The truth is, our lives are getting busier by the day. And tea time, which used to be an enjoyable tradition, has turned into a necessity of convenience for an individual. What used to be deliciously prepared tea in the comfort of our homes, has now evolved into short breaks during work hours, right outside the office buildings, at the local chaiwala. What your chaiwala will offer you is a milkier, sweeter version of your favorite blend, along with some form of tea time snacks. If that isn’t your jam, and health is your main concern, then a cup of green tea is the perfect fit for you, maybe paired with some healthy snacks.

Ultimately, there is not a single tea out there that cannot be enjoyed with some form of sweet or savoury tea time snacks.

6 Famous Tea Time Snacks and their Origin Stories

Some invented by accident, some evolved from other cultural dishes, every food item consumed today has had a beginning. Every tea time snack shares a diverse and colourful origin story with mentions in historical books. Here’s a list of the most famous tea time snacks that add the extra dip of satisfaction to our routine tea breaks.

1. Samosa : The samosa needs no introduction. It is the go-to snack of every Indian in the sub-continent. This deep-fried, triangular savoury is best served with a form of black milk tea, generally black ginger tea or kadak masala chai.  Samosas are a popular snack in the local cuisines of the Indian subcontinent, Western Asia, Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, the Horn of Africa, North Africa, and Southern Africa. However, unlike popular belief, the samosa did not originate in India. It is claimed to have originated in the Middle East (where it was known as sambosa) prior to the 10th century. It wasn’t until the 13th or 14th century when this food was introduced into India. What had started as a pie dish stuffed with mincemeat, dry fruits and spices, soon evolved into a vegetarian’s delight, prepared with flour stuffed with a mixture of mashed potatoes, onions, green peas, spices and green chilli. In today’s time, there are numerous variations of samosa all over the country known by various names. However, no matter what the name, samosas remains cult favourite tea time snacks till date and will continue to live on as one.
   
2. Baklava : Maybe one of the controversial origin stories of all time, the Baklava is a dessert dish enjoyed in the Middle East. The origin of this scrumptious delicacy is shrouded in confusing ethnic claims and undocumented histories. The story of baklava began long ago. As a matter of fact, one version of the story claims that it originated with the Assyrians.  Early 8th century records show that in ancient Assyria, people would prepare it by layering unleavened flatbread with chopped nuts in between, drenching it in honey and then baking it in wood-burning ovens. The present-day baklava has gone through numerous transformations and is prepared differently in various regions by the people of the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, Balkans and Caucasia. Today, as tea time snacks, baklava is enjoyed with a refreshing cup of Turkish tea or Assam black tea.
3. Scones : Europe’s delight, scones are biscuit-like pastries or quick-breads, generally rolled into round shapes and cut into quarters, then baked, sometimes on a griddle. They can be savoury or sweet and are usually eaten for breakfast, but are also served with tea and coffee. Starting out as a Scottish quick bread in the early 1500s, they were originally made with oats and griddle baked, while today’s version is often made with flour and oven-baked. Considering scones are a people pleaser in Europe, they are best served with the English breakfast tea.
4. Wagashi : To call them ‘sweet’ tea time snacks would be misleading, for wagashi’s are Japanese confections prepared specially to accompany the bitter taste of tea. Prepared with plant ingredients like azuki beans and grains they are served regularly during Japanese tea ceremonies.  Though origins unknown, the earliest mentions of wagashi date back to the Yayoi period (300 b.c-300 a.c), when it referred to nothing more than fruits and nuts and was simply known as ‘kashi’, meaning sweet or confectionary. During the Nara Period (710-784), Japan, influenced by China’s grain processing skills, developed snacks such as ‘mochi’ and ‘dango’, both made from rice. By the Edo period, the Japanese adopted sugar as a common ingredient and soon started making wagashi, a confection reserved for delicious and artistic tea ceremonies. Today, wagashi is best served with matcha, pure green tea and oolong tea.
5. Crepes : France’s delectable staple, crepes seem like an odd pairing with tea, but in reality, the sweet yet salty flavour of crepes compliment the bitter and floral tea blends of almost all types. This international sensation in the form of tea time snacks originated from the humble region of Bretagne, in western France. Since not much grew in the rocky terrain of Bretagne, the arrival of buckwheat in the 12th century inspired all sorts of dishes, one of which was the crepe. Not just a delicacy, but a dish that holds cultural significance in France’s history, today crepes are served both sweet and savoury. From mushrooms and cream to Nutella and icing sugar fillings, crepes are every foodie’s delight. However, unlike popular belief, crepes can be best enjoyed with a light beverage like mint green tea, or vanilla green tea.
6. Vada Pav : The famous Vada pav is a gram flour coated, deep-fried, spiced mashed potato ball; sandwiched between slices of Mumbaiya style pav bread and some spicy red chutney masala. As known as the common man’s burger, vada pav is available at every street corner of Mumbai, India. Various food history documentations claim that this dish was created by a snack vendor who ran a street stall just outside Dadar station. Being an important station, Dadar was constantly spilling with hordes of commuters. In a moment of culinary innovation, the vendor reportedly came up with this recipe to satiate the hunger of the busy crowd, who preferred a snack they could consume on the go. Safe to say, the rest is history. Not only are vada pavs extremely delicious and light on the pocket, but they also pair well with the local’s favourite beverage, Bombay cutting chai. The life of ‘aamchi Mumbai’, vada pavs manage to keep everyone happy as their favourite tea time snacks, always.

