Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com/media/feedlogo.gif Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com en-us Copyright 2009 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Bottled Iced Tea Reviewshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/bottled-iced-tea-reviews/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/bottled-iced-tea-reviews/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/bottled-iced-tea-reviews/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We sampled bottled, canned and fast-food iced teas to let you know which ones are worth chugging, and which you should "leaf" behind.
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Iced Tea Reviews
While we love the idea of always having a freshly-brewed pitcher in the fridge, we're often on the go and have to make a grab from the deli cooler. All summer long, our editors will be sampling bottled, canned and fast-food iced teas to let you know which ones are worth chugging, and which you should leaf behind.
Lipton Pure Leaf Black Tea with Lemon
Grade: B-
Tea purists will blanch at the extreme lemony sweetness, but those weaned on the powdered stuff will happily sip their way down memory lane. The flavor is remarkably strong and tangy with a lingering apple juice finish that's not so much refreshing as it is simply satisfying.
Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.
Rachel Been, AOL
Getty Images North America

Iced Tea Reviews

    While we love the idea of always having a freshly-brewed pitcher in the fridge, we're often on the go and have to make a grab from the deli cooler. All summer long, our editors will be sampling bottled, canned and fast-food iced teas to let you know which ones are worth chugging, and which you should leaf behind.
    Lipton Pure Leaf Black Tea with Lemon
    Grade: B-
    Tea purists will blanch at the extreme lemony sweetness, but those weaned on the powdered stuff will happily sip their way down memory lane. The flavor is remarkably strong and tangy with a lingering apple juice finish that's not so much refreshing as it is simply satisfying.
    Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.

    Rachel Been, AOL

    Stewart's Unsweetened Tea Refresher
    Grade: F
    We're all for utterly unadulterated, unfancy iced tea, but this harsh brew tastes like squeezings from bags left to moulder at the bottom of a pot. We sipped, swished with water, sipped again, spat it out, re-swished and ran off to brush our teeth repeatedly, and still the bitter, metallic tang that had set up camp at the backs of our tongues refused to depart quietly. We're seriously considering mouth-ectomies.
    Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.

    Rachel Been, AOL

    Joe Tea Lemon Half and Half
    Grade: A
    Call it an Arnold Palmer. Call it a half & half. Just don't forget to call us when Joe's coming over. While other brands attempt to pass off over-lemoned iced tea, Joe knows that the ultimate blend begins with equal parts of high quality, full-flavored iced tea and lightly tart lemonade. The finish is nothing short of sweet 'n sour sunshine in a bottle.
    Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.

    Rachel Been, AOL

    Arizona Iced Tea with Lemon Flavor
    Grade: B-
    Remember when you were fifteen and you'd hit up the convenience store for a post-practice drink? This is that iced tea, in all its tawdry glory. $.99 affords a tall 23 ounces of super-sweet, lemon-tinged black tea, and though the corn syrup sweetener gums up in the back of the throat, hey, it'll go great with that Twinkie.
    Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.

    Rachel Been, AOL

    Arizona Southern Style Sweet Tea
    Grade: B-
    Had this just been touted to us as a plain ol' sweetened tea, we'd pleased, even if not especially impressed. Problem is, it's billed as Southern-style sweet tea, which is a different critter entirely. Real sweet tea delivers a smooth, mellow slug of plain white sugary deliciousness to the whole palate, while this brew brings a weirdly artificial, cloying sweetness that sits just on top of the tongue. Hold out for the real deal.
    Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.
    Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.

    Rachel Been, AOL

    McDonald's Sweet Tea
    Grade: A
    We're pretty sure we'll catch heck from our Southern in-laws, but we just have to go ahead and say it -- Mickey D's Sweet Tea is every drop as delicious as the gallons we've slurped down at Lexington BBQ, the High Point Country Club or any given K&W Cafeteria in the North Carolina Triad. That is to say it's an ideal balance of tooth-cracking sweetness, mellow orange pekoe and gentle brain freeze, both smooth enough to sip all day and intensely sugary enough to ensure that it's a physical impossibility to do so.

