Algarve Restaurants

"... wonderfully rich in fragrance, the delicate flavors of white Pu-erh possesses a charming light fruitiness that caress the mouth and gently awaken the senses"

White Pu-erh tea is made entirely from the uppermost tender buds of the tea plant. The highest quality buds are gathered exclusively by hand in the spring. These large, succulent buds are highly valued and only a limited production can be made each year. The best white Pu-erh plantations are located high in remote mountains. The cold weather and harsh winter gives the buds a shiny downy coat. These high quality buds offer little to no bitternes, presenting a delicate sweet flavor that is rich in aroma.

White Pu-erh tea (aka "bud" and "silver tips" Pu-erh) reflects a lifestyle. It is a brew to be sipped and savored. What makes premium white Pu-erh such a luxury is the painstaking process required to produce it. Every step of the process is done by hand and is incredibly labor intensive. While white Pu-erh's recent introduction to the mass market began in approx. the early 2000s, its light and refreshing character in addition to its novel appeal has attracted considerable interest. Although much speculation surrounds it's ageing potential, this hasn't prevented many collectors from adding white Pu-erh tea to their collection in the hope of seeing it one day develop into an antique treasure in the Pu-erh world.

The ageing potential of white Pu-erh tea is a topic that is often discussed amongst Pu-erh collectors. The discussions revolve around 2 popular theories. Some believe that the delicate and light character of white Pu-erh is not suited for long term ageing. As the years roll by there is a concern that its character will quickly fade away, leaving behind a bland and tasteless husk of tea. Others who are more optimistic carry the belief that a profound transformation will take place, much in the way of green Pu-erh tea - thus resulting in the emergence of more complex and powerful characters that would positively galvanize the tea to a higher plateau. However it is best to keep in mind that these are simply assumptions and the fact remains that no one really knows how this young tea will age and develop over a long period of time. It is only with time that the answer to this mystery will eventually be revealed.

*For full illustrations accompanying this article click on the link White Pu-erh Tea or come and visit us at the Puerh Cha website at http://www.puerhcha.com

This is the traditional way of making tea in the Australian Outback. The drover with his herd of sheep or the itinerant shearer with his swag would have to drink water wherever he could find it. Tea is a good way to drink the water and the billycan reduces tea making to absolute simplicity.

The billy itself is simply a kind of metal cooking pot with a lid and a bucket handle that goes on the fire. The water is boiled and tea made all in the same pot. For a family choose one of 1 to 2 litres, but for a larger gathering you need a billy of perhaps 10 litres or more. It will soon be blackened and sooty on the outside but clean and shiny inside, which adds to the authenticity.

When you travel with your swag in the Outback you don't carry fresh milk. It is traditional to flavour billy tea with tinned sweetened condensed milk, but the flavour is not one everyone likes. You will need:

How to go about it:

The tea is strong, invigorating and a surprisingly good flavour. An Australian bush barbeque would definitely not be the same without billy tea. It goes particularly well with damper and jam or golden syrup, but that is another story!

A gum leaf means a young, green leaf of a eucalypt tree. These are available in a surprisingly large number of places outside Australia, but it is very much an acquired taste.

Tradition is that the dregs of the tea from cups and billy are poured into the fire to help put it out before leaving the camp.

G'day!

Any logical tea drinker will look at green tea and agree that it is good to drink, especially with the flavors that are available. However, green tea is much more than just flavored water in a cup. It has grown much faster and expanded its abilities to help you continue to be healthy. For those that are not convinced that this miracle in a cup is good for you, why not look beyond the benefits of drinking it. Green tea also benefits the skin, helping you to maintain a healthy and younger look.

When you apply the green tea plant to your skin, you will begin to notice a difference. One of the components that it has in it is an anti-aging ingredient. Those who use this natural extract on their skin are known for looking youthful. How is this achieved? This miracle tea in a cup has a special antioxidant that is in it. This antioxidant is used to clear cell damage on the skin, repairing what may have turned into wrinkles, blemishes, or other impurities.