The Importance of Tea Time Snacks

One of the most important parts of being human is parenting a sense of sanity in the form of a daily rhythm. You tend to establish that by trying to balance various aspects of your life into a regular day like work, relationships, social life, solidarity, etc. In between all these, are the tiny breaks called tea breaks that you take to retrospect, or maybe think of nothing at all, all the while enjoying your favourite healthful beverage- tea.

Tea time offers you a chance to slow your day down, even if it’s just for a few minutes. You can utilise this time to reconnect with friends and family. You can make use of this opportunity to strike a conversation with them or even get to know new people whom you’re willing to welcome in your life. Or, just use this time to relax and be away from the hustle bustle of your life.

The ultimate point is that it is these little things, like tea and tea time snacks, which help you live a much gracious and gratitude filled life. Just remember, that it is those little things that make big differences.

Abhishek Dixit

The post Chai Time Treats: Our Favourite Tea Time Snacks and their Origins appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

The simplicity of combining tea, herbs and spices during the brewing process offers brew masters an endless array of flavors to play with. Because of this dexterity in tea’s nature, new things like Bubble tea, Cheese tea and Nitro tea, making the headlines everywhere. However, there are some popular teas that we look at in the menu and order without blinking, because we know that they will taste amazing. There are some blends and flavours that are just timeless.

Some Of The Most Popular Teas In The World:

1. English Breakfast Tea:

   In 1843, Richard Davis, an Englishman, moved to America on a determined quest to be the best in the tea business. This, ultimately, gave rise to one of the most popular teas in the world- The English Breakfast Tea. In 1844, Davis used the Fujian province Congou tea as the base, blended it with the Golden Orange Pekoe and Pouchong, and named it the ‘English Breakfast tea’. Marketed as ‘one of the most popular teas in England’, this new blend was unrivalled for a while, until another rival purchased his blend in bulk, which was examined by Chinese experts and reproduced. However, after the 2nd Opium War in 1856, a ban placed on all trade with China led to the customisation of a new blend of this tea. The new English Breakfast tea was a mix of Assam, Ceylon and Kenyan teas and was even more popular than the previous one. This tea is revered for its heavy malty flavour, with notes of honey and a smoky taste. While the texture of this tea is smooth with rich colour, it has a crisp mouthfeel. As the most favoured morning beverage all over the world, not only does it open your eyes but also adds the freshness to your day’s start.

