Thoughts On Russian Caravan May 14 2015

The term Russian Caravan was given to Chinese teas, oolong and keemun (Camellia sinensis) which made a thousands of mile journey by camel to Europe through Russia. The journey was months long and the teas would pick up scents, such as from fauna and campfires, along the way. Thus the name arose, Russian Caravan.

Now of course, we do not send our Russian Caravan blend via camel on this trip to get that woodsy, smokey flavor any longer so instead our blend adds the wonderful pine chip fire dried lapsing soughing, giving our Russian Caravan that smoky flavor. Woodsy assam is then added to compliment the smokiness with a floral and fauna taste. Awesome!

Recipes By Rich: Chai Tea Salmon January 15 2015

 

Cured or Smoked Salmon has always been a favorite in my family, especially around the Holidays or special occasions where there tends to be a beautiful platter of appetizers, cold meats and cheeses. It is almost a certainty that when I see a Salmon and Bagel plate on a brunch or breakfast menu, that is what I am going for.

You will need:
2 sheet pans - equal sized cookie sheets work best
Aluminum Foil
Plastic Wrap
Weights such as 3-4 large cans of Tomatoes or a Brick
A very sharp and thin slicing knife

This Chai Cured Salmon is incredibly simple to make, has a wonderful hint of spice from the Chai and is an elegant and versatile addition to breakfasts, brunches, lunches, appetizers and more. Get a nice fatty piece with the skin still on from your local fishmonger and tell them you'll be curing it. They will pick out a nice piece for you.

Ingredients:
1.5 to 2 lb Fresh Salmon Fillet (I used Atlantic Salmon for this recipe)
1 cup Kosher Salt
1/2 cup Turbinado Sugar
3/4 cup Too Soul Tea Original Chai

Directions:
Rinse the Fillet and pat completely dry on both sides. Overlap a cookie sheet with Aluminum Foil. Make sure you have enough to completely fold and seal the Salmon as a package when complete. Then, line the foil with Plastic Wrap.

Mix the Salt, Sugar and Chai Tea well in a bowl and then spread a medium thick layer on the Plastic Wrap and place the Salmon skin side down on the Salt cure mixture. Take the remaining mixture and pack tightly around the top side of the Salmon.

Fold the Plastic Wrap tightly around the Salmon to create a package and then do the same with the Aluminum Foil. Place the second cookie sheet on top of the Salmon and place flat on a shelf in the refrigerator. Weight the top down with a brick or several cans of tomatoes or something similarly heavy.

Cure the Salmon in the refrigerator for 48 to 72 hours.

Remove Foil and Plastic Wrap and rinse well under cool water in the sink. Gently pat completely dry. The Salmon will have developed a slightly rubbery top crust. This is easily removed with a few parallel slices with your sharp knife.

Slice the Salmon in very thin strips keeping your knife at only a very slight angle to the fish. Serve immediately.

Suggested accompaniments:
Rye bread with Creme Fraiche, Dill and a squeeze of Lemon
Bagels, Cream Cheese, Thinly Sliced Red Onion and Bagel
Scrambled Eggs and Buckwheat Pancakes
Quinoa with Lemon Zest
Pasta with Capers and Cream Sauce

Recipe conceived and happily tested by Too Soul's In-House Chef, Richard Soucie

Three Great Ways To Save December 17 2014

This December, Too Soul is offering three ways to save and you can save big! 

First, we have $3 shipping for all orders! The 3 dollar shipping option is automatically selected for you during the checking out process. It's that easy! This applies to orders up to 25 pounds.

Second, we have 25% off items in our Holiday Tea Collection. During the checkout process you type in HOLIDAY where your are asked Have a discount code? Click here to enter it . The 25% will be taken off applicable Holiday Collection items.

Thirdly, if you have an order of $65 or more, you can input the discount code JOLLY during checkout and receive $10 off your order. You can only choose one discount code per order. Coupon codes are NOT case specific.

Cheers!

4 New Blends Added To Our Extensive Menu December 17 2014

 

We have unveiled 4 new blends available now online. First up is a duo of Passionfruit blends: Passionfruit Green and Passionfruit White. Passionfruit is just one of those things that makes your day. Passionfruit Green is Young Hyson based and the Passionfruit White has the beautiful base of our lovely Shou Mei. As is often the case, depending on your mood or maybe the season, both are great hot or iced.