    It's most definitely sweet tea, rather than sweetened iced tea, so folks not familiar with this culinary signature of the South might want to just dip a toe in before they fully commit. At $.99 for a giant jug, it's a worthy experiment.

    Also - purists, take note -- it's often served with a slice of lemon already tossed in, so speak up if you wish to avoid that.
    Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.

    Rachel Been, AOL

    Sobe Green Tea
    Grade: D
    Y'know what this doesn't taste like? Green tea. In fact, it tastes like watered-down white grape juice that someone spiked with mystery herbal infusion. Or a lime Saf-T-Pop that spent too much time on the doctor's desk. The very idea that Sobe markets this as green tea is downright lizardbrained.

    Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.

    Rachel Been, AOL

    Arizona Blueberry White Tea
    Grade: B
    Hello, fruity! This iced tea finds blueberry out in full force with some well-dressed pear on its arm. Though sweet, the tea isn't sugary, instead delivering its nectar au natural. The organic sweetness melds nicely with the earthiness of the tea, resulting in a summery swig that's the perfect antidote for a dog day afternoon.
    Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.

    Rachel Been, AOL

    Teany Green Tea with Ginseng
    Grade: C+
    While we're big fans of musician Moby's New York City tearoom and plenty of of his other bottled offerings, this one falls a little flat. It's not actively awful, by any means, but for a brew with all natural, health-friendly ingredients, the flavor has odd notes of artificial sweetener and feel slightly medicinal. We're all for reaping the body benefits. We just wish it didn't have to taste that way.
    Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.

    Rachel Been, AOL

    Ito En Japanese Green Tea
    Grade: B+
    This one's got a light, tannic body, with straightforward fresh, unsweetened green tea flavor that the can claims is a result of its having been "Produced with our state-of-the-art T-N (Tea & Natural) Blow technology." Further research reveals it as a technique that removes air from the can just before sealing, so as to prevent oxidation and ensure freshness. It works.

    There's no weird or wow factor, but it's definitely more "healthy" feeling than either soda, or some of the other sweetened bottled tea offerings. It pairs well with sushi, sashimi and green salads.
    Did we miss your favorite brew? Let us know on our blog at Slashfood.

    Rachel Been, AOL

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]]>arizona iced teaArizonaIcedTeabottled iced teaBottledIcedTeahonest teaHonestTeaiced teaiced tea reviewsIcedTeaIcedTeaReviewsliptonlipton teaLiptonTeamcdonalds sweet teaMcdonaldsSweetTeasobesobe green teaSobeGreenTeasweet teaSweetTeataste testtaste testsTasteTestTasteTeststeanySlashfood Editor2009-09-01T16:28:00+00:00Iced Tea Quizhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/iced-tea-quiz/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/iced-tea-quiz/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/iced-tea-quiz/#commentsFiled under: ,

Think you know everything about iced tea? Take Slashfood's iced tea quiz which will test your knowledge on everything from iced tea history, iced tea spoons, and how to make a Thai iced tea.

Iced Tea Quiz

A national survey conducted by Cracker Barrel found that drinkers of unsweetened tea are considered twice as ____ as those who prefer sweet tea.

  • Smart
  • Calm
  • Dull
  • Sexy

Iced tea was first widely popularized at the World's Fair in St. Louis. What was the year?

  • 1904
  • 1899
  • 1909
  • 1916

Southerners say it's a sin when iced tea clouds (or

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]]>arnold palmerArnoldPalmerboston iced teaBostonIcedTeabubble teaBubbleTeaiced teaIcedTealiptonlong island iced teaLongIslandIcedTeasnapplesweet teaSweetTeathai iced teaThaiIcedTeaSlashfood Editor2009-09-01T16:22:00+00:00Rooibos Iced Teahttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/20/rooibos-iced-tea/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/20/rooibos-iced-tea/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/20/rooibos-iced-tea/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Rooibos Iced Tea. Photo: The Skinny Chef
Homemade iced tea is perfect for quenching your thirst on a sweltering summer day. Make it ahead and keep a big pitcher in your fridge to sip as the mercury rises.

My pick this summer is red bush. If you're craving flavor, it comes in vanilla, orange, peach and even red bush chai. If you can't find your favorite, try adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract, lemon or orange zest or a cinnamon stick while the tea is steeping.