2. Earl Grey Tea:

   One of the very first flavoured teas ever created, every tea lover has tried this tea at least once in their lifetime. Flavoured with bergamot orange oil, the Earl Grey tea is amongst the most popular teas of the world. The initial accounts of this tea date back to 1820s in England. However, the first commercial advertisement of Earl Grey appeared in the 1880s by Charlton & Co. Named after the Prime Minister of Britain in 1830s, Charles Grey (2nd Earl Grey), this tea was believed to be created for him as a diplomatic perquisite. Despite this, there are few other stories that travel around the origins of the Earl Grey tea. Some say that the tea master used bergamot as a flavoring to balance the lime flavor in the water of the Grey estate. Another version speaks of how the blend was created by accident, when a gift of tea and bergamot oranges were shipped together from China and the flavour of the fruit was absorbed by the tea. Despite its confusing history and origins, there is no denying the fact that the Earl Grey tea is a fan favourite. The flavour of this tea is slightly smokey with hints of citrus. Made with a blend of Indian and Ceylon teas, it is so popular that many variations of this tea has become a hit in the market like Lady Grey tea, Yorkshire Grey etc.

3. Masala Chai:

   When we talk of popular teas, missing the masala chai is a sin. A tea found in almost every coffee and tea house in the world, masala chai and India share a bond steeped in tales of centuries old royalty and herbal medicine. It is said to have been created by an Indian king as a cleansing, spicy- sweet drink without any tea leaves. However, in 1853, when tea leaves made their way into local markets, it gave rise to the now known blend of masala chai, complete with spices, milk, sweeteners and tea. Initially, it wasn’t as widely consumed as today, for black tea wasn’t easy to afford for the local buyer. Things changed drastically as the CTC tea was introduced into the markets in 1960s, and masala chai became the neighborhood’s ‘go to drink’. The CTC’s bold, tannin rich flavour sat well with the existing sweet and spiciness of the drink. From an antioxidant rich base to immunity boosting properties, Masala chai is loaded with benefits for drinkers. Today, an average person consumes 3-4 cups of masala chai every day.

   

4. Mint Green Tea:

   A kind of tea that can be drunk both hot and iced, Mint green tea is as popular as popular teas can get. Not only admired for its refreshing taste, mint green tea is also appreciated for its indigestion and stress relieving properties, among many other benefits. Initially known by the name- Maghrebi mint tea/ Moroccan mint tea- it is a simple combination of mint leaves and green tea (sometimes black). The earliest references to this tea date back to 12th century in the accounts of scholar and traveller, Ibn Battuta. In Maghreb, it was made with a mixture of tea leaves exported from overseas and mint that was locally grown, making it one of the first examples of globalisation of cuisine.

5. Darjeeling Tea:

   Grown in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, Darjeeling tea is one of the most popular teas from India. The origin of the Indian tea plantation was from the hills of Darjeeling, when in 1841, Archibald Campbell brought the plant seeds there as an experiment. By 1850s, tea was commercialised and the first tea garden in Darjeeling was opened in 1856. Processed in all forms, it has a thin bodied, light coloured liquor, a floral aroma with a tinge of astringent tannic and musky spiciness. Darjeeling tea comes in various varieties and grades, namely: First Flush, In Between, Second Flush, Monsoon Tea and Autumnal Flush. When sold, these teas are graded on the basis of size and quality into four basic grades- Whole leaf, Broken leaf, Fannings and Dust. Currently, there are 87 licensed estates spanning over the hills of Darjeeling and producing the finest grade its popular teas for all of the world.

6. Chamomile Tea:

   This famous tea has been around for centuries, with traces of its use dating back to over 2000 years. Famously called the ‘herbal medicine from the past with a bright future’, chamomile’s history begins in Egypt, 1550 BC. The flower multitasked as a remedy for fever, as well as a cosmetic product. Later on, the Romans used the flower to flavour drinks and incense. Chamomile is one of the most popular teas out there, considering that its average consumption is more than a million cups per day. Also known as the “Plant’s Physician” chamomile tea has different medical properties. It works as an Anti-inflammatory and Anti-cancer agent, all the while aiding in relief from cardiovascular and digestive ailments. In addition to this, chamomile tea has helped people with dermal conditions and osteoporosis for ages. Recently, it has been used as a remedy for anxiety and sleeping disorders. Not only is this tea filled with benefits for the human body, but also has a culturally rich past, which makes it a favourite of people all around the world.

While the list of popular teas is longer than this, there is no denying that the popularity of tea is skyrocketing day by day. Trends come and go. But being the most widely consumed beverage after water, tea is here to stay.

