DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 8
Brew
table of contents Join the #brewcrew Follow us @UKTalkingTea on Twitter and Instagram
Welcome to Brew
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A word from our Chief Executive
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Are you a Smart Boiler?
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Festive Colour and Joy from Tea & Infusions
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Tea and Family
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Builders Brew
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and
Christmas Menu with Tea
@UKTalkingTeaAndInfusions on Facebook
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Guest Editorial: Dr Tim Bond Tea Advisory Panel Boost your workout with tea and hydrate the easy way
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Training and Masterclasses
UK TEA & INFUSIONS ASSOCIATION
Welcome to issue six of Brew. The e-zine for tea and infusions enthusiasts everywhere. The United Kingdom Tea and Infusions Association (UKTIA) is a Trade Association and the voice for the British Tea, Herbal and Fruit Infusions industry. Part of our work is to promote tea and infusions and we encourage you to visit our website www.tea.co.uk to find more about the history of tea, the diversity of herbal infusions and how to make the perfect brew www.tea.co.uk/make-a-perfect-brew. To get regular updates follow us on Twitter or Instagram @UKTalkingTea or Facebook @UKTalkingTeaAndInfusions and subscribe to our YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/UKTalkingTea
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A word from our Chief Executive Time flies so fast! Just a few days left and before you know it, it will be Christmas! I would like to thank all of our Brew readers and the #brewcrew for following us on social media. We all share a love of tea and infusions and it is my pleasure to bring you this new issue of Brew. I am very proud of our new Smart Boil campaign, which we launched during COP 26 with a simple message that we should all boil 'just what we need' to save energy, time and money. If we all make these small changes in our everyday lives it can add up to a big difference for the planet! Read more on page 5. We have two guest columns from Tea Advisory Panel (TAP) members in this issue. Dr Carrie Ruxton talks about the festive colour and joy that some of our favourite infusions can provide. Dr Tim Bond talks to Brew about the latest TAP research paper 'Tea for Sport and Fitness: A Scoping Review.' This new research has shone a light on the fascinating health and fitness benefits of tea, particularly the part it plays in sports performance and fitness. I am constantly amazed by all the wonderful benefits of the beverages we can make from the tea plant and other botanicals. Best of all I love the rituals of tea drinking. Our guest column from Poppy Loves (page 14) reminds us to take time out to be with friends and family, to listen to each other, talk to each other and, of course, drink tea! I hope that you have a chance to do this with loved ones over the festive season (you could try our Christmas menu with tea in every course- see page 19) and we can all continue this ritual in the New Year. Best wishes to all our readers.
Sharon Hall UKTIA Chief Executive
Are you a Smart Boiler? UKTIA's new Smart Boil Campaign asks all tea lovers to boil only the amount of water they need for their cuppa.
New research shows how the humble cuppa could help save energy and the planet. And the good news is that you will also save money, time, and enjoy a better brew every time you make the nation’s favourite beverage. The new research commissioned by the UK Tea and Infusions Association reveals that simply altering the way we measure the water needed for a cup of tea can help cut per day 618 tons of carbon emissions — the equivalent of 1.5 million miles in journeys in the average family car and reduce energy bills by £455,764 per day across the UK as a nation. With tea being the nation’s favourite hot drink, and a staggering 100 million cups consumed each day, the sustainability experts at Carbon Intelligence who worked with UKTIA to carry out this research, have calculated that if everyone in the UK made this easy change, we would collectively save 2,649,792 kWh per day of electricity — enough to provide all the energy needs for 74.7 households for a year. 5
Dr Sharon Hall, head of the UKTIA says, “It’s very easy to feel powerless when faced with the enormity of climate change, but as our research shows if we all make small changes it can add up to a significant impact — and real change. That’s why we are launching the Smart Boil Campaign to spread the word on this simple and achievable step that will deliver immediate benefits — for consumers and the planet. “In fact, our Smart Boil campaign hits one of the nine goals prioritised by climate and environment experts at Imperial University. Reducing energy consumption is number 5 on their list of important changes we can all make — behind cutting back on flying and leaving the car at home.” The Smart Boil initiative aims to make the UK’s tea loving Brits ‘Smart Boilers’. That means getting everyone to only boil the amount of water needed, once, and if people can, switch to renewable energy in their own homes. Dr Hall adds: “The independent research we commissioned from Carbon Intelligence shows that we all have the power to make a real difference. In fact, for every mug of tea boiled, using exactly the amount of water needed would save per day: 0.026 kWh in electricity 0.5p on energy bills 0.000006 tCO2e (tons of greenhouse gases) 6
“And if we only boiled the water we needed and all the electricity we used was generated from renewable sources, it would save 2,649,792 kWh of electricity per day, that’s 1,236 tonnes of greenhouse gases – the equivalent of planting 20,438 seedlings over 10 years or switching 46,846 incandescent lightbulbs to LEDs.” [Data based on 100 million cups of tea per day consumed in the UK using the exact amount of water per boiled cup of tea.] UKTIA members including PG Tips, Pukka, Tetley, Twinings and Yorkshire Tea all support the new Smart Boil campaign and will be encouraging consumers to boil – ‘just what you need’ when making your favourite cuppa.
