Steeping Around

In our final episode of Steeping Around, Manish, Lisa, and a secret guest discuss the show. Where has Steeping Around come from, and where will it be going? And what is the significance of the number 108? Find out, in this final Steeping.

Manish and Lisa discuss the many types of tea-times and relay the history of “low tea”, the famous Victorian tradition. Then, they explain how you can host a tea party of your own, whether you choose to be elaborate or modern in your approach.

Padma Lakshmi of Bravo’s hit TV series Top Chef joins us again this week in a continuing interview about her love of and connection with tea.One of her favorite ways to entertain guests is with tea. How? Tune in to find out. Show 105– Padma Takes On Tea Check out Padma’s line of teas.

This week’s show features a wonderful interview with one of the top celebrities of the culinary world–Padma Lakshmi, of Top Chef! In addition to her expansive knowledge and experience in the world of fine cuisine, Padma knows an awful lot about tea.

We’re talking all things tea, but this time we’re not talking about tea-the-drink, but instead tea as a culinary ingredient. Join Manish and Lisa in a special interview with Chef Ramiro Scavo of Pasco Kitchen & Lounge, as he describes the many ways that tea can make a recipe unforgettable.

We’ve all heard of pairing wine with our favorite foods, but what about tea? This week Manish and Lisa explore the diverse possibilities of tea pairings , from white teas to black teas, and from Asian to Mexican food.

We’re entering the exciting world of tea pairings, and our first is rather unusual: tea and cigars. Did you know that for every tea, there is a perfect cigar to match? Find out the benefits of pairing these two arts of enjoyment and how to make a pair yourself in this exciting show.

We’ve produced over a hundred shows of Steeping Around, and it’s time to party! Join Manish and Lisa in celebrating with this very special, very funny bloopers show. Listen in on all the stuff that gets cut out of the show… for better or for worse! Cheers, and happy anniversary!

Manish and Lisa wrap up our series on tea leaf reading, or tasseomancy, by focusing once again on tea. What type of tea is used? Should it be loose leaf, or can the leaves from tea bags be read as well? And what sorts of shapes and symbols present themselves, what do they mean?

The leaves in the bottom of our cup have a message for us. But–is the fortune that they describe our fate, or have we some say in the matter? Amy Taylor, a professional tea leaf reader, joins us once again to describe the nature of tea leaf readings.

This week, we’re peering deeper into the cup than ever before. Manish and Lisa discuss the art of tea leaf reading, or tasseomancy. What exactly is tasseomancy, and where does it come from? What sorts of things can the leaves reveal?

Manish continues his conversation with Katrina Ávila Munichiello this week, as she asks him about his innovations on chai within his own company. Is there anything that he would never do with chai? Listen as Manish and Lisa wrap up this interview-in-reverse.

We’re starting out the new year with a special interview-in-reverse. Katrina Ávila Munichiello, senior editor of Tea Magazine, requested an interview with Manish about chai, the spiced tea latté that he brought from the motherlands to the palates of American drinkers. This week, Lisa and Manish share that interview with listeners in a spicy new show.

Manish and Lisa are stirring the punchbowl this week, for a special show that is sure to spike up your holidays. Are you in charge of making the holiday punch? Tune in for six crowd-pleasing recipes. Happy holidays! The Spiced and SPIKED Tea Punch that Manish describes in the second segment of the show.

It’s cold season, and we’ve got a classic and delicious way to feel better right away: hot toddies! Manish and Lisa take you through the history of hot toddies, classic recipes, and tea-based versions of the drink. In the third segment, Manish reveals a Maya Tea Toddy, made with our own Original Herbal Chai.

Manish and Lisa sample SahTea beer, a special ale brewed by Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales. Among its many complex flavor notes is... you guessed it, tea! Listen as Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head describes his company, the methodology behind their recipes, and the difference between large and small businesses. Then, go out there and get some Dogfish in your head!

