Beyond Brews: 8 Genius Household Uses Of Tea Bags

Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage.

Tea, as we see it today, has covered a long voyage of 5000 years to become a symbol of freshness and rejuvenation in our lives. However, the journey of tea bags began only in 1908, still long before the option to buy organic green tea online came into existence. 

The invention of tea bags was one of the biggest events in the evolution of our favourite beverage.

Origin of tea bags

Roberta C. Lawson, Mary McLaren of Milwaukee, and Wisconsin received the first known patent for the tea bag in 1903. The apparatus was known as a "Tea Leaf Holder." However, in 1908 to save money, Thomas Sullivan, a New York tea importer, decided to distribute samples of tea to clients in tiny silk bags. He was confident that his clients would break open the silk bags and take out the actual tea. But instead of doing so, his customers just dropped the tiny, silk bags into the boiling water and they began ordering tea in these easy-to-dip bags. And this little accident is how tea got its long-time companion in tea bags.

Now, a quick question: what do you do with these tea bags after brewing a warm cup of tea? Usually, we discard the tea bag into the garbage. But what if we tell you, your Wagh Bakri Premium tea bag carries a host of benefits outside the mug just as they do inside it? As it turns out tea bags contain an abundance of organic matter that can be upcycled after it has served you a fresh cuppa.

So let's explore the way to put our used tea bags to work, instead of tossing them out.

Ways To Reuse Tea Bags

1) Glass cleaner:

Do you have trouble achieving a clear, glossy finish on your glass or mirror? Damp tea bags can be used to clean the surface and then wiped off with a dry, lint-free cloth. Dirt, fingerprints, and sticky substances on your bathroom mirror, large sliding glass doors or even stove tops will be cleaned easily with tea bags.

2) Prevent rust on cookware

Tea bags have tannins or water-soluble compounds which stop metal pots and pans from forming rust. After each wash, simply massage the cookware surface with a moist, used tea bag to get everything back in working order.

3) Degrease dirty dishes

Having difficulties in removing the grime from a pan’s bottom? The organic green tea bags you ordered online can help.

Place tea bags in the dishes, then pour boiling water into them and let them sit for a while. The remnants that are anchored at the bottom will be easier to remove without the use of harsh chemicals.

4) Eliminate funky fridge smell

While you might typically use baking soda to freshen out your refrigerator, tea bags can accomplish the same task. Put a few tea bags in a bowl and place them in a hidden spot in the refrigerator. They efficiently absorb the scents and let the odours disappear.

Every few days, change the bags for a fresher-smelling fridge.

Continue reading

Healthy Snacks You Must Try With Green Tea

Green is the new “tast-ea”

Of all the teas, green tea is considered one of the healthiest. We already explored how it can also be one of the most delicious beverages when paired with additives like honey and lemon. But do you know, pairing it with some healthy snacks is also a great alternative to make your green tea extra flavourful? Yes, it's true!

So, before you rush to buy green tea online and pair it with all kinds of luscious snacks, here is a little insight into some healthy appetisers to complement your healthy beverage.

Why pairing green tea with snacks can be a wonderful idea

There are numerous health benefits of green tea. Moreover, it not only has a grassy flavour but also is an extremely versatile and flexible beverage. Its vegetal taste can be enhanced with a variety of flavourful snacks. And this pairing can help you strengthen and accentuate the flavour of both the tea and the snack. Don’t just eat anything with your green tea, rather read the blog and find the correct combination to enjoy it! So, shop premium green tea bags online, and pair that hot cup of green tea with the following snacks.

Snacks to pair with green tea

1. Muesli bars:

Looking for something delicious and healthy but not too sweet, then Muesli bars can make excellent snacks for you. Muesli is a breakfast dish that is a combination of healthy ingredients like nuts, dried fruits, seeds, and oats. A bar made of all the compressed muesli ingredients is a muesli bar.

These bars, apart from being a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fibre, are relatively inexpensive and pack a nutritious punch. Their easy-to-carry compact size and deliciousness qualify them for the ultimate snack test. Hence, muesli bars are a natural pairing for your green tea and can help you feel full and satisfied until your next meal.

2. Cucumber sandwich:

A simple, delicious and easy-to-make snack…a cucumber sandwich! All you need is fresh cucumbers, freshly buttered bread slices and lightly spiced green coriander chutney. Put them together layer by layer, and there, you have a sandwich ready. A sandwich on its own is a fusion of numerous flavours, all of these flavours can be best brought out when you combine them with green tea.

When organising an afternoon party or a small get-together, Wagh Bakri green tea and cucumber sandwiches can make the perfect pair to make your event memorable for even your health conscious buddies.

