Video Review of Monkey-Picked White

I just found this video this morning, made by Lainie from the LainieSips tea blog. She has some interesting tips on varied brewing methods for our Organic Monkey-Picked White Tea. This loose leaf tea is both Organic & Fair Trade Certified, and comes in tea tins as well as bulk bags. Check out what Lainie thinks!

White Teas, Please... a hit!

Since our White Teas, Please gift bundle was such a success, we're extending it for this week. If you like white teas, you've got to take advantage of this deal. (We're not usually so generous!) It's listed at 40% off retail values, essentially giving a 2 for 1 deal. Check it out....
And read our previous blog post to learn the latest facts in white tea research linked to weight loss and fat metabolism.

Forget the great taste & cancer-fighting effects - It'll make you skinny!!

Last Friday Marie Claire was buzzing about white tea, for it's slimming effects. Although I find it slightly depressing that women's mags focus so much energy on being thin, any way you look at it, white tea is a great healthy beverage choice. They posted the following article online May 1st:


White Tea Could Make You Slim

New research has revealed that white tea, which has a high concentration of antioxidants, increases metabolism and boosts slimming. Compounds in the tea prevent the formation of new fat cells and help burn off old ones.

It is claimed white tea, which is made from the buds and first leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant may carry even more health benefits than the more popular green and black teas which are made from the same plant.

Nutritionist Marc Winnefield of German skincare firm Beiersdorf AG which carried out the research said: "In the industrialised countries, the rising incidence of obesity-associated disorders including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes constitutes a growing problem.

"We have shown that white tea may be an ideal natural source of slimming substances."

Here are links to our hand-picked, loose leaf, white teas:

Organic Monkey-Picked White: 100% organic & fair trade certified, single-estate, white tea

Snowflakes: white tea tips that resemble the well-known silver needle tea

Meditative Mind: white tea blended with green tea jasmine pearls & rosebuds

Organic Monkey Picked White

Greetings, fair TeaSpot blog followers.

While graduate school and a move across the country to Boston has taken me away from the warm clutches of the TeaSpot’s arms, I have been fortunate enough to convince the powers that be that I’ll never turn down an opportunity to blog for tea.

So, without further ado, welcome to my next blog installment. It’s good to be back, in a fashion.

Tea Tasting: Organic Monkey Picked White

Round One: 3-minute steep, approx. 190°, ‘round about 5:30 p.m., Saturday, February 7, 2009

My day was spent writing, homeworking, going to the gym, and observing a rather dramatic incident with a crazy man on the train—an incident that caused tears for a fellow female passenger, and a rather saddening but justified throwdown on the perpetrator. Needless to say, I was more than happy to have myself a wee tea party after the lactic acid abated and the sun went down. I recruited my roommate Tony to participate, who was more than happy to oblige.

The first thing that surprised me about the leaves was how brown they were--I was definitely expecting your typical downy white tea leaves a la Snowflakes. In any case, this tea is the essence of lightness; smooth, with a subtle and sweet aftertaste. Tony’s word was “silky,” which is probably better than any of the other word combos I will come up with. This tea was confusing to me at first, because I couldn’t detect a noticeable smell, which caused me a bit of worry because it has also recently come to my attention that I seem to be losing my sense of hearing (too many rock shows) as well as memory (I swear, I forget everything. I blame it on my urban environment and constant media exposure). However, I think this had more to do with the water temperature, as I noticed the tea increased in flavor and scent as the temperature of the water cooled.

Round One Steepage: Buttery Golden Liquor

Round Two: 4-minute steep, approx 180°, 11:45 p.m., Saturday, February 7, 2009

After indulging in an amazing and completely unexpected “dessert” of cheese fondue, red wine, and great company (my roommates so awesome you don’t even know), I gave the tea leaves a bit of a sniff, and they were surprisingly fragrant. I convinced my second roommate and former TeaSpot employee Mr. Ross Wrangham to get in on a late-night re-steep with me. The leaves, as well as the re-steeped tea had an amazingly light floral taste and smell. I can’t for the life of me pinpoint what flower it is…something like orchids, but not quite. Light, honeyed, refreshing, with no trace of tannins whatsoever (as one would expect). I have to say, I much prefer the second steep to the first. I was also happy that the low-caffeine content (especially after a second steeping) didn't keep me awake--keep in mind it was almost midnight--I can barely drink a cup of brewed coffee without getting twitchy, and if anything this tea helped me relax before hopping aboard the S.S. La La Land.

Overall, this tea is extremely rewarding in its subtlety and flavor, and of course I must also appreciate its intrinsic ability to keep me healthy and chock full of antioxidants--an absolute must for my current commuter situation, which requires that I share public bus and train space with hundreds of strangers nearly every day. Thank you, TeaSpot!

I heart my Steeping Mug