News
The Golden Rules for Tea Storage
The merits of tea (beyond the fact that it's delicious) are numerous -- the levels of caffeine in black tea provide an energy boost without the jitters of coffee; green tea is well-known for improving brain function, and may reduce the risk of cancer; herbal infusions can boost your immune system with ingredients like elderberries and hibiscus. But what most people don't know is that tea can lose some of these qualities if it's improperly stored. Are you preserving all the treasures that tea has to offer in your loose-leaf tea at home?
Read MoreTea and Food Pairing
Pairing tea with food is an adventure in discovering flavors! Read all about it and see our Suggested Pairings here.
Read MoreHost a Summer Garden Tea Party
Written by Sally Beaudette
July 13, 2022
Host a Summer Garden Tea Party 2022
Read MoreAfternoon teas being offered in Milford
Read an article about our Afternoon Teas being held at Gatherings located in the Colonel Shepherd House in Milford.
Read MoreSeven Charming Tea Rooms in New Hampshire
"If you’re a lover of tea, then you’ll want to check out the following 7 picture perfect tearooms in New Hampshire. These spots are cozy, comforting, and delicious."
The Cozy Tea Cart is listed as #2 in this article!
Read more here.
Read MoreInterview with Danielle
Listen to an interview with Danielle on YouTube. Video created by Erik Kikander.
Read MoreAccess Nashua Channel 96: Interview with Danielle on the Health Benefits of Tea
Watch Danielle and Yvonne Dunetz discuss the health benefits of tea on Access Nashua Channel 96.
Read MoreThe Loose Leaf Tea Review included TCTC in their Twitter post
Find a link to TCTC's Frequently Asked Questions web page in a Twitter post, here, from The Loose Leaf Tea Review Daily, along with some great articles: "A Beginner's Guide to Drinking Better Oolong Tea" (by Max Falkowitz), "51 Tea Facts Every Tea Lover Should Know" (from Tea Answers), and "Reduce Stress with a Cup of Premium Black Tea" (from the Republic of Tea).
Read MoreCool, calm and caffeinated: A look at this summer’s coffee and tea trends
7/9/15
By Allie Ginwala aginwala@hippopress.com
To ice or not to ice? That is the question coffee and tea drinkers face each year when July rolls in with its hot and muggy days. While some loyalists will always go hot or always go iced regardless of the weather outside, many people make the switch to cold drinks for the summer months.
Taiwan's Treasured Tea
by Danielle Beaudette (pages 22-23)
In October 2011, I journeyed on The Taiwan Oolong Study Tour, organized through the Taiwan Tea Institute by Thomas and Josephine Shu. This intensive week and a half-long tea trip included visiting Taiwan's tea gardens, observing hands-on tea making in the factories with tea masters, and visiting tea museums, tea houses, temples, tea farmers and their farms, and scientists. It would be impossible to discuss the entire trip in one article, so I will focus on a specific tea I discovered - Oriental Beauty - which has become one of my favorites.
We visited an organic tea garden in Mingjian, Nantou. The owner, Mr. Cheng Cheng-Ching and his wife greeted us at the side of the road. We walked for some time through the outskirts of one of their tea gardens, occasionally through very thick brush along thin, winding, wild paths to reach the farthest side of the garden. This was the only access to the organic tea garden. Here, the tea bushes were surrounded by natural forest and isolated from the other tea fields. Mr. Cheng explained that they also grow ginger and osmanthus on this estate, which they blend with some of their teas. The ginger is planted between the young tea plants until the tea plants grow large enough to be harvested. Afterwards, the ginger is moved to another area of young tea plants.
Read the rest of the article that appeared in Applaud Women magazine here.
Read MoreGlobal Traditions of Tea
by Danielle Beaudette (pages 22-23)
A tea ceremony is a communion of feeling, when good friends come together at the right moment, under the best conditions.
~Yasunari Kawabata
With winter months comes cooler weather and we find ourselves reaching for that hot cup of tea to warm us. People often refer to the ‘way of tea,’ meaning the aspects of tea production and tea brewing along with its history, health benefits and ceremonies.
Read MoreTCTC on The Yvonne Dunetz Show, WSMN 1590
Listen to Danielle's radio interview on The Yvonne Dunetz Show, WSMN 1590.
The Yvonne Dunetz Show WSMN 1590, 10/20/14
Read MoreTCTC on Casey's Corner, 980 WCAP
Listen to Danielle's radio interview on Casey's Corner, 980 WCAP.
