Adagio Teas (those smart people!) have started a new segment on their website called Tea Chef. The idea is that they send you a full sample of a tea and you create a recipe featuring the tea. They post the recipes and then sit back and reap the rewards of additional marketing gained by those eager tea chefs (like me) who spread the good word about Adagio (case and point, this blog entry).
So I received the Hojicha Fugue tea. A roasted Japanese green tea. (yum!)
(See September 15th entry)
"Maybe it's the obvious," I think to myself, "but I will make an Asian-inspired soup recipe!"
Voila! Tokyo Chicken was born (and finished off rather quickly in one sitting). If it wasn't good I would take the time to tell everyone what a rotten cook I am, so really....believe me -- It's good.
So, then Adagio has the idea to have a voting competition!
So you can click here to view all the entries.
I'm not gonna say by reading this you HAVE to vote for mine, but let's just say that I'll remember you around Christmas if I win. Actually, I'm not sure if there is a prize, or if this is one of those Feel Good "YOU WON!" nothing....but YOU WON! things....maybe I'll be Miss September Tea Chef or something vapidly cool like that!
So be sure to place your VOTE!
September 28, 2005
September 23, 2005
Spotlight: Franchia Tea House, NYC
Last night, I was I had the fortunate opportunity to go to Franchia on Park Ave & 35th st in Manhattan. A opportunity that bears repeating, there was nothing I didn't love about it.
Unlike many Asian restaurants that come across as indifferent to your patronage (due to either cultural barriers or because, well...it's New York City, need I say more), the staff at Franchia was genuine in their hospitality. And that's not a word I use often in describing the experience in most places, but at Franchia was refreshingly different.
As we ascended to the 3rd tier seating, the carved wood and soft light welcomed us in. They gave us time to look at our vegetarian menus and to choose our desired cup of tea. It was a very appealing menu of noodle dishes, rice dishes and sushi. I chose the pumpkin noodles. The best explanation (or the shortest) was that it was thick soba noodles with a pumpkin sauce. At first glance it looked like a Korean spaghetti. And I chose a white Peony tea.
The tea came in a white bulbous cup on a wooden coaster, with the tea leaves in a ceramic strainer sitting in the cup. The waiter explained that one lets the tea steep only 20-30 seconds, removing the strainer to the small tea saucer, and adding more hot water (provided on the table) as needed for the duration of the meal (yes you could get 4 cups out of it easily). He explained this with a gentleness that did not make one feel inept if you did know how the process worked. The tea held its original pleasant taste throughout the subsequent brewings.
An hour and a half slipped by like 5 minutes ,as my partner and I sipped through conversations.
I look forward to returning to this little jewel of a place.
Unlike many Asian restaurants that come across as indifferent to your patronage (due to either cultural barriers or because, well...it's New York City, need I say more), the staff at Franchia was genuine in their hospitality. And that's not a word I use often in describing the experience in most places, but at Franchia was refreshingly different.
As we ascended to the 3rd tier seating, the carved wood and soft light welcomed us in. They gave us time to look at our vegetarian menus and to choose our desired cup of tea. It was a very appealing menu of noodle dishes, rice dishes and sushi. I chose the pumpkin noodles. The best explanation (or the shortest) was that it was thick soba noodles with a pumpkin sauce. At first glance it looked like a Korean spaghetti. And I chose a white Peony tea.
The tea came in a white bulbous cup on a wooden coaster, with the tea leaves in a ceramic strainer sitting in the cup. The waiter explained that one lets the tea steep only 20-30 seconds, removing the strainer to the small tea saucer, and adding more hot water (provided on the table) as needed for the duration of the meal (yes you could get 4 cups out of it easily). He explained this with a gentleness that did not make one feel inept if you did know how the process worked. The tea held its original pleasant taste throughout the subsequent brewings.
An hour and a half slipped by like 5 minutes ,as my partner and I sipped through conversations.
I look forward to returning to this little jewel of a place.
September 16, 2005
Tea...It's the New Wine
Ever noticed the striking similarities between the the world of tea and the world of wine?
"No, please elaborate!" you say....
Take the seemingly simple sentence, "I like wine". What you think that might mean ranges from:
"Yes, I've heard of the stuff and can even drink it without making faces"
to
"I occassionally have a glass or two at a fancy dinner or party, and am fond of Merlot"
to
"This bottle is comes from a unique varietal and the grapes are a blend of Cabernet, Syrah, and Sauvingnon. Note the subtle smoky quality, but with a nice dry finish and I find that if you let it breathe 30 minutes it will reveal a magnificent bouquet replete with a stunning complexity of vanilla, oak and blackberry undertones"
"No, please elaborate!" you say....