Get Jennifer's Red Bush Iced Tea recipe and learn about its health benefits after the jump.

Continue reading Rooibos Iced Tea

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]]>iced teaiced tea recipesIcedTeaIcedTeaRecipesjennifer iserlohJenniferIserlohred bushRedBushrooibosskinny chefSkinnyChefJennifer Iserloh2009-07-20T13:00:00+00:00Qishr with the CoffeeMeisterhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/qishr-with-the-coffeemeister/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/qishr-with-the-coffeemeister/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/14/qishr-with-the-coffeemeister/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

coffee cherries
Coffee cherries are drinkable too. Photo: rohsstreetcafe, Flickr
Erin Meister trains baristas for North Carolina-based Counter Culture Coffee and sporadically maintains the blog Meet the Press Pot from her home in New York City. This is the ninth in a series of tips for the caffeine-addicted.

Coffee's origins as a beverage are as murky as the sludge left at the bottom of a French press: Were the beans really the discovery of a bygone Ethiopian goatherd with a hyper flock? Did the first coffee drinkers actually brew the plant's leaves as tea instead of the beans we use today -- or the cherry in which they grow? Can a drink be made from the cherry itself?

That last one, at least, is a definite "yes," and several beverages made from dried coffee-cherry husks are still imbibed around the world. Learn more about these rare-to-us brews after the jump.

Continue reading Qishr with the CoffeeMeister

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]]>cascaracoffeecoffee cherriesCoffeeCherriescoffeemeistererin meisterErinMeisterginger coffeeqishrErin Meister2009-07-14T14:00:00+00:00Mint Matcha Chocolate Chip Shakehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/10/mint-matcha-chocolate-chip-shake/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/10/mint-matcha-chocolate-chip-shake/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/10/mint-matcha-chocolate-chip-shake/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mint Chocolate Matcha Shake. Photo: The Skinny Chef
Matcha is a variety of finely-powdered green tea that is used particularly in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. Powdered green matcha tea from health food stores can be costly -- about $8 for a small container -- but it goes a long way.

Green tea ice cream, green tea pound cakes, madeleines -- I've made them all. This week I decided to remake the mint chocolate chips that I craved as a child at 31 Flavors.

Get Jennifer's Mint Matcha Chocolate Chip Shake recipe after the jump.

Continue reading Mint Matcha Chocolate Chip Shake

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]]>green teaGreenTeajennifer iserlohJenniferIserlohmatchamint chocolate chip ice creamMintChocolateChipIceCreamshake recipesShakeRecipesskinny chefSkinnyChefJennifer Iserloh2009-07-10T13:00:00+00:00Sweet Tea Time - Southern Retailer Struggles to Keep Tradition Alivehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/09/sweet-tea-time-southern-retailer-struggles-to-keep-tradition-a/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/09/sweet-tea-time-southern-retailer-struggles-to-keep-tradition-a/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/06/09/sweet-tea-time-southern-retailer-struggles-to-keep-tradition-a/#commentsFiled under:

While sweet tea has hardly vanished from the Southern diet, cut-glass pitchers of the homebrewed stuff have gradually disappeared from the region's refrigerators as more drinkers turn to powdered mixes and premade teas.

Now Hammacher Schlemmer, the New York-based retailer best known for offering airline travelers gadgets they never knew they needed, is trying to resuscitate sweet-tea traditions with its Authentic Southern Sweet Tea Brewer, a machine that reportedly makes brewing a fresh pot of sweet tea as easy as pulling through the drive-thru at McDonald's (which saw its monthly sales jump 6 percent after belatedly adding sweet tea to its menu in 2007).

Southerners have been drinking sweet tea for at least 150 years, when temperance advocates probably started leaving the booze out of popular tea punches. Sugary tea wasn't unknown outside the South, but folks sweltering below the Mason-Dixon line zealously embraced the cooling beverage.

