Tea Party Summer Camp coming to Temple Terrace

 

TEMPLE TERRACE, Florida -- The Tea Party has been making political waves over the past couple of years and now a local group with ties to the movement is taking aim at a younger demographic.

The Tampa912 project is planning to bring the party's same message to Bay-Area children through its Tampa Liberty School summer camp.

While other kids are tending to more traditional summer activities at camps around the region,Tampa912 is offering parents a more politically conservative - option.

Tim Curtis, a co-founder of the Tampa912 Project, is offering 8-12 year-olds a weeks worth of lessons about what the group calls 'our nation's founding principals'.

Principals, which Curtis believes have been eroding.

"These are concepts that even 8 and 12 year olds can understand. Absolutely," says Curtis.

The camp will take place at a room donated by the Paideia Christian School in temple terrace during the second week of July.

The Monday through Friday camp is three hours a day, 9:00 am to 12 noon, and costs just $15.

And that brings up one of the principals they'll be discussing, financial responsibility.

One of the group's principals describes money by saying: "I work hard for what I have and I will share it with whom I want to."

Money, they'll tell the children, is to be used as they see fit to help people, "And not something to be imposed by a state local or federal government."

Curtis says it's not all that different from other specialized summer camps, when you think about it. Like music camp, or golf camp. It's just stuff kids don't always have enough time to learn in school, he says.

For some parents the subject matter may seem a bit heavy for summer camp.

Mary Nodden, a parent from Tampa says when she sends her son to camp it won't be for political doctrine.

"I want to send him to have fun," says Nodden.

Others didn't rule it out completely.

Eliza Hunter, whose daughter is 8, says the camp might not be for her, but can she can see how it might appeal to others.

"If there's someone teaching about values and economics - if they start teaching there, I think it'd be interesting," says Hunter.

If you're interested, organizers said as of early Tuesday they still had about ten slots open for the summer camp.

You can learn more by visiting their Meetup website: Tampa912 Meetup.

Eric Glasser

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Amritsar tea traders demand trade deal with Pakistan

Amritsar, June 21 (ANI): Tea traders in Amritsar have demanded the opening up of trade with Pakistan, as it would provide entry into the markets of Central Asia where tea is in great demand.

Amritsar Tea Traders' Association President Rajinder Goel said that Pakistan imports tea in large amounts from China and Sri Lanka, but never from India due to strained political relations.

Goel said that since the land transit route to Pakistan has been shut, their exports to Afghanistan have also been affected, as the consignment has to travel via the same route.

"We have strained our political relations with Pakistan, so they stopped importing tea from India. We got a huge jolt by their decision. Pakistan closed the land transit route, which is also the route to Afghanistan," said Goel.

"If we have to export tea, then a trader would first have to send their produce to Mumbai, which would then be passed on to Karachi port in Pakistan and then the transshipment would take place. Exports through this route proves to be very expensive for us and there is also a possibility for the tea to get spoilt," he added.

The traders feel that Pakistani consumers would also benefit if trade barriers are eased since they would get good quality tea at reasonable price.

Former Deputy Speaker of Punjab Darbari Lal said: "The Indian government must realise that Amritsar's tea market could further expand, if Pakistan reduces the duty on Indian tea as this would provides a land transit route to Central Asia

"After the partition in 1947, Pakistan completely stopped importing green tea. Earlier, green tea would be sent to Jammu and Kashmir, Afghanistan and even Morocco. There are a lot of tea production houses in Amritsar. If the government of India speaks to the Pakistan government and asks them to reduce the import duty, then not only would the traders benefit but the Pakistani consumers would also be happy," he added.

India is the largest producer of tea in the world, while Pakistan is the second largest importer of tea from various countries. By Sawinder Singh (ANI)

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Top tea party group tied to extremism, report charges

Since the tea party movement exploded onto the political scene over two years ago, one of its key players has been the advocacy organization FreedomWorks. Founded and run by Dick Armey, a former top Republican congressman, FreedomWorks isn't exactly a tea party group itself. Rather, it's a well-funded Washington-based lobbying organization that has played a crucial role in supporting and co-ordinating the grassroots activism of the movement's far-flung factions. FreedomWorks was a central organizer, for instance, of the 9/12 March that last year brought tens of thousands of conservative activists to Washington.

FreedomWorks also has helped defend the tea party movement against charges of racism. "Ours is a colorblind movement based on principles not race," the group's president, Matt Kibbe, has said.

But a new report questions FreedomWorks' commitment to keeping bigotry on the margins of the movement.

The Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights (IREHR), a group that monitors extremism, has taken a close look at FreedomConnector, a new site created by FreedomWorks that's designed to help put conservative activists in touch with each other. Since launching FreedomConnector in February, FreedomWorks' online membership has roughly quintupled, rising to more than 94,000.

But IREHR charges that to reach this kind of online following, FreedomWorks "took down what little firewall it had constructed between itself and the farthest edges of the far-right." The report's researchers claim to have found at least 59 cases over the last five months in which FreedomConnector announced events being held by the John Birch Society, a group with a history of bigoted views, IREHR contends.

Those events have taken place in California, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas. In one case, according to the report, a local coordinator with the Birch Society even was able to create a Bircher group -- described by IREHR as "a hub for area Birchers to gather on the FreedomConnector site."

Launched as an anti-communist organization in the 1950s, the Birch Society opposed the civil rights movement in part on the grounds that mixing black and white people would lead to a "mongrelization" of the races. Since the mid 1960s, it has been relegated to the fringes of the conservative movement. Indeed, the Birchers' reputation for radicalism is so well-established that when Armey was asked last year about Birchers getting involved with the tea tarty movement, he was keen to deny any link.

"The John Birch Society has been very little evident in my association with the tea party. ?I have not seen anybody, have not encountered anybody who says I'm here and I'm from the John Birch Society," Armey told Charlie Rose of PBS. "So I mean, I know it's alleged that they're there. ?I've not encountered them. But I do think that John Birch Society historically has had a good deal of people that have regretted them."

Could Armey come to regret his own group's association with the Birch organization? A spokeswoman for FreedomWorks didn't respond to a call from The Lookout seeking to find out.

(Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey addresses a Tea Party rally in Washington, April 2010: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Kenya: Tea Volumes Dip at Mombasa Auction

 

Kna

21 June 2011

Nairobi — Tea volumes at the Mombasa tea trade centre this week are on a downward trend, from last week's 9,181,209.50 million kilograms to 9,054,291.70 million kilogrammes on sale.

The weekly tea report from the East African Tea Trade Association reveals that countries participating at the auction which is the 24th this year will be offering 7,851,822.50 million kilograms of main grades and 1,202469.20 million kilograms of secondary grades of tea.

Kenya who hosts the tea will be leading the pack with 5,905,979 million kilograms of main grades and 440,563 kilograms of secondary grades of tea.

Second placed Uganda has committed 1,002,872 million kilograms of mains and 475,690 kilograms of secondary grades of tea respectively.

Offerings from Tanzania during the week under review will be 268,454 kilogrammes of the former and 155,592 kilograms of the latter.

Rwanda and Burundi have committed 405,872.50 kilogrammes and 188,825 kilogrammes of main grades respectively.

In the secondary grades category the two neighbours will be offering 50,588.70 kilogrammes and 18,339 of secondary grades of tea respectively.

