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Pairing Tea with Chocolate

Phuong Le — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:33:15 +0000

When paired correctly, the right tea to complement a delicious piece of chocolate can be a match made in heaven. Just like wine, a lot of “perfect pairings” are base on personal preference, but here are a few guidelines to help you pick the perfect tea for your favorite chocolate.

Black tea: Since the flavors are more robust, black tea tends to go well with dark chocolate. The bold flavor of dark chocolate needs the tannins and full flavor of a premium black tea. I love dark chocolate infused with raspberries or coconut paired with Koni Creme Earl Grey.

Pu-erh tea: The balance of a dark chocolate with a deep, rich pu-erh is every dessert lover’s dream. Koni Caramel Slender is a very popular pu-erh tea.

Oolong tea: Vegetal oolongs, such as Koni Slimming Goddess, pairs well with a semi-sweet chocolate or white chocolate. They are both light in flavor so they don’t compete against each other.

A roasted oolong, such as Koni Simply Slim, is great with a darker chocolate or a flavored chocolate. The depth of the darker chocolate brings out the toasty favor of this tea.
White tea: The sweet, delicate flavor of white tea pairs well with smooth, creamy white chocolates. Since the white chocolate isn’t too overpowering, it has the ability to bring out the light, perfumey bouquet of the white tea.

Rooibos: This tea is very smooth and low in tannins so it is easy to pair with both dark and white chocolate. If you are a chocolate and rooibos lover, you must try Koni Tea’s Chocolate Strawberry Delight. It’s an antioxidant-rich dessert in a cup!

A professionally trained chef and the world’s greatest tea master, Phuong has traveled to the far reaches of our planet in search of a healthier lifestyle. Phuong is the CEO and founder of Koni Tea (http://www.KoniTea.com), the largest women owned loose leaf tea company in the market today.Through her incredible journey she has touched the lives of millions and influenced them to ‘rethink their drink’. Phuong has won countless awards, has been featured on the FoodNetwork, and takes an active role with local charities to help her community grow and prosper.

For a glimpse into her life you can read Phuong’s critically acclaimed blog, The Tea Chick at http://www.theteachick.com.

Photo credit © Lasse Kristensen | Dreamstime.com

Thursday Sandwich: Prosciutto, Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil Panini

Phuong Le — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:49:06 +0000

Making lunch has never been easier and more creative with my panini maker. Today I made an Italian inspired sandwich on french sourdough and it was so moist and packed with flavors! I enjoyed a delicious cup of Koni Emperor’s Delight with this dish.

Ingredients:

1/2 Oz of thinly sliced prosciutto
10 Oz of thinly slices mozzarella cheese
12 Tomato slices
12 Fresh basil leaves
1 Loaf of sourdough French bread, sliced

Directions:

1. Spread basil pesto on 1 slice of bread.
2. Layer prosciutto, mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil over the second slice of bread.
3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Press slices together and place into your panini grill until your sandwich is golden brown and the cheese melts.
5. Cut the sandwich in half.
6. Enjoy with a cup of Koni Emperor’s Delight Oolong tea.

A professionally trained chef and the world’s greatest tea master, Phuong has traveled to the far reaches of our planet in search of a healthier lifestyle. Phuong is the CEO and founder of Koni Tea (http://www.KoniTea.com), the largest women owned loose leaf tea company in the market today.Through her incredible journey she has touched the lives of millions and influenced them to ‘rethink their drink’. Phuong has won countless awards, has been featured on the Food Network, and takes an active role with local charities to help her community grow and prosper.

For a glimpse into her life you can read Phuong’s critically acclaimed blog, The Tea Chick at http://www.theteachick.com.

Have you used prosciutto in any of your other sandwich recipes? Tell us what you think of this panini!

Tea 101: What is Tea

Phuong Le — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:27:31 +0000

Tea or Tisane

There are 4 main types of true tea which are Black Tea, Oolong Tea, Green Tea, and White Tea, all which come from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. All the other beverages that are sometimes referred to as tea, such as Rooibos Tea, Mate Tea, or Herbal Tea are actually tisanes. A tisane is any beverage that is made from the infusion of herbs, flowers, or dried fruits in boiling water.

