Your party will be red hot with this aromatic beverage being served to all who attend! Everyone is going to want this recipe!

In a large saucepan, bring 1 quart of water and cranberries to a boil. Reduce heat cover and simmer 8-10 minutes or until cranberries begin to pop. Drain and reserve liquid and cranberries. In a large pot, combine 2 ½ cups sugar, ½ cup red hots, 3 tablespoons Monin lemon syrup, cranberry liquid and pulp and remaining water.  Bring to a boil and stir until sugar and candies are dissolved. Strain liquid through a fine sieve or cheesecloth and pour into individual glasses.  Garnish with lemon wedge and cinnamon sticks.

Worth the wait Apple cider

Make it 2 hours ahead and go and enjoy your party! Don’t be surprised to find this tea beverage gone in a flash!

In a slow cooker, combine 4 cups apple cider, 4 cups pineapple juice, ½ cup water, 1 cinnamon stick and 4 Tazo Wild sweet Orange tea bags.  Add 8 whole cloves wrapped and tied in a cheese-cloth or placed in tea infuser balls. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.  Remove tea bags, cinnamon sticks and cloves and it is ready to serve with a ladle like punch.

Orange cider cheer!

Don’t keep running to the kitchen! Set this out like a hot punch and let the guests serve them selves, they’ll be coming back for seconds and thirds! Made in a slow cooker, this recipe will fill your home with the aroma of the holiday season and will warm the bellies of all who drink it.

In a slow cooker, add 1-gallon apple cider, ¾ cup Monin orange syup, 4 cinnamon sticks, 5 tablespoons whole cloves (in a tea infuser) and ½ tsp ground nutmeg. Cook on low for 2 hours, strain out spices and serve!

Maple champagne

Maple champagne is the perfect twist to make your midnight toast memorable.  With its gorgeous amber color and sweet maple flavor, this is the way to start the New Year!

Add 1 tablespoon Monin maple spice syrup and 1 shot vodka to champagne flute and add champagne to fill remainder of flute. Serve!

Amaretto champagne

Classic, elegant and delightful, Amaretto champagne adds a touch of old world Italian flavor to your bubbly. Easy to make, hard to forget!

Add to champagne flute 1 tablespoon Monin amaretto syrup and 1 tablespoon Monin apricot syrup.  Add champagne to fill remainder of flute.

**Don’t forget to check out the extensive list of gourmet tea gifts for your lucky family and friends! Also take a look at our list of flavored tea that will keep you in the holiday spirit everyday!

HAPPY HOLIDAY!

CoffeeAM has everything a tea lover could want for the holiday gift-giving season. All budgets considered, we have something for everyone! Give a gift as unique as you are and have it beautifully presented with none of the hassle. We will even ship it directly to the recipient if you so desire. CoffeeAM makes it quick and easy to shop for those at the top of your gift-giving list. Check out these great gourmet tea gift ideas:

Ancient Tea Brick

For the Tea lover who has all the tea they can possibly drink…this is the perfect gift! This exotic and unique brick is actually tea that has been pressed to form this ornate brick, which was once used by the ancient Chinese as currency. This Tea brink is a fabulous conversation piece and would look amazing in any office or at home on the wall as a decorative item.

This is a very distinctive gift that is most memorable to any Tea drinker and promises to stand out from the rest of the gifts! The ancient Tea brick is always an appropriate gift and is sure to be enjoyed for years to come. Each ancient tea brick measures 7.5 x 4.5 inches

Tea Connoisseur set

The Tea Connoisseur Set includes:

(1) Bodum Tea Pot Assam 2 cup

(4) 1/4lbs high-end loose-leaf teas

Brewing Instructions

Perfect for the new loose-leaf tea drinker, this set includes everything they need to get started. Let someone you care about learn to take pleasure in the art of drinking tea. Instructions included and a fine sample for 4 gourmet loose-leaf teas, this lucky gift recipient will be a tea connoisseur in no time!

Gourmet tea sampler

Looking for a gift for a gourmet tea lover, but not sure which teas they like? Look no further; we’ve got what you need! Take a look at this selection of eight (.13lb each) delicious gourmet teas. What a fabulous exotic sampling of teas from all over the world. There’s nothing not to love about this sampler!

