In this autumn issue, we celebrate the versatility of tea and the important role it can play in your day-to-day health, considering both a scientific and a social perspective.
We offer our article on tea and chocolate pairing, including guidelines on how to host your own gathering.
There is the latest in tea news, Stir stock updates and a delicious Butterfly Pea Flower Soda drink recipe.
We hope you can settle in with your favourite cup of Stir and enjoy a read.
A cup of tea, served with a little chocolate on the side, makes for a delicious pairing.
Discover our two blogs below that delve into this tasty subject - both the science and the social.
The social covers how to host your very own Tea and Chocolate pairing gathering - a fun event for the upcoming Easter break.
1. The Science:
New research suggests that enjoying your cup of tea and some squares of dark chocolate can support heart health and healthy blood pressure. A reminder of the positive health effects of simple daily rituals.
With recent celebrations of the Chinese New Year throughout the world, we thought you might find it interesting to read our blog on the Chinese Zodiac and tea culture - both subjects deeply rooted in observation of cycles -seasons, elements, and the passage of time.
If you would like to try a traditional and highly prized Chinese Green Tea then we suggest Dragonwell Longjing
You will find us in the red barn at Remarkables Market most Saturday’s between 9.00am and 2.00pm until the end of the season (mid April).
Tea and Bitters:
I had the pleasure of attending a very interesting talk on Bitters hosted by Te Atamira in Queenstown. It was lead by Skye from the talented team at Wild Dispensary in Dunedin.
I left inspired with a new winter project - to come up with flavoursome non-alcoholic drink recipes, incorporating bitters with some of our blends. I will keep you posted in future newsletters.
We are proud to offer you our new stock of flavoursome peppermint leaf (Mentha Piperita).
The leaf is grown, dried and cut in Washington State, USA and we airfreight it directly from our supplier to ensure you get to drink the freshest stock.
Fun fact - it is estimated that 70% of the global peppermint market is grown and supplied by the US.
Our long established Peppy Mint customers are enjoying the strong mint flavour of the brewed peppermint leaf. It makes for a very refreshing and cooling drink, which is also delicious served over ice with a squeeze of fresh lime.
Peppermint has long been recognised as a home remedy for digestive distress. Its active compound, menthol, relaxes the muscles of the gut, helping to reduce bloating, heartburn, and abdominal pain. It may also calm inflammation.
This makes it a popular choice to enjoy at the end of a meal, or if you find yourself indulging in a little too much chocolate over Easter, then reach for your peppy mint.
Cognitive Support Beverages (CSB) - Yay for Tea Leaf!
This is a term I am increasingly seeing reported in beverage trend report. CSB's are functional drinks formulated to enhance focus, memory, mental clarity and alertness.
Often, they will contain caffeine, antioxidants, L-theanine and offer natural alternatives to energy drinks.
What is great to see is that tea is included in this category, with no further formulation required! Well done tea lovers, you are ahead of the game on this.
Tea Flavour Bomb - If you have any surplus tea left over, simply pour it into ice-cube moulds, add some herbs, fruit pieces or garnishes and freeze to create a flavour bomb. Add these to your future cuppa for another layer of flavour or reach for the tray to add to your next brewed iced tea for a party of one or many.
Relaxation and Sleep - Just a little reminder that caffeine in your tea can impact your sleep. If this is affecting you, then we suggest switching to one of our caffeine-free offerings from the middle of the afternoon to aid the quality of your sleep. A favourite for the cooler days is Spiced Rooibos.
Parting Message from Michelle
“Celebrating life’s little & big moments with a great cup of tea”
This statement appears on our website, and as a tea lover, it is one way of acknowledging the presence tea plays in my life - it pretty much gets invited to every occasion!
Each cup of tea offers so much - a promise of something to come or time to reflect on the past or present. It is always a helpful companion for gathering your own thoughts or a catalyst for spending time with others.
During this time of sad and unsettled world events, I hope your daily tea ritual also remains a place that helps you find moments of gentleness, sustenance, and calm in your day.
