that I need to switch to prevent polluting his air space). I like my house to stay clean, okay- I am a bit fanatical about it, and that has always meant using glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner and bleach among other toxic cleaning chemicals. This past Saturday a customer came in and brought me a page from a national magazine that discussed all natural cleaners. Tea was listed as the product to use for scouring rusty garden tools. The directions said to make 2 pots of really strong black tea and let it cool (cheap teabags are a good option for this). After the tea has cooled pour into a bucket and add the rusty garden tools. Allow the tools to soak for a few hours and then remove and wipe with a cloth. This started me thinking about other ways that tea can be used for cleaning. I found that used green tea leaves (thoroughly dried after steeping) have strong deodorizing properties and can be used to deodorize a cat litter box. Simply sprinkle the dried tea leaves in with fresh litter. Used, dried, green tea leaves can also refresh a soiled and smelly carpet- sprinkle on the carpet (let sit for 5-10 minutes) and then vacuum. And don’t forget, used tea leaves are also excellent for composting, just add to your bucket of coffee grinds and veggie peels to make all- natural mulch. Happy spring cleaning!

Dental Health and Green Tea

Green tea is regularly consumed immediately after meals in Asia. Streptococcus mutans are bacteria that cause dental cavities. The bacteria reacts with sugars to produce a sticky plaque that coats the teeth. Laboratory tests revealed that the catechins in even one cup of green tea can destroy and inhibit the Streptococcus mutans. Green tea contains chlorophyll and flavanoids that can kill the oral bacteria that causes bad breath. Just another reason to enjoy a cup of green tea after each meal!

Wine Class Added- May 8th

We have just added a new wine class to our events calendar:


Both Argentina and Chile boast a long history in wine-making. Argentina owes the roots of its wine culture to the strong influence of Italian immigration. Chile's wine production traces its ancestry to France. Experience the earthy, structured style of Malbec from the Mendoza region and some of Chile’s finest Carmenere, and Sauvignon Blanc. You will enjoy a total of eight wines with perfectly paired cheese. A professional wine instructor will facilitate this class. May 8th- 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Cost is $40 per person. Reservations required: 215.381.2226