Casey's Corner on 980 WCAP, 10/15/14
Read MoreRetailer Profile: The Cozy Tea Cart
by Katrina Avila Munichiello
Two years ago, Danielle Beaudette was operating her tea shop from a retail space connected to her home. Deep in a residential section of her southern New Hampshire community, her outstanding collection of teas, deep tea knowledge and customer loyalty kept people coming through the door for eight years, stocking up on their favorites. She decided it was time to take the next step with . . .
Time Out to Consider Tea in Townsend
by Anne O'Connor
TOWNSEND -- Tea is much more than a bag of leaves. The Townsend United Methodist Church and tea specialist Danielle Beaudette aim to educate local drinkers about just what goes into that soothing beverage.
Beaudette is a certified tea specialist. She was one of the first 15 people to earn this distinction through . . .
Read MoreTea Travels Through Sri Lanka
by Danielle Beaudette (pages 22-24)
Ayubowan (hello, long life) is how I was warmly greeted in Sri Lanka as we pass by the local walking in the streets; they smile and wave at us, happy to see Americans. The crisp white, colorful dresses of the women carrying brightly colored umbrellas are picturesque.
We drive through areas where the Singalese are celebrating their New Year holiday with week-long festivals, offering food, games, bike races, and much more. Politicians take this opportunity to drive in their enormous speaker-laden automobiles throughout the streets soliciting votes.
Read MoreFlower Power: Tea In Bloom
by Maria Noel Groves
In the land of tea, leaves represent the masses, but the royalty of flowers brings rich texture to loose blends and infuses a little something special into your teacup. From the simple floral focus of a lightly brewed chamomile tisane to a jasmine-kissed delicate green, you can celebrate the season by plucking garden of blooms from your tea cupboard.
Read MoreMost Frequently Asked Question on Tea
The first teas brought into this country were whole leaf teas and we continued to consume it until 1904. This is when Thomas Sullivan, a thrifty tea merchant, created the tea bag as a means to send smaller samples of loose tea to his customers. It was intended for the customer to take the tea out of the bag to steep it, but they found it easier to steep it in the bag; therefore, it was an accidental discovery by Thomas! Today, poorer quality, machine harvested tea is used for the tea bags. In addition, the paper used for the bags is bleached and chlorinated which reduces the shelf life and health benefits of the tea. In the past 20 years, this has lead to consumers wanting to go back to the whole leaf tea for its health benefits and twice-longer shelf life. But this was not without hesitation. Since Americans are so used to the bag, steeping loose tea is somewhat of a mystery. Following are answers to your most frequently asked questions.
Read MoreWhole Leaf Tea
The Cozy Tea Cart's owner Danielle Beaudette talks about whole leaf tea on WMUR's Cook's Corner.
Read MoreWarm Up this Holiday Season with a Cup of Tea
by Danielle Beaudette
Christmas tea dates as far back as the 1860s, when Royal tea parties were common throughout the season. Looking into the history of Christmas tea, you will find it almost always consists of a cup of hearty Indian black tea blended with a variety of seasonal spices such as ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, orange peel, and cloves. It is also common to add dried apple, mint leaves, or lemon slices for a tangier flavor. This spicy blend will take milk and sugar well, but it is recommended that you enjoy it straight up to get the full flavor of the spices.
Read MoreTea for All
by Irene Labombarde
As the weather grows colder, people often turn to hot beverages for comfort, especially a soothing cup of tea. How many of us ever think about what goes into producing that perfect cup of tea?
Danielle Beaudette, owner of The Cozy Tea Cart on Route 13 in Brookline, has years of education and experience in all things tea, from how it is grown and harvested to creating custom blends and using it as an ingredient in other products, such as baked goods, chocolates and even skin creams. Her shop is filled with a huge selection of tea leaves, tea sets and . . .
Read MoreThe Great Herb Fair at John Jay Homestead
Martha Stewart blogged about this annual Herb Fair, sponsored by the New York Unit of the Herb Society of America, and included several photos of The Cozy Tea Cart's table at the fair!
Read MoreThe Lure of Pu-erh tea
by Danielle Beaudette
There are five categories of tea: white, green, oolong, black and dark teas. Pu-erh tea falls under the dark tea category. Dark tea (Hei Cha which translates to black tea in Chinese) is a post-fermented tea. It should not be confused with what we call black tea here in America, which is hong cha, or red tea in Chinese. Dark teas are processed in the Hunan province, Anhua County, Guangdong, and in the Yunnan Province of China. Pu-erh tea from the Yunnan province . . .
