Simple Tea Buying Guide!

Today we are excited to join CEO and founder of "Florida Herb House" Stephen Sharp for some helpful tips and advice on choosing the right tea for your budget and health needs. Now lets hand it over to Stephen!

It's a pleasure to be here and thanks for having me! At Florida Herb House loose leaf tea is our best seller and it pays to do your research before shelling out $20 for some tea. Any tea in loose leaf form is in it's earliest stage of its life cycle. This means you are getting the best tea your dollar can buy. Supermarket and shelf stock tea just has too much age to compare to loose leaf teas. It can take several months for a pre-packaged tea to make it into your tea cup compared to a few weeks in many cases for tea to be harvested and then delivered in bulk form to our store. White, Green, Oolong, and Black tea taste from a tea bag will always be inferior compared to the taste from whole loose leaves. So when you steep your tea, please make sure it is from whole freshly dried leaves. We guarantee satisfaction at Florida Herb House as quality high grade tea is our trademark.

White, Green, Oolong and Black tea all are produced from the "Camellia sinensis" plant. "Camellia sinensis" is native to China and Asia and grown in many tropical regions throughout the world today. WikiPedia states, "It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is usually trimmed to below two meters (six feet) when cultivated for its leaves. It has a strong taproot. The flowers are yellow-white, 2.5–4 cm in diameter, with 7 to 8 petals."
The main difference in each one of these teas is when and how they are processed. "Processed" means picked, fermented (or oxidized), dried, etc. etc. Optimal time to pick the tea leaves is April-May with some variations expected. It can take several years for these plants to produce a plentiful harvest. Green and White tea is considered the least processed with the most antioxidants and the least amounts of caffeine. Green tea will have a pleasant grassy taste while White tea will boast a more floral flavor. White tea is actually produced using the plant's flower buds. The buds are picked before they bloom and then baked or steamed to halt any oxidation process. This preserves the high anti-oxidant properties of the tea. Green tea is made in a similar fashion but with the leaves of the plant. The highest quality green tea will contain only leaves while some lesser quality varieties will be leaves and twigs combined.
Next in line is oolong tea. Oolong teas are said to be the hardest of the four to create. Oolong tea is somewhere in between green and black tea. This is because they are only partially fermented "oxidized" during the processing cycle. Oolong tea has less antioxidants than green and white tea but more than black tea. Caffeine levels are in the middle.

Finally the most processed of the teas are black tea as shown on the left side of the screen. Black tea leaves are picked the same way green and oolong tea leaves are picked but these leaves are fermented "oxidized" the longest. The term oxidized refers to how long the leaves are exposed to a set air temperature and humidity. You can compare this to an oak tree leaf falling on the ground and beginning to turn brown. The longer the tea leaf is oxidized the more it is considered "processed". The tea leaves that are most processed have a unique taste that is loved by many but lack the high levels of antioxidants that the green and white teas contain. Black tea contains the highest levels of caffeine also and have a full bodied taste.
Basically there are 3 main things to consider when choosing your tea. You have flavor, nutritional benefits, and price.
White tea is has a light, delicate, flavor with a touch of sweetness. Green tea can have a range of flavors depending on many factors but most all will have a fresh green grassy taste. You will either love or hate green tea but it is a must try. Oolong tea will produce a woody, earthy taste with slight flowery taste and last of all black tea can be compared to your morning cup of coffee. It gives a bold, deep, earthy flavor.

The nutritional benefits of tea are vast and deep. Several studies have revealed the anti-cancer properties of antioxidant poly-phenols found in tea. From cancer fighting properties to health skin support it has been proven that 2-6 cups of tea per day is healthy addition to any diet. Some teas have higher antioxidant levels than others. To reap the amazing anti-oxidant properties choose either white or green tea. These are the least processed and have the highest levels of poly phenols (antioxidants) per ounce as well as the lowest levels of caffeine.
As far as cost goes, well we would have to give white tea the highest prices. A high quality Darjeeling White Tea can cost upwards of $150/lb.! Green and black tea have the most appealing prices as these are the teas which are produced the most. Supply and demand tend to dictate the cost of tea just as with anything else. Oolong teas are second in price after white tea. So in conclusion the cost from high to low is white, oolong, green, and black tea. Sampling different teas is not only fun and relaxing but healthy for you too! May the tea be with you always!

