tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4837905367564818332024-02-07T17:40:11.566-08:00Teaism BlogTeasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-55855254645466387412013-06-01T16:34:00.001-07:002013-06-03T16:24:12.313-07:00Konichiwa hojicha!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 25px;">If you're a tea aficionado, you may have noticed something missing in </span><i style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 25px;">Teaism's</i><span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 25px;"> broad selection of teas: the Japanese varieties. Our toasted rice, roasted stems, and buckwheat infusion have been off the menu for almost two years. I'm excited to say that they're all back now, and so I've prepared a short tutorial for you on the different brews, using <i>The New Tea Companion</i> and <i>Harney and Son's Guide to Tea, </i>as well as my own tasting notes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 120%;">Genmaicha: </span></i><span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 120%;">Broad,
deep green sencha leaves mixed with toasted brown rice, some crunchy whole
kernels and some popped like baby popcorn. The brewed tea has a pleasing aroma
of roasted rice. “An eloquent unification of the two crops central to Japanese
culture: tea and rice. The light bodied
tea is a blend of <i>genmai</i>, or
unpolished brown rice, and <i>cha</i>, or tea,” (Harney & Sons, 65).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxYL6n5uCoxBL_0ESRFnLLN5R8WlCOVTOIVRi_EDuhhkk64ir-S7ai2PYJGiosDfIROJrwCFmX_qyLWwjcc39eKX_4jsEXdvUimCeVSHrzmTO_FgbE8w3gRi1ZbvaSP2GJORmPooMtyU/s1600/226659_10200174123251119_470913509_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxYL6n5uCoxBL_0ESRFnLLN5R8WlCOVTOIVRi_EDuhhkk64ir-S7ai2PYJGiosDfIROJrwCFmX_qyLWwjcc39eKX_4jsEXdvUimCeVSHrzmTO_FgbE8w3gRi1ZbvaSP2GJORmPooMtyU/s1600/226659_10200174123251119_470913509_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Genmaicha in the canister</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 120%;">Gyokuro: </span></i><span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 120%;">A lovely
shade-grown tea, gyokuro is one of Japan’s most expensive, highest quality brews.
It is grown, picked, and processed with the utmost care so that over-exposure
to sunlight doesn’t damage its delicate character. This is where it differs
from its cousin sencha okabe – gyokuro is grown in the shade, which forces the
plant to produce extra chlorophyll, whereas sencha stays in the sun. The
needle-like leaves give of gyokuro off a spinach and seaweed aroma, while the brewed
tea produces a clear pale yellow infusion with a sweet, mild, and smooth flavor
with soothing roasted notes.<span style="font-variant: small-caps;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 120%;">Hojicha: </span></i><span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 120%;">toasted
stems, stalks, and coarse leaves, from Japan. These by-products of the tea
process can be consumed green, or roasted to create this blend, which was
invented in 1920 by an enterprising tea merchant with an excess of old green
tea which he did not want to waste. It is naturally low in caffeine and has a nutty
flavor with notes of wood and a slightly caramel finish – the perfect tea to
introduce the avid coffee drinker to the world of tea. </span><span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">
<span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tJoyJImxY43InWPMBtXqY1_4-60fkpeUQvJ4lr8Py5QRAaQziJRzkmo6GZ6zIy2Cge_HHAbTjzWnd1vRT5iBaRqPMULFCVZvjPF7FUvT5E3rwjFuK8Sza17u4Idfu6rWr2dAY3L4HbM/s1600/969945_10200174145291670_460932256_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tJoyJImxY43InWPMBtXqY1_4-60fkpeUQvJ4lr8Py5QRAaQziJRzkmo6GZ6zIy2Cge_HHAbTjzWnd1vRT5iBaRqPMULFCVZvjPF7FUvT5E3rwjFuK8Sza17u4Idfu6rWr2dAY3L4HbM/s1600/969945_10200174145291670_460932256_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hojicha in a teacup</div>
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 120%;">Soba Cha: </span></i><span style="font-family: Baskerville; line-height: 120%;">buckwheat
infusion from Japan, with a malty, toasted grain flavor. This tisane is great
hot or iced, and naturally caffeine free. A great alternative to the more
fruity tisanes, the soba cha tastes more like a hojicha or kukicha. The toasted buckwheat berries can also be eaten on their own or used to top your favorite salad.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKYvT6WVwtMpgtSTTi6NF-ZVYvYmCxQqWNswrQyo9t1P_wJAFywYaianPiYTiRMy7W38Vtp4SgWfu7zfVJUBIAB33gevyK4TNVP0P-sB9NhLNScqpf76hZptaqLniVJ1Ckn-fbGUmRuM/s1600/181277_10200174176092440_214733715_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKYvT6WVwtMpgtSTTi6NF-ZVYvYmCxQqWNswrQyo9t1P_wJAFywYaianPiYTiRMy7W38Vtp4SgWfu7zfVJUBIAB33gevyK4TNVP0P-sB9NhLNScqpf76hZptaqLniVJ1Ckn-fbGUmRuM/s1600/181277_10200174176092440_214733715_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Soba cha in a tea ball brewer, inside a Miya bowl</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<all photos by Julia Colton></div>
</div>
Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-25405547938388377542013-03-16T13:20:00.001-07:002013-03-16T13:20:06.788-07:00Five Cups a Day Keeps the Doctor Away<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feeling a little under the weather? Got the seasonal cold that seems to be tormenting all of us as we hover on the cusp of Spring? Well now there's new evidence to prove that tea does more than just warm you up from the inside and add a (much needed) jolt of caffeine to your day: it's good for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qj9gKNgG8lp5EtgyXSUIN43W22FbVx9-UEqtzOsUq86ckL2cOoyVPoafuDFpz5lDpXiYwJnAYoBkRmPAAxW2rlJOTU1nqwKr93oqgjrgNFHGemQzz-4XKPxpLq5jeQcNwk_ct_FFjhw/s1600/544378_4745974162607_783893949_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qj9gKNgG8lp5EtgyXSUIN43W22FbVx9-UEqtzOsUq86ckL2cOoyVPoafuDFpz5lDpXiYwJnAYoBkRmPAAxW2rlJOTU1nqwKr93oqgjrgNFHGemQzz-4XKPxpLq5jeQcNwk_ct_FFjhw/s1600/544378_4745974162607_783893949_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For as long as any of us can remember, tea as been anecdotally accepted as a cure-all for the common cold. Runny nose? Sore throat? Congestion? Try some tea -- mint, ginger, or chamomile with a dash of honey. Beyond that, the anecdotal evidence abounds: "I drink green tea every day and I haven't been to the doctor in a decade," says my friend's grandfather. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turns out, there's science to back that up. A<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">ccording to Yoshihiro Kokubo, the lead author of a </span><a href="http://stroke.ahajournals.org/" style="background-color: white; color: #00598c; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">new study</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"> that followed over 80,000 Japanese adults for an average period of 13 years, men and women who drank at least three cups of green tea OR two cups of coffee a day had a 20% lower risk of stroke. Kokubo and her team accounted for factors like age, exercise levels, alcohol consumption, and smoking, and found that consuming five or more cups of green tea daily corresponded with a 26% decrease in death from cardiovascular disease along with an astounding <b>15% decrease in all-cause mortality.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I'll take those odds any day. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">For more information, check out the write-up in the <i><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/03/green-tea-and-coffee-both-associated-with-lowered-stroke-risk/274034/" target="_blank">Atlantic</a>, </i>or NPR's "<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/03/15/174334493/a-daily-habit-of-green-tea-or-coffee-cuts-stroke-risk?sc=emaf" target="_blank">Morning Edition</a>" story. </span></span>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-77612901378423819812013-03-04T12:50:00.001-08:002013-03-04T12:50:50.219-08:00Healthy Happy Happening!