As our world becomes more and more filled with plastic waste, unused pesticides and herbicides, many tea lovers have come to the conclusion that organic tea is not only the safest tea you can buy but that it might even be the tastiest.  Let’s look at organic teas and how it’s made for the consumer. Organic tea begins with soil that can be considered “organic” itself.  Soil quality has a great deal to do with the foods we eat and drink, whether it be meat products, produce or products like tea, which are harvested from tea plants grown in the soil.

The tea plant itself can live more than a hundred years and is generally tightly rooted into the ground, eliminating the chance for crop rotation.  Nutrients must be directly added to the tea bush and, in organic tea plants, these nutrients must be natural products.  On conventional tea farms, chemical fertilizers are sprayed directly onto the tea plant, which retains some of the chemical when harvested.  Over-treating the land can burn the tea leaves and destroy soil integrity, leaving the soil vulnerable to erosion.

In organic tea estates, nutrients added to the soil are typically made from manure, compost or plant cuttings.  Microbes in the soil break down the fertilizer, making it useful to the organic tea plant.  Some organic tea gardens practice a custom called permaculture, in which plants are grown between the tea plants to allow for an interconnected and sustainable soil system.  Some of the plants used in this practice are legumes, which rejuvenate the soil by adding nitrogen to it. Some tea gardens practice biodynamic agriculture in which the entire area is considered a holistic, self-nourishing soil system.  Carefully-aged soil preparations use plants like dandelion, yarrow and chamomile, which are worked into the soil in harmony with local conditions.  Organic soil is kept healthy and nutritious without the addition of harmful chemicals.

Organic tea is labeled as such by being “Certified 100% Organic”.  This applies to loose leaf tea and to tea inside teabags. Certified organic tea is grown, handled, processed, stored and packaged in accordance with the standards set forth by the National Organic Program.  This type of food is also regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Certified organic tea is grown on farms that have been inspected on a yearly basis by the certifying agency.  The tea handler and the processor of the tea leaves are also inspected and must meet the regulations of the certifying body.  Some products, simply labeled “organic” are not 100% organic but must contain at least 95% organic food product. The organic tea producer is also audited yearly and is issued a certificate that says the producer have met USDA-National Organic Standards for handling organic tea.  A certificate is required for each type of tea labeled and sold as 100% organic.  Steps are taken to prevent the commingling of non-organic and organic ingredients at all times and machines are washed to prevent commingling.

Purchasing 100% organic tea signifies to the buyer that the tea they are drinking is not laced with pesticides or other chemicals.  Non-organic tea, given that the leaves are routinely sprayed with pesticides, may contain trace chemicals that are not healthy for anyone to drink.

Instead of create tea gift basket for each occasion, it`s better for you to shop online. Currently there is online tea supplier here at www.englishteastore.com. Why tea? A tea gift baskets can be given as a gift to many different people for almost any type of occasion. Is a niece expecting her first child? Did a new neighbor move in down the block? Did a friend just learn she has a serious medical condition? At any time of year, many people appreciate a coffee and tea basket. Tea has a calming influence and offers a pleasant taste experience. Tea is not only provides a refreshing feeling but also it is one healthy thing to start day. Tea can help boost immune system and slows the aging process.

Nothing says “I love you” like a gift basket – a collection of favorite things assembled in a beautiful package. And for the tea lover, a tea gift basket can be the most wonderful of gifts; a compilation of treasures to encourage relaxation and reflection as you gather around cups of tea.

The tea gift basket can be assembled in a number of ways. First, there are many gift basket companies – both large and small – that will put together your tea gift basket and ship it directly to the person of your choice. In many cases you will be able to choose exactly what you would like included in the basket to make it a unique and personal gift.

In most tea services today, a tea box or menu is used for presenting tea, but the consumer’s tea selection is often made by name recognition only. With the wide range of british tea and others available today, tea chests makes it possible for individuals to examine and select teas based on color, texture, and aroma. The hardwood chests are simple, yet elegant, and the presentation process dignifies the traditions of the tea ceremony that have evolved throughout history.

Pu-erh, the unique tea from Yunnan, China is picking up momentums in oversea tea market. It was listed under the same category as black tea by many oversea tea vendors few years ago. More and more oversea tea vendors are now listing it as a distinctive category by itself. More and more foreigners come to Yunnan in searching for answers to this mystery tea.

Researchers around the world have been interested in the health benefits of Pu-erh. Various researches conducted in countries like Japan and France shows that Pu-erh has the effects of lowering cholesterol, lowering blood fat, lowering blood pressure, lowering weight, etc. Pu-erh has been called “Beauty Tea”, “Slim Tea”, and “Longevity Tea” in countries like Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, and France.

Comparing to other teas, Pu-erh has more complicated tastes. This may largely due to the fact that Pu-erh has live. Just like human being, the taste of a Pu-erh develops slowly with its aging. And any change in its storage environment can change the path of the development.

Pu-erh is one of the 10 famous teas in China. High quality Pu-erh demands a premium price in China, and barely makes its way to oversea market. Low quality Pu-erh that makes to oversea massive tea market painted a damaging image of Pu-erh. Most of those low quality Pu-erh have poor tastes, or simply undrinkable. Luckily, with the increasing globalization, many oversea tea drinkers start to have access to higher quality Pu-erh, and start to realize the wonderfulness of Pu-erh.

With the help of internet, we are now able to share our knowledge with Pu-erh lovers around the world, and to offer exceptional quality Pu-erh to everybody that wants a true taste of this Yunnan treasure. We have translated many of our articles on Pu-erh into English and posted on our site at www.teahub.com.

About the author: http://www.teahub.com, your trusted source for high quality green, black, oolong and Pu-erh teas.