Welcome To Our First Issue of Tea LC

Entertaining With Tea:
Menu Pairing

Pairing tea with food is an excellent way to accentuate the flavours of both.

As a subject of interest with the wintery weather upon us, we can turn to whole leaf teas to enhance the taste of our food, give us a healthy, alcohol free beverage choice and have some fun while the winter storms blow outside.

You might like to start your pairings with three teas from different categories. Select a green tea, an oolong and a black tea. Steep them when your food is prepared and try all three with each dish. A small sip of tea, then a bit of the food then return again to sip the tea again. You will be surprised at what your taste buds tell you.

Pairing tea with food is an individual choice as every person's palate and taste is different.

Natural whole leaf teas are as complex as fine wines due to the fact that teas are an agricultural product and are affected by soil and weather conditions, or terroir, as well as how the leaf is processed by the tea master.

Here are a few points to remember when choosing your teas:

*Match not only the flavour of the tea with the food but the intensity of each. Are you working with delicate or rich flavours and textures? You don't want to overpower a subtle dish with an intense tea or vice versa.

*Take sauces and gravies into account when searching for your dominant flavour of each dish.

*It is the dominant flavour profile that you will look at to choose your complimentary tea. Is it savoury, fruity, sweet, acidy, floral, vegetative or spicy?

*Try using light teas and evolve into heavier tasting teas as the meal goes on. In general, whites are the lightest, greens and oolongs have both light and dark properties depending on the style of leaf, black teas are usually heavier in tannins and puerh is heavy with no tannins.

*Food choices with acidic tendencies like tomatoes and lemon need a more tannic tea to balance them.

*Richness can be cut with tannins or matched with a full flavoured tea.

*Consider the sweetness of a food. Extremely sweet dishes are best served by a tea that will counterbalance the sweetness rather than add to the sweetness scale.

*Pastry dulls the palate and will be complimented best with a more subtle tea.

Serve your teas without milk and sugar as they are delicious without. All natural, calorie free and antioxidant rich teas are also wonderful digestives. Eat, drink and be healthy this winter.

Suggested Pairings:

Tea is a journey to be shared with others.

Your membership in the Tea Leaves Community will connect you to hundreds of likeminded tea aficionados and allow you to discover a whole world of teas and tea experiences. The TEA LC news will keep you up to date with education, tea industry developments, events, feature articles, discounts and special shipments.

Our website stratfordtealeaves.com just had its shopping cart activated for the Online Boutique. Check out the great teas currently available and watch closely for teaware as it is added.

This past April Karen trekked 4000km through China to search for exclusive teas direct from the source. A notable addition to our selection include teas from Mr. Lin in Fuding. This organic tea garden was mystical with the mountain mists and lush green tea plants. We purchased very delicate Silver Needles, White Peony, old white tea cakes and several notable greens including Zhen Pin Lu Xue Ya and Zhu Ye Qing. Bai Lin Gong Fu is an organic black tea that is smooth and unique in depth.

Our teaware arrives weekly and we are sorting and organizing stunning tea trays and gaiwans, yixing pots, cups and more.

Karen

Karen examining a tea garden on her trip to China.

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Karen Hartwick Graduates

Karen Hartwick graduated from the Specialty Tea Institute this summer attaining the highest degree of formal training available in the tea industry in North America. She became one of only 15 graduates to attain her Level Three Certification.

The Specialty Tea Institute (STI) recognized the first group of tea professionals to complete its Level Three Tea Certification Program held at a special celebration in New York City at the Millennium Broadway Hotel on June 30, 2008.

A total of 15 students graduated from the program after completing a series of foundation and advanced courses. Each student was awarded the title of Certified Tea Professional (CTP).

The STI Certification Program was launched on June 26, 2004 and is the most sought-after educational program in the tea industry. It has attracted students from all segments of the tea industry and all corners of the globe. It is even considered necessary training for many executives from major tea packers, operators of tea rooms, executives from supermarket chains and sales brokers because of its professional content.

Hot Cinnamon Spice

This is a highly popular flavored tea at the tea bar in Stratford. It is a blend of black teas, three types of fresh cinnamon, orange peel, and sweet cloves. It is remarkably assertive and bold. It boasts a very complex cup that rewards you with flavour aroma and a lingering spicy sweet aftertaste. Enjoy natural fresh sweetness without the sugar.
Brewing: water - 6 oz.@ 212F / leaves - 1 teascoop / steeping - 3 mins

Events for January and February 2008

1) January 24/09:
Introduction to Whole Leaf Tea
Saturday, 10:30 am to noon
Join Karen to learn how to recognize, prepare and appreciate premium whole leaf tea.

2) February 7/09:
Herbal Teas and Tisanes
Saturday, 10:30 am to Noon
Enjoy a caffeine free experience by exploring fragrant, flavourful, heathly herbs brewed to perfection. Health benefits and preperation will be covered.

3) February 11/09:
Japanese Green Teas
Thursday, 7:30 pm to 9 pm
Learn infusion techniques of Japanese green teas and taste various styles and qualities. Matcha will also be prepared for tasting.

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Call 1-800-733-0376 or 519-273-1201 for more information or to register.

Online Boutique

We are proud to announce that our Online Boutique is available. Please check back often to see new and featured products as we strive to bring you the finest quality tea and tea ware from around the world.

Featured product -
Beehouse teapot