I’ve been gone a while and I’m sorry about that. Things happen. I’m back now and would love to hear your thoughts on – - yes, tea. Meanwhile, here’s some food for thought (literally).

A recent article in Health magazine (The New Way to Conquer Cravings, May 2012) talks about how to “rewire your brain to keep temptation at bay,” and how cues can so easily overtake even the best of willpower, particularly when repeatedly associated with fatty or sugary foods. We’ve all been there – the bakery we see on our way to work or those TV ads for fast food at about 6pm. To make things worse, these donuts and french fries have a much stronger effect on the brain than broccoli; they release a greater level of dopamine which gives us a “feel good” experience, and their varied flavors and textures make them more stimulating. To top it off, our crave programming may date back to days in the womb; if Mom found comfort in sweets, so might you.

So if triggers are so powerful, why not use them to our advantage? Rather than hanging around the vending machine at 3pm, consider creating a daily habit of tea and fruit or some low-fat cheese and wholegrain or rice crackers. Eventually 3pm could become your cue for something healthy.

Thanks,

Laura

Tel: (312) 828-0954

Email:  lmoran@liiftea.com

Chicago Entrepreneurs Partner to Create the Perfect Tea Experience

Flower Design Studio Hosts First in a Series of Chicago Tea Tastings

CHICAGO, Illinois – January 25, 2011 – The innovative floral setting at one of Chicago’s leading flower design studios and retail stores, Stems (850 N. Ashland Avenue), will be the first stage for a new series of events, Chicago Tea Tastings, held on Thursday, February 17, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.  Local companies Liif Tea^®, Kissel’s Spiced Jam^®, and Great American Cheese Collection^TM will host these tastings throughout the year to help raise people’s familiarity with teas and how to pair them with cheeses, jams, and other specialty foods.

“Stems is the perfect setting to launch our Chicago Tea Tastings series,” states Laura Moran, the owner of Liif Tea LLC.  “The atmosphere at Stems creates a visual and aromatic experience for guests the minute they walk in the door, and we will extend that experience into the world of taste and education.  There will even be an intuitive on hand to provide readings between sips and conversation.”

“Pairing interesting combinations is just one of the many ways that Americans are broadening their appreciation for flavors and textures,” says Giles Schnierle, the founder of Great American Cheese Collection, “and these tea tastings will offer opportunities to explore the unexpected.”  Adds Kissel’s Spiced Jam CEO, Ben Shelton, “The Kissel’s Spiced Jam product line itself began with pairing fruit and spice combinations found in wines and teas, so our pairing with cheeses and teas is a natural.”

The event at Stems is free and products will be on sale, cash only, for those who wish to purchase. Guests are encouraged to RSVP on the “Liif Tea LLC” group Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135738596489097) or by emailing lmoran@liiftea.com.

About Stems, Inc.

Stems began with a vision to open a small, stylish, innovative flower shop in Chicago’s up-and-coming West Town neighborhood. The result was the creative design studio for a thriving corporate and retail floral business. The creative atmosphere of the studio keeps Stems on the cutting edge of flower design in Chicago for weddings, special events, corporate accounts, and everyday, unforgettable floral designs. Media Contact: Allison Denny, (312) 243-4470, allison@stemschicago.com.

About Liif Tea LLC

Liif Tea LLC is a Chicago-based importer, wholesaler and retailer of specialty loose leaf teas and accessories. Founded by Laura Moran in 2007, Liif offers premium products and destination tea events tailored to specific needs and preferences. Media Contact: Laura Moran, (312) 828-0954, lmoran@liiftea.com.

About Great American Cheese Collection

Great American Cheese Collection brings together excellent quality and delicious, small-production cheeses from around the USA. The company aims to make these products more available to chefs in restaurants and food service and to the public via retail stores and farmers’ markets. Representing more than 65 family and co-op producers, The Great American Cheese Collection is the single largest source for America’s specialty cheeses. Media Contact: Giles Schnierle, (773) 779-5055, hearttrade@aol.com.

About Kissel’s Spice Jam

Kissel’s Spiced Jam, Inc. manufactures the world’s first and only product line of its kind, pairing fruit and spice combinations that often occur together naturally in wines, teas, and other foods raised from the soil. Using all natural ingredients, the Kissel’s Spiced Jam product line consists of six original flavors (including Apricot Rosemary, Blueberry Lavender, Strawberry Basil, Peach Coriander, Cherry Fennel, and Plum Tarragon), all produced using the company’s exclusive “open-kettle” cooking technique at the plant in Wheeling, Illinois. Media Contact: Ben Shelton, (847) 537-3100 x208, ben@spicedjam.com.

When done, gently rinse your face to remove any possible stains from the tea and – voila! The dark circles and/or puffiness around your eyes should be less noticeable. Why? Tea contains tannin, a natural astringent, which may help pull the skin taut.

• Subjects who drank 3 to 6 cups (let’s assume 8 ounces) of tea each day had a 45% lower risk of death from heart disease compared with those that drank less than 1 cup a day.
• Drinking more than 6 cups of tea a day resulted in a 36% lower risk of death from heart disease compared with those that drank less than 1 cup.
• Subjects who drank more than 2 and less than 4 cups of coffee each day had a 20% lower risk of death from heart disease than those that drank more or less coffee.
• Neither coffee nor tea consumption seemed to affect the risk of stroke.