Offers from Mozambique will be 26,312 kilograms of mains and 13,472 kilograms of secondary grades of tea, while Malawi will be offering 53,508 kilograms of mains and 47,116 kilograms of secondary grades of tea.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will during this sale offer 1,108 kilogrammes of tea in the secondary grades category, but none in the mains category.

During the week under review, Zambia and Madagascar will not be making any offers.

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Kenya: Shield Tea Industry From Climate Change

 

Fredrick Gori

21 June 2011

opinion

Nairobi — The tea industry is a big deal for Kenya. In 2010, it continued as the country's top foreign exchange earner, bringing in nearly Sh100 billion.

Conservative estimates show that the industry employs more than four million people across the value chain, and contributes nearly four per cent to the GDP.

In the last two years, small-scale tea farmers were among the best paid in the world, thanks to high product quality, good auction prices and favourable currency exchange rates.

The tea industry's contribution to the economy could rise further considering there is plenty of room for improvement.

Small-scale farmers, numbering more than half a million and concentrated mainly in the highlands account for 62 per cent of the production. Their individual holdings are small, averaging just under 0.5 acres.

But despite this, small-scale tea farmers continue to produce top quality teas that remain popular with consumers around the world.

But they can double their output by adhering to good practices such as regular plucking rounds, pruning whenever necessary and fertiliser application.

However, with continued sub-division of land under tea, deliberate steps must be taken to stop tea farming becoming economically unviable.

Given the entrenched tradition of sub-dividing land to successive generations, there is real concern that farmers may opt out of tea farming when it stops making business sense to them.

This situation can be averted, first by helping farmers to treat tea farming as a business with profit and loss accounts.

This would require them to consolidate their holdings and form limited companies to manage the business with individuals becoming shareholders.

Secondly, the government needs to come up with specific policies to guide sub-division of land in the entire agricultural sector.

Tea farmers with economically unviable units are likely to be the hardest hit by climate change because they lack the resources to adapt.

Already, we are seeing erratic rainfall patterns in virtually all tea-growing areas leading to lower green leaf production.

The possibility that farmers may be required to resort to irrigation could drive thousands out of business simply because this is an expensive venture.

Some experts also warn that the flavour, for which our teas are well-known, may be compromised by climate change, although there is no conclusive evidence of that.

The net effect of climate change for small-holders in most instances will be increased poverty and disease prevalence, as well as reduced revenues.

To save the tea industry from this threat and secure the future of tea farmers, we must invest in both mitigation and adaptation measures.

A key mitigation measure is to increase the greenhouse gas sinks by saving forests from destruction and planting trees to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Farmers can also be helped to switch to cleaner sources of energy such as solar and wind to reduce forest destruction.

Most adaptation measures are designed only to prevent further warming, not reverse existing warming, hence adaptation, which involves acting to tolerate the effects of global warming.

Clearly, Kenyans have a lot to do to prepare adequately for the inevitable.

Mr Gori is a public relations specialist based in Nairobi.

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Tiny Tidy Teapot Turns Heads at World Tea Expo

Press Release Source: TeaTimeTrading Co. On Tuesday June 21, 2011, 10:00 am EDT

ST. HELENA, Calif., June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Napa Valley entrepreneurs Ron and Suzan Sculatti were delighted to learn that their single-serving One Touch Teapot was voted Best New Product For 2011 by the World Tea Expo.? Uniquely engineered to provide a perfect cup every time, the contemporary borosilicate glass vessel turned more than a few heads and took top honors in the teaware category amongst stiff competition.

Brew a perfect cup every time:

The ingenious vessel, which made its debut this past January, is the first product being offered by the TeaTimeTrading Company and appears to be a hit straight out of the box.? The contemporary styled borosilicate glass pot is offered in two designs – one with a traditional spout and one with a modern brim profile.? The BPA free plastic infuser has a stainless steel filter and is perfect for loose or bagged tea. Simply add the tea to the infuser, pour in boiling water and close the locking lid.? The ingenious glass design allows the user to keep an eye on the brewing process, and release the tea from the chamber when the desired strength is reached with the push of a button.

Simple and easy to use:

A perfect 8oz. brew can be repeated to create up to 16oz. of tea in a serving.? And best of all, since the tea leaves are separated from the liquid as soon as the steeping is complete, there is no over brewing and no bitter after taste.? To clean, simply remove the infuser, discard the tea and rinse.? Both pieces are top shelf dishwasher safe.

Available now online and through approved retailers:

The One Touch Teapot is an ideal solution for anyone seeking a perfect cup of tea.? MSRP of $30, available online at?www.teatimetrading.com.

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Tea party groups plan SunRail protest

With a decision on SunRail looming, Gov. Rick Scott is dispatching Florida transportation secretary Ananth Prasad to the Orlando area next week to meet with?six different groups of city and county commissioners and their constituents.

And tea party activists and other?opponents of the project are ready?for the visit.?Those groups will host a press conference and protest rally at 1 p.m. on the Orlando City Hall steps, and then?attend?Prasad's?2 p.m. meeting with Orlando city officials.?The group will then move on ?to?Prasad's meeting with Orange County commissioners at 4 p.m.

From the West Orlando Tea Party news release: In an unprecedented move, FDOT announced that on Tuesday, June 28th its Secretary Ananth Prasad will barnstorm the Central Florida localities through which the 32 mile SunRail project will run, to notify officials that there will be “no State bailout if SunRail fails”.?This is a very telling exercise because if SunRail was really such a solid project, why would FDOT have to make this pronouncement?

The SunRail commuter rail line requires funding from local taxpayers in Central Florida, state taxpayers and the federal government. Backers of?SunRail say it's a job creator, economic development and growth management tool that will ease congestion on busy highways. But Scott has been under pressure from tea party groups and some state lawmakers to kill the project, who say it's an even bigger boondoggle than high speed rail, which the governor killed earlier this year.

"SunRail is the poster child for big government spending on a public project hat we don't need, and that will be paid for with money we don't have," said Beth Dillaha, a former Winter Park city commissioner and?a founder of vetosunrail.org.

Scott has until July 2 to make a decision about SunRail. He froze the contracts for the project earlier this year, saying he wanted to take a closer look at the project. Last week, he told reporters he wants tto make sure Central Florida resdients understand the costs they'll have to bear for the project, and that he's trying to understand what he "can and can't do" based on "what's already been committed."

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GOP poll: Tea party movement could cost Republicans in 2012

Beware, Florida Republicans: The tea party movement that swept you into office in 2010 could cost you the next election.

That’s the takeaway message from Republican pollster and consultant Alex Patton, who conducted a recent survey showing that, by a 2:1 ratio, registered Florida voters said the tea party movement did not represent their views.

The sentiment against the tea party is significantly higher among self-described independent voters, who swing elections in Florida and who looked unfavorably on the tea party by 3-to-1, the poll showed. Only Republican voters favored the tea party movement, with 68 percent in support and less than 20 percent opposed.

“There’s a real danger to Republican candidates,” said Patton, a founder of the Gainesville-based War Room Logistics polling firm.

“If, in a primary race statewide, a candidate hugs the tea party too tightly in order to win the primary,” he said, “it significantly causes you issues in a general election.”