Take the seemingly simple sentence, "I like wine". What you think that might mean ranges from:
"Yes, I've heard of the stuff and can even drink it without making faces"
to
"I occassionally have a glass or two at a fancy dinner or party, and am fond of Merlot"
to
"This bottle is comes from a unique varietal and the grapes are a blend of Cabernet, Syrah, and Sauvingnon. Note the subtle smoky quality, but with a nice dry finish and I find that if you let it breathe 30 minutes it will reveal a magnificent bouquet replete with a stunning complexity of vanilla, oak and blackberry undertones"
So it is the same with tea. I had no idea when I first started drinking tea that there was so much to know. And like wine, one can get very specific about the tea, where it's from, the age of the hand picked leaf, the processing and oxidation of the leaves, the preparation...not to mention and virtual panoply of words can be used to describe each tea or tea blend. For comparison's sake, let's follow interpretations of "I like tea.":
"I've had Lipton. Tea in good sometimes, but I'm more of a coffee drinker on average."
to
"I like tea and I am a big fan of Earl Grey."
to
"Depending on the time of year, I prefer 3rd flush Hou Shan Spring when it is at its most robust. Boil the water to 180 degrees and steep for only 3 minutes or else you stand the chance of bruising the delicate nutty taste."
Once I learned how much there was to know about tea, I realized just how much I have yet to learn. Each cup can offer an expereince; a lesson in every pot. I would love to apprentice for a true Tea Master Blender (to those who may be reading, feel free to email me!).
I find that I have an affinity for both tea and wine. I register around example #2 on both, but am eagerly learning, slowly but surely, about the many varieties of both.
What I love is that neither really have a finished product. Once bought the taste can be altered by time and environmental conditions. Listen to any guru or sommelier about food pairings or types of glassware and they take on yet another dimension. Both are gaining popularity in America despite the fact the products place in history and popularity around the world.
I like the way wine is marketed and I feel that tea has a long way to go in the way it is presented to the American palette. There is so much more that can be done to share the information that not all tea is created equal.
One of my favorite things to do is to introduce people to tea who at first say they don't really like the stuff....and by the end of the pot they are ready for another.
September 12, 2005
More than just a Drink
I never realized until recently that there was so much versatility in tea world. I don't mean just the numerous combinations and blends that one can make...but there is so much you can do besides drink the stuff, that I just had to take some time here today and talk about the many uses of TEA!
Did you know that.....
Tea ‘sachets’ made with plain old black tea (or a variety of herbal teas like lavender!). Make a perfect addition to your refrigerator, clothes drawers, or even make a car freshner and control stale odors. Easy, inexpensive and makes a great gift, too!
Tea bags that have cooled can be applied to sunburned areas of skin. They will help ease the pain and inflammation associated with sunburn. Mosquito bites can also be soothed in this manner.
Chamomile tea can also be brewed, cooled and used as a rinse for darker colored hair. It will leave hair with a very shiny, clean appearance. If used on lighter colored hair, it will work as a natural dye.
A tea bag works well as a compress on swollen, puffy eyes,.
A newly blackened eye can also benefit from a tea bag compress. It will help draw the bruise out so that it heals at a much faster rate than normal.
The tannic acid that occurs naturally in black tea is also said to help eradicate warts. Place a warmed, wet tea bag directly onto a wart for ten to fifteen minutes. Repeat two or three times each day and you will notice the wart shrink in size after just a few days of this treatment.
Tea can be used as a fabric dye or made to make fabric appear aged("tea-stained")
Tea makes a very soothing footbath and will leave your feet odor-free and softer too!
A wet tea bag is a soothing way to treat shaving nicks and cuts.
A cup of mint tea is a good-tasting breath freshener for after meals.
Have swelling after needle injections? Place a cold green tea bag over the injection area.
With all the different carpet fresheners on the market, you might be surprised that loose tea can work the same freshening magic. Sprinkle dry tea directly onto carpeting, and allow to settle in for about ten to fifteen minutes. Teas such as cinnamon or a vanilla spice work well, giving your room a nice scent and when vacuumed up, will deodorize the vacuum cleaner bag at the same time. This can also be done to pets bedding area, totally eradicating the pets’ odor. Spread dry tea on pet’s bedding, allow to ‘work’ and then either vacuum up or shake out the loose tea. I have even been told that tea is a natural inhibitor for fleas!
Let chamomile, sage or thyme tea steep, then place in a facial steamer (or create one with a large glass bowl and drape a towel over your head. Your skin will appreciate it.
Use strong tea to clean your mirrors. Let the tea cool and pour into a spray bottle, then use a soft cloth to buff the mirrors.
Place used tea bags in the bottom of a potted plant, on top of the drainage material. The tea bags will hold moisture in and also feed the plant nutrients. Also you can use regular tea instead of water to feed your plants. Or you can use brewed tea leaves as fertilzer.