Blue Eyes, Darjeeling, Angel Falls Mist, Formosa Oolong, Japan Green Tea Sencha, African Rooibos, Russian Caravan, China Black FOP.

This tea sampler contains:

(8) 2oz teas

1) Tea Ball

(1) 12x9x3 Gift Box

We have thought of it all… these samples include a tea ball infuser or a pack of mini-minit filters, so there is no delay in drinking your first cup. This gift set is perfect for the beginning tea drinker, delicious enough for the most discriminating tea connoisseur’s palate. Our Gourmet Tea sampler, containing some of the most popular teas in the world, is the perfect holiday gift to show how much you care.

Gift Certificates

Not sure what to do for that person who has everything? The gift giving challenge is over and CoffeeAM is the answer! Gift Certificates are sent directly to the recipient via email. You can customize your gift certificate with a personalized message of your choice for that added special touch. Your recipient will receive the custom email and a Gift Certificate Code to be entered at checkout from CoffeeAM 2-3 days after you place the order. No more worries about losing a printable gift certificate, or getting a restaurant gift certificate that they may not enjoy. With choices from Gourmet coffees, herbal teas, loose-leaf, or new tea making equipment for the home, there is something for everyone at CoffeeAM. It’s just that easy and convenient!

Tortuga Rum cakes

Delicious & authentic! We make it easy to buy Tortuga Rum Cakes imported from the Cayman Islands. Four flavors, three sizes, treat someone you care about this holiday season to the original Tortuga Rum Cake! In a region known for their rum, the Tortuga Rum Cake stands out as the best. Based in the Grand Cayman Islands, the original Tortuga Rum Cake recipe is a genuine family tradition that has never been revealed and has remained unchanged for generations. This popular coffee cake is made without preservatives from ingredients including fresh whole eggs; butter, imported walnuts and a generous amount of premium five-year oak barrel aged Tortuga Gold Rum that is not sold to the public. Each coffeecake is individually hand-glazed with the rich rum sauce before being vacuum-sealed.

We offer special attention for any of your gift giving needs; want to design a custom gift? Use a personal shopper via telephone? Or if you are sending multiple gifts to multiple locations – please call us at 1-800-803-7774 and let us make it easy for you!

No order is too big or too small, we are always happy to help! Give us a call and our customer service representative will be more than happy to put together a Tea gift basket that is a perfect reflection of your good taste and consideration.

Happy Holiday!

Tisanes, also known as an herbal infusion, are not made from tea leaves, but they are brewed with the same method. A Tisane is not an herbal “tea” because the drink is made from just about everything except the camellia sinensis (tea) plant. A little Tisane goes a long way! Steep in boiling water to your preferred level of strength, then either serve immediately or throw it over some ice as a cool refreshing summer time drink.

So many ways to serve up a Tisane, you’re going to need to buy in bulk! Buy extra…Kids are also fans of the naturally sweet fruity Tisanes! Offer one up instead of soda or sugary juice and feel great knowing they are quenching their thirst with something wholesome.

We have had many customers write in to tell us they made popsicles and desserts using Tisanes! Make sure to read about the potential healing properties of each herbal infusion on the CoffeeAM website. Fruit and Herb Tisanes are the secret to feeling great! Tisanes are brewed like tea. For smaller quantities, please see our retail Fruit Tea and Tisanes section.

Irish Breakfast tea is full of natural antioxidants and it has a robust, invigorating aroma that is sure to jump start your morning. The Irish are per capita the highest consumers of tea in the world and after you try our Irish Breakfast you will know why! The Irish having a saying… “May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all your heart might desire.” We couldn’t put it any better. Irish breakfast tea from CoffeeAM makes a superb all-day full bodied tea your sure to enjoy.

CoffeeAM ships this gourmet black tea in loose leaf form and will ship with a free tea ball infuser. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Asians have been experiencing the health benefits of Green Tea for ages. Did you know that scientific studies have also confirmed that the art of making loose-leaf tea, taking time to slow down and prepare the drink, will have a calming effect and help to lower your stress level? A warm cup of Green Tea in your hand can also bring forth a flood of positive feelings because medical evidence shows people associate physical warmth with emotional warmth. Is there anything this drink can’t do?

