I awoke early on Friday morning with a text message from my dad  that  said, simply: “RIP Madan Tamang”.  Uncle Madan and his wife Rita had been our guests in Calcutta only a few days earlier, doing some last minute shopping for an upcoming trip to Europe. Our thoughts are with Rita, Sanyog and the extended Tamang family as they grieve this sudden, tragic loss.

Madan’s life was spent working tirelessly to improve the lives of so many people. He will be sorely missed.

The photo above was taken at our Darjeeling home in 2006. More about Madan Tamang here.

From The New York Times:

All in This Tea” dips effortlessly into a half-dozen modes — travelogue, biography, nature ode, business story, nerd profile — sustaining a flexibility of tone that allows for both keen insights into the rapidly evolving Chinese economy and drunken raptures on the ability, in one especially prized blend, “to taste the mountain.

Tea advertising. Fact or Deception?

The advertising must be working, because I have been asked on more than one occasion: “Do you guys sell that weight loss tea I keep hearing about?” or “Does tea really prevent cancer?”

Now, I have no idea if a tea actually exists that can miraculously reduce my waist size by multiples of 3 (if such a tea exists, I will gladly buy it now), but there seem to be plenty of reasons to be just a little doubtful whether the claim is weight loss or cancer prevention.

From The New York Times:

The promise, researchers say, stems from the tea’s polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that studies have shown can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in animals. But the evidence has been sparse when researchers have tried to determine if the findings carry over into humans. Results so far are mixed, at best. But the evidence over all is such that the Food and Drug Administration refused this year to let green tea producers place statements about cancer-fighting properties on their packages.

Last year, the UK Tea Council was reprimanded for a misleading poster:

…while there was some scientific evidence that tea may protect against cancer and heart disease, the findings had yet to be confirmed in tests on humans.

And back in 2002, a well known tea company got into a spot of trouble because:

…it said tea also contained “essential nutrients” such as potassium, riboflavin and vitamin B6. However, many of these nutrients do not come from the tea – but from the milk commonly added to it instead.

I am aware that I am probably bucking the trend here. As a marketer of tea, shouldn’t I get on my soapbox and push the health benefits of tea to the maximum extent possible? After all, study after study indicate yet more evidence of tea’s beneficial role. Yes, I know the studies are promising, and I believe that there are plenty of very real health benefits from drinking tea. But even the experts acknowledge that their studies are encouraging, but not conclusive. So next time you encounter some “irrefutable” or “100% guaranteed” claim that tea can help you lose 55lbs, or prevent you from getting cancer, a healthy dose of skepticism may be just what the doctor ordered.

I don’t know about you, but I tend to find tea to be much more appealing when I think of it as a delicious drink to be savored rather than as a medicine to be endured.

Here’s the RSS Feed for our website:

And the most recent visualization of our blog’s RSS feed.

I’m not convinced of the accuracy, because I’m pretty sure “Pertabghur” is not one of the most frequently occuring words on this blog. But the cloud is gorgeous to look at anyway.

Update: The Simple Leaf’s Twitter feed, for good measure:

About a year ago, I blogged about the ambitious Tracing Tea project, which aimed to celebrate the 350th anniversary of tea’s introduction to Britain.

Well, I figured I would check on their progress this morning, and was delighted to find that they have completed the journey. In an old London taxi!

Enjoy the video diary of their incredible trip. The clip of Darjeeling was my favorite. I’m headed back there in October, and just can’t wait.

Scientists have discovered that mixing green tea with other substances, such as citrus juices, vitamin C and even soy milk and rice milk, increases the amount of the antioxidants that can be absorbed by the body.

[via]

The lead author of the study, Mario Ferruzzi is a professor at Purdue University.

The Champagne of Tea. This catchy moniker has long been used to describe Darjeeling’s cachet in the tea world. However, it is becoming abundantly clear that a lot more than an attractive slogan is required if Indian tea is to remain viable in what has become an ultra-competitive global tea industry.

Tea in India has its share of tough problems — over supply, declining domestic consumption, labor disputes, and subsequently one of the highest production costs of any tea producing country. Despite being one of the worlds largest producers of tea, India is now seeing its exports eclipsed by those of Kenya, Sri Lanka and China.

But the outlook is not necessarily so dire. Three recent developments are cause for renewed optimism.

