Tea Sparrow Tea Party Cocktails

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Growing up we all had our heroes: parents; teachers;  athletes and comic book characters. Never did I think the Mad Hatter would be the one I would most emulate. Sure, I don’t have a talking mouse, invisible cat or white rabbit, but I do have my own crew of off-the-wall regulars who guarantee me my own person gong show. By nature, I love to elevate anything I do, so it struck me one sunny afternoon: why not spike the punch bowl at the next tea party? And spike it I did.

We created 7 tea cocktails that fine evening. Three really aren’t worth mentioning but the other 4 brought in combined scores of 8.7/10 or higher. Getting an 11-person team to agree on anything is hard. Getting an 11 person team of tipsy tea drinkers to agree is just plain magic.

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In fourth place is the Flap Jack Oolong White Russian with a combined score of 8.7/10. Yes this one blindsided the party. Everyone poop talked this cocktail like there was no tomorrow and I can’t really blame them. An oolong tea blended with maple syrup and walnuts mixed with booze. As it turns out, it’s pure genius.

To make this cocktail:

Steep 1 tbsp of Flapjack Oolong per 8oz (1 cup) of not-quite-boiling water for 4 minutes. Add 2.5 tbsp of sugar to the hot tea. Allow to cool without drinking. (This tea is awesome, so this might not be easy!) Once at room temperature, add 4oz of white rum and 4oz of light cream. Fill two glasses with ice and pour in mixture. It’s rich, creamy and sweet: everything a White Russian is meant to be. If you don’t add the dairy it taste like scotch, but this version only got a combined score of 8.5/10.

In third place with a combined score of 8.9/10, I would like to present to you the Tranquili-Tea Cocktail. It has a simple, light taste and is easy to make. Great for people who like a drink in the afternoon but don’t like to admit it.

Steep 1 heaping tbsp of Tranquili-Tea per 10oz (just over 1 cup) of boiling water for 4 to 5 minutes. Once brewed, add 2 tbsp of simple syrup or liquid sugar and stir well. Allow to cool. In a small pitcher, add 3.5oz of Gin with 8oz of chilled club soda and then mix this into the tea. Fill two glasses with ice and pour in mixture. The combination of chamomile, lavender and mint with the sweetness of the syrup and the boozy taste of gin hits the mark.

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Now I’m getting excited because there was a tie for the gold medal with a combined score 9.5/10. The first was another wonderfully simple cocktail, White Tea Champagne. 

Steep 1 heaping tbsp of White Tea Champagne per 10oz (just over 1 cup) of not-quite-boiling water for 5 minutes. Add 1 heaping tbsp of honey and allow to cool. Once at room temperature, add 8oz of Prosecco or champagne, 2oz of gin and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Fill two glasses with ice and pour in mixture. This drink is super light and refreshing. The black and red currants, balm leaves, lemongrass and sunflower blossoms make this drink scream summer. It’s perfect for the opening drink to your next deck party or the toast at a bridal party.

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Also tied for first place is the Coconut Milky Oolong Mojitos. Don’t let the name fool you,

there’s no milk in this cocktail. After the tea leaves are cured into an oolong they are placed on a screen over a vat of boiling milk to absorb the steam. Then add coconut shavings to top it off. How cool is that?

Steep 1 heaping tbsp of Coconut Milky Oolong per 8oz (1 cup) of not-quite-boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes (depending on how prominent you want the taste of the tea to be). While the tea is cooling, muddle 10-12 mint leaves with 1 tbsp lime juice and 2 tbsp agave nectar or sugar water in a small pitcher. Then fill the pitcher with ice. Add the tea, 4oz of white rum and 8oz soda water. The classic Mojitos hyped on tea.

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I’ve always loved hosting tea parties, but drunken tea parties just takes it to another level. It’s not just a matter of welcoming  in the chaos. En vino veritas. In other words, if you really want to know what someone thinks, just spike their tea.

This is Mad Hatter signing off.

Michael

Teas Used:

Tiesta Tea’s Flap Jack Oolong – www.tiestatea.com

Bird Pick’s Tranquili-Tea  – www.birdpick.com

Tea Desire’s White Tea Champagne – www.teadesire.com

Tiesta Tea’s Coconut Milky Oolong – www.tiestatea.com

Alcohol Used:

Bombay Sapphire Dry Gin

Bacardi White Rum

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Michael Menashy – Founder Tea Sparrow was featured inShawTV – Calgary. Tea is actually the world’s second most popular beverage. And one Canadian Entrepreneur decided to turn his idea into a thriving business.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

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17th Tea Party 

This tea party comes with a special thanks to the ever-awesome Joslyn Hamilton. She introduced us to one of her favourite tea Shops in San Francisco, Samovar Life. We got one of their talented staff on the phone and within a few days we had five tea samples at our door. And they were awesome. Their teas took us in a new flavour direction that wowed the team.