3. Dry fruits

When on the go and need something instant, dry fruits can be a perfect pick-me-up to complement your green tea. Roasted dry fruits with a pinch of salt can elevate the taste of green tea to another level. They are a perfectly satisfying blend of sweet and salty, while coming loaded with goodness of vitamins, minerals and healthy oils. Currently, there are a lot of brands in the market, who sell dry fruits in a variety of flavours. Not only are they tasty but also loaded with essential oils and rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre.

These perfect treats can be paired with green tea and Wagh Bakri instant tea.

4. Healthy biscuits

Green tea is well-known for its inherent grassiness and crisp astringency. So, when combined with some healthy, preferably homemade, biscuits made from wholemeals, it cuts through the biscuit's sweet flavour and heavy grainy texture. Such pairs are tasty and healthy as the green tea cleanses the palette of the nutty or creamy graininess, leaving behind a fresher taste.

Always remember: When buying green tea bags online and enjoying your tea with biscuits, always serve it without milk and relish it once the water has cooled down to a drinkable temperature.

Continue reading

Store Your Spiced Tea Right! Here's How…

How does a regular Indian family start their normal day?

A pot of chai boiling on the stove and bubbles rising above it along with a strong aroma taking over all your senses. “Chai.” It never fails to elate us,with its aroma infusing the air and spreading a refreshingly fragrant message of its arrival.

But as we see it today, chai has undergone a lot of changes in the 5000 years of Indian and Asian civilisation to become our all-time favourite beverage. Many ancient cultures used spices combined with water to create medicinal infusions and treatments. The earliest variant closest to chai was in the form of Kadha. It was only in the 1800s that this all-season beverage was mixed with black tea leaves, milk and sweetener which today is referred to as ‘masala chai.’

Interesting? You can read more about the history of masala chai in an earlier blog.

Why does storing tea matter?

We have all come across cases where our tea has tasted a bit off or stale at times. Though tea doesn’t expire, storing it improperly can easily alter the overall flavour and aroma.

Moreover, the shelf life of every tea is very different. It depends on various aspects like the type of tea and how it was produced and how it is stored. For instance, white or green tea has the shortest lifespan and can be used for up to a year if handled well. On the other hand, flavoured teas with lemon, herbs or spices can last from six months to a year. And darker teas like oolong or black tea can last for 1-2 years or even more.

Now that we know how much spiced tea or any other tea can last, let's understand how to store it properly to make it last longer. You can also buy spiced tea online from our store!

1. Store tea in airtight jars

Tea is hygroscopic meaning it is prone to absorb moisture from the air and release its flavour when exposed to moisture. As the creators of the best online tea in India, we suggest storing tea in a dry environment away from moisture or damp areas.

To restrict exposure, teas should always be stored in an airtight container or bag, flask, metal case and even wooden box. When storing in a bag make sure that it is resealable. When using a jar, tin, stainless steel or ceramic are recommended as materials for the jars. The best containers are usually airtight metal ones.

2. Store tea away from light and heat

Light exposure can degrade your tea and impact its freshness and quality. Light and heat speed up the oxidation process and hence significantly affects the taste and quality of tea. A clear canister may make your tea look pretty but direct exposure to sunlight or heat from stove top and ovens can bleach the tea and even result in a metallic taste.

Continue reading

Know Your Black Tea, Say Experts at Top Tea Company

A beverage that is healthy and easy to make! A beverage that is refreshing and yet has less caffeine than its cousin coffee…

Make way for this friendly neighbourhood beverage, black tea!

Harvested from the Camellia sinensis plant and made out of actual leaves, it is known for its various health benefits, as reported by independent studies.

Black tea owes its origin to China. Its production was spread to other countries when Scottish and English entrepreneurs and adventurers went to China and “borrowed” tea plants (If you know you know). The only teas believed to be consumed till the 17th century were green and oolong tea. It was only when the Chinese began fermentation of teas to extend their shelf life, that it produced an oxidised and darker version of the leaves which came to be known as ‘black tea.’

While the Europeans did it the hard way, you can get it delivered right at your doorsteps. Buy black tea online from the top tea company in India and enjoy this tea in the comfort of your home.

How black tea becomes ‘black’ tea!

Four steps are put to use in making black tea and transforming fresh, green leaves into a dark and rich infusion to fill your cup. The quality of a finished tea depends on when and for how long the following steps are applied.

Step 1: Withering

Freshly harvested tea leaves are scattered across metal tracks in an even layer, and the air is pulled and pushed across the leaves using fans. Conventionally, this process was conducted outdoors where leaves were dried through air and sunlight. However, nowadays, depending on the ambient conditions, the leaves are processed inside and are kept aside to wilt/wither for 10 to 14 hours. Humidity is carefully supervised and the desired amount of moisture loss is achieved in order to create the desired flavour.

