Brits reaching for more green tea than ever

LONDON, March 26 For a growing number of Brits, a cuppa builders brew is no longer their cup of tea.

Though regular black tea may account for the biggest share of the tea market in the UK at 70 per cent, sales of English Breakfast tea bags dropped 1.5 per cent between 2010 and 2011 as Brits reached for more exotic varieties, reported research group Mintel this week.

Most notably, the drop in sales of black tea coincides with the explosive popularity of green tea, which grew 83 per cent between 2009 and 2011. Today, about 12 per cent of Brits say they drink green tea on a weekly basis, say Mintel analysts.

Historically, tea consumption in the UK has been linked to the state of the nation, researchers point out, with Brits turning to builders brew the colloquial term used to describe an elixir of low-grade tea sweetened with milk and sugar for comfort.

But the health benefits of green tea have quickly been usurping the role of black tea in British households, as sales nearly doubled from 12 million (RM58 million) in 2009 to 22 million in 2011.

Fruit and herbal teas have likewise risen in popularity, with sales increasing 10 per cent between 2009 and 2011.

Though green tea has a sterling reputation for its antioxidant properties, a study commissioned by the Tea Advisory Panel in the UK also claims that black tea is just as effective as the Asian variety at boosting heart health and circulation. Relaxnews

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Mad Hatters Tea Pot Luck Party

Few weekends ago, I had some friends come over for another session of pot luck (which seems quite a norm now for me to do a pot luck once a month) Last it was the Korean feast. This time, I wanted to do all the tea time food and cakes! You know most of the problem comes with trying to bake too much but always never eating them fast enough.

I love baking, and no doubt I LOVE eating desserts, but theres only so much one can eat, or a family can eat. So pot luck is one of the better way to bake alot and not feel guilty. Im thinking of a brunch session this month, but well see. Things are kinda busy this month, with all the birthday cake orders and Qing Ming (One step at a time )

So happy with the food spread. I think Im going to do more hi-tea pot luck LOL and make everyone fat. These were food made by 4 of us. And am so glad that I can use all the cake displays n plates and whatever nots. They all come in random pieces.

Lets see whats on the menu.

Well you can see theres a (missing) pumpkin rose mantou. Because it was left behind in the fridge instead of being brought over in the car, hence its missing. The menu is sorta mixed, with chinese inspired egg tarts, swedish sandwich cake, classic american choc! olate ch ip cookies, asian style swiss rolls, the atas poached pears, etc etc.

My contribution was the Smogastarta, rainbow cake, butter pecan ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. Since there were kids coming along as well, might as well make something for the kids too!

Opps just realized that it was honeydew green tea and not honey green tea I have just realized (also) that I have a pretty good selection of tea at home from english to chinese. Even coffee and hot chocolate as well. Not kidding. Its like a mini cafe happening here. Green tea seems like a better choice for this occasion, everyone needed it

More pics!!

Chives and cheddar biscuits with sausage gravy. Egg tarts. Totally digging the sausage gravy and the all buttery egg tart shells!

Poached pear with butter pecan ice cream (which I will post the awesome recipe up another time), Poached pears, Banofee tarts and the very cute strawberry and bear pattern swiss roll.

THE palm size chocolate chip cookie (which Ive made before. Recipe here). This time, I played around with using Valrhona Guanaja disks, Callebaut dark buttons, Felchins dark rondo and regular smaller sized chocolate chips. Its a winner.

Must be mad for me to finally made this. I had wanted to make the Smogastarta since a while now. What better time to make it ! It is not a sweet cake but its actually a sandwich! But instead of being the usual square or triangle cuts, its in a BIG CAKE! How awesome is that? Recipe and more pics of it another time

Ta dahhh!! the all natural pastel rainbow cake. This wasnt on the original menu, I decided to make it on the very last minute (just the night before, and u know if it doesnt turn out no one will know. LOL).. And I kinda kept it a surprise until I was caught posting up some photos on instagram, which then eventually was up in FB. If u havent used instagram, go download it now and follow me! (@sweesan) Oh well, its quite a try and error cake for this one. The colours were SO BEAUTIFUL! But I didnt really like the texture of the cake as it was kinda too dense. Im probably going to make another one with a lighter batter, so if you can wait for the recipe, Ill be more than! happy < img src="http://thesweetspot.com.my/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" />

(You know how terribly slow I am in getting the posts up)

Ok so thats it for the Mad Hatters Tea Pot luck party!

support

Restoran Kee Huat@Teluk Intan.

Bak Kut Teh in Teluk Intan, Perak ???

Restoran Kee Huat is considered as one of the famous place for Bak Kut Teh and fresh seafood in Teluk Intan, located in a ramshackled wooden house along the Teluk Intan - Sabak Bernam road (opposite off Naza Bikes)

When we arrived there at around 10 am-business was brisk-we managed to get a table beside a portable boiling kettle stand.

As there were only the two of us, we ordered a clay pot of BKT with pork ribs/pig stomach and intestines, a steamed Garoupa fish's tail and a teapot of Pu'er to wash down the oil and fats.

