Thankful

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it
is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
– William Arthur Ward

It’s been a whirl-wind since November 1st, when our Holiday Events kicked-off! This year we added on 13 (in addition to our weekly markets) which is more than we’ve ever participated in! So many people found us in more than one location. Lots of our regulars stocked up and shared wonderful words of encouragement like, “Please, never stop selling tea!”

If you followed Pearl Fine Teas around the DC Metro Area this holiday season or shopped with us online – We thank you from the bottom of our tea-infused hearts for supporting micro-businesses like ours!

You cracked us up weekly at our markets, wrote amazing e-mails and notes of support, were understanding when we made mistakes and showed up even when the weather was not cooperating – which was often! We are also extremely grateful to those of you that shopped and helped with our fundraiser to help the NOVA CAT CLINICs Chris Griffey Feline Memorial Foundation by purchasing the now Famous FRANCIS! Tea Blend.

All of the positive feedback and TeaLove we receive keeps us going and makes it all worth while. For us, tea is a magical daily necessity and if we can share that and make people happy, well then… that’s really all there is.

Whatever holiday tradition you celebrate, even if you just spend a quiet day alone, we hope it’s warm, cozy, full of love and includes endless pots of tea!

Our gratitude to and for YOU, our tea-loving customers and supporters expands far beyond the known universe!

Thank you!
Happy… Everything!
~The Chief Leaf

 

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The Full Moon and Anti-Inflammatory Tonic

“Everything has to come to an end, sometime.” 
― L. Frank Baum, The Marvelous Land of Oz

Yesterday we welcomed the Winter Solstice. Now just 19.25 hours later, we welcome the Full Moon (at 12:48 pm EST) which is also known at the Cold Moon or the Moon Before the Yule. The Moon rules water, and this Full Moon is at 0′ 49″ Cancer – which is ruled by water.

Did you know that Water can absorb the energy of thoughts, intentions and even words?  Research by Dr. Masaru Emoto, found that frozen water changes the way it looks based on what it’s exposed to. He wrote the amazing book The Hidden Messages of Water which documented what happened to water depending on what thoughts, messages and sounds it was exposed to:

“If positive and loving—water freezes beautifully and perfectly when the words are mean and hateful—it looks all broken down. [This] research has been expanded upon by German Professor Boris Koch whose team of scientists confirmed that water holds memory of every being or item that it came in contact with.”

You can watch a YouTube Video on Dr. Masaru Emoto’s study here.

Basically, talk mean to water and the negativity shows up when crystals are frozen. Since the average amount of water in the human body is around 60%, being positive and kind to oneself and others is more than just a matter of politeness, it critical to wellness.

Every full moon is an ending and opportunity to let go. It’s the completion of a cycle; a time to harness the power it beams down to Earth and its residents in order to bring clarity, lessons, energy and release – especially of toxic thoughts and emotions.

Full moon rituals are plenty, but charging water is by far one of my favorites! Especially since this kind of water used to brew tea raises the magic level to the moon. It’s healing, cleansing, releases low-vibrations, balances chakras and helps with manifestation. It may even assist with healing the physical body.

There is a wonderful article written by Spirit Science Central on how to Make and Charge Full Moon Water. I also did a post about this last year and you can read that as well here.

We may be complete with our 25 Days of Tea Giving Annual Event where a whopping 25% is discounted from a featured tea or blend each day, but how could we not add on one more day in honor of this Magical Moon Before the Yule?

If the Full moon is about release and letting go, then it makes perfect sense that the blend to feature today  is our Anti-Inflammatory Tonic.

Anti-Inflammatory Tonic is not to be trifled with. It’s a strong medicinal blend of spices that work pretty quickly to reduce inflammation in the body. It includes superfoods like ginger and turmeric and cinnamon, but it also has orange, pepper, cacao, and some rooibos. EVERY ingredient in this blend fights inflammation. I’ve not encountered one person who’s tried it and not felt some physical change almost immediately. Aside from its super healing powers, it just tastes darn good. Which means you’ll drink it. And that means it can work its magic in your body and wont just sit on a shelf.

One of our customers was an NIH scientist who would stop by to visit each Sunday. And every Sunday she would say that we needed a turmeric blend. I was reluctant given what I had tasted on the market. I took 6-8 months to research and decide what this blend needed to be and have in it, and after reading her White Papers on Inflammation and the brain, I was convinced it was necessary.