Spike Buckowski of Terrapin Beer Co. joins Manish and Lisa this week to talk about Samurai Krunkles, his very special jasmine tea-infused brew. After Manish and Lisa sample the beer (and catch a buzz!), Spike describes the nature of the beer market, and the difference between beer drinkers and wine drinkers, as he sees it.

Manish and Lisa welcome Blake Collins from Borderlands Brewing Co back to the show to talk all-things tea and beer. Blake describes the vibrant saison he created using hibiscus tea, and discusses the things that inspire him in his brewing. Finally, Manish and Blake discuss the future of tea/beer blends… is there one?

Manish and new co-host Lisa Derfus introduce you to a different kind of brew: beer. They describe the long and complex history of beer and the changes that it has seen over time. In addition, Manish welcomes brewmaster Blake Collins to the show to describe what, exactly, beer is.

We’re back from our eight month hiatus, and we’re ready to dive back into the wonderful world of tea! Manish recaps where we left off in February, as well as the many changes we have seen since. Among them, we welcome a new co-host: the fabulous Lisa Derfus!

Manish’s birthday has got him thinking about the things he is thankful for, and among them, for the good that is done within the tea industry for the tea farmers themselves.

Manish’s birthday is fast approaching, and this week Tere has a surprise in store for him. She has concocted three tea-infused liquors of her own, using her favorites of the Maya Tea selection. Manish and Tere relate the history of liqueurs, and then they begin to taste their own.

Host Manish Shah and show producer Tere Clark launch an exploration into an herb that is usually left to felines: Catnip. In response to a listener email, Manish and Tere sip on large cups of catnip as they discuss the herb’s history, uses, brewing techniques, and most importantly, its effects on human consumers.

Manish and Tere are continuing their month-long celebration this week, in honor of Manish’s birthday and tea-infused spirits. It is 9:30 in the morning, and the two of them have cracked open a bottle of Mother’s Sweet Tea Vodka.

Tere LaBaw enlightens both Manish and the audience this week with her extensive knowledge of mead, or honey wine. She shares a little history and describes what exactly mead is, and even gives listeners a home recipe for tea-infused mead. Then, she and Manish taste test the tea-infused mead made by the Volcano Winery.

Manish and Tere welcome Eva Lee of Tea Hawaii & Co back to the show this week for our third show about “island tea”. Eva describes the four varieties that come from their gardens, as well as where we can find them for sale.

Last week we visited the Azores Islands for a glimpse of Portuguese tea. This week, we are island-hopping. Manish introduces Eva Lee of Tea Hawaii & Co, who grows tea on the island of Hawaii. The two discuss the history of tea in the Hawaiian islands.

Manish and Tere continue their exploration of tea origins this week, shedding light on the places that we ordinarily don’t associate with tea plantations. A few weeks ago they spoke about Kenyan teas, and this week it’s off to Europe–Portugal, to be specific.

Manish is back from India and returns as host this week to Steeping Around. As he muses on the changes that India has seen in the past fifteen years, he and Tere reflect on the past twelve months of Steeping Around and, specifically, on last year’s New Year’s resolutions.

This week guest host Tere LaBaw shares the final portion of her interview with Manish. In the decade that Maya Tea has been in business, both the company and Manish, its owner, have experienced exponential growth. Learn how Maya Tea went from survival mode to the stable, thriving company that it is today.

Tere hosts the show again this week, in continuation of last week’s interview with Manish. Find out exactly how many jobs Manish juggles day to day, and how he manages to make it all look so easy. Then, in the second segment, Tere digs a little deeper into Manish’s personal life.

While Manish is in India, Tere is hosting the show, and this week we’re talking origins. But rather than discussing the origins of tea, we are exploring Manish’s own origins. Tere interviews Manish about his journey from India to Tucson.

Joy Njuguna of Royal Tea of Kenya joins Manish and Tere once again in an exploration of Kenyan tea. This week, Joy introduces us to her company and her line of teas, which Manish and Tere were given the opportunity to try at the World Tea Expo.

What does Kenyan tea and family have in common? Everything. Manish’s own family joins him on the show this week to talk about their Thanksgiving, and in keeping with the theme, Manish and Tere revisit an interview with Joy Njuguna of Royal Tea of Kenya.