The Tea Plant

The tea plant, Camellia sinensis, is grown best in tropical and subtropical climates with abundant rainfall and rich soil. When all conditions are right, a tea plant can grow to heights of 30 feet if left unpruned and has a life span exceeding 100 years. However, tea plants are usually maintained or pruned back to three-five feet. This height allows for convenient plucking of tender tea leaves. Pruning also stimulates new growths of the young leaves, which are often referred to as flushes.

Between February and April in tea growing regions, tea plants put out the new growth of the new season. This new growth is called a “flush”. A tea flush is the freshly picked tea leaves, typically comprised of the the bud and first two leaves of the growing tea shoot. Although other countries also look forward to the first new growth of the year, it is primarily in India where the flush will be indicated in the name of the teas. After the first flush has been picked, subsequent pickings are also named. The flushes usually produce different flavor profiles. A first flush Darjeeling is known to have a light, crisp flavor, with very slight astringency which is highly prized by many as spring arrives. The 2nd flush Darjeelings come a bit later in the Spring, and offer the more fruity, muscatel flavor so desired in a good Darjeeling. Monsoon, or summer flushes, are usually a less well regarded Darjeeling, but again in the Autumnal Flush, Darjeelings often reveal a fine, muscatel flavor and fruity aroma.

Tea Processing

After plucking of the tea leaves, the differences among the teas result only from the way the leaves are processed. Whether or not the teas get oxidized is one of the determining factors of the type of tea it will become. Oxidation is the process where the leaves release their enzymatic juices and oxidize upon exposure to air. A chemical reaction occurs whereby the mixing of polyphenols and pectin with oxygen and enzymes cause the leaves to turn black and also give black tea its characteristic flavor.

Black Tea is the most oxidized. Making black tea involves withering, rolling, oxidation and drying. Determining how long to oxidize the leaves involves considerable expertise and different styles of black tea demand varying time for fermentation.

Oolong Tea is partially oxidized and sits halfway between black and green tea.

Green Tea are immediately steamed or pan-fired after plucking to stop any oxidation activity.

White Tea is produced when immature tea leaves, or “baby tea leaves”, which are still in bud form, are picked, processed, and dried without oxidation. These tiny tea leaves have not developed their chlorophyll content yet, so they are a very light green in color, and are covered with a downy “fuzz” that gives them a white or silvery appearance, which gave this tea its name.

For a glimpse into her life you can read Phuong’s critically acclaimed blog, The Tea Chick at http://www.theteachick.com.

Photo Credit © Warrengoldswain | Dreamstime.com

Serenity Now! 10 Ways to Relieve Stress

Phuong Le — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:10:13 +0000

Everyday stress is considered normal for most people. However, up to 90 percent of the doctor visits in the United States may be caused by a stress-related illness. Studies have shown that colds, ulcers, colitis, heart problems, even obesity and cancer can be caused by stress.
Do you:

-Suffer from lack of energy?

-Have problems sleeping or can’t get to sleep?

-Experience increased irritability?

-Have problems with your family and at work?

-Have mental and physical chaos in your life?

Like most people you may release your anxiety by talking to a family member or a friend, going for a run, or hopping on a plane to get away. Unfortunately, many people resort to alcohol or pills to relieve their stress. All these things may work temporarily to mask the anxiety but the problem will still be there when you get back. Fortunately you can control your stress with a few helpful tips. You can’t get rid of all the stress in our life, but you can definitely find better ways to channel it. If you follow these tips when you are stressed, you will be more aware, make better decisions, and have a better handle on your stress.

When you truly take control of your thoughts, your life changes in incredible ways. Your happiness is in your total control. The Tea Chick

1. Detox mentally and physically.

DETOX for a healthy and happy life. That means to mentally and physically remove garbage out of your life. Most of us cannot remove all the drama out of our lives, especially when it comes to a destructive family member. However, you can set boundaries for yourself that will keep you from getting hurt by others. You must determine what you can and cannot put up with from your family or friends. Once you set the terms, you must stick firm to them. If the person still decides to hurt you, then you are relieved of any guilt that you may feel in cutting that person out of your life. If that person doesn’t respect your wishes, you must do yourself a favor and for the people who love you by detoxing your life of that negative person.