Continue reading Sweet Tea Time - Southern Retailer Struggles to Keep Tradition Alive

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]]>hammacher schlemmerHammacherSchlemmersweet teaSweetTeateaHanna Raskin2009-06-09T17:00:00+00:00 Buying and Storing Tea - Tip of the Dayhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/03/buying-and-storing-tea-tip-of-the-day/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/03/buying-and-storing-tea-tip-of-the-day/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/04/03/buying-and-storing-tea-tip-of-the-day/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Different teas last for varying amounts of time. Find out the best way to buy and store tea so that you can enjoy its unique taste longer.

Continue reading Buying and Storing Tea - Tip of the Day

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]]>how toHowTostore teasStoreTeasteateastip of the dayTipOfTheDayMax Shrem2009-04-03T09:00:00+00:00Sharks Now Taint the Waters of Tea Landhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/05/sharks-now-taint-the-waters-of-tea-land/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/05/sharks-now-taint-the-waters-of-tea-land/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/05/sharks-now-taint-the-waters-of-tea-land/#commentsFiled under: ,

shark tea diffuser

I often see new designs and revel in their neatness, but don't think much of them for everyday use. Until, that is, I spied Pablo Matteoda's "Sharky" design for tea diffusers.

How brilliant is that? It's handy, it works, it looks cute, and best of all, it has a unique kitsch factor to it. Imagine how great that infuser would work with some all-natural berry tea, as the fin slices through the water, leaving a red trail of sinking, creepy color. Team that up with some ice cubes made from cake decorating body part molds, and imagine the fun!

[via BoingBoing]
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]]>Monika Bartyzel2009-02-05T10:00:00+00:00Gourmet Spotlights Pacific Northwest Teahouseshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/03/gourmet-spotlights-pacific-northwest-teahouses/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/03/gourmet-spotlights-pacific-northwest-teahouses/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/03/gourmet-spotlights-pacific-northwest-teahouses/#commentsFiled under: ,

tao of tea interiorSometime during my college years, a teahouse called the Tao of Tea opened in Portland, OR. I often went there with friends during my holiday breaks and summer vacations. It was there that I was first introduced to the world of loose leaf tea (we were strictly a Lipton and Celestial Seasonings household during my childhood) and learned that there was more to tea than just black and herbal.

Recently, Matthew Amster-Burton rounded up eight of the best teahouses across the Pacific Northwest for Gourmet.com, and included my beloved Tao of Tea in his piece. He's put together a wonderful selection of spots between Portland, OR and Vancouver, B.C. If you're a tea lover who's planning a trip to that area of the country, this list is a must-read.
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]]>matthew amster-burtonMatthewAmster-burtonpacific northwestPacificNorthwesttao of teaTaoOfTeateahousesMarisa McClellan2009-02-03T09:00:00+00:00A Honey Lemon Ginger Infusionhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/01/21/a-honey-lemon-ginger-infusion/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/01/21/a-honey-lemon-ginger-infusion/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/01/21/a-honey-lemon-ginger-infusion/#commentsFiled under: , ,

lemon in hand
It's been remarkably frigid out here on the east coast of late and the bone chilling weather seems to be bringing with it another round of sniffles and head colds. Doctors advise that there's not much to do for a cold other than drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest. We can't help you with the rest, but I've got a tasty suggestion for making those liquids go down easy.

Whip up a quick infusion of honey, lemon and ginger. Simply grate a half inch chunk of ginger into a large mug. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon in on top (you can also add the zest if you're feeling daring) and add a heaping teaspoonful of honey (feel free to adjust the sweetness level to your personal taste). Fill the cup with boiling water and stir to combine. Drink while still warm and repeat as necessary.

It will soothe a sore throat, help with the cough (truly, honey has been found in scientific studies to calm a cough nearly as well as cough syrup) and taste good to boot!
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]]>cold and fluColdAndFlugingerhoneyinfusionlemonteaMarisa McClellan2009-01-21T09:00:00+00:00New Teasticks!http://www.slashfood.com/2008/11/14/new-teasticks/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/11/14/new-teasticks/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/11/14/new-teasticks/#commentsFiled under: , ,

blue and magenta teasticks that look a little like high heelsYou may remember the first Teastick we reviewed in 2005. You know, if you're that cool and read blogs back then. Well, three years is a long time in Teastick development. Have a look at what's new - at right, the Teastick Gems.