So for today only, during the “Winter Solstice–Moon Before the Yule–Full Moon”, please enjoy 25% OFF our Anti-Inflammatory Tonic. Use code YULEMOON25 at checkout on the Pearl Fine Teas website.

And don’t forget to charge your water tonight and use it for brewing your tea!

Happy Yule!
Happy Full Moon!
Happy Sipping!
~The Chief Leaf

 

Tea Giving: Day 25 (Marché de Noël)

“Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration.”
– Anamika Mishra

 

Not only is today the final day, Day 25 of our 25 Days of Tea Giving, we welcome Winter Solstice at 5:23pm EST.

The best day of the year!

Aside from all the rituals and celebrations that have been enjoyed since the dawn of time, it means that when we wake up tomorrow morning it will be seconds lighter. The darkness is now behind us and it’s only a matter of time for Spring and light to arrive.

I wrote a blog post on Yule / Winter Solstice last year and you can read it here to learn about some different ways people celebrate the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes food and drink! Lots of spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves –  and fruits like apples and oranges are often part of the celebration.

I couldn’t think of a better way to close out the 2018 Tea Giving Event than with our Marché de Noel! Each year we celebrate and offer a Christmas Market Blend. This year it was French and we celebrated Strasbourg which is near the German border.

Marché de Noel 

Nothing says “Christmas” like a tea blended with traditional warming spices and dried fruit. The 2018 blend is a black tea base with dried apples, orange peel, cinnamon and a touch of clove. There is a natural sweetness to it that is pleasantly surprising – which means you don’t need to add sugar. Bonus!

25 Days of Tea went by quickly! It started on Tuesday Nov 27th (#GivingTuesday) and is now complete on Dec 21st: Winter Solstice. Perfect synchronicity.  I hope you learned something that you didn’t know before about a particular tea or blend, and that you were able to take advantage of the discount to enjoy a favorite or try something new!

With 4 days left until Christmas Day… there is still time to for Marché de Noel for 25% OFF. Please use code TEAGIVING25 at checkout on the Pearl Fine Teas website!

Thank you for following along!

Happy Solstice!
Happy Sipping!
~The Chief Leaf

 

Tea Giving: Day 24 (1980 Aged Oolong)

“The world is full of magic things,
patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” 
― W.B. Yeats

 

Every year since 1980, the tea master who grew this has taken this Oolong out of storage and lightly roasted it. He then put it back into storage and waited for another 2 years or so before taking it out of his tea vault to roast it again in order to remove moisture. Since 1980! 38 years of tea roasting certainly validates the Keats quote above.

And this is one of the many reasons to love tea and the people who are dedicated to this kind of craftsmanship.

What were you doing in 1980? Were you even on the planet yet? To say this is rare is an understatement. Especially since tea making in Taiwan changed around the Mid-1980s. Prior to that tea was hand-rolled in canvas bags. This kind of processing created a tea that was not as tightly rolled as it is currently with the use of machines. Firing at the right temperature (often higher) was also key for this original kind of processing. The end result being a tea with a very thick and unique taste that is very different from any other teas you might have tried before. Notes of roasted chestnuts, stone fruit, baked bread, passionfruit, butter and whispers of cocoa are just the tip of the iceberg. It’s rich with divine depth of character.

1980 Aged Oolong

This is clearly not a mainstream tea. And, it’s not an everyday cuppa. It’s an experience reserved for special occasion. We often joke that teas like this should only be shared with those who are truly worthy and to choose wisely.

This is only sold in 1 ounce amounts because of how little there is and because there is no more left of this particular lot on the planet being roasted by this tea maker for that particular year. Should you decide to secure some of this magic, you will not be disappointed – especially if you are roasted oolong lover.

Please enjoy this extremely RARE DISCOUNT of 25% OFF this extremely RARE 1980 AGED OOLONG on day 24 of our 25 Days of Tea Giving. Use Code TEAGIVING24 at checkout on the Pearl Fine Teas website.

Think of this discount like the Rare Christmas Comet that only shows up every 11 years. Perhaps you can watch the comet while sipping this 1980 Aged Oolong…?

Happy Sipping!
~The Chief Leaf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tea Giving: Day 23 (Hawaiian Zen)

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”
– The 14th Dalai Lama

We may be headed into the shortest day and longest night of the year in a few days, but that doesn’t mean we can’t daydream about long summer nights and fruity drinks. Our Hawaiian Zen tisane covers so many bases:

• It’s the first blend we ever created
• It’s caffeine-free
• It’s sweet without any added sugar
• It’s got notable health benefits, and…
• It was presented to the 14th Dalai Lama in 2011 in Washington DC at the Kalachakra after meeting with the Ven. Geshe Tenzin Dhargye, who heads the Vienna Buddhist Institute in Austria .