Why Detox? To boost your energy level, your immune system, to help you de-stress, and to rid your body of toxins. The juice of fruits and vegetables is filled with healing, cleansing properties that allow the body to gently and safely detoxify. In addition, the antioxidant power in tea helps our body fight free radicals while boosting our immunity.

You’re more likely to stick to the detox if you take it in steps. If you’ve never done a cleanse, I would not recommend jumping into the 10 day master cleanse. Start with a healthy food cleanse, then the juice cleanse, which will prepare your body for the master cleanse. Click on one of the detoxes below to view my journals with delicious recipes.

10 Day Master Cleanse
3 Day Detox with Healthy Food
3 Day Juice and Tea Cleanse

2. Get a good night’s sleep.

Sleep is a necessary aspect of life and is essential to our health. It is recommended that we get 8 hours of sleep every night. Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. All of this raises your stress hormone cortisol level. I have a relaxing bedtime routine that I use to unwind every night. I make myself a cup of Koni Sleepy Time tea. The chamomile and rooibos in this tea have been shown to help calm the nerves, ease tension, and relieve stress. I make a small pot of this tea and either soak in a hot bath or sit in bed with a book.

3. It’s ok to say, No.

In order to love and take care of others, you must love and take care of yourself first. That means you must take time for yourself. When someone asks you to do something next time, take a second to ask yourself if this is really what you want to do. If not, just say, “thank you, but I have other obligations” or simply, “no thanks.” That way you are can spend that time on things that really make you happy, which means, you will be less stressed!

“A person succeeds or fails according to the multitude of decisions that are made day after day. The right decisions lead to rewards; incorrect decisions lead to disappointment and delay.”- S. Truett Cathy.

4. Make yourself a cup of L-theanine.

True tea (such as black, oolong, green, pu-erh, white) contains caffeine but it also contains an amino acid called L-theanine. The effects of L-theanine are amazing. Clinical studies have demonstrated that L-theanine reduces stress, improves quality of sleep, diminishes symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, heightens mental acuity, and reduces negative side effects of caffeine. These clinical effects are directly related to L-theanine’s ability to stimulate the production of alpha brain waves (often achieved by meditation and characterized by relaxation with greater mental focus and mental alertness), as well as reduced beta waves (associated with nervousness, scattered thoughts, and hyperactivity). Treat yourself to a cup of Koni Radiant Beauty white tea or a pot of Koni Antioxidant Junkie green tea.

5. Take slow, deep breaths.

When we are stressed we tend to take rapid and shallow breaths. Deep, focused breathing can help you relax, reduce stress, and eliminate pain. When I am stressed, I often use this technique that I learned in my meditation classes to help me concentrate on my breathing. All you do is take a full breath in, fill up your entire lungs; hold for a count of 5, and slowly release it. This always gives me a good shot of oxygen when I need it and brings healing energy to the area that is causing me pain.

6. Watch something funny.

You don’t have to go to the movies or turn on the tv. Just open new window on your computer, let yourself indulge with 5 minutes of a funny youtube video. Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh.

7. Quit your job.

This one’s drastic, and probably too drastic for most. If your 9-to-5, job is causing you stress every single day, find something you truly love to do, that you’re passionate about. Even if you might make less, you will create a positive atmosphere and much less stressful life. When you are passionate about what you do, others will see it and you will attract more abundance into your life.

8. Make yourself a cup of Serenity Now.

Relax with a cup of Koni Serenity Now

Koni Serenity Now contains rooibos, a tea that is known to calm the nerves and relieve nervous tension. Rooibos Tea has anti-spasmodic properties which help to relieve insomnia, nervous tension, stress, headaches, mild depression, hypertension, stomach cramps and colic. Rooibos contains magnesium, which is necessary for a healthy nervous system. The addition of pineapple and coconut pieces in Koni Serenity Now rooibos will have you swept away to tropical paradise.