So, according to this study, tea drinkers win the race but coffee drinkers are still benefiting from their morning brew. In addition – in case you’re curious – most of the tea-drinking subjects drank black tea.

Source: http://atvb.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/30/8/1665.

Until that magic pill of the century appears on store shelves everywhere, maintaining healthy lifestyles will continue to grow in importance for preventing unwanted hospital visits, ensuring the optimal health of our offspring and warding off those 200-year-old wrinkles. With age, the essential nutrient needs of women are fairly similar to those of men except for women’s higher propensity towards deficiencies in iron, calcium, vitamin D and various antioxidants.  What does this mean? Healthy diets and lifestyles – which includes ensuring we get the vital nutrients and antioxidants we need on a regular basis – can help prevent osteoporosis, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer, digestive problems, colon cancer, gallbladder disease and other ailments that frequently occur in older women.

Where does tea fit in this picture? Antioxidants, of course.

-       12 ounces vanilla almond milk

-       2 teaspoons of Liif’s Ceylon Black No.7 tea leaves

-       1 teaspoon maple syrup

-       ½ teaspoon cloves

-       ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Heat all ingredients except the cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat for approximately 3 minutes or until it starts to boil. Strain into a large mug, sprinkle the cinnamon on top and indulge!

The accidental invention part is great. The rest? A few considerations:

1. The squeeze: Go big with your bags. Smaller tea bags (particularly older versions) constrict the tea’s unfurling process. This means the leaves can’t expand and open when wet and release all their chemicals and flavor into the water.

2. The leaf: Avoid dust or fannings; different sizes of leaves or particles; leaves from less reputable estates and plants (and lower levels on the plant); and lots of flavorings. Many bags have these, but you might find some good ones out there.

3. The air: Air, light and moisture are tea’s enemies, and tea bags expose tea to more air because of how they are packaged. You can’t avoid air contact entirely, but look for containers like airtight tins and that protect against the elements.

4. The little extra something: If you try hard enough (or not so hard), you might notice the flavor of the actual tea bag, especially with older varieties. If you like this, great! If not, the newer silken bags add less of their own style to the brew.

The tea bag has come a long way in recent years. Newer versions are larger, come in different shapes and sizes, and/or are made of nylon rather than paper for a cleaner taste. In addition, some have lost their strings and staples for greater eco-friendliness. There are certainly times when a tea bag is more convenient and it’s usually a better alternative to other more sugary or more caffeinated beverages. When it comes to pure quality or taste, however, I’m willing to bet most tea connoisseurs have yet to stray from loose leaf.

• Prevention and treatment of numerous cancers
• Reduced cholesterol
• Reduced risk of heart disease and cardiac events
• Prevention against and slower spread of HIV
• Prevention of diabetes
• Strengthened immune system
• Prevention of cognitive impairments (cognition, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Duchenne’s dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral ischemia, glioblastoma multiforme, acute stress response)‏
• Reduced risk of kidney stones
• Reduced risk of osteoporosis
• Increased metabolism, fat oxidation, calorie expenditure
• Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
• Prevention of bad breath and damage to tooth enamel
• Treatment of iron overload disorders
• Decreased stress hormone

What do you think?

About 4,200 years passed as tea spread across China and Japan. Tea books were written; guidelines on how to grow, prepare, drink, and store tea were developed; and teahouses were built. Tea became a sort of culture and means for bringing VIPs together for highly civilized, relaxed discussions on religion, politics, business, and other important matters.

Once tea hit Europe in the 1500s and 1600s, raised pinkies and scones took hold.  In Holland, upper-class housewives adopted afternoon tea full heartedly, nearly pushing government to outlaw the ritual given the apparent child neglect and tearoom additions to homes while husbands were away at work. Later in England, Queen Elizabeth I began importing tea and Catherine de Braganza made it the fashionable drink of court, which in turn made it the drink for everyone else as well. Men in Europe still gathered to discuss business over tea as they had for centuries in Asia, but women were now part of this world and strongly influenced the look and feel of tea time as we know it today.  Around 1650, tea made its way to the U.S. and a similar story unfolded.

Many factors have shaped the evolution of tea and its reputation around the world.  It’s just interesting to note how it has evolved from a man’s drink to one that often evokes images of dainty finger foods and doilies!

Now you can enjoy your teas 30% more! Those online are great hot or cold and make wonderful gifts for teachers, neighbors, party hosts, babysitters…and yourselves, of course. If you prefer iced tea, I recommend the Liif  iced tea pitchers. With these, you just add cold, fresh water to 3 (smaller pitcher) or 6 (larger pitcher) tablespoons of dry loose leaf tea and let it cold steep overnight in your fridge. In the morning, dispose of the leaves and your done. That’s it. For Arnold Palmers, add frozen lemonade concentrate to taste (6-12 ounces) and stir.

Enjoy,

Laura