The best part is, it may have even more medicinal benefits beyond our understanding, but with no big chalky pill to swallow! Hot or cold, sweetened or plain, good health has never been this easy!

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Chinese Hyson green tea originates from Anhui province in China. This green tea was so highly favored in the 18th century that the British Tea Tax was higher for this particular variety over all other origins. Hy-son translates to “Flourishing Spring” and these particular varietals impart the fresh green character you would expect to be a part of any springtime experience.

This young Hyson tea is a highly graded tea and is sure to meet your expectations with a full body and smooth greenish tasting liquor. This tea is harvested before the rains and carries a delicious earthy, sunny flavor. Hyson green tea is best boiled at a water temperature of less than 180F degrees. Steeping too long or in too hot of water can cause bitterness. Use only one teaspoon per 6oz cup of water.

Served hot it typically doesn’t require milk or sugar however; it is also excellent served cold and is delightful with a garnish of lemon or a twist of lime. The health benefits of this green tea are exceptional. Scientific evidence shows us that Green Tea has been clinically proven to lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, aid digestion, fight fatigue, preserve younger-looking skin, and promote oral health. Green Tea has also been known to reduce LDL cholesterol levels preventing the abnormal formation of blood clots. Considering blood clots are the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes, this has been a huge medical breakthrough, and gives us a better understanding as to why Japanese men, who drink green tea, have a very low rate of heart disease. Asians have been experiencing the health benefits of Green Tea for ages. Did you know that scientific studies have also confirmed that the art of making tea, taking time to slow down and prepare the drink, will have a calming effect and help to lower your stress level? A warm cup of Green Tea in your hand can also bring forth a flood of positive feelings because medical evidence shows people associate physical warmth with emotional warmth. Is there anything this drink can’t do? With no paper, no bag and no waste after use, it is environmentally friendly. Re-steep and the cost per serving is another plus! The best part is, Chinese Hyson Green Tea may have even more medicinal benefits beyond our understanding, but with no big chalky pill to swallow! Hot or cold, sweetened or plain, good health has never been this delicious or this easy!

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As stated above, all tea comes from a plant called Camellia Sinensis (Sinensis means Chinese in Latin). These plants are native to Southeast Asia, but can be cultivated in other subtropical regions like India.

Farmers in the tea gardens pick fresh Camellia tealeaves. All of those leaves are then sent to wither except for the young leaves and buds, which will eventually become white tea. White tealeaves do not go through the withering process, but instead go straight to the steaming process. After steaming, they are dried and sold. Because they haven’t been as processed as the other teas, and are so close to their natural state, they carry more powerful antioxidants such as polyphenols, than any other tea! Aside from its gentle sweet flavor, these health benefits are making White tea more and more popular in the west.

After withering, a section of tea will be “rolled”. The rollers rupture the cell walls of the withered leaves allowing air to interact chemically with the tea juices, a process called oxidation.  Tea that has been rolled is then sent to fully ferment and then to be fired. Firing is how they dry or remove moisture in tea. Firing also heats the enzymes in the leaves and stops the oxidation. Examples of firing are Pan fired, bamboo basket fired and oven drying. This group of teas that have gone through this process will be sold as black teas. Although most popular in the US, Black tea has the highest amount of caffeine but the least amount of antioxidants.

After withering, another section of tea will be shaken or bruised. Breaking the tealeaves exposes the enzymes to air causing oxidation. This tea will be partially fermented, pan fired and will become Oolong tea. Oolong is the most difficult tea to process because it can only be partially fermented, so they very gently bruise the edges of the leaves instead opening the whole leaf.

The last group, post withering, will be steamed and then rolled and dried.  Different from White tea, the farmers use the rolled tea leaves, not the buds to make glorious Green tea. Green tea is high in antioxidants and low in caffeine compared to black tea. Originating from China, Green tea is now extremely popular in the US due to its long-purported health benefits. The antioxidants in Green tea are thought to help prevent cancer, lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar levels help with weight loss and slow signs of aging.