9. Exercise

I know you’ve seen this tip often and that’s because it actually works! Exercise decreases stress hormones’ like cortisol, and increases endorphins, your body’s “feel-good” chemicals, giving your mood a natural boost. Exercise makes you more fit which makes it easier for you to handle stress. If you need an energy boost to get your workout started, try a cup of Koni Endurance. This green tea is rich in EGCG, a type of catechin that is known to increase endurance capacity, energy metabolism and fat oxidation. Try drinking this green tea before and during your work out and see for yourself how great it makes you feel!

10. Be positive and grateful.

When you have an attitude of gratitude each day, you are attracting more positivity into your life, eliminating negative thinking, and thereby reducing stress. You should give thanks for the 5 most important things in our life every morning. I am grateful for my family, my friends, my health, the fact that I love what I do, and that I have the ability to share it with others. When you have a positive outlook on life, stress will go down and happiness will go up. That’s a winning formula.

For a glimpse into her life you can read Phuong’s critically acclaimed blog, The Tea Chick at http://www.theteachick.com.

How to EASILY Make Loose Leaf Tea at Work

Phuong Le — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:45:41 +0000

Most people avoid making premium loose leaf tea at work because they think it’s too much of a hassle. Well I’m here to show you how quick and easy it is so you don’t have to resort to those tea bags filled with dust and fannings. It’s a lot easier than you may think and it’s actually a lot less expensive and healthier than a tea bag. Did you know that most tea bags contain soy lecithin? “To extract lecithin from soy, it is bathed in hexane. Hexane is a neurotoxin as well as a narcotic, which is flammable and can cause psychosis in humans.” – OSHA.gov. Learn more about loose leaf tea vs tea bags here. If you have a water cooler with a hot water option or a microwave, you’ll be able to brew hot water for your loose leaf Koni tea.

Water Cooler or Your Personal Hot Water Heater

Most offices are equipped with a water cooler that dispenses both cold and hot water. This is a great way to get filtered water for your tea. I have a personal hot water at my desk that dispense either boiling, ideal for black teas and some oolong tea, or steaming hot water, ideal for green, oolong, white teas.

How to make loose leaf tea with your Koni Artisan Mug:

1. Add 2 teaspoons of tea to your Koni Artisan Mug filter. When I need to get a jump start to my morning, I brew Koni Wake Your Assam Up or Koni Darjeeling Dream Black Tea.
2. From your water cooler or hot water dispenser, add the hot water.
3. Place the lid over the mug and bring the teacup back to your desk. By the time you get to your desk, the tea filter can be removed.
4. Flip the lid of your artisan mug over, and use it as a coaster for your filter.
5. When you are ready for another cup of tea, just place the filter with the leaves back in the mug and begin at step 1.

Microwave

Most break rooms have a microwave where you can brew water for your tea. All you have to do is take a mug, add filtered water, and put it in the microwave for a few minutes. The only issue you may have with this is over boiling the water since you don’t have control in a microwave. You don’t want to over boil your water since it will cause a flat or bitter tasting tea. To learn more about making the perfect cup of tea, click here. I recommend doing a couple tests first. Try brewing a cup of water in the microwave and if it starts to steam at 2 minutes, then it is perfect for your greens and whites. If it boils at 2 minutes, then use that timing for your black, oolong, puerh, and herbal teas. Once you find the right timing, it should be as simple as this:

1. Add loose leaf tea to your Koni Artisan Mug filter.
2. Brew hot water in the microwave.
3. Add the hot water to your tea.
4. Cover with the lid.
5. Wait for the tea to brew.
6. Remove the filter by flipping your lid over on your desk and using it as a coaster.
7. Sip your tea and enjoy.
*** Remember to save your tea leaves for a second or third steep. Make sure you don’t leave your leaves out for more than 4 hours at room temperature.

A professionally trained chef and the world’s greatest tea master, Phuong has traveled to the far reaches of our planet in search of a healthier lifestyle. Phuong is the CEO and founder of Koni Tea (http://www.KoniTea.com), the largest women owned loose leaf tea company in the market today.Through her incredible journey she has touched the lives of millions and influenced them to ‘rethink their drink’. Phuong has won countless awards, has been featured on the Food Network, and takes an active role with local charities to help her community grow and prosper.

For a glimpse into her life you can read Phuong’s critically acclaimed blog, The Tea Chick at http://www.theteachick.com.