Slow Money Year End Giving and a Chance to Win Some Tea!

Here is a message from Woody Tasch founder of Slow Money… Through Slow Money national gatherings, regional events and local activities, more than $38 million has been invested in over 350 small food enterprises around the United States since mid-2010. Storehouse Tea is grateful to be one of recipients. Storehouse Tea was able to secure a much needed loan with a small interest rate and extremely convenient payback terms without it we would not be able to expand our Tea business. We are thrilled to be a part of this year end giving campaign. See below to win some tea and other great healthy gifts!   Slow Money Friends, What always brings a big smile, and one that lasts, is working directly with the food entrepreneurs who are fixing the economy from the ground up. Welcome to our first Slow Money Baker's Dozen Gift Basket and New Year's Cyber Hoedown! Make a year-end donation to Slow Money of $25 or more, and you are eligible to win one of 13 gifts selected from the community of food entrepreneurs who it has been our pleasure to get to know.

 

The Cyber Hoedown runs from today through New Year's Eve. On January 2nd, we will randomly select 13 of you, each of whom will receive one of the gifts. This ain't no ordinary Cyber Hoedown. We're coming together not only to celebrate, but also to create value and promote health. Remember: for every dollar donated to Slow Money, $11 of funding flows through the Slow Money network to a small food enterprise. Click here and join us in celebrating what has been a year marked with great progress and promise for everyone in the Slow Money community. Sincerely, Woody https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6351/donate_page/eoy-cyber-hoedown  Check out our New Packaging!

How many cups of tea can I drink each day?

I love this website teaguardian.com
Check out this post:
http://teaguardian.com/tea-health/how-many-cups-of-tea-a-day/?goback=%2Egde_755617_member_5940121105149739008#%2EVGoHL2Xmnp4%2Elinkedin

A good cup of tea is not only a health drink, but also pure enjoyment

Storehouse Tea in the news ... Cleveland.com

Switch of beverages turns into full-time tea business for Chagrin Falls woman

"What began as an interest in improving her health and that of her family's turned into a business that she is passionate about". Read article:

http://www.cleveland.com/faces-of-the-suns/index.ssf/2014/08/switch_of_beverages_turns_into.html

Report Finds 34 Pesticides in Tea From India

This report just came out yesterday, see for yourself what the big companies are selling you!

http://ecowatch.com/2014/08/11/clean-chai-demand-pesticide-free-tea/

Shop Organic, Fair Trade Teas

storehousetea.com

Tea and Expiration Dates

In a recent discussion about dating teas for freshness, which is not required by the FDA, a born on date or good till drink date, here are some of the discussion responses:

A tea grower:
"Even though FDA does not require expiration or best before date, we feel obliged to print the best before date on the product package. We want the customer to taste fresh and safe green tea."

"As per our green tea item which we have hundreds of them, some have 6 month period, others have 12 or 18 months for the best tasting period(best before date) after production. Loose leaf tends to last longer than powder item in terms of taste. We mention the period for each of the item"

"Expiration dates and tea have a complex relationship. For years U.S. retailers tossed out their old white tea but now people have discovered that white tea can age in the same way puerh does. The same goes for oolongs. For greens I do prefer to drink within a year of production but I have some that have been around quite a bit longer that are perfectly drinkable."

Tea retailer:

"That was my understanding that some teas age like a good wine. One problem is that consumers need to be educated about tea and age. With most things, fresh is better."

At Storehouse Tea we agree that the vast majority of teas are better when they are fresher like any organic food product. We purchase our teas with in the current picking season so we know we are purchasing a fresh product. Since we small batch hand blend our teas shortly after receiving them, we date our teas with the production date plus two years. While it won't harm you to drink teas after that date, it may or may not taste the way we intended it when we produced it. Storehouse Tea is serious about giving our customers the best experience possible with our teas. Even though the Food and Drug Agency doesn't require it, we date our teas because we feel it's important for our customers to know they are drinking the freshest, most delicious and potent tea possible.