What more is there to say, really… except that you can also eat the chunks of dried fruit right out of the blend.

Hawaiian Zen is a rooibos based tisane and as mentioned has no caffeine. It’s blended with a cacophony of dried fruits like mango, papaya, orange, pomegranate – and also includes ginger, rose petals and cornflowers. It has very strong aroma therapy up front but brews a very balance hot cuppa and seriously amazing iced tea.

It’s also a great tisane to sip for evening meditation. We like it when we listen to Andy’s voice at Headspace.

Today is Day 23 of our 25 Days of Tea Giving. Please enjoy 25% OFF our Hawaiian Zen Tisane by using code TEAGIVING23 at checkout on the website.

Happy Sipping!
-The Chief Leaf

 

Tea Giving: Day 22 (Rooibos Chai)

“Spices are very hot, very hip. I love spices.” – Todd English

This blend was named after a spicy girl called Christy (my niece), who at around 4 years old declared that she liked chai. We needed a chai version in the family without caffeine so she could get her spicy tea quota and not drive my brother and sister-law crazy with extra energy.

This has been one of our most popular blends for years. People that love the taste of traditional Chai but are either sensitive to caffeine (or just want an herbal version to sip at night) reach for the Chai Chai Christy blend.

Instead of black tea, its base is South African Rooibos blended with ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Not only does it taste fantastic, it packs a healthy punch:

• South African Rooibos – high in minerals (calcium, iron, potassium, copper, fluoride, manganese, magnesium, zinc), anti-inflammatory, relieves hypertension, aids the respiratory functions, good for bones and teeth, may help prevent type II diabetes, improves circulation.
• Cardamom – combats nausea, acidity, bloating, gas, heartburn, loss of appetite, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, anti-microbial, anti-spasmodic, detoxifies, aids cardiovascular health, controls cholesterol.
• Ginger – combats nausea, powerful anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, aids digestion, anti-blood clotting, improved immunity and respiratory function, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal.
• Cloves – high in minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, and zinc; contains vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, and vitamin K; aids digestion, antibacterial, chemo-preventive or anti-carcinogenic, anti-Mutagenic, boosts immunity, anti-inflammatory, aids in headache relief, gingivitis and periodontitis.

The rich color of the liquid along with its mighty powerful ingredients, yields a wonderful chai cuppa to enjoy day or night.

So on Day 22 of our 25 Days of Tea Giving, please enjoy 25% OFF our “Chai Chai” Christy by using Code TEAGIVING22 at checkout on the Pearl Fine Teas website.

Happy Caffeine Free Sipping!
~The Chief Leaf

Tea Giving: Day 21 (Yellow Tea)

“There’s nothing wrong with being a little unusual.”
– Emma Ishta

Chances are you’ve never heard of Yellow Tea (Tea Buds) or as it’s known in Chinese:  huángchá (黄茶; 黃茶).

It’s hard to know exactly when Yellow Tea came on the scene. There is some speculation that it was during the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912). It was mostly produced for local consumption and less for export to a broader market which is why you may be unfamiliar with it.

Huo Shan Huang Ya is an organic, rare, hand-crafted tea from the Huo Shan Mountains in Anhui Province. This area is known for its steep, jagged mountains, springs and waterfalls, bamboo and alpine forests. There are around 75 separate peaks spread across Anhui Province region. This high elevation has rich soil which contributes to the wonder of Yellow Tea. Grown at an elevation of around 1200 meters, this tea is typically harvested in Spring.  It’s noteworthy in that the leaves are an unusual sword shape with tiny fluffy buds and a slight golden cast to the leaves.

It yields a very floral, smooth flavor with a sweetness that lingers for quite some time. The liquid is pale yellow and contributes in part to how it got its name.

The processing for yellow tea is similar to green but with an additional step added on after the initial drying and right before firing. That step is called “man huan” – where the leaves are steamed lightly, covered with a cloth and left to absorb additional sweet fragrances and flavors.  In green tea processing there is something called “Killing the Green” – for yellow tea its known as “sealing the yellow” and is the key to defining and classifying a yellow tea.  This unusual, additional step removes the grassy smell that is traditional of green teas. It also slows down the oxidation process so that it creates a lovely mellow taste and, of course, color. The oxidation range is around 10-20%.