Abhishek Dixit

The post The World’s Most Popular Teas That You Should Know About appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

The Kashmiri Kahwa chai, or Kehwa,  is an aromatic green tea that originated somewhere around the second century and has been a staple drink in the countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, regions of Central Asia and Northern India, especially the Kashmir Valley. It is a combination of green tea leaves, saffron, cinnamon bark, cardamom pods, cloves, star anise, dry fruits like almonds, walnuts or cherries and sometimes even Kashmiri roses. Traditionally, it is prepared in a brass kettle known as Samovar. However, now days Kahwa is made in regular vessels by boiling special green tea along with its ingredients. On special occasions, it is boiled with strands of saffron (known as ‘kong’ in Kashmir) called the ‘Kong Kahwa’. There are at least 36 varieties of Kahwa present all over the world and for Kashmir, Kahwa has been a staple flavour for ages.

Some variations even use just the herbal ingredients, avoiding the green tea leaves. This Kashmiri tea has a sweet taste along with a number of health benefits. Served in either a glass or clay mug, the drink can be garnished with slivers of almonds, pistachios, roses or saffron. Generally, Kashmiri Kahwa chai is served after a heavy meal.

A cup of Kahwa packs a power punch of antioxidants for the drinker.

Here are some Benefits of Kashmiri Kahwa Chai:-

1. Improves Digestion & Metabolism
   Kahwa is known for helping in digestion. A cup of this tea can cleanse the digestive tract and keep it working smoothly. It also paces up the metabolism of the body. The Kashmiri cuisine is a very rich and complex combination of flavours and ingredients. Therefore, the main purpose of Kahwa is to help digest the heavy food. It works especially well during winters and eases digestive problems like constipation and digestive tract inflammation. Having a cup of Kahwa, first thing in the morning helps stimulate the digestive system.
2. Helps in Weight Loss
   One of the major benefits of this scented chai is that it helps in burning fat. Technically, it prevents the deposition of cholesterol in blood vessels and reduces the risk of heart diseases. The cinnamon present in the tea suppresses appetite, regulates blood sugar levels and lowers cholesterol. The polyphenols found in the Kashmiri Kahwa green tea is helpful in increasing the levels of fat oxidation, as well as the speed at which your body turns food into calories. People who consume this tea daily are known to reduce approximately 1.5 kgs weight per month even if they follow a regular diet.
3. Stress Relieving
   The tea is rich in anti-oxidants which work directly on the liver to boost the purification of the body toxins. It helps in eliminating free radicals and impurities generated by the liver during the detoxification of the body. A cup of warm Kahwa at night can aid in reducing problems like insomnia and anxiety. It stimulates chemicals like Dopamine, Endorphins and Serotonin which relax the mind, relieve it from anxiety and bring peace and happiness.
4. Builds and Defends the Immune System
   Kashmiri Kahwa chai includes saffron as one of its major ingredients. Saffron is known for being rich in Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is essential in building the immunity of the human body. The many antioxidants present in Kahwa can help fight infections and ailments, especially during winters. It acts as a natural home remedy to coughs, colds, flu and chest congestions. The polyphenols present in green tea help reduce inflammation and fight cancer. Kahwa also works along the blood vessels of the heart, keeping them relaxed and regulating blood circulation. It may prevent the formation of clots, which are the main cause of heart attacks. It also helps in fighting signs of ageing, keeping the body healthy and fit.
5. Helps Maintain Healthy Skin
   Kahwa’s rich base helps in reducing skin issues like acne, dryness and redness. The essential oils from added crushed almonds and walnuts help moisturize from deep within, while maintaining the natural glow of the skin. The amino acid, Theanine, found in it helps keep the skin clear and supple, giving it a youthful look. Added rose aids in the maintenance of the pH balance of the skin. Kahwa has many anti-aging properties that keep the skin looking firm and youthful. Since, it is mostly consumed in the colder regions, its spicy flavour keeps the body warm for longer hours.
6. Boosts Energy
   Kashmiri Kahwa chai may not contain milk, but it works as a wonderful energy booster. The combination of various energy giving ingredients like dry fruits, antioxidants, etc. not only work as a great way to start your day, but also recharges your senses when you’re feeling lethargic. A cup of tea after a workout can ease muscular pain and relax an over exerted body. It also helps the body function more efficiently.