Green tea benefits for the skin are not only with the anti-aging materials in them. If you want a natural sun screen, this may be the way to go. If your skin has been exposed to UV radiation, it causes the skin to become looser with oxidation moving in between the cells. Over time, the immune system that is working for your skin will slow down causing you to wrinkle from the sun. The green tea, when used with sun block, can help reduce or completely erase this damage. The cells that are affected by the green tea will become stronger and will work together, making the UV rays become a blemish of the past.

Of course, because this particular plant is an all in one ingredient, it will also make sure to care for those deeper and more damaging problems. Green tea will benefit the skin by helping to reduce or eliminate problems with skin disorders, such as warts, psoriasis, and rosacea. Another skin disorder that many of us have, acne, can also be eliminated by applying on some extra green tea extract.

If you want to have youthful looking skin without the blemishes, why not go natural. Green tea is known to benefit the skin in almost every way, leaving your face and body looking healthy, young and smooth. You can find the best way to care for your skin by simply finding the natural that was meant to help you look your best.

Market research is critical to achieving business goals but, like everything else, it can be overdone. The keys to good market research are relevance, focus and economy. This is especially true fro the tea room as a new business.

Relevance:

Initially, the entrepreneur must decide what their target market is. and research that market to collect relevant information. For tea rooms geographic relevance is important. Generally speaking, most customers will visit the tea room within a certain radius of the site.

Demographic information that is readily available should be filtered for geographic relevance.
Other filters for relevance should address issues like gender, purchases of loose leaf tea, standard of living, commitment to a healthy lifestyle, number of gourmet stores in the area and other characteristics.

Focus:

Develop a profile of the specific characteristics of the ideal customer. Focus on those characteristics and match the profile to the relevant data collected. The profile may be changed as more information and knowledge is gained. Continue to use the profile as a basis to evaluate the research.

Economy:

Every business has a specific marketing strategy that usually works best and has already been proven by your most successful competitors. You can benefit from their experience by copying successful marketing plans, including selling methods, pricing and advertising. Make a list of the most successful businesses that fall within your field of interest and study them.
Successful local businesses are a goldmine of valuable information. Continue to make visits even after the tea room is started.

Solicit feedback from your customers .For example ask questions like "how did you find us?" And "what did you enjoy about our tea room?" In addition constantly review operations. If tea is consistently left in the pot or scones are frequently returned, consider revising your menu with more desirable products.

It will be difficult to make sound marketing and promotional decisions without being informed on customer real wants and needs. If a specific geographical area defines your market, low cost demographic reports based on the census can be obtained that will furnish information on population by race, income and home ownership. For resources that provide this information, use http://www.Google.com to search for "demographic data" on the Internet.

Competition:

Understanding the strength and weaknesses of the competition is an important part of the planning process. The first step in understanding the competition is defining who actually the competition is. If there is another tea room in the vicinity, defining the competition is obvious. But if there are a number of entities offering complementary products to tea the choice is less clear.

After the competition is identified, their weakness must be attacked. These include:

• Offering low quality tea and food products

• Utilizing shabby or dirty tea ware

• A menu that is limited and not complimentary to the tea experience

• Provide a tea environment that is cold and sterile or shabby and trashy

• No attention to customer service

• No promotion – a "build it and they will come" message

The Internet:

For the tea room, the most effective and economical place to developing good marketing information is the internet. With the introduction of advanced, powerful search technology (e.g. Google) searches are cost effective, powerful and can be continuously updated. Further by proper use of the internet, a tea room owner can gain experience from tea rooms across the country.

Tea Room Tip: Loose leaf tea drinkers are demanding but will pay for quality and service. Give your customers more than they expect.

Tea Room Tip: Learn what marketing works best from others in your business.

Tea Room Tip: You can use Google (http://www.Google.com) to search for prospects, compatible businesses as well as tea articles and accessories to include items for your tea room web site.

The automatic espresso coffee makers are the special coffee makers of modern times that seek to ease out the task of the barista. While the semi automatic espresso coffee machines make use of pumps thus obviating the need of using hands and manually operating and help make espresso quickly the automatic or fully automatic espresso coffee machines provides complete hands free service.

Such automatic coffee makers providing espresso coffee are similar to the semi automatic versions except that these have a flow meter installed inline with the group head. This enables the pump to be automatically turned off and release the brew pressure when it is detected that a programmed amount of water has already flowed through the flow meter.