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJK1PMmtNlVLSv5XSLxCftE49zmCq55vlZgyDNSsMfM1pOqxtmtJx9AWtzdGiT3FTRKT2l0aOUAAQLxYHu8kEGcEt9yN6kCFMnVZgbA8TCzQ0vt_HHTo2nujw-x3IEdbnlMbROIV7dSiY/s1600/hhh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJK1PMmtNlVLSv5XSLxCftE49zmCq55vlZgyDNSsMfM1pOqxtmtJx9AWtzdGiT3FTRKT2l0aOUAAQLxYHu8kEGcEt9yN6kCFMnVZgbA8TCzQ0vt_HHTo2nujw-x3IEdbnlMbROIV7dSiY/s1600/hhh.jpg" height="640" width="228" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Join us this Friday, March 8th, at <i>Teaism </i>in Old Town for another <b>Healthy Happy Happening</b>. What is a healthy happy happening, you might ask? <b> </b>It's simple. It's an informal gathering of like-minded individuals -- people who care about what they put in their bodies: health care and nutritional professionals, athletes, yogis, and informed consumers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've been hosting Healthy Happy Happenings on the second Friday of every month, but this week we've got a special guest: Chef Nora Pouillon, founder of the first certified organic restaurant in the United States, <i><a href="http://www.noras.com/" target="_blank">Nora</a>. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Born in Vienna, Austria, Nora immigrated to the United States in the late 1960s. Although her formal training was in interior design, she found herself increasingly drawn to the world of food. Nora was horrified to realize that Americans were consuming processed, chemical laden foods on a regular basis, and the extent to which that was affecting our public health. "That's when she embarked on her crusade to promote a healthier lifestyle" (<a href="http://noras.com/nora/" target="_blank">Nora's About)</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since then, Nora has opened <i>City Café</i> and <i><a href="http://www.noras.com/asianora/antext.php" target="_blank">Asia Nora</a></i>, all while pursuing her mission of providing the healthiest, most delicious food to her customers. She sources organic and locally wherever possible. Above all, she advocates "a sustainable, health-focused lifestyle based on the premise that you are what you eat, drink, and breathe." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will be showing a short documentary on Nora's work and discussing how to incorporate the healthy and happy into our every day happenings with the local queen of Organic, Nora Pouillon. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1gSa5GrrULYs81IhXVXPsBK-80Nj_PBTp2kFg_L86WAQLgX8RIfTeSnjr39xSygidxSlUAgZzo2de78fyg1WLcKa_VmtOWV0QB_gr21kNVRgvg24d8T-UuSuqOX5UAsYySJdL4-rjHE/s1600/NORA_523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1gSa5GrrULYs81IhXVXPsBK-80Nj_PBTp2kFg_L86WAQLgX8RIfTeSnjr39xSygidxSlUAgZzo2de78fyg1WLcKa_VmtOWV0QB_gr21kNVRgvg24d8T-UuSuqOX5UAsYySJdL4-rjHE/s1600/NORA_523.JPG" height="320" title="Nora Pouillon" width="213" /></a></div>
Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-85371349786467969932013-02-12T11:46:00.000-08:002013-02-12T12:24:55.983-08:00Cacao to Cacao!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can't avoid it, you can't forget it, so you might as well embrace it -- Valentine's Day is here. Whether you're a cynical single, happily partnered, or anywhere in between, February 14th can be as stressful a day as any. So take it from me -- you can't go wrong with chocolate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The infinitely wise Charles Shultz once said, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">Here at <i>Teaism</i>, we've got a bevy of choices for your favorite chocoholic or just for you: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbzvz7rk4RCSuVbq3EkEuatT1BNNhIjdGUKeW1lS728-le-z-NRbU0hWbdFXizH79cvWxVEmnRQC1Rm21YlCem2TL0oxHlSqdgcUKn_Dei4y3n50Qw8YjgBLJw8N0bnMv0FIb6mvJedM/s1600/528538_4548701830922_882220634_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbzvz7rk4RCSuVbq3EkEuatT1BNNhIjdGUKeW1lS728-le-z-NRbU0hWbdFXizH79cvWxVEmnRQC1Rm21YlCem2TL0oxHlSqdgcUKn_Dei4y3n50Qw8YjgBLJw8N0bnMv0FIb6mvJedM/s1600/528538_4548701830922_882220634_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">Looking for something exotic? <a href="http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/" target="_blank">Vosges</a> haut-chocolate has everything from bacon to cherry rooibos or coconut curry deep milk chocolate. And then there's my personal favorite: the <a href="http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/product/blood_orange_caramel_exotic_candy_bar/exotic_candy_bars" target="_blank">Blood Orange Caramel Bar</a>, made with hibiscus, blood orange caramel, and Campari. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Or perhaps you prefer your chocolate in liquid form? That's where the Couture Cocoa comes in, available in three delectable varieties: La Parisienne (classic), Bianca (white), or Aztec elixir (chocolate with a kick). </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCdHBZ-dzpfNG-0w6Cf0eafbCDoptJjpgSKYWHegF4WaBwOYvyx-Jh9W1SbcY2CMjEjAx_GsOJ0lOyaN8Vj2AUlHHRepByf-VL90sg6AZlzQRl7NEVkrfQd-j27qqrGrxDBGzT-f0SWY/s1600/315833_4548718791346_1548768878_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCdHBZ-dzpfNG-0w6Cf0eafbCDoptJjpgSKYWHegF4WaBwOYvyx-Jh9W1SbcY2CMjEjAx_GsOJ0lOyaN8Vj2AUlHHRepByf-VL90sg6AZlzQRl7NEVkrfQd-j27qqrGrxDBGzT-f0SWY/s1600/315833_4548718791346_1548768878_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Local chocolate guru Bailey Kasten started <a href="http://dpconfections.com/" target="_blank">Double Premium Confections</a> because she is passionate about making the freshest chocolate in the DC metro area. Her confections are all hand-made and she created a V-day gift set just for us, featuring honey caramel hearts, a pure dark bar, and a 9 piece signature collection from DPC -- chai spice, lavender, Irish cream truffles and more!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdOKyAoti6yGDV4a365AssktzaljvzOHteJadb1Fgp2kjb5vdswmeMgvxjFzNceejHAqewRD9zta7G5pUzryr5MqVTBryQjyt47dN0kwbfRuGiXs_yaH5tUhCHUdnRJ3yTIpfY1sPZ1I/s1600/600483_4549090960650_1998363717_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdOKyAoti6yGDV4a365AssktzaljvzOHteJadb1Fgp2kjb5vdswmeMgvxjFzNceejHAqewRD9zta7G5pUzryr5MqVTBryQjyt47dN0kwbfRuGiXs_yaH5tUhCHUdnRJ3yTIpfY1sPZ1I/s1600/600483_4549090960650_1998363717_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">If your mouth isn't watering yet, perhaps some chocolate-with-a-mission will do the trick. <a href="https://www.theochocolate.com/" target="_blank">Theo</a> currently owns and operates the only fully organic and fair trade chocolate factory in North America. Buy a bar of Sea Salt Dark Chocolate, and proceeds from the sale will go to <a href="http://worldbicyclerelief.org/" target="_blank">World Bicycle Relief</a>, helping provide students, health care professionals, and entrepreneurs in rural Africa with specially designed, locally assembled WBR bikes.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3UhV0zkPAAJ_DNI5euUwYJk8p2FttCwfiHL4ZVVxljlI18ClDmkAhjE5BH2L9uXMA-5FgLKZb565GYn6S1Vv4NrQJFOcD-_KUlKkxVS7yISUguCZ226qrqM4sIV4-PDYKVKipd7z56I/s1600/32151_4548678910349_861768274_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3UhV0zkPAAJ_DNI5euUwYJk8p2FttCwfiHL4ZVVxljlI18ClDmkAhjE5BH2L9uXMA-5FgLKZb565GYn6S1Vv4NrQJFOcD-_KUlKkxVS7yISUguCZ226qrqM4sIV4-PDYKVKipd7z56I/s1600/32151_4548678910349_861768274_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">How can you argue with <a href="https://www.theochocolate.com/product/19/77" target="_blank">chocolate</a> that provides access to an independence and livelihood through bikes? So skip the stress this year, and indulge in a little Valentine's Day chocolate, guilt-free. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-996814464577336892013-01-31T16:27:00.001-08:002013-01-31T16:27:23.041-08:00A Message from the Owners & Head Chef<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbkmSHC6WlxJAYnj7fxfoopsSX8CwejTIF9kDw3AzNixvHz3vZF3J0TTaC7uxBxIOgrzdMWow-QksE_yDiSb6TXI1RoCg73bZ5H5oAbhyphenhyphenPFkw9sgQGeWp6gUU9_tauU5NKZQyoR-xu5o/s1600/gmo+statement.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbkmSHC6WlxJAYnj7fxfoopsSX8CwejTIF9kDw3AzNixvHz3vZF3J0TTaC7uxBxIOgrzdMWow-QksE_yDiSb6TXI1RoCg73bZ5H5oAbhyphenhyphenPFkw9sgQGeWp6gUU9_tauU5NKZQyoR-xu5o/s1600/gmo+statement.png" height="640" width="492" /></a></div>
