Teas and Trees

Caffeine

News

Featured Products

2 Liter Iced Tea Maker

makes brewing iced

tea a snap

Sencha Pina Colada

a summer favorite as

temps rise!

Cordless SmartKettle

heats water fast to

just the right tea

temperature

Urban Beans in Phoenix

now offer Souvia Teas

brewed in the shop

 Got a college bound

student – Set up them

up with the “Dorm Pack“

Latest Tea Menu

Teas and Trees

Kerstin and I took a nice trip to Yosemite and enjoyed to cool air and huge trees!  We brought along some new teas to try and tested out a new product a “SmartKettle” in our lodge.  The Smart Kettle made tea brewing fast and easy since it heat the water to right temperature.  We liked it som much it is in the store now…

As for teas,

• Hawaiian Breeze will be back soon.
• Organic Tulsi will join our lineup – we tasted two kinds at the Tea Expo and fell in love with the spicy taste  – We will have both a Purple and Green Tulsi
• We’ll have a Green Nilgiri on the menu – this is from the famous blue mountian in India but is a green tea, it has a unique flavor just as good as the black teas from that region

Caffeine: Friend or Foe?

It seems there is no real consensus among experts on the answer to this question. While some consider it harmful, recent studies praise its potential health benefits. 

Fact is that caffeine is a bitter substance, naturally occurring in some plants as their protective measure against insects and microbes – a natural pesticide! In the human body, caffeine increases metabolism and stimulates the nervous system, which leaves us more alert, feeling less tired and a little more cheerful. Negative effects such as heart palpitations, headaches and sleeplessness are typically the result of too much caffeine or sensitivity to it. For most people, though, the moderate consumption of caffeine is not harmful.

Truth is also, that the level of caffeine in your favorite drinks varies greatly and that not all caffeine is created equal.  Let’s take a closer look at the makeup and effects of caffeine in your cup of tea:

How much is in my cup? 

This is one of the most asked questions we get. The answer is: “It depends”. A variety of factors determine the caffeine content in the dry tea leaf and in the steeped leaf.

Since caffeine is a pesticide, the younger shoots and leaves have more caffeine than the more mature tea leaves. The type of tea plant, soil texture, climate, and elevation all play a role in how much caffeine the tea leaf produces.

Processing methods also matter when it comes to the caffeine content in your cup. Green and black teas undergo different processing and the oxidation step of black tea production changes the cellular structure of the leaf in such a way that caffeine is more readily available to dissolve in water.

Steeping time and water temperature have a great impact on the caffeine level in your cup as well. Caffeine is water-soluble and the longer it is exposed to water, the more caffeine molecules are released – in short, the longer you steep your tea, the more caffeine you’ll end up with. This explains in part, why your green or white tea tends to have less caffeine than your black tea. The recommended steeping time for most green and white teas is 2-3 minutes, whereas black tea is typically steeped between 3-5 minutes.

How does tea compare with other sources of caffeine? 

Due to the many factors contributing to the caffeine content, it is difficult to provide exact measurements. On average, however, an 8 oz cup of black tea has 85 mg caffeine and an 8 oz cup of green tea has 40-60mg of caffeine. In comparison, an 8 oz cup of drip coffee contains 135 mg, a 12oz can of Coke 34mg.

 Why does tea give me a lift and not a jolt? 

The caffeine in tea is called theine (tay-eene) and metabolizes differently in the body than the caffeine in coffee. Researchers found, for example, that the high

continued on our blog…..

Current Events

 Here’s what’s current –

• We know, we know, we have taken forever to get our Fall Class Schedule online  – it’s there now!
• Thanks to everyone who took the pledge to support local businesses during Independent’s Week  
• In addition to the SmartKettle and Iced Tea maker we also carry a simple electric kettle now. The feedback has been very positive on these time savers
• More good news for tea drinkers and their hearts
• Got a college-bound student – How about the our “Dorm Pack?” – a Zojirushi water boiler , Tea Magic, and Mug with your choice of any 3 flavored teas – $189.99 (saves $15 off of regular price AND the Zoji’s work well with college staples like Ramen and Oatmeal

Thanks for Reading…

Everyone did pretty well on the geography question last month.  This month we are offering an 50g of Tulsi, Hawaiian Breeze or Green Niligiri for three people who answer the following question.  What is another name for Tulsi?  Send your answers to info@souvia.com .  We had 3 winners last month for the Yoga Pura Certificates.  I will draw 3 winners this month…

We hope you’ll visit us in the store, at one of our partners or online soon.  If you can’t get in, remember… we ship same day and your tea will arrive quickly!