1. The first round of the day nearly brought the house down. We brewed Samovar Life’s Tumeric Spice, Moorish Mint and Cali Persian Black.

2. Cali Persian Black hit the mark, as in “Bull’s Eye.” It was rose heaven on the Caspian sea. Brew it strong, brew it light, make it iced; simply fantastic. Moorish Mint had a wonderful floral scent that complemented the mint wonderfully. With a touch of honey it all came together for us.

3. Now this tea had personality. Like it or not you will never forget it. It brought in some great scores across the board. As a winter tea it was a warming, instant pick-me-up. The colour was gorgeous and the sediment at the bottom inspired its own photo.

4. Welcome Tea Sparrow member Dave to his first tea party. If you haven’t figured it out by the photo, Dave brought the excitement. This man is a mobile party, which was perfect for this Mad Hatter’s tea party.

5. Round two was brewing. We had Florapharm’s Milk Oolong, Numi’s Spring White and also Numi’s Iron Goddess of Mercy.

6. After such an awesome first round the team stepped in a bit weary. I mean, what could bring joy after Cali Persian Black? Milk Oolong stepped up and slammed the crowd. It almost got 10’s from every tea taster! Not only did the team finish the pot, after the party everyone stuck around for another brew. Never has that happened at a tea party before, and we have sampled hundreds of tea at this point. Wow!

7. Dave was bewildered by the Milk Oolong. He had always felt green teas were not for him, until today.

8. Round three we had Cocoa Pu-erh, Emperor’s Pu-erh and Ocean of Wisdom brewing.

9. They were great teas, but what can I say? The first two rounds crushed it. We liked them but nothing scored high enough to make it into a Tea Box. We’re going to have to table this set again for another party.

10. The cheese plate came out and Dave couldn’t wait for the photo to be taken. The cheese plate is a traditional closer at our tea parties.

The Health Benefits of Tea

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Tea Sparrow has a strong focus and deep belief in the health benefits of teas. Each month we always provide four teas that produce different health benefit to ensure our members are getting a tasty well-rounded holistic approach to their diets.

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Green: By now, the health benefits of green tea have been well-established. Here are just a few of the reasons we love it so much: it’s been shown to fight cancer and heart disease, lower cholesterol, prevent diabetes and stroke and to fight infection. It’s tough to beat that!

Black: Most people don’t realize black tea comes with many of the similar health benefits as green tea, including reduced risk of stroke and heart disease, among many others. As well, black tea is said to increase energy, aid in digestive health and to promote healthy skin and hair. Black tea’s tannins are also great immunity-boosters.

Jasmine: Derived from green tea, jasmine has many of same benefits plus more. It has been widely regarded as one of the best ways to natural reduce stress, lower blood pressure and regulate the aging processes. Jasmine has always been very popular among women in China because it protects the skin from harmful UV rays and helps assist in weight loss.

White: Because the white tea leaves are virtually undisturbed from their natural state when they are picked, they maintain a higher amount of antioxidants than their cousins, green and black teas. Some other interesting facts about white tea: it helps promote dental health as well as building a stronger immune system.

Peppermint tea: Did you know that peppermint tea has been used medicinally for centuries? It is known to improve digestive health, reduce headaches, support menstrual health, lower fevers, and reduce inflammation.

Rooibos: This incredibly flavoured caffeine-free tea is growing quickly in popularity but did you know that it also contains high amounts of antioxidants? Although the antioxidants found in rooibos tea are different from those in green tea, they are still known to fight off free radicals in the body. Rooibos tea is also known to fight off cardiovascular disease, liver disease and lower blood pressure.

Lemongrass: With such a delicate flavour and fantastic health benefits, we love this tea. Lemongrass tea is known to aid in skin health, and to fight inflammation as well as cancer. It is also known for its detoxifying properties.

Yerba Mate: This subtropical South American tree fights allergies, detoxifies the blood, helps with appetite control and is an immunity booster. It is also known to improve energy levels.

Oolong: This tea, known in China as ‘black dragon tea,’ boasts many health benefits such as maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, aiding in weight loss, maintaining healthy teeth and bones, as well as reducing stress and promoting healthy skin.

Cacao Tea: We were so happy to discover this tea. It is unique, packed with flavour and boasts a long list of health benefits, including boosting energy and stamina, immune support and promoting a healthy heart.