<br />Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-1499867255985041222012-09-18T18:32:00.000-07:002012-09-18T18:33:08.704-07:00Ai-Chai-CHAI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm happy to say that I finally feel a chill in the air -- chai season has begun. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here at Teaism, unlike some global tea & coffee chains who will not be named, our
chai (pictured below) is made from scratch and is prepared the traditional Indian way – we cook
it in a big pot on the stove. It is a blend of organic ingredients –
black tea, cinnamon, black and green cardamom, cloves, ginger, and star anise. A company in Wisconsin blends and
grinds the tea and spices according to our own special recipe and we get fresh shipments every week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtEqAfBal09zTPjJ97GOnzLuDjmmJn4PuFIMBEfJnWvaZjX0WCkEDodjSK0CtJQ0FNJfF11p4XMWBHkAhvh-_P5vdl-2nTOmosezzkOYoGEIUrbQ_Wb8GwD1xasXy8z3nq8lU-7OhFgw/s1600/2898_3816906936507_1878158127_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtEqAfBal09zTPjJ97GOnzLuDjmmJn4PuFIMBEfJnWvaZjX0WCkEDodjSK0CtJQ0FNJfF11p4XMWBHkAhvh-_P5vdl-2nTOmosezzkOYoGEIUrbQ_Wb8GwD1xasXy8z3nq8lU-7OhFgw/s320/2898_3816906936507_1878158127_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Teaism </i>Chai</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to an article entitled <i style="font-weight: bold;">“A LONG WAY HOME: The
Chai of Old Enters a New Market” </i><b>by
Michelle D. Williams, <i>Fresh Cup </i></b><b>Magazine,
2005: </b> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->“It is often sold
on street corners and at train stations by “chaiwallas,” in India, Nepal,
Tibet, and Pakistan, where people grab a terra cotta cupful, drink it standing,
then toss the cup into a pile on the ground. People have been consuming it this
way for centuries as a daily digestive aid.” </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="line-height: normal;">The spicy beverage </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">made its way
Stateside in the 60s, after natural foods purists and others returned from
travels to the Himalayas where they were introduced to the radical idea of spiced tea with milk.</span><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="line-height: normal;">Williams explains that f</span><span style="line-height: normal;">or many,</span><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">“the very word 'chai,' the worldly spices and exotic tea, all conjure a romantic images of
travel, something we crave in the midst of modern life.” Perhaps this explains the explosive popularity of chai in recent years, moving beyond the sphere of hot drinks and into milkshakes, candles, ice-cream and beyond. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoDDviCrrcHFmOAKI_4Oo60Ff-GjqFpntCcKoKmJUT00kwlG-rM9L_JmynQlf16YuSzGzpWisfsM1fsEPEp-h9NHtFzjqufZxiVU0Wh08vf2bFtdh_IDWWQm8HheSPyKZTlvHKqGDTWc/s1600/301064_3816926496996_1646410207_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoDDviCrrcHFmOAKI_4Oo60Ff-GjqFpntCcKoKmJUT00kwlG-rM9L_JmynQlf16YuSzGzpWisfsM1fsEPEp-h9NHtFzjqufZxiVU0Wh08vf2bFtdh_IDWWQm8HheSPyKZTlvHKqGDTWc/s320/301064_3816926496996_1646410207_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A steaming mug of fresh Chai</div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-16736630726603561822012-08-21T14:19:00.000-07:002012-08-21T14:19:35.832-07:00H2O - The Stuff of Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Water -- it's on all our minds these days, as late summer temperatures soar and the drought of 2012 worsens across much of the country. Charles Fishman wrote an op-ed for the New York Times last week called "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/opinion/dont-waste-this-drought.html">Don't Waste the Drought</a>," on what the general public can do to help conserve water and green our communities for the future. While taking shorter showers does help, there are many other initiatives we could be taking to mitigate the consequences of the drought -- harvesting rain water for public parks, and re-vamping our water distribution systems. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more of a global perspective, check out the <a href="http://www.lifelinefund.org/">International Lifeline Fund</a>, an organization devoted to providing rural communities in war-torn Northern Uganda with reliable and affordable sources of clean drinking water, along with vital health and sanitation training. Here at Teaism we are currently selling International Lifeline Fund water bottles, for a more eco-friendly way to drink your daily fill of <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">H<sub style="line-height: 1em;">2</sub>O</span>. 100% of the proceeds from sales of the water bottles go to the International Lifeline Fund, so buying one directly impacts communities in Northern Uganda. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIkpn9837CR4GvajFqk18Odv2e6jHgi4ITs7cCDGhKTH96Eytp17yHXMAklPPn7avpoC6tks1VV8j5QSmzPdvTd1VQqP3eC2-bOvXigRmtn7O8c_JeJClkOVowZHns5xrOPePeR0i0CQ/s1600/582783_3702943527493_380849475_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIkpn9837CR4GvajFqk18Odv2e6jHgi4ITs7cCDGhKTH96Eytp17yHXMAklPPn7avpoC6tks1VV8j5QSmzPdvTd1VQqP3eC2-bOvXigRmtn7O8c_JeJClkOVowZHns5xrOPePeR0i0CQ/s320/582783_3702943527493_380849475_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Our vision is simple. We are </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">passionate</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> about creating a world in which </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">no one</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is forced to drink </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">contaminated water</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> or expose themselves, their families and their environment to the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">harms </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">associated with cooking on an </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">open fire.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">" </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teaism also participates in <a href="http://www.tapitwater.com/dc?keysearch=1">TapIt</a> DC - a network of local businesses providing tap water refills on the go. We always have a cooler of cold filtered water and cups for your drinking convenience. So grab a Lifeline Fund bottle and fill up for a good cause!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqJy9rSr1j6ihX3qahFdxo0LT_FxyjrVYfCwGLANJ8SUhb-BOQNqxb54_1bKEcGU_DnbqESVKHqV3q7Lvtgv1K5UYC-RqG9RXSUj4vgmErR_AGuH7_E1GplYMzzRJftYMSTErWpNCZS8/s1600/260504_3702949167634_1258480119_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqJy9rSr1j6ihX3qahFdxo0LT_FxyjrVYfCwGLANJ8SUhb-BOQNqxb54_1bKEcGU_DnbqESVKHqV3q7Lvtgv1K5UYC-RqG9RXSUj4vgmErR_AGuH7_E1GplYMzzRJftYMSTErWpNCZS8/s320/260504_3702949167634_1258480119_n.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="huge" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Thousands have lived without love, not one without water."</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span class="bodybold" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">W. H. Auden</span><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-1664862811079437982012-08-14T13:16:00.000-07:002012-08-14T13:20:03.554-07:00Meatless Mondays and other New Developments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Okonomiyaki has finally arrived at Dupont Circle and it's making a splash. We're doing Meatless Mondays at our flagship location, with the deliciously savory Okonomiyaki as the daily special. The cabbage pancake comes with a skewer of grilled veggies, Wasabi mayonnaise and special sauce, and I'm willing to bet you won't miss the Tuna Handroll for long...<br />
<br />