Dr Hall continues, “There is no doubt that reducing greenhouse gases will require action on all fronts, and this should be led by Government’s around the world. The real strength of our Smart Boil Campaign is that everyone can do their bit. It doesn’t involve any major changes or having to give up anything we enjoy. In fact, quite the opposite. Measure 'just what you need' using your mug
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Dr Hall said “Boiling only the amount of water you need and only once will reduce energy bills and improve the taste of your tea. In fact, to draw the best flavour out of the tea, the water must contain oxygen to ‘energise’ the leaf and extract all the character of the tea. If you top up the kettle, water is repeatedly re-boiled which drives out the oxygen and makes the tea taste dull. So using the right amount of freshly drawn water will deliver a great-tasting cuppa."
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SMART BOIL FACTS Every day in the UK we drink 100 million cups of tea. If all were by made boiling only the amount of water needed, it would save per day: 2,649,792kWh of electricity per day £455,764 in energy bills per day 618 tCO2e in greenhouse gas emissions per day That’s the equivalent of: All the electricity needs from 112 average homes for a year Emissions from 134 passenger cars for a year 1,553,156 miles in passenger car journeys a year.
Want to do more? Help spread the word on social media using #Smart Boil #SmartBoil #JustWhatYouNeed Think about switching to Renewable Energy in your home. https://bigcleanswitch.org. Walk, ride a bike, use public transport or car share. Trade your diesel or petrol car in for an electric or hybrid model. Draft-proof your home. Plant a tree in your garden or add pot plants to your windowsill or balcony. Ask your pension provider or bank if you can opt out of funds investing in fossil fuels. Avoid single-use items and fast fashion. Remember to use your mug to measure the right amount of water for the number of cuppas you want to brew. To find out more about the Smart Boil campaign visit tea.co.uk.
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Festive Colour and Joy from Teas & Infusions Christmas and the new year are full of colour and joy and what better way to savour the fragrant delights of teas and herbal infusions. Just as festive blooms come in red, pink, yellow, orange, and green, so do herbal infusions. But, unlike most of the blooms we’ll see springing into life over the next few months, infusions and teas provide surprising health and wellness benefits for our hearts, bones, immune system as well as our minds Check out the tasting notes and wellness tips on six colourful festive herbal infusions and teas from Dr Ruxton at the Tea Advisory Panel.
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Festive Red Well known for its rich red colour, Rosehip has an intense tangy taste similar to green apples and ripe plums. Rose hips have antiinflammatory properties. A recent review of 24 pharmacological studies [1] found that preparations of rose hips helped to reduce pain and swelling in conditions such as osteoarthritis.
PINK LOVE With its gorgeous deep pink colour, Hibiscus offers a combination of festive, floral notes sharpened by the acidic flavours of cranberry and redcurrant. Plus, there is a growing bank of health data demonstrating the wellness benefits around hibiscus tea. A clinical study in the Journal of Nutrition [2] found that drinking three daily servings of hibiscus significantly helped lowers systolic blood pressure after six weeks compared with a placebo drink. Some of us often find that stress can cause blood pressure to rise. ORANGE STAR Made from the leaves of a South African shrub, Rooibos has a smooth, gentle flavour with a slight nutty sweetness. And health research shows [3], six weeks of drinking rooibos daily stimulated antioxidant pathways in the body, a great stress buster and lowered LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides – fats linked with heart disease risk.