Do they remind anyone else of Barbie shoes? Seriously, that's all I can think of when I look at them. But they're not Barbie shoes, they're not; they make tea.

"Teastick Gems are now made with Eastman Tritan[TM], a revolutionary new material that is FDA-approved, taste-free and with absolutely no Bisphenol-A!"

I have no idea what Bisphenol-A is, but I feel sort of excited that these don't contain it. I looked up what else is made with Eastman Tritan[TM] but a Google image search brought me a lumber rack, a synthesizer, and an impressive deer. So, let's assume this is a very new type of plastic.

In any case, Teasticks can go in the dishwasher and are obviously a very handy tea-making shape. The Teastick Gems' semi-clear design allow you to watch your tea pearls unfold and make a perfect 10-14 oz. cup of tea. Perfect for a tea lover's holiday stocking!
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]]>brewinggamilagamila company tea stickGamilaCompanyTeaStickgiftgift guidegift ideasgiftsteatea sticktea sticksteastickteasticksAnnie Scott2008-11-14T17:02:00+00:00Tip of the Day - Powdered green teahttp://www.slashfood.com/2008/11/11/tip-of-the-day-powdered-green-tea/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/11/11/tip-of-the-day-powdered-green-tea/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/11/11/tip-of-the-day-powdered-green-tea/#commentsFiled under: ,

Want a cup of tea that brews in three seconds?

Continue reading Tip of the Day - Powdered green tea

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]]>green teapowdered green teaPowderedGreenTeateatiptip of the dayAnnie Scott2008-11-11T06:00:00+00:00A down-south summer favorite, spikedhttp://www.slashfood.com/2008/10/22/a-down-south-summer-favorite-spiked/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/10/22/a-down-south-summer-favorite-spiked/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/10/22/a-down-south-summer-favorite-spiked/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

bottle of firefly sweet tea flavored vodkaThree of my favorite things converged recently: David Byrne, sweet tea, and booze. Down south, the latter two are common enough on their own, but now Firefly Distillery has combined them with Sweet Tea Flavored Vodka.

I was beyond skeptical when my friend brought a bottle to an outdoor David Byrne show in Atlanta. I'd never even met a canned or bottled sweet tea, or for that matter a flavored vodka, worth spitting at (most necessitate spitting out). I expected something cloying and artificial-tasting.

To my surprise, Firefly exercised remarkable restraint in infusing--or should I say brewing--the vodka with (according to John T. Edge writing for the Gourmet blog) local tea and sweetened with regionally appropriate Louisiana cane sugar. Edge calls it hyper-sweet, but by sweet tea standards it really isn't. He also recommends mixing with lemonade, which my friend also suggested. But such doctoring isn't necessary. Water and ice do the trick.

The smooth dance moves and electrifying vocals of David Byrne aren't necessary, either. But in my opinion, if "the name of the bar, the bar is called Heaven," then it follows that "heaven is a place" where spiked tea and live Talking Heads hits meet.
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]]>fireflyinfused vodkasweet teavodkaAmy McDaniel2008-10-22T10:01:00+00:00Backyard mint tea from the biggest backyard yethttp://www.slashfood.com/2008/09/04/backyard-mint-tea-from-the-biggest-backyard-yet/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/09/04/backyard-mint-tea-from-the-biggest-backyard-yet/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/09/04/backyard-mint-tea-from-the-biggest-backyard-yet/#commentsFiled under: ,

The kids and I spent 3 days last week in the Southern Adirondacks. A family friend, who is quite an outdoorsman, and experienced birdwatcher, purchased about 40 acres a couple years ago near Hinckley Reservoir in upstate New York. He has been telling me that I need to come up for a visit, and we finally took him up on the offer. One thing that he mentioned in advance of the visit was that he wanted me to show him what was edible on his property. The next several posts will all be from that visit.