But there’s a catch for Republicans: The tea party movement is dear to the base of the GOP. Last year it helped fuel the Republican takeover in the Florida Cabinet as well as the U.S. House. So Republican candidates for president and U.S. Senate are courting the movement to ensure a primary win before they face off against President Obama or Sen. Bill Nelson in the 2012 general election.

“You’re going to see candidates walk a fine line,” said Tony Fabrizio, pollster for Gov. Rick Scott, who owed much of his success last year to the tea party.

“The tea party of a year ago is different from the tea party of today,” Fabrizio said. “Last year, the tea party was new, fresh and it represented the antigovernment outsider. Now, the brand maybe has a little tarnish.”

At the same time, he said, polls show that Democrats are feeling more energized than they were a year ago. Also, Obama’s favorability ratings have increased in recent months, and most polls show he remains more popular than Scott.

The War Room Logistics survey found that 54 percent viewed Scott unfavorably, while half of voters had a negative impression of Obama.

The survey’s results concerning the tea party in Florida mirror an April USA Today/Gallup poll that showed 47 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of the tea party – an increase of 7 percentage points in just over a year. Meanwhile, favorable impressions of the tea party nationwide have declined 6 percentage points to 33 percent.

Dave Beattie, a Florida-based pollster who conducts surveys for Democratic candidates, said the reasons for the decline in favorable views of the tea party are myriad. Not only has the newness of the tea party brand worn off, Beattie said, but rank-and-file voters have grown weary of its politics.

Voters were nonplussed by Scott’s decision to scotch a high-speed rail project from Orlando to Tampa and his call for an Arizona-style immigration reform plan in Florida, Beattie said. He said the biggest tea-party turnoff: the budget Scott signed that cut education spending.

“Republicans are parents, too, and they don’t like cuts to the classroom,” Beattie said. “It matters to parents, but it doesn’t matter to the tea party movement, which basically says there’s no role for government.”

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Tea party bailout: Trump to pay local group’s disputed $6,000 bill for Boca Raton rally he headlined

South Florida Tea Party Chairman Everett Wilkinson is relaying word that Donald Trump will pay more than $6,000 that Boca Raton says it is owed for police officers and barriers that were deployed for an April South Florida Tea Party rally that Trump keynoted.

Wilkinson questioned the charges said his group didn’t have the money in its coffers to cover them.

“We’re working on paying it,” Wilkinson said earlier this month. “We don’t have the money right now, but we’re good at paying our bills.”

Here’s a statement from Trump adviser Michael Cohen as reported in Politico:

“An unexpectedly large number of citizens peaceably assembled at the Boca Tea party event, hosted by Everett Wilkinson, that drew a crowd in excess of 5000 people. Mr. Trump is honored that so many people came to hear him speak on important political and social issues. Mr. Trump does not want any citizen group to be disparaged or burdened for exercising their first amendment right and has agreed to personally cover the full obligation to the City of Boca Raton.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 23rd, 2011 at 7:21 am and is filed under George Bennett, Tea Party movement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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Tea Party Revs Up Bus Tour, Rolls Through Iowa

Enlarge Charlie Neibergall/AP

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann greets Irene Blom before speaking at a Presidential Lecture Series sponsored by The Family Leader, April 11, 2011 in Pella, Iowa. Bachmann, along with Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Gary Johnson and Rick Santorum, are expected to drop in on a Tea Party Bus Tour making its way through Iowa.

Charlie Neibergall/AP U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann greets Irene Blom before speaking at a Presidential Lecture Series sponsored by The Family Leader, April 11, 2011 in Pella, Iowa. Bachmann, along with Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Gary Johnson and Rick Santorum, are expected to drop in on a Tea Party Bus Tour making its way through Iowa.

The Iowa caucuses are the first big test of the nominating process, but the 2012 caucuses will also provide the first big test in a presidential contest for the Tea Party, which was formed during President Obama's first year in office.

The Iowa caucuses are now less than eight months away, and the field of Republican candidates is still taking shape, but the Iowa Tea Party has begun its own campaign, in the form of a three-week-long bus tour across the state.

The bus is actually a giant RV with a banner on the side that features images of the U.S. constitution, the American Flag and the web address "www.teapartybustour.com."

It stopped by a city park in the town of Spencer, located in the northwest part of the state. The actual event is not the kind of noisy Tea Party rally that became a staple of the 2010 campaign. This time it's about 20 people in a small community room at the park.

"Well first off I want to thank everybody for coming out here today, especially on a beautiful day here," says Ryan Rhodes, director of the Iowa Tea Party. "I hope this will be very useful to everybody coming."

Effective Campaigning

But I'm afraid the Tea Party voice might be split amongst several candidates, and you could end up getting Romney.

- Dan Rogers, Tea Party Activist

There are a lot of Tea Party movement staples here: A handful of speakers, one representing a national organization promoting a return to the gold standard. That group is helping to underwrite the bus tour. Another group calls for the elimination of the Department of Education. President Obama is skewered and his Christianity is called into question.

But the biggest chunk of time is devoted to a Power Point presentation about effective campaign organizing.

Ryan Adams of the Leadership Institute explains what a precinct voter list looks like and what campaigners should look for.

It's a presentation not unlike those any activist in any political party might sit through. And the Iowa Tea Party thinks it's something its members — many of whom are relatively new to politics — need to know.

But there is also plenty of talk, outside and during breaks, about the GOP field and how the race is shaping up so far.

Rhodes says he has not picked a candidate yet, but he quickly adds that it won't be Mitt Romney. In fact he was disappointed in last week's debate. He says Romney was treated with kid gloves by the others on the stage, especially former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who backed off on earlier attacks on Romney's Massachusetts health car law.

"I think some of those candidates need to get out there and prove that if they're gonna beat the front runner that they're willing to take those tough shots," he says.

But surprisingly, Romney also found a bit of support in this Tea Party crowd. Rhoda Kaiser, 83, is from the nearby town of Milford.

"Well I was for Romney the first time, last time," she says. "But I like Romney and I like his whole family. I just think they're a wonderful family and I think he'll try."

A Split Vote?

Tea Party growth nationally was fueled by opposition to the health care bill Obama pushed for and signed into law last year. And there's anger over deficits, taxes and federal government intrusion.

But in Iowa the Republican Party is dominated by evangelicals and Christian conservatives and some of that bleeds over into the Tea Party. State Rep. Tom Shaw spoke to the gathering in Spencer.

"Now, a lot of people say 'But Mr. Shaw, it's all about the economy, stupid! Jobs, Jobs, Jobs! We've got to have the economy!'" he says. "Well I'm telling you, it ties right back in ... How do we expect to have moral men to run our nation's government, our states' governments, work on the economy if they don't have the basic morality to preserve innocent life?"

But Dan Rogers, a tea party activist from Spirit Lake, Iowa, says the economy is the main issue and he sees several acceptable candidates in the field. He likes Ron Paul best but ultimately hopes the Tea Party can unite behind one candidate in the caucuses.

"The problem will be if it's split amongst several candidates — the Tea Party vote — if it's split between Ron Paul, Herman Cain, Bachmann," he says. "But I'm afraid the Tea Party voice might be split amongst several candidates, and you could end up getting Romney."

Rogers says because of that it's hard to predict if the Tea Party can have the kind of impact it had in 2010. But the state Tea Party says that's what this bus tour is about. To make sure its members know these candidates inside and out, and to remind them what's at stake.

