For Thanos Tripi, opening an 85-seat taverna in Toronto’s trendy Ossington neighbourhood nearly a year ago was an homage to his beloved Greek mama.

By Jane Auster

He chose the name “Mamakas” to honour her and his grandmother, the food they lovingly prepared, and the way of life he remembered from his youth.

An important part of those memories was food and drink infused with tea. “When I was growing up, tea was a very important part of our family culture,” says Tripi, who was involved in Toronto’s entertainment scene for many years before turning his hand to the restaurant business. “It’s mainly because of my mother and grandmother and their use of chamomile, peppermint, and Greek mountain tea. In the winter, they made their own ginger, orange and clove teas — their own tea brands, which are part of our cuisine.”
Tripi’s timing in offering dishes and drinks featuring tea could not be better. Tea’s popularity is definitely on the upswing as more consumers look for a different type of beverage experience. Technomic Inc. identified “Tea Culture,” with menus steeped in specialty, premium tea blends, as one of the top five 2015 food trends.

To create a luxury tea experience as well as source the finest teas for Mamakas’s recipes, Tripi turned to Toronto luxury tea purveyor teALCHEMY.

“We use their tea in cocktails and also in our brine for our meats,” says Tripi. “Our chicken and our pork chop (my favourite, Oktapodi), for instance, are brined in a special mixture of Greek mountain tea and peppermint for 48 hours. That elevates the profile of the brine quite a bit and adds another layer of flavour. In our cocktails, our mixologists use teas in syrups as well as for garnish. Tea to us is like an herb, and when it is used in different elements of the kitchen, you can really infuse some fantastic flavours from a tea brine and a tea rub. It is a really interesting concept.”

And unlike the bolder notes of curries, for instance, tea adds a subtle flavour, Tripi adds, that’s mild with a soothing and inviting aroma.

The teALCHEMY tea-infused dishes and cocktails are so successful that Mamakas’s chefs are considering the addition of more tea-based recipes. “I think we are going to experiment with more tea rubs and try more desserts with tea and tea syrups using Rooibas, which is a very interesting tea,” he says. “Tea has become this alternative to coffee; it’s a really available tool.”

++++
Thanos Tripi’s top tips to tea up your menu

• Have fun with it. “Tea is a beautiful ingredient and so easy to use.”
• Think outside the cup. “Think of tea as a spice or herb and play with it the way you’d play with other spices, herbs and ingredients.”
• Make it an experience. “Bring to market things that people haven’t thought of that they wouldn’t get at home.”

The post Mamakas’s top 3 tips to “tea up” your menu appeared first on News - teALCHEMY.

Click here to read the article

The post Blend it, Sip it, Rub it, Create Some Chemistry appeared first on News - teALCHEMY.

Click here to read July 2014 issue of BOOK COVER

The post Lynda Budd in BOOK COVER July 2014 appeared first on News - teALCHEMY.

Click here to read the article >>

The post Beau-tea-ful Spaces appeared first on News - teALCHEMY.

Create your own chemistry! Her story will inspire you!

Click on the image below to read the article.

The post The Ancient Art of Alchemy Alive & Well Through Modern Tea Rituals appeared first on News - teALCHEMY.

teALCHEMY’s Get Lucky Tea was recently featured in a Pie Magazine article

Looking for some help getting to the bedroom? These aphrodisiacs will get you to bed early and often.
By: Laura A. Collins

With the weather cooling down outside, it’s time to turn up the heat inside. Unlike in the movies, everyone’s not always ready to go and some of us need a little help getting things started in the bedroom. Aphrodisiacs are often suggested when there’s a lacking libido, female or male, but do they really work? Are some better than others? Worried about looking like a fool trying to re-enact a scene from a rom-com? Take note of these tips and treats and you’ll be starting more than just one fire this winter.

Arguably the most famous aphrodisiac, oysters come with a health punch that goes beyond the bedroom. Not only are they a great source of lean protein, they also have high levels of potassium, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids to keep your heart happy. And it won’t just be your heart that’s happy when munching on these underwater delicacies. The massive amounts of zinc found in oysters’ revs up men’s sperm count and testosterone levels, which will bring his libido along for the ride. Scientists have found that oysters are also rich in rare amino acids that trigger increased levels of sex hormones in men and women. Well now we know why famed 18th century lover Casanova ate 20 of these slippery snacks every morning for breakfast.

Lets be honest, not all men will rush to slurp down some oysters. There’s a solution to that: meat. Trufflelino to be exact. Trufflelino is a Canadian Salami made with Black Italian Truffles. Long regarded as an aphrodisiac, black truffles are the underground fruit of a mushroom. The black truffle has a musky, earthy scent that resembles male pheromones that can be seductive to females. Though truffles may sound like an intimidating extravagance to fit into the menu, Ramelli’s Trufflelino can easily be paired with wine as an anti-pasto to start off your romantic rendezvous.

Next on the shopping list is chocolate; you can never go wrong with chocolate. Specifically, dark chocolate. As if you needed more reason to eat it, dark chocolate contains alkaloids that work as an aphrodisiac. These alkaloids increase the levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that induces the feeling of pleasure, in the brain bringing a wave of emotion over the entire body. The act of eating chocolate can also be stimulating on its own. Its sweet flavour, melt in your mouth texture and air of sinful indulgence all add to the chocolate eating experience.

Another way to get your temperature rising is with a nice, hot pot of tea. Tea has risen in popularity in the past couple of years and is one of the world’s highest consumed beverages for good reason. Teas are packed with antioxidants and have many stress-fighting effects. With so many blends available it can be hard to figure out which one will get you hot but high-end tea producer teALCHEMY has created a male sexual tonic for just that. Their Get Lucky Tea is a combination of Pu’erh tea, chocolate cocao nibs, stimulating ashwagandha root, ginseng, sweet vanilla and spicy red pepper flakes. What really makes this tea an aphrodisiac is the ashwagandha root which has been used in southern Asia to restore male libido, cure impotence and increase make fertility. Creamy, stimulating, sweet and spicy, this tea is sure to get you whistling in no time.

This last aphrodisiac may not be the first ingredient you reach for when cooking, but maybe it should be. Garlic has been known throughout history to promote heat in the body and was even banned in some cultures for arousing sexual desires. This potent plant is packed with antioxidants and anti-clotting properties that help with blood circulation; literally helping to get your blood flowing. Though there isn’t any medical research proving that garlic is an aphrodisiac, this super food is packed with so many other health benefits your body will have plenty of energy for the nights ahead.

So there you have it, five foods sure to help you and your partner get in the mood. Remember, it’s all about what works for you. So play around, have some fun and don’t forget to hang the do not disturb sign.

The post Do Not Disturb – Aphrodisiacs appeared first on News - teALCHEMY.

Read it here >> 

The post Sex in a Tea Pot appeared first on News - teALCHEMY.

The post Product Toronto does a feature on Entrepreneur Lynda Budd appeared first on News - teALCHEMY.

The post The Shops at Aura Grand Opening appeared first on News - teALCHEMY.

The post Product Toronto: Children’s Day appeared first on News - teALCHEMY.