Step 2: Rolling (Orthodox approach)

The main idea behind rolling is to damage the cell walls or the external layer of leaves. This is done to scatter moisture evenly on the walls of the leaves. Juices stored inside the leaves are extracted by twisting and pressing the leaves. This way enzymes inside the leaf are exposed to the outside air, speeding up the next few steps! This process is time-consuming and here leaves remain whole or partially broken.

CTC (Crush-Tear-Curl) approach

Here, the tea leaves are not rolled but cut into fine pieces instead. An array of cylindrical rollers with sharp teeth break the leaves into extremely small pieces. These smaller pieces react quickly with air (more on that later) resulting in a strong and bold black tea. We often find CTC black tea in bags. Not only black tea, but the CTC approach is used to create Wagh Bakri Green Tea as well.

Step 3: Oxidise

Oxidation is a natural method of processing that occurs when leaves are exposed to oxygen to dry and darken them. In this step, enzymes break down the cell walls of leaves turning them brown. Leaves may be left to oxidise for up to eight hours, affecting their colour as well as flavour. Black tea is oxidised up to 80% and has a more earthy, astringent tinge This step also affects the caffeine content in black tea, making it an excellent alternative to coffee for the caffeine.

Continue reading

Varie-Tea of CHAI on the Best Online Tea Store in India

Everyone knows about Indians and their eternal love for TEA! For others, the human body has a majority percentage of water, but in the case of Indians, we have chai running in our veins. It doesn’t matter what time or place it is, for tea, it’s always a yes from us!

So, how does this one drink suit everyone’s taste and become a national phenomenon? It is all because of the VARIETY! Tea comes in several flavours and can be prepared in different ways to suit everyone’s taste and liking. Wagh Bakri, India’s most trusted tea brand which also has one of the best online tea stores in India, is here to enlighten you with tea variations present online for you to enjoy every sip.

But first…Know where it comes from!

All the types of tea coming up in the blog come from one tea plant! Camellia Sinensis, an evergreen shrub that may grow up to sixty feet in the wild. Its leaves and leaf buds are the parts that eventually wind up in a cup of tea. Similar to wine, where the tea is cultivated, the climate, soil conditions and how the leaves are processed determine the flavour it gets. Now let’s see what kind of varieties we have for you to buy tea online!

The premium original TEA!

Let’s start with the classic blend. The quintessential Indian tea, made from strong CTC (Cut, tear, curl) tea and milk, is infused with a sweetness. The fine quality tea leaves are specially handpicked from selected quality gardens and give a strong taste to the milky and sweet tea. 

This classic flavour combination has stood the test of time. The warm taste of this tea, which is available all year long, has been winning hearts all over Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh as well. Almost every tea brand has this classic blend in their collection. Wagh Bakri offers region-specific blends for supreme consumer satisfaction. And all these teas are available to buy online on ecommerce tea website buytea.com

Black tea

This is the strongest and most oxidised tea in the tea family. A simple drink made using tea leaves or powder and no milk. It can be prepared using sweetener or without it too. It has a mellow aroma and a brisk taste. The tea is very healthy and rich in antioxidants which boosts heart health and helps energise instantly.

It is super easy to prepare one cup of black tea. Just boil some water, add tea leaves to it and boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove the tea from the flame and keep it closed for just another few minutes for the flavours to steep in. Add sugar if you like and strain the tea into a cup. Serve hot!

Continue reading

The Stress-Busting Magic of Black Tea

Since the pandemic hit, studies have suggested that stress and anxiety among people have also risen. A Delhi-based preventive healthcare platform, The Center of Healing (TCOH), conducted a study and found that 74 percent and 88 percent of Indians are suffering from stress and anxiety respectively. We know it’s hard, but what if we told you that all this stress could lessen with just ek cup masala chai?

Yes! Various studies have shown that a limited amount of black tea helps in aiding stress and anxiety.

Let’s dig deeper

But first, let’s know more about this concoction!

All teas originate from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. The plant has been grown and harvested to produce tea for hundreds of years and has caffeine as well as other stimulants and antioxidants. First grown in rocky, mountainous regions of China and India, this is now grown in countries throughout Asia and across the globe.

If they are of the same plant then why is black tea black and green tea green? The colour of the brewed tea depends on how the tea leaves are processed. With oxidation, the process of exposing green leaves to moist oxygen rich air, the leaves turn to a dark brownish-black colour. This oxidation can be controlled by tea manufacturers. Black tea is a fully oxidized tea. Green tea comes from the same plant, but is not oxidized.

