Tea India brings real tea from India

As part of the continuing That's Food and Drink Virtual Tea Festival we look at the offerings from Tea India.

"Tea India was established when its founder immigrated from India to the west back in 1981. He brought his own family's tea recipes and the  time-honoured traditions of chai. 

"Together with master tea blenders, who also hailed from India, he created a range of genuine and authentic tea blends inspired by their motherland. 

"From rich spiced chai to single estate regional teas to wellness blends infused with authentic Indian herbs, each blend offers something unique and indulgent.

"Tea India’s tea is sourced from some of the most established tea gardens in India, each of which sits in a unique region of the country, rich in natural beauty and culture. Single-estate teas benefit from the mix of soil and climate in their region, with the very best picked for your cup.

"Masala Chai is a traditional spiced chai taking the heat and sweetness of cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, and anise. Using his family recipe, Tea India’s master blender has taken these heart-warming spices and the finest quality Assam tea to create a truly authentically Indian chai experience. Inspired by aromatic Indian spices and flavours he has also created sweet cardamom chai, spicy ginger chai, warming turmeric chai, and indulgent coconut chai. Each Tea India chai honours the traditions that go along with a cup of tea: family, home, heritage, and comfort."

The above information was very kindly provided to us from Tea India, for which we are very grateful.

But what about the tastes of the teas?

I was introduced to the magical tastes of genuine chai by my wife whose family also hails from India so any teas that claim to be Indian have to pass her stern test.

We are tasting Masala Chai, Cardamom Chai and Coconut Chai.

I had not heard of Coconut Chai before and we found that it is a very tasty chai blend which tastes and smells of real coconuts. And is nicely creamy.

It's a great morning blend and really motivated me to get on with the day's work!

Cardamom Chai from Tea India has a real and genuine cardamom taste to it, which is aromatic and heart-warming. Ideal for a cold British winter!

Masala Chai from Tea India is certainly my favourite blend of tea from Tea India. Might this be because this was the blend of chai that my wife introduced me to? Possibly!

It's aromatic, warming and delightfully spiced and herbal.

What is available?

Tea India Masala Chai: A rich, warming blend of black tea, cinnamon, cloves and anise for a distinctive 'real' Chai experience. RRP £2.89 for 40 bags.

Tea India Turmeric Chai: A truly authentic Turmeric Chai using our Master blender’s family recipe of natural spices and Assam tea. RRP £2.89

Tea India Coconut Chai: A creamy blend of black tea, coconut and spices for a delicious cup of chai.

RRP £2.89

Tea India Ginger Chai: A warming blend of black tea with spicy ginger for a heart-warming cup of chai.

RRP £2.89

Tea India Assam Tea: This strong and malty single estate Assam tea hails from the Margherita tea gardens on the low-lying plains of the Brahmaputra River delta in northeastern India. Full-bodied in taste and rich in colour, this tea will take you to the temples and silk bazaars and peaceful river islands of Assam.

RRP £3.29

Tea India Darjeeling Tea: This deliciously citrusy and delicate, our Darjeeling tea is grown on the foothills of the Himalayas, sourced from the Badamtam tea garden. Savour this cuppa and let it take you on a journey to the Darjeeling hillscape.

RRP £3.29

Tea India Kashmiri Kahwa Tea: Kahwa, or sweetened green tea blended with herbs and spices, is the traditional tea from the Kashmir region. It will transport you to crystal-clear northern lakes, the beautiful city of Srinagar with its houseboats and gondolas, relaxing gardens, and bustling bazaars.

RRP £3.29

Tea India Nilgiri Tea: This deliciously dark and aromatic single estate Nilgiri tea hails from the Craigmore estate. Whilst you enjoy your cuppa, imagine a journey on the Nilgiri Mountain Train, boating down the backwaters to Kerala, sampling rich South Indian cuisine, and visiting cherished temples and old palaces. 

RRP £3.29

Available from: www.teaindia.co.uk, and other retailers.

Journey's End Vineyards Launches Sustainable Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc

The award-winning Journey's End Vineyards, which is based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, is pleased  to announce the launch of its Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc 2021. 

This fresh and crispy, white wine is so named in honour the vineyard's latest green project, the planting of a spekboom thicket on the farm.

It will retail at £10 per bottle and should already be available at Sainsbury's supermarkets.