The best thing about consuming the Kashmiri Kahwa Chai is that it can be a very good companion for the upcoming winters, to keep you warm. Also, with the festive season around the corner, it can be something new to offer to your guests, rather than the traditional cup of tea.

Abhishek Dixit

The post The Amazing Benefits of Kashmiri Kahwa Chai appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

Lifestyle means the way of life – the behavior, practices and activities of an individual or a community put to practice in their day to day life. Healthy lifestyle encompasses those practices which have a positive or beneficial effect on our health – physical, mental, or social.

Promoting a healthy style is both helpful in preventing and curing diseases, and achieving maximum health. Malnutrition, unhealthy diet, increased weight, smoking, alcohol consumption, drug abuse, physical inactivity, stress, etc., are some of the characteristics of an unhealthy lifestyle. In fact, obesity and other chronic disease like diabetes, cardio-arterial diseases, hypertension, hyperlipidemia are all called lifestyle diseases, and taking steps towards a healthier lifestyle will keep you away from all these diseases. Improving on these means improve the quality of life.

In order to achieve a health promoting lifestyle, certain behavioral modifications may be required, such as incorporating some amount of physical activity in the daily life, inclusion of certain foods and drinks which have proven health benefits, avoid smoking and drug abuse, and so on.

A healthy diet and physical activity are the two most important part of a healthy lifestyle. This would mean eating foods that are rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins and have fewer but healthy calories. By healthy calories it is meant that these should come from complex carbohydrates and not from fatty, fried foods or from foods giving only empty calories like sweetened sodas, fast foods with refined carbohydrates etc. Along with this, it is also important to incorporate some amount of daily physical activity.

Here are some tips that can help you make the changes required for a healthy lifestyle and keep you on track :

1. Select foods that are both low in refined sugars and carbohydrates, minimize the consumption of sugary drinks like juices, sweetened sodas, breads or pastas made from refined flour. Instead, include whole wheat or multi grain breads, whole grain breakfast cereals like oats, wheat flakes and whole fruits.
2. Choose foods that have a minimum amount of unhealthy fats. Foods that are baked, fried and frozen have trans fats which are not good for health. Also, avoid foods that have too many saturated fats, like red meats, pizzas and other fast foods. It is better to include fish, nuts and low fat dairy products in the daily diet.
3. Eat a variety of whole fresh foods instead of packaged or processed foods. Avoid processed cheese, meats and juices, rather include fresh whole fruits, salads, sprouts, etc. include lots of vegetables and beans in your daily diet.
4. Eat smaller frequent meals rather than bigger infrequent meals in order to be able to get a benefit of all nutrients. It also helps to maintain a healthy weight. Most Dieticians and Nutritionists would suggest a 6 meal pattern with 3 main meals and 3 high- fiber-nutrient- dense-low- calorie in between snacks. Make healthier snack choices, like eating fruits, nuts or salads instead of a fried in-between snacks. Also, reduce the portion size of each meal.
5. Drink a minimum of 10 glasses of water (liquids) daily. This can include lemon water, green tea, fresh coconut water, butter milk, soups, etc. This however, does not include the daily dose of tea and coffee. In fact, Green tea has shown many great benefits when incorporated along with other lifestyle changes, in causing both weight loss and weight management, especially if consumed with lemon early in the morning.
6. Along with all this, a regular exercise regime is also very important. The trick to making the lifestyle healthier is by making smaller healthier changes every day, like taking stairs instead of a lift, walking to someone’s desk rather than sending an e-mail, parking furthest  from the building and walking to your desk, etc.
7. Quit smoking and other substance abuse. Addiction to such things is considered as an unhealthy lifestyle.
8. Proper sleep and recreation are also the essential characteristics of a healthy lifestyle.

To conclude:

As per WHO’s definition, health is not mere absence of disease, but a state of total physical, mental and social wellbeing. This encompasses maintaining a healthy weight, avoidance of substance abuse, following an overall healthy regimen, making healthier food choices and including some amount of  physical activity in daily life.

Ankit Tiwari

I’m a Blogger, always ready to explore new things. Starting from Technology to Seo, webiners etc. Driving more and more traffic to our website is my passion.

