To: Tea Tasters
From: Culinary Muse
Date: Calm Days
Subject: Tea For You

Tea is not only pleasurable to the senses but provides health benefits. Black, green and oolong tea are reported to provide a variety of flavonoid antioxidants & other micronutrients.

Pick Your Pleasure
A Tropical Paradise A tropical paradise of flavors spiked with pineapple. This green tea splendor, with sunflower & rose blossoms, is a treat on ice is also charming hot.

Scintillating Arabian Nights Enjoy 1001 lovely evenings sipping hints of jasmine, sunflower and rose. This Arabian Night tea includes green tea from China and black teas from India, Ceylon and China blended with sunflower, jasmine, rose blossoms, and natural flavor.

Find these and many more eye pleasing, taste bud stimulating teas at the Tea Merchants. They will send you a Welcome the to World of tea book with your initial order.

Design Your Own Flavors
Did you know ... black, green & Oolong tea all come from the same plant? Camellia Sinensis is it's name and can be grown in most gardens. Or nurture it inside and enjoy its aromatic winter blooms. Starting from seed takes a few years so you may want to consult with a nursery for a full grown plant. Harvest, dry and indulge yourself with raw sun tea. The process for each type of tea is different:

Green Tea
Made with the youngest leaves and leaf buds.
Blot the leaves dry, and let dry in the shade for a few hours.
Steam the leaves on your stove for about a minute.
Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and dry in a low heat oven for 20 minutes.
Store the dried tea leaves in an air-tight container.

Oolong Tea
Made with youngest leaves and leaf buds.
Spread them out on a towel under the sun and let them wilt for about 45 minutes.
Bring your leaves inside and let them sit at room temperature for a few hours.
Make sure to stir the leaves frequently.
The edges of the leaves will start to turn red as they begin to dry.
Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and dry in a low heat oven at 250F for 20 minutes.
Store the dried tea leaves in an air-tight container.

Black Tea
Pluck the very youngest leaves and leaf buds.
Roll the leaves between your hands, and crush them until the leaves start to darken and turn red.
Spread them out on a tray, and leave them in a cool location for 2-3 days.
Dry them in the low heat oven for 20 minutes.
Store in an air-tight container.

Once you get the hang of it, try experimenting with different drying times to get different tastes. Mix your teas with jasmine or hibiscus flowers or roses for an exotic tea right from your garden.

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