Please navigate to www.storehousetea.com to explore all of our 50+  fresh teas, tea ware and accessories.

Storehouse Tea is Participating in these Fine Farmers Markets for the Summer and Fall of 2014

2014 Farmers' Market Schedule

 

Countryside Farmers' Market at Howe Meadow

Howe Meadow (Cuyahoga Valley National Park)

4040 Riverview Rd.
Peninsula, OH, 44264

Saturday's, 9:00am - 12 pm

Storehouse Tea will be participating every Saturday starting:

May 10, 2014 to October 25

cvcountryside.org

North Union Farmers' Market at Crocker Park

Crocker Park (Conveniently located at Crocker Park in Westlake on Crocker Park Boulevard between Vine and Main Streets directly in front of Dick's Sporting Goods.
189 Crocker Park Boulevard
Westlake, OH 44145
Saturday's, 9:00am - 1 pm
Storehouse Tea will be participating on these dates:
May 31, June 7, 14, 21 July 5, 19 August 2, 16, 30
September 13, 27,  2014 northunionfarmersmarket.org

 

 

 

 

Geauga Fresh Farmer's Market

Rt. 306 and Bell St.
South Russell, OH
Saturday's, 9:00am - 12 pm
Storehouse Tea will be participating every other Saturday starting:
May 10, 2014 to October 4, 2014
geaugafarmersmarket.com
  

For a full list of Storehouse Teas click here

Did you know that Certified Organic means GMO FREE!

 

 

 

Storehouse Teas are GMO FREE!

What are GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms? 

GMOs are organisms that have had their DNA manipulated in a laboratory instead of crossbreeding or natural selection (crossbreeding by Mother Nature). Specifically, a portion of the organisms DNA has been removed and the DNA of another organism has been added. This experimental technology is  creating unstable combinations of plants, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.

 

Why are GMOs a concern? Genetically Modified Organisms are a serious concern for several reasons:

Bioethics – At what point does manipulating one organism’s genes with another cross the line? (What stops science from doing this for inappropriate reasons or with human genes?) Lack of long-term research – There is zero data available on the impact long-term consumption of genetically modified organisms has on humans. The pro-GMO movement likes to say there’s no evidence to speak to the contrary and that GMO foods are safe. But, the fact is, there’s simply not enough information.

Health concerns starting to arise in GMO-fed animals – GMO-fed rats have been shown to produce smaller litters at smaller weights and develop kidney problems and large tumors.1 GMO-fed pigs and dairy cows have seen an increase in major digestive and reproductive problems like stomach ulcers and aborted pregnancies. Most recently, a study on GMO-fed pigs has shown a higher rate of severe stomach inflammation in addition to other anecdotal behavior concerns.

Environmental Impact – One of the most popular GMO products on the market is called Roundup Ready Soybean or Corn. The name implies what the benefit of this GMO crop is: so farmers can spray Roundup over the entire field of corn or soybean plants. The Roundup will kill everything in its path except the GMO-corn or soybean plants. Great for the farmer, not so great for the soil or beneficial insects. Several studies have shown negative impacts GMO-crops have on the biodiversity of the soil and nutrient absorption of the plant. There is also looming concern of Roundup resistant “super weeds” and pests.

Why are GMO-fed animal studies important? The digestive system of a pig is actually very similar to a human’s digestive tract so, often times the results of animal studies can be correlated to what one might expect to see in a human study. Animal studies are the early indicators of a food safety concern.

Where are GMOs most commonly found? Genetically Modified Organisms are primarily found in large field crops like cotton, soybeans and corn. Most of these crops are used for animal feed or fuel but a large amount also ends up in the food supply.

How can I ensure I don’t consume GMO products? Bottom line; only buy food that is labeled USDA Certified Organic or NON-GMO Project Verified. If it is not labeled with either two of these seals and the food includes corn, wheat, canola oil or other common GMO-ingredients, there is a good likelihood the food contains GMOs.