Since the Gabb family founded Journey's End in 1996 by the Gabb family, it has always beenat the forefront of ecological, sustainable and ethically wine production. 

It makes gorgeous wines for all occasions. And Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc is no exception to this rule. 

Made using 100% sustainably sourced Sauvignon Blanc grapes, the vine's location also influences the flavour profile of the wine. Typical of coastal wine growing regions, the vineyards benefit from the cleansing and cooling winds which help the grapes retain their fresh, clean and elegant fruit flavours.

Winemaker, Leon Esterhuizen, said: "The first thing you notice will be the intense aroma of the wine; winter melon, green apple and a lovely subtle citrus, there are also some herbal and green fig notes in the background. These flavours follow on the palate and are supported by a vibrant, fresh acidity and an elegant mouthfeel."

The wine's namesake, spekboom (Portulacaria afra and also known as 'Elephant Bush'), is a succulent native to South Africa, widely considered to be a 'wonder plant' due to its impressive abilities to absorb carbon dioxide relative to its low water consumption. One hectare of mature spekboom thicket can remove up to 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, about 7.5 times more than mature woodland.

Because natural seedlings are somewhat rare, restoration of thickets requires active replanting. As part of Journey's End Vineyard's continued promise to reduce overall carbon emissions, the company has planted over 6,000 spekboom in open areas of the farm since September 2021.

This green initiative contributed to the vineyard becoming carbon negative, as well as being recognised in The Drinks Business Green Awards 2021 as the winner of both the Ethical Company award and Water Management award. This was the second year running that Journey's End was named Ethical Company, after receiving the award at The Drinks Business Green Awards 2020, too.

Managing Director, Rollo Gabb, adds, "We're really pleased to be launching our Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc with Sainsbury's. As ever, our commitment to creating more sustainable projects on the farm continues – and we felt that the recent planting of 6,000 remarkable spekboom plants warranted a wine named in its honour. We hope you enjoy it!'

Wine Buyer for Sainsbury's, Georgina Haughton, says "We're thrilled to be introducing Spekboom into our range, offering our customers the opportunity to explore a unique South African Sauvignon Blanc, and one with great sustainability credentials. This Sauvignon Blanc from renowned Journey's End bolsters our already strong range from South Africa. Perfect as we near Spring, we're sure this new white is going to be a hit."

Honey Heaven Teas

Continuing with the That's Food and Drink virtual tea festival we take a look at the teas from Honey Heaven.

The herbs and spices used in the tea blends are all grown in Hungary (except for one, which I'll tell you about later) and guaranteed to be 100% organic and are made to a natural naturopath approved formulation.

We start with Refresh tea blend.

This blend contains peppermint, rosehip, hibiscus and lavender.

It is easy to make and also easy to drink. one or two teaspoons of tea, pour 250ml of water (that's about 8.8 fluid ounces) that should be 90 to 100c in temperature.

You should steep it for 10 minutes and then strain it and it is ready be drunk. You can sweeten it with honey or sugar, or drink it unsweetened. It's delicious either way, there's a good blend of flavours combing the peppermint, though the hibiscus rosehip and lavender also make themselves known.

It is designed as a tea to refresh the mind and calm the spirit and does this very well indeed.A particular favourite of my wife and myself is the Honey Heaven Oolong Detox.

It is a combination of oolong tea, ginger, cinnamon and gingko biloba.

You can definitely taste the oolong tea, but the ginger and the cinnamon spices really do give this particular blend of tea some spicy, warming oomph!  And the recommended three cups a day will help you to detox but in a natural way.

Preparations for this tea are exactly the same as for the Refresh blend. 

Now we look at the Honey Heaven Morning Time tea blend.

If you want a drink of tea to set you up for the day which doesn't contain a nerve shattering jolt of caffeine, then Morning Time tea blend is going to be your cup of tea. And quite literally, too.

It's ingredients are rosehip, hibiscus and calendula which combine together to deliver a cup of tea that is refreshing but with a fruity undertone to it, which makes for an extremely refreshing cup of tea.

Something that is a little different in the range is the Energise CBD Herbal Mate Tea. 

It contains Mate tea, orange peel, lemon peel, elderflower, rosemary and rose petal. Plus there is organic hemp which is harvested in Ireland.

