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Nipun Wisnagalage
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Black, Oolong, Green and White Tea: What’s the Difference? (video)

Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world after water. All Black, Oolong, Green and White Teas are coming from the same plant. So what makes those tea types different even though all of them are descending from the same source ? By providing an answer, American Chemistry Society (https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en.html) has released a video in order to educate consumers.

Credit: American Chemistry Society https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en.html

Tea is a rich source of antioxidants which are polyphenols in nature. Catechins are the main form of poly-phenols present in tea green leaves. During Black tea processing, these catechins are converted naturally in to theaflavins (A Poly-phenol) and a part of theaflavins (A Poly-phenol) are further oxidized in to Thearubigins. Poly-phenol oxidase (PPO) is the enzyme responsible for this reaction. This reaction initiates once the leaf is twisted or broken at rolling process. You must have observed the colour change of apple (In to a brown colour) once it cuts in to pieces and keep for a while. Yes, this is the same reaction.

Source: https://pubs.rsc.org/

During Green Tea manufacture, the action of PPO is restricted by denaturing the enzyme with heat. Oolong tea is partially oxidized. White teas like Silver tips are manufactured with apical terminal bud. There is hardly any rolling for white tea. So no fermentation occurs. The white colour comes from the pubescence present under the leaf.

Most important thing is nothing added artificially during any of above tea manufacture. Therefore no matter whether it’s Black, Oolong, Green or White tea. Enjoy your humble cuppa. Cheers !

View More Tea Articles + Latest Tea News: http://www.teawithnipun.com/

References

1.Video: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2019/april/white-green-black-and-oolong-tea-whats-the-difference-video.html

2.Picture: https://pubs.rsc.org/

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Nipun Wisnagalage
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Ceylon’s First Female Assistant Superintendent: Tea

Since the initiation of “Ceylon Tea” commercial cultivation way back in 1867, women has played a vital role to uplift it’s image for more than 150 years. Tea flush is still plucked manually by female workers. After publishing a news on 1st female estate manager in Assam, India, “Tea With Nipun” decided to bring you information on the 1st Female Assistant Superintendent / Estate Manager in Sri Lanka.

Source: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/

She is 28 year old Ms. Chaturika Rajapakse (third from left) has assumed duties as the first ever Junior Assistant Superintendent of the Queens Town estate in Hali Ella, Badulla (Uva Region Sri Lanka) under the Malwatte Valley Plantations from December 1 2016 (Yes by the time she was appointed, she was 26). Most females joining the estates would continue working in the administrative sector but Chathurika has been able to satisfy the board after just eight months of training.

Source: http://www.sundayobserver.lk/

This courageous young girl is a an old girl of Vihara Maha Devi Girls’ College, Badulla, she had a dream to join a predominantly male portfolio taking after her beloved father’s footsteps who was serving as a field officer in another estate. She is riding a motorcycle in a pair of trousers and shirt manning a workforce of 300 handling agriculture, administration and health and welfare aspects of plantation workers. She also encounters daily issues like strikes, climatic changes and converse in all three languages. She was trained under Former Queenstown estate Manager Late Mr. Mohan Ganapatti (second from right). Others in the picture are from left: Ledgerwatte Estate Manager Kasun Samarawikrama, Malwatte Valley Plantations Executive Director Tea Shanaka Samaradiwakara and (extreme right) Ms. Oosha Ganapathy.

As the administrator of “Tea With Nipun” I also had the honor of training under Late Mr. Mohan Ganapathy who’s standing on her left. That was at Eastern Tea Brokers based in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2012. This was as a part of my academic program. He was the external supervisor for my final year research. But after all his supervision Mr. Ganapathy requested me to put Eastern Broker’s chairman’s name as the supervisor on my thesis for better recognition. What’s a sacrifice. So I am sure Chathurika must have been well trained by Mr. Ganapathy. Hats Off to Both of Them !

Anyway, I would like to Take This Opportunity to Congratulate Chathurika for Her Great Achievement !!