What are other countries saying about GMO products? Quite simply, many countries have banned GMO crops. Australia, Japan, the European Union and Peru are a few that have denounced GMOs and banned the use of crops with genetically modified organisms.
Clickhere to find out more about GMOs

25 Benefits To Drinking Green Tea

SRI LANKA -- Green tea has increasingly become a very popular drink worldwide because of its immensely powerful health benefits. It is extraordinarily amazing what green tea can do for your health. And if you’re not drinking three to four cups of green tea today, you’re definitely not doing your health a big favor. Here are the 25 reasons why you should start drinking green tea right now:

 1. Green tea and cancer: Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer. The antioxidant in green tea is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 24 times better than vitamin E. This helps your body at protecting cells from damage believed to be linked to cancer.

2. Green tea and heart disease: Green tea helps prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the level of cholesterol. Even after the heart attack it prevents cell deaths and speeds up the recovery of heart cells.

3. Green tea and Anti-aging: Green tea contains an antioxidant known as polyphenols which fight against free radicals. What this means it helps you fight against aging and promotes longevity.

4. Green tea and weight loss: Green tea helps with your body weight loss. Green tea burns fat and boosts your metabolism rate naturally. It can help you burn up to 70 calories in just one day. That translates to 7 pounds in one year.

5. Green tea and skin: The antioxidant in green tea protects the skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, which cause wrinkling and skin aging. Green tea also helps fight against skin cancer.

6. Green tea and arthritis: Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Green tea has benefit for your health as it protects the cartilage by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.

7. Green tea and bones: The very key to this is high fluoride content found in green tea. It helps keep your bones strong. If you drink green tea every day, this will help you preserve your bone density.

8. Green tea and cholesterol: Green tea can help lower cholesterol level. It also improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol level.

9. Green tea and obesity: Green tea prevents obesity by stopping the movement of glucose in fat cells. If you are on a healthy diet, exercise regularly and drink green tea, it is unlikely you’ll be obese.

10. Green tea and diabetes: Green tea improves lipid and glucose metabolism, prevents sharp increases in blood sugar level and balances your metabolism rate.

11. Green tea and Alzheimers: Green tea helps boost your memory. And although there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s it helps slow the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer’s.

12. Green tea and Parkinson’s: Antioxidants in green tea helps prevent against cell damage in the brain which could cause Parkinson’s. People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson’s.

13. Green tea and liver disease: Green tea helps prevent transplant failure in people with liver failure. Research showed that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.

14. Green tea and high blood pressure: Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure. Drinking green tea helps keep your blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.

15. Green tea and food poisoning: Catechin found in green tea can kill bacteria which causes food poisoning and kills the toxins produced by those bacteria.

16. Green tea and blood sugar: Blood sugar tends to increase with age, but polyphenols and polysaccharides in green tea help lower your blood sugar level.

 17. Green tea and immunity: Polyphenols and flavonoids found in green tea help boost your immune system, making your health stronger in fighting against infections.

18. Green tea and cold and flu : Green tea prevents you from getting a cold or flu. Vitamin C in green tea helps you treat the flu and the common cold.

19. Green tea and asthma: Theophyline in green tea relaxes the muscles which support the bronchial tubes, reducing the severity of asthma.

20. Green tea and ear infection : Green tea helps with ear infection problem. For natural ear cleaning soak a cotton ball in green tea and clean the infected ear.

21. Green tea and herpes: Green tea increases the effectiveness of topical interferon treatment of herpes. First green tea compress is applied, and then let the skin dry before the interferon treatment.

22. Green tea and tooth decay : Green tea destroys bacteria and viruses that cause many dental diseases. It also slows the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.

23. Green tea and stress: L-the theanine, which is a kind of amino acids in green tea, can help relieve stress and anxiety.

24. Green tea and allergies: EGCG found in green tea relieves allergies. So if you have allergies, you should really consider drinking green tea.