Shop The Finest Tea Here!Stephen Sharp


Florida Herb House
http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/
http:///www.SharpWebLabs.com
http://www.esuperfoods.com/

Where To Buy The Best Saffron?

Born, raised, 20 Min's South of Boston, MA and now living in Florida the herb and spice expert and CEO of "Florida Herb House" Stephen Sharp shares his knowledge of Saffron and how to select the best Saffron for your culinary creations.
 

Foods Bitz: Where does Saffron come from?


Stephen Sharp: Saffron comes from the crocus sativus plant. We purchase all our Saffron for sale at Florida Herb House direct from 3 different countries, Iran, Spain, and Greece. We choose our location depending on who is yielding the highest quality Saffron threads. Iran and Spain produce about 80% of the world's Saffron supply.



Food Bitz: Why is Saffron so expensive?


Stephen Sharp: That is a great question! Saffron requires huge amounts of work to produce. The best Saffron you can buy is the Saffron Threads. Each Saffron flower only has 3 threads or "Stigmas". On the top of each thread or stigma is an anther. The anther is the head of the thread and can weigh more than the thread itself. Often lesser quality Saffron has the anthers mixed in with the threads as they add weight. It takes over 13,000 individual threads to make just an ounce of Saffron so you can see why it is so expensive. Anywhere from 400,000 stigmas or upwards of 85,000 flowers are required to yield a pound of saffron! Also the intense labor involved in the picking and processing plays a large part in the high costs. We pride ourselves at Florida Herb House by offering the finest Saffron threads without the "Anthers".

Food Bitz: What are the Saffron stamens?


Stephen Sharp: Another great question! The male part of the flower is the stamen. Stamens are half the size of the stigmas. When dried the stamens are yellowish in color. Their appearance in the spice is a giveaway that the saffron being purchased is not top grade and has added dead weight. The lighter the color, the more stamens there are. True saffron powder has a rich vermilion color. The highest quality Saffron should not have any stamens mixed in with the threads as the yellow stamens offer little if any culinary value.



Foods Bitz: What are the Saffron stigmas?


Stephen Sharp: In a good crop, each plant typically produces several flowers. The stigma or female part of the flower is the actual source of saffron. The stigmas are painstakingly picked by hand. Then they are dried or cured and transformed into pure saffron.



Foods Bitz: What about fake and imitation Saffron?


Stephen Sharp: Yes some companies sell another flower called Safflower or "American Saffron". They advertise this as "Saffron" to unsuspecting customers. The color of your Saffron is the first clue to its quality. The general rule of thumb is high quality Saffron should be a uniform red color and the threads should be brittle.

It should have a distinct aroma also not a musty smell. Florida Herb House sells both Safflower and Saffron and advertise our Safflower as "Safflower" so not to confuse any novice spice buyers. We also sell both the mixed Saffron (Saffron Threads Mixed With The Stamens) and also the pure Saffron threads (Saffron Threads With No Stamens Or Anthers) for a great variety of choices for all types of chefs and cuisines. Every ounce of our Saffron ranks highest on the color and aroma scale!

Foods Bitz: What does Saffron taste like?


Stephen Sharp: Saffron has a very light natural favor. Its earthy aroma when used properly helps many chefs look good or even great in many cases. It does take some practice to learn how much Saffron to use in a particular recipe. The flavor from Saffron can not be boiled away which makes it an easy addition to any recipe calling for it.



Foods Bitz: How do you cook with Saffron?

Stephen Sharp: If you use too much Saffron in a recipe, your food will result with a medicine like taste. Use just the right amount and saffron will add a unique pleasant and lightly spicy flavor to a dish. Most recipes will call for a good pinch of the threads. Just a quarter teaspoon will season rice for four or six people. Cookbook authors often recommend soaking the threads in water or milk before adding to a recipe. This also encourages that gorgeous yellow color to shine through.

Foods Bitz: What foods is Saffron used with the most?

Stephen Sharp: Saffron is commonly used in many Asian dishes as well as various fish and rice recipes. It is the backbone to a French Bouillabaisse. Chefs consider it a must for paella, as well as for arr oz con pol lo, chicken with rice. Risotto Milanese is the Italian offering for saffron rice. It also can be used in tomato, potato, and soup recipes.