1. GI Status
Geographical Indication status is a program launched by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to provide legal protection for the Darjeeling brand. We blogged earlier about the problem as it affects Darjeeling. Last year, The Tea Board of India finally won the battle to obtain GI status for Darjeeling tea. Similar efforts are underway for the protection of Assam and Nilgiri teas.

2. A Renewed Focus on Increasing Exports
While India’s tea exports are expected to decline in 2007, a concerted effort to boost sales can help buck that trend in the future. Many growers are increasing production of more desirable teas (longer leaf orthodox vs. CTC), converting existing estates to organic production, and selling directly to buyers abroad.

3. Multi Pronged Innovation
India may be at the forefront of supplying technology services across the globe, but it’s implementation domestically has stayed far behind. While technology may not solve all the problems of the industry, its effective use can certainly mitigate them. As Anand Mandapaka puts it, investment in new technologies like WiMax at the field level has the potential to give India a serious competitive edge. However, innovation must happen beyond technology. On the marketing front, efforts are underway to increase domestic tea consumption. As a recent Time magazine story described, innovators like Sanjay Bansal and Rishi Saria are redefining what it means to produce and market tea. Similarly, tea estate ownership structures are also changing – giving some hope for improvement in the lives of thousands of workers. As Samir Roy says, “the only long-term, sustainable solution is for estates to give workers a stake in the earnings.”

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union (and the subsequent collapse in India’s tea exports), Indian tea has never quite managed to right the ship. The outlook, however, seems bright. Some of these recent initiatives, if executed properly, give cause for cheer. The cup, as they say, is most definitely half full.

I like to do the crossword puzzle while I have my tea,” said Baumer, making it easy to imagine him wearing a bonnet and a frilly pink dress.

[via]

• How to make a chamomile vinaigrette. If you’re interested in cooking with tea, here are five more ways.
• An impressive list of tea titles shared by Nigel Melican.
• T Ching dispels a few common myths and misperceptions about tea.
• A great piece in the BBC highlighting the plight of India’s tea workers.
• Joey’s got some cool matcha tools!

If you’ve ever wanted to become a tea taster, you could probably learn a thing or two from Atanoo Baroowa. Mr. Baroowa sits down with us to discuss tasting, auctions and a whole lot more.

Asia is bemoaning the loss of the traditional tea ceremony. With good reason too, as this recent Reuters report points out.

From Beijing to Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and Taipei, fast-paced modern life means that tea has little appeal for Asian youth who don’t have the patience to wait the 10 minutes it takes to brew tea in the traditional way. Determined to restore tea to its exalted status in Asia, tea lovers are trying to repackage tea as a funky new-age brew to a young generation more inclined to slurp down a can of artificially-flavoured tea than to sip the real thing. [via]

I sometimes wonder to what extent the opposite phenomenon may be occurring in the west (i.e., tea getting more popular), and what its impact might be in the long run. As the health benefits of tea are becoming more widely recognized (due in no small measure to the efforts of the big guys – Snapple et.al.), will parents start weaning their kids off sodas and other artificially sweetened beverages in favor of healthier ones (like tea)? At least some folks think so.

I was watching a recent Charlie Rose interview with Mark Penn, discussing Penn’s new book, Microtrends. The whole point is this (and I’m paraphrasing here): some of the most powerful forces at work today are the emerging, counterintuitive trends that are shaping society in ways we didn’t think possible. Counterintuitive is the operative word here. As Penn writes in the introduction, “While people are eating more healthful foods than ever, Big Mac sales have never been higher.” [side note: you may be interested in this New York Times article about Asian immigrant kids getting fatter and more obese after moving to the US. (via)]

It’s counterintuitive to think that kids in countries that are steeped in centuries of tea drinking may one day drink less tea than their western counterparts. Counterintuitive, yes, but could it end up being true? In 2020, as a new generation of Asian teenagers start their day by ordering a double-tall-extra-skinny latte, will their American counterparts be wondering whether a strong Assam or a delicate first flush Darjeeling would be more appropriate before that 8:30 class?

Probably not. But then again, maybe. It kind of depends on whats funkier and more new age then.

1. Chow put together an interesting series of video clips with James Norwood Pratt, on topics ranging from tea at Peets vs. Starbucks (Peets gets a thumbs up), the issue of tea bags and more.