25. Green tea and HIV: Scientists in Japan have found that EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) in green tea can stop HIV from binding to healthy immune cells. What this means is that green tea can help stop the HIV virus from spreading.

 

http://www.authintmail.com/news/science/health/25-benefits-drinking-green-tea?goback=%2Egde_119475_member_262301965

 

 

 

 

 

Tea and Chocolate: The Perfect Match

Join Storehouse Tea for a

Tea and Chocolate Tasting

Saturday, February 1st

10:00am Whole Foods Market

 
27249 Chagrin Blvd, Woodmere, OH 44122
(216) 464-9403

 

 

Pearl Dexter, editor and publisher of Tea, a Magazine, says “there are three ways to look at tea and chocolate pairings. The first is as ‘friends,’ teas and chocolates with similar characteristics. The second is as ‘lovers,’ teas and chocolates that complement each other through their differences. The third happens when both combine ... a ‘Perfect Match.’” Lucky for us, it doesn't take an expert to find a wonderful tea and chocolate pairing. Many experts have helped the ordinary tea and chocolate lover by making recommendations of some of the most popular tea blends and the types of chocolate that they think taste best together. Here are some tips to guide your own palate, and help you find your own “perfect match” of tea and chocolate!

Storehouse Tea Recommendations
for Tea and Chocolate Pairing

1. Russian Caravan, Organic Fair Trade Black Tea: Origin – India, China. Dominant flavor – malty, slightly smoky. Pair with -- dark chocolate, milk chocolate.
 
2.  Indian Masala Chai, Organic Fair Trade Black Tea: Origin – India. Dominant flavors – cardamom, cinnamon. Pair with -- milk chocolate.
 
 3. Irish Breakfast, Organic Fair Trade Black Tea: Origin – India. Dominant flavor – malty. Pair with -- chocolate cake.

4. Chocolate Coconut, Organic Black Tea and Rooibos: Origin – China, South Africa. Dominant flavor – bright, sweet coconut, chocolate, earthy. Pair with -- milk chocolate, dark chocolate.

5. Wuyi Rock, Organic Oolong Tea: Origin –China. Dominant flavors – sweet, earthy, roasted. Pair with – white, milk, or dark chocolate. 

6. Genmaicha, Organic Green Tea: Origin – China. Dominant flavors – nutty, vegetal. Pair with – white or milk chocolate.

7. Citron Jasmine, Organic Fair Trade Green Tea: Origin – China. Dominant flavor – flowery, citrus. Pair with -- chocolate madelines, white or milk chocolate.                 

8. Ginger Pu-erh, Organic Green Tea: Origin – China. Dominant flavor – earthy. Pair with -- dark chocolate. 

9. Pomegranate, Organic White Tea: Origin – China. Dominant flavor – sweet vegetal and fruity. Pair with -- white chocolate, dark chocolate

10. Amazon Mint, Organic Yerba Mate, Guayusa Tea: Origin – Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador. Dominant flavor – sweet vegetal, minty. Pair with -- milk chocolate, dark chocolate

For more information click here to see these teas on our website:

http://www.storehousetea.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=19&zenid=8fotocv46qddfdvivt9cf7lba3