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The president hasn't made his case to members of Congress, House Speaker Boehner told reporters.

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Japan: green tea exports banned due to high radiation levels

A swathe of Japan's tea making regions including parts of Tochigi, Chiba and Kanagawa prefecture as well as the whole of Ibaraki were included within the ban, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Green tea plantations were first highlighted as suffering from potential radiation contamination last month following the results of sample tests in Kanagawa prefecture.

The authorities discovered around 570 becquerels of caesium per kilogram in leaves grown in the city of Minamiashigara – compared to the legal limit of 500 – and started a recall of tea products.

Tea leaves are the latest agricultural products in Japan to be affected by problems surrounding the still-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

From milk to spinach, a raft of items have fallen under the spotlight due to radiation fears although Japanese authorities have assured the public and its export nations that it is strictly regulating products.

Tens of thousands of farmers have been hit hard by the nuclear crisis, due to issues surrounding potential soil contamination and food safety fears with many also having had to abandon their animals in the evacuation area.

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Japan’s Tea Industry Facing Shortage as Nuclear Radiation Taints Shipments

 Japan may face a shortage of green tea as radiation leaking from the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi power station tainted leaves, spurring the government to restrict shipments from four prefectures. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Japan may face a shortage of green tea as radiation leaking from the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi power station tainted leaves, spurring the government to restrict shipments from four prefectures.

The government decided yesterday to curb shipments of dried tea leaves containing more than 500 becquerel per kilogram of radioactive cesium and ordered a halt in shipments from the eastern prefectures of Ibaraki, Chiba, Kanagawa and Tochigi where tainted produce was detected. Japan’s tea production, including fresh and dried leaves, was worth 102.1 billion yen ($1.3 billion) in 2009, according to the agriculture ministry.

The decision came after Shizuoka prefecture, Japan’s largest growing region representing about 40 percent of total output, declared its green tea was safe. Governor Heita Kawakatsu said last month tests on fresh leaves and drinks showed they contained cesium amounts well below the government levels. Still, cesium levels in dried leaves could be about five times higher than fresh leaves, said Yasuo Sasaki, senior press counselor at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

“The new regulation may spur shipment restrictions from Shizuoka prefecture, slashing supplies and boosting prices of green teas,” Sasaki said today in a telephone interview. “Higher prices could spur consumers to shift from green tea to cheaper alternatives such as barley tea or oolong tea.”

The government also asked each prefectural governor to test dried tea leaves for radioactive contamination.

Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, produced 33,400 metric tons of dried green tea in the year ended March 31, accounting for 39.3 percent of the nation’s total production. The southern prefecture of Kagoshima is the second-largest grower, producing 24,600 tons, according to the ministry.

One of the test results showed fresh tea leaves from Izu city in the prefecture contained 98 becquerel of cesium per kilogram, according to the Shizuoka website.

The government made the decision because green tea is also processed into seasoning for various food products including cookies and ice cream, said Taku Ohara at the inspection and safety division of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

“As dried tea leaves could be consumed directly by humans, we need to test them and ban sales of tainted products,” he said today by phone.

“We have not tested dried tea leaves as they are used in the middle of tea processing and are not a finished product. We have tested fresh tea leaves and tea drinks,” said Toshiyuki Aoki, assistant director at the office of tea and agricultural production at the Shizuoka prefectural government. “We would like to decide how to respond through discussion with government officials.”

Drink makers such as Ito En Ltd. (2593) purchase Japanese green tea as a raw material. The company’s shares lost 2.6 percent to 1,370 yen today on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the crippled nuclear plant, aims to meet a deadline to stabilize reactors at the station within six to nine months, Junichi Matsumoto, an official for the power utility, said on May 30.

To contact the reporter on this story: Aya Takada in Tokyo at atakada2@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Poole at jpoole4@bloomberg.net.

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Fukushima fallout spurs bans on green tea

An aerial view of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.Radioactive cesium levels prompt new action by JapanGreen tea, plums are among the latest bansTokyo Electric hopes to wind down the crisis by January

Tokyo (CNN) -- Japan has slapped new restrictions on green tea and plums from areas around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant because of lingering radioactive contamination from the ongoing disaster there.

The latest government bans were prompted by the discovery of radioactive cesium-137 and -134 at concentrations higher than Japanese standards allow, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told reporters Thursday.

Both are nuclear waste products: cesium-137 has a half-life of 30 years, while cesium-134 has a two-year half-life.

The government has now forbidden the shipment of both fresh and dried green tea -- normally touted for its health benefits -- from Ibaraki Prefecture, southwest of the plant; from six towns in Chiba Prefecture and six towns in Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo; and two in Fukushima Prefecture, where the crippled plant is located.

In addition, Edano said, the government has banned the shipment of plums from three towns in Fukushima.

The moves come nearly three months into the crisis at Fukushima Daiichi, the worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. One of three operating reactors at the plant melted down after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and the other two suffered extensive damage to their radioactive cores.

Though no deaths have been attributed to the accident, the resulting contamination has forced authorities to evacuate more than 100,000 people from towns surrounding the plant. In addition, restrictions on various agricultural and fisheries products have devastated Japanese farmers and fishermen since the disaster began, though some of those bans have been lifted in recent weeks.

The plant's owner, the Tokyo Electric Power Co., has laid out a timetable for restoring normal cooling systems and fully shutting down the reactors by January. But Prime Minister Naoto Kan cautioned that people may not be allowed to return home immediately, "even if these prospects are realized."

"We might have to continue monitoring, and we need to maybe decontaminate," said Kan, whose government survived a no-confidence vote Thursday spurred by complaints about his handling of the twin crises. "And for that, there may be some more time needed."

The disaster has spurred Japan to rethink its commitment to nuclear energy and tighten safety standards for existing plants. A preliminary report from the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded this week that Japan underestimated the risks its nuclear installations faced from tsunamis, like the one that swamped the Fukushima Daiichi plant and knocked out its cooling systems.

But the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency declared the country's response to the disaster "exemplary," praising Tokyo Electric's operators for their "brave and sometimes novel" efforts to contain the crisis.

CNN's Junko Ogura contributed to this report.

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Healthy iced tea hits spot on hot Texas days

Some people credit the creation of iced tea to Richard Blechynden, who in 1904 at the St. Louis World’s Fair was inspired to pour the hot brewed tea he was trying to sell summer fairgoers over ice and created one of America’s favorite beverages.

Today, iced tea can also claim to be good for you, too.

Many research studies suggest a connection between drinking tea regularly and a variety of potential health benefits. This is all great news for June, which is National Iced Tea Month.

According to the website news-medical.net, drinking iced tea might reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other forms of heart disease. Reduced risk of certain cancers, including colorectal and skin cancers, also have been associated with regular iced tea drinkers, but research is ongoing.

Tea may inhibit bacteria that cause bad breath and plaque, and the fluoride content in tea supports healthy tooth enamel. Iced tea contains antioxidants, vitamins C, E and amino acids.

Researchers also believe results from a compound in black tea called L-thiamine may support the immune system’s natural resistance to infection and perhaps even tumors.

Tea of any temperature is great for the body, so iced tea is as healthy as regular hot tea. Teas are divided into three groups based on the amount of oxidation they undergo during processing; green and white teas, black tea and oolong tea.