Having drunk it it reminds me of an advert for a stout that was widely seen as a rival to Guinness. An older chap would say: "It looks good, it tastes good and by golly it does you good!" And that's pretty much my view of the Energise CBD Herbal Mate Tea. Obviously my judgement isn't scientific, but I know how it tastes and how I felt it made me feel better.

The instructions for preparing this tea are a little different to the other tea blends in the range. one to two teaspoons of the tea, but the water needs ideally to be a little bit cooler, between 70 to 80c. However, the steeping time and the amount of water used is about the same.

Obviously if you are making a cup for two or more people just double or triple the amount of tea and water that you use.

Other blends of tea are available and they also sell CBD oils, meads, honeys, Organic Hungarian Acacia Honeycomb, skincare products, etc.

To learn more please visit them at www.honeyheaven.co.uk

A Little Cup Tea Company

As part of our virtual tea festival, That's Food and Drink would like to introduce our readers to the teas that are supplied by the A Little Cup Tea Company.

The first tea we tried from their range was their Lemon Grey. It is a classical tea, Earl Grey, but with an extra special twist.

As well as the more usual natural Bergamot flavouring this blend contains Sri Lankan Black Tea, Rose Petals, Lemon Thyme and Rosemary.

The water temperature should be at boiling point and the recommended brewing time is three minutes.

Although this blend is suitable for drinking with or without milk I, a confirmed milk in my cup of tea person, really enjoyed it without milk. Which surprised both myself and my wife!

It delivers a delightfully refreshing cup of tea with a floral hint from the rose petals and a herbal undertone from the rosemary, with a zippy hint of lemon from the lemon thyme. However confirmed Earl Grey aficionados will appreciate the underpinning of the bergamot. 

You'll also be pleased to know that the tea bag, the pouches and the clear bags are entirely free of plastic and completely biodegradable. 

The next tea we tried in their range is the jauntily named Easy Feeler. A jaunty name but a tea that is clearly designed to help you relax.

It's described as a Sleep Tea Blend and believe us, it does work! The ingredients of this tea are Chamomile, Linden Blossom (which is from Lime trees), Cardamom, Apple Pieces, Rosehip, Hibiscus, Rose Petals, Orange Peel, Lavender and Natural Flavouring.

Brewing instruction are as for their Lemon Grey Tea, but they do specify no milk when you serve it.

The taste is a nifty blend of essences of floral and fruity flavours with a hint of lavender peeping through. 

Does it help relax you? Yes, it does. And you'll note that there is naturally no caffeine in this recipe. 

On the other hand, what if you need a bit of a boost for your day, a pick-me-up? Then there Yes Mate! energising blend of tea will really fit the bill.

It contains Ginger, Yerba Mate Tea, Apple Pieces, Rosehip, Lemongrass, Liquorice, Lemon Peel, Mallow Flowers, Orange Peel and Natural Flavouring.

Every one of the individual ingredients plays together very well and provides a delightfully fruity ensemble tea that really does give you a nifty boost whenever you need it.

Another caffeine free tea from their range is their Coco Chilli Mint. They describe it as a Warming Tea Blend, which it certainly is.

It contains Rooibos Tea, Peppermint, Coco Shells, Black Peppercorns, Red Peppercorns and just enough Chilli to give it an interesting kick. Plus some Natural Flavouring, too. 

In all it is a cornucopia of flavours, you can taste the rooibos, the peppermint, the chocolate, the peppercorns and the hint of chilli is making my tongue sing!

Other blends are available, plus check them out for special offerings, etc.

Who is behind A Little Cup? Meet George, who is not only an artist, but is also an expert and very creative tea blender.

George tells the story of how he started blending his own teas whilst he was an art student at university and providing them to other people. 

He reveals that he was troubled by loneliness at that time, but found that inviting people round for a cuppa was a great way of combating loneliness by meeting new people over a drink of tea.

George is a passionate believer in the efficacy of tea in bringing people together by the medium of tea.

George is also organising workshops that bring together tea blending and art. You can check out amazing examples of artwork inspired by tea on his website.

To learn more about ordering the tea please visit www.alittlecup.com.  

Would you like to be featured on That's Food and Drink? It's easy!

Would you like to be featured on That's Food and Drink? It's easy!

If you produce or retail food and drink you need publicity. But you need the right kind of publicity.

Rather than shouting loudly, just quietly tell select people who will be interested in what you have to offer.