There is some research that points to the immense health benefits of Huo Shan Huang Ya Yellow Tea, which of course include high levels of polyphenols and the amino acid Theanine – an amino acid that helps reduce anxiety and high blood pressure. Not only is it high in the vitamins B1, B2, and C, it’s also high in Caffeine.

“Studies have shown that yellow tea can improve lipid metabolism and protect the liver against chemical injury. Yellow tea can also chelate heavy metals, inhibit colon cancer cells, and inhibit the growth of various intestinal microorganisms, like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus cereus.”

That’s quite an endorsement.

If you are a green tea lover, there is every reason to believe that you will also love yellow tea. Maybe even more. Many green tea loyalists have been pleasantly surprised and have started to include yellow tea in their tea drinking habit. The mellowness and that lingering natural sweetness is hard to pass by.

Today is a great day to try something unusual because its Day 21 of our 25 Days of Tea Giving and because you can enjoy 25% Off Huo Shan Huang Ya by using Code TEAGIVING21 at checkout on the website!

Happing Trying Something New!
Happy Sipping!
~The Chief Leaf

Tea Giving: Day 20 (Recovery Blend)

“You can’t always control what goes on outside,
but you can control what goes on inside.” – Wayne Dyer

We could all use a little help with that. Especially currently. We have a billion things thrown at us at warp speed almost every minute of every day. It can be rough. Granted it’s not “Medieval Times in 546 A.C.” rough, but it’s our Modern Day rough.

Dr. Dyer was right: all we can really do is control how we react to any stressor lobbed at us. And while it really is true that Tea can solve just about any challenge or problem, it’s also true that herbal remedies do the same thing in terms of assisting the body, mind and spirit to help heal itself. If nothing else, it provides a pause which is a powerful and necessary healing tool for all kinds of recovery.

The morning of the 2016 Election Year, we debuted Recovery. It was hours before we knew who would be elected as the new President of the United States so and there was now way we could have known the outcome. There was no partisan hidden agenda or subliminal message to its timing either. Its purpose: to be an “inclusive remedy to help boost wellness for The Left, The Right and the Middle.”  The blend was simply was a reaction to months of people coming to us stressed out and worried at a stratospheric level over what the outcome would be.

Needless to say, we sell a lot of  Recovery. One reason may be because Washington DC daily stress is a bit more unique and concentrated than perhaps other cities. We are barraged with Politics 24/7, we have some epic level traffic jams, have had roughly 30 weekends of rain this year, and no one can ever, ever, ever escape the news because many are part of creating it. Another more important reason for its popularity? It tastes great, is soothing and has a power combination of herbs that assist in helping the body to heal and recover from stress:

• Ginger root: Boosts immunity, calms an upset stomach, helps with nausea, warming, stimulates circulation.
• Lemongrass: Detoxes, helps insomnia, boosts immunity, excellent tonic for nerves.
• Lemon balm: Reduces stress and anxiety, helps promote sleep, eases indigestion.
• Orange peel: Vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, pectin.
• Lemon essential oil: calming, detoxifying, antiseptic, sleep inducing, anti-fungal.
• Hibiscus: Lowers blood pressure, and boosts immune system.
• Coriander: High in manganese, iron, magnesium, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and protein.
• Cinnamon: High in antioxidants, lowers blood sugar levels, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal.
• Rose petals: Immune Boost, improves digestion eases stress and anxiety.
• Rosehips: Rich in bio flavonoids, pectin, vitamin E + B complex, selenium, manganese.
• Roasted chicory root: Eases digestive problems, prevents heartburn, reduce arthritis pains, detoxes, boosts immunity, may reduce heart disease.

You really can’t go wrong with a concoction like this. And, don’t let the chicory throw you off. It’s a curve ball for sure, but it adds a something unexpected to the blend that just works in harmony with all of the other ingredients.

Today is Day 20 of our 25 Days of Tea, and a Sunday – the day of the week meant for recovery.  Please enjoy 25% OFF our Recovery Blend by using Code TEAGIVING20 at checkout on the website.

Happy Sipping!
~The Chief Leaf

Tea Giving: Day 19 (WuYi Dark Oolong)

If Daenerys Targaryen drank tea, it would be this one. 