To me, the BKT was not bad if compared to those in the Klang Valley, the soup was not so herbal and a bit on the lighter side but the fish was best, fresh and sweet tasting.

Parking is ample.



Piping hot clay pot filled with meaty pork ribs, pig's intestine (a bit bitter), thickly sliced chewy pig' stomach, fresh lettuce and deep fried bean curd sheet-passable-Rm12.

Steamed Garoupa fish's tail garnished with deep fried fragrant shallots, coriander leaves and julienne young ginger-seated on good grade light soy sauce-fresh and fleshy-worth the money- Rm18.

Total bill:Rm34/
Location: opposite NAZA Bikes,
Along the Teluk Intan-Sabak Bernam Road,
Teluk Intan, Perak.

Yunyan Sichuan Restaurant

deconstruct has added a photo to the pool:

I like the chili pepper chopstick rest.

Loco & Bier Bar

The two main empires on Changkat Bukit Bintang are consolidating their power; first, the folks on the northern tip who run Magnificent Fish & Chips, Havana & Racks have launched Loco, bringing Mexican cuisine to this street.

These "flautas" _ deep-fried corn tortilla flutes filled with crispy duck & spicy habanero dressing _ had us at "hola." Reminiscent of Malaysian fried popiah.

Thanks to a Mexican who oversees the menu, customers can be assured of authentic fare like tostadas _ mini-pizzas topped with refried beans, chicken, lettuce, avocado, shredded cheese & salsa pico de gallo (tomatoes, onions, chili & lime).

Chipotle garbanzo dip, a spicy version of Middle Eastern hummus or tahini, originating from central Mexico. Loco makes all these s! alsas &a mp; spreads in its kitchen, ensuring fresh flavors. Prices are fair; very few dishes here cost more than RM30.

The food is good & the margaritas are magic; the Coco-Loco (tequila, coconut milk, triple sec & pineapple juice) & Soursop Lychee pack a potent punch. Glasses at RM32++, jugs RM128++.

Honey & Amaretto Margaritas, both with two shots of Jose Cuervo Gold.

P.S. Where's Loco located? It takes over The Social's location at Changkat.

Next up, the force behind El Cerdo, Werner's & The Whiskey Bar in Changkat's south appears to have replaced El Cerdito with Bier Bar.

Bier Bar's own food menu might be unveiled next month, but for now, customers can order from El Cerdo next door. Chocolate churros, to help us ! keep the Mexican-Spanish theme going.

El Gaitero & Savanna, Spanish & South African ciders.

Tea mixed with white wine. Beer towers shaped like the the Eiffel Tower are also offered here, though we'll probably never try one of those.

We're predicting positive word-of-mouth for both Loco & Bier Bar. Good times!

Loco Mexican Bar & Restaurant & Bier Bar,

Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

One of My Sundays on the Month of March 2012

Things did not move on like my usual Sunday routine, I started off with a breakfast at a coffee shop in Desa Sri Hartamas after sending my 2 boys to SIB Church and before sending my wife to pick her car at RSC Kiara.

By right I supposed to be back in Penang to attend this Cheng Beng ceremony with my brothers and my mum which I have not been doing so for the last 2 or 3 years and I hope my late dad is not mad at me.

It was time to do my weekly marketing at Sri Rampai, this new DBKL market ha! s been c ompleted for more than a year it is yet to be used. There must be some issues the traders are not moving into this new premise. Birds have already making nests at the new market and there is still no sign of relocation of the wet market.

Before I could enter my house I have to proceed the shopping spree at Carrefour Wangsa Maju with my dear wife. I had a bad experience today at Carrefour I needed badly to use the wash room walking up and down the mall at a time of emergency for a toilet and realising one toilet of the 2 toilets is under repair.I was disappointed with the limited, dirty and filthy wash rooms. You got no choice but to use it inwhatevercondition and after my business I realised the hand bidet is spoilt !!!! And later I was encountered with a chocked wash basin at the fresh fish counter!!! I hate going to hypermarket on a weekend.

Come on Carrefour Wangsa Maju, there are leakages everywhere in the building the stench smell in the car parking is terrible and such condition has been there for a long time. I just do not understand why it has to be like that. The business in Wangsa Maju is probably one of the best in Malaysia and you are providing such ! a shoppi ng condition to us.

We forgot the eggs and decided to get them from this new 1Malaysia programme. I guess things here are cheaper but lesser choices.

After a short break of half an hour at home I had to pick my sons from church and bring them to Publika for their lunch.

As for dinner I suggested Satay Ismail of Kg. Datuk Keramat.

There were no tables for dining but only take away and there was a long queue my number was 31 about a 40minutes wait.

Sate Zainah Ismail @ Jalan Keramat, Kg Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur. GPS : 3.165884,101.723179
We brought our satay to this mamak shop @ Setiawangsa.
My boys had these as their main meals.

My choice of Maggi Mee Goreng with a fried egg.The best satay asacclaimedby my wife & sons and we shall come back for more.That's it my Sunday and tomorrow will another day of my journey.