Whichever loose-leaf tea suits your taste, it is likely your body will reap rewards from drinking it. We certainly know that with so many types of tea and additives to choose from, you can certainly find something to please both your body and you palate!

tsp amount                                   temperature                        minutes to

per 8oz water                                                                                   steep

White tea 1.5                                           175                                  4-5

Green tea 1                                             175                                    1min

Oolong tea 1                                           195                                    3

Black tea 1                                              195                                    2-3

Herbal tea 1.5                                          208                                5-6

Decaffeinated teas will call for the same temperature/time method however, when making an iced tea using loose-leaf tea, double the teaspoons of tea per 8oz of water and make hot tea as directed above.  When poured over ice it will dilute quickly and easily making the perfect gourmet iced tea. CoffeeAM is proud to offer you a large selection of gourmet loose-leaf teas from around the world, suitable for any taste and any budget. We ship same day so our teas arrive exceptionally fresh and delicious.  Enjoy!

-Tea is the second most consumed beverage on the planet…water being first.

-Tea is in almost every culture in the world, and has been enjoyed for 5000 years!

- All tea is made from the same plant.

- Although there are 3000 varieties of the bush, there are 4 main types of tea and they are, white, green, oolong and black.

-Tea originated in China when tea leaves accidentally blew into some boiling water.

-Originally drank for medicinal purposes, tea is rich in antioxidants which help our immune system.

-Tea can help stop infection and help weight loss.

-India is the world’s largest producer of tea and is also the worlds most consumed tea.

-Tea has about ½ the caffeine of coffee.

-A process called “rinsing” tea leaves can remove a substantial amount of the caffeine.

-You can brew 200 cups of tea from 1lb of loose-leaf tea, making it one of the most economical beverages found.

-You can and should reuse loose tea leaves.

-80% of tea served in the United States is Iced tea!

With our company, CoffeeAM, being located in the heart of Georgia, we can certainly attest to that last fact! I love that tea is about all things good! It’s inexpensive, its delicious, it’s healthy and its another thing that the whole planet has in common. What a great thought as we reach for our next cup of tea…that thousands of people across the globe are doing the very same thing at the very same time for the very same purpose…  To Enjoy!

Tea is the national drink of China and is consumed everyday throughout the day, in both casual and formal settings, but who is pouring and who is receiving says it all. Although things have loosened up a bit more in more modern times, tea was always served by someone who was considered less important or possibly submissive to the person they were serving it to.

To pour a cup of tea for someone would be a sign of respect, another way of saying that you honor their position and will do for them. In other times tea could be poured as an apology.  Many very serious battles, both personal and political, have been settled over one pouring tea for another as a sign of regret, apology or as in waiving the white flag. Tea isn’t always about power though, much like in other parts of the world, it is also used for ceremony.

The Chinese marriage ceremony has the bride and groom serving tea while kneeling at their parents’ feet as an expression of gratitude.  They serve tea as a way of thanking their parents for bringing them to this point in their lives, the point of marriage. You may sometimes see the bride serve her new in-laws as a way to say that she is now a part of the grooms’ family. An older more traditional way of serving tea at a Chinese wedding would be for the bride and groom to pour tea for every guest, no matter how many, so that they may officially meet every member of the extended family.  Not accepting the tea would be a direct insult and would show severe opposition to the ceremony.

You will find that the Chinese serve a variety of loose-leaf Oolong, black and green teas both at home and in restaurants.  The types of teapots used by the Chinese offer the ability brew the tea, view the unfurling and sniff the aroma simultaneously. Many times the used tea leaves are placed in a beautiful bowl and displayed for the guests to see the high quality of tea they were served, another sign of respect and honor.

I certainly think that the next time I pour tea for a guest I will take into account the pleasure that they may feel from being served and catered to and although I need not be submissive or feel less-than, I can still make them feel respected, special and honored by offering them the best gourmet tea I have on hand.

For more information, or to purchase Chinese gourmet tea, please visit our site at www.coffeeam.com