Tea News — theuklooseleafteacompany

Superfruit(y) Baobab

This is not a tea, goodness, I hear you gasp! Not a tea from theuklooseleafteacompany; nope; it's a product we discovered on our fact finding mission. We are amazed that only now are we aware of the Baobab fruit tree and it's by-products. Grown in Africa’s poorest countries, the Baobab tree produces a fruit rich in vitamin C, Potassium, Calcium and Iron. The Baobab powder is extremely versatile with a taste reminiscent of strawberry sherbet, it can be added to breakfast cereals (mix it in your porridge) make ice cream with it, or a refreshing smoothie, there are virtually no limits to what you can achieve with this versatile Baobab powder (recipes can be found on-line) and it's GOOD for you. Supporting trade from villagers taking the fruit and leaves to market, boosting the household incomes for families who do not have enough to eat for up to six months every year. We here at theuklooseleafteacompany give the Baobab tree a big thumbs up all round; but don't take our word for it, try it for yourself, I bet you'll love it. Foods rich in vitamin C are a cornerstone of the anti wrinkle diet. Vitamin C, whether derived from foods or dietary supplements, assists the body to form collagen and elastin, two structural proteins that give the skin support and elasticity, the Baobab fruit has also been shown to possess strong antioxidant properties, antioxidants neutralize free radicals that can cause damage at the bodies cellular level, increasing degenerative diseases and other signs of ageing, for example; wrinkles and finelines on the skin. Below is some research we found (not ours,we're not that scientific) into the integral oxidant capacity (IAC) of pulp from more well known fruits compared to the Baobab.

Baobab: 11.11 Kiwifruit: 0.34 Orange: 0.10 Strawberry: 0.91 Apple: 0.16

Adding vitamin C rich foods such as Baobab fruit powder (or fresh Baobab fruits if you can get them, good luck with that one!) to your diet might also enhance your body's fat burning capabilities during a workout – especially if your current diet does not contain enough vitamin C. A team of scientists from Arizona State University discovered that people with low blood concentrations of vitamin C burned 25 percent less fat during a 60-minute walk on a treadmill, compared with those who had adequate levels of vitamin C in their blood. The potential weight loss effects of vitamin C may be linked to the fact that it is needed for the production of carnitine, a compound that encourages your body to turn fat into fuel, rather than to store it as body fat. Who knew? theuklooseleafteacompany now stock this product in 100g bags.

Oo Dung It: theuklooseleafteacompany is here again with another top tea; Oolong Ti Dung Organic; believe me, it tastes better than it sounds. Hailing from Taiwan and only mildly fermented, (And for the over 40's - At the risk of sounding like the green tea version of wine connoisseurs Jilly Goolden and Oz Clarke; (other connoisseurs are available) personally my palate was impervious to the rose petals, woodland forests or a beach paradise in anything I was drinking) actually giving it a surprisingly soft grassy undertones and fine nutty character with a pale green, almost yellowish hue, it's light, sweetish and refreshing and not too long to wait, with a brewing time of 2-3 minutes or longer according to taste, this wonderful green tea is a definite Oo with us.

Lets get fruitea!

Well here we are in theuklooseleafteacompany top ten tea of the moment, well it's a fruit infusion to be precise; made from Elderberry, Hibiscus, Sultana, Blackcurrant and Blueberries, it's refreshing hot or cold and totally delicious. Brewed for 5- 8 minutes, the aroma itself has your taste buds tingling with anticipation, well that maybe a slight exaggeration, but only slight; the infusion itself is a taste explosion (again a slight exaggeration for effect) every element of the listed ingredients permeate through in the flavour (the colour is pretty too) which is a pleasant surprise, as I have yet to experience the bouquet and flavours attached to the descriptions of other well known beverages! We here at theuklooseleafteacompany have found it to be a particularly good morning wake up – and it's caffeine free. My friend stated “You would say all your teas are lush” (and yes, she did say lush) it's your business” seriously, she soon changed her mind after a tasting session. She now drinks this tea/infusion, and yes, we make her pay for it! (although a discount is applied). After all there's no such thing as a free lunch – especially when tea tasting........Lets get fruitea! with "Red Fruit Pudding"...

Power to the people:

Spicy Power; this wellness tea is a wonderful blend of Oolong tea, orange peel, ginger, Cinnamon and black peppercorns, and is absolutely lush; if you like orange and ginger (and I certainly do), this is the one; I absolutely love it. Brewed for approx 3-4 minutes, each flavour seeps through in different stages, giving your taste buds a refreshing treat and the aroma is just as good (if not better) as any pot pourri! We at theuklooseleafteacompany would recommend this blend either as a morning pick you up, or, a refreshing summers day imbibe. I thought, especially as I have to taste so many varieties of tea, that it would become same old, same old; but no, still enjoying my job that much, I think I would do it for free (but don't tell the boss). I am having a go with the do it yourself teabags for my next review! Should be interesting (for me anyhow).