http://blog.nmteaco.com/

Mr. Edwards goes to Washington

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:22:29 -0600

Tomorrow morning I will be headed to Washington DC to lobby our local senators and congresmen to vote for healthcare reform.

June 2009 Newsletter

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:05:57 -0600

It is June, and that means that New Mexico Tea Company will be providing complimentary tea during intermission at all the performances of the June Music Festival at the Simms Center, Albuquerque Academy. The June Music Festival is put on by Chamber Music Albuquerque and this year will feature: Takacs String Quartet, Lark Chamber Players, and the Calder String Quartet. Tickets start at $26, so think of it as all you can drink tea for $26 and a free show! For $10 off the weeknight shows call Bruce at 505-268-1990 by Wednesday the 10th. (Buy your tickets here)

Monthly Contest:
The winner for the tea photo contest is Jami Porter Lara who took:

The prize is 4oz of tea. You can see the runners up on the tea photo page.

Vote Now for the winner of this month’s tea recipe contest.

The next contest is going to have a bigger prize, because it’s more work: a Tea-Shirt design contest. The winner will receive 4oz of tea, the tea tumbler in this news letter, and of course a shirt once they are printed.

Enter Now for next months tea shirt contest.

Featured Products:

Plum Oolong: This earthy Oolong has a natural plum flavor that makes a perfect sun tea or afternoon delight, a winning combination! In 1964, the Republic of China officially designated the plum blossom to be its national flower, with the triple grouping of stamens representing the Three Principles of the People and the five petals symbolizing the five branches of the ROC government. $3.75/oz

Passion Berry Fruit Tisane: Delicious over ice, this fruit medley contains pieces of peaches, apples, orange peel, and rosehips. With no added sugar, this infusion is perfect for children and adults alike. For the summer, try this tisane frozen, like a popsicle! (This is the new “blood orange” I think.) $3.75/oz

Tea Tumbler with Infuser: TherMax double wall vacuum insulation locks in temperature to preserve flavor and freshness. Made with unbreakable 18/8 stainless steel interior and exterior to withstand the demands of everyday use. Leak-proof travel cover seals closed for carefree portability. Separate infuser and splash resistant drink lid let you brew and enjoy, all in one container. $22

Tea Tip of the Month:
Many restaurants have expensive specialty summer drinks that can be replicated at home by adding fruit juice as the last step. Brew your iced tea as normal, and then before chilling add in apple juice, or cranberry juice (among others) for a deliciously sweet beverage.

Tea History:
Sugar and tea have a long history together in the west. Some people would even say that one of the reasons tea became so popular in England was because it was a perfect delivery mechanism for sugar! Sugar consumption was so closely tied to tea that in the 19th century the amount of tea being smuggled into England could be calculated by the amount of sugar being consumed.

A few months ago I talked about the “only tea garden in the United States” being in South Carolina. My uncle Keen, who lives in Hawaii, was quick to point out that I was incorrect; Mauna Kea Tea Garden being one example. It is located on the rainy slope of Mauna Kea, on the Big Island of Hawaii. “We grow and process green tea (camellia sinensis) that is not only of good quality, but also safe for people and for the environment.”

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Working on a logo for the store

Sat, 16 May 2009 12:02:30 -0600

So we have been open for 2.5 years now without an official logo. Today I have decided to create an image that can be used on printed paperwork, and on the web. The idea is that with a common “style” I can achieve many different looks for different applications. Here is the first draft:

Thoughts? Suggestions?

My New Chai Spice Grinder.

Wed, 06 May 2009 13:36:15 -0600

I have bought a BFG (Big Frakken Grinder) to grind chai spices for custom blends. So far I have done a Rooibos Chai blend. But I plan on also selling just the spices for people who want to make a traditional recipe at home.

World Tea Expo Report #5

Mon, 04 May 2009 18:21:00 -0600

Matcha Matcha Matcha, there was a lot of companies showing off matcha, and the equipment used to make it. A surprising number of Korean matcha producers showed up. I was able to get a sample:

I had thought that Matcha was made from Gyokuro, but in fact its made from a type of green tea called Tencha. This matcha is produced by Daehantea Produce Co. LTD. I am sure its very good… however I was reduced to making it with a toothbrush and hot tap water from my hotel room. This did not do it justice! (but I did manage to get some froth)

World Tea Expo Report #4

Sun, 03 May 2009 21:48:44 -0600

Below are three totally unrelated things I found interesting on the show floor.