To the chagrin of many of our devoted regulars, the Shrimp Rolls have also disappeared. Not to worry though -- we're doing Shrimp Salad instead, made with sustainable Oregon Bay baby shrimp, vermicelli noodles, cabbage, carrots, and a tangy orange vinaigrette. I am happy to report that multiple customers who were initially aghast at the removal of the shrimp rolls from the menu returned to tell me that they really enjoyed the new Shrimp Salad!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEdiGjMV-se55bHfGC17vgu6qsz7zsNEna2y-24G9V4v5mNR4BIUOa17h5YMF4xo5xkw5Cnd_gCgl348jfLE3ftHIfN7Rwl8GsZzK3d18gVTrOtmtST2mV3cw2YfCCbz6_OPnYUoY3Gs/s1600/523276_3679412779239_1437216709_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEdiGjMV-se55bHfGC17vgu6qsz7zsNEna2y-24G9V4v5mNR4BIUOa17h5YMF4xo5xkw5Cnd_gCgl348jfLE3ftHIfN7Rwl8GsZzK3d18gVTrOtmtST2mV3cw2YfCCbz6_OPnYUoY3Gs/s320/523276_3679412779239_1437216709_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And if you're missing the Tofu Noodle salad, give the Shrimp Salad a try -- what could be more refreshing on a muggy August day than a chilled noodle salad? </div>
<br /></div>
Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-2901971311422877352012-07-24T15:43:00.001-07:002012-07-24T15:43:33.751-07:00Ch-ch-changes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've been in to Teaism lately, you may have noticed a few changes. The tofu noodle salad is gone, as is the tofu scramble, the tofu side, and in fact, all of the tofu on our menu. In its place we are serving seitan and tempeh (a fermented soy product). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We know that some of you are disappointed by these menu modifications, but as Marcus Aurelius once said: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other words, we like to think that these are changes for the better. Let me explain: there are myriad factors behind our decision to cut all unfermented soy products from Teaism's menu. Firstly, our research shows that more than 80% of the soy grown in the USA is genetically modified. Companies selling the products have lobbied against labeling, so it's impossible to know whether or not you are getting GMO foods. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More importantly, unfermented soy products (such as tofu) have been proven to pose significant health risks. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfermented soy has high levels of phytic acid which inhibits absorption
of iron and other necessary minerals. Soy isoflavones can disrupt
hormonal balance in men and women; overindulging in soy products can
cause estrogen dominance. A diet high in soy has been linked to thyroid problems, cancer of the brain and breast, kidney stones, and reproductive disorders, among others. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be clear, tempeh, soy sauce, and miso are all fermented soy products, and so do not fall into this category. Sadly edamame will be going the way of our other soy dishes, to be replaced by kale chips... In the mean time, we appreciate your patience as we implement these changes! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBpyeLj5suWjqceo8Q5GNZqamr4n7iToEECh7NpiW_7DZJqFqA1yOcha6zlblDkayJ50jlT1UcVkpV3qBg7OXrCT-XjAJ4mwjkbS30cgALQcwwiJmPVtIQOWyF34i0wNGup8KH76lWcY/s1600/photo-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBpyeLj5suWjqceo8Q5GNZqamr4n7iToEECh7NpiW_7DZJqFqA1yOcha6zlblDkayJ50jlT1UcVkpV3qBg7OXrCT-XjAJ4mwjkbS30cgALQcwwiJmPVtIQOWyF34i0wNGup8KH76lWcY/s320/photo-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pictured above: the brand new <b>Lemon Maple Grilled Tempeh Burger</b>, our replacement for the tofu-shiitake patty that used to be our veggie burger. It's served on whole grain focaccia with marinated portobello mushrooms, tomato, and a green salad on the side. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information on the soy debate, check out Dr. Mercola's site on <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/07/the-evidence-against-soy.aspx">the evidence against soy</a>, or Dr. Kaayal Daniel's book entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Whole-Soy-Story-Americas/dp/0967089751">The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food</a>. As always, we welcome your feedback at Teaism, so let us know what you think about these changes. </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br /></blockquote>
<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-16917584070224224932012-07-10T14:32:00.001-07:002012-07-10T14:32:51.361-07:00Wake Up and Smell the Okonomiyaki!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Between the 4th of July holiday and storm-induced internet connectivity issues, I haven't been quite as diligent as usual about updating the blog, so sorry, dear readers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In case you missed it, Tom Sietsema gave our Old Town location a rave review in last week's food section of the Washington Post. He cited our breakfast as "a new reason to get up early in Old Town," explaining that "<span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">One of the best breakfasts in Washington -- the cilantro-speckled scrambled eggs with tea-cured salmon offered at three branches of </span><b style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Teaism</b><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> -- became available in Alexandria in March, when the good-for-you, Asian-inspired restaurant opened in Old Town, its fourth dining room." </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">More specifically, he loved the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okonomiyaki">okonomiyaki</a>: "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a riff on the savory Japanese pancake called okonomiyaki: shredded cabbage and scallions held together with a light batter and browned to a gentle crisp. The dish comes with an over-easy egg and thick turkey bacon in the morning and a choice of grilled chicken or shrimp later in the day."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Sometimes referred to as the "Japanese version of pizza," the origins of the word "okonomiyaki" actually come from the root </span><i style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">okonomi,</i><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> meaning "what you like" and </span><i style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">yaki</i><span style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> meaning "grilled." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Check out the full review <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/teaism,1231433/critic-review.html">here</a> -- or just come on in for a taste of the best breakfast in town! </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CyLjGWnOyggHw8i26FdeWrJX6dYupRiV91glxG1lFtL1O_26RY7a_kJ2kFR1XB81nSdE9TAj-21FLIIjbdiAcnS6IQlaBtnNV38s49SjoBq_8cNz8Ql29__r9E7LkvtLC816TZeZs78/s1600/TeaismLogoinvert72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CyLjGWnOyggHw8i26FdeWrJX6dYupRiV91glxG1lFtL1O_26RY7a_kJ2kFR1XB81nSdE9TAj-21FLIIjbdiAcnS6IQlaBtnNV38s49SjoBq_8cNz8Ql29__r9E7LkvtLC816TZeZs78/s200/TeaismLogoinvert72.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-83140122404873920312012-06-26T14:07:00.002-07:002012-06-26T14:07:33.637-07:00Summatime and the Living is Easy...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Between the mosquitos and the humidity, summer in DC can be less than ideal. I mean, who decided it was a good idea to build the city on a swamp anyway? That's why we're here to keep you in Ginger Limeade, Sweet Green tea, iced Moroccan Mint, or whatever chilled beverage strikes your fancy. Sometimes even Teaism is closed though (like on the 4th of July), so here are some ideas to try at home! </span><div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Casablanca Cooler</span></b></i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">(Adapted from</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Green-Diana-Rosen/dp/1580170900/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340743816&sr=1-1&keywords=the+book+of+green+tea">The Book of Green Tea</a></i><span style="background-color: white;"> by Diana Rosen)</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 ounces Moroccan Mint tea (brewed)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 ounces tropical fruit juice of your choice (mango, pineapple or tropical punch work well)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 ounce passionfruit syrup</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 ounces crushed ice</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shake in a large pitcher or jar until frothy. Makes 2 servings.