One for Me, One for You and One for – oh, Have You Met Aaron?

posted by: Cassie Piper Social Media Coordinator for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®
The last video in our Summer Iced Tea Video Series highlights what I think is our most visually appealing iced tea, the Swedish Berries Fruit Infusion.

Michelle uses orange and basil out of all things, which turns out to be surprisingly delicious and one of my favorites. I even had to fight over a taste test with our Product Development Coordinator Aaron Brewster.

You’ll get to meet Aaron in this video, and you’ll probably be able to tell what a great guy he is. Aaron prepped all of the fresh ingredients for our videos and played a major part in approving all of the recipes that Michelle has demonstrated for you this summer.

Well that’s it for us! If you are a lucky owner of the CBTL Single Serve Beverage System made by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, we have more videos just for you! You will learn how to make single servings of iced tea from a single tea capsule and get ideas on how to take them to the next level, similar to what you’ve seen here.

I hope you have enjoyed these videos, we are currently working on some fantastic recipes for the holiday and we can’t wait to show you! Thanks again for watching, your feedback, comments and tweets are much appreciated!

Blog Giveaway Q: Which of these Swedish Berries Iced Tea recipes would have you fighting Aaron over for a taste test? Leave your response below and we’ll pick 4 people at random to receive a tin of our Swedish Berries tea.

Blog Giveaway terms and conditions: The contest begins upon posting of the blog announcing the Contest and ends at 12 p.m.. PST the following Wednesday. To enter, you must post a comment and answer the question posed in the blog, providing a valid email address. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Contest limited to U.S. only., One contest entry per email address. Odds of winning depend on the number of valid entries received. Sponsors clock will determine winner. List of winners available upon request by contacting Sponsor. Prizes subject to change without notice. Sponsor may notify winner via email: if winner does not claim the prize within 48 hours of being e-mailed, Sponsor will pick a new winner. Prize shipped at no cost to U.S. Residents. Contest Sponsor: International Coffee & Tea, LLC d/b/a The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® 1945 S. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90038.

"What's Steeping" with David De Candia

By David De Candia - Director of Tea for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

From The Tea Specialist Newsletter, August Edition
I have been asked to judge many US based tea competitions over the last 14 years. It is always a great honor to be a part of a very special and important event.

Recently I was asked to Judge my third Hong Kong International Tea Fair for 2011.

I was part of a panel of six judges: the Director of The World Tea Union, Asst Director of the Sri Lankan Tea Board, Professor Chinese Mainland, President of the Taiwan Tea Science Society, and the President of the Chinese Tea Association. Two of these judges started with me three years ago in this competition.

The categories we judged are as follows: Black Tea, Aged Tea (Pu-er), Green Tea and Oolong Tea. We had one hundred and twenty samples to taste. The judging criteria was dry leaf shape, steeped color, steeped aroma, steeped flavor and steeped leaf shape. Each criteria carries a different percentage weight in the judging. This judging is a blind competition of course. I was selected as the chief.

There is no question that I love doing this type of competition. In addition, as usual I was given a translator to communicate with the other judges.

Winners of the competition were announced at a reception the next day at the Tea Fair.

Many tea professionals will tell you that there is something very special about tasting and discussing tea with fellow tea professionals. Whether you’re a Tea Guru or Tea Master or Director of Tea, the connection is there. When you see your fellow judges you’re reminded of last years’ experience and in-depth discussions of tea that tend to go on for hours into the night.

I’m looking forward to 2012.

– David De Candia

David De Candia - second in on the right, stands with the panel of judges for the Hong Kong International Tea Fair 

The “Top Two Leaves and a Bud”

By David De Candia

David plucking tea in Sri Lanka.

Plucking the top two leaves and a bud is never an easy task, yet these tea pluckers make plucking seem extremely easy. Even when they’re climbing at awkward angles they manage to continue plucking without missing a step. There is an incredible rhythm to plucking and it’s amazing to see all the workers in what seems like choreographed dance.

For me, plucking was a way to become even closer to the beverage I love. However, since it would take me a week to fill my basket, I don’t think I have a future in plucking tea leaves.

-David De Candia, Tea Buyer/Master Tea Blender for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Did you know?

One full basket of tea leaves is about 22lbs or about 8,000 sets of two leaves and a bud. Most tea pluckers can collect a basket and a half in one day!