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Last Call for May Specials

June is right around the corner, so if you would like to take advantage of the fabulous May offers, you had better get in touch with your Steeped Tea consultant now!

 

White Tea and Anti-Aging

This article appears in the December 1, 2011 posting on the Science Daily website and details a study that shows white tea's benefits in fighting aging and cancer:

Age-old remedies could hold the key to treating a wide range of serious medical problems, as well as keeping skin firmer and less wrinkled, according to scientists from London's Kingston University. A collaboration between the university and British beauty brand Neal's Yard Remedies has seen experts discover that white tea, witch hazel and the simple rose hold potential health and beauty properties which could be simply too good to ignore.

The research suggests a number of naturally-occurring substances may offer the hope of new treatments to block the progression of inflammation. It is credited with a major role in both the initiation and development of diseases ranging from cancer, diabetes and arthritis through to neuro-degenerative conditions and cardiovascular and pulmonary problems.

"For thousands of years people used natural remedies to try -- and sometimes succeed -- in curing their ailments and preserving their youth," Professor Declan Naughton, from the University's School of Life Sciences, said. "Now the latest research we have carried out suggests a number of naturally-occurring substances may offer the hope of new treatments to block the progression of inflammation."

Inflammation is credited with a major role in both the initiation and development of diseases ranging from cancer, diabetes and arthritis through to neuro-degenerative conditions and cardiovascular and pulmonary problems. It is also implicated in premature aging and early death. "Inflammation is a secret killer -- helping arrest its development, or being able to stop it happening at all, would clearly be of benefit," Professor Naughton explained.

The new study builds on work undertaken by Professor Naughton and Kingston University PhD student Tamsyn Thring, along with the technical team from Neal's Yard. They tested 21 plant extracts for evidence of their efficiency in fighting cancer and also in the battle against aging. Of the 21 extracts, three -- white tea, witch hazel and rose -- showed considerable potential, with white tea displaying the most marked results. "Indeed it appeared that drinking a simple cup of white tea might well help reduce an individual's risk of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or even just age-associated wrinkles," Professor Naughton said.

Spurred on by their laboratory findings, the team members decided to take the work further to see if they could replicate the results in human skin cells, looking more closely at the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity of the three extracts.

Using human skin cells as their model, the researchers added three different concentrations of white tea (freeze dried powder), witch hazel (dried herb) and rose extract (in a medicinal tincture form) to see what effect the mixtures might have on suppressing rogue enzymes and oxidants which play a key role in helping inflammation develop, as well as aging the skin. "As the largest organ in the body, the skin provides a barrier against UV radiation, chemicals, microbes and physical pollutants," Ms Thring said. "Challenges like this can contribute to both inflammation and skin aging.

"We also know that when inflammation starts -- be it a simple cut to a finger or in an arthritic joint -- the body starts producing a compound called interleukin 8, which helps the process along. We began wondering if there was a way we could switch that signal off, thereby blocking the inflammation's progress."

Even though the team's previous research had intimated there might be some promising results ahead, the experts were astonished to see just how good the various concentrations of the three extracts were at doing the job.

Victoria Day weekend and tea

With the tour of Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, across parts of Canada to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's jubilee year of reigning, it would seem there are many tea parties happening this weekend.

image from www.nndb.com

Here's an event in Saskatchewan:

Victoria Day Tea

When: 1:00 pm, Monday, May 21, 2012

Where: Frenchman Butte Museum

Begins with registration and touring of the Frenchman Butte Museum and grounds. At noon tea and light lunch will be served. Program begins at 1:00 p.m. with opening ceremonies, a message from the Honourable Tim McMillan, Minister Responsible for Crown Investments Corporation, local entertainment, announcement of contest winners, and stories from those who remember the event in 1952. Tours of the museum are available until 4:00 p.m.

If you are in Toronto, you could do this tour and tea:

Victoria Day Tea and Tour at Montgomery's Inn Presented by: City of Toronto Museums
	Date: May 21, 2012
	Event Time(s):	1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Celebrate Victoria Day with an afternoon tea fit for a Queen.
Price includes a complimentary guided tour of the Museum. All ages are welcome. First come, first served.

If you are in the Ottawa area, the Nepean museum offers this:

Fairfields Victoria Day Tea

Fairfields: 3080 Richmond Rd.

May 20, 2012 from 1pm-4pm

Cost By Donation

Help us open our 2012 programming season by joining us for a traditional Victorian tea on the Fairfields grounds. Enjoy tours, music, light refreshments and of course period games and activities for the entire family.

And Calgary area also has a tea this weekend:

Celebrate Victoria day with a traditional afternoon tea at Heritage Park! Enjoy tea and goodies in the tea room of the Wainwright Hotel with the special people in your life. The menu includes a silver tea service (or coffee) plus fresh scones with Devonshire cream, pastries, finger sandwiches, and more. Tickets must be purchased in advance for $16.95 per person and do not include park admission.

Is tea going to be part of your long weekend plans?

 

Tea Quote

Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings! - Author unknown

Tea Video: A Tea Ballad

This tea song is the opposite end of the pendulum from the last one I posted. Really, grab a cup of tea, click play and just let all the troubles of the week dissolve while you listen.

Tea Video: Tea With Cinnamon

While scouring the internet for more fun tea-related items to share with you, I came across this song, Tea with Cinnamon. The 4-member all girl band is called Katzenjammer and they are from Norway. Versatile musicians who all play a number of varied instruments, the band has picked up the Norway equivalent of Grammy awards for their debut CD, from which this tune is the 2nd single. They just released a second CD. See if you enjoy this catchy tune with many influences:

 

 

Tea Commercial

The Olympics are being hosted in London this summer. Perhaps it is not a surprise then, to see John Cleese, one of several British comedians who made up the troupe Monty Python, recording an Olympic-themed tea commercial, except:

 

... the commercial is for a Czeck tea company. Pinkies up if you find it a little odd, too.

Tea to the Rescue

In this month's Reader's Digest, Vanessa Farquharson highlights the advances of a study published by Anita Shukla et in Advanced Materials publication in December of 2011.

MIT researchers in nanotechnology have been working on a treatment that helps wounds heal on contact and this could be very valuable for hemophiliacs, soldiers, cancer patients and trauma victims.

This treatment is made up of 2 compounds, tannic acid which is found in tea, and thrombin which is a protein found in human blood. The researchers are combining these components to make a coating that can be applied to sponges and gauze. The research has been successful on the bleeding spleens of pigs and is on in trial in the U.S. military. The researchers say their next step is to reduce the potential of infection while controlling bleeding, so their work continues.

May as well tell you...

... about the new offers this month!

New teas to try, scones and jam and fabulously sunny yellow Henley teapots all available for Hostesses this month at fantastic savings!


Sunrise Strawberry tea - delicious for blending or on its own, hot and cold, and at 50%, why not stock up for summer now?

Contact your Steeped Tea consultant to book a show, or to place an order.

 

The Weekend is ON!

With the last weekend of April here, already, this is the last chance to get those orders into your Steeped Tea consultant and to take advantage of the fantastic Steeped Tea offers available in April. A new mini insert is right around the corner, so you might want to stock up on your favourites from the winter mini, too!