2. Guess what’s growing in Washington? Heads up Charleston, you’ve got competition!

3. ABC NewsThe Associated Press does an excellent feature on the problems facing the Indian tea industry. We’re glad the “mainstream” media continues to expand their coverage of tea (check out this latest set of NBC news clips ). This is especially important now — because while tea is enjoying a growth spurt in the US — attention should, and increasingly, is, being directed to the several challenges facing producing countries.

4. Like Darjeeling, south India’s Nilgiri teas are going to be given GI (Geographical Indication) status. A positive development in the marketing of Indian tea. In case you were wondering what that means:

GI is a name or sign used on goods to indicate and certify that
these originate from a specific geographical origin and possess certain
characteristics or reputation which is essentially attributable to the said
geographical origin.[via]

5. And my personal favorite: this rather interesting menu from Beijing.

Enjoy!

ps. We got some props from the Peoria Journal Star.

And that’s when it happens. That dreaded all-important first decision of the day.

Black or oolong? Hot or iced? Or do I really need a swift caffeine jolt to really get me going , in which case there’s always that trusty pouch of Ethiopian coffee. But then I have to grind the beans, and that’s a bit of a chore. But then again, what’s worse – grinding beans or boiling water? The choices torment – almost mock you, causing you to wonder why you ever woke up in the first place.

Now’s the time to head back to your computer, fire up that browser, and let Google Trends tell you whether its cool or uncool to be drinking iced tea in San Francisco in September. Or whether Oregonians tend to prefer a good oolong to a black.

Here are some screen shots of a few trends I spotted (click the image to see the full report). You can try some of your own (you’re not restricted to only two choices) and drill down by region or month.

1. Coffee vs. Tea

2. Iced vs. Hot

3. Black vs. Oolong

Very cool. Hopefully all this will lead to a happier morning. Unless your shin really hurts. In which case, you’re out of luck. And you also have to decide whether you feel like being trendy or not. Decisions, decisions.

*I confess.

[hat tip]

Letter from Burma (No. 21)
by Aung San Suu Kyi
Mainichi Daily News, Sunday, April 14, 1996

Tea plays a very important part in the social life of Burma. A pot of green tea, refilled again and again, is the hub of many an animated circle of conversation. There is also pickled tea leaves, /laphet/, soaked in good oil and served with such garnishes as sesame seeds, dried shrimps, roasted beans, peanuts and crisp fried garlic. It is indispensable as a traditional offering of hospitality, either as a conclusion to a meal or as a savory snack between meals. [read the full article]

[see the latest photos as developments unfold in Burma, from citizen journalist and Flickr user gmhembree]

I’d also recommend reading Jawahara’s excellent post on Burma’s brave, brave monks, and checking out these stunning photos of Burma.

We were told a while back that green tea was good for us.

Well, is it? NBC’s news divisions attempt to investigate the rising popularity of green tea in the United States.

1. First up, NBC Chief Science Correspondent Robert Bazell reports the goodness of green tea?

2. Next, MSNBC’s Alison Stewart investigates if green tea is hot.

3. Dr. Deanna Lites asks if tea is the new health drink.

4. Finally, Matt Lauer, from The Today Show, learns to pour tea in Shanghai..

I wrote about Joey’s awesome Sorapot concept back in January. Well, good things happen to good people for good reason.

The Sorapot was just featured in Forbes. Congratulations Joey! Here’s to a bright future for Sorapot (and for the all the other undoubtedly beautiful concepts floating around in your brain just waiting to spill out).

This uniquely styled teapot is made of entirely recycled parts, which are not embellished with any pigments or paints. The packaging is unbleached, recycled cardboard, and the instructions are printed on the inside of the packaging, rather than on a separate piece of paper.

[via]
[Photo from www.joeyroth.com]

So we just sponsored our first (sold out, I might add!) concert. I may be biased, but kudos to Mike, Nick, Alex, Yasu and Shirzad for putting on what can only be described as an electrifying performance! Huge thanks go out to everyone who attended and made it such a phenomenal success.

Shirzad, Mikanic’s resident techie (who also happens to play bass!) just uploaded a video of the show opener. Enjoy World Over.

www.mikanic.com

UK design outfit Suck has created color coded tea and coffee mugs that:

help you mix your favourite brew to just-how-you-like-it by matching the colour guide on the inside. [link]

An interesting concept for sure. If you like milk in your tea that is.

[via]