...one of these beings is a beautiful princess who lived high up in a crystal palace. She was the wife of a great warrior who did many brave deeds, and her name was Chang’e. Originally she lived on Earth, but did something to earn herself banishment. Among the possibilities are that she was unfaithful or that she stole a pill of immortality that was forbidden to mortals...(Shanti Tea Canada blog)
Even if you haven’t traveled the world, you likely know about the storied place mint tea holds in Moroccan culture. Just the name Moroccan Mint brings to mind the labyrinthine markets and smoky bazaars of Marrakesh, the sand-swept deserts and the jade oases of the countryside. Is there any sight more marked of hospitality than the standard mint tea pour, starting at the base of the cup and rising to head level in one continuous, unbroken steaming stream, spilling nary a drop?
Of course, we cannot blame you if you’ve made the same mistake as many and assumed that Orange Pekoe is a flavor of tea. Something about it just sounds exotic and delicious, doesn’t it? But we’re here to tell you that that’s actually not the case: Orange Pekoe is in fact a grade of tea, a way to tell how good one tea is from the other based on the leaves themselves.
Mint: not only something to brush your teeth with or adorn the tea tables of old ladies playing bridge. This delicious Old World herb has a myriad of uses in cuisine, herbology and medicine, and popular mythology.
If you’ve ever wandered into a popular coffee shop on a rainy afternoon, you’re sure to have heard someone ordering and some barista announcing the preparation of a caramel latte. These relatively simple drinks have become one of the mainstays of popular culture, yet the massive pilings of milk and sugar offer relatively little in the way of health benefits. What is so attractive about them, then? Quite simply: flavor.
On a meditative fall morning, there is nothing better than to haul out a big bag of pears, fresh-picked from the backyard or the overly prolific tree down the street, and wash, peel, core and chop them for an entire vat of pear sauce. Or, sometimes even more gratifying, to press them into cider or turn them into a delicious pie or crumble. If you’re the type of person who delights in this sometimes humble fruit, then our organic Fujian Pear tea is sure to be a hit.
According to legend, the very first dragon appeared to the mythical emperor Fu-Shi in order to right several wrongs that had occurred at the hands of the monster Kung Kung. He was said to have rent a huge hole in the sky, and was a terrible presence who had to be stopped. Luckily the dragon filled in the hole and set the tone for how the world would function for the rest of time. The rhythms by which it lived its life – sleeping, waking, breathing, eating, flying – resulted in the creation of day and night, seasons and weather, and all the familiar patterns we recognize today.
In the days when England ruled the world, there was no reason to specify that something was or was not “English” – it was simply assumed that it was. Therefore the famous morning beverage that we know as English Breakfast Tea was merely called Breakfast Tea in England, the quintessential representation of British teatime culture. Contrary to popular belief, however, English Breakfast Tea did not get its start in England, but rather in America, where as early as Colonial Times colonists referred to this slightly sweet, strong black liquid as a representation of the mother culture...
Hailing from a magical-seeming country and boasting a fascinating preparation process, Pu-Erh tea is one of the most unique ways to enjoy one of mankind’s oldest hot beverages. Even the name is special: Pu-Erh comes from a trading post that was often used to barter for such products as tea in the Imperial China. The leaves for this tea are grown on trees in China’s Yunnan Province, a gorgeous rolling land covered with greenery, foothills, and mountains. Classically beautiful terraces provide rich earth in which luscious crops grow, waterways wind through misty mountains, and temples sit against cloud-draped vistas.
There’s nothing quite so comforting as the scent and taste of warm, spiced apples on a cold fall day. Whether in a pie, a sauce, or contained in a mug as delicious organic tea, these scent and flavor sensations have become synonymous with comfort for much of the world’s northern populations.As proven by their long-term mythical associations – like Eve and the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, for instance, generally associated in Western Thought with a round, red apple – apples have been gracing humanity’s tables in many forms for thousands upon thousands of years...
Once considered a great rarity in the West, tea is now about as commonplace as earth or air. Like both, however, it has the ability to be ordinary and humdrum, or – as is the case with our artisanal Canadian tea company’s Wuyi Rock Oolong – to be rare, uplifting, and inspired.
Today chais are well-loved even by coffee drinkers, and most of the recipes mirror the ancient South Asian tradition of boiling milk and water with tea, spices, and sometimes sweeteners. Our Sita Chai can be made the same way, if you like, though it is good on it’s own as well. Either way, it is best drunk with a story, so sit back, relax, and rest your mind in the tales of Ancient India.
The principal ingredient of our Coconut Chai has an interesting origin story in Hindu Mythology. Accoridng to this legend, a Hindu sage named Vishwamitra decided to help his friend, the kind King Trishanku, fulfill his lifelong dreams to ascend up the sky to the heavens, to the realm of the gods. The gods themselves were not too keen on this dream, however.
Starting and running a small business can be a daunting task. No matter how hard you work, there will always be more to do. To ensure your business is a success, you want to partner with the best possible tea distributor and tea manufacturer for supplies. How can you tell when you’ve found the right partner? Look at this list to see how your prospective tea distributor measures up.
For centuries tea has been a symbol of inner harmony, especially in the time-honored country of Japan. Indeed, the Ancient Japanese honed the craft and the art of the tea ceremony. The Orient's appreciation for tea is even viewed in its rich, ancient tea legends that were designed to instruct people as to the methods of unlocking their own inner peace, their Zen. The Samurai and the Tea Master is just such a tale that capitalizes on the power of inner tranquility over outward strength. The story is set in Ancient Japan, and the hero is not a Samurai, but a tea master.
Matcha is certainly among the earth’s “Superfoods”. Matcha is a stone ground green tea, traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremony since about 2000 years ago. In the world of tea Matcha surpasses other kinds in its health promoting content.
The bright, vibrant hibiscus blossom is recognized in many parts of the world as much for its gorgeous petal displays and cultural significance as for the splendidly sweet and tangy taste of the herbal tea it produces. In Hawaii, for instance, a woman who wears the hibiscus flower behind her left ear is indicating that she would like to take a lover, while one who wears it behind her right has already been claimed. One who wears it behind both, however, may present a bit of a quandary to the potential man, or else a laid-back dream come true: she already has one lover, but wouldn’t mind another.
Tulsi, also known as “Holy Basil” “Queen of the Herbs” “Elixir of Life” dates back to literally thousands of years along with Hinduism and Ayurvedic medicine. This herb is revered in India as a sacred herb and is recognized for its spiritually uplifting and healing properties. This aromatic herb has many health promoting properties. Many of you have already learned a lot about Tulsi from our Health Blending Workshops led by Dr. Prakash, but here's a quick recap of what's she's taught us...
