Sunday, September 19, 2021

Winter is Coming - Ginger Tisane

 The warmth of summer is slowly fleeing as the September nights and mornings hint at the coming of winter. Ginger tisanes are perfect to prep the body and mind for the transition. If you are in a hurry these ginger granuales are excellent to have on hand when you need a quick warmth.

 

This is a natural blend of ginger in honey and crystalized. One teaspoonful in about 6 oz of hot boiling water does the trick and if you wish it to be less sweet add less granules or more water to one teaspoon of ginger honey granules.

These ginger granules are also excellent for the office when you are battling the cold air blowing down from the air conditioning and most handy to have on hand when traveling or for sudden onset of  digestive issues, chills, stiffness, fatigue, abdominal pains, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and to prevent weakness and inflammation. It enhances appetite, improves digestion and regulates elimination. 

Ginger tisanes helps regulate and relieve frequent constipation and fatigue and energizing without taxing your adrenals. It is an excellent morning beverage before any caffeine intake for the day. Ginger tisanes also may relieve symptoms of motion sickness and nausea. 

These granules are also excellent to substitute for sugar and may be added to your favorite tea - English breakfast or even to a green tea on its last brew. These granules may also be added to Pelligrino water for a nice alternative to sodas.


For more on tisanes and alternatives to the caffeine sensitive, see the following article - Varities of Tisanes


 

Jumble Sail (Nundinae) - The Tea Horse Caravan's Etsy Store

 Please look to our store Jumble Sail (Nundinae) to purchase teaware - vintage, used and new. Our Etsy store Jumble Sail is under the profile name of Nundinae. Nundinae was the Roman term for the market day held on the last day of the week of eight days. Citizens rested from labor and came to Rome to buy and sell,not a formal feast day nonetheless people were invited to feast together. Everyday is market day on Nundinae. Restfully purveying and feasting the eyes on a mixture of random curiosities, required and unessential items. 

                    JUMBLE SAIL

 

Hishaku - Water Ladle for Japanese Garden Tea Ceremony

 The hishaku is the water scoop/water dipper for Japanese tea ceremony. 

The most common is one used during summer (furo) and there are also specific types used during winter (ro).  Although the type of scoop does not necessarily bind the user to the season. Sometimes the summer or winter scoops are used year round.

Hishaku is also used to refer to other types of water dippers used for tea ceremony, such as those used in the kitchen and the tea garden.



                                                                    Bamboo Hishaku




                                                             Coconut Shell Hishaku


                                                    PURCHASE AT NUNDINAE/JUMBLESAIL

Monday, January 1, 2018

Happy New Year 2018


Wishing everyone a very Happy and Blessed New Year, 
filled with love, good health and much prosperity.

We also want to thank you for your patronage to our Blog,
and hope to engage in the continued education about tea for the general public.

Happy New Year!!



Thursday, August 24, 2017

Origins of An American Classic

I'm A Little Teapot (The Teapot Song)


American classic that emerged in 1939 under Columbia Records actual title is "The Teapot Song."
Clarence Kelley and George Harry Sanders authored the lyrics and music to an American score that would be sung in every household across the globe as a nursery rhyme to children.
The song was picked up by the Lipton tea company as a theme song on their radio broadcast.

Clarence Kelley and his wife choreographed an accompanying dance called the "Teapot Tip" for their dance school students who could easily learn the dance.



This piece of was releases in 1939 under Columbia Records label. The song is played on a gramaphone and performed by Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights with Ronnie Kemper. 
This rendition was recorded in the musical genre of its day, Big Band style.
The song sold over a million copies!


Peter Pan Records released a version sung by Betty Harris in 1978.


This is a more indepth article about the "The Teapot Song."

References:
 
I'm a Little Teapot. (2017). In: Wikipedia. Wikipedia.

Kelley, C. and Sanders, G. (1941). "I'm A Little Tea Pot"-HORACE HEIDT & HIS MUSICAL KNIGHTS. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzElCSJycoE [Accessed 24 Aug. 2017].

Kelley, C. and Sanders, G. (1978). Betty Harris - I'm A Little Tea Pot. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAC5q5XxiUA [Accessed 24 Aug. 2017].

Kelman Music Corporation (1939). The Teapot Song sheet music cover. [image] Available at: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_r-iMNjiCcq0/SlvisI5GOKI/AAAAAAAAEgo/YnLMwii9B-w/s1600-h/teapot+song.jpg [Accessed 24 Aug. 2017].

Sanders, R. (1972). Reflections on a Teapot, the Personal History of a Time. 1st ed. New York: Harper & Row.
 