The various automatic espresso coffee makers are becoming more and more popular in both the commercial and household coffee machine markets. Favorite cappuccinos, lattes and other specialty coffee beverages can also be readied in a best possible manner using the automatic espresso coffee makers.

What do automatic espresso machines offer? If convenience and assurance of perfect cups of espresso, cappuccino, latte and other special coffee drink is what is desired about coffee machines then perhaps nothing else can rival the automatic espresso machines. The automatic espresso machines are well suited for serving the large scale demand for premium espresso drinks at cafeterias as also for appropriately meeting the demand at home. There are automatic espresso coffee maker models that not only grind the beans but also dose and tamp the coffee grounds and finally pull a perfect shot of espresso to be delivered to you.

Learning about today's superior automatic espresso machines The acclaimed automatic espresso machines of the day may seem to be pretty costly. However, glancing upon the number of features that they don will reveal that they are actually well worth the prices on them. Some of the top automatic espresso machines of the day are:

• Delonghi Magnifica Automatic Espresso Machine: This particular Delonghi espresso machine can provide you with the ultimate espresso experience. This has an integrated burr grinder that does the work of grinding the coffee beans too. The wand and milk frothing chamber that are constituents of the espresso machine help make cappuccinos easier to make. There are separate controls set for regulation of coffee and water quantity. The Delonghi espresso machine model makes possible the customization of shots.
• Capresso C1000 Coffee & Espresso Machine: This model not only qualifies as a great espresso coffee machine of choice but also as a coffee maker par excellence capable of preparing a host of special coffee drinks including cappuccino, latte etc. The water filtration unit that the product features is an added bonus.
• Saeco Charisma Automatic Espresso Machine: This is an excellent espresso machine model that helps prepare fine espresso with simply the push of a button. It is also capable of cleaning itself up. The grinder that comes accompanied is a fine conical burr grinder having eighteen fineness settings. This way one can be more accurate with the grind.
• Bosch Benevenuto Gourmet Super Automatic Espresso Machine: All the desirable features of espresso machines can be found in this Bosch model. The controls are also easy to use and the machines have a back-lit screen through which it can be found out what the machine does. The time when the need for cleaning the machine arises can also be checked out as also the time when the need for emptying the used grounds arises. Simple hot water can be dispensed by the machine too when tea or hot chocolate or some such other hot beverage is what is desired.
• Solis Master 5000 Super Automatic Espresso Machine: Though this comes as a compact unit, it offers a host of useful features and functionalities. This is a powerful machine that ensures delivery of a shot of fine espresso within seconds. A frothing wand and large water reservoir makes it possible for this machine to make up to 20 cups of coffee.

The automatic espresso machine for setting up at the home or organization needs to be thoughtfully chosen. It is upon reflection on the specific needs that are to be met that the espresso machine is to be purchased from among the available models. After all the automatic espresso machine will involve the making of a big investment and it needs to be ascertained that such venture does not turn out to be a wasteful expenditure. Special emphasis needs to be made on the utilities of the various features and technicalities of the model opted for.

Research work about the health effects of coffee has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 25 years. One outcome of this phenomenon was that health workers consistently warned the public that drinking the beverage habitually might be unsafe. More recent studies suggest, however, that coffee may actually be more beneficial than harmful to health. That should be news for the myriad throughout the world who consume it.

Caffeine, the primary ingredient of coffee, is considered a mild pick-me-up that counts raised blood pressure, increased heart rate, and occasional irregular heartbeats among its immediate effects. Of late, researchers have been veering toward the view that these physiological reactions are by far insignificant and transient.

What they are increasingly recognizing from empirical data is that coffee is a drink that has an assortment of potential health benefits to offer. There is evidence, for example, that coffee reduces the risk for colon cancer if consumed at the rate of four cups a day -- not the most salutary effect you can cite considering that intake at such an amount can easily lead to greater ills. But there are other, more pertinent findings that depict coffee, even at moderate consumption levels, as a protagonist rather than a culprit in human health.