Hydrangea Leaf is an herb grown in Korea. It has a very sweet taste, almost like Stevia.

This is also from Korea (ok I guess they are not TOTALLY unrelated things). Those cups to the right are double walled ceramic, and I really like the middle teacup and saucer, very elegant.

This is an electric kettle that is ceramic. I had not seen one of these before, but a few booths were using them. The problem is they retail for $300. Would you buy one for that?

World Tea Expo Report #3

Sun, 03 May 2009 20:29:00 -0600

This afternoon, as I was walking though a previously unexplored aisle, I met a man named Clinton Gass. He is the Japan Branch Representative of Rooibos Marketing LTD. Rooibos LTD has been selling Rooibos in Japan in the nylon pyramid bags.

These bags do not have strings because the Japanese would not drink the tea if the tag on the string fell into the cup. Therefore they developed the idea of “keep in cup”. Because Rooibos does not get bitter with increased steeping time, the bag can remain in the cup or pot the whole time.

Clinton is also just starting to market green and black teas produced in South Africa, at the Ntingwe Estate. This estate has been producing some black tea for a long time, but he helped develop a method of green tea production similar to the Japanese way. There is an extra step at the end which blanches the tea leaves. This has the effect of reducing the caffeine by 1/3, as well as adding a distinctive taste.

I have many samples and will be sharing them with my customers to see what the American reaction is to this South African black and green tea.

World Tea Expo Report #2

Sun, 03 May 2009 11:24:00 -0600

During the awards ceremony last night I happened to sit at a table with the owners of Glenburn Tea Estate . They had been nominated for their first flush Darjeeling.

They also have a hotel on their estates and invite people to come and stay with them.

I have not tried the tea yet, but am planning on visiting their booth today and try some. They are very interested in dealing directly with stores in the west. They are able to ship tea directly from india at competitave prices. and the fact that they can sell directly, and not through tea auctions they in tern can make more money. This extra money they say can go to helping pay for better conditions on the estates. Ms. Prakashes is quick to point out that conditions are already very good, which is one of the reasons they operate a hotel; you can go and see for yourself what its really like there.

World Tea Expo Report #1

Sun, 03 May 2009 11:16:31 -0600

Yestuerday was the first day of the world tea expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. I am attending the expo for the first time, and so far it has been very interesting.

I have visited about half the booths and will be visiting some of them again, and trying to see the rest of them over the next 2 days.

I met with Prateek Poddar from Darjeeling Impex Limited. He had an interesting product i had not seen before. It is similar to our Ginza Tea Stick but with tea already in it, and disposable.

May 2009 Newsletter

Sun, 03 May 2009 09:44:25 -0600

We have a new employee here at NM Tea Co.. Her name is Rachel and she will be working in the store on the weekends. Please send her an e-mail at Rachel@nmteaco.com and tell her what you like best, or dislike the most about New Mexico Tea Company. She will reply with a special coupon which you can redeem only directly with her.

In other news I am off to Las Vegas for the weekend for the World Tea Expo. Unfortunately they do not allow taking pictures during the event… but I will see what I can do, and will be posting updates to the blog.

Monthly Contest:

The winner for the tea haiku is Gabrielle Jackson who wrote:

Infusing my soul
Tranquility in a cup
Divine, sublime…tea

She will receive 4oz of tea. You can see the runners up on the tea haiku page.

Vote Now for the winner of this months tea photo contest.
Enter Now for next months tea recipe contest.