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CHRISTMAS GREEN Peppermint and spearmint have a refreshing minty taste and a vibrant aroma. While better known for digestion, great for any overindulgence which is bound to happen over the festive break, mint infusions can also help rebalance hormone levels. Great news for those feeling angst with emotions. [4]
YELLOW GOLD With gentle notes of apple and a mild honeylike sweetness, Chamomile is a firm favourite at bedtime. And its benefits for sleep are not an old wives’ tale. A study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing [5] found that drinking chamomile daily for two weeks improved sleep quality and reduced fatigue.”
DON’T FORGET THE LEAVES….. While herbal infusions are bursting with ‘festive joy’ don’t forget the traditional black tea cuppa and green tea, both borne from the same plant - Camellia sinensis – are bursting with a range of flavours, aromas, and vibrancy. Plus, they are packed with health and wellness properties from heart, memory and bone health benefits to gut, digestive fitness, skin, and beauty hydration needs to stress busting properties. So, pop the kettle on, sip, take time out for yourself, dream and enjoy whatever the aroma or flavour.
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References [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31138475 [2] https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/140/2/298/4600320 [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20833235 [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19585478 [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26483209
Tea Advisory Panel member Dr Carrie Ruxton has a PhD in Child Nutrition and over 100 published articles on diet and health. She is an independent dietitian, with more than 25 years’ experience in nutrition and health. Carrie publishes widely in scientific journals, textbooks and magazines, winning awards for her writing. Carrie is also a regular contributor to national newspapers, magazines, radio and TV. 13
Tea and Family We are pleased to bring you a guest article by Poppy Loves. Poppy is a London lifestyle blogger, with an emphasis on food, fashion and travel. In this article Poppy Loves talks about the importance of taking time out to be with friends and family, listening to each other, talking with each other and, of course, drinking tea. Our sense of smell is linked extremely closely with our memories, probably more so than any of our other senses. And that certainly rings true for me – I get transported all over the place via what I’m happening to be sniffing – be that Izzy’s playdough (straight back to the Wendy House at my own nursery when I was 3) tomatoes (my grandpa’s greenhouse) or even glue (primary school, William Macmillan and a papier maché disaster). And there is nothing more emotionally transportational (no, it’s not a word, but it should be) than a cup of tea. I associate the smell of tea with nearly every family member I know – it’s what we drink together when we meet for a celebration and especially what we turn to for comfort at sadder occasions. I associate tea with my grandparents, my great grandparents (I knew two of them and count myself very lucky), my aunts, uncles, cousins (oh there are many…) and of course, my mum… Tea is like an invisible thread that binds us all together, through the generations and across the years - my grandma had a tea ritual, as did her grandparents and theirs too… and now me… and soon, Izzy. I really love that. 14
The Tea Advisory Panel recently did a poll around the power of the smell of tea and what emotions it evoked: "Interestingly, even the aroma of tea was enough to connect the generations. More than half of those polled (54 per cent) said they harked back to grandparents, home, camping trips and childhood when they smelt a newly made cuppa. The aroma of tea also evoked feelings of cosiness, happiness, energy and relaxation." As the festive season approaches, it feels, more than ever, that just being able to be with each other and having the time to do so is valued in a way it hasn’t been in a long time. I for one will be taking time out to be with my friends and family, to listen to each other, talk to each other and, of course, drink tea. Tea has a comforting and supporting nature and I think this has a great deal to do with the history it has within our own families and what it has represented to so many people we have loved. I’m pretty certain that my grandparents had no idea about the health benefits of tea drinking – heart health, cognitive function, bone health etc – but they all drank LOTS of tea. Not just because they like the taste, but for the emotional and social benefits, which some might argue are the most important benefits of all in our golden years.