Readers of That's Food and Drink visit us because they want to learn about what food and drinks are available and they want new recipes to try out for themselves or with their family members and friends.

They also want to know about food supplements, too.

If you contact us, we'll be able to provide you with your own unique post on That's Food and Drink. Sometimes as part of a special feature or as an individual stand alone post. Whichever you prefer.

We don't charge for our services but if you can send us samples, these are always very gratefully received. 

To learn more please email us at afj_uk@yahoo.com.

Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl

With Bioglan Superfoods you can give the one you love a Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl

And not only is it a tasty treat that they'll really appreciate, it has the added benefit of being chock full of tasty Superfoods, too!

One of Australia's greatest exports (in my opinion!) Bioglan Superfoods have been working very hard hard, harvesting the world's top quality ingredients, to make better tasting healthy products to ensure everyone can get the necessary vitamins, minerals and superfoods into their diets.

Bioglan Superfoods have also developed some tasty recipes that are quick and easy to make, all with added superfoods to give you an extra health benefit.

Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl. With Superberries

What could be better than presenting your Love with A porridge bowl filled with love and all good things? 

This Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl with Superberries was made by one of Bioglan Superfoods ambassadors, SpamellaB. It's a gorgeously pretty pink porridge with a fantastic topping of crunchy granola, berries, jam, and little white chocolate hearts.

Serves 1

10 Minutes

Ingredients

• 50g oats

• 3 tsp Bioglan Superfoods Superberries 

• 300ml milk of choice

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• Top with

• Frozen berries

• Reduced sugar jam

• White chocolate hearts

• Granola

Method

1. Cook the oats in a pan with the milk for 5 minutes until thickened, then remove from the heat and stir in the berries powder and maple syrup.

2. Spoon out into a bowl then add your toppings. Enjoy!

You can find a whole host of other recipe ideas at  https://bioglansuperfoods.co.uk/.

Range available at Holland & Barrett, Amazon, Boots and Ocado.

RRP Superfood Powders: £9.99 for 70g Superberries, Green Boost, Supergreens or the Cacao Boost. £12.99 for 100g Super Protein or Beauty Protein. £12.99 for 70g Digestive Boost.

RRP for the Superfood capsules: £14.99- £16.99 for 60 capsules.

That's Food and Drink would liker to thank Bioglan for asking us to share this recipe with our readers.

We'd also like to thank SpamellaB for creating this recipe and for allowing us to use their image to illustrate this blog post.

 

The Sound of Tea set to infuse the UK this summer

Yorkshire-based arts organisation Manasamitra is returning to the stage this summer after a year of cancellations due to the pandemic. 

The Sound of Tea, which is a multi-sensory celebration of the tradition of tea across a range of different cultures and incorporates musical performance and digital technology, creating a unique performance each time.

The Sound of Tea, will be performed exclusively at York’s National Centre for Early Music on 17th June, incorporating live music mixes with specially designed lighting and soundscapes, participatory tea rituals and cutting-edge digital technology, which is employed to capture and reflect audience responses in real-time. 

Creator and musician Supriya Nagarajan uses her experience of the condition synaesthesia to examine and explore the interplay between sound, sight, smell, taste, and touch. 

The Sound of Tea will also feature a number of unique interactive digital tables, which have been designed and developed by Professor Mick Grierson from the University of Arts London (UAL). 

This technology will enable the audience to influence the performance, resulting in a bespoke performance each and every time. 

The Manasamitra team have developed the show with the assistance from tea consultant Beverley Wainwright, alongside actress and cultural educator Fenfen Huang who will undertake a demonstration of a tea ceremony as an integral part of the performance. 

The show premiered in London in early 2020, but due to the pandemic restrictions the remainder of the tour had to be postponed.

Clearly excited to get back on the stage, Supriya said: “Our team is incredibly happy to be able to bring The Sound of Tea to a live audience again after such a lengthy postponement. 

“The last year was incredibly difficult for musicians and performers so we are really excited to be able to return to the stage and interact with audiences in a live capacity. Despite the recent challenges, I'm immensely proud of the industry’s resilience and determination, it truly has shone through during the pandemic.

“While a lot can be achieved via online platforms, nothing will ever compare to the experience of attending or performing in a live show. The energy and atmosphere simply cannot be replicated online or  digitally.