Taiwan Tea Trip Summer of 2013, in Search of Amazing Oolongs

In the fall of 2012 I was asked by our church's high school youth pastor to be a chaperone for the international missions trip to Taiwan in June of 2013. I was very honored and excited but also knew I would have to take two weeks off from the tea business to attend and told him I would think and pray about it over the weekend. That Monday I received an email with some pricing from Blanche Chen, a possible supplier of some amazing oolongs that I had just tasted and was interested in purchasing for our website. After I hit the print button to review the pricing I realized that the entire email conversation was printing out and the first page I read was from three months prior, explaining the Chen families 45 year tea company history, having a presence in Taiwan and mainland China. They operated their own organic tea farm and factory in the famous Huang Shan Mountains of Anhui Province in China. But their headquarters are located in Nantou province, in central Taiwan, Blanche and her brother ran that part of the tea business, factory and garden. As my heart started to beat faster, I looked up the company's address on Google maps I remembered that part of our trip would take us to Sun Moon Lake which was about 1.7 miles from where Blanche and her brother's tea factory was located. I was blown away at how quickly God answered my prayer… should I go on this trip? Well obviously YES! I quickly emailed Blanche back to thank her for the tea and pricing and asked if I could visit her in June of 2013! Visiting a tea supplier was something I had always dreamed of doing for our business but never would I have dreamed that it would be at this time in our business, it was financially out of the question, but God found a way, combining it with a missions trip which made it even more exciting and life changing. I was ecstatic to say the  least!

Blanche and I conversed for the next few months prior to our visit and exchanged photos so that the day we would meet in Sun Moon Lake we knew how to find each other! The best part was my daughter Haley, (Senior in HS) would be coming with me! She is now a freshman at Oho University, studying plant biology, and I hope she will join me someday in the tea business with her knowledge of medicinal herbs!

 

 

Blanche took us on a tour of Sun Moon Lake, a beautiful lake resort area nestled in the central mountains. We visited Wen Wu Temple, and the Sun Moon Lake Assam Tea Garden where we got to see huge drying racks of tea leaves and learn more about the processing.

 

 

 

 

We went to lunch at a local noodle restaurant, and then back to the Chen family tea factory and tea tasting room, where Haley and I drank so much tea our heads were actually swimming and spinning! The teas that we tasted that day were so amazing we knew we would be purchasing them soon!

 

 

The Chen Family tea gardens in China are certified organic, but not in Taiwan because of the pollution levels, since Storehouse Tea Company is 100% organic we knew the teas we would purchase would be coming out of the family's Chinese garden's.

The Chen Family tea gardens and factory are located in Anhui, a few kilometers away from the outskirts of Huang Shan, China. The 165 acre tea estate is reminiscent of Taiwan, with  the tea trees in curvaceous lines that follow the contour of the terrain. This is not the usual configuration in China, at least in Anhui. The gardens are beautiful, and huge, covering a vast area of rolling hills with ponds, woods, a few houses here and there, and marshlands with a great diversity of different styles of vegetation spread all through the terrain. I found it so interesting that Mr. Chen is Taiwanese and chose to plant Taiwanese cultivars to make Taiwanese style teas right in the middle of China, and he decided to go organic right from the start, over 12 years ago. Mr. Chen has an outstanding reputation of being a master Taiwanese Oolong manufacturer and we are so proud to have his remarkable oolongs available on our website.

 

Haley and I were treated like royalty when we visited Blanche, her generosity and hospitality were so appreciated. I am so grateful to Blanche and her family for sharing their knowledge of tea with our company and for supplying us with world class Oolongs. Haley and I had a life changing experience, one we will never forget and hope to someday go back to visit Mr. Chen's tea garden in China!

Oolong teas help improve vitality and life span, here are some details on the health benefits of all types of Oolong teas

Weight Loss Benefits, Researches show that the polyphenols in oolong tea, are quiet effective in burning fat.

Skin Benefits, Oolongs may perfect your skin via slowing down the aging process. Free radicals may cause dark spots and wrinkles on the skin as well as accelerate the aging of the skin. Oolong teas have antioxidants which have the ability to destroy free radicals. Oolongs are also beneficial for treating skin problems such as eczema and rashes.

Oolong teas are beneficial for preventing heart disease & cancer, Oolong tea is rich in antioxidant, which is said to be a very strong dilator of blood vessels. As the antioxidant may help the blood flow more easily through arteries, it is very useful to assist protecting against heart attacks, strokes and cancer and may lower the risk of high blood pressure.

 

Benefits for Diabetes Patients, Scientists concluded that the consumption of oolong tea is a good way to control blood glucose levels safety and enjoyably, as well as lowering blood sugar levels.