These iced tea recipes are easy and fun to make. If you are watching your sugar intake, Stevia can help sweeten without adding calories or fat. You may purchase this herbal sugar substitute at most grocery stores or at health food stores. You will find it near the sugar and other sugar substitutes.

Stevia Iced Tea

3 (1-ounce) tea bags

1/2 gallon boiling water

2 packets stevia

1 gallon cold water

5 pounds crushed ice

Place tea bags in a large enamel or stainless steel container. Pour boiling water over tea bags and steep 5 minutes. Remove bags and add Stevia packets. Stir to dissolve. Fill 2 gallon pitchers half full with cold water. Pour hot tea into cold water. Fill 12-ounce glasses with ice. Pour tea over ice just before serving. Garnish with wedges of lemon. Serves 25.

Calories: 10, total fat: 0g, dietary fiber: trace, protein: trace, potassium: 6 percent

Citrus Iced Tea for 1

1 tall glass crushed ice

1 cup prepared Stevia Iced Tea

1/3 cup orange juice

1/8 teaspoon lemon juice

Combine ice, iced tea, orange juice and a splash of lemon juice in a cocktail shaker or a jar with a lid. Shake until cold and frothy. Pour into a tall iced tea glass and garnish with an orange slice, if desired. Yields 1 serving.

Calories: 131, total fat: 0g, dietary fiber: 1g, protein: 5g, potassium: 69 percent

PeppermintApple Iced Tea

3 (1-ounce) tea bags

8 single serving peppermint tea bags

1 quart boiling water

1 quart cold water

2 cups apple juice

1/2 cup lemon juice

Steep mint tea and peppermint tea bags in boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. Place cold water, apple juice and lemon juice in a 1-gallon pitcher. Pour hot tea into pitcher and stir. Pour over tall glasses filled with crushed ice.

Garnish with fresh mint and citrus slices, if desired. Serves 12.

Calories: 29, total fat: 0g, dietary fiber: 1g, protein: trace, vitamin C: 10 percent

Nutritional breakdown of recipes by MasterCook Deluxe.

— Rae Udy is a local columnist who emphasizes nutritional information and healthy eating. She has written a cookbook called “Countdown Cooking.” Her column appears on Wednesdays. Write her in care of the Longview News-Journal, P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606.

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Herman Cain Says He Proves the Tea Party Isn't Racist

Herman Cain explains?in a video from his presidential campaign?that he "left that Democrat plantation a long time ago--and I ain't going back!" Cain is not well known, but the Republican primary voters who do know him like him a lot.?Gallup found he's well ahead of the rest of the GOP 2012 pack in his positive intensity score, which is the percentage of people who have strongly favorable feelings about him minus the percentage who have strongly unfavorable feelings. The Tea Party loves him, which is interesting, given that another recent Tea Party favorite was Donald Trump. It's been just over a month since Trump's birther campaign, with its troubling racial undertones, compelled President Obama to release his long-form birth certificate. Trump immediately moved on to demanding Obama's college transcripts, implying he had benefited from affirmative action.

So it's notable that in his new video, Cain addresses race directly, saying, "To all of those people who say that the Tea Party is a racist organization, eat your words." The evidence? Herman Cain: while a countryish guitar-strummer sings about "the Cain train," the Republican candidate explains, "My great, great grandparents were slaves, and now I’m running for President of the United States of America. Is this a great country, or what?" One woman in the video says yes, the Tea Party is "about color... red, white, and blue." Cain, who grew up in Jim Crow-era Atlanta, is referred to as a "son of the South."

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On Sunday have "Tea for Anjali"

Tea for Anjali, a fundraising afternoon tea, will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Club Monarch in Yorkville, in memory of Anjali Khatri.

Anjali died on May 26, 2010 after battling pediatric cancer for eight months. She was 3 years old.

Her mother, Janine Roberts-Khatri, is an area native and Sauquoit resident.

There will be raffles and entertainment as well as activities for children to enjoy. There will also be a surprise announcement.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, an organization that supports pediatric oncology research.

Tickets for the event cost $20 and will be available at the door.

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Tea Party Groups Target Romney

June 02, 2011 12:44 PM

ABC News' Huma Khan reports: The day he’s set to announce his presidential ambitions, Mitt Romney is coming under attack by a Tea Party group that says the former Massachusetts governor isn’t conservative enough to represent conservatives.

The Western Representation PAC, a Nevada-based group led by the infamous former Alaska Senate candidate and Tea Party darling Joe Miller, launched its “Stop Romney” campaign today, designed to prevent Romney from becoming the GOP candidate.

“In a matchup against Obama, Tea Party voters are looking for a consistent constitutional conservative," Miller said in a statement. "We will never get behind Mitt Romney. On issues like gun rights, gay rights, abortion, immigration, and health care, Romney has flipped more than John Kerry flopped.”

A spokesman for the group said it's too early to say how much money?it will?spend on the campaign, but the PAC will?focus?its efforts in New Hampshire, where Romney is making his announcement today.

"If we can stop Romney from winning New Hampshire, we can stop him from winning the nomination," Executive Director Bryan Shroyer told ABC News.

As part of the campaign, the PAC will mobilize its grassroots efforts and air broadcast ads. The group hasn’t officially supported any candidate in the Republican lineup so far, but says it’s targeting Romney because it doesn’t believe he can win a race against President Obama.

“We just know that if Mitt Romney wins the nomination, we’ll be looking at a repeat of Bob Dole’s feckless 1996 campaign and a landslide defeat,” Shroyer said.

Western Representation PAC, which raised about $410,000 in the 2010 election cycle, isn’t the first Tea Party group to attack Romney.

According to recent reports, FreedomWorks, an influential umbrella organization for Tea Party groups, is also going after the GOP contender.

“Romney has a record and we don’t really like it that much,” Adam Brandon, the group’s communications director told the Huffington Post last week.

Tea Party groups are concerned about Romney’s ability to generate the kind of grassroots enthusiasm from conservative groups that helped bring Republicans to power in the House last year. His backing of the Massachusetts health care plan -- on which the Affordable Care Act was modeled -- and provisions in the plan that some say help abortion groups, has become a thorny issue for many.

Another Tea Party darling, Sarah Palin, also said today that Romney will face a “challenge” in garnering Tea Party support.

"Tea Party activists are pretty strident in a good way in making sure that the candidate that many of these Tea Party candidates will support has the record of living out the principles the Tea Party tends to embrace, which of course is a smaller, smarter government,” Palin told reporters in Boston. “I think that he'll have maybe a bit more of a challenge with the independents who make up the Tea Party movement."

When asked about the Tea Party’s influence last year, Romney warned the group not to form a third party that would divide Republicans.

“If we go in the direction of dividing our conservative effort in the general elections, why we’ll just basically turn the country over to Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid and that would be very sad indeed,” Romney said in an interview last March. "Divide and fail is the result.”

ABC News’ Sheila Marikar contributed to this report.

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Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. to Present at 31st Annual Piper Jaffray Consumer Conference

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EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEET - News), the premier specialty coffee and tea company in the U.S., today announced that it will present at the 31st Annual Piper Jaffray Consumer Conference at 1:10 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 9, 2011, at the New York Palace in New York City.

Peet’s presentation will be broadcast live with audio on Peet’s website at http://investor.peets.com/events.cfm. To access the live webcast, please go to the website beforehand to download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the webcast can be accessed approximately three hours after the conclusion of the presentation and will remain on www.peets.com for 90 days after the scheduled conference.