Another unveiling is that of our Zesty Lemon Green, which has a wonderful "ka pow" of lemon added to our Young Hyson. This blend is great to snuggle up with by the fireplace or equally great iced in accompanying you through an art festival on a warm summer's day.

Finally, a Holiday blend that is great anytime but especially on cold days, this is our organic Holiday Blend Rooibos. Since it's Rooibos, no caffeine means anytime enjoyment. It's our Rooibos with cinnamon and vanilla hints. Serves well as a stand alone brew but try a little honey and a wedge of lemon for a yummy twist.

Now you can enjoy these in the store or anywhere else. And through the month of December, use the coupon code JOLLY and $10 will come off your order of $65 or more. Happy Holidays.

1st Annual RENO UPRIGHT CRAWL September 18 2014

Please join us on October 19, 2014 for the First Annual Reno Upright Crawl. It’s like a pub crawl but alcohol free — fun for the whole family!

Purchase a ticket anytime before 3 pm October 19th, 2014 at Too Soul Tea or at N-RAP [Nevada's Recovery and Prevention community - 775.784.6224 - and www.nvrap.com] on the University of Nevada Reno (UNR) campus. Then bring your ticket to any and all of the participating businesses on October 19th between 11am and 3pm, have the ticket 'punched' and receive your goodies, raffle tickets, food, beverages and more. A band will play during the event at Too Soul Tea Co. 

Ticket prices are: In advance, Adults $12, KIds (12 and under and students with ID) $8 - Day Of, Adults $15, KIds (12 and under and students with ID) $10. Contact Too Soul Tea at customerservice@toosoultea.com for more information or you may also email renouprightcrawl@gmail.com.

This year's proceeds will go to STEP 2 in Reno, a comprehensive residential and outpatient treatment program that provides women struggling to overcome substance abuse, poverty and family violence the opportunity to rebuild their lives. More info at http://step2reno.org.

We thank you.

 

Our Recently Added Teas / Blends August 29 2014

We have recently added to our list Strawberry Green, Citrus Peppermint Herbal and Casablanca Earl Grey. Depending on your mood, all are great iced or hot but we've added the Strawberry Green and Citrus Peppermint to the "On Ice" category and the aromatic Casablanca Earl Grey blend to the awaken category. Search them on our site to learn more. Enjoy!

Reno MidTown Art Walk July 24 2014

Our Reno Cafe is part of the sixth annual MidTown Art Walk which is the evening of July 24, from 4pm 'till 9pm. More than 60 Midtown business are participating this year, which means each one opens their doors even further and hosts local artists. Thousands annually follow a map of midtown and visit these businesses.

This year, Too Soul has Milton Merlos, a fantastic flamenco guitarist (www.miltonmerlos.com) and Kate Schmidt displaying her creative book art (www.thefoldedword.com). Have fun and enjoy all that Reno has to offer.

Too Soul Tea, Co. Official Vendor in MidTown Art Walk 2014   

Rooibos – South African Bush Tea Goes Big But Threatened June 11 2014

The rooibos plant, Aspalathus linearis, is only found in a small region in the Western Cape province of South Aftrica. Dating back to the 17^th century, European travelers noted, such as Swedish naturalist Carl Thunberg, that locals in this region made a tea from this rooibus, or “red bush”. Also known as “bush tea”, the needle like leaves of this member of the legume family were, for generations, picked, bundled for transport from hilltops, then chopped and dried in preparation for bush tea.

At the beginning of the 20^th century a settler to the Cape decided to oxidize the leaves in the typical fashion, which gives the brew its red colour but also mimicked traditional Chinese methodologies of making a fine Keemun by fermenting the leaves in barrels.

Having no caffeine and seemingly soothing effects on the stomach, rooibos tea has often been prescribed for infantile colic. The popularity of rooibos has grown dramatically in the US just in the last 10 to 20 years. In fact, according to The Green Pharmacy, at the time of printing in 1997 rooibos could unfortunately be found in only selective herb stores. We, however, have it for you - today.

