Why won't my cup of tea wake me in the morning?

--> A lot of people know that tea does contain caffeine, the same alkaloid  found in coffee.  So why doesn’t it have the same effect (waking) as the coffee?  The simple answer is two-fold.  First, the amount of caffeine is less than coffee.  Generally, a standard cup of regular black tea has about 1/3 the caffeine content as the same size cup of coffee.  Secondly, the caffeine in tea reacts differently in your body than the caffeine from coffee.  With coffee, the caffeine enters the blood-stream and advances to your central-nervous system very quickly, thus producing the ‘boost’ which many people crave first thing in the morning.  With tea, the caffeine stays in your system much longer and doesn’t jolt your central-nervous system until much later.  This explains why a lot of people can drink tea in the evening but wake very early in the morning when the caffeine makes it presence felt!!

What makes a great breakfast tea?

What makes a great breakfast tea?  If you're like me. you want something with a familiarity, something that is robust, full-flavoured.  Most breakfast teas are blends of Assam tea and Kenyan tea.  Both have all the aforementioned qualities.  The percentage of each type in the blend determines which tea is called English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, or Scottish Breakfast.  The strongest blend at The Tea Haus is Irish Breakfast.  It is comprised of mainly Kenyan CTC-grade tea and some Assam orthodox-leaf tea.  Our best-selling breakfast tea is Scottish Breakfast, a fabulous blend of Assam and Kenyan teas, with about 60% being Assam and 40% Kenyan.  It is brisk yet smooth.  Takes milk well if you are so inclined and is an excellent self-drinker.  A truly great blend. 

http://www.theteahaus.com/p-2433-scottish-breakfast.aspx

Pu-erh? Facts over fiction.

A lot has been written about Pu-erh lately and we have had many questions about this China Black tea from customers.  Here is a quick summary of facts concerning this unique tea.

• China tea produced in Yunnan Province.
• Production includes a unique secondary-oxidation process which gives Pu-erh its' earthy flavour.
• In Chinese medicine, it is believed that Pu-erh helps the body after over-consumption of alcohol.  No long-term health studies show this to be fact.
• Pu-erh can be sold in leaf-grade form or special compressed cakes of tea.  
• The longer Pu-erh is aged, the more expensive it becomes.
• Animal studies have shown that consumption of Pu-erh does reduce the LDL cholesterol in the body.  No long-term human studies have been done. 
• Various animal studies have shown Pu-erh to promote weight-loss.  Again, there are no human studies that show this.
• Pu-erh does include all the healthy attributes of the tea plant including unique antioxidants called flavonoids.  The most potent of these, known as ECGC, may help against free radicals that can contribute to cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries.