5 Jun 2014 - posted by Anonymous

 In this issue we look at the ritual of adding milk to your black tea, offer a recipe to warm you from head to toe and share the latest tea news:

1. It’s Not Exactly Black or White – adding milk to your black tea 
   
2. Winter Tea Recipe – Hot Apple Cider Tea
   
3. A bite to accompany your pot of tea – a silky smooth date scone recipe or a delicious oaty energy bite
   
4. Tea of the month and subscriber tea draw
   
5. Link to 27 Items all Tea Lovers Need in their Lives
   

1. It’s Not Exactly Black or White – adding milk to your black tea

Some loose leaf black tea is well suited to milk. The question that divides is do you put milk in your cup first (MIF) or milk in second (MIS). We outline the different schools of thought and how this ritual come about.

The MIF drinkers typically have their origins and rituals emanating from Britain in the middle of the 18th century and included at that time:

(a) A desire to protect fine bone china from cracking

(b) A way to soften the bitter taste of some black tea at the time

(c) A belief that adding hot tea to milk gradually increases the milk temperature without scalding it resulting in different chemical reactions and taste

(d) It was easier to see the rising liquor level in a cup when brewing by candlelight

(e) It tastes better that way

Conversely

The MIS drinker has always felt strongly that: 

(a) Adding milk second allows you to better control the colour and strength

(b) It tastes better that way

Listen to how strongly English Novelist and MIS tea drinker George Orwell felt about the order of adding milk to tea with this short recording: https://soundcloud.com/brainpicker/george-orwell-tea

What do the scientists say?

In 2003 The Royal Society of Chemists, UK's professional body for chemical scientists, came up with their instructions to achieve the best brew. It included their thoughts on milk as follows:

“Add fresh chilled milk, not UHT milk which contains denatured proteins and tastes bad. Milk should be added before the tea, because denaturation (degradation) of milk proteins is liable to occur if milk encounters temperatures above 75°C. If milk is poured into hot tea, individual drops separate from the bulk of the milk and come into contact with the high temperatures of the tea for enough time for significant denaturation to occur. This is much less likely to happen if hot water is added to the milk. Once full mixing has occurred the temperature should be below 75°C, unless polystyrene cups were used”.

Does adding milk dilute the health benefits of tea?

In putting together this Stir Tea newsletter I have looked at a number of studies conducted over the past decade. Some of these studies suggest that some antioxidant effects may be lost with the addition of milk, others suggest no change.

The degree to which the antioxidant capacity is reduced appears to depend on a number of variables including the amount of milk added and the fat content of the milk. The higher the fat content of the milk, the less reduction.

So what do we recommend?

If you are purely drinking black tea to extract the highest level of antioxidants then we recommend you do not add milk. If you are drinking tea as part of your daily lifestyle, enjoying the rituals and taste you associate with it then continue brewing as normal and enjoy every sip. It comes down to personal preference.

One thing that the MIF and MIS camps agree on – the teabag factor?

If brewing tea using teabags directly in a cup or mug then you must always add milk second. If you add milk to the water while the tea bag is brewing you will reduce the temperature and not extract as much goodness, flavour or colour as possible.

2. Winter Tea Recipe – Hot Apple Cider Tea

Warm up this winter with Hot Apple Cider Tea or make your own Masala Chai. Alternatively go straight to our blend of black tea Masala Chai or the caffeine freeSpiced Rooibos.

>> VIEW RECIPE

3. A bite to accompany your pot of tea – a silky smooth date scone recipe or a delicious oaty energy bite

If you love date scones then try this recipe. A big thanks to Graeme from Wild Thyme in Cromwell who has kindly allowed us to share his silky date scone recipe.

We really enjoy this delicious and healthy recipe for Oaty Energy Balls which nutritionist Claire Turnbull has kindly allowed us to share with you. Visit her blog site for lots of other neat recipes, health and lifestyle insights. – www.claireturnbull.co.nz

>> VIEW RECIPE 

4. Tea of the month and subscriber tea draw

Our tea of the month is Spiced Rooibos. All customers who order Stir Tea online during the month of June will receive a complimentary sample with their order.

Go in the draw to win one of three gift packs valued at $34.50, including a packet of Spiced Rooibos and a Herbal and Fruits Variety pack. If you have received this email directly from us then you are automatically in the draw, otherwise CLICK HERE TO JOIN. We shall make the draw for 3 lucky tea lovers in July.

5. Link to 27 Items all Tea Lovers Need in their Lives

Take a peek at this link for some fun and rather humorous tea items in this article from BuzzFeed.

>> Read Article here 

Items that caught our eye were - No 2 – the catering teapot with five spouts, No 8 – the specially engraved tea spoon is a very sweet idea, No 22 – sugar lace doilies – place these in your cup of tea and watch them dissolve – …hmmm not so sure, No 23 – origami tea bags – beautiful and finally No 24 – the penguin that personally steeps your tea – set the timer and the penguin will dip your teabag in and out – this is just fun.

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Until next time, wishing you Good Health and Happy Tea Times,  Michelle.