Special thanks to Florida Herb House and Stephen Sharp for his time and expertise on this

woderful spice. Try some Saffron in your next culinary creation and watch all you friends and family guests Ohhhhhh!! and Ahhhhhh!! you when you mention that one word....SAFFRON!!

Food Bitz - Lee S.

www.SharpWebLabs.com

www.FloridaHerbHouse.com

www.eSuperFoods.com

Going...Going...Gone GREEN!

Happy Thursday Blogger Friends!

It is a sunny day here in central Florida. We are excited to find the organic herbs and food industry is growing at a constant rate and more than ever! Organic sales in the United States reached $24.6 billion in sales in 2008. Organic food is the largest segment of organic products, totaling $22.9 billion in sales and accounting for 93% of all organic product sales. The growth rate for food and non-food organic products combined was 17.1% between 2007 and 2008. The growth rate for organic food products in 2008 over 2007 was 15.8%. Organic food now accounts for 3.47% of all food products sold in the U.S. The growth rate for non-food organic products was 39.4%. This non-food category includes personal care products, nutritional supplements, fiber, clothing, household cleaners, flowers, and pet food.

Florida Herb House now offers over 1800 organic and green friendly products for your home or business. We specialize in organic herbs and culinary spices as well as all natural sea salts, pure essential oils, herbal healing alcohol tinctures, loose leaf teas, plenty of organic and all natural superfood drink powders and so much more! You can shop us 24/7 online at either www.FloridaHerbHouse.com or www.SharpWebLabs.com!

So back to the increasing demand for organic products.... OTA reports U.S. organic food sales have grown between 17 and 21 percent each year since 1997, to nearly triple in sales, while total U.S. food sales over this time period have grown in the range of only 2 to 4 percent a year. According to the findings, organic food sales now represent approximately 5 percent of U.S. food sales.

Go organic today and lead a healthier lifestyle!

Stephen A. Sharp
www.FloridaHerbHouse.com
www.SharpWebLabs.com

Buy Your Fruits And Meats Organic!

Happy Monday from your home of everything natural www.SharpWebLabs.com and www.FloridaHerbHouse.com! Yes after so many studies and findings by independent companies what we will say that even if you are not an organic junkie there are some foods that it is imperative to purchase organic!
First on the list is your thin skinned fruits. See fruits are grown conventionally in the fields with fertilizers and pesticides added to help produce more fruit. Fruits come of all different sizes and shapes and also have different skin thickness. This is key to safety for you and your family. Stay away from any non-organic fruits that have think skins. This includes but is not limited to apples, plums, grapes, pears, cucumbers, and tomatoes. The problem is the pesticides. These harmful chemicals easily soak into the fruit and through its thin skin. Thick skinned fruits such as bananas and oranges as well as coconuts and pineapples are much safer to be eaten in conventional (non-organic) form as the thick skin helps to keep out the pesticides and dangerous chemicals.

The Dirty Dozen – Twelve Most Contaminated (Buy These Organic)
1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Bell Pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (Imported)
11. Carrot
12. Pear

The Clean Fifteen – Lowest in Pesticides
1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet Peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomato
15. Sweet Potato

Next on the list which most already know is your red meat. Boy we can not say enough about red meat. Not only do we recommend keeping your red meat servings to only once ot twice per week but buying your red meat organic is important! yes you will pay more $$ but the extra cost easily outweighs the risks. In non organic farming hormones, antibiotics and remains of other animals are used to contribute to quickly fattening up animals for the market. Hormones, while expensive and often illegal, are injected into animals to quickly bring them up to market size. Antibiotics are in fact used to keep the animals alive until they are butchered. However, a great problem with this is when we eat this meat; our bodies are ingesting antibiotics in high volumes and are becoming immune to their bacteria fighting abilities. So when we go to the doctor for an antibiotic shot, it does nothing for us. As to carcass meal (remains of other animals) which are often fed to animals in the meat and dairy industry, many doctors now believe that this has helped to lead to the disaster which we now are beginning to realize. Carcass meal helps contribute to mad cow disease by keeping the diseased animals in the food chain. This is especially dangerous for humans when we ingest it.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has permitted hundreds of meat and poultry plants to operate virtually uninterrupted even while federal inspectors file tens of thousands of citations against them for unsanitary conditions and food contamination, department records show.
Cox Newspapers analyzed an Agriculture Department computerized database of meat and poultry inspection records for 1996 and found 138,593 instances in which inspectors said food being prepared in packing plants was ``certain'' to sicken consumers. The database was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Experts can't estimate how much contaminated meat and poultry makes its way to America's dinner tables from these plants.
The word "organic" refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don't use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. For example, rather than using chemical weedkillers, organic farmers may conduct sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay.