“The whole team worked very hard to bring this project to life in a fully immersive way to capture the story of tea and its role in different cultures, as well as exploring the fascinating phenomenon of synaesthesia. 

“Individuals who experience synaesthesia may see sounds or hear colours, providing a multi-sensory experience. The Sound of Tea will embody that harmonious relationship between the senses, shared with a general audience.” 

Supriya will take centre stage for The Sound of Tea alongside Duncan Chapman on flugle horn, electronica and digital management, James Cave on piano, Marc Layton-Bennett on percussion and Fenfen Huang as dancer and tea celebrant.

Belgium-based flutist, Karin de Fleyt is unfortunately unable to join the team in person due to the continuing travel restrictions, but her music will still be incorporated into the performance.

Tickets are available now via the National Centre for Early Music: www.ncem.co.uk/events/sound-of-tea. 

Beware of online Valentine's Day Scams!

 That's Food and Drink has been publishing posts about the finer things of Valentine's Day. But there are some nasty people out there just itching to scam unsuspecting folks, especially on Valentine's Day.

So please do not fall victim to scammers.

This information has been supplied by KIS Bridging Loans and is used with their kind permission. 

https://www.kisbridgingloans.co.uk/guide-to-fraud-prevention/

Women in Food Hamper

In celebration of International Women's Day, the folks at Macknade have put together a fantastic hamper designed to showcase some of the dedicated, hard-working, passionate women who create fantastic food and drink products.

It'll be a great gift for the strong and inspirational women in our own lives. It's available to order online and can be delivered nationwide.

The cost is £60.

Which women are included and what are their products included in the hamper?

Quinta da Mariposa, Dão Branco Wine - led by oenologist Lúcia Freitas

Choc Affair, Dark Chocolate - founded by Linda Barrie

Brindisa, Salted Marcona Almonds - from Founder & Owner, Monika Linton

Goupie, Ginger Vegan Chocolates - founded by Janet Simpson, with all recipes developed by her mother

Teastones Peace Mother Tea - led by Owner & Tea Connoisseur, Sev Michaels

Fudge Kitchen Rocksalt Peanut Brittle - led by Managing Director, Sian Holt

Benchmark Brewery, Pale Ale - from female Brewer, Amelia

Kent Crisps, Oyster & Vinegar - from Owner, Laura Bounds MBE

How can you order this gift hamper? Just click here:- 

https://macknade.com/products/women-in-food-hamper

The Sound of Tea

The Manasamitra band, with FenFen Huang 

Manasamitra is a Yorkshire-based arts organisation, which has brought to fruition a truly stunning and fully immersive musical performance which is based around the themes of tea and of tea ceremonies.

It is called The Sound of Tea and it is a multi-sensory celebration of the varied traditions of tea across differing cultures.

It skilfully incorporates musical performances and digital technology, creating a unique performance each and every time.

The Sound of Tea incorporates live musical events that are combined with specially designed lighting and soundscapes, participatory tea rituals and cutting-edge digital technology, which is employed to capture and reflect the responses of the audience in real-time.

Supriya Nagarajan

Creator and musician Supriya Nagarajan uses her experience of synaesthesia to explore the interplay between sound, sight, smell, taste, and touch. 

The Sound of Tea also features a number of unique interactive digital tables, developed by Professor Mick Grierson from the University of Arts London (UAL). This technology will allow audience members to influence the performance. Of course, this means that each and every performance is totally unique resulting in a bespoke performance every time.

In more recent times the Manasamitra team has carefully adapted the show into a corporate experience day, which is an immersive, mindful experience for the corporate workplace.

A spokesperson said: "Teams and work colleagues have been physically separated for many months as a result of the pandemic and as we return to workspaces and new ways of working, it is vital team members and colleagues are able reconnect and rebuild."

They went on to point out: "Not only has the time apart altered the dynamic of many groups, but there may also be new staff members or elements of restructuring that will benefit from shared experiences.

"Team building is a vital component of any workplace, helping boost productivity and improve morale.

"After the turmoil of the couple of years, a focus on wellbeing is needed to help individuals readjust to group situations and make a smooth return to the workplace. And what better way than with tea and with The Sound of Tea?"

For details please visit https://www.manasamitra.com/our-work/the-sound-of-tea/the-sound-of-tea-corporate-experience-days/

The images used are courtesy of Duncan Lomax.