Read MoreWarm Weather Tea Ideas
by Danielle Beaudette
Often people associate tea with the cooler months, utilizing its warmth to revitalize their bodies. And when the warmer weather approaches, the tea cup is set aside until the Fall weather arrives. Sure, many of us drink iced tea, but it is usually purchased in bottles from the local stores. Some people aren't sure how to use their favorite loose hot tea as an iced tea. Or they think it's too much work.
Read MoreThe Lure of Darjeeling Teas
by Danielle Beaudette
The tea gardens throughout Darjeeling produce teas with different characteristics in taste and aroma with little bitterness and astringency due to their geographical location near the Himalayas. The high elevation, mist and fog, sunny weather, and the rich soil are unique to this region. There are locals who believe that the mountain range is the breath of God that brings the winds that cool the sunny region, and the mist and fog which provides the moisture. What we do know is that the estate owners and laborers work diligently to provide us with some of the finest teas in the world.
Read MoreTake a Moment for Yourself This Holiday Season
by Danielle Beaudette
Holidays can be stressful. We work hard to find the perfect gift, the proper greeting card, the best recipe for our holiday dinner. Stress can bring on so many emotions that weve all experienced. On a trip to China with the U.S. Tea Association members, I had a wonderful experience that Id like to share with you.
Read MoreRedefining what it means to be a Tea Shop
by Teresa Santoski
Some revolutions happen quietly, with changes taking place in little pockets of the country before they sweep through society as a whole.
Such changes are brewing in a small plaza on Route 13 in Brookline, where Danielle Beaudette, owner of The Cozy Tea Cart Cafe, is redefining the modern tea room.
Read MoreSponsor Welcome: Power Up For PCOS
by Beth Wolf
I am excited to announce that The Cozy Tea Cart will be contributing sample teas, coupons and tea information to our goody bags for the first 25 registered participants for our Power Up for PCOS 5K fundraiser to benefit Power Up for PCOS and InCYST Institute for Hormone Health.
Read MoreDe-Stress and Stay Alert With Tea!
by Danielle Beaudette
All tea, whether white, green, oolong, or black, comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. For this reason, scientists recommend drinking any type of loose tea to get the maximum health benefits. Five cups per day is recommended, so give yourself some variety and choose a tea from each category!
Read MoreFrom Drinking Tea To Eating Tea . . . Happy and Healthy Cooking
by Danielle Beaudette
For many years, people have enjoyed the freehand delicate flavors of whole leaf tea. Some turn to tea for its unique ability to help them relax, while others choose tea for its health benefits. There are lots of reasons why we choose to appreciate tea; however, there is one reason most often overlooked - tea as the secret ingredient in our everyday meals!
Read MoreStart the New Year with a Healthier Cup and Lifestyle
by Danielle Beaudette
Its a New Year and time to reboot our health regimen. We need to reflect on what we did this past year to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and perhaps what we need to work on more. We suggest including tea as a main ingredient in your diet for many reasons.
Read MoreUnique Holiday Shopping in Southern New Hampshire
by Steve Russo
Its very convenient to shop for the holidays at many of the malls that cover the state or to order from catalogs or online. But if you are looking for a unique shopping experience, consider some of the specialty shops that are located in several of the small towns throughout the southern tier of New Hampshire. They carry items not often found in big box or mall stores, often artisan-made and selected by local experts who can share their enthusiasm for the beautiful and/or useful objects arrayed before you.
Read MoreCool Off With Freshly Brewed Iced Teas!
by Danielle Beaudette
About half of the American population drinks tea each day and about 85% of this tea is iced. Globally, tea is the most widely consumed beverage, only second to water. So it is no surprise that the food celebration calendars have dedicated the month of June as National Iced Tea Month!
During the summer months we tend to be more health conscious and we pay even closer attention to the foods and beverages we are consuming. While it may be easier to reach for the ready-to-drink (RTD) bottled, teas, be cautious of the higher calories and lower flavonoid (antioxidant) content. The RTD teas and powdered teas contain approximately 1/5 of the flavonoids of freshly brewed teas.
Read MoreStepping Out
by Ann Bilowz
In between the busy weekend chores, its nice to slip out of town on a beautiful spring afternoon. So off to the Cozy Tea Cart in Brookline, NH we went where Danielle Beaudette was hosting her Annual Summer Garden Gathering with a noontime Japanese tea ceremony. The Kaji Aso Studio did the tea honors. Interesting and informative!