Wuyi Dark Oolong, also known as “Northern Fujian Black Dragon Tea” doesn’t go as far back as Game of Thrones (298 AC/seventeen years after the end of Robert’s Rebellion) but is a more recent dating back to the Ming Dynasty (c. 1368 – 1644). This style of tea was originally referred to as Rock Tea (Yan Cha) – which described the terroir from where it grew (rocky soil).  The name Black Dragon referred to the long, dark, twisted leaves which were then pan-fired to stop oxidation and baked in the final stages of processing.

Wuyi Dark Oolongs are the polar opposite to spring/ greener oolongs such as Jade and BaoZhong style which is buttery and more floral in taste.

This tea is produced at a 100% organic tea garden near Fujian that has 36 rock peaks. Only teas grown within a 60 kilometer territory are considered authentic Wuyi Tea. Wuyi Dark Oolong, is a heavily oxidized style of oolong that yields a full bodied, rich mouth-feel tea that leaves a lasting impression. Notes of sweet baked apricot, caramel, and brown sugar shine through. It’s leaves a haunting end note that begs you for more. This is a powerful, dark, rich oolong you won’t soon forget.

For those of you that are familiar with this style of tea, you will rejoice knowing that today Day 19 of our 25 Days of Christmas can enjoy 25% OFF by using code TEAGIVING19 at checkout on the website.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, this is a great time to give this type of oolong a try. It pairs brilliantly with cheeses like blue, gorgonzola. Is divine with dim sum or even Chinese Take-out delivered to your door. Any salty, heavier meals are divine with a Dark Oolong.

So get ready for last and final Season 8 of Game of Thrones and have your Wuyi Black Dragon Tea by your side. (“The things I do for love.” – Jaimie Lanister)

Happy Sipping!
~The Chief Leaf

 

Tea Giving: Day 18 (Cinnamon Rooibos)

 

Not all cinnamons are created equal.

There are two types: True Cinnamon (Ceylon) and Cassia Cinnamon. The later being more common and what you find on supermarket shelves. But it’s really True Ceylon Cinnamon that we love and use in our blends.

Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed. As its drying the strips of bark curls into rolls which are cinnamon sticks which can then be ground into cinnamon powder. That famous cinnamon aroma is caused by the oily part of the bark and is high in a compound called cinnamaldehyde, AND THAT is cinnamons secret weapon for wellness.

Here are a few things you can expect from cinnamon:

• Loaded with Antioxidants and polyphenols to protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. It’s considered a superfood and outranked garlic and oregano in antioxidant levels.
• May cut the risk of heart disease and has been been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
• Helps with type 2 diabetes: 1 gram or about half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to have beneficial effects on blood markers.
• Reduces levels of “bad” cholesterol, the LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while keeping the “good” HDL cholesterol stable. 120 mg per day of cinnamon increased “good” HDL cholesterol levels.
• Cinnamon can improve sensitivity to the hormone insulin, the key hormones that regulate metabolism, energy use and is essential for transporting blood sugar from your bloodstream to your cells. It can also dramatically reduce insulin resistance.
• Has a powerful anti-diabetic effect and can lower blood sugar by decreasing the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after eating by interfering with numerous digestive enzymes, which slows the breakdown of carbohydrates in your digestive tract. It can also mimick insulin which improves glucose uptake by your cells, though it acts much slower than insulin itself.
• Beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, both of which are a progressive loss of the structure and function of brain cells.
• Helps right bacterial and fungal infections, treat respiratory tract infections and can also inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, including Listeria and Salmonella. Its antimicrobial effects of cinnamon may also help prevent tooth decay and reduce bad breath.

That’s quite a list of reasons to include cinnamon in your diet. And we haven’t even talked about how good it tastes. Especially when blended into a Tea or Rooibos.

The natural sweetness of a true cinnamon comes as a shock to people when they taste Cinnamon Rooibos. “Surely, you’ve sweetened it with sugar?” is what I’m always asked. The answer is always, “Nope.”

I’ve lost track of how many people love this blend. Especially due to the fact that it helps with sugar cravings – especially at night – that time of day when you just want to pop on Netflix or Hulu and dig into a sleeve of cookies. Is this the cure for late night sugar cravings? Indeed. A cuppa Rooibos Cinnamon and you immediately forget what you were digging for in the cupboard. That’s quite a mighty endorsement and tells you how powerful this blend is.

Today is Day 18 of our 25 Days of Tea Giving which means that today you get to enjoy 25% OFF our Cinnamon Rooibos. Just use code TEAGIVING25 at checkout on the website.

Happy (low sugar) Sipping!
~The Chief Leaf