Continue reading Backyard mint tea from the biggest backyard yet

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]]>mintpeppermintteawild peppermintwild teaWildPeppermintWildTeaNeil Goldstein2008-09-04T15:02:00+00:00Tea Company Spotlight - Tea Froghttp://www.slashfood.com/2008/08/04/tea-company-spotlight-tea-frog/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/08/04/tea-company-spotlight-tea-frog/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/08/04/tea-company-spotlight-tea-frog/#commentsFiled under: , ,


This is the first interview in a series of interviews called Tea Company Spotlight that I'd like to do with tea owners from all the tea companies around the world.

My first interview is with Mike Morton, the owner and founder of TeaFrog, founded in 2006 and based online out of Oakville, Ontario with distributors throughout Canada. I've spoken with Mike through reviewing many of his teas for the STeaP podcast since late 2007, and he was all too happy to answer a few questions about his company.

BRANDICE: Tell us a bit about starting your company.

MIKE: I have been a tea drinker for all of my life, and until about 4 years ago, the only tea I knew was Orange Pekoe Tetley Teabags. :) My daughter visited Japan in 2004 and the family that she stayed with sent back a gift package of good green tea. At the time I had no idea how to brew it, taste it, etc, and we could not even read the packaging because it was all in Japanese! We figured out how to make it eventually, and were surprised at how amazing it was compared to the teabag store bought that we had been drinking. As I started to research and explore tea, I grew a passion for finding good tea, and sharing what I knew with friends and family. As I grew evermore - lets say, *obsessed* with it, I started to notice that tea was getting more popular, but the outlets for different varieties and flavors for experimenting with were limited. I just naturally took what I knew about business from previous experience, paired it with a passion, and lo and behold, TeaFrog was born! :)

Continue reading Tea Company Spotlight - Tea Frog

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]]>brandiceinterviewmike mortonMikeMortonteatea companytea company spotlighttea frogBrandice Schnabel2008-08-04T10:01:00+00:00Tavalon Tea - Tea Sodahttp://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/25/tavalon-tea-tea-soda/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/25/tavalon-tea-tea-soda/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/25/tavalon-tea-tea-soda/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chris Cason is Tavalon's tea sommelier, and in this clip, he explains out to create simple syrup infused with tea, which can then be turned into a tea soda that sounds really quite tasty! I'm looking forward to trying this out on my own at some point. Have any of you created a unique beverage with tea?

[Source: Tavalon at Viddler]

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]]>brandiceChris CasonChrisCasonrecipesimple syrupSimpleSyruptavalonteatea sodavideoBrandice Schnabel2008-07-25T15:01:00+00:00Coffee to Tea Convert Contesthttp://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/25/coffee-to-tea-convert-contest/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/25/coffee-to-tea-convert-contest/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/25/coffee-to-tea-convert-contest/#commentsFiled under: , ,

FeliciteaAre you a writer who also enjoys tea? There's a contest going on over at Felicitea that offers an opportunity to showcase your writing talents for free tea and other prizes. There's only about a week left, so don't waste any time if you read about the contest and want to participate!

Here's the overview, straight from Felicitea's site:

Write: We're looking for poetry, prose, whatever you like. Feel free to haiku or make up a limerick, or write out a concise little paragraph. Just write about tea and it's relationship to you, your friend, or your last cup of coffee.

We want to connect new drinkers to tea, convert a coffee drinker (or other non-tea drinking people) or two over (at least get them to try good tea!) and reconnect tea lovers with what it is they love about tea.
  • Tea drinkers it is your responsibility to help the coffee drinkers of the world. You are charged with helping them understand the joy of tea. If you are a convert tell your story. If you love tea, but still enjoy an occasional cup of coffee it's okay, but what about the tea keeps you coming back to the pot all day? Share with the Internets why they should kick that coffee habit. If you have a friend you're nominating, be specific.

  • Coffee/Non-tea drinkers this is your chance to tell us why you drink coffee (or something else) instead of tea. This is your chance to tell all us tea drinkers what it is that makes you go for the espresso instead of the Earl Grey. Did you have a bad tea bag experience? Convinced all green tea is bitter? Are you willing to give it a shot but don't know where to start?
For the detailed rules and the prizes, click to read on!