Like wine, coffee has antioxidants that get rid of free radicals in the blood and consequently lower the risk of heart disease and some types of cancers. A number of studies showed that the concentration of antioxidants in coffee is higher than that in tomatoes, apples or cranberries. Some scientists point out, however, that fruits and vegetables have an edge, as far as being sources of essential vitamins, minerals and fiber is concerned.

Research works from China present strong evidence that coffee can diminish the effects of Parkinson's disease. Two scientific reports, one from the U.S. and the other from Scandinavia, indicate that both decaffeinated and regular coffee lessen the odds for developing type-2 diabetes.

Positive effects of coffee on the digestive system have been observed as well. There is reason to believe from available data that coffee may lessen the chances of developing calculi (stones) in the kidney and the gall bladder. Caffeine is also known to induce the secretion of stomach acids, which improves digestion, or the breakdown of food.

Caffeine has been demonstrated to ease constriction of respiratory airways in asthmatic individuals, if ingested in moderation. Another important ingredient of coffee, theophylline, adds to this salutary effect by acting as a bronchodilator.

Needless to say, there are risks that go with coffee's promise as a health-promoting drink. Some studies draw an association between substantial coffee intake and a tendency toward infertility. (Mammalian spermatozoa, though, have been found to swim much better in coffee-laced fluids.) A possible connection between increased consumption of coffee and higher blood levels of homocysteine, a suspected risk factor for coronary heart disease, has also been demonstrated. Some studies point to an increase in low-density lipoprotein ("bad" cholesterol) as a result of drinking coffee. How significant these factors are in helping to cause heart attack is subject to debate.

Most coffees made by the European way of boiling ground beans contain cafestol, a substance said to have the effect of raising the levels of cholesterol in humans. Many Americans, however, like their coffee percolated or filtered, processes which remove cafestol, except in the case of decaf.

Women coffee drinkers have been found to have lower calcium levels and bone mineral densities than non-consumers. And those that take four or more cups a day double their risk of contracting urinary incontinence.

On the whole -- and most people will now probably agree -- the beneficial impact of coffee on health outweighs its potentially adverse effects, at least when consumed in judicious amounts. Coffee guzzlers might want to reduce their caffeine intake by substituting with colas. One ounce of your regular cola contains only one-third the caffeine found in coffee of the same quantity. But Coke in place of a Latte? The switch doesn't sound like it's worth the sacrifice in flavor and in number of health benefits.

Triangle tea bags? Square tea bags? Round tea bags? Does it really matter? I just want to drink my tea...

Yes, triangle tea bags matter because not only do you get a better quality tea, you also get a better infusion.

Let me explain how this is.

In a triangle tea bag, there is more space than in a round or square tea bag. That means that actual tea leaves and buds can be put into the tea bag. And because there is more space, the tea leaves and tea buds can infuse properly when you pour the hot water on the tea bag.

You might be asking yourself what I mean when I say actual tea leaves... let me explain.

Inside the round and square tea bags, you will find very, very, very small pieces of the tea leaves. Those are the fragments of the tea leaves that are left after they have been dried, as some of the tea leaves do break during the drying process.

Does that sound like quality tea to you? It doesn't to me.

When you look at the description of tea and what the tea leaves, buds, etc., are like, they are talking about actual tea leaves and tea buds. And that's what you don't have in those square and round tea bags.

The tea companies could put the whole leaf and the bud inside the square and round tea bags, but those tea bags don't have enough space. Because of their lack of space, your tea is unable infuse properly.

Now, if you just want to drink tea and don't really mind the square/round tea bags vs. the triangle tea bags, then don't worry about it.

As for those of you who do want to get the most benefits out of tea, and who want to drink quality tea, triangle tea bags are the way to go nowadays.

Almost everyone enjoys a first-class meal in a four star hotel or restaurant; the memory of a fine dining experience is one that lasts.

With a friend or loved one spending 2-3 hours in a first-class establishment can mark an anniversary, promotion, engagement, birthday or any number of occasions that deserve remembrance. Sitting in a richly paneled dining room with soft light, low music, a fine wine and delicious food topped by world-class service and a breathtaking view is a very pleasurable experience. If the meal is prepared and served correctly, very few diners will object to the high cost of the meal—indeed, many people believe a higher price reinforces the quality of the meal.