The post Everything You Need To Know About A Healthy Lifestyle appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

The tea is a light colored infusion, with a vegetal, floral, citrus aroma and flavors. Often referred to as the champagne of teas, the Darjeeling brew, in particular, resembles the taste of muscatel wine. The brew is known for how light and smooth it is, and the fact that the flavor of it remains on the palate, long after the tea has been consumed.

The Darjeeling brew is essentially a Chinese tea and is made from the Camellia sinesis plant. Grown in the foothills of the Himalayas, this brew is named after its place of origin; i.e., Darjeeling, a small hamlet located in West Bengal. Most of the people living in Darjeeling earn their livelihood by working in the tea plantations situated here. The brew is grown in small quantities and the majority of it is exported abroad. In fact, it is rumored to have been auctioned for thousands of dollars (which people are more than willing to pay, for this delicious tea).

Even though this brew is, often times, classified as a black tea, more often than not is it less oxidized than other tea variants. This means that not only is this brew absolutely delicious, it most certainly is great for health as well. Now that is what we call an all-rounder! Those who do not know how to make Darjeeling tea can check out the various tutorials which are available on the internet.

Darjeeling Tea Now Available on Teafloor

If you are a novice with regards to this brew, then let us help you out. We at Teafloor have ample knowledge with regards to tea and its varieties because we like to refer to ourselves as tea nerds! We are passionate about it and love to explore the world of teas and bring more varieties to our customers. We at Teafloor, take our jobs very seriously and work very hard to hand out the best quality teas to our customers, at the best rates!

Coming back to the topic, how to have Darjeeling tea? Well, the fact of the matter is that this brew has a very delicate, mossy flavor, which can be completely disrupted by the addition of milk, especially if you have purchased the first flush of the Darjeeling tea leaves. If you are a big fan of mixing your tea with milk, then you can try the Autumn flush because, it is much bolder and tannic, so it can use some milk to be toned down. However, the general rule of the thumb is to have Darjeeling tea by itself, though a drop of lime never hurts. For sweetening purposes, it is best to stick to a very small quantity of sugar, however, it is best to avoid the sugar altogether, as it cuts down on the astringency of the brew which happens to be its biggest USP.

Benefits of Darjeeling Tea

Consuming Darjeeling tea on the daily can help you achieve great health. Some of its benefits are mentioned as follows:

Dental Health: It improves your overall oral hygiene and keeps bad breath at bay. The Darjeeling tea also cleans up the plaque resting on the surface of the teeth, thereby protecting it from cavities.

Heart Health: Tea, in general, is excellent for the health, but Darjeeling tea, being the orthodox, less oxidized brew that it is, is known for reducing cholesterol levels and stabilizing heart functions.

It Is Great For The Skin: Those of you who wish to maintain your beauty must embrace the Darjeeling tea, as it contains huge amounts of antioxidants, which prevents premature aging and helps to diminish fine lines and wrinkles on the skin.

Energizes: This tea uplifts the mood and energizes you to make you feel better. So if you are having a bad day, make yourself a cup of Darjeeling tea and see how it helps you feel better.

Ankit Tiwari

I’m a Blogger, always ready to explore new things. Starting from Technology to Seo, webiners etc. Driving more and more traffic to our website is my passion.

The post How To Drink Darjeeling Tea? appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

Being a tea brand, we have been working to cater to the needs of our customers from last 5 years. To them, we are not just a source of premium teas, but a group of experienced friends who stand by them for everything and anything related to tea. Today, we are here to share a few things that can help you come up with a perfect Tea café in your own.

Out of the total Indian population, more than 90% of people begin their day with tea, so it may not seem to be a tedious job to provide people with what they love. However, tea stalls can be found in almost every Indian street. Opening a café for the same is nothing less than a big challenge. So let’s move further and have a look at a few aspects that can make your cafe the most known much loved one.

Let’s Have a Quick Look at How Can You Make Your Cafe The Most Known

1. A Perfect Location: It’s always important to have a good location for you to open a café. The best choice would be a place that is already known to people or is popular, so that you can save that extra money that you were going to spend on advertising the location of your café.