ABOUT PEET’S COFFEE & TEA, INC.

Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc., (PEET), is the premier specialty coffee and tea company in the United States. The company was founded in 1966 in Berkeley, Calif. by Alfred Peet. Peet was an early tea authority who later became widely recognized as the grandfather of specialty coffee in the U.S. Today, Peet's Coffee & Tea offers superior quality coffees and teas in multiple forms, by sourcing the best quality coffee beans and tea leaves in the world, adhering to strict high quality and taste standards, and controlling product quality through its unique direct store delivery selling and merchandising system. Peet's is committed to strategically growing its business through many channels while maintaining the extraordinary quality of its coffees and teas. For more information about Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc., visit www.peets.com.

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Jalees Rehman, M.D.: Sharing Three Cups of Tea With the Tea Party

Jalees Rehman, M.D.: Sharing Three Cups of Tea With the Tea Party HPFB.init(); bN_cfg = { h: (window.HPConfig && HPConfig.current_web_address) || location.hostname, p: {"dL_ch":"us.hpmgcom","dL_dpt":"default","dL_cmsID":"hpo:868008"} }; (function(d, n){ var s=d.createElement(n), h=d.getElementsByTagName(n)[0]; s.src="http://o.aolcdn.com/os/aol/beacon.min.js"; h.parentNode.insertBefore(s, h); })(document, "script"); 

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Buddy Check: Leelanau La-Tea-Da

It's nearly the 4th of the month which means it's time to call your buddy as a reminder to do a self breast exam. it's also time for this month's Buddy Check Report.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and in some cases it really pays off.

The Leelanau La-Tea-Da is modeled after the very successful Antrim County High Tea for breast cancer research.

As the Leelanau event prepares for its second year, they are hoping to help even more cancer patients, one tea cup at a time.

Leelanau La-Tea-Da Volunteer Committee Member Bruce Polizotto says, "We felt there was a need to give a gift to the Leelanau community and we wanted to identify a need that was real."

With 18 uniquely decorated tables of fine china, silver and linen, a traditional British High Tea may not be very practical, but the Leelanau La-Tea-Da hopes a little elegance will go a long way to ease the very practical needs of their friends and neighbors fighting cancer.

He says, "It's in a sense an easy cause because it's so wide ranging and it's impacted so many people in such a negative way. To come up with some answers to the disease itself as well as the people who are experiencing the problems associated with treatment."

In its first year, the event raised more than $14,000 and this year they've raised even more that. It will help Leelanau County residents through the Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation.

Desiree Worthington, the President of the Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation says, "The foundation manages more than 40 funds, some are specifically to help families that are in financial need, through gas cards, treatments, in some cases utility bills."

The tea organizers say help comes in different forms, but there's something special about helping those in your own community.

Polizotto says, "It's very nice, very appropriate for government programs to be out there for people to draw upon but we thought it's so much more meaningful if we as local volunteers gave to a local cause for local people."

Worthington says, "We're inspired everyday by the generosity of the community members of our region the people of the La-Tea-Dah have a lot of enthusiasm and have a lot of passion helping their neighbors and we're honored to work with them."

While the Leelanau La-Tea-Da is sold out for this year, there are still ways you can help.

The Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation works with groups big and small and says if you have specific goals in mind for how you would like your fundraising dollars, they can work with you to get help to those in need.

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Compound in green tea benefits health

CORVALLIS, Ore., June 4 (UPI) -- A compound in green tea has a powerful ability to increase the number of "regulatory T cells" that play a key role in immune function, U.S. researchers say.

Principal investigator Emily Ho of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University says that may be one of the underlying mechanisms that make green tea beneficial in helping control inflammation, improve immune function and prevent cancer.

Pharmaceutical drugs perform similar roles and have been the subject of much research, scientists say, but they have problems with toxicity, Ho says.

"This appears to be a natural, plant-derived compound that can affect the number of regulatory T cells, and in the process improve immune function," Ho says in a statement. "When fully understood, this could provide an easy and safe way to help control autoimmune problems and address various diseases."

In the study, the scientists experimented with a compound in green tea -- a polyphenol called EGCG -- which is believed to be responsible for much of its health benefits and has both anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer characteristics.

The study, published in Immunology Letters, found the compound could cause a higher production of regulatory T cells and while its effects were not as potent as produced by prescription drugs it also had few concerns about long-term use or toxicity.

"EGCG may have health benefits through an epigenetic mechanism, meaning we aren't changing the underlying DNA codes, but just influencing what gets expressed, what cells get turned on," Ho says.

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Samovar Stories - steeped in tea in S.F.

Samovar Tea Lounge owner Jesse Jacobs has started an online video series called Samovar Stories, which feature his interviews with tea lovers and luminaries from all walks of life. A recent session brought together health expert Dr. Andrew Weil and technology entrepreneur Kevin Rose. Future episodes will feature Tony Hsieh (founder of Zappos), Tim Ferris (author, "The 4-Hour Workweek"), Craig Newmark (founder of Craigs list.com) and Graham Hill (founder of the website TreeHugger), among others. The videos, and more information about upcoming events, which are open to the public, can be found at samovarlife.com.

Profession: Tech entrepreneur (CEO of Milk Inc.)

Neighborhood: Hayes Valley

How often do you drink tea?

Daily. I drink caffeinated teas in the morning and herbal teas in the afternoon.

What's the tea lifestyle?

You get stressed out in the environment of a startup. You need a way to get away. Tea has provided that break.

Profession: Marketing at Skype

Neighborhood: San Mateo

How often do you drink tea?

Not as much as I'd like. I go through phases where I need the caffeine jump and I go back on the coffee kick. And then I realize what I've done and go back to drinking tea.

What's the tea lifestyle?

The tea lifestyle has to do with balance.

Profession: Software architect and consultant

Neighborhood: Monterey

How often do you drink tea?

Daily. All day. I am seriously heavy into drinking high-end pu-erh.

What's the tea lifestyle?

Each morning, I start with a pot of tea that I will brew 40 to 50 times throughout the day - same pot; same leaf. At first the tea is energizing, then it mellows out in flavor and stimulation until it becomes like honey water late into the evening.

Profession: Student at UC Berkeley

Neighborhood: Berkeley

How often do you drink tea?

Multiple times a day. When I wake up in the morning, I have a pot of tea and drink throughout the day. I usually end my night with a gong fu cha (ancient Chinese ritual of brewing tea) tea session with my friends. My roommates and I got rid of our TV and replaced it with a tea shelf.

What's the tea lifestyle?

It's about humility. This leaf has infinite amount of flavors, and we can never really know exactly how or why it makes us feel good. Tea is powerful because it keeps us rooted and humble.

Profession: Founder and chair of New Leaf Paper

Neighborhood: Sausalito

How often do you drink tea?

Daily. I drink caffeinated tea every other day and herbal tea daily.

What's the tea lifestyle?

For me, tea is more of an experience than just a drink. There's a process, and the enjoyment of it can be experienced from many different levels. Tea is a part of my lifestyle - it brings out community, slows you down, makes me thoughtful and it's good for you. It just makes a lot of sense to me.

