Tea and Preps

I was invited to do a tea tasting at Phillips Exeter Academy in their new grill. An impressive facility, I marveled at the resources that are available to these very fortunate young adults. I was equally impressed by their manners. They surrounded me so that I had little breathing room, but the tea flowed and my new young friends ooo'd and awed with ever drop...and they never forgot to say please.

Red Hat Ladies Love the Bean

We opened our doors to the Red Hats this weekend, a collection of mature, albeit silly gigglers, adourned in purple and red frivolity. It is our custom to take on large groups and talk about tea, but there was something special about these ladies. Besides the fact that they came to spend, they also camed to savor...and savor they did. They drank as much tea as I could make for them. Surprised at the subtlety of white tea, the smooth richness of oolong and the debth of our blacks, I could tell they were still waiting for something different - something that kept them on the edge of their caffeine buzzed seats.

Oh! Yes! They wanted Chocolate! And they didn't want to wait much longer.

I enjoyed their anticipation, so I thought I would stretch it out a wee bit longer. I passed around an opened tin, filled with our Chocolate Rasberry, which is filled with black tea, rasberries and diced Lindt Dark Chocolate (another local favorite). They had heard about this tea, which can only be found in our office (it doesn't ship well) and I was a bit nervous that it wouldn't hold up to their expecations. But finally, I brewed it up and served.

I was unprepared for the expolosion of giggles that shook the rafters of our old mill building. It was the highlight of my day and certainly something I won't forget for a long time. As I get older and they get younger, I hope we one day meet somewhere at the same age holding our chocolate bars and giggling all the way.

Harvest Fest at UNH

The UNH office of substainability hosted a "Local Harvest Dinner" last night, serving almost 2000 visitors and students. We were amazed at their commitment to local foods and the many varieties that were offered. Among our teas, they served Apricot Peach, Sencha Berry Melon, and Antarctica. It was a great honor to participate and meet the people who have been enjoying our tea on campus. Though there were many local food producers (I ate the most delicous apple I ever tasted), the smells from our display table attracted many students and facilty alike.

One observation: this wasn't my cafeteria growing up. University campuses are catering to students as royalty. The event was held at the "older" Stillings dining hall, which is a step below Holloway Commons. Both are quite posh and are more likened to an international self serve buffet. Fresh foods, stir fry, brick oven pizza, made to order crepes and omelettes all made to order by chefs. Amazingly, this is becoming the trend in food service on campuses across the country. One unconfirmed report was that UVM's dining hall will flash freeze food on the spot for takeaways. Phillips Exeter Academy's dining service ( a high school, mind you ) is equally remarkable, worthy of taking a romantic dinner with your spouse (if you don't mind being surrounded by a very young and international clientele). Is it character they are building or consumerism? We can debate that over a brisk Gazpacho.

Mi Hemelo (my twin)

My twin (AKA Palm Pilot) is more famous for being the husband of the PalmTree Pundit. A P-3 pilot by trade (that is a big navy plane that does cool stuff), his wife dedicates this video to him. Now relegated to a cubicle, the Palm Pilot doesn't have the view he used to.

What does this have to do with tea, you ask? Let me get back to you on that one.

Imperial Mist - Oooolong

Just off the boat; we have purchased a limited quantity of Imperial Mist. I think it is the finest tea we carry. High harvest altitude produces a tea that is exceptionally sweet, with a persistent floral aroma and a striking floral scent reminiscent of honeysuckle and gardenia. But really - It kinda tastes like silver queen corn to me.

Must See TV

New Hampshire Public Television was here a bit ago- eager to tell our story. Who are we to say no? Though we don't have an air date, keep an eye out for NHPTV.

We hope you enjoy the show.

Thank you chef Grillo

Chef Michael Grillo from the Country View Restaraunt in Greenland, NH offers these recipes for you - courtesy of Portsmouth Teas:

Fall Salad, with a Cranberry Fruit Tea Vinaigrette
1 Cup prepared Cranberry Fruit Tea (chilled)
½ Cup Salad Oil
2 ½ teaspoons Apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons white sugar
½ teaspoon salt
Dash black cracked pepper
Teaspoon toasted pecans per salad
1 oz crumbled gorgonzola cheese per salad

Mix tea, sugar, salt, and black pepper together
Add vinegar and oil slowly while whisking.
Chill

Once chilled garnish salad with pecans and cheese, then drizzle over salad
Serve immediately

BREAKING NEWS from the US Tea Association

A Study Published in September 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association Shows Lower Mortality Among Green Tea Drinkers.

The news media will be reporting on the Journal of the American Medical Association research study, "Green Tea Consumption and Mortality Due to Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and All Causes in Japan."

Summary of JAMA Study

"A study published in the September 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that adults who consumed three or more cups of green tea per day had a lower risk of death due to cardiovascular disease. The study, conducted by the Tohoku University School of Public Policy in Japan, followed 40,530 Japanese adults, ages 40 to 79 years, with no history of stroke, coronary heart disease or cancer at baseline beginning in 1994. The study followed all participants for up to 11 years for death from all causes and for up to 7 years for death from a specific cause. Participants who consumed 5 or more cups of tea per day had a 16 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 26 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease than participants who consumed less than 1 cup of tea per day."

The study also states, "If green tea does protect humans against CVD or cancer, it is expected that consumption of this beverage would substantially contribute to the prolonging of life expectancy, given that CVD and cancer are the two leading causes of death worldwide."