Moreover, it is also said that Camellia sinensis assamica, the larger-leafed varietal of the plant, is typically used to produce black tea. Originated in Assam in India, it grows in warm, moist climates and is prolific in sub-tropical forests. On the other hand Camellia sinensis, the smaller-leafed variety, is typically used to make green and white teas.

Ensure you’re getting the freshest black tea to sip and buy black tea online in India or you may even choose to buy organic tea online. Or perhaps like most Indians you are a fan of masala chai, in which case, you may choose to buy masala tea online.

So how does this drinking tea help during anxiety?

Anxiety and stress may have mental symptoms like excessive worrying and feeling restless along with physical symptoms such as  jitters and changes in sleep patterns. This leaves a negative impact on the body and can hamper everyday life. People suffering from anxiety may be able to find an oasis of calm and clarity with a cup of black tea. It was found in several independent studies that people who drink black tea remain more relaxed and at ease.

In 2021, the tea advisory panel published a study stating how just 2-3 cups of black tea or green tea a day can help boost brain and mind health. If we go a little back, according to another 2006 study by Andrew Steptoe, a researcher at the University College London, drinking black tea may speed up people’s recovery from the daily stresses of life. Although it does not appear to reduce the actual levels of stress we experience, tea does seem to have a greater effect in bringing stress hormone levels back to normal.

Word of caution: Though moderate amounts of black tea may help relieve stress, when overdone, it may also increase anxiety and nervousness.

Continue reading

How Masala Tea Became a Phenomenon in India

It’s peak monsoon. Imagine sitting on your balcony, newspaper in hand, watching the rain come pouring down. Now imagine adding a piping hot cup of steamy Masala chai to this already dreamy scenario! Makes you crave that hot cup of chai right now, doesn’t it?

Enter Masala Tea. The sweet and spiced-up concoction is made from a mixture of ingredients like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper. And there are as many versions as there are spices! Based on their preferences people add or omit ingredients from it, to get the spicy, strong, malty flavour.

The most trusted and best tea company in India, Wagh Bakri has its own version! And all you have to do to try this lovely aromatic concoction loved by the whole country is search for Wagh Bakri + Buy Masala Tea Online in India to visit buytea.com

But who came up with this idea of adding masala or spice to chai?

For this, let’s take you back in time!

It may be surprising but masala chai is believed to have originated in the royal courts of India. Though there are several versions to the story of how the first cup of masala chai came into existence, according to lore, approximately 5,000 years ago Indian emperors used to enjoy a brewed drink of spices to stay alert in long courtly meetings. This herbal drink was also an Ayurvedic medicine known as ‘Karha’ and was also considered a precautionary measure against various ailments of the body.

In 1800, Britishers introduced black tea leaves to India. They were hooked to the taste of Chinese tea and by the 1830s, they were consuming a stunning 40 million pounds per year. When the demand for tea exceeded, the Chinese raised their prices, so the Britishers started looking for alternative sources. Until 1870, more than 90% of England’s tea consumption was supported by China’s monopoly. But that dropped to 10% by 1900 as the Britishers noticed that tea was growing wild in Assam, India. So they formalised tea growing in India. And over the years, 90% of the British tea-drinking demand was met by tea grown in British India and British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). But don’t worry, India’s most trusted tea brand and the best tea company in India is 100% desi. And if that doesn’t make you want to buy masala chai online in India..read on.

Though the tea exports went high, consumption in India was still low. So with an increase in the production and supply of tea in the early 20th century, the British-owned India Tea Association decided to encourage the nation to drink this caffeinated beverage. They started by giving tea to workers in factories, mines, and textile mills during their break. This campaign worked! And tea slowly trickled into every nook and corner of India. That it would meet the original Ayurvedic spiced drink called karha was inevitable!

Early advertisements showed how to prepare tea with the right brew and so on. But Indians developed their own techniques. As tea leaves were still expensive for the common man, people started adding spices like fresh ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and bay leaves, to enhance the flavours of this brew. They also increased the quantity of milk and sugar. This helped create an aromatic and tasty drink at a low cost. The same drink that we today buy and brew as masala chai in India or masala tea in India. The Britishers didn’t like masala chai or masala tea as adding spices meant using less tea per serving and eventually lower profits. Hence, they shut down all such tea stalls. But that didn’t stop Indians from loving masala chai.

Even after the Independence, there was no looking back! Since then, masala chai has gained successful global recognition with its foreign relative, chai tea latte hitting the right spots for people around the globe.

Continue reading