Tea Blog

There are so many reasons to be thankful for tea; and accordingly, there are many ways to express our thanks, as well. The next time you find yourself in a tea room or being served tea, consider saying ‘thank you’ by tapping your finger on the table or the tea cup three times. You’ll be showing your gratitude in a very ancient way!

Finger tapping, or tea tapping, dates back to the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911 A.D.). According to legend, one of the Emperors during this period was fond of traveling throughout the country in disguise, in order to observe his subjects unnoticed. One day in a public place, the emperor poured himself a cup of tea, and then proceeded to fill a servant’s cup as well. The servant was so moved, he had to show his respect in some way but to kneel formally would betray his master’s expressed desire for privacy.

Cleverly, he used such sign language to silently acknowledge the gesture and express his thanks. He “bowed” with the middle three fingers – two fingers represented the prostrate arms and the other, the bowed head. Here is a video to learn more about Chinese tea culture. Saying ‘thank you’ verbally and nodding silently are also proper ways to show your thanks. As is serving tea to your guests! What are you thankful for this time of year?

With a myriad of exotic spices, chai speaks to our indulgent nature. First, chai aromatically tempts. Then, one escapes into a cup of sweet complexity. Finally, this tea gives us a healthy punch of spices that are often overlooked. By the end of this memorable experience, one is usually a fan for life.

While many of us love this popular drink and order it often while out and about, few of us know how easy it is to make on our own. This winter, Zhi would like to make it easy for you to enjoy your favorite chai from the warmth and comfort of your home. It’s also a simple drink to share when traveling to visit others this holiday season.

Not only is chai delicious, but commonly used spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and fennel are said to boost the immune system, clear the sinuses and support the digestive system. Heart-healthy black teas are also good for bones and teeth.

Zhi Tea offers several varieties. The most familiar is Masala. Cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger gracefully combine in our Assam tea from India.  This popular chai is great on its own, yet is hearty enough to uphold milk and sugar. To enjoy this tea, consider this easy recipe:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups water
• 1 cups almond milk
• 4 teaspoons of chai
• agave or sugar to taste

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Tools: large pot, strainer; Serves 4

Directions:

• In a large pot, bring 3 cups of water to a boil.
• When boiling, add 4 heaping teaspoons of chai.
• Change heat to ‘medium’ and steep for 3 minutes.
• Add 1 cup of almond milk to tea.
• Bring tea up to a warm drinking temperature and sweeten to taste.
• When ready, carefully strain into thermos or pour direct into serving cups. (One might also strain into another large pot and serve using ladle).
• Sprinkle w/cinnamon, nutmug, or cacao powder.

Craving chocolate? Try our Cacao Chai! Love coconut? Try our Coconut Chai! Looking for a chai with a little less caffeine? Our Kasmiri Chai with a rare green tea base. Want a completely caffeine free treat? Try our Kenya Chai made with rooibos.

Pu-erh is one of the oldest types of tea in China with a history of over 1700 years, tracing back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. During its height of popularity, the tea was freely traded even used as money for the bartering of goods. Pu-erh gets its name from the city of Pu-erh in south-western China where the trade for Pu-erh was conducted. Not far from Pu-erh are the areas of Xishuangbanna and Simou, where cultivation and processing of the tea is carried out today.

Unlike other teas, the processing of pu-erh is carefully guarded. In the past, trespassers mistaken as spies on pu-erh tea farms were known to be killed. To this day, the secrets of processing pu-erh remains ruthlessly guarded and it is only in China where genuine Pu-erh tea can be produced. The most basic processing methods include roasting the leaves right after they’re picked. After being roasted, theleaves are sun-dried before being steamed slightly and allowed to ferment. Some pu-erh manufacturers ferment the tea twice, making the flavor more intense.

Pu-Erh tea is known for being a great tea to drink for digestion, especially after a heavy meal. It also helps lower cholesterol which has been confirmed by several customers who drink a lot of it. Dr. Oz likes this tea for it’s fat shrinking ability.

Pu-erh’s post-fermentation process is similar to wine, cheese and saurkraut. The aging process allows the tea to develop added complexity in character. Some would say the tea has an earthy, moss like character. With active microbes living within the tea, pu-erh evolves with each passing year.

Pu-erh is traditionally compressed and packed into tea cakes or bricks to age. This originated from the natural aging process that happened in the storerooms of tea drinkers and merchants, as well as on horseback caravans on the Silk Road. This method made it easy to transport the tea by horseback and reduced the damage to the tea during travel.

Two antioxidant compounds, theabrownin and gallic acid, activate enzymes in our body responsible for fat metabolism. These antioxidants shrink fat tissue and help the body keep fat off weeks after ingestion. Plus, the caffeine in pu-erh helps speed metabolism, making the body more efficient at digesting a meal. Enjoy some today!

Ready, set, steep!  It’s time think about hot tea. Let Zhi and the fall harvests guide your tea experience this season. Complement your favorite recipes with the very best tea in the world. Zhi’s teas satisfy even the most distinguished palates and will have them coming back for more!

Cinnamon: Always popular, this spice not only tastes good, but is good for you! Zhi’s Kenya Chai is bold enough to be the main flavor when paired with your pancakes, coffee cake and creme brule. It’s also perfect alongside vanilla and coconut-based treats.

Cloves: Spicy, aromatic and sensual. Simply brewing a batch of our  Turkish Spice Mint changes the mood in one’s home or cafe. Delight is in the air! A bit spicy, a tad sweet. Pairs great with chocolate, citrus, lamb and roasts.

Apple: Redefine your pies, breads and salads. Zhi’s Blood Orange (with apple bits!)  is a colorful and bold way to accent your apple notes even more. Hint: Berry Hibiscus easily stains your apples! Be playful with pink slices of the year’s best bushels.

Pumpkin: The warm, amber qualities of Zhi’s Vanilla Honeybush parallels pumpkin’s sweet, sunny notes. Choose a malty  Assam or smokey Pu erh to compliment your traditional squash and brown sugar recipies.

Nuts:  Complement familiar recipes with toasted, nutty teas like our Red Rooibos. Plus, our Raspberry Pecan Rooibos is a friend to every holiday pie!

With our Austin appreciation picnic coming up this Sunday, the last of our 5th anniversary events, we’re digging around for some delectable treats to cook up for the party.

We like tea-infused-just-about-anything, but we’re especially excited about this tea-infused cherry scones recipe from Tea Time magazine.

If you, too, are looking for the perfect tea treat recipe, we think this one is bound to be a crowd-pleaser. Baked with dried cherries, heavy cream, and our fair trade organic rooibos tea leaves, these scones are totally poised for greatness.

Whip up a batch for yourselves or bake some for our potluck-style picnic this weekend. Share a few with us, and we know who’s going to be our best friend at the party!

 There’s nothing like high fashion to get a delicious beverage trending. Designer Marc Jacobs teamed up with The Landmark Oriental Hotel to offer an exclusive and luxurious tea experience inspired by Jacobs’ Lindy handbag.
It’s yet another example of the artistic nature of premium tea. We think Zhi’s organic Earl Grey Choice fair-trade tea would go great with the Lindy bag, but we’d hate to stop there! Tea, like fashion, is totally transformative; together, they’re practically unstoppable.

And we know the feeling of sipping your favorite summer iced tea as you lounge around the porch in late August in your seer-sucker dress or button-down. The combination of the perfect look and the perfect drink makes all the difference.

So, who is your favorite fashion designer, and which Zhi Tea best represents their brand? We’d love to hear all about your tea and fashion pairings!