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYjbxPl8wkMj_fCRf58_H7aHSvzqpbO4amRs7npWOadsjLcYgvlcbdLzG35nefzqixPPuZ4Yp4WJil1KPYz918rXwXrcqOGzMcDczDaO_M9K-II3KNNKb4zt8aKwiFRrjUc31ahhYOB4/s1600/artsonfootbanner72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYjbxPl8wkMj_fCRf58_H7aHSvzqpbO4amRs7npWOadsjLcYgvlcbdLzG35nefzqixPPuZ4Yp4WJil1KPYz918rXwXrcqOGzMcDczDaO_M9K-II3KNNKb4zt8aKwiFRrjUc31ahhYOB4/s400/artsonfootbanner72.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peach-Tea Jam</span></b></i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(from <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Steeped-Tea-Creative-Activities-Recipes/dp/1580170935/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340743907&sr=1-1&keywords=steeped+in+tea">Steeped in Tea: Creative Ideas, Activites & Recipes for Tea Lovers</a>, </i>also by Diana Rosen<i>)</i></span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This jam is delectable on its own, as a dipping sauce for dumplings or spring rolls, to baste chicken, or on toast for breakfast. Or you could put it in small jars and give them to friends... </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The recipe was created by Chef Wemischner to highlight the fruity character of a fine Darjeeling tea. Once prepared, the jam can be kept for at least a month. Fresh summer peaches work best, of course, but canned peaches in fruit syrup (no extra sugar) will do when the season isn't right. </span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16 ounces (2 cups) spring water</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 teaspoons loose-leaf Darjeeling tea</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 pounds fresh peaches, peeled, pitted, and roughly chopped</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 pounds granulated sugar</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup chopped crystalized ginger</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Bring the water to 180</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">° F and steep the tea for 3 minutes. Drain the liquor to use for the recipe.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Place all of the ingredients except for the ginger in a heavy 3-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, skimming frequently during the first few minutes of cooking.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Reduce the heat and cook just until the mixture coats the spoon, then flows off slowly. It should look like a very thing syrup.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Add the ginger. Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Let stand uncovered at room temperature until cool, then refrigerate, well covered.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Makes 3 quarts of jam. </span></span></div>
</div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-19344982848680475092012-06-19T14:52:00.004-07:002012-06-19T14:55:35.132-07:00Ocha-whaaaaa?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ochazuke -- how do you pronounce it and what in blazing saddles is this exotic dish? This is one of the most common questions we get here at Teaism, and I could probably recite the answer in my sleep: Ochazuke (or just "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chazuke">Chazuke</a>,"as it is sometimes called) is a Japanese green tea and rice soup. You get a bowl with brown rice, shredded vegetables, and salmon, shrimp, or pickled plums on top. You will also get a pot of sencha, a spinachy green tea, which is meant to be poured over everything else to make the broth. Finally, you will get a little container of what we call "Ochazuke sprinkles" -- a mix of seaweed, salt, and bonito flakes (made in-house) that adds a little savory crunch to the whole concoction. <span style="background-color: white;">The meal should look something like this when correctly prepared:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JQYSMxWSoq-q2qNiL4QcaBhTqvlwUo2T0kMq6mBKXzWDcNWjCZdWTsXSfuKcQJLeTngzlE3kpUMu_benMq4mlqIatEd0doQ4U3MsOBe9G0XrxkvOvx2GuX72ng7frrapfknKeaB_n2c/s1600/photo-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JQYSMxWSoq-q2qNiL4QcaBhTqvlwUo2T0kMq6mBKXzWDcNWjCZdWTsXSfuKcQJLeTngzlE3kpUMu_benMq4mlqIatEd0doQ4U3MsOBe9G0XrxkvOvx2GuX72ng7frrapfknKeaB_n2c/s320/photo-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Salmon Ochazuke pictured)</div>
<br />
After hearing the above explanation, usually the customer says something along of the lines of "oh, how interesting!" and then orders something a little less adventurous. Not that I'm one to judge -- I've worked at Teaism for more than three months now, and had yet to try an Ochazuke. It was always too hot out for hot soup, or I wasn't in the mood, or something else on the menu was calling to me. <span style="background-color: white;">Today, though, I decided to take the plunge and see what this dish is all about.</span><br />
<br />
Despite the soaring temperatures I made myself a small salmon Ochazuke, and was pleasantly surprised by the results. The flavors of the salmon, rice, and sencha combine well to form a light tasty soup. This makes sense, since the Japanese often used the dish as a delicious way to combine leftovers, a late-night snack, and even as a hangover cure. The overall effect is refreshing, without being over-bearing -- I can see how Ochazuke could be a nice hangover cure. It's warm and hearty, with a much more delicate flavor balance than I had anticipated. I am ready to admit that I was wrong in avoiding this dish for so long -- it definitely has a lot to offer, and I can see why it has such loyal devotees. So next time you come to Teaism, consider trying something a little different -- you won't regret it!<br />
<br />
Oh and the correct pronunciation is something like this: oh-cha-zoo-key, from the Japanese for <i>tea - cha</i> and <i>tsuke - to submerge. </i><br />
<br />
<br /></div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-76019952146418104312012-06-12T13:31:00.001-07:002012-06-12T13:31:33.284-07:00Tiny Little Boxes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps it's because I went to private school as a child and never got to pack a lunch, but I've always had some lunchbox envy. I wished I had a vintage metal carry-all for my pb&j, chips, and oreos, and that my friends and I could trade delicious treats. I wouldn't even have minded an embarrassing post-it or two from Mom, wishing me a nice day at school. Instead we had hot lunches and assigned tables -- over-cooked pasta, sickly-colored green beans, and a teacher telling us we had to try at least a bite of everything! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GH-Zb6ALIKLTn6kl70Hh6ji7hEFVoZw1_GL7dkJpQHWdbg9e6EsqNn_nG9rGdk5D3wJbbYPtDpMNLO3pjFL5qhTc7bZwWbCmP2hVcwBqR9JR9UOyGmQLqS3UlDR1CLgQr3vaeun1VuA/s1600/6a00d83451ccbc69e20134863ad467970c-400wi.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GH-Zb6ALIKLTn6kl70Hh6ji7hEFVoZw1_GL7dkJpQHWdbg9e6EsqNn_nG9rGdk5D3wJbbYPtDpMNLO3pjFL5qhTc7bZwWbCmP2hVcwBqR9JR9UOyGmQLqS3UlDR1CLgQr3vaeun1VuA/s320/6a00d83451ccbc69e20134863ad467970c-400wi.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I switched schools in 7th grade and got to pack a lunch -- but I still didn't have a cool box, just one of those insulated purple satchels, and the olive tapenade and mozzarella sandwiches my mother packed always left lots of gross gunk in my braces. Middle school traumas aside, the discovery of the <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bento">bento box</a></b> changed my life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We would often head to Penn Quarter after school, where a beautiful lacquered box filled with chicken, sticky rice, sweet potatoes and cucumber ginger salad provided a delicious late afternoon snack. The bento box was exactly what I had been looking for -- a stylish Japanese-style lunch box that made me feel sophisticated and worldly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The term "bento" originated from <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">t</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">he Southern </span><span style="color: black;">Song Dynasty</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span>slang<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> term </span><span lang="zh" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" xml:lang="zh">便當</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> (</span><em style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">biàndāng</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">), meaning "convenient" or "convenience." The traditional box can be traced back to </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> the late </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_Period" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;" title="Kamakura Period">Kamakura Period</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> (1185 to 1333) and </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">consisted of a meat or fish, rice, and one or more </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">pickled vegetables. Japanese mothers would send their children to school and their husbands to work with perfectly compartmentalized and balanced meals. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Linda Orr and Michelle Brown opened the first Teaism in 1996, they decided to revive the Japanese tradition of the bento box. Whether Salmon, Chicken, Handroll, or Veggie, bentos remain some of our most popular dishes, providing the perfect opportunity to sample a little bit of this and a little bit of that. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWAmRtHOV2zss8Uelo_ndO5qt4BTR3dtRnwxAAZbyP6WAG8QoDJBAH6ZE_3Xw98uwFfJ8qEhXSy3BTYAzscRuMCQhGR5CXqXcDZACrt-1XW-7nVmX6EsIcHFgJMugXSOIFru87nHxOHg/s1600/photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWAmRtHOV2zss8Uelo_ndO5qt4BTR3dtRnwxAAZbyP6WAG8QoDJBAH6ZE_3Xw98uwFfJ8qEhXSy3BTYAzscRuMCQhGR5CXqXcDZACrt-1XW-7nVmX6EsIcHFgJMugXSOIFru87nHxOHg/s320/photo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pictured above: the most sought-after of Teaism's bento boxes, featuring Teriyaki salmon, edamame, cucumber ginger salad, and brown rice with furikake flakes. </span></div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-8412918238242754992012-06-05T15:57:00.002-07:002012-06-05T15:57:36.043-07:00Orwellian Views on Tea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell">George Orwell</a>, was known for his strong opinions on totalitarianism and social manipulation, as you might know if you ever picked up a copy <i>1984</i> or <i>Animal Farm</i>. But as a proper Englishman, he also had a thing or two to say about tea and its proper consumption. In the article entitled "<a href="http://www.booksatoz.com/witsend/tea/orwell.htm">A Nice Cup of Tea</a>," Orwell outlines eleven golden rules for making and drinking tea:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">First of all, one should use Indian or Ceylonese tea. China tea has virtues which are not to be despised nowadays — it is economical, and one can drink it without milk — but there is not much stimulation in it. One does not feel wiser, braver or more optimistic after drinking it. Anyone who has used that comforting phrase 'a nice cup of tea' invariably means Indian tea.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Secondly, tea should be made in small quantities — that is, in a teapot. Tea out of an urn is always tasteless, while army tea, made in a cauldron, tastes of grease and whitewash. The teapot should be made of china or earthenware. Silver or Britanniaware teapots produce inferior tea and enamel pots are worse; though curiously enough a pewter teapot (a rarity nowadays) is not so bad.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Fourthly, the tea should be strong. For a pot holding a quart, if you are going to fill it nearly to the brim, six heaped teaspoons would be about right. In a time of rationing, this is not an idea that can be realized on every day of the week, but I maintain that one strong cup of tea is better than twenty weak ones. All true tea lovers not only like their tea strong, but like it a little stronger with each year that passes — a fact which is recognized in the extra ration issued to old-age pensioners.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Lastly, tea — unless one is drinking it in the Russian style — should be drunk </span><i style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">without sugar</i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">. I know very well that I am in a minority here. But still, how can you call yourself a true tealover if you destroy the flavour of your tea by putting sugar in it? It would be equally reasonable to put in pepper or salt. Tea is meant to be bitter, just as beer is meant to be bitter. If you sweeten it, you are no longer tasting the tea, you are merely tasting the sugar; you could make a very similar drink by dissolving sugar in plain hot water.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
(See link for full list). This is not to say that I agree with all of Orwell's rules -- a little honey can temper the bitterness of tea, and provides wonderful relief for sore throats. And I don't know which varieties he was tasting, but I think the Chinese have a lot to offer when it comes to tea. I do think, however, that having your own personal rituals for preparing and consuming tea is part of what makes the beverage so special. Water must be heated to the right temperature, and loose leaf will always be better than store-bought tea-bags. And somehow the perfect mug always seems to enhance the taste of the tea. </div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
I'll leave you with some video action, since I just watched the new HBO film on <a href="http://www.hbo.com/movies/hemingway-and-gellhorn/index.html">Hemingway and Gellhorn</a> -- check out George Orwell talking about the Spanish Civil War and the way to brew a perfect cuppa:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tYv-yp-nidk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-6131744970610044802012-05-29T14:45:00.003-07:002012-05-29T14:47:01.226-07:00Beer Tasting in Old Town<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've been meaning to check out our newest location in Old Town but still haven't made it out there, I've got good news for you: we're holding a beer tasting event on Thursday <b>June 7th, from 5 - 8 pm</b>. So come escape the heat and the office boredom and try some delish brews. We'll be sampling the following Peak Organic Beers:</span><br />
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: Copperplate; font-size: 14px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br />
Peak Espresso Amber Ale</div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 9px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
organic, from Maine, robust with locally roasted fair trade espresso with a rich, roasty flavor, America’s first fair trade certified beer</div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: Copperplate; font-size: 14px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Peak Summer Session Ale</div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 9px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
organic, from Maine, complex mouthfeel with citrusy aroma</div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="font-family: Copperplate; font-size: 14px;">
Peak IPA<span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 0.1px;">Maine </span><span style="font-size: 12.5px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">7.50</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 9px;">
organic, assertive, hop-forward nose, citrus & floral characteristics</div>