Read MoreThe Fine Art of Making Whole Leaf Tea
by Danielle Beaudette
We enjoy this incredible brew on a daily basis, but do you really know how the leaf gets from the field to the cup? The story of tea has been clad in mystery, since it was first discovered around 5000 years ago. Emperor Shen Nong, while scouting the far reaching lands of China for medicinal herbs, came upon the tea leaf that just happened to fall directly in his cup of boiling water. His curiosity and delight in the taste of the brew led to the cultivation of the tea plant Camellia Sinensis.
Read MoreStuck On Tea
by Ann Bilowz
Its about that time when a heads-up for fertilizing your lawns, pruning your ornamentals or penning a quick design tip for your spring pathways should be found within these blog pages but Im still stuck on tea! As I sip on my coffee, (Im not a morning tea drinker) I find myself back on the subject of tea.
Many of us are too familiar with the taste of the standard, supermarket quality tea bags, which are basically mass produced and taste like leftover churnings from the lawnmower. But loose tea found only in a quality shop is truly a heavenly experience, even for a snobbish coffee drinker.
To keep this brief and to the point, find a moment to Indulge Yourself at the Cozy Tea Cart in Brookline, NH. Tucked away at the end of a neighborhood subdivision, Danielle Beaudette has a quaint tea room attached to her home. This lady is the real McCoy. Knowledgeable and trained in the subject, Danielle personally sources the teas found in her shop from throughout the world. She engages her customer with tips, tastings and offers plenty of gift ideas for the tea lover. If thats not enough, shell explain the history, the intricacies and the process to creating the worlds best teas.
Read MoreA Good Cuppa Tea
by Casey Anderson
So the stress of the morning commute and the cold weather is giving you the blues and making you a little anxious. Take a moment and a deep breath, and according to an article by Helen Saberi in Tea a Global History, English grandmothers say, a good cuppa tea puts the world to right.
Read MoreIndian Cultural Series
By Jen Richman
Wilmington Memorial Library is promoting South Asian culture through a series of free India-related events it is hosting through the month of February. Beginning Feb. 1 and continuing through Feb. 28, seven events will focus on several aspects of Indian culture. The series kicks off on Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. with photos, stories and tea with Cozy Tea Cart owner Danielle Beaudette, as she shares her experiences from traveling through India and Sri Lanka.
Read MoreCooking With Tea: A Healthy Option
by Danielle Beaudette
The fall awakens our senses to the vibrant colors transforming the trees and the sounds of fallen leaves beneath our feet. This is the time to enjoy the outdoors and all that autumn in New England has to offer. Be sure to hydrate yourself with a travel mug filled with steaming tea as you set out on your foliage travels.
Read MoreWhat's In Your Iced Tea?
by Danielle Beaudette
We've heard about the numerous health benefits that tea offers. What we may not be aware of is that with the growing number of choices for our favorite summer beverage, many may not live up to these benefits. Preparing your own freshly brewed iced tea is simple, and looking back through history, this has been a long-time trend.
Read MoreTea Is As Good On You As It Is In You!
by Danielle Beaudette
We all enjoy drinking whole leaf teas for their natural health benefits and delicious taste. But tea isnt just for enjoying as a beverage. Many fine chefs around the world are cooking with tea to promote healthy eating, and quality skin care companies are promoting tea as one of the key ingre- dients in their skin care products. Tea is loaded with a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. So its only natural that we would find companies promoting the use of tea extract or tea seed oil with other healthy and natu- ral ingredients to beautify the skin.
Read MoreTea - Health Benefits
by Danielle Beaudette
January is National Hot Tea Month, and a time when eating and drinking healthy is on everyones mind. With cold and flu season upon us, it is even more important to know what we are putting into our bodies. So why focus on tea? Teas history dates back over 5,000 years. It was first used as a medicinal beverage, and grew into a beverage of choice.
Read MoreTraveling Through the Tea Lands of Sri Lanka and India
It's no surprise why they call Sri Lanka the Island of Delight, with its tropical island weather and warm, friendly greetings, Ayubowan (hello and long life) everywhere we went. Our stay here was during their New Year Holiday, giving us the opportunity to see many of their holiday celebrations. In traveling through the tropical landscape to the different tea estates, we stopped at roadside fresh fruit stands, an old British-built Anglican Church, and a Batik workshop where we saw the beautiful Batik artwork being created by hand.
Read MoreEat a Bowl of Tea
by Kristy Holland
Dont just drink itthe antioxidant benefits of Camellia sinensis transcend its traditional liquid state. When it comes to tea, you can sip your Keemun and eat it, too. Low-fat, flavorful, and packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants and obesity fighting catechins, tea is undergoing an urban revival of sorts.
Read More