Quick and Current

Tea and Chocolate

Goings on

If you missed the

Segment on Tea and

Chocolate for 

Valentine’s Day

it is archived here

Featured Teas

Several New teas arriving

Lomi Lomi Herbal infusion

is a delight for the senses

Taiping Monkey King is

a unique and rare green 

tea with a long leaf style

Sencha Kombucha is a

green tea with kombucha

powder.  Plum like

flavor is simple to make

Fog Tea is a green tea

also known as “Clouds

of Mist” or Wu Lu.  Grown

in misty mountains it makes

a great tea.

Quick and current

February not only contains Valentine’s Day, but is also American Heart Month.   Tea is a great way to tackle both!  Black Teas have been shown to strengthen the cardiovascular system and tea fills the bill in many other ways for Valentine’s Day.  In this edition:

• Souvia Teas can be found in more places like The Java Spa in the Sachi Salon and the Water Mart at Camelback and Miller.  Ask for Souvia Teas at your favorite haunts – we can deliver anywhere in the country!
• The popular Souvia Saturday Forums continue on February 13th at 10am, providing speakers on a variety of general interest topics. They are free and run from 10am-Noon on selected Saturdays.  Next up: Greg Peterson on “Creating your own Urban Farm”
• See below for tea pairing, teas that are arriving and teas that are going away

Tea and Chocolate

Can you imagine a chocolate chip cookie without a glass of milk, a peanut butter sandwich without jelly, vanilla ice cream without hot fudge?  There are certain food combinations that take the taste from just good to simply delicious!

 Wine, for example, is often paired with foods and desserts to enhance the flavor in both. Tea shares many of wine’s complexities and pairing it with food can enhance the taste experience of both. Since February highlights chocolates and sweets as the perfect gift for your Valentine, why not take it to the next level and create tea and chocolate pairings for that romantic Valentine’s dinner that will surprise and delight?

One way to look at tea and chocolate is as friends, where similarity in characteristics enhance the flavor, or as lovers, where contrasting characteristics will complement each other through their differences. Since tea and chocolate share the same flavor profiles, floral qualities and bite from astringency and tannin, they practically invite you to create fun and tasty combinations. While you should always trust your taste buds to find the right combinations, there are some general guidelines that might help you get started.

• White teas have a very delicate flavor and pair well with mild chocolates and fruit. Try a Silver Needle or Bai Mu Tan with chocolate covered strawberries or a white chocolate cheese cake.
• Green teas have vegetal flavors and aromas and pair well with creamier tastes such as berry flavors and milk chocolate. A Japanese Sencha with its savory profile, for example, is a good match for white or milk chocolate.
• Oolongs  are partially oxidized teas, are very complex in flavor. The lightly oxidized, greener oolongs go well with rich sweet desserts like caramel filled pralines, milk or dark chocolate, while the more oxidized oolongs complement the stronger flavors of dark chocolate.
• Black Teas tend to have a stronger flavor, more body and their tannin content matches up well with rich and full flavored dark chocolate, maybe with a hint of berries, citrus or nuts.

We like rich and creamy desserts and, therefore, choose for a perfect Valentine’s dessert would be a Ti Kuan Yin Oolong from China with its slightly toasted notes and a slice of creamy chocolate caramel cake. 

If you are interested in learning more about this topic and would like to sample some creations, sign up for our  “Tea and Dessert Pairing” class on Sunday, March 7^th from 2 until 4 PM.

Lots going on at the store…

Lots happening over the next month or so

• Souvia Saturday forums started last month.  These are presentations of general interest to the community.  No registration necessary, just stop in and learn something new.  Got an idea for a topic or speaker?  Send us a note
• New teas are on the shelves: Fog Tea, Lomi Lomi, Sencha Kombucha, and Taiping Monkey King – check them out!
• The New Class Schedule is posted for the first half of 2010. Next up Herbals for Detox, Tea and Dessert Pairing and Tea 101
• Tea Tuesdays at the Kerr Cultural Center – Music sponsored by Souvia, so there is no charge for refreshments or the programs!   March 9th – “Viola Studio, Students of Nancy Buck”
• The Chinese New Year starts in February and it is the “Year of the Tiger” – We have an instore drawing for a boxed set of some of the top teas from China
• New arrivals in March – Licorice Root and White Cherry
• Leaving us soon – Pumpkin Pie, Nutcracker Suite, Assam Mangalam, Snow Buds Special, Spring Green, Cupids Arrow, Gingerbread House, Ginseng Oolong

Thanks for Reading

Win a Souvia T-shirt for answering the following question – Name two herbals that are good for your heart.  Send your answers to info@souvia.com.  I will draw 4 winners this month…

We hope to see you in the store or online soon.  If you can’t get in remember we ship same day and your tea will arrive quickly!

