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It's no wonder the Pinestone Tea team is proud of their product. Not only are the varieties delicious, but they are also made from sustainably grown tea plants and prepared using traditional methods handed down through generations. The company generously sent me a quality green tea presentation box containing three types of teas so that I could try them for myself. It's quite a while since I took the time to make 'proper' tea in a pot, generally opting for teabags instead. Now, presented with these loose-leaf teas, meant it was time to bring the teapot out from where it had been languishing in a cupboard. Preparing tea provides the ideal reason to slow down and relax, something of an awakening for me and something I enjoyed and appreciated. Sustainability Pinestone uphold the following values: • Everyone in the tea supply chain deserves to be treated with respect, paid fairly and afforded good working conditions • Tea should be ethically sourced and fully traceable • All Pinestone packaging is recyclable apart from the reusable and resealable inner bags • Green tea has mental and physical benefits Wellbeing and Health Research shows how good green tea is for our mental and physical health. Even the act of brewing these meticulously prepared leaves can bring a sense of mindfulness and calm. Time and care are essential in the brewing process so this is an opportunity to allow yourself peaceful contemplation. Green tea's health benefits are far reaching. It is high in protective polyphenols which act as antioxidants, amino acids help brain function and some believe that un-sweetened green tea can help with fat burning because of its thermogenic properties. Tea Culture Did you know that Chinese tea drinking culture is an important aspect of any mealtime? Different teas are best drunk with specific foods, just like fine wines. Rich and satisfying Chun Mee tea is good for digesting heavy dishes. This hand produced Pinestone tea has a sweet though slightly acidic flavour and is especially good with a main course. Lung Ching or Dragon Well is a yellowy green coloured delicate all-rounder. It is an extra special tea which must be produced in the traditional, hand-panned style in order to be granted the world-renowned Lung Ching mark. it has a fabulously refreshing taste and is ideal to drink on its own. Refreshing Jasmine tea is a well known favourite with tea drinkers. It's ideal when eating Dim Sum, light starters and desserts because of its fragrance. It is sweet and smooth and utterly 'yes, I'll have another cup please.' Jasmine is very calming. And, did you know that tea is also a cooking ingredient in China? Back in the Tang Dynasty people would drink ground tea flavoured with salt and herbs. This type of tea is still common in some parts of China today while sometimes roasted rice and beans are added to make the tea more like a soup. The most famous dish cooked with tea is shrimp stir-fried with Lung Ching tea, a speciality of Hangzhou where the tea comes from. Kevin Sui, Pinestone tea founder, regularly cooks with teas and one of his creations is green tea mayonnaise for fish and chips. Sounds good to me!
The Pinestone Tea Luxury Green Tea Set RRP £26.99 includes 100g Lung Ching, 100g Jasmine, and 100g Chun Mee loose-leaf tea. A complimentary re-seal clip to keep your tea absolutely fresh. The teas are also available separately in 100g boxes prices from £5.99. Free next-day delivery for orders over £20. Available from www.pinestonetea.co.uk  It isn't an option to travel to India at the moment, but it is still possible to enjoy a taste of the exotic with Tea India’s new regional single-estate tea range. These four blends of regional teas are sourced from some of India's most established tea growers. Lisa Worthington, Head of Marketing Tea India comments, “Never has a sense of wanderlust been so prevalent in our everyday lives and Tea India’s Regional Single-Estate Tea Range taps into the need for travel. image (c) Tea india We have been working with some of India’s most established growers for years and the launch of this new range is the next natural step for our brand.” The Specialty Tea Range single estate teas include: Nilgiri - Dark and aromatic Grown high in the Nilgiri Hills in the southernmost part of India, the mix of soil and climate provide perfect conditions for growing this delicious, full flavoured tea