Hi folks!  Things are cooling down here in the Midwest and many folks are looking for a good cup of hot tea!  I’ve just the thing.  “Four Leaves Ripe” pu’er tea in both loose leaf and beengs (compressed into round 250 gram cakes)!  After many sittings with a myriad of different ripened pu’er leaves, I finally tweaked a blend that is already selling like well,  hot tea   The leaves used in this MandalaTea exclusive blend are spring-picked leaves and were ripened in 2006 and 2007 by one of our very favorite tea processors.  Delicious strong and thick like espresso or light and subtle, reminiscent of walks in the Stone Forest not far from Kunming in the Yunnan province of China.

This tea is really delicious if I do say so myself and we’ve had many repeat buyers already, some of whom are quite picky about their ripe pu’er teas (me, too).  You may take a look at the “Four Leaves Ripe” cake at our online tea shop!  We’ll have the loose-leaf up there soon, I promise.  We just finished blending it and will have pics soon!!  Our friend, Ian Llanas, and Sarah got the lovely label together.

And for goodness sake, if you want to try it, stop on in and share a cup with us!

Many good wishes,

Garret

Happy days of summer to you!

I like my tea nice and hot, truth be told.  Still, I must admit, that after a nice run on a hot day, there is nothing like doing some stretching on the deck and sipping some ice-cold, slightly sweetened tea!  Many customers love serving up iced tea to their guests, a welcome refreshment for many on these warm summer afternoons.

Check out our summertime iced-tea recipes.

Drink up, be healthy and enjoy!

I wanted to let everyone know that we will once again be offering our tea class through Winona Community Education!  The past classes have been a true joy to be a part of.  The next offering is on January 25th (2009) and will be held from 2-5 pm.

It will be offered again on February 22nd, also from 2-5 pm.  The March and April dates have not yet been announced.

If you have any questions about the classes, please call or email us.

You may register by going to:

https://ssl.dwebsite.com/secure2/ce_winona/php/public.php?action=listClasses&categoryId=6&programId=4

During the 3 hour class, we will discuss the origins, myth, stories, processing and preparation of the different types of tea – white, yellow, green, oolong, black and pu’er.  We will sample many different teas all while helping you to get more confident in your skills as a preparer of tea for your friends and family, not to mention your own enjoyment!

We are hearing about the benefits of drinking tea more and more.  And, apart from water, tea is the most popular beverage in the world.  Here’s a few reasons why you might want to bring tea into your daily life…

1.   Rich in Antioxidants: necessary to help remove toxic molecules which enter our body through pollution, artificial substance intake, and metabolic waste.  Removing these toxins inhibits the development of disease and strengthens immune system functioning.

2.   Boosts Metabolism

3.   Promotes Hydration/Balances Electrolytes

4.   Anti-Mutagenic Properties (anti-cancer)

5.   Aids Digestion

6.   Reduces Risk of Heart Disease (Polyphenols)

7.   Natural Flouride (strengthens tooth enamel)

8.   Stress Relieving (Theanine creates feelings of relaxation while keeping you alert/cuts Cortisol, a       hormone that rises while under stress)

9.   Lowers LDL cholesterol (Pu-erh and Black teas)

10.  Calorie and Fat Free

11.  Quality tea just tastes good!

Beyond these amazing health benefits, the world of tea offers a great variety of tastes and aromas, with a rich history filled with tales and traditions.  Although all tea comes from the same plant, nearly infinite variations in growing conditions, pickings, and processing result in over 2,000 varieties in China alone.

We are proud to make available some of the finest teas produced in China.  Freshness and quality is of the utmost importance. You will taste the difference in your cup!