View More Tea Articles + News: http://www.teawithnipun.com/

References

1.More Info: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/161120/business-times/sri-lankas-first-female-sinna-dorai-217350.html

2. Image Source: http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2016/12/04/business/new-chapter-plantation-history

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Nipun Wisnagalage

Tea Grown in Netherlands: Rare & Exotic

Being the most popular beverage after water, Tea has got a history of more than 5000 years. Tea is grown commercially in every continent in the world. Yes, even in North America (South Carolina, Hawaii), Australia, South America (Argentina) and Europe (Turkey, UK). Today, I would like to bring you more details about rare & exotic teas produced in Netherlands. That’s “Tea by Me (https://teabyme.eu/en/)

Source: https://www.tea-chronicles.com/

You may be wondering what kind of tea I am talking about. “Tea with Nipun” always deals with real tea coming from the plant Camellia sinensis. This tea garden produces Black, Oolong, Green & White teas. The company was initiated just two and half years ago, and the very first tea they crafted won an award. According to (https://www.tea-chronicles.com/ ), this tea has everything a tea lover could wish for – beautiful appearance, intense fresh scent and gentle flavor.

Tea by Me is also selling tea plants which you can grow in your own living room or garden and use to craft your own tea. This sounds great, doesn’t it? They also offer freshly plucked tea flushes so you don’t need to worry with cultural practices and possible to obtain your own tea.

They also have got many of blends with local Dutch herbal infusions like roses, sweet almond,
licorice etc.

I am quite certain that you’re willing to know more details on this reputed firm. Please browse in to Tea by Me’s official website via the URL: https://teabyme.eu/en/

Where to Buy in UK: https://teabyme.eu/en/where-to-buy/

Now we have started to hear more uncommon tea origins like USA mainland, UK and Rest of Europe. This may be due to the emerging passion to grow tea among tea lovers in the western world. Global warming is certainly assisting them, isn’t it ?

More Tea Articles + Latest News: http://www.teawithnipun.com/

More References

1.About Dutch Green Tea: https://www.tea-chronicles.com/dutch-green-tea/

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Nipun Wisnagalage
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Fresh Black Tea Age Delay Firming Serum & Eye Concentrate

Green tea growing nations like Japan and China conducted many experiments / researches related to health benefits of green tea. Marketers conveyed these findings and ultimately green tea was better perceived as a healthy tea compared to black tea. But later on, EU nations like Netherlands conducted experiments on black tea health. Based on results, Dutch health council recommended both black and green tea for a healthy life. As a result of this, some schools in Netherlands started to serve tea to students during lunch time ( https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/11985021/Drink-five-cups-of-tea-a-day-Dutch-health-council-says.html). Good thing is Dutch health council have clearly differentiated tea from Rooibos and other herbal infusions.

Green tea contains catechins (A group of Polyphenols) which is a powerful antioxidant group which is known to minimize the effect of cardio vascular diseases, cancers, diabetes etc. Black tea contains Theaflavins and thearubigins which are also antioxidants responsible for the same health benefits mentioned above. Even though there are minor differences all black, Oolong and green teas are equally healthy.

Antioxidants available in tea has got the ability to slow down the aging process to a certain extent. By considering this trend, A Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Firming Serum and A Fresh Black Tea Age Delay Eye Concentrate cream has been developed.

Source: http://beautypointofview.com/

According to company “Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Firming Serum is known to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and leave skin looking radiant. It delivers immediate and continuous hydration that lasts for 24 hours. This universal face serum has a corset-like effect on the skin, making your features appear more defined. A proprietary complex of black tea ferment, black tea extract, blackberry leaf extract, and lychee seed extract is proven to inhibit damaging free radicals while helping to improve skin’s elasticity. Peptides helps firm the look of skin, reducing the signs of fine lines and wrinkles”.

“Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate is a power nap for your eyes, de-puffing and reducing the appearance of dark circles, while moisturizing and visibly firming the eye area. Great for day and night, the innovative cooling treatment also illuminates and revives tired eyes. A proprietary black tea complex proven to help inhibit damaging free radicals and improve elasticity is further optimized by antioxidant-rich noni fruit juice, known to retain and increase moisture and protect the skin”.

Tea polyphenols also minimize bad odors coming out of the skin thanks to it’s antioxidant activity. Above product line is a great evidence for black tea health benefits. So no matter whether it’s black or green , just enjoy your humble cuppa with a great deal of happiness.

