fresh thoughts, meditations and ramblings re. tea
we recently saw a chic nyc design store’s approach to sales — half-off a random item each week — and loved it. it’s not about getting rid of sub-par product or selling off extra stock that has been sitting on the shelves too long. it’s about make products accessible and giving people the opportunity to try new things… which is right in line with our tea philosophy! we decided to implement this brilliant idea ourselves, starting with another “first,” silver needle white tea (picked from the newest buds of the tea plant during the first pluck of the season). this tea has a delicately floral taste that may take a little while for novice tea drinkers to appreciate, but is well worth the effort. it’s high in antioxidants, low in caffeine, and certified organic.
at any given point, we will have one random “half-off” tea on our urbana teas and tonics site. we hope that you’ll find it to be an exciting (and affordable) way to try new things and expand your tea palate. enjoy!
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with finals just round the corner, most students are trying to figure out how to cram all their notes in no time flat. coffee is a common ally, but tea can be your new secret weapon. tea contains a unique balance of stimulants and relaxants that is shown to create a sense of calm alertness — without the jitters and nervousness of coffee. the most concentrated form of tea available is matcha, an ancient form of powdered green tea that is used in japanese tea ceremonies and in urbàna’s green tea lattes, too. when you drink matcha, you are ingesting the leaf rather than just an infusion of the leaf, so you get more of the benefits of tea… and more caffeine. it has been used by early buddhists as a meditation aid and by modern athletes as a way to increase energy and stamina. between the focused clarity and calm it creates and the lack of unwanted side-effects, we think it’s the perfect “study drug” for anyone — from student to ceo — who needs to learn a lot of information in a short period of time.
urbàna carries traditional ceremonial grade matcha and matcha for lattes. ceremonial grade matcha is pure, unsweetened, powdered green tea. the leaves were partially shade-grown to maximize their caffeine content and then ground between two pieces of stone to form a fine powder, which can be whisked into hot water for a quick caffeine shot. matcha for lattes is matcha that has been premixed with sugar, making it ideal for smoothies, shakes, or a sweet matcha shot pronto. if you prefer to kick it old school, check out our ceremonial matcha ware. if the latte is more your thing, read up on how to make an iced matcha latte. oh, and did we mention… this will all be on the quiz.
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tea is a fantastic way to add an element of ritual and stability to a hectic life. relaxing over a cup of tea alone or with friends dates back to the very beginnings of tea and can be seen across cultures. here are a few examples:
the matcha ceremonies of japan
cha do and gong fu ceremonies in china and taiwan
yerba maté ceremonies in south america
afternoon tea in the u.k.
at urbàna, we strive to help people incorporate the ritual of tea into their daily lives and into special occasions. we hold events such as bridal showers and birthday parties which include tea and massage. we also hold themed tea tastings, such as urbàna nirvana: taste of india, the world tour of teas, and (this june) tango @ the teabar (an argentine wine and yerba maté tasting with live tango dancing). now, we are proud to announce a new ritual for the weary, and a great way to ring in the warm weather: coconut infusion. this modern ritual of tea and massage combines the exotic fragrance of pure fiji coconut oil, the relaxation of a swedish massage, and the indulgence of a coconut infusion cocktail or pot of our geisha green tea for a one-of-a-kind experience. if you’re in the charlotte area, you can make a reservation by calling 704.543.1700. if not, you can still have a taste of summer with our geisha green tea or our coconut infusion cocktail (recipe below).
coconut infusion cocktail
prepare a 32 oz. pot of geisha green tea, doubling the quantity of tealeaves to make a deep infusion and steeping for 5 to 6 minutes. combine the tea with an 8-ounce can of cream of coconut. mix well and refrigerate until chilled. fill 9-ounce glass slightly less than 2/3 full with champagne. fill glass with coconut-tea mixture. stir once with spoon or swizzle stick. garnish with a wedge of fresh coconut. makes approx. eight servings.
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