Have A Healthy Happy Day!
www.SharpWebLabs.com
www.FloridaHerbHouse.com

Organic Cleaners - Safety For Your Family!

Happy Saturday bloggers! Just dropping in to let everyone know that www.FloridaHerbHouse.com and www.SharpWebLabs.com now stocks a complete
line of 100% organic household cleaners on sale and ready to ship! Along with over 1500 specialty health and nutrition products these cleaners are a must have for anyone with kids, pets and loved ones. Made with safe yet powerful ingredients and no chemicals these organic cleaners go a long way. We also have gallon container concentrates for an even better buy. Having a little girl nine years old and several pets we use these products at our house and office always for safety and peace of mind. Just read the ingredients list on your non-organic cleaners and then google any one of the chemicals and see how they can cause cancer and you too will make the switch. Even if you decide not to buy from our store we urge you to make the switch to all organic cleaners today for you and your family's safety and well-being. There are several places to buy safe organic all natural cleaners and degreasers. :-)
Below is a little about our top three cleaners.
Organic Stain Remover - Organica's Stain Remover contains organic surfactants, cleaning agents and enzymes. Their function is to breakdown and biodegrade the embedded stains. This product works well on carpeting in steam cleaners, upholstery (always test first), clothing and even in the laundry. Spray the stain and walk away. Give the enzymes time to work. As they break down the stain and metabolize, it will fade and disappear. You can blot the area with a paper towel. Repeat for stubborn stains. No need to rinse. Stain Remover has the light fragrance of Green Tea.
Organic Indoor Cleaner - Organica Indoor Clean-All has a fresh orange sparkle scent and is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic alternative to harsh chemicals. It penetrates and emulsifies dirt on all types of surfaces. Use on showers, tubs, toilets, counter tops, appliances, tile & wood floors, stainless, cloth & leather upholstery, fingerprints & marks on walls, window frames, sills and mouldings. Pretty much any indoor surface can be cleaned with this nontoxic cleaner and it won't dry out your skin like standard cleansers like Lestoil or Pinesol. Try some. 1 Gallon of concentrate makes 4 Gallons of ready to use product.
Organic Odor Eliminator - Organica Odor Eliminator does not mask odors – it eliminates them. The blend of organic plant oils absorb and destroy odor molecules and then replaces the offensive odor with a light refreshing lavender scent. This non-toxic biodegradable formulation may be used as an air freshener or mixed with cleaning solutions to eliminate unwanted odors. Use to remove the smell of smoke, cooking & food odors (even fish & onions), bathrooms, automobiles, RVs, litter boxes & pet beds, sneakers, gym bags & lockers, trash cans, refrigerators and garbage disposal. Freshen carpets, upholstery, and closets.
If you have dogs and lots of carpets you'll love this stuff!
Well we hope to see you at our store on online!

Sincerely,

Stephen C. Sharp
www.SharpWebLabs.com
www.FloridaHerbHouse.com

Goji Berries Organic Vs. Non

Happy Wednesday morning bloggers! It is a rainy, rainy, day here in central Florida so what better time to discuss one of our best selling berries, the "Goji Berry". First lets get the misconceptions off the table. For all those sites claiming the "Ultimate Miracle" from their magic goji please beware. As the goji does in fact have some fascinating nutrients which we will discuss here one should not be mislead by false claims from people just looking for the quick sale. Also note for the best health benefits from the goji berry one should purchase the berries whole and organic if at all possible as opposed to the much publized ready to drink and mostly diluted goji juices. Many of these juices are diluted and contain non organic goji berries which may have been subjected to pesticides and other fertilizers.

The scientific name for goji berry also known as "wolfberry" is Lycium barbarum, and the popularly used name "goji" from the common Chinese name for the berry. Some claim there are two forms of the berry namely Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense, whose fruit is called the goji berry; other sites insist there is only one species, Lycium barbarum. Claims for more than one or two species may be just marketing ploys. The exact origin of the goji plant is unknown, and although goji berries are reportedly grown in several different areas of the world, any goji berries you purchase will most likely come from China, where the berry has been used in traditional herbal medicine for about two thousand years.

