An old shape for a new tea bag

OK, we've seen square tea bags, round tea bags, flow-through tea bags ... and now we have pyramidal tea bags.

They're the newest marketing idea for Celestial Seasonings' line of Saphara teas.

Says CS's public relations folk, the "silken pyramid bags are specially designed to allow water to flow around the ingredients, giving them room to expand and revealing the depth and complexity of the flavors. The entire Saphara package is made from biodegradable materials including the pyramid bags, string, tag, overwrap and carton."

Saphara comes in six flavors:

• White tea with schizandra, a Chinese shrub that produces small, red edible berries.
• Mango ginger green tea.
• Gen mai cha, which is made with toasted brown rice.
• Premier Estate assam.
• Tropical rooibos, a South African shrub.
• Black currant hibuscus.

For more detailed descriptions of these teas, go here.

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Introducing, the self-stirring tea cup

Americans, take heart. We're deep into an age of self-loathing because of our propensity for being overweight. However, the United Kingdom has overtaken us on that score according to recent scientific studies.

That may get worse if a new gadget made by the French design firm Ana Gram catches on.

Their self-stirring teacup was unveiled at the recent London Design Festival. Its designers plan to introduce the cup, called Ceramic For Mix, to bars and restaurants in Europe as well as the U.S..

As shown in the illustration above, obtained by the London Daily Mail, a ceramic ball is placed in a slightly protruding base to keep it in place when stirring and drinking. The user gently moves the cup, like swirling wine in a glass, and the movement moves the ball around, mixing sugar, milk or whatever with the tea.

Will the ball drop out when the user is sipping rather than swirling? Nope. That's where centrifugal force and gravity come into play to keep the ball in place.

So, how lazy are we that stirring needs to be automated? Stay tuned to find out.

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To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Non-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

Check these two tea blogs

I've been periodically looking in on a pair of tea blogs I think you might enjoy.

They are "Tea Scoop" and "The Tea Addict's Journal," and you can access them by scrolling down at the right and finding "More Refreshing Links."

Enjoy.