Have an idea for the People Meter? E-mail us at datebookletters@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page E - 6 of the San?Francisco?Chronicle

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Tea Party Against Government Mandated Sustainability

The use of the word sustainability has the Jefferson Area Tea Party calling foul. They say it has been hijacked to push a radical political agenda and they are calling on Charlottesville and Albemarle County to renounce it.

The tea party says they are all for sustainability and environmentalism as long as it isn't government mandated. But they say that is exactly what is going on in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

In a press conference Thursday afternoon, tea party leaders said Albemarle County's participation in several groups should end. Those include the Cool Counties Initiative as well as their involvement in ICLEI - an international cooperation of city and county governments.

They also take issue with the county and Charlottesville's acceptance of a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to facilitate better regional planning.

Carole Thorpe with the Jefferson Area Tea Party, stated "We are concerned that environmentalism in this case is being used as a bit of a veil, to hide a greater agenda, which is to impose massive mandates, to have big government style central planning involved here."

Charlottesville Vice Mayor Holly Edwards did sit in on Thursday's press conference to listen to the concerns raised.

The tea party plans to bring these issues up at next Wednesday night's board of supervisors work session. They plan to urge supervisors to drop the use of the word sustainability from any government documents.

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Sweet tea seeping into scores of recipes

BY ANDREA WEIGL - Staff Writer

Sweet tea is no longer just a drink. It's an ingredient that creative cooks have started using to flavor custards and pies or to brine chicken and pork.

It's hard to say why Southerners' favorite beverage is having a moment in the culinary spotlight. Maybe it's because McDonald's has been selling sweet tea nationwide for three years. Or maybe the popularity of sweet tea vodkas, including South Carolina-based Firefly, is inspiring cooks. Regardless, sweet tea has moved beyond its roots as a Southern staple.

"In the last two years, it's becoming more and more prevalent," says Martha Hall Foose, a Mississippi-based cookbook author who included a recipe for Sweet Tea Lemon Chess Pie in her cookbook, "Screened Doors and Sweet Tea." Raleigh author Fred Thompson, who wrote a cookbook devoted to iced tea recipes, agrees: "They are using it for everything and anything."

The cover of last month's Southern Living was devoted to the topic and featured a photo of a sweet tea icebox tart. Inside were recipes for grilled shrimp salad with sweet tea vinaigrette, sweet tea rice, even sweet tea tiramisu.

Local chefs have toyed with tea. Ashley Christensen of Poole's Diner in Raleigh uses tea and honey to brine pork shanks or unsweetened tea to marinate salmon or arctic char. James Beard-award-winning chef Ben Barker of Durham's Magnolia Grill uses sweet tea to brine pork chops. And John Fleer of Canyon Kitchen in Cashiers brines his chicken in sweet tea before frying it.

"What we love about tea is that briskness," Christensen said. "To be able to introduce that into food is a very cool thing."

Thompson says it's no surprise that sweet tea is turning up as a way to marinate meat, fish and poultry.

"We've been using wine and acidic things to marinate meats," he says. Teas and wines both have tannins, which introduce a smoky, savory flavor. He adds: "It offers a very mellow backdrop note, which is really cool right now - thanks to McDonald's, I guess."

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Here are a few:

Instant tea is a no-no. Use only the real thing. The Southern Living test kitchen staff used Luzianne for all of its sweet tea-inspired recipes.

Tea generally comes in three types: Black tea, which is also known as Orange Pekoe, has a mahogany color and a bright taste. Green tea is made from lightly colored tea and has a delicate flavor. Oolong, which falls between black and green tea, has a smoky, almost peach flavor.

For more information, go to bit.ly/c9hXQ5 or check out these blogs: www.tavalon.com/blog and www.teaguyspeaks.com/.

If you would like to get better educated about teas, Tin Roof Teas at Cameron Village in Raleigh offers monthly classes. Call 834-9000 or go to tinroofteas.com/.

Source: Andrea Weigl and "Iced Tea: 50 Recipes for Refreshing Tisanes, Infusions, Coolers and Spiked Teas," by Fred Thompson (Harvard Common Press, 2002).

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Japan restricts green tea over radiation fears

Skip to navigation ? Skip to content ?

TOKYO (AFP) – Japan banned the shipment of green tea leaves grown in four prefectures around Tokyo on Thursday after radioactive caesium above legal levels was found in samples, a media report said.

It was the latest produce shipment ban since the massive March 11 seabed quake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima nuclear plant northeast of Tokyo, which has since leaked radiation into the ground, air and sea.

The ban covers tea leaves from parts of the Tochigi, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures and all of Ibaraki prefecture, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare said, Kyodo News agency reported.

Kanagawa, southwest of Tokyo, said in early May it had detected radiation above the legal limit in tea grown there and blamed it on the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant, which suffered partial meltdowns.

Kanagawa prefecture then started a recall of the tea after measuring about 570 becquerels of caesium per kilogramme in leaves grown in the city of Minamiashigara. The legal limit is 500 Bq/kg.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant is located some 220 kilometres (135 miles) northeast of Tokyo and 280 kilometres from Minamiashigara.

The central government has previously imposed a ban on a range of vegetables and dairy produce from parts of Fukushima prefecture and several neighbouring regions, and banned fishing in the vicinity of the plant.

Copyright c 2011 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AFP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Agence France Presse.

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“Tea for Two” program starts this week at Fairhope Museum of History

“Tea for Two” program starts this week at Fairhope Museum of History

Staff Report
(Created: Wednesday, December 8, 2010 7:05 PM CST)

FAIRHOPE, Ala. - ?Starting Thursday, Dec. 9, the Fairhope Museum of History will host a new “tea social” program to help share with the public news about museum exhibits, programs and events, according to a museum news release.

Every Thursday at 2 p.m., tea will be served with cookies or cake, and a speaker will present a short program related to a museum event. Speakers already lined up include authors, researchers and historical artifact experts, according to the release.

“This tea social is being called ‘Tea for Two’ because the tea will be served at two and a suggested contribution to the Friends of the Museum will be two dollars,” the release stated. “The tea will be locally grown tea in Fairhope and currently Fairhope Green Tea is what is on the menu. A different batch of cookies, finger foods or cake, will be served each week with the tea.”

The museum is encouraging local residents and visitors to bring a friend and join others for this new Thursday program to learn what is going on at the museum and learn more about Fairhope’s history.

For more information, call 928-1471 or 929-1474. The Fairhope Museum of History is located at 24 N. Section St.

( top )

?

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Will the Tea Party Help Re-Elect Obama?

 

  

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The Tea Spot Actively Supports a Cancer Wellness Cause with over $60,000 in Product Donations

The Tea Spot, a Boulder-based philanthropic tea company, is actively supporting Jodi's Race for Awareness, sponsored by the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Association (COCA) in Denver's City Park on June 4th 2011 with over $60,000 in Product Donations.

Boulder, CO (PRWEB) June 03, 2011

The Tea Spot, a Boulder-based tea company, is staying true to a compassionate pledge. The "10% Pledge" of this philanthropic, woman owned and operated company is to donate 10% of every sale in-kind toward cancer and community wellness. This week, the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA) will receive the largest single donation The Tea Spot has ever made, as they host their second annual Jodi’s Race for Awareness.