Chamomile Tea: Chamomile throughout the ages has been regarded as a medicinal cure-all. It was considered a universal remedy by the ancient Egyptians, and the Romans and Greeks used chamomile flowers as a compress to apply to wounds to speed healing. It’s no wonder that modern medicine has been able to find so many additional health benefits to this flower as a tea. Here are but a few: chamomile tea boosts the immune system and fight infections associated with colds. It also helps relieve muscle spasms and menstrual cramps, relaxes the nerves, soothes the stomach, reduces inflammation, improves liver function, helps relieve back pain and rheumatism and is most well-known as a sleep aid.

Fruit Tea: The phrase “herbal tea” or “tisanes” usually refers to infusions of fruit or herbs made without the tea plant. Regarding their benefits, apart from being the perfect refreshment on hot summer days, they are also packed with vitamin C. So it’s a great way to get your vitamin C without having to eat all the sugars that come with whole fruits.

Pu-erh: Pu-erh originates from the Yunnan Province of China and has been coveted for its preventative and curative properties for over 2000 years. Pu-erh tea has been proven to lower cholesterol and to support digestion as well as general well-being and longevity. This tea is said to enhance the “qi,” or life force. So get your kung fu on!

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CTV Morning Live with Tea Sparrow.
A look at tea and how to brew the perfect cuppa. “Michael Menashy,” Tea Connoisseur, co-founder of Tea Sparrow. Menashy is live with Pearl Tsang in the CTV studio demonstrating how to brew a good pot of tea.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

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Michael Menashy, founder of Tea Sparrow featured live on Global News Calgary on April 27, 2013. Learn how to brew Green Tea and Rooibos Tea.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

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16th Tea Party

A relaxing Sunday afternoon brought together friends new and old for a pure tea brew-off. We had collected a series of non-blended teas that put the flavours of different tea-growing countries and farmers head-to-head. We brewed leaves grown in Kenya, China, India and Sri-Lanka, and although they shared the same plant, the flavours were so beautifully unique.

1. At the round table we waited for the first set of tea. Jenny was on duty making us the perfect brew.

2. This round we sampled White Whisper, Hand-crafted Purple Tea and Royal Golden Safari from the Royal Teas of Kenya.

3. Jenny removed the last tea basket and gave the tea one last stir to bring the nutrient clouds from the bottom up.

4. The white tea brewed into a semi-clear liquor and left a gentle flavour on your tongue long after the sip was complete while the green tea was smooth and even flavored from the moment it touched your lips to the last sip. But the purple tea was fantastic and hit your pallet from front to back. It had the sweetness of red bean but the richness of a pinot noir. The purple inspired 9/10 at the round table.

5. Welcome Tea Sparrow member Ilan Handelsman to his first tea party. An intellect and wonderful conversationalist, he brought a new dimension to our tea parties and scoring cards.

6. Mountain Tea’s Jin Xuan brewed beside Rishi’s China Breakfast and Harney & Sons’ Kukicha. The Kukicha had a nutty, fermented taste that ended with a hit of plum. Jin Xyan was a beautiful flavour that was surprisingly floral and the China Black was smoky heaven that would perk up your morning.

7. Although the Kukicha did not receive a combined score high enough to make it into a tea kit, the bright green hearty strips of tea created a lot of intrigue and conversation.

8. Welcome Tea Sparrow member Laura to her first Tea Party. With a flair for drama and creativity, she spurred a lot of incredible conversation and fun at the round table.

9. The last round broke the trend and brought some blended tea to the party with Regal’s Ceylon Cinnamon and Aromatica’s Strawberry Kiwi.

10. Michelle got lost in the bliss of Ceylon Cinnamon as only the cinnamon trees of Sri-Lanka can deliver.

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April’s Teas Have Been Delivered, Enjoy! 2013

From tea growers to blenders to world-leading sommeliers, our community includes people at every step of the process. We taste dozens of teas each month, with no affiliation to blenders, and chose the blends that inspire us most to share with you. We do this by having our team of tea connoisseurs and sommeliers sample and score the teas for look, region, aroma and of course, taste. We take pride in delivering a variety of world-class blends to your door every month – we feel we deserve it, and so do you!

Check out April’s teas below. Now taking orders on May’s teas shipping on the 17th.

Testimony

“We have had the pleasure of exploring the tea catalogues of over 60 blenders to date. However, only one of our blenders has constantly dedicated themselves to the betterment of the human race: Aromatica Fine Tea. This month with a humble pride we feature Freedom Tea. Aromatica donates all proceeds from this tea to the International Justice Mission of Canada to fight human trafficking internationally. If you love this tea as much as we do, we strongly recommend contacting Aromatica at myaromatica.com and placing direct orders. It’s using your hard-earned dollars to make a statement of change. Also this month we are featuring Grandpa’s Anytime Tea, cultivated and grown by Arthur Komo, who turns 113 this year and is the oldest tea farmer in the world! And after spending a year exploring the Rishi tea catalogue we have our last taster’s choice coming your way, Maghreb Mint. It’s a green tea mint base that incorporates the spices of the Middle East. Our last featured tea this month is Fireberry: a dark, rich, smooth and slightly tart tea that will leave you burning for more. We hope you enjoy!" 