Darjeeling - Delicate and citrusy The champagne of teas! Darjeeling is grown on the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. Sourced from the Badamtam tea garden, only small amounts of this medium bodied, highly aromatic tea is grown each year which makes it extra special Assam - Malty and strong Single estate Assam tea is sourced from the Margherita tea gardens in the low lying plains of the Brahmaputra River delta. Grown at low levels ensures a full-bodied, malty taste and a lovely deep coloured liquor. What more could you ask? Kashmiri Kahwa - Aromatic green tea with cinnamon and rose petals Traditional drink from the Kashmir region. Kahwa means ‘sweetened tea’ , an exotic blend of Indian green tea, infused with herbs and spices. Of the samples I was sent to try, this one is my favourite - it is has such a glorious flavour. Action Village India images (c) Tea India Tea India is proud of its close relationships with Indian tea growers and the authenticity it brings to all its ranges. As part of its commitment to supporting its growers, Tea India teas are ethically sourced. What's more, Tea India supports Action Village India which supports 900 girls in rural Indian communities to continue their secondary education. The girls, between 12 and 17 years old, would have to drop out of school without the funds provided through support given. Due to discriminatory gender norms, the status of women and girls in certain regions of India remains low. Severe poverty also limits their access to education. Action Village India allows these girls a greater chance of escaping poverty, building their confidence, feeling empowered and living healthier and more productive lives. The project is based in Jharkhand and Bihar, regions where education levels are quite low, particularly for girls. Their education is a step in improving their and their families lives and the growth and sustainability of their communities.  (c) Mike Pickup Sustainability
All teabags are biodegradable, made from plant-based material PLA, derived from wood pulp and vegetable starch. It is sustainably sourced and industrially compostable, meaning teabags can be put in food waste or garden waste bins. The foil pouch used to keep the tea bags fresh inside the carton is also biodegradable. Tea India products are stocked in Ocado and independent food stores. Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good cuppa. So, when the people at Mr Ames sent me their nine tea varieties to sample, I was more than delighted to try them all out. Although it may not be a name you are familiar with, Mr Ames - Reginald - is not new to the world of tea. in 1909 he began to source and blend fine tea for the Great British public. Until recently, the team did this for other brands, but now they are bringing their decades of expertise direct to the consumer with the launch of Mr.Ames, a range of superbly flavoured and expertly sourced teas.   Teas are blended and hand packed in the Kent countryside and every pyramid bag is compostable. The best bit though, is the phenomenal taste of the tea. Boxes hold 20 bags and cost £3.95 ( except for the All Day Decaf which is priced at £4.50). The packaging is fun and pretty too with interesting pairing ideas on the side of every box. You can choose between: • Golden Breakfast • All Day Decaf • Green Sencha • Earl Grey • Chamomile • Red Berry • Peppermint • Liquorice & Peppermint • Lemongrass & Ginger And here are some fun facts about tea: In Britain we drink 165 million cups of tea a day. That’s a lot of tea - enough in fact to fill 20 Olympic swimming pools! Despite that, the British are only the third most prolific tea drinkers. Turkey and Ireland come first and second The first record of an Englishman drinking tea was when Samuel Pepys’ wrote in his diary on September 25, 1660, “afterwards I did send for a cup of tea (a China drink) of which I never drank before" The first tea bags were made of silk and used in 1908 by New York tea merchant Thomas Sullivan to send samples to his clients According to legend, tea was discovered in 2737 BC by Chinese Emperor Shen Nung Iced tea became popular after it was served at the World Fair in 1904 during a heat wave  With tea rarely out of the news because of the suggested health benefits or how the nation's tea drinking is soaring, Mr Ames, created as a result of lockdown is available on Amazon and mramestea.com . Try it, you'll love the taste!