Featured Products:

Tie Guan Yin:

The name Iron Goddess of Mercy came from a farmer named Mr. Wei. At the temple dedicated to Kuan Yin he was asked what is the name of his special tea. It must be called Tie Guan Yin in honor of the iron statue to Kuan Yin he replied. As the name was a good one, it has never been changed. Oolong is purported to help boost the metabolism and diminish appetite. $5.50/oz

Peach Apricot Black:

A flavorful and tasty combination of mellow peaches with deep full flavored apricots. Makes an absolutely tremendous iced tea. In Italy, both fruits flourished and rose in such popularity that they became noted favorites of various rulers of the Roman Empire. $2.75/oz

Green Genie Teapot:

Karen Peters’ one of a kind teapots and ceramic sculpture have been shown in galleries and museums in the USA. Her whimsical juxtaposition of unexpected icons and allegorical elements create unique relationships that free the mind from usual expectations. $150

Tea History:

In the 18th century, as tea was becoming more common in Europe, there was a social debate whether or not tea was proper, or a healthy drink. In England this debate seemed to be the most heartfelt. Below are some amusing quotes published in that time frame (these are the more civil ones):

“Tea is utterly improper for food, hitherto useless in physick, and therefore to be arranged among the poysonous vegetables” - The Gentleman’s Magazine of 1737

“Tea is the preserver of beauty, makes the old look young, fills the body with life and spirit, good blood, and makes the barren fruitful: there is hardly a virtue it does not possess…” -A ‘well wisher for the health of Great Britain’

“Were they the sons of tea-sippers, who won the fields of Cressy and Agincourt, or dyed the Danube’s streams with Gallic blood?” -Jonas Hanway (introduced the umbrella to London)

“…a hardened and shameless tea-drinker, who has for twenty years diluted his meals with only the infusion of this fascinating plant, whose kettle has scarcely time to cool, who with tea amuses the evening, with tea solaces the midnight, and with tea welcomes the morning.” - Samuel Johnson The Literary Magazine

Tea Tip of the Month:

And so the suffering begins: the longing for fresh tea versus the guilt of throwing out old tea. May we suggest the following simple remedy: open up the packets, canisters, jars of old tea and dump them together into a large container. Mix them all together, steep them for a short period in hot water, and share the ensuing cooled concoction with your plants, either indoor or outdoor plants. You can also dig the brewed leaves into the dirt around the plants. That way, future waterings will continue to nourish your garden as the tea leaves break down. Your plants will not object to any staleness or flatness.

Sincerely,
David Edwards
Owner - NM Tea Co.

Past Newsletters:
On our website you will find a backlog of all the past newsletters.

Find Our Tea At:
Golden Crown Panaderia
Sunshine Cafe
Böttger Mansion
Betty’s Bath and Day Spa
Jennifer James 101
Downtown Historic B&B
Zohra’s: 505-247-2323
Village Coffee Roasters: 505-688-4148
The Little Cafe: 505-353-1807

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On the Road with Tom Deeds #4

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:19:51 -0600

Finally, I came up over the hill and am now in the L.A. Basin, staying in the Hollywood Hills. I often go up to the Griffith Observatory. It is where the planetarium scenes for the James Dean film, Rebel Without a Cause, were filmed.

Photo of my motorcycle is from planetarium parking lot with famous Hollywood sign in background. The sign was originally a real estate advertisement and said, “Hollywood Land.” However, the “Land” part eventually fell over and the rest went on to become iconic.

The tea cup with Yuca burrito at the ocean. I made the Wuyi rock tea. wow! that’s really good tea! Now I know why they call it Oolong! Oo, because it is so gooood! Thanks again so much for that and all the teas.

Amitiés, Tom

April 2009 Newsletter

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:15:21 -0600

Next Thursday, April 9th at 6pm New Mexico Tea Company will be serving tea at Tiguex park. This event is called “Salsa to Save Lives” and is put on by Health Care for America Now. There will be free food from Cecilia’s Cafe and, of course, free tea from us. Starting around 7 or so there will be dance performances, and you can salsa dance yourself till your heart’s content. For information, and to RSVP visit: salsa.nmhcan.org

In other exiting news we have started to do monthly tea related contests. Each month in the newsletter you will be able to vote for the winner for the previous month, and learn details about the next contest. The winner will get 4oz of tea.The first contest which was held during this past month was to create a tea Haiku. Please vote for the winner HERE.

The current challenge is a photo contest. Take a photo that means “tea” to you, be creative. You can e-mail me your photos, or send a link to a flickr page. Find out more information on our new Contest Page.

And finally I have set up a facebook page for New Mexico Tea Company. If you would like to become a “fan” of the store visit this link: NM Tea Co. Fan Page.

