Issue 23 March 14, 2006 Hawaii – The Next Great Tea Paradise? Hawaii may be the next specialty tea estate origin if a group of Hawaiian growers prove successful. There are now a number of smaller tea growing areas in Hawaii and agri-tourism is clearly part of the potential growth plan. Read more... Mint Julep’s and A Cuppa Great Southern Tea One of North Americas only functioning commercial tea estates is alive and expanding. Charleston Tea Plantation has set a course to double the current acreage for the unique farm operation. The tea estate is owned by R. C. Bigelow, Inc. makers of the well known specialty tea line bearing the same name, and it’s being revitalized to promote tea and the American Classic brand produced by the business. Read more... Fair Trade Tea & Coffee Expanded in UK Chain UK specialty coffee and tea retailer Marks & Spencer is formally entrenching all of its tea and coffee offerings to be Fair Trade certified. The chain has approximately 200 outlets and sells 600 tons of tea annually. Read more... New Book Enlivens Green Tea Uses with Creative Recipes & Tips Gourmet ‘foodie’ and tea expert Mary Lou Heiss co-owner of Culinary Specialties CooksShopHere (a specialty food store in Northhampton, MA) – has written a lively new guide to using green tea in foods and beverages. From hot and cold tea concoctions to savory sweets and treats, the recipe book is an inspiring tour of culinary uses for healthy green tea creations. Read more... Global Tea Super-Producer India Hits Record Production Levels A combination of favorable weather and more aggressive efforts by smaller producers are part of the reason why India’s tea production has reached all time record volumes. The Indian tea industry reports overall improvements in prices and export outlook as the record all-time high volumes were reported. Read more... Cha-cha-cha-cha Changes: Kirin Modifies Namacha Line in China To better accommodate regional consumer preferences, Kirin Beverage Corporation has revamped both the packaging and contents of its Namacha green tea drinks sold in China. Kirin hopes to boost sales in the country by tapping into urban markets, and enhanced contents made from tea leaf buds. Read more... We Think We Had A Thought: Green Tea Helps Improve Brain Power A Japanese study reports green tea appears to support brain power, and more so in higher amounts. While it takes a clear mind and a cup of tea to comprehend it fully, the report on the study appears to suggest brain function is enhanced when green tea is consumed. We warned you...it’s a brain twister. Read more... China’s Fujian Provence: A Rosy Picture for Tea Exports China’s legendary Fujian Province is on a roll with exports for the last two years being consecutively higher. Oolong, jasmine and green teas were among the very strong export performers produced in Fujian and then exported globally. Read more... Sister Team Catalyzes Thriving Philadelphia Tea Shop & Bar Sisters Courtney and Kristen Kammerer have rolled out a thriving tea establishment in Philadelphia called Remedy Tea Bar. The business merchandises over 100 different types of teas and herbal teas, and also sells tea for on-site consumption. Read more... How Do You Spell Health? G-R-E-E-N T-E-A Apparently The tea-health connections continue to pour in as researchers announce more positive news provided through regular tea consumption. This most recent study appears to correlate less ovarian cancer in middle-age and older women who drank at least two cups of tea daily. While many other factors could also be supporting this positive finding - exercise or other foods or beverages also consumed or avoided - researchers do see a powerful potential link between the benefits of tea and a statistically significant reduction in ovarian cancer. Read more...