This Thanksgiving, Manish and Tere welcome G.T. Dave of Synergy Drinks back to the show. Manish and G.T. discover how much they have in common as they reminisce about the early days of business and the paths they have followed. Each began with a vision that sustains them today, something surely to be thankful for.

Manish and Tere welcome GT Dave of Synergy Drinks back to the show to discuss the various health benefits of Kombucha tea. GT tells the story of Kombucha and his own family, the way that it helped his mother in dealing with cancer, and the general health effects of the fermented tea.

Manish and Tere butt heads this week, and they talk about their preferences for both Halloween festivities and Kombucha, a fermented tea that neither had tried before. Never heard of Kombucha? Well don’t worry–Manish welcomes G.T. Dave, owner of Synergy Drinks, to the show to introduce listeners to the mysterious tea drink.

Manish and Tere respond to four listener emails this week: Why are there vast differences in Yunnan varieties? Is there actually less caffeine in white tea? How long do the effects of L-theanine last? The third email is not a question, but a comment, listen to this weeks episode to find out what it is.

Manish and Tere have both just recovered from colds, and this week they’re going to tell us how they’ve done it. Tea of all types can be helpful in both preventing colds and alleviating their symptoms. With winter approaching and the cold season coming on, this is a show you don’t want to miss!

We’ve spent several weeks talking about the ways that tea can benefit your health, but until now it has all been about the physical body. The mind and spirit are two crucial aspects of overall health, and fortunately tea targets them as much as our organs and tissues.

The majority of questions that we get about tea and health involve four specific ailments, and this week Manish and Tere answer them. Dr. LowDog visits the show once again to share her wealth of knowledge about tea and its effects on weight loss, diabetes, and cholesterol.

Manish and Tere are diving back into tea and health this week, specifically tea’s old-time uses. Did you know that tea has been traditionally used for loose bowels, burns, and dental care? Manish welcomes Dr. LowDog back to the show to discuss these surprising remedies.

After four grueling (but fun!) weeks of tea and its healthy constituents, Manish and Tere take a break to answer a stack of emails from listeners. Among this week’s questions: What is Monkey-Picked oolong? How about Dragon Pearls? How does “fair-trade” relate to tea? And finally, how many antioxidants do I need?

This week, Manish and Tere discuss an amazingly groovy amino acid. What’s so groovy about theanine? Just ask your doctor. Better yet, we’ve got one for you: Manish welcomes Dr. LowDog back to the show to describe exactly what makes L-theanine so spectacular.

Manish and the new Tere LaBaw dive into a stimulating discussions on tea and health: stimulants. In addition to caffeine, two specific xanthines in tea help to keep us alert and healthy. As a special guest, Manish welcomes Dr. Tieraona LowDog to the show.

We’ve all heard of antioxidants, but what are they? Why are they so important? What is the best way to get them? Manish answers these questions and more as he talks about EGCG: the powerhouse of health in tea. Unprocessed white teas, such as White Peony, are an excellent source of antioxidants, including EGCG.

This week marks the first in a series of shows on tea and health. Manish Shah takes you back to the good ol’ days of tea, in fact the good very old days of tea, when it was first discovered and its many health benefits were first noted.

It is one week before producer Tere Clark becomes Mrs. Tere Lebaw, and in celebration Manish has taken her to tea. Manish and Tere record this week from the Chantilly Tea Room, where they delight in tasty treats and “Wedding Tea” as they discuss wedding traditions and upcoming nuptials. Congratulations, Tere!

It is good, strong women that make Maya Tea the smooth-running and vibrant company that it is, so owner and host Manish Shah appreciates such women when he comes across them. Just such an example is Suzan Sculatti of the Tea Time Trading Company, whose brilliant One-Touch Teapot is turning heads across the world.

Peering into products and people reveals great use and great potential. This week, Manish and Tere take a deeper look at the gadget that won “best accessory” at the 2010 World Tea Expo. What is the Squeezmo, and why do you need one?