View More Tea Articles + Latest News: http://www.teawithnipun.com/

References

View More: http://beautypointofview.com/

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Nipun Wisnagalage

Stop Expecting Baristas to Make A Perfect Cup of Tea

Even though tea is the most consumed beverage in the world after water, coffee industry is clearly ahead of competition with tea when it comes to innovation. Also we are in an era when baristas are expected to make a perfect cup of tea. In England, OVER A THIRD of consumers visit a café to drink coffee they can’t drink at home, whereas only 15% says the same for tea. Over 25% of consumers think tea served at cafés doesn’t taste as good as a brew they can make at home.

There are many more coffee prioritized serving places all over the world compared to places where tea is served. Tea is certainly available at coffee places, but the person who make tea is the barista. In order to attract more tea lovers in to these places, it’s better if baristas can be trained on tea preparation by a professional tea master. Hiring a tea master will be an extra cost, but it will definitely bring more people in.

Even though it’s bit of a rarity there are good tea houses which have come up with some unique concepts. https://www.visitbritain.com/gb/en/top-10-tea-rooms-afternoon-tea

Below are key considerations for a better tea experience,

1.Create a Calming / Elegant Environment: Unlike coffee drinkers, tea lovers prefer a calm quite place to enjoy their tea and they are willing to spend some time around their favorite cuppa.

2.Telling Stories: In general tea drinkers love to hear stories about the tea they consume such as origin, special health benefits etc.

3.Tea Sourcing: It’s ideal, if the tea house own can source directly from the origin. But there are practical difficulties like customs clearance, lack of contacts, effort. So it’s also good to select a reputed tea merchant who supplies good quality tea.

4.Think About the Teaware: Operators should be looking at maximizing their presentation to encourage social media sharing with their teaware and accessories.

5.Water Source: For instance 60% of the UK has hard water which really damages both tea and equipment. Its impact is immediately visible when you make a cup of tea; a white tea will look yellow and green and black teas will develop a scum on the surface.

It’s best to check water in your area and you can do that simply with a BRITA Professional water drop test kit. Once you know what type of water you have, you can then work with the on-hand experts at BRITA Professional to find the right water filtration solution for your site.

Loose tea offline retail concept is becoming an outdated concept unless the retailer is paying a careful attention on tea quality, his unique concept and the selection. Teavana closure and Davids Tea’s poor financial performance (http://www.teawithnipun.com/news/davidstea-inc-releases-second-quarter-fiscal-2018-financial-results/) are some evidences for that. By the mean time, tea service sector is emerging. That’s why Teavana brewed tea is still served at Starbucks outlets. Therefore in the modern era, the best thing for tea entrepreneurs is to serve ready to drink / freshly brewed tea with an unforgettable experience. So let’s stop expecting baristas to make a perfect cup of tea.

View more tea articles + latest tea news: http://www.teawithnipun.com/

References

Figures:https://issuu.com/britaprofessional/docs/brita_beyond_the_brew_ezine_final?e=32770645/66026144

Picture: https://absolutehealth.com/coffee-or-tea-benefits/

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Nipun Wisnagalage

Camellia Forest Tea Gardens, North Carolina, USA

Tea is becoming more and more popular in the US due to emerging health and wellness trend among younger consumers. So tea is becoming a passion all over USA. More than 21% of “Tea With Nipun” web site users are from the US. Therefore I thought to bring some information on Camellia forest tea garden in North Carolina for those who wish to plant tea (Yes possible in USA !) not only to hand craft their own tea but also for ornamental purposes.

Camellia sinensis is the species which is used to make black, green, oolong, white teas specially in Asia and Africa. But there are some other ornamental species belong to the genus “Camellia” which you can purchase from this tea garden. This tea garden at Camellia Forest was established in 2006 to provide an experiential resource for developing practical knowledge on growing and processing tea. Here they also test different varieties in their ever-growing collection, including new cultivars and selections.

Owners also share their experiences with tea through custom classes, hand’s-on workshops, tea tastings, and tours of our tea gardens near Chapel Hill, NC.