<div style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery'; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first two are available on tap, the third is bottled. We'll be serving up sample-sized portions of the beers, paired with free and delicious nibbles from our bar menu. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wM47XPh3yt7HmB0HmStU3fAeDvZiL8k89g1roBK7v4S369qeyt-t5sV-v9oknc-3mz3mwPlERtiId-wOmDuG4bUt0XuOx0PrndYaYmtFvjcoJxLmh_Qsyojmn75T23CiWtYhauqoPZo/s1600/barmenu524.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wM47XPh3yt7HmB0HmStU3fAeDvZiL8k89g1roBK7v4S369qeyt-t5sV-v9oknc-3mz3mwPlERtiId-wOmDuG4bUt0XuOx0PrndYaYmtFvjcoJxLmh_Qsyojmn75T23CiWtYhauqoPZo/s400/barmenu524.jpeg" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 6:30, Brendan Gangl, our rep from <a href="http://www.peakbrewing.com/">Peak Organic Brewing Company</a> will be speaking and answering questions. So call your friends, come for happy hour and stay for dinner -- you won't get a better chance to check out Teaism Old Town on the cheap! </span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7J7m-gnlwdYDQxslI29weNR8dFpbbl14El9FjoK8SzlD0_j3l3YYTaMJXC2zbA564cTKBR4XAYkeBOPSXeC5yji-SzUKHrDPAEVh8RVBcCY6MZMS4Uw9UYkeQ3ZXtHFiIyZ5ZULPSQM/s1600/peakorganic300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7J7m-gnlwdYDQxslI29weNR8dFpbbl14El9FjoK8SzlD0_j3l3YYTaMJXC2zbA564cTKBR4XAYkeBOPSXeC5yji-SzUKHrDPAEVh8RVBcCY6MZMS4Uw9UYkeQ3ZXtHFiIyZ5ZULPSQM/s320/peakorganic300.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrz61FfZVCWk0wJAczu7uLISCgiKZ8J4wMFXuJJzpJxV4USzxuhTNWPmkNwPCoamE8x6mHmiCzo7e0S7ej9M27oXV0R2ewWogH8nlXAAciaiI7gPQaFVbKYU3XNr8THrWscaXiC_MIcE/s1600/peakpromoF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrz61FfZVCWk0wJAczu7uLISCgiKZ8J4wMFXuJJzpJxV4USzxuhTNWPmkNwPCoamE8x6mHmiCzo7e0S7ej9M27oXV0R2ewWogH8nlXAAciaiI7gPQaFVbKYU3XNr8THrWscaXiC_MIcE/s320/peakpromoF.jpg" width="228" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-64364679575621579192012-05-26T14:31:00.002-07:002012-05-26T14:31:55.559-07:00TweetTweet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Teaism has now joined the #twitterevolution. Check us out: <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/TeaismATeaHouse">https://twitter.com/#!/TeaismATeaHouse</a> and mention either twitter OR the blog and get a free Salty Oat this weekend! </div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-24097861567091684082012-05-22T13:21:00.000-07:002012-05-22T13:24:45.318-07:00The Legend of the Salty Oat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once there was a Cookie, a "subtly sweet . . . curiously salty" confection known as the <a href="http://kayakcookies.com/salty-oats.html">Salty Oa</a>t. It's praises were sung up and down the East Coast and many a blogger and baker tried to reproduce the magic of the Cookie, but the recipe remained a fiercely guarded secret. The ingredients are simple -- <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">organic oats, wheat flour, organic raisins, butter, cane sugar, organic eggs, vanilla, kosher salt, baking powder, and baking soda -- but producing the Cookie takes a little more kitchen wizardry.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FMHEFVWlQL6zmQwHoaxJhIbbdoTbNiFl120XOMxUuMxdXgqWxnIdSZ_Xh6lgSs-y9bUMzN7Jpme0ocuN_n26FHUHC69gwipUAEQr5GFwizFGCIfP8pQ2gW6pYtuGaiMkIRNfjcIjrRY/s1600/149424_3355602604187_1092600195_32605362_2110766677_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FMHEFVWlQL6zmQwHoaxJhIbbdoTbNiFl120XOMxUuMxdXgqWxnIdSZ_Xh6lgSs-y9bUMzN7Jpme0ocuN_n26FHUHC69gwipUAEQr5GFwizFGCIfP8pQ2gW6pYtuGaiMkIRNfjcIjrRY/s320/149424_3355602604187_1092600195_32605362_2110766677_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salty Oats are the brainchild of Terri Horn, who was working at DC's own <a href="http://www.marvelousmarket.com/">Marvelous Market</a>, when the first Cookies appeared. As she tells it, Terri conceived of the cookie while she was kayaking: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Paddling off the coast of
Maine and needing something hearty to get her back to shore, Terri dreamed of
the oat and raisin cookies she had been baking for years, sprinkled with salt
to remind her of the sea."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Terri went home and baked, and baked, and baked, perfecting her confection before she shared it. Soon her Cookies were making a splash in the DC artisanal scene, and Terri left Marvelous Market to start her own company, the aptly named <a href="http://kayakcookies.com/index.html">Kayak Cookies</a>. Once Teaism started selling the sweet and salty confections, word of the delicious Cookie began to spread and sales took off. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friends and family were soon begging for a sister Cookie, preferably with chocolate. Terri answered with the fabled Chocolate Salty Oat, with Belgian chocolate chunks, just a hint of coconut, and of course, sea salt sprinkled on top. To round out the Salty Oat family, Terri created one more masterful Cookie: the Chocolate Chunk Pecan, my personal favorite.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Terri Horne now resides in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and sells her Cookies all over the northeastern States. Teaism is a licensed producer of the Salty Oat, and Terri visits annually to train our bakers and make sure we maintain the magic of her Cookies. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often described as "maddeningly delicious" and "dangerously addictive," the Cookies can be purchased individually or in packs of six. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br /></div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-3598423675046508552012-05-15T13:02:00.001-07:002012-05-15T13:09:59.549-07:00Bits and Pieces from the World of Tea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're like me, you love the recent infusion of taco trucks and other mobile food vendors in the urban scene. But what about tea? Two Brits have taken upon themselves to start <a href="http://www.coupleofmugs.co.uk/">A Couple of Mugs</a>, serving up high grade teas from a vintage 1970's Citroen H van at weddings, bar mitzvahs, county fairs and other events all over the English country-side. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tea cocktails? I met a friend for ramen at <a href="http://tokiunderground.com/#/">Toki Underground</a> last week. Don't let the name fool you -- the restaurant is actually located above the Pug in the heart of the Atlas District. With manga table tops and a smattering of local art, this spot really does manage to capture the spirit of Tokyo. The ramen was scrumptious, but my cocktail was even more memorable - an Oolong Hai (oolong, simple syrup, and Kettle 1 vodka) was the perfect companion to my soup. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or, for a change of pace, head over to <a href="https://teaism.com/Restaurant/OldTown.html">Teaism'</a>s newest location in Old Town Alexandria. We've got a full bar, including mojitos, ginger limeade cocktails, and our own alcoholic tea creations! Full cocktail list coming soon...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chef Allison Swope has cooked up some delectable <a href="https://teaism.com/Restaurant/OldTownMenu.html">new dishes</a> for our youngest sister. If it's gray and rainy, as our Spring has been, try a meal-in-a-bowl hot pot: miso chicken meatballs, cabbage, spring onions, and enoki mushrooms will warm you up from the inside. If it's warm and sunny, go for a Saigon Sub or Kelp Noodle salad with Spicy Almond Butter at the high-top tables in our airy open dining room. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon to come: check back on the blog for the <i>Legend of the Salty Oat</i> and learn the history of your favorite cookie! </span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZ1mVmT4Rox4FhVp9Y1bAhGMRK7RPZ858Y0osmZzxplNqXog_LF5ZhHRJ6OUmr4pzoSvNzGANQe6qMAQuAxOoBfeUCds-o1PrXKtN2Z9SVvwmrMNU-kWrtcQBhbgy6mH8aYI9LJw4Sew/s1600/norens72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZ1mVmT4Rox4FhVp9Y1bAhGMRK7RPZ858Y0osmZzxplNqXog_LF5ZhHRJ6OUmr4pzoSvNzGANQe6qMAQuAxOoBfeUCds-o1PrXKtN2Z9SVvwmrMNU-kWrtcQBhbgy6mH8aYI9LJw4Sew/s320/norens72.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-87355357817570628662012-05-08T12:53:00.001-07:002012-05-08T13:42:59.037-07:00All about Oolongs - the Black Dragon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="hw" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bold;">oolong</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="pron0x" style="background-color: white;">[ˈuːˌlɒŋ]</span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">n. </span></i><br />
<div class="ds-list" style="margin-left: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a kind of dark tea, grown in China, that is partly fermented before being dried</span><br />