images (c) Gilly Pickup  Pukka’s Fresh Start Organic Tea
Uplifting and caffeine-free to boot, this tea is a lovely blend of organic lemon, lemongrass and warming spices. How better to start the day than with this energising, healthy herbal brew? Pukka Herbs, the UK’s largest organic tea company, has launched Fresh Start. Blended by expert Master Herbsmith and practising herbalist Sebastian Pole, its sustainably sourced organic herbs, zesty organic lemon and warming aromatic fennel seeds, gently awaken your body and mind at the start of a new day. Stimulating yet soothing, this tea helps strengthen the digestive system to support optimum metabolism and, like all Pukka’s herbal blends, it is made with 100% organic and ethically sourced ingredients. Pukka plastic-free tea bags come in their own recyclable envelopes to retain the essential oils in the organic herbs... and here's the clever bit, each bag has two chambers. This allows the herbs to flow and release the full potency in your cup. Pour boiling water directly on the bag and leave to steep for as long as it takes to make the perfect brew for you. Nature’s finest ingredients to help you start your day in the best possible way:
Jo Webber, Head of Herbal Education and Ayurvedic Practitioner says: “A Pukka twist on the traditional lemon morning drink, Fresh Start helps to promote healthy rituals, so you feel your best. The benefits of lemon are well-known. It’s been used in for centuries as a digestive due to its aromatic and bitter properties. Fresh Start supports the body’s own natural actions. The result is a refreshing cup of herbal goodness to leave you feeling energised. This brightening blend helps to optimise your wellbeing to awaken your best self." Besides all the above plus points, Pukka Teas are Organic - Vegan - Gluten free - Vegetarian - Wheat Free - Dairy Free Pukka Fresh Start organic herbal tea is available from online retailers, health shops and supermarkets. RRP 2.99 for 20 sachets. Product Review  A NEW YEAR, A NEW PIZZA! Chicago Town's first vegan pizza, Sticky BBQ Jackfruit, proved so popular that the company decided to launch two brand new vegan pizzas. And this comes with a warning ... be prepared for your love of pizza to get even stronger with Vegan Deep Dish Cheeezeburger. Chicago Town has filled its iconic deep dish crust with plenty of the finest burger sauce to create the ultimate base. This pizza, although small, is indeed mighty. Topped with delish vegan mince, red onions, tomatoes, gherkins and sprinkled with mozzarella alternative, yum, believe me, the flavour is irresistible. What's more, it's tasty enough to attract non-vegans too, so don't let that vegan label put you off! This latest Chicago Town pizza offering joins their existing Deep Dish Cheeseburger pizza. Now that’s what you call the ultimate pizza offering, an option for both plant-based eaters and those who still prefer a meaty feast. Also joining Takeaway, the UK’s number 1 frozen pizza range, Chicago Town has launched Vegan Tomato Stuffed Crust Takeaway Smokey Bac’n and Mushroom. This indulgent sauce-filled crust gets baked in consumer’s ovens, so when it's ready, you have that authentic takeaway taste. This pizza is topped with a smoked gouda alternative and smoky vegan bacon accompanied by red onions and mushrooms.  all images (c) Chicago Town Chicago Town spokesperson, Rachel Bradshaw said, “We are really excited to expand our vegan offering in Takeaway as well as launching our first Vegan Deep Dish variant. We know that consumers love indulgent flavours in vegan pizza, our Vegan Tomato Stuffed Crust Sticky BBQ Jackfruit is the best-selling vegan pizza on the market in 2020. We’ve created Deep Dish Cheeezeburger and Tomato Stuffed Crust Smokey Bac’n and Mushroom for our vegan pizza lovers, but anyone can enjoy them - vegetarian, flexitarian, anyone who has a passion for pizza!” Both new products, Vegan Deep Dish Cheeezeburger and Vegan Tomato Stuffed Crust Takeaway Bac’n and Mushroom are also registered with The Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark. Serin Price, Vegan Society spokesperson said, "We're so pleased to see Chicago Town expanding its vegan range after the successful launch of its delicious tomato stuffed crust pizza in 2020. We know the vegan community appreciates having quick meal options from brands they know and love and knowing that they have the Vegan Trademark gives people confidence.” Fancy a slice of the action? Visit www.facebook.com/ChicagoTown or www.chicagotown.com for latest news, promotions and giveaways.  JURA ENA 8 coffee machine Why not give the gift of caffeine this Christmas? JURA make Swiss design, luxury bean-to-cup coffee machines. They have something for every budget, a guarantee of festive cheer for all coffee lovers! The superlative new one-cup machine: small, simple, stunning, is a must for all coffee lovers and connoisseurs. The ENA 8 impresses with freshly ground speciality coffees. Thanks to the variety it offers at the touch of a button, it will delight even the most discerning palate. image (c) Jura ENA 8 RRP £975 (comes in super colours too, Metropolitan Black, Nordic White, Sunset Red and Massive Aluminium)
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 Now you can enjoy your cuppa even more by knowing that Dorset Tea has launched Sunshine Blend, a sustainably packaged tea, in association with the Marine Conservation Society. With a strong connection to the Dorset coastline, the brand has taken measures to ensure its packaging is as environmentally friendly as it is possible to be. They teamed up with the Marine Conservation Society to highlight the importance of using sustainable packaging and keeping coastlines litter-free.
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