Rooibos is high in antioxidants, it’s another good bedtime favorite (it’s soothing) and also might be linked with the reduction of bad LDL cholesterol levels. So health benefits, and tastes great. Another great tea!

The future of the red bush however is in doubt. Because it is only found in the one small South African region and it seems not to grow in other regions on the planet, the threat due to climate change poses as threat to this plant. Increased temperatures and lessoning rainfalls have people worried. Certainly the cultivation industry is concerned but so too are those of us who don't wish to lose such a beneficial plant.

Recipes By Rich: Too Soul Oolong Pork Loin June 10 2014

 

Too Soul Oolong Pork Loin
Makes two large pork loins

Ingredients:
2 large pork loins
1 1/4 cups Loose Leaf Oolong Tea
2 Tbsp Loose Leaf Oolong Tea
1 Tsp. Whole Fennel Seed
1 Cup Long Grain White Rice
Kosher Salt (to taste)
3/4 cup Light Brown Sugar
Water

Brine the pork loin one day in advance.
Add 6 quarts of water to a large pot or container in which the two pork loins can lay next to each other.
Add 3/4 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup kosher salt, 1 teaspoon fennel seed and 2 tablespoons Too Soul Tea Company loose leaf Oolong
Stir vigorously until sugar and salt have thoroughly dissolved
Add pork loins - they should be fully submerged in the brining solution. If not, add a bit of water to cover or change containers to one more suitable to the task.
Put in refrigerator and let brine overnight.

Prepare foil smoking packets -
Pull two 15 inch sheets of aluminum and lay them on top of each other. In the center, mound one cup of the rice, 3/4 of a cup of brown sugar and 1 1/4 cups of Oolong tea. Fold the package up loosely so that smoke can escape.

Prepare the grill.
For this recipe, I used a standard charcoal grill and indirect heat.
Once the coals are bright red and ready to use, pile them up on one side of the grill and place the smoke packet on top of the coals.
Place the loins on the opposite side of the grill and cover the grill with its lid. Open the vents to approximately 1/4 or 1/2 way open.

DO NOT LIFT LID FOR A MINIMUM OF 35 MINUTES. You should observe a heavy cloud of smoke which will begin to thin out and eventually become a mere trickle of wisp. After about 35-40 minutes your pork loins should be ready. Although safe to eat at 145 degrees, they will taste better if you cook them up to approximately 160-165 degrees ensuring that the Oolong smoke has had time to impart as much flavor as possible to the meat.

Remove from grill and let rest for 5-7 minutes and ENJOY.

 

Recipe conceived and happily tested by Too Soul's In-House Chef, Richard Soucie

Recipes By Rich: Too Soul Tea Honeybush Flank steak May 28 2014

 

Too Soul Tea Honeybush Tea Flank Steak with Sichuan Peppercorn

With this dish, you will deliver to your delighted guests, awesome flank steak with a floral zing from the Sichuan Peppercorns, accented with the Too Soul Tea marinade bringing with it sweet, tangy floral notes. A pleaser for the steak lovers.

Ingredients:
1lb flank Steak
4-5 tsps Too Soul Honeybush Tea
¼ Red Onion
Sichuan Peppercorns
Olive Oil
8 oz. Balsamic Vinigar
Salt
Corn or Potato Starch as needed

 

Recipe:
To prepare a marinade for the flank steak.
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add 5-6 teaspoons of Too Soul Tea Honeybush Tea. Let cool leaving tea in the liquid.
Finely dice the 1/4 red onion
Place flank steak in a shallow baking dish, add red onion and cover with tea leaving tea in the marinade. Reserve the marinade.
Let steak marinade 4-6 hours or overnight covered in the refrigerator.
Remove meat and allow to return to room temperature. Pat dry and rub with olive oil.
Sprinkle with Salt and generously season with ground Sichuan Peppercorn

To prepare the sauce:
In a small sauce pot, reduce 8 ounces of balsamic vinegar to approximately 1/4 the volume or the consistency of pancake syrup.
Strain the marinade free of tea leaves and red onion.