Continue reading Coffee to Tea Convert Contest

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]]>brandicecoffeecoffee drinkerscontestfeliciteafreebiesgiveawayssamplesteatea drinkersTeaDrinkerswritewriterswritingBrandice Schnabel2008-07-25T11:01:00+00:00Slashfood Ate (8): Gourmet coffee at homehttp://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/24/slashfood-ate-8-gourmet-coffee-at-home/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/24/slashfood-ate-8-gourmet-coffee-at-home/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/24/slashfood-ate-8-gourmet-coffee-at-home/#commentsFiled under: , ,


This recent post about Starbucks - as with most posts about Starbucks - caused the typical coffee cacophony over price and quality. Although I happen to like Starbucks just fine, I certainly appreciate a good homemade cup. Unfortunately, quality espresso machines are pricey and people rarely use them enough to meet their ROI ('Fess up: How many of you have a schmancy DeLonghi at home, but still go to Starbucks every day?). As a veteran barista (of both indie and corporate coffeehouses), I've come up with a stock of supplies to help make gourmet coffee at home.

Espresso drinks:
  • Moka pot (like this one from Bialetti): Many Italians still brew their espresso the old-fashioned way -- on the stovetop. The pot steeps espresso grounds in boiling water until the bubbles force the creamy coffee into the top of the Moka. Pour it out, and there's your shot.
  • Milk Frother (like this one from Aerolatte): This bad boy has a high-speed whisker that whips any kind of milk into foamy shape. (For a cappuccino, use half steamed milk/half foam; for a latte, use mainly steamed milk, with a layer of foam on top).

Continue reading Slashfood Ate (8): Gourmet coffee at home

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]]>aerolattebialetti coffeemakerBialettiCoffeemakercoffeegourmet coffeeGourmetCoffeemochamoninstarbucksstarbucks coffeeStarbucksCoffeeteaKristyn Pomranz2008-07-24T18:00:00+00:00A sour cherry cocktailhttp://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/24/a-sour-cherry-cocktail/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/24/a-sour-cherry-cocktail/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/24/a-sour-cherry-cocktail/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Over the past few summers, cherry-based cocktails have become something of a signature for me, to the point whereupon being proposed to in mid-July a few years back, I immediately began pulping and freezing cherries for use in our wedding cocktails the following October. Fresh cherries have a cruelly short season, and I do my best to make the most of every phase from sour to Rainier to Bing. Each has a distinct level of sweetness and depth of flavor and is complemented by different suites of ingredients. Rich, dark Bings stand up to wood smoking and full-bodied lemon and limeades, but tender, young sour cherries seem a natural fit for a subtly refreshing sweet iced tea. Oh - and booze.

Recipe follows after the jump.

Continue reading A sour cherry cocktail

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]]>cherriescherrycocktailsdrinksmixologysour cherriesSourCherriesKat Kinsman2008-07-24T17:00:00+00:00Weekly Tea Bits: Rishi, memory, gimhae & gongfuhttp://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/21/rishi-memory-gimhae-gongfu/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/21/rishi-memory-gimhae-gongfu/http://www.slashfood.com/2008/07/21/rishi-memory-gimhae-gongfu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Loose TeaRishi is putting Milwaukee on the world tea map
Rishi took home seven first place awards at the recent World Tea Expo. They are definitely doing something right, and I personally recommend their Jade Cloud tea.
Cup of tea may ease memory problems
It turns out that the flavinoids in tea may actually help ease symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, and there seems to the possibility that flavinoids in tea may help repair the damage, not just stop it.
A test in the art of gimhae style tea bowls
Teaware geeks will enjoy this write up by MattCha about Korean style gimhae tea bowls, complete with a brief history of this teaware style and several pictures of some very nice bowls.
32 Gongfu Tea Tables
This is a great article on gongfu tea tables, with in-depth comparisons that you really won't find anywhere else. It's very cool of the author to share all the info collected while on his own quest for hte perfect gongfu tea table. Bookmark this one if you ever want to get into gongfu tea preparation!
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]]>awardsbrandiceflavinoidsgongfulistmemorynewsrishiteatea bowlsTeaBowlsteawareworld tea expoWorldTeaExpoBrandice Schnabel2008-07-21T10:01:00+00:00