Relax your eyes. Wt two tea bags with warm or cool water, and lie down with one tea bag on each eye. Relax for at least 15 minutes, and your eyes (and you) will feel invigorated. Chilled chamomile tea bags are particularly effective against puffiness.
If you can’t afford expensive cuts of meat, try marinating or cooking your meat in tea. The tannins in tea work as a tenderizer to make the meat tasty and delicious.
If you’ve just had a tooth pulled, or if you have a youngster who just lost a tooth, tea bags can help stop the bleeding. Just wet a tea bag with cool water and press into the spot the tooth came from.
BATHE! There is nothing like relaxing in a steamy hot bath and smelling the wafts of the sweet fragrance of teas. Chamomile and lavender teas will relax you and calm a racing mind. They are also great for treating irritated skin, eczema and psoriasis. Green tea baths provide protection and preservation to the skin. And peppermint tea creates a stimulating combination for the bath. While the aromatic vapor will help with a cold and headache, it soothes muscle aches.
Place hot teabags on canker sores or fever blisters to draw out infections.
Cold, wet teabags will soothe beestings and insect bites.
Wash face with tea to cure acne
AND HERE YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A MERE HOT BEVERAGE.......
Did you know that.....
Tea ‘sachets’ made with plain old black tea (or a variety of herbal teas like lavender!). Make a perfect addition to your refrigerator, clothes drawers, or even make a car freshner and control stale odors. Easy, inexpensive and makes a great gift, too!
Tea bags that have cooled can be applied to sunburned areas of skin. They will help ease the pain and inflammation associated with sunburn. Mosquito bites can also be soothed in this manner.
Chamomile tea can also be brewed, cooled and used as a rinse for darker colored hair. It will leave hair with a very shiny, clean appearance. If used on lighter colored hair, it will work as a natural dye.
A tea bag works well as a compress on swollen, puffy eyes,.
A newly blackened eye can also benefit from a tea bag compress. It will help draw the bruise out so that it heals at a much faster rate than normal.
The tannic acid that occurs naturally in black tea is also said to help eradicate warts. Place a warmed, wet tea bag directly onto a wart for ten to fifteen minutes. Repeat two or three times each day and you will notice the wart shrink in size after just a few days of this treatment.
Tea can be used as a fabric dye or made to make fabric appear aged("tea-stained")
Tea makes a very soothing footbath and will leave your feet odor-free and softer too!
A wet tea bag is a soothing way to treat shaving nicks and cuts.
A cup of mint tea is a good-tasting breath freshener for after meals.
Have swelling after needle injections? Place a cold green tea bag over the injection area.
With all the different carpet fresheners on the market, you might be surprised that loose tea can work the same freshening magic. Sprinkle dry tea directly onto carpeting, and allow to settle in for about ten to fifteen minutes. Teas such as cinnamon or a vanilla spice work well, giving your room a nice scent and when vacuumed up, will deodorize the vacuum cleaner bag at the same time. This can also be done to pets bedding area, totally eradicating the pets’ odor. Spread dry tea on pet’s bedding, allow to ‘work’ and then either vacuum up or shake out the loose tea. I have even been told that tea is a natural inhibitor for fleas!
Let chamomile, sage or thyme tea steep, then place in a facial steamer (or create one with a large glass bowl and drape a towel over your head. Your skin will appreciate it.
Use strong tea to clean your mirrors. Let the tea cool and pour into a spray bottle, then use a soft cloth to buff the mirrors.
Place used tea bags in the bottom of a potted plant, on top of the drainage material. The tea bags will hold moisture in and also feed the plant nutrients. Also you can use regular tea instead of water to feed your plants. Or you can use brewed tea leaves as fertilzer.
Relax your eyes. Wt two tea bags with warm or cool water, and lie down with one tea bag on each eye. Relax for at least 15 minutes, and your eyes (and you) will feel invigorated. Chilled chamomile tea bags are particularly effective against puffiness.
If you can’t afford expensive cuts of meat, try marinating or cooking your meat in tea. The tannins in tea work as a tenderizer to make the meat tasty and delicious.
If you’ve just had a tooth pulled, or if you have a youngster who just lost a tooth, tea bags can help stop the bleeding. Just wet a tea bag with cool water and press into the spot the tooth came from.
BATHE! There is nothing like relaxing in a steamy hot bath and smelling the wafts of the sweet fragrance of teas. Chamomile and lavender teas will relax you and calm a racing mind. They are also great for treating irritated skin, eczema and psoriasis. Green tea baths provide protection and preservation to the skin. And peppermint tea creates a stimulating combination for the bath. While the aromatic vapor will help with a cold and headache, it soothes muscle aches.
Place hot teabags on canker sores or fever blisters to draw out infections.
Cold, wet teabags will soothe beestings and insect bites.
Wash face with tea to cure acne
AND HERE YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A MERE HOT BEVERAGE.......
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