June 14, 2010

Questions asked of Teaopia

I sent the following to the Teaopia "Tea master" last night and got a response this morning.


Tea master,
1. Is the Tea Master safe? Plastic when heated can leak chemicals into food and in this case tea.
2. I have read that tea is not caffeine free. Despite manufacturer's attempt to make it so, there is still caffeine. Is this true?
3. Teaopia sells a lot of traditional tea ware, online and in store. Will you on day offer small seminars on how these are used? Especially the Yixing pots which from reading online it seems it needs to be seasoned extensively.
4. When getting a drink at a Teaopia location I over heard that you are a Canadian chain. Why is it not present in the store or online?
Looking forward to your answers.


Their answer is as so:


Hi Kat,
Thank you for contacting Teaopia.
1) Yes our Tea Master is safe to use and is BPA free.
2) Yes all real "tea" contains caffeine that includes, White Tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea and Black Tea. However, the caffeine content is significantly less than coffee (60-120 mg compared to 25-34mg in tea). While the caffeine levels in tea vary depending on the blend and how long it is brewed, the average cup contains only 25-34mg of caffeine. This is great news for tea lovers, or those who are looking to make the switch from other beverages to the health smart choice of tea, because according to Health Canada’s guidelines you can consume approximately 10-12 cups of tea every day!
3) At this time I have not been made aware of any plans to introduce seminars at Teaopia. I do have some interesting information about Yixing including how to properly season the pot if you are interested I would be more than happy to pass it along to you.
4) Yes we are a proudly Canadian owned and operated company. I will be sure to mention to the appropriate people that perhaps we should have this better advertised to our customers!
Thank you so much for taking the time to email us. I sincerely hope you are enjoying our store as well as our teas!
Have a great day and take the time to enjoy "The Perfect Cup of Tea"
Elise
Director of Communications
Teaopia

   This is great to hear that the Teamaster is safe to use and learn a new other things about tea as well.
Go out and support Canadian companies!


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June 13, 2010

Little quiz

18 levels of tea drinkers

Found this article somewhat interesting. A couple of them don't make much sense even before translating due to lack of explanation. I am sure one can be at more than one place in your tea life. High lighted ones are where I feel I belong to currently.
-From lmen at Tea Obession

1. no tea, do not drink tea

2. do not like tea, can drink tea but do not like tea, usually are soft drink drinkers.

3. too lazy to drink tea, can drink tea, does not detest the flavor, but to lazy to make a cup of tea

4. lonely drinker, likes tea but too cheap to share tea with others.

5. business tea, loves tea and know what's good tea, but only share when there is something to gain.

6. beautiful tea, drink tea for reason of pretty girls whom performs the art of tea

7. wake up tea, drink tea for caffeine effect.

8. meal tea, drink tea to aid digestion after meals.

9. learn tea, always a student when it comes to tea, learn not only tea, but the spirituality that tea brings, some what Zen.

10. love tea, tea nerds, enjoy the fun of smelling aroma, observing tea color, tasting flavor, where it's from, what year is it, the physical being of tea.

11. addicted tea, only the flavor is important, what where and how are not their concern.

12. indulge tea, ones who would travel far to meet the tea.

13. Crazy tea, focus on Cha Tao intensely, narrow tracked mind.

14. above and beyond tea, mind without skill or skill without mind is just tea, without mind and skill is true tea.

15. treasure tea, treasure life and friendship. In life, you gain some and loose some, treasure friendship and treasure the moment, treasure tea that brings friendship, treasure the moments together.

16. happy tea, having tea is good, not having tea is also fine, love tea, but not controlled by tea.

17. watch tea, be happy just watching tea.

18. abandon tea, transcend to an other realm from tea.


This was quite eye opening. What category(s) do you fall into?
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How much caffeine is in tea?

After reading Imen's post on the subject at Tea Obsession I decided to write a bit on the subject myself. After reading an extensive amount of information from work and after hearing from other people. I have found that it really depends on a few things for how much caffeine will effect you.
One is diet. I work with vegans, one has stated that Matcha makes her jittery. Much like how I get when I have espresso or an Americano. This is not to say her diet is at fault but I believe it to be a big factor.
Two is health. I don't have much to say on this as it should be straight forward. Some medications though, such as estrogen, can be effected by caffeine and have negative( or if your lucky positive) effects of the medication. Estrogen, according to a study, get's reduced in the body up to 13% if you are consuming a high amount of green tea ( it stated just that one) because of the caffeine.
Three is level of activity. This should go into health but I find it separate. I have been watching my weight (not necessary but I do) and going for long long walks. This is not a high level of activity but it is something that falls into the category. This won't necessarily effect how you take caffeine I think.

These three things count for many other things as well. But diet for me is the most important. If you consume alot of products which have caffeine in it already (energy drinks etc) then perhaps your body becomes immune to its effects. This is only a theory. We do not know.
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June 12, 2010

Majesteas: Purveyors of loose tea


Went to my new favorite tea shop in town. It's quite new.They have a small selection of top grade teas to offer. Many of which I have not seen before. This afternoon I tried their Edinburgh Breakfast, other wise known as Scottish Breakfast. At under $3CDN for a pot of tea which consisted of 3-4 cups I was quite pleased. They have been open for 6 weeks so far according to the employee present today.
My Scottish Breakfast was so wonderful I decided to purchase some. This location only sells 100g of each tea in either a bag or can. I choose the latter as It saves me space and it has two lids (a seal to keep it fresh and a pop off lid).




The place is quite small but very cozy and well designed. I can not see why anyone would want to pass up the opportunity to partake in such a pleasant experience. Or at least come to purchase tea ware at fair prices. My first visit I acquired a Yixing sized glass pot at $14.95 CDN. I have already used it so much that I feel I have gained back its price already through excellently brewed tea. If anyone is in the area of Queen St. East and Pape it is before Shoppers Drug mart on the North side when coming west. Please enjoy a sample once you enter.

950 Queen St. East , Toronto, Ontario
T:647-350-4646 E:info@majesteas.ca
www.majesteas.ca



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June 10, 2010

Tea Association of Canada: OpportuniTeas Brewing Conference 2010

Tea Association of Canada: OpportuniTeas Brewing Conference 2010

Date: September 20 – 22, 2010

Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada


I think I will get myself down there for this perhaps If I feel so inclined.

Depends on the price of tickets and fare to get down there as well.

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Teaopia- new job



I have decided to start logging my finds of tea shops and journey as I study tea this morning. I start work at Teaopia and hope that I can help others through their journey through the culture and history surrounding tea.
This is day one of my journey , as it will be preparation for my first day of being totally consumed by tea on a daily basis. I am awaiting a call from the library about "The Story of Tea" and "The Tea Classic". The first is one which I know my coworkers may have read and the second is more so for myself as it is by my favorite "Immortal" Lu Yu- "The Immortal of Tea". I hope to read other books as well especially Aaron Fisher's newest book which I am going to order once I am settled into my new habitat.

Just a bit about myself. I am a recent graduate from OCAD University in Toronto, with a BFA in Fine Arts. Majoring in Drawing and Painting with a minor in Art History. My work recently has been infused with zen which comes from my consumption of tea on a regular basis. I drink more tea than anyone I know offline and often get the "what is that?" asked of me when I am lugging my glass tea tumbler around full of freshly brewed tea from full leaf tea.
Back home I tended to stick with bagged tea , that was till a full leaf tea shop opened in 2005 or 2006. I am good friends with the owner and have struggled to consume each tea she has to offer (currently at over 180 teas when I last visited, there goes my goal). Since my first pot of full leaf tea and my purchase of a bag of sencha, I have not been able to stop myself from trying new varieties and brands.
My tea ware collection has grown over last summer. From a single tea pot I had no knowledge of to having a glass gaiwan, yixing pot, matcha bowl, whisk, tea tray , utensil set etc. It is worrying that I have also turned a small dresser into my "tea chest" which is full of mostly teas and all of my tea ware (what I can fit in there at least).
I shall end this first post here as I wish to enjoy a new discovery of both tea and a shop which I will post more about latter.
best,
Kat

Edit: Here is a picture from fall 2010

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June 9, 2010

Ink and Tea


Recently I have been playing with my two favorite things: Ink and Tea. So far I have been just been experimenting but I soon wish to utilize this in a final piece.

In addition I have been trying out different surfaces of which these two can be placed on. Canvas, paper, and cotton fabric. Are so far the ones I have played with.

In addition I hope to make notes here on the different tones each kind of tea creates as well as document my other art or rather art form through Gung Fu Cha (the way of tea or Cha Xi).

I actually picked up a new tea pot resembling an Yixing pot but made out of glass. I am about to enjoy another session of tea before heading out to see friends this evening. I will post more once once I begin my list of tones/colours that the teas I have create.

.
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