<div class="etyseg" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[from Chinese <i>wu lung,</i> from <i>wu</i> black + <i>lung</i> dragon]</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's something special about oolongs, and I'm certainly not the first person to notice. Often called the "Champagne of teas," oolongs bridge the divide between green and black teas, with a wide array of flavors and varying degrees of oxidation. Unlike many other varieties of tea, oolongs can actually improve with multiple infusions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In <i><a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Harney_Sons_Guide_to_Tea.html?id=MyMs7gDlXx0C">The Harney & Sons Guide to Tea</a>, </i>Michael Harney introduces the magic of this variety:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> “A sip from a light
oolong can taste like a walk through a garden packed with lilacs, gardenias,
and jasmine. A darker oolong can smell like a bakery right after it’s finished
a round of peach pies…. Many oolongs are creamy, their liquor litteraly coating
your mouth like fresh cream. Others are almost effervescent, practically
fizzing like Champagne.”</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <b>Baozhong:</b> This is the lightest of the oolongs, closer to a green tea than our other selections with only 25% oxidation. Harney describes the Baozhong as having an aroma of gardenia, jasmine and butter, but the perhaps my flavor palate isn't sophisticated enough to distinguish the light floral notes. Mostly I just taste the signature grassy flavor of green teas, with a hint of cream or butter on the finish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <b>Tai Guanyin: </b>This variety is much more robust than the Baozhong, medium bodied with a 40% oxidation rate. Harney observes floral gardenia and buttered white toast in his Tai Guanyin, but I find it to be more of a woody, toasted flavor. An old Chinese myth relates the story of a poor farmer renovating the temple of a Buddhist deity, Guan Yin. Suddenly the iron statue of the goddess comes to life and tells the man that he will find fortune in the fields by the temple. He begins to cultivate the tea bush he finds there, naming it after Guan Yin, the Iron Goddess of Mercy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7QZd9Phz1U7t_qFEgw4yKC-44sAomGNdo7RF006RfjAi8lhZsPYmBkV3T1vfWaIZxxQXJUZ1qROFmflb3bLo80yenJdPZ8NKEj-coXvXOeDjX2vcouOnpfSX0qNmy3k8Vu4WGy74eH4/s1600/photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7QZd9Phz1U7t_qFEgw4yKC-44sAomGNdo7RF006RfjAi8lhZsPYmBkV3T1vfWaIZxxQXJUZ1qROFmflb3bLo80yenJdPZ8NKEj-coXvXOeDjX2vcouOnpfSX0qNmy3k8Vu4WGy74eH4/s320/photo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <b>Baihao:</b> At 75% percent oxidation, this oolong is much closer to a black tea, and happens to be my favorite of the Teaism selection. It brews to a rich, red color, smells floral, and tastes lightly of peaches and toast. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. <b>Formosa: </b>Also 75% oxidized and therefore close to a black tea, Formosa has a very particular flavor - love it or hate it. It tastes nutty and slightly creamy, with a natural sweetness but a slightly astringent aftertaste. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nvkFd0ie9dAKwdeCmwNSxJZHdJO6mYs_L8VOjvFkhvwixZ3h7CyBIb4JxqfN5sOtlTbU3n_B_DXv5rh4_D7Ig1-b6Ym1TiVjgD63jsGCDTNYQdN84ncFIGmEin-r6mPwHhatzX22nL4/s1600/photo-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nvkFd0ie9dAKwdeCmwNSxJZHdJO6mYs_L8VOjvFkhvwixZ3h7CyBIb4JxqfN5sOtlTbU3n_B_DXv5rh4_D7Ig1-b6Ym1TiVjgD63jsGCDTNYQdN84ncFIGmEin-r6mPwHhatzX22nL4/s320/photo-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<br /></div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-90465091381296526372012-05-01T15:04:00.002-07:002012-05-01T15:52:07.350-07:00An Infusion of Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been drinking tea like a
maniac lately in an attempt to do battle with the Spring cold that has been
plaguing me and everyone I know lately. Today I've been doing Mind & Body,
an herbal blend of lemongrass, rooibos, ginger, ginseng and more, purported to
have healing properties. I'm on my third cup of the day, and the exploding-head
syndrome seems to be abating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday I focused on green
teas, starting with Moroccan Mint, a perennial favorite of mine. Two cups of
that and I found some of my congestion clearing up. Then I switched to Bi Luo
Chun, a classic Chinese green tea with hints of hay. By the time I got to Thai
Nguyen, a light green grown in Vietnam, I was sweating but definitely feeling
some improvements. Perhaps it was all in my head, but I could've sworn my
immune ninjas were fighting with a renewed vigor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaurSjw3w541nBoVJoYbJmGKxfPjOwl3UBVrAMJZdC0OnQJBHlGE7j9hnTQDAbuGrtweFGnQNjCFj0gC0JiYHX533x_J8Scam164CQmVP2A4hRTAx99lThjPMVDmFmFn8Lfc-fzNqa2gs/s1600/geisha72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaurSjw3w541nBoVJoYbJmGKxfPjOwl3UBVrAMJZdC0OnQJBHlGE7j9hnTQDAbuGrtweFGnQNjCFj0gC0JiYHX533x_J8Scam164CQmVP2A4hRTAx99lThjPMVDmFmFn8Lfc-fzNqa2gs/s400/geisha72.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the Book of Tea, Okakura
Kakuzo cites Lutong, a Tan poet, on the power of a tea regimen:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The first cup moistens my
lips and throat, the second cup breaks my loneliness, the third cup searches my
barren entrails but to find therein some five thousand volumes of odd ideographs.
The fourth cup raises a slight perspiration—all the wrong of life passes away
through my pores. At the fifth cup I am purified; the sixth cup calls me to the
realms of immortals. The seventh cup—ah, but I could take no more! I only feel
the breath of cool wind that rises in my sleeves."</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so, perhaps I'll go back
to the green teas. A little Dragon Well (another Chinese variety, with more of
a grassy flavor) might do the trick -- by the seventh cup I shall feel nothing
but the afternoon breeze on my arms. If not, I suppose a trip to the doctor is
in order...</span></div>
</div>
</div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-483790536756481833.post-45101906423445846492012-04-24T09:45:00.002-07:002012-05-01T14:24:06.844-07:00Humanity in a Tea-Cup<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1906, a Japanese man named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okakura_Kakuz%C5%8D">Okakura Kakuzo</a> published a treatise tea and aesthetics called <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Tea">The Book of Tea</a> </i> that revolutionized the way people looked at the beverage and at Eastern cultures in general. For Kakuzo, tea was far more than a warm drink -- it embodied a way of life and a spiritual awakening<i>. Teaism</i>, like flower arranging or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Archery">archery</a>, is fundamentally a form of Taoism and Zennism, a path to the divine. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, as I embark on my journey as a blogger for <i>Teaism, </i>what better place to begin than with Okakura? </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Strangely enough, humanity
has so far met in the tea-cup. It is the only Asiatic ceremonial which
commands universal esteem. The white man has scoffed at our religion and our
morals, but has accepted the brown beverage without hesitation. The afternoon tea is now an important function in Western society.” </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is it about tea that enables it to bridge cultures with such simplicity and ease? From the ancient Japanese Tea ceremony to a steaming mug of chai in the morning, tea brings us the pleasure of ritual, a quiet moment to stop and smell the aromas, a moment of zen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7Jov7o4vY7LvyCSL2dRcUMDjW42xg8g0rqCz1gQ3hyxq1UiROlnSSVmuhq7iLB6otVNp7a1-oy0Egh0cPNFOl2JDSkx6IS55ReTxVMaeyl99yI5Ygbzj21rArVG_yZlPW5_ex-l-PDk/s1600/hinckleycupART72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7Jov7o4vY7LvyCSL2dRcUMDjW42xg8g0rqCz1gQ3hyxq1UiROlnSSVmuhq7iLB6otVNp7a1-oy0Egh0cPNFOl2JDSkx6IS55ReTxVMaeyl99yI5Ygbzj21rArVG_yZlPW5_ex-l-PDk/s320/hinckleycupART72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Teasimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09370409843717035850noreply@blogger.com0