The Market is Competitive:

Fine dining restaurants, whether they stand alone or are found in a four or five star hotel, face very stiff competition. Quality chefs and maître d's are paid generous salaries and bonuses and rating agencies like Zagat and the Washingtonian are constantly evaluating fine dining establishments; the loss of one's rating can mean disaster.

The lodging industry is particularly competitive as hotels focus on customer service and satisfaction to discriminate their room offering from that of the competition.

Tea After the Meal:

World-class dining is an activity where attention to detail or lack of attention can ruin an otherwise good meal. If the service is slow or the food is not prepared perfectly, dissatisfaction is immediate particularly for high priced meals. Dissatisfied customers by word of mouth alone can damage an otherwise stellar reputation of a fine dining establishment.

One area that is often overlooked is the tea service at the end of the meal. Many restaurants offer the best coffee or espresso but overlook the serious tea drinker. Many restaurants end up serving a tea bag from a box with limited choices and then serve the bag in a cup of lukewarm water. High-quality tea must be steeped properly to ensure the proper preparation. In order to get the maximum out of tea steeping, whole leaf tea should be used; the taste and richness of the whole leaf is well presented during the steeping process.

Tea in bags, even whole leaf tea in bags, cannot compare to properly infused whole leaf tea. This is particularly true when the whole leaves have a chance to properly unfurl in a tea infuser instead of a cramped tea bag.

Tea bags are convenient and fast but many tea suppliers now offer large capacity or single service infusers and tea pots that not only provide the dining customer with quality tea but also can be private labeled with the brand of the hotel or restaurant.

Loose Leaf Tea is Gaining in Popularity

High-quality loose leaf tea is becoming more popular with fine dining restaurants and hotels as a way to complete the perfect meal and convince the customer that their presence is very much appreciated. The secret is a close arrangement between the restaurant as wholesaler and tea supplier as a provider of the highest quality loose leaf tea and teaware that will support the restaurant in serving its customers.

The Wholesaler – Supplier Relationship

The restaurant, as wholesaler, adds value by serving the best tea to its clientele as part of a perfect meal. The supplier serves the wholesaler by providing only quality products that are fairly priced with a substantial discount to encourage the wholesaler to carry its products. After-sale customer service on the part of the supplier is also critical.

It is not enough for the supplier to sell the products and walk away leaving the wholesaler to stand alone to deal with any potential problems. The wholesaler and supplier must cooperate with one another in order to satisfy a demanding fine dining market.

Coffee used to be just coffee. You used to have a choice of either black or white, with or without caffeine. Today when you decide which coffee beverage to indulge in choosing a coffee beverage can be very confusing. Some of your choices may be: an Espresso, a Latte, Mocha, an Iced coffee, or a Cappuccino. In Chicago they have a very strong special coffee which is very popular amongst the locals which is called Intelligencia coffee. It is a very potent coffee which is full of flavour and can be purchased almost anywhere even at gas stations and convenience stores. The best coffee house in my opinion is in Illinois and can be found at 3123 North Broadway Street.

The History Of The Cup Of Coffee

The coffee beverage was first consumed back in 1000A.D. but the first coffee shop didn't open until the year 1475. In 1601 coffee finally made it to North America. In the year 1668 the coffee beverage became New York's favorite breakfast beverage in place of beer and is now know around the world as a breakfast drink that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.

You can buy coffee beans and grind them yourself or you can but them packaged already ground for you. The coffee beverage is also available in single packs much like tea bags, for those who don't want to wait for the coffee beverage to brew, there are instant granules. There are also powdered versions of cappuccinos as well.

There can be a few factors to consider when choosing the best coffee. Depending on your mood, the time of day and where you are will help you get your coffee fix. If your in a hurry and don't have time to stop in a gourmet coffee shop then you might want to go to a drive thru which can be found in coffee house in Chicago. There you will get the tried and true coffee beverage. Here are a couple of Chicago coffee houses you could try.

6 Corners Coffee Shop


4022 N Milwaukee


Chicago

Bridgeport Coffee House


3100 S Morgan


Chicago

Metropolis


1039 West Granville Avenue


Chicago