Friday, 11 March 2011

Top Ten Teas of 2010

Top 10 Teas of 2010

Last year I wrote a 13 part series on tea. It has been a very popular series based on traffic to the site. I wanted to update my final article with my Top Ten Teas of 2010. In the previous tea articles, I rated my favorite teas based on their type:
Red, White, Green, Black, Mate, Fruit Blends, Wellness Blends and herbal. This article will list my top ten favorite teas that I keep around all the time and why. It was really hard narrowing it down to a list of just 10, but this year all of the Teas are from Teaopia. Below the name of the tea is a description from the company's website, or catalogue. These are the teas that I keep both at home and work. These are best of the best based on my current tastes and predilections. One of the things that makes tea so easy and accessible now the Teaopia tea master. In the picture to the left are the first three generations of the Tea Master truly an excellent brewing tool.

1. Superberry White - Teaopia
Superberry White Tea is a mixture of White Tea, apple pieces, schisandra berries, cranberries, goji berries, bilberries, and mallow flower blossoms. The combination of incredibly healthy White Tea with these true `super` berries makes a tea that everyone will want to have in their tea collection. This tea is high in antioxidants and helps strengthen the immune system.

2. Wonderful White - Teaopia
White tea is a combination of White Tea, apple pieces, orange peel, ginger bits, cinnamon, lemongrass, coconut flakes, pistachio, red peppercorns, and corn flower blossoms.

3. Goji Green - Teaopia
Green Tea consists of organic sencha shokai, goji berries, schisandra berries, pomegranate flower blossoms and an all natural strawberry aroma. Get the benefits of Goji berries and Green Tea with this amazing blend.

4. Dragon Heart White - Teaopia
This flavoured White Tea is a blend of Pai Mu Tan, bamboo leaves, and pomegranate blossoms that surprisingly come together to create a wonderful cranberry flavour. Fruit and White Tea lovers will enjoy this tea day or night.

5. Jiaogulan - Teaopia
Jiaogulan (pronounced 'JOW GOO LANN') is a Chinese herb which has been consumed for centuries for its reputed anti-aging, antioxidant and disease-fighting properties, which is why it is known as the `immortality tea`. Jiaogulan is held in shape by a very light sucrose, which adds to its natural sweetness when infused.

Infusion Recommendations: Infuse each ball in approximately 24 ounces of water at no more than 175 degrees for at least five minutes. Multiple infusions are strongly recommended. Successive infusions are smooth and delicious.

Jiaogulan is recommended for anti-inflammation, detoxification, cough remedy, and as an expectorant and chronic bronchitis remedy. It is rich in antioxidants, amino acids, minerals, and is stimulant-free.

According to herbalists Jiaogulan is used for antioxidant and disease fighting properties, supports organ systems and blood function, decreased cholesterol, improved digestion and nutrient absorption, relief from fatigue, increased vitality and endurance, regulation of hormonal functions, aids in weight loss, improves sleep, is calming and elevates mood.

6. Cactus Fig - Teaopia
This flavoured tea is the perfect blend of Green Sencha, fig pieces, aloe vera, sandalwood and orange flowers. The combination provides an earthy yet sweet taste and aroma that is perfect any time of day.

7. Pomegranate Green - Teaopia
This flavoured Green Tea is a beautiful combination of sencha, cranberries and pomegranate flowers. The subtle taste of our Pomegranate Green is perfect any time of day either hot or iced for tea and fruit lovers.

8. Fit Active and Rise and Shine- Teaopia
This Wellness Blend is a combination of apple pieces, rose hip peel, strawberry and raspberry leaves, elderberries, bramble berries, sunflower petals, vitamin C from the acerola cherry, and safflower and cornflower petals. This tea is a must-have for all tea drinkers, as it helps prevent the common cold and is very rich in vitamin C. Keep this Wellness Blend as part of your collection and watch how the health benefits transform your life.

A perfect combination of lapacho, honeybush, Yerba Mate, apple pieces, cinnamon bits, green Mate, chrysanthemum flowers, guarana powder, cola nut, pomegranate blossoms, marigold and aroma. This blend is considered a great stimulant without the side effects of coffee, which makes it wonderful for those trying to make the switch to tea.

9. Mate Citrus Buzz - Teaopia
The combination of Green Mate leaves, lemongrass, safflower petals, sandalwood, orange peel, ginger, lemon peel and spearmint give this herbal tea an unmistakable citrus flavour that will leave you with the pick-me-up you desire without the side effects and toxicity of coffee.

10. Mate Sweet Energy - Teaopia
All the incredible health benefits of Green Mate are infused with aloe vera bits, figs, dates, orange peel, mallow flower and sunflower petals to create a refreshing and exotic flavour.

I hope you have enjoyed my series on tea; I have enjoyed your many comments on facebook and my blog, I look forward to trying some of the teas you have suggested. And check back next year for an updated Top Ten List. And remember what C.S. Lewis said; "You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." So may you always have a book in your hand and a cup in the other!

Articles in this Series:
1. Tea an Overview
2. Red Teas
3. Green Teas
4. White Teas
5. Black Teas
6. Matcha Tea

7. Yerba Mate
8. Fruit Blends
9. Wellness Blends
10. Herbal Teas
11. Purveyors of Fine Tea (my preferences.)
12. Custom Blending
13. My Favourite Teas

Top Ten Teas of 2010
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(Above my tea collection at home, below my tea collection at work.)

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