The goji berry has been used as a medicinal food for thousands of years, and has been studied extensively in modern times for its health benefits. With over 15% protein, 21 essential minerals, 18 amino acids, and one of the highest amounts of beta carotene, the goji berry is a nutrient-dense superfood in a class all its own. Perhaps the most important nutrient in goji berries though is its polysaccharides, most notably the lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP). Studies show that LBP polysaccharides are exceptional sources of the essential cell sugars necessary for proper immune function and inter cellular communication. These polysaccharides can enhance health in a variety of ways, including helping cancer patients rebuild their natural defenses, improving DNA restoration and repair, and maintaining normal cell growth; and they may help slow the aging process.

Try a small handful of goji berries in your health drink, on your salad, in your tea, in your muffins or pies, or included in any drink/food recipe! See for yourself how much better you will feel after 2 weeks of using these amazing berries on a daily basis!
You can get our organic certified goji berries on sale now at our Florida Herb House in Port Orange, FL or online at http://www.sharpweblabs.com/ or http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/. Thanks for visiting our blog and have a great day!

Florida Organic Bits
Florida Herb House

Guide To Essential Organic Foods

Happy Tuesday Bloggers!

It is April 14Th and a rainy Tuesday morning here in central Florida. This past weekend Stephen C. Sharp was questioned by some family members on the reason why he always opts for organic versus conventionally grown fruits, meats, and fish if nothing else.
For all the new food and health conscious people out there as well as the veterans Stephen gives his list of the most essential foods to purchase in organic form rather than conventional supermarket style.
Starting with the fruits, well lets just say paying a few extra cents for organic fruits such as oranges, apples, and peaches is well worth it. Organic certified fruits are grown without any dangerous pesticides and fertilizers which makes them many times more nutritious and healthy to consume. Non organic fruits tend to be one of the foods that contain more pesticides than other food crops. These higher levels of pesticides linger on the fruits and seep into the fruit. Even after washing your fruits extensively the pesticides will still be present in the fruit. If you still decide to eat conventional fruits remember to stay away from the last 1/4 of the fruit's inside edible area. Studies have shown this is the part of the fruit that is highest in pesticides and contaminants. So this is why Stephen always chooses organic fruits for his family and friends.
The second food group that Stephen always purchases organic is meats. Very simply stated meats that are organic certified come from animals that eat foods with absolutely no by-products, synthetic growth hormones, antibiotics, and other harmful chemicals. These animals are usually allowed to graze and eat fresh grass as part of their diet. The farms they are raised on contain fresh earth and the end result by far outweighs the potential risks of the cheaper non-organic meat. While organic meat is by far more expensive a simple reduction in the amount of meat we eat per week can easily balance out the extra cost. Buy you meat organic and smile more!
The third item on Stephen's list is fish. While it is very hard to classify any ocean free fish as organic, as they may swim thousands of miles of ocean and eat smaller fish which are obviously not organic, the one important factor here is wild caught. Stephen has done much research on the health concerns with regard to farm raised fish versus wild caught fish. Stephen chooses wild caught fish hands down for his family and friends. The whole concept of raising fish via farm is great but much work needs to be done to make these fish less harmful and chemical free. Farm raised fish ponds are treated with dangerous pesticides to prevent the fish from getting lice. They also are fed food pellets that contain artificial colors. Binders, which hold the food pellet together are also used. These pellets may contain other fish and animal parts as well as other artificial flavors. The other worrisome topic with seafood is the PCB/Mercury contents in fish. Stephen limits his weekly intake of seafood to not more than one pound total per week. He only buys fish that are lowest in mercury levels such as haddock, tilapia, sardines, and anchovies. He does though enjoy an occasional can of white albacore tuna packed in spring water maybe twice per month. He always cooks his fish well to remove any PC B's present and will turn down raw fish such as sushi almost every time.
We hope this guide will help get you and your loved ones on the right track to choosing and eating healthy. The benefits of the above mentioned foods in organic form far outweigh the potential health hazards with prolonged consumption of those foods not classified as organic and wild caught. Have a healthy and happy Tuesday!

Florida's Organic Bits