Friday, February 3, 2017

Kunlun Chrysanthemum Tisane



Chrysanthemum has many benefits for the body.
In TCM it is used for relieving heat/hot conditions, benefits the liver and eyes.
For more information on Chrystanthemum click here
Kunlun Chrysanthemum is grown in the high altitudes of 3000 meters on Kunlun Mountain in Gansu province, China.
The tea is harvested in late summerand used to alleviate the autumn and winter dryness.
Kunlun Chrysanthemum has more of a medicinal quality and deeper in flavor.

By itself the flower steeps a dark red brew, has notes of a rich caramel and a lingering sweetness.
 This particular Chrysanthemum is high in tea polyphenols, minerals, 18 kinds of Aminio Acids, and 15 kinds of trace elements.

First steep
Steeping Chrysanthemum flowers will alleviate the dryness and create a moisturizing environment for the body to adapt to the external changes. 




Second Steeping

On the second steeping the brew was darker and richer and had a more robust body, deeper flavor, and sweetness.
 
Second Brew

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Tangerine Loose Puerh - Ripe


 This is a ripe Puerh tea that is fermented and aged in a Tangerine peel.
There are many types of Chen-Pi (Tangerine peel) aged Puerh.
We featured another Chen-Pi Puerh earlier this month that used Peony white tea.


The leaves are large and yield from the Yunnan region.
There are many brands out there and each connoisseur have their preference.
Featured here is the Gold Horse brand of Chen-Pi Puerh by Hoshan Tea Institute of Science and Research in China.

The tea needs to be brewed with the Tangerine peel. 
Above picture shows the tea that has been removed from the peel and then the peel is broken up and tossed well into the tea.


This particular Chen Pi is from 2008, is fermented with moderate caffeine.
Each Tangerine weighs between 18 -25 grams.
The flavor is smooth without the mustiness that can be associated with some of the Puerh that are aged in Tangerine peels.
Each Tangerine has the potential of 3-4 steeping sessions.


This cup is from the first steeping. 
The tea liquor gets stronger on the 2nd steep and with longer steeps.


This is a second steep (2 mins) a little darker.
The color is clear and red.
No tea dust at the bottom of the cup.
The leaves are high quality and the processing method shows that the leaves were not manhandled and were of choiced pickings.
There is no astringency to this tea, even with longer steepings.
The flavor had a balanced Tangerine/citrusness to it.
The scent is mild and uplifting.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Kunlun Chrysanthemum and Chen-Pi Puerh Tea



After the beautiful rains that we have experienced in Southern California, the last fews days we have been experiencing an unusual weather change, the Santa Ana winds and weather conditions.
Anyone who has had the opportunity to experience this weather change will understand how drastic a change that can be because it gets really dry and uncomfortable. 
You nose and breathing passages become annihilated by this dry desert conditions, the skin become tight and you can actually feel the the moisture from your body evaporating.
Nights become uncomfortable too, because the dryness does not relent even when it gets cold.

The best remedy for these dry conditions that nature inflicts on us is drinking something hot or warm.
The tendency to drink something cold during dry and hot temperatures needs to be curtailed.
It's still winter and temperature changes needs to be monitored closely as it can compromise the immune system.
This is my combination of Chrysanthemum flowers and the Chen-Pi Puerh. 



It gives the lovely characteristics of the Tangerine Puerh and Chrysanthemum to the brew.
Quenches the thirst immediately and relaxes the nerves.



900-Year-Old Cup of Tea



Archaeologist discovered these mug shaped beakers used for a tisane that were imbibed by the ancient Chahokians.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Archaeologists discover world's oldest tea



The oldest tea in the world was discovered by Chinese archaeologists.
It was discovered as part of the grave goods of the Han Dynasty emperor.
It was dated to be about 2150 years ago.
The Han Emperor Jing Di died in 141 BC.
The tomb was discovered in the ancient capital of Chang'an present day Xi'an.
The site was discovered in the 1990's however the contents of the tomb have only been recently identified and examined by scientists.


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/archaeologists-discover-worlds-oldest-tea-buried-with-ancient-chinese-emperor-a6805171.html

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Puerh - Tea Gold Button (Ripe) 2012




Puer wrapped in gold foil, 2012, each puerh coin weighs between 5-6 grams. 
This is a fermented, ripe and aged for 5 years. 
The tea is made from cut and tea dust compresses and aged for 4 years before it was put on the market to be sold. 

Smell: Earthy notes

Color: Dark red, clear

Taste: Smooth,earthy, with a light  coating

Body: Medium

Liquor: Medium

Stay: Even, mild, consistently coats the tongue, without a lingering finish

Leaf: Tea dusts and cut leaves

Conclusion: The tea was unimpressive to the taste buds, however, may be a good introduction for Puerh tasting. 






Winter is Coming - Ginger Tisane

 The warmth of summer is slowly fleeing as the September nights and mornings hint at the coming of winter. Ginger tisanes are perfect to pr...