Contents

New Website

Sage

It’s that time of Year

Featured Items

Gingerbread

House

Just in time for cooler

temps – smooth and

aromatic – Caffeine

Free

We have lots of

great, personal

gifts for the tea

 Tea Tools Basket

 
This kit has all

the tools needed to

dive into the world

of tea

 Be our Fan!

Cold Chaser 

 Savory and soothing

this German Blend of

herbs can naturally

boost one’s immunity

and shorten a cold

What’s New?

Just as we are updating our physical presence, we have updated our virtual one this month!  We launched our new website this week with:

• Our 2010 Class Schedule for Phoenix
• More Tea and Products
• New look with easier navigation

Take a look and tell us what you think! 

Check out the events section below for the tea sale, free back rubs and music.

Trick or Tea has come and gone.  However, for a Limited time we can get it by the pound.  It will take about 6 business days from time of order – Can only be ordered in one of the stores.

Cranberry-Peach (black), Nutcracker Suite, Gingerbread House(rooibos), and Harvest Moon(green) are in the stores.  Look for Ambrosia White in December.

Tea Word of the Month:  High Tea [hy tee]  –noun :    a meal usually with breads, meats and cheeses served after 6pm often confused with Afternoon Tea but more of a meal than a social diversion

Herbal Corner – Sage – “all is well”

Sage (Salvia Officinalis) was the first herb my grandmother introduced me to. I still remember the honey sweetened, aromatic tea she gave me to soothe my sore throat when I was sick.

The generic name for sage, salvia, is Latin and means “to heal” and in ancient Rome and Greece Sage was believed to heal everything, from snakebites to colds. It was also attributed to have memory enhancing properties. Every country’s herbal healers, from China to Europe, recommended Sage and, because of its many medicinal properties, it became known as the herb that could extend life to the point of immortality.

It is true that sage has very powerful antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and was therefore used by the Greek and Romans as a meat preservative. Even today, it is no accident that we are so fond of adding a little sage to that Turkey stuffing!

Medicinally, sage is a wonderful digestive remedy. It stimulates the flow of digestive enzymes and bile and helps settle the stomach and relieves indigestion.

Sage is also known to be a tonic to the nervous system, enhancing the body’s strength and vitality.

Its antiseptic properties have been relied on in wound healing and the mild estrogenic effect may help relieve menopausal problems, especially hot flashes.

The French call this herb “toute bonne”, which means “all is well”. Indeed, Sage has many healing properties and should not be missing from your herbal remedy kit.

It’s that time of year!

No, we’re not putting up Christmas decor just yet but we are thinking about it.  Some upcoming events -

• We will have our “after Thanksgiving sale” on Friday and Saturday, November 27th and 28th – In Phoenix, we will have free chair massages for everyone spending $20 or more
• We’ll open Sundays, 12pm-5pm on December 6th, 13th and 20th
• On Fridays – December 4th, 11th, and 18th , music returns to Souvia from 4pm-6pm with some soothing Recorder to de-stress for the Holiday
• Keep up with all that is going on – Become a Fan of Souvia  or Follow us on Twittter

In January, “Souvia Saturdays Community Forum” begins.   These will be held in the Phoenix location from 10am-12pm on certain Saturdays.  We have three speakers already lined up,  See the topics on the calendar or Blog. Ideas?  Send them to info@souvia.com

It was great to see so many of you at the Local First Festival – If you missed it, pencil in the first Saturday in November for next year.  For those with an eye for detail or design, please send us feedback on the new website – I will draw two names to receive 50 grams of any of our Holiday teas!

We hope to see you in the stores but if not, remember we ship everyday, locally and nationwide!

Meet the Author

Meet Author and Speaker Greg Petersen at the Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe on Monday, November 16th at 7pm.  Greg  will be talking about a new and unique series of mini books designed for the busy, fast-paced life we live.  The series, called The Urban Farm’s Simple Sustainability Series – The first two are out My Extraordinary Yard and Fowl Play