On the road with Tom Deeds #3

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:46:05 -0600

Greetings to everyone at New Mexico Tea Company. Since my last update I have been much further out into the Lower Sonoran. The Sonoran has two rainy seasons per year and is therefore a more voluptuous desert.

Next I moved west to the Colorado desert locally known as the Anza Borrego. The Chihuahuan and the Mojave (of which the Colorado desert is often considered a part) and the Great Basin are starker then the Sonoran.

Your teas are still standing me in good stead through them all. In fact, just up the wash from the smoke trees early one morning, I was talking a little walk with my Japanese green tea when I encountered this little fellow under a bush.

It is a pit viper (Crotalus), but unfortunately, the angle of the photo does not reveal the heat-sensing pits between the eyes and nose.

Amitiés, Tom

The Crispy Tea Leaf's Pat Canella trys pu-erh for the fist time.

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0600

Pat Canella over at the crispytealeaf.com reviews a black pu-erh mandarian orange that I sent him. He has never had pu-erh before, and I’m surprised he liked it at all! Pu-erh has a very earthy taste that many people find unpleasant at first. If you would like the uncut raw impressions of a college student just getting into the world of tea check out Pats other videos

How to make matcha

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:30:19 -0600

A beginners course in the basics of Matcha and the making of it.

Dennis drinks Pu-erh at the Grand Canyon

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:27:01 -0600

Dennis Plummer, one of our customers, told me he was going on a trip to the grand canyon and was going to take tea along with him to share with his group. I told him to be sure to send some pictures back.

The puer was a hit with the group after a long day’s hike down into the canyon. Most had never tasted puer and, as one person remarked, “Tastes like you must’ve scored this illegally on the black market it’s so good!”

-Dennis

See my card down there?

Become a "fan" of NM Tea Co.

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 11:53:00 -0600

You can now become a fan of New Mexico Tea Company on facebook. We will be doing monthly contests. You can also view photos, and videos, write reviews, and connect with other tea lovers.

Become a fan of NM Tea CO.

Pino Digital Kettle Pro - Video Review

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:25:09 -0600

This electric tea kettle will change your life! One of the most important aspects of brewing tea is water temperature. The Pino Digital Kettle Pro has a digital readout that lets you set a desired temperature to the degree. Then the kettle maintains it there for as long as needed. It also displays the current temperature, so you can pull the kettle off early, or get an idea about its progression.

The kettle is classy looking and easy to use. I personally use this kettle for our tea tastings and at events when I serve tea at other locations. It will boil two cups of water in about 2 minutes.

nmteaco.com/Pino-Digital-Kettle-Pro_p_335.html

March 2009 Newsletter

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:30:00 -0600

A few months ago I tried to drink 40 cups of tea in one day. I won’t leave you in suspense… I did not achieve my goal. I had read about people drinking up to 30 cups of tea a day with no adverse effects, and since I like “round” numbers I figured I would drink 10 cups of each of the 4 types of tea. Looking back on the experiment, I realize that probably these people drinking 30 cups a day were in china where the cups are smaller. Also, as i tell people all the time, when you reuse the leaves, the successive infusions do not have caffeine in them. So my experiment was flawed, but I had a good time, and I hope you enjoy the video I made while trying to archive the goal. (Click Here for Video) The tea tastings have been going very well recently. I have been booking up about a month in advance. Because of this, i have many people who do not show up at the last moment, because they have forgotten, or plans have changed since they made their reservation. So in order to try and help with this issue, I am going to be doing two tastings a week. One on Tuesday mornings from 8:45am till 10am, and one on Friday evening. Check our “Tea Events” page to make a reservation.

*Remember the tastings are free, but do require a reservation. And if you can’t make it, please call ahead of time, so i can give your spot to someone else.

In Pakistan tea drinks you!

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:20:03 -0700

Dear sir,

I can take 40 cups of tea in a one day but not in 12 hours its my experience. I think in Pakistan 75% can take 40 cups of tea in one day but 35% can take tea in 12 hours in some days but not permanent, I shell send you a good report after some days, I became very happy to see your assignment 40 cups of tea.

Bye,

h zahid munir

So accourding to my friend Zahid Munir a full 35% of pakistanies could drink 40 cups of tea in 12 hours… It seems that the question still goes unawnsered, i want to see videos!

Image from flickr user Imriz