Michael Menashy, Tea Sparrow Family

Tiesta Tea’s Fireberry

Description: Dark, rich, and smooth. Who doesn’t want that? With a combination of all your favorite berries, this charmer will definitely leave you burning for more. (Another amazing iced tea!)

Ingredients: Rooibos tea, hibiscus, currants, rosehips, elderberries, and cranberries.

Steeping Instructions: Steep 2 teaspoon per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 4 to 5 minutes.

Tea Sparrow Suggests: Steep 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 4 to 6 minutes.

Health Benefits: The phrase "herbal tea” or “tisanes” usually refers to infusions of fruit or herbs made without the tea plant. Regarding their benefits, apart from being the perfect refreshment on hot summer days, they are also packed with vitamin C. So it’s a great way to get your vitamin C without having to eat all the sugars that come with whole fruits.

Michael Menashy, Tea Sparrow Family – “Gorgeous fruit tea with a base of rooibos. Brew it strong…don’t be afraid.”

Michelle Gruder, Tea Enthusiat – “Naturally sweet, slightly tart from the berries. What a great caffeine-free desert tea.”

Aromatica’s Freedom Tea

Description: Intense lemon taste in a caffeine free, high antioxidant base. What could be better? Only one thing: proceeds from this tea are donated to International Justice Mission Canada to fight human trafficking internationally.

Ingredients: Green rooibos, red rooibos, lemon myrtle, lemon verbena, and lemongrass, with just a hint of vanilla.

Steeping Instructions: Steep 1 teaspoon per 8 ounces of not-quite-boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes.

Tea Sparrow Suggests: Steep 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces of boiling water for 4 to 6 minutes.

Health Benefits: This incredibly flavoured caffeine-free tea is growing quickly in popularity but did you know that it also contains high amounts of antioxidants? Although the antioxidants found in rooibos tea are different from those in green tea, they are still known to fight off free radicals in the body. Rooibos tea is also known to fight off cardiovascular disease, liver disease and lower blood pressure.

Michael Menashy, Tea Sparrow Family – “Nice variety of lemon used. Very relaxing yet invigorating blend. Make a great ice tea as well.”

Royal Tea of Kenya’s Grandpa’s Anytime Tea

Description: One of two teas named after Arthur Njuguna Komo, who turns 113 this year, and is the oldest tea farmer in the world, Grandpa’s Afternoon Tea is a dark CTC tea, able to stand up to milk and sweeteners. It brews into a lovely red liquor. This is a tea for those who want bold, strong flavor.

Ingredients: Thika District Black Tea.

Steeping Instructions: Steep 1 teaspoon per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 3 minutes.

Tea Sparrow Suggests: Steep 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 3 minutes.

Health Benefits: Most people don’t realize black tea comes with many of the similar health benefits as green tea, including reduced risk of stroke and heart disease, among many others. As well, black tea is said to increase energy, aid in digestive health and to promote healthy skin and hair. Black tea’s tannins are also great immunity-boosters.

Michael Menashy, Tea Sparrow Family – “This reminds me of the tea I grew up drinking. Granular, strong and flavourful. Awesome with honey and milk.”

Rishi’s Maghreb Mint

Description: One of Rishi’s first mint blends that remains one of their most popular. Full-bodied sweetness, bold mint flavor and zesty notes of cardamom, ginger and spices. Maghreb Mint can be infused like tea or boiled North African style with sugar, water and/or prepared with milk like Masala Chai.

Ingredients: Organic green tea, organic ginger, organic cardamom, organic peppermint, organic liquorice root, organic fennel, organic cloves, organic black pepper.

Steeping Instructions: Steep 1 tbsp per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes.

Tea Sparrow Suggests: Steep 1 tbsp per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes. Add a touch of honey to round off the flavours.

Health Benefits: By now, the health benefits of green tea have been well-established. Here are just a few of the reasons we love it so much: it’s been shown to fight cancer and heart disease, lower cholesterol, prevent diabetes and stroke and to fight infection. It’s tough to beat that!

Darcy McMurray, Tea Enthusiast – “I really like the way the spices complement the peppermint and green tea base. It’s both complicated and simple. Bold but not overstated.”

Jenny Dent, Tea Enthusiast – “Love it even more as it cools down. The taste stays and dances on your tongue.”

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Tessa Maccormac from Cake for Breakfast reviewed Tea Sparrow in her March favorites video.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

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Interesting shaped teapots that really make a statement during tea time!!

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Michael Menashy, founder of Tea Sparrow is featured in 660News in Calgary.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)