In a separate pot, bring the marinade to a full rolling boil and reduce to approximately 1 cup.
Add 2 full teaspoons of the balsamic syrup you made to the tea reduction and whisk vigorously bringing to a boil. Add additional balsamic as needed but be careful not to overpower the floral notes of the tea.

Reduce mixture further and add cornstarch / water slurry as needed to thicken.

Prepare the grill:
Prepare gas or charcoal grill for medium high direct heat with space for indirect cooking.
Grill the flank steak on direct heat on both sides to produce a nice crust on the outside and then move to indirect heat. Follow normal cooking procedures to get flank steak to your desired temperature. Approximately 4-5 minutes per side for Medium.
Carve into thin slices against the grain of the meat.

Serve with the sauce. 

Have a steamed vegetable of your choice on the side with your favorite beverage and Enjoy!

Recipe conceived and happily tested by Rich Soucie

Street Fair At Too Soul Tea Saturday May 17th, 2014 May 15 2014

This Saturday we're having our 2nd annual Old Southwest Street Fair at our shop (11am - 6pm) with the Reno Bead Shop next door, Blue Moon Pizza, El Salvador Taqueria, Newman's Deli, Bibo Coffee, Sundance Books and The Nevada Museum of Art just steps away.

40 Vendors, arts, crafts, food and fun. Last year's was absolutely wonderful. Park-like setting, wander through the alleys of booths, fun and laughter and great weather. We'll have our 100+ great teas, our signature coffee roasts, locally baked goods and additional food offerings. Other local businesses are steps away like The Nevada Museum of Art, Blue Moon Pizza, Newman's Deli, The Reno Bead Shop, The Biggest Little City Club, Bibo Coffee and Sundance Books. Last year was great and this year will be no different than last - that is, except even more fun! We'll see you there.

Yerba Mate: Centuries of Conversation and Stimulation May 09 2014

Very popular as a conversational drink in Latin countries for centuries, yerba mate, or mate (ma-tay), is a tea made from the young leaves and tender shoots of Ilex paraguensis, an evergreen tree in the Holly family.

Traditionally consumed from curiously shaped hollowed out gourds with a special metal straw, a bombilla, the brew and is very popular with all ages in Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina and other Spanish speaking countries and is a reason for getting together with friends. Traditionally the group of people partaking in the mate while seated in a circle, would pass the gourd, also called a mate, around returning it to the brewer, the one who brought the mate, for it to be refilled with hot water when the mate runs dry.

It is also consumed at breakfast, throughout the day and for afternoon tea, often accompanied by sweet pastries. It is also prepared as a cold drink combined with fruit juice and also as a soda.

As for the stimulating effects of yerba mate, yerba being ‘herb’, and why it doesn’t have the potentially jittery effects of typical more caffeinated teas and coffees, is because of the xanthines (zan-theens) in yerba mate. Caffeine, a xanthine itself, is present in the mate but it is also accompanied by two other xanthines of which this combination actually delivers a soothing effect on soft muscle tissues and a slight stimulating to myocardial (heart) tissue. So, there you have it, the perk without the jerk.

The cultivation of yerba mate is an important industry especially in Brazil and Paraguay, and the brew itself initially of ancient Native American origin, is and has quickly gained in popularity in the United States and other parts of the world.

What Exactly Is Chamomile? May 08 2014

Chamomile is the name given to a variety of plants in the Aster family. A European herb, Anthemis Nobilis, the English or "Roman" chamomile has an applelike aroma and the tea for which it’s named is made from the dried flower heads of this plant.

It is commonly used to assist in sleep as chamomile has anxiolytic properties that are calming and can aid in overall relaxation. Chamomile does not contain caffeine.

Chamomile is also used in skin cosmetics as an emollient and for its anti-inflammatory effects. Though a beneficial herb because of the calming effects it has, pregnant women should not have chamomile, according to the National Institute of Health because it might cause uterine contractions unnecessarily.

Relax with this infusion on a rainy day and enjoy a good book. 

Change for Change Fundraiser April 28 2014

We wish to say thank you to everyone who participated in the Change for Change fundraiser!

Too Soul was able to raise the most out of all the businesses who participated so thank you so much to all of our lovely customers! There was a total of $352.91, enough for a young girl’s education in Kenya for an entire year! Thank you to our community!