Below are some work shops that USA tea lovers will love to join at this tea paradise,

2019 workshops – dates TBD

a) June and July: Intro to tea (Saturday), harvest and process (Sunday)

b) September and October: Intro to tea (Saturday), grow your own (Sunday) For those who have joined for June and July, classes, they offer: “Pick your own” weekends in July and August – pick and make your own tea!

You have also got the opportunity to buy tea plants (Camellia sinensis and other ornamental varieties) via https://camforest.com/

But it’s really worth if you can arrange a trip to this tea garden and gain a good experience and an understanding before making purchasing decision.

View More Information Via Camellia Forest Tea Garden’s Official Website: https://www.teaflowergardens.com/

“Tea With Nipun” has planned to bring more information on interesting tea venues like this in USA mainland.

View More Tea Articles + News: http://www.teawithnipun.com/

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Nipun Wisnagalage

“Tea for Two”: A Popular Song in The 20th Century

Both Tea and Music / songs have got a great ability to console our souls. There is no doubt that our forefathers enjoyed better tea and music compared to modern day society. As a beverages tea donates many functional and health benefits while refreshing our body. That’s why tea has become the most popular beverage after water (http://www.teawithnipun.com/2018/10/14/why-tea-is-so-special/). Have you ever thought the great powder behind the word “Tea” ? By the way, “Tea for Two” is a song from the 1925 musical No, No, Nanette with music by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Irving Caesar. It is a duet sung by Nanette and Tom (Louise Groody and Jack Barker) in Act II as they imagine their future. It was also sung by Doris Day and Gordon MacRae in the 1950 musical film, . The word “Tea” may certainly have assisted this song to become one of the most popular songs in the world.

The earliest recordings of the song were by Marion Harris (Brunswick), Ben Bernie (Vocalion) and the Benson Orchestra of Chicago (Victor, and Ralton’s Havana Band (Austral Duplex) in 1925. Recordings of the song have been made by Helen Clark & Lewis James (1924), Benson Orchestra (1924), Marion Harris (1925), Ben Bernie (1925), Red Nichols (1930), Fats Waller (1939), Art Tatum (1939), Bing Crosby, and Connie Boswell (recorded December 13, 1940). There is a cha-cha-chá version by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra starring Warren Covington which reached No. 7 on the Billboard magazine Hot 100 chart in November 1958.

So, without wasting much time let’s enjoy this wonderful song while sipping your favorite Black / Green / Oolong / White tea. Cheers !!

Stay with “Tea With Nipun” to know more interesting stories about tea.

References

1.Details: http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Tea_for_Two_(song)

2.Image: http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/460085/Tea-For-Two-Movie-Clip-Title-Song.html

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Nipun Wisnagalage

Heritance Tea Factory Hotel: A Perfect Tea Experience

Sri Lanka is a pretty island nation which is also admired as “Pearl of Indian Ocean”, “Asia’s Sweetheart”, “Wonder of Asia” etc. In addition to above “Ceylon” is the name given by the British during colonial era. Arguably, Ceylon Tea is the best gift from Sri Lanka to the world. Ceylon Tea is recognized as one of the finest tasting teas in the world due to many reasons (More: http://www.teawithnipun.com/2018/11/07/specialty-of-finest-pure-ceylon-tea/). So nothing wrong of calling Sri Lanka as “The Island of Black Tea”. Well, by the mean time, Taiwan can be rewarded as “The Island of Oolong Tea”. As Tea lovers, I am quite certain that you all would love to visit Sri Lanka and have a great tea experience. Heritance Tea Factory Hotel is one of the places that I would recommend you to visit at least once during your life time.

Premises / Background

Once, this hotel was awarded as the “Best 4 Star Hotel in Sri Lanka”. So all the basics you expect from a hotel is there. Most importantly, here you have got the opportunity to engaged in tea plucking at the organic tea plot maintained by the management. Then those teas can be processed at the mini tea factory situated at the hotel premises. Ultimately you have got the pleasure of consuming your own tea.

Additionally, you can also have high tea experience and have the privilege of tasting some of the finest Ceylon teas.

You must be curious to know more about this wonderful place. Please view more details via official website of Heritance Tea Factory Hotel (https://www.heritancehotels.com/teafactory/)

Keep referring “Tea With Nipun” in order to know more about interesting tea venues like this. Cheers !!

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