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We drink tea to feel better about life. To take time out from a stressful day, manage anxiety, connect with others and even to just bring some routine into our days. “Nearly eight in ten in the TAP poll agreed with the statement that ‘everything feels better after a cup of tea’”. During the war my grandma drank tea while she waited for my grandpa to come home, while he drank tea in far away places, along with many other members of the British Army. And although it’s not the same, the lockdowns here were the closest thing I have felt to total unknown and fear of the future. Yet, my tea drinking rituals have remained strong. As have those across the country! We took tea breaks in our homes, flatmates made each other cuppas and we strengthened our existing tea rituals and, younger adults especially, started some new ones. So we shall continue this special thread and pass it on and on and on… Izzy loves her pretend tea parties, and I know it won’t be long before she’s requesting a cup of tea with her Jammy Dodger… and I can’t wait. You can follow Poppy on Instagram: @poppy_loves_london and her website is: poppyloves.co.uk Stock image only
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Builders Brew As international travel has been limited over the over the past couple of years, many of us are using our savings to invest in home improvements. BrewCrew contributor, Mrs A, shares the importance of keeping your tradespeople well hydrated with a good brew. Have you got the builders in? Are you planning on buying a ‘doer-upper’ and transforming it into your forever home? If you’ve answered yes to either of these questions, I hope you have bought enough teabags to keep up with the demand for gallons of tea. It’s a necessity. But what is builders tea? From personal experience and from studying various online sources of tea history, I am well informed that it’s a term used for a strong sweet brew given to construction workers. There are many ways to make tea, but to make builders tea you need to pour boiling water over a teabag (black tea blend), mix in milk (whole or semi skimmed seems to be the preference), leave the bag in until a deep golden biscuit colour, add sugar (as many as asked for) and stir well. Builders tea is always served in a mug and never in your best bone China. Don’t worry if you don’t master the colour immediately, I have found that if the tea is not right, the drink is promptly returned for a replacement with expectations of strongness clearly explained. Some tradesmen/women bring their favourite mug with them so don’t be offended if you find one left in your kitchen in readiness for a refill. When I was a child, my grandma used to say that a brew was only good if you could ‘stand your spoon up in it’. This is what your builder expects. Trades such as builders, plumbers, plasterers, carpenters, bricklayers, and painters etc. are essential to support a thriving economy and their first-class skills have been fuelled by gallons of tea for what appears to be decades. Today a building site, no matter how big or small, is no building site without a tea making station. It’s the heart of the site with all components provided and where workers can be seen sprinting towards when they hear the call ‘Teas Up’.
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It’s thought that ‘builders tea’ has been around far longer than we’ve had a name for it. In 1916, the Ministry of Munitions’ health committee wrote a publication called ‘Hours of Work’ where it stated, ‘an opportunity for tea is regarded as beneficial both to health and output’. This was certainly true for my builder. However, many believe the term came about during the 70’s as the UK was rebuilding the nation following World War 2 and British manufacturing was blooming. Keeping a skilled workforce warm, energised, and refreshed was vital and supplying them with warm, sugary tea was considered a simple and relatively low-cost way to maintain high productivity. It seems the tradition of keeping a workforce working hard through a neverending supply of hot sugary tea is as strong as it ever was. The work on my home is complete and it was certainly helped along with the kettle being permanently on. I believe tea is the backbone of our construction industry and will be for years to come. So, my advice if you’re about to purchase the ‘doerupper’? Buy tea in bulk before you book the builder! Mrs A Thank you to Mrs A for this article. If you would like to join the #brewcrew and have an idea for an article, please email us at info@ukteainfusions.co.uk We are unable to pay for articles, so please only contact us if the glory of featuring in Brew is enough. Thank you. 18
Christmas Menu With Tea Let's Begin Roasted Squash,Sweet Potato and Lapsang Soup Finished with Buttermilk, Blue Cheese & Squash Chips Prawn, Crab & Crayfish Cocktail Creme Fraîche & Granary Bread Tea Choice: Oolong
The Main Event Prime British Rib Eye Steak Stilton Butter Dressed Leaves & Genga chips Tea Choice: Assam Sweet Potato, Parnship & Porcini Gratin Dressed Mixed Leaf Salad Tea Choice: Jasmine Pearls
To Conclude Rich Brandy Laced Christmas Pudding with Brandy Cream Sauce Tea Choice: Cinnamon and Orange Home Made Baileys Cheese Cake Fruit Coulis & Chantilly Cream Tea Choice: High Grown Ceylon or Darjeeling
Mince Pies and more Tea Tea Choice: Keemun