Oolong tea benefits include helping in relieving physical and mental stress as well as improving brain power.

Here are 3 Oolongs we have purchased from the Chen Family, not only do they taste amazing, but have incredible medicinal properties!

Dong Ding, Organic Oolong - The name Dong Ding means Frozen Summit or Ice Peak. Dong Ding is a mountain in Nantou County, Central Taiwan, where the Chen family has their headquarters and tea factory. The single tea leaf is rolled into a tight ball using a deeper level of oxidation resulting in an aroma of roasted chestnuts and a flavor of bitter sweet, nutty chocolate. Dong Ding has powerful weight reduction qualities. Excellent for multiple infusions.

 

For more information go to: http://www.storehousetea.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=154

 

GABA, Organic Oolong - GABA Oolong has a wonderful inviting aroma of fruit and raisins. The special, oxygen-deprived environment that increases the content of GABA while oxidizing the leaves, also smoothes out the tannins leaving a crisp, slightly tart, but never bitter feeling in the mouth. Excellent for multiple infusions.

So, What is GABA and what Does GABA Do Exactly?

GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid) is one of the main neurotransmitters for the CNS (Central Nervous System).  It acts as a kind of brake, in that it prevents over-excitement of the nervous system. For example, many common medications prescribed for stress or anxiety actually stimulates GABA receptors to provide greater relaxation. Decreased GABA levels in a human brain have been well documented by medical studies to be associated with many psychiatric or nervous system disorders.

GABA not only works on the nervous system, but it also affects the endocrine system as well. Human Growth Hormone have been found to increase naturally with people taking GABA supplements.

While there are many benefits attributed to including GABA rich foods in your diet, one of the main benefits is that it increases alpha brain waves. This, in turn, will help to improve a person’s mental focus and activity. In other words, it will promote a greater sense of well-being. Here are some of the documented benefits of GABA:

Circulatory System
- Lowers blood pressure, making it perfect for people suffering from high blood pressure.

Mental and Stress Related
- Provides stress relief, lowers anxiety levels
- Helps alleviate symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression
- Aids in better memory retention
- Is said to also increase overall mental alertness
- Has been proven to help people undergoing alcohol detox programs by making the withdrawal symptoms lessen. (By the same token, it also is meant to be a great cure for a hangover!)

Health and Beauty
- Aids in weight loss (as does most oolong teas)
- Has natural anti aging properties and as such helps to improve the elasticity of skin and prevent wrinkles  from forming
- Is a natural sleep aid, not only helping you go to sleep faster but also ensuring that your quality of sleep is great.

Other
Aside from those benefits, there are a few other advantages enjoyed when your GABA nutritional requirements are met.
- Increases your energy levels
- Great for providing extra endurance when needed
- Has anti bacterial properties
- Increases sexual performance (perhaps that goes along with the extra endurance and energy levels?)

The great thing about GABA is that these benefits are actually very well documented through years of scientific study. Because there is valid proof of the health benefits of GABA, and no side effects, supplemental GABA is increasingly being prescribed by workers in the health industry.

In summary, aside from the regular health benefits that all organic tea has, such as the abundance of antioxidants and other healthy compounds, GABA tea also has exceptionally high levels of natural GABA. The processing involves the special, oxygen-deprived environment that increases the content of GABA while oxidizing the leaves. This combination makes organic GABA tea one of the healthiest choices available when it comes to organic tea.

For more information go to: http://www.storehousetea.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=156

 

Wuyi Rock, Organic Oolong - Wuyi Rock oolong tea is composed of dark curly brown leaves that yield a light amber hue and have a smooth, light body with a sweet earthy roasted flavor and aroma. Perfect as a daily slimming tea. Excellent for multiple infusions.

 

 

For more information go to:

http://www.storehousetea.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=155&zenid=bkcoki7n4nc00rs3uevond4fp5