A Cup a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

We really enjoyed reading this article in Oprah magazine and it can also be found online here. It outlines the unique health benefits of specific kinds of tea. The following is courtesy of Oprah.com:

It can warm your soul or cool you off on a sweaty summer day—but did you know that tea can also prevent the formation of brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease? And that's not all: A potful of research is showing how various brews can ward off pathogens, hypertension, even cancer. Check out these four healing cups; we'll wait while you put the kettle on.

Darjeeling (Click here for Best Tea's version)
The Brew
This delicate infusion—considered by many to be the best tea in the world—is made from plants grown in the Himalayan foothills of India's Darjeeling region.
The Benefits
More than half the global population harbors a pathogen called H. pylori; 15 to 20 percent of those people develop ailments including ulcers, gastritis, and gastric cancer. But in a recent study, scientists found that various teas inhibit H. pylori—and that Darjeeling steeped for five minutes has the greatest effect. Just hold the milk; it can block the activity of compounds in the tea.

Oolong (Click here for Best Tea's version)
The Brew
The leaves of this elegant Chinese tea are semi-fermented—allowed to wither briefly, then bruised to spur oxidation, and dried before the enzymatic process is complete. Oolong's varieties range from light and sweet to thick and woody.
The Benefits
According to a study of more than 1,500 subjects, a half cup to two and a half cups daily of oolong tea or the more famous health star green tea can lower a person's risk of hypertension by 46 percent. Oolong and green tea are rich in antioxidants that help control an enzyme that raises blood pressure.

Black (Click here for Best Tea's version)
The Brew
When tea leaves are allowed to fully ferment, they develop the bold, tannic, earthy flavor of black tea. (Its color, though, is closer to red.)
The Benefits
Four antioxidant compounds (called theaflavins) found in black tea appear to protect the brain from disease in a very specific way. Last year a group of German researchers published findings stating that these compounds prevented the formation of senile plaques (likely by binding to amino acids that would have otherwise formed the plaques), which contribute to the development and progression of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Welcoming Two New Additions

Best International Tea is excited to announce two big additions to our line — we will now be importing S.D. Bell premium chocolates and coffees! The line currently features five varieties of chocolate bars and three types of coffee.

From its home in Belfast, S.D. Bell has been blending and crafting Britain’s finest coffees, teas and chocolates for 125 years. The S.D. Bell coffees now available for the first time in the United States include: Brazil Santos (full-flavored, medium roast), Kilimanjaro Blend (smooth, dark roast) and American Roast (medium roast from Honduras). The handmade chocolate line includes milk and dark chocolates, peppermint crème, dark chocolate with chili pepper and milk chocolate with roasted almonds.

Watch for the new products to appear on our website in the coming weeks!

The World Tea Expo Has Arrived

It's finally here! We've been waiting months for our trip to the 2012 World Tea Expo in Las Vegas. The show started yesterday, June 1, and will run through Sunday, June 3.

If you are at the show, please be sure to stop by our booth, number 323, to sample our English Breakfast Tea. We are having a great time meeting so many fellow tea lovers, sharing our tea with them and trying out other teas and tea products, gadgets and more. There are so many creative, smart tea drinkers and it's a great environment here.