GUEST EDITORIAL Boost your workout with tea and hydrate the easy way. By Dr Tim Bond Tea Advisory Panel (TAP) While water has typically been seen as the holy grail of health especially when it comes to keeping hydrated when working out, a new paper by the TAP titled Tea for Sport and Fitness: A Scoping Review [1], has shone a light on the fascinating health and fitness benefits of tea, particularly the part it plays in sports performance and fitness. In the following feature Dr Tim Bond reveals a little more about the new research paper and why a cuppa is a fitness must have. Tea - the sport’s hydration hack – Here’s why. Tea for Sport and Fitness: A Scoping Review [1] looks at a number of research studies which all point the finger towards tea being a fantastic addition to a person’s day to day diet as well as a hydration hack prior and post working out. The research review noted how four cups a day [2] is the ultimate hydration sports booster. In the UK, the NHS Eatwell Guide recommends 6 to 8 hydrating drinks per day, which includes water, lower fat milk and sugar-free drinks such as tea. A staggering 50 to 60% of our body weight is water so we need to keep this topped up regularly. And if you like to work out and keep active, ensuring your hydration levels are topped up is essential, especially when it comes to performance. While previously tea’s caffeine content may have led sceptics to believe it was more of a dehydrator, studies have actually shown that tea offers the same hydrating properties to water. This was based on blood tests and urine samples taken from volunteers who drank cups of tea made with tea bags and 20ml of semi-skimmed milk. 20
Staying hydrated helps with all aspects of sports performance. We should aim to maintain “euhydration”; essentially normal hydration balance and tea helps tick the boxes here. Exercise can disrupt this water balance, and just a 2% body mass loss as water can hinder our exercise performance so we must stay hydrated throughout the day. There’s also the weight loss benefits from tea. Several studies have linked the consumption of matcha green tea to weight loss. Just 4 cups of matcha green tea drunk over a 24 hour period resulted in increased fat oxidation when volunteers went on a 30 minute brisk walk, while another study proved how sedentary females who drank 3 cups of green tea a day over 8 weeks lost weight around their middle. Last word: Increase muscle strength with a cuppa While our humble cuppa is a sports hydrator, research we reviewed in this latest TAP paper found that tea drinking has links to muscle strength too. One study found that men who were given 200ml of mate tea three times a day over 8 days, had improved strength recovery in the 24 hours after exercise. Plus, women in Japan suffering from sarcopenia who drank 350ml of tea a day, had improved walking speeds over a 3 month period. This speed seemed to be helped by improved muscle mass strength. So whether you are a regular gym goer or like keeping active, four cups of tea are a great way to boost hydration needs as well as helping with muscle strength, together with the many other health and wellness benefits of drinking tea. Yet more reason to pop the kettle on. 21
References
[1] Bond T, Derbyshire E, Jenkins G; (2021) Tea for sport and fitness: a scoping review. Nutrition and Food Technology Journal, in press. [2] https://www.teaadvisorypanel.com/tea/health-facts
You can find out more about the Tea Advisory Panel and its work by visiting: teaadvisorypanel.com
Dr Tim Bond, BSc Hons, PhD, is a natural health chemist, tea expert and an advisor to the Tea Advisory Panel. He has more than 18 years experience in tea, from lab-based analysis to factory production. TAP is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from the UK Tea & Infusions Association the trade association for the UK tea industry. The Panel was created to provide media with impartial information regarding the health benefits of tea. Panel members include nutritionists; dieticians and doctors. See teaadvisorypanel.com
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Training and Masterclasses Want to learn more about tea and herbals. Try one of these classes UK The UK Tea Academy provides online certified courses followed as either self-study or led by expert tutors in a series of live webinars. Three levels of certification are available: Tea Champion (intro) Tea Sommelier (intermediate) and Tea Diploma (advanced). The Tea Champion qualification is also available in other languages with our international trainers. The UKTA also hosts a regular variety of lively, interactive and informative online events. See more here www.ukteaacademy.co.uk/ CANADA A TEA SOMMELIER is a trained and knowledgeable tea professional who has successfully completed the eight modules in the TAC TEA SOMMELIER TM/SM course at a college or online, and passed the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada certification examination. See more here www.teasommelier.com/ USA The Specialty Tea Institute (STI) is the educational division of the Tea Association of the U.S.A., Inc. and the leader in the education of tea professionals. STI created the USA’s first standardized and accredited tea education curriculum. Their Certified Training Programs, Levels I, II, III and IV, are held in conjunction with various food and beverage conferences throughout the country. Find more here http://stitea.org/
Coming soon! Tea Masters Cup-UK UKTIA will be launching the UK heat of this international competition. Find out more here: www.tea.co.uk/uk-tea-masters-competition and follow us @UKTalkingTea for updates
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ish You a Ver W y We
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