2. More Than Just One Tea: As mentioned above, you can find a tea stall at almost every corner of the streets in India. However, those tea stalls may not have everything that a customer might need. With the increasing knowledge regarding the benefits of tea, people’s demands have also started to change. You may provide them with something more than just a traditional cup of tea. It could be different types of green tea, that helps them stay fit and can be a part of their diet plan or teas blended with their favourite flowers like rose and jasmine, to satisfy their flavour cravings. The list of these teas and their benefits is endless. All you need to do is – make them a part of your menu according to the customers’ needs.

3. Visit The Cafes Near You: The key to having a successful business is to know what your competitors are doing. If you’ll have an idea of how they make their customers happy, you’ll know that your next step is to do something better than them. For example, if you and your competitors are selling the same product at almost similar prices then all you need is a simple strategy to make yourself a more convenient choice for your customer. For example, you can run a campaign called “Today’s Special”, wherein you can sell some of your products at discounted rates every day. This will not only increase your sale, but will also help you with word of mouth advertising.

4. Interior And Exterior: Usually, the mistake that people make is to focus only on the interior of the café whereas, the exterior goes ignored. However, it is important to know that the exterior of any place is as important as its interiors, since that’s the first thing that will attract your customer. Therefore, you need to look after everything, right from the colour of the walls on the exterior to the comfy chairs of the interiors. “Pay attention to the landscaping, signage, and exterior appearance because that’s the first thing people see.” Says Jack Wilson, the owner of Radio Coffee and Beer in Austin.

5. Right Hiring: A good café calls for a good cook and catering team. This is one of the most important choices that you have to make. Since, it is the food that you provide will set the real standards of your café. Thus, it’s not a problem if you become picky in hiring and look out for the best options.

6. Ambience: Selling the perfectly brewed tea might not be just enough for your customers. The ambience of your cafe plays a very important role in setting the mood of the customers. Be it the soothing music played in the café, the beautiful paintings on the walls or the polite behaviour of the staff, everything adds on to the opinion that the customer is going to make about your cafe.

7. Perfect Menu: When you are a part of food and beverage industry, it’s very important to know your customer’s demand. If you’re selling tea, then you need to know what type of tea would they prefer. Something that satisfies their taste buds like the basic Masala Chai or something that keeps them healthy like Black or Green tea. Also, many people prefer having a snack with their tea, thus it can play a significant role in your menu. Adding the right choice of snacks with different types of teas is the key to a perfect menu.

8. Adequate Advertising: The above steps will become useless if you’re not able to gain popularity among your customers. So it’s very important for you to advertise your café through social media platforms or just word of mouth. For a tea brand, one of the easy ways to popularise your brand is by giving away free samples of your teas for trial. This not only makes the customers happy, but also gives the brand a chance to customise their products.

9. Website is Must: In today’s era, where the world is moving towards complete digitalisation, it’s very important to have a good online image. There is no doubt that social media platforms can help you reach out to your customers. However, having a website gives you is a wider reach than any other social media platforms. Your customers will know more about the real story and aim behind your cafe. Not just this, it will also help you win some credibility as a business.

These are just a few strategies that will make your cafe the best in town. At the end, we would like to leave you with a small piece of advice – remain patient until the best results come. Since, the first few months of any business can only bring some revenue but no huge profits. We’re sure a cup of Chamomile Tea can help you remain a little more patient than you already are.

Ankit Tiwari

I’m a Blogger, always ready to explore new things. Starting from Technology to Seo, webiners etc. Driving more and more traffic to our website is my passion.

The post 9 Simple Tricks To Help You Open The Most Unique Cafe in Town appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

“My cup is incomplete without cardamom.”

“Wish I could drink some more.”

In short, some teas are something to someone in some way.

From you to us to every other tea drinker in the world, the meaning of tea changes every time when we try a new cup of tea. For some, it may be a chance to understand themselves deeply, and for others a cup of tea may slow down their world and make it better. From making it too sweet to full of milk, or pouring the milk in first or at the end, or simply – how long to brew it, we all like tea in our own different forms.

Being aware of how people may prefer teas differently, it is evident that the actual beauty of a delicious cup of tea lies in its making. Some might brew tea the way their grandmothers did or by the method used for the first cup of tea that interested them. There are some basic steps that we can all follow to make our tea better than ever.

