Though its popularity amongst tea drinkers around the world is still growing, rooibos tea has been drunk for centuries by the people of its native home in South Africa. Initially harvested from the Aspalathus Linearis plant in the Cederberg region by the Khoisans, a group indigenous to that area, rooibos leaves were traditionally steeped into tea or used as remedies for various health ailments. The name rooibos comes from “Red Bush,” which describes the colour of the Aspalanthus linearis leaves once they have undergone oxidation and fermentation. In 1904, a Russian immigrant named Benjamin Ginsberg began selling rooibos leaves as “Mountain Tea” and marketed the drink as an herbal alternative to the black, green, white and oolong teas made from the Camiellia sinensis plant. While like these “true” teas rooibos leaves undergo the same processes of oxidation, because the leaves of the Aspalanthus linearis are naturally packed with more antioxidants than those of the...
Splish splash I was takin' a bath ... If you're like me, you become a professional singer the moment you step into the shower. If you're really like me, you would rather lather your body with all-natural, handmade soaps than that icky, chemical-ridden store bought stuff. If you and I are practically twins, you prefer to shop local and support small businesses over giving your money to big name companies that make their products with only a small percentage of natural ingredients. Tealee's latest collaboration with Zoe's Corner, a skin care line made exclusively from 100% natural ingredients right here in Ottawa, has exactly what people like us need! After initially meeting at the Ottawa Farmer's Market, Zoe and Lisa fell in love with each other's products and decided to create something wonderful together – tea soap. Using Zoe's all natural materials and process, and inspired by...
The sun is shining through my window so brightly this morning that I have to prematurely change out of my pyjama pants into shorts. I am not complaining about this at all, just pointing out that I'm feeling hot for the first time in what seems like a very, very long time. I notice that the snow is beginning to recede, too, because I can see the cement of our backyard patio peeking through. And, the birds are even singing about it, so it must be true: spring is on its way! You know you live in Canada when the temperature is 10 degrees and you race to get a pedicure so you can wear those sandals you bought on sale back in August ... but honestly, after such a long, hard winter, we are allowed to celebrate these small...
On Sunday March 1, Tealee, with local artist RAD and The Way, a collective musical ensemble, hosted an evening of music, tea and creativity at U Ottawa's Alt Cafe. Held in the basement of the Simard building, Wabi Sabi welcomed together a variety of artists, musicians, and art lovers in the spirit of free expression and creative exploration. Tealee generously provided the tea “paint,” tea samples, and cookies to keep the artists hydrated and fed throughout the night. Various works by RAD and some of the other artists in the Radchild Collective were on display throughout the room, including painted white sheets that hung from the ceilings, a collection of photo prints for sale and some of RAD's recent works on cardboard. From what I can tell, that evening The Way consisted of mainly a keyboardist, drummer, and guitarist who were joined periodically by a slew of others who wanted to make music. Attendees were welcome to jump in at any time and, while some incorporated musical instruments – a tambourine, some shakers, or a bucket to bang on – others simply snapped their...
Loose-leaf tea leaves are not only great for steeping delicious drinks – they are also useful in tasseography, the practice commonly referred to as tea-leaf reading. Although tasseography is generally associated with gypsy fortune tellers, ancient Chinese traditions indicate that reading tea leaves is a far older practice of divination. The sediment left at the bottom of the tea cup has been used for centuries to predict future events, decisions and encounters. Many modern day fortune tellers offer tasseography services, but you may actually get more out of your tea leaves if you read them yourself. Whether or not you believe in fortune telling, reading your own tea leaves can allow you to access your subconscious thoughts, fears and desires. The images you see in the cup sometimes indicate...
When it comes to getting that kick of caffeine, between coffee and tea, I 
have always chosen the latter. As a second year graduate student in the midst of completing my major research project while working evenings as a dance instructor, travelling between Guelph and Ottawa on a weekly basis, and binge watching episodes of Scandal on Shomi, you can imagine that I drink a heck of a lot of tea. Naturally, I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about the stuff. Up until recently, though, something I had never really pondered was brought to my attention: the difference between bagged and loose-leaf teas. Before Lisa and Tealee got me hooked on loose-leaf, I always thought that tea was tea and it didn't really matter how you drank it or where it came from. I have learned, though, that like wine and beer (my other favourite beverages), not all teas are made equally.
Taste, quality, and longevity along with convenience and cost are some of the reasons that factor into one's choice between loose-leaf or bagged tea. Loose-leaf tea often...
The first time I tried a cup of Tealee's original blend Tink's Fairy Dust was while attending their first anniversary party last October at Monopolatte, the board game cafe on Somerset. Though I considered myself a pretty big Tealee fan, I had not yet tasted the new blend that Lisa created in collaboration with our mutual friend, Tracey. With my first sip, Tink's Fairy Dust quickly became my new favourite white tea. The citrusy lime and the subtle lavender paired with the Crested Crane Pai Mu Tan give this white tea a smooth, soft flavour that'll take you off to Neverland. I especially like white tea because it is very high in antioxidants but low in caffeine, so I don't feel guilty having...
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