Let’s have a look at how a few considerations can help you maximize your enjoyment of tea.

Choosing Your Tea

The first thing to determine about your tea is the kind of tea you want – green tea, white tea, black tea or oolong tea? Best way to do is to go by seasons. Like every other agricultural product, there are certain seasons more suitable than others for drinking various teas. Each tea growing region has different seasons in which it harvests tea leaves, and they cannot be plucked until the weather is suitable and the plants are fully grown.  For example, producers in India and Nepal begin plucking black tea in early March (first flush) and at the end of spring, usually in May tea producers in East Asia start the production of black tea after the production of white and green tea is already complete. So, choosing your tea keeping in mind the season it is best served in, is a smart choice to make.

Choosing The Right Vessel

For those who have their sentiments attached to their lovely cup of tea, choosing the right vessel is definitely a matter of concern for them. To do so, one must keep in mind its material, size, shape and quality.

1. Material: Teapots are made of many different materials but the most popular ones are glazed, metal, enameled cast iron and glass teapots. Each of these has its own advantage of steeping tea. A glazed clay teapot has thin walls that neutralize the taste and make it ideal for delicate teas. Similarly, glass teapots are preferable material for steeping delicate teas, especially green and white. Metal teapots, on the other hand, are used to make very strong tea, infused with herbs and spices. These are primarily used in North Africa and Middle East.
2. Size, Shape and Quality: In our tradition, where tea is demanded by almost everyone and in a short time period, large teapots are usually considered convenient as higher volume of tea can be steeped in it. However, there are a number of benefits of a smaller teapot. It allows more control over temperature and steeping time. The number of times it is steeped, it helps you experience the change in its flavour. Talking about the shape of a teapot, the very simple value that it holds is that it defines your comfort levels while preparing it. If it’s too heavy you may have difficulty in pouring it. Also, the quality of teapot directly affects the quality of your tea. So, you must always choose a tea pot that satisfies your need for quality tea.

Water Temperature

It is true that one can view water as just a mere ingredient, however, the value that it holds in tea making can either destroy the poetic beauty of tea or make it worth sharing. Thus, while brewing tea, we need to keep the water temperature in mind as it has the capability to affect the way it smells and tastes. There are certain guidelines that we may follow for each type of tea. For Green and White tea, the required temperature is 160 degree F to 175 degree F. For oolong, 180 degree F to 190 degree F and for Black, 195 degree F 205 degree F.

Basic Process To Brew Tea Perfectly

Regardless of whether you perform Japanese Tea ceremony or prepare the finest Chinese cup, the general process of brewing tea is more or less the same. Your cup of tea can be ready in five simple steps.

1. Warming Vessels: Warming the steeping as well as the drinking vessels will make sure that the temperature does not significantly decrease when you pour the water into the brewing vessel or tea into the drinking vessel
2. Adding leaves: Adding leaves to your vessel before adding water to it is an important step that we must keep in mind to maintain the flavours of tea. In doing so, one may use their hands, a spoon or anything of your choice.
3. Blanching: Blanching is nothing but pouring water on your leaves and then quickly pouring it out. The process is mainly done to allow the leaves to unroll and maximize infusion. The poured out water must then be poured into the drinking water to keep them warm and make them smell like the tea being prepared.
4. Steeping: Pour hot water on blanched leaves to begin the steeping process. A thing to keep in mind is that if you are steeping the leaves in a container with a top, you need to pour hot water on the outside of the vessel to keep it warm and maintain the temperature.
5. Decanting: After the steeping process, pouring the tea into another container will make sure that the liquor is homogenous.

We agree that there can be several other ways to brew tea, depending upon the tradition or culture that you follow, however adding these steps to your own way of making tea will undoubtedly make it better.

Honest note: We’re always excited to discover new ways of making teas delicious. If you have your own crazy formula – share with us. We won’t mind writing a story on your recipe, and sharing it with friends and family.

Ankit Tiwari

I’m a Blogger, always ready to explore new things. Starting from Technology to Seo, webiners etc. Driving more and more traffic to our website is my passion.

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