The race was founded by Jodi Brammeier - a Denver wife, mother, and runner – who after being diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer in 2008 found a new mission. Jodi partnered with COCA to create a race that promotes awareness about ovarian cancer so that other women might detect cancer earlier and improve their chance to survive. In its inaugural year in 2009, Jodi's Race drew over 1700 runners and walkers, netting over $140,000. The race continues to be a strong force in raising funds for ovarian cancer research and outreach annually.

Jodi’s Race is especially dear to The Tea Spot. The Tea Spot's founder and CEO, Maria Uspenski, discovered the benefits of premium loose tea during her own recovery from ovarian cancer. Similar to Jodi and the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance, she took her tribulation and moved forward. The result is a business dedicated to promoting loose leaf tea for an improved quality of life. Uspenski proudly claimed, “our philosophy is that business and compassion can, and should, coexist.” And it’s this mission which earns respect and growth… in both business and generosity.

The mission behind The Tea Spot's roots--to foster health and wellness by making loose leaf tea an everyday luxury--will be shared on June 4th, 2011, as 2,500 runners gather to participate in Jodi’s Race for Awareness, in Denver’s City Park. Hosted by the COCA, survivors and supporters will celebrate life, remembrance, awareness and education. Each participant will receive a gift bag with $25 of The Tea Spot's products. The gift bags contain a tin of loose tea and a tea infuser uniquely designed by The Tea Spot for active lifestyles. With a goal of sharing loose leaf tea for its health benefits and accessibility, this donation is sure to resonate with the walkers and runners of Jodi’s Race.

The Tea Spot is a proud sponsor of Jodi’s Race for Awareness: a spectacular event with phenomenal intent.

About Jodi's Race
Jodi's Race for Awareness is scheduled for Saturday, June 4, 2011 in Denver's City Park, Colorado Boulevard and 23rd Street, and includes a 1-Mile Family Walk as well as the 5K Run/Walk. To learn more about the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA) and its programs visit http://www.colo-ovariancancer.org.

About The Tea Spot, Inc
The Tea Spot is a certified woman-owned and operated business producing proprietary products for loose-leaf tea. Patented tea serving and steeping products are marketed under the SteepwareR trademark. They also offer a line of exclusive, organic, and Fair-Trade Certified? leaf teas. Based in Boulder, Colorado, the company was founded in 2004 by Maria Uspenski, a cancer survivor drawn to the health benefits of leaf tea during her recovery. She set forth to modernize the loose-leaf tea experience, making it an everyday luxury. Her message is simple and powerful: tea in its freshest form renders incredible flavor, unmatched health benefits, and is eco-friendly. The company ensures that its products uphold clean, sustainable and fair manufacturing standards. The Tea Spot’s model of social entrepreneurship incorporates a culture of giving as it grows: Ten percent of every sale made is donated in-kind to cancer and community wellness programs. More at theteaspot.com or media(at)theteaspot(dot)com.

###

Maria Uspenski
The Tea Spot
303-444-8324
Email Information

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Toadying to the Tea Party

NEW YORK – GOP candidates are running from their records to curry favor with conservatives. Howard Kurtz on why the movement has soured on the 2012 field.

Dick Armey, his tan several shades deeper than his orange shirt, says he knows how to push Republicans to the right.

“If we own their fear, we can compel their behavior,” the House GOP leader turned Tea Party crusader explains. If presidential candidates truly repent for the apostasy of having taken moderate positions, “we’re willing to let bygones be bygones. But the first evidence that you’re drinking the backsliders’ wine, you’ll see us saying, adios, amigos.”

The grass-roots clout of the Tea Party movement has transformed the GOP presidential contest into a demolition derby in which candidates try to race away from their record before their vehicle crashes and burns.

Mitt Romney has been arduously attempting to justify his Massachusetts health plan while denouncing Obamacare (though both rely on individual mandates) and not sounding very convincing in the process. Tim Pawlenty has been in abject apology mode for the grievous sin of once supporting a cap-and-trade barter system for cutting pollution. Jon Huntsman was also a cap-and-trader and even wanted Barack Obama to push a bigger stimulus, which is now deemed a dirty word.

And then there’s Newt. Beyond using inflammatory language (“right-wing social engineering”) in attacking Paul Ryan’s Medicare privatization plan, Gingrich briefly embraced, horror of horrors, a health insurance mandate. “It really stunned me,” Armey says, that Gingrich would attack Ryan, “the biggest hero of the constitutional small-government movement.”

But not for long; Gingrich beat an apologetic retreat after the right savaged him. The truth is, he was being consistent as a mainstream pol who once repeatedly compromised with Bill Clinton. He says he doesn’t want his evolution reduced to “a 12-second sound bite…I do not support a mandate, which was ironically the conservative position in ’93 in blocking Hillarycare,” Gingrich told me.

But that was then. The range of acceptable views for a GOP candidate has narrowed dramatically in this cycle. A Bush-style compassionate conservative, circa 2008, would be laughed out of the race.

“It’s called trying to win a Republican primary,” scoffs GOP strategist Alex Castellanos. “The sexy story is that they’re craven appeals to the party’s base, but the base is the repository of its principles. You don’t win the middle by becoming a Democrat lite.”

That, to be sure, is the grass-roots message. “I’m still waiting for that perfect candidate,” says Ann Becker, a Tea Party activist in Ohio. Romney’s shifts in position “make me wonder. I’m not sure if I believe he’s changed.”

The troops are acutely attuned to signs of political expediency. “Newt has changed his position so many times I haven’t met anybody in the Tea Party who believes anything he says,” explains Mark Meckler, cofounder of Tea Party Patriots. “Romney is so closely tied to Romneycare in Massachusetts that it’s difficult for any Tea Party person to support him. He should have come out and said I made a tremendous mistake.” But Meckler and other activists credit Pawlenty for challenging Iowa’s sacred ethanol subsidies.

That ethanol is causing more buzz than abortion is telling. “There’s no question the center of gravity has shifted,” says Dan Schnur, a political analyst at the University of Southern California. “But there’s an even more interesting shift from social conservatives to economic conservatives.” Armey, whose group Freedom Works has 1.2 million people on its email list, admits that gay marriage and abortion are uncomfortable subjects for the movement’s libertarians. But social issues are already baked into the Republican cake; no pro-gay abortion rights advocate is going to survive the Iowa caucuses.

Democrats, of course, have their own version of playing to the left. Hillary Clinton and other Dems spent much of 2008 trying to explain away their vote to authorize the Iraq War. But the conservative tide has risen so quickly that Republican candidates must scramble to higher ground or be submerged.

The result is that some topics are off-limits and others require flouting the facts. When Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor who is resisting calls to make a White House run, was asked whether he believed in evolution or creationism, he replied: “None of your business.” Climate change—who knows if it’s man-made? Defaulting on the federal debt—would that really be so bad? The House GOP, in fact, is set to vote down a rise in the debt ceiling on Tuesday—the sort of increase that was routine in the Reagan years and both Bush administrations. Usually savvy Republicans are falling into line or biting their tongues.

Armey doesn’t feign enthusiasm for the field; he says Romney, the nominal front-runner, carries the “almost impossible burden” of his state version of Obamacare. Mitch Daniels might have campaigned as a pragmatist who wouldn’t openly pander to the religious right, but his wife vetoed a run. The eventual nominee will have to pivot back to the center, where elections are won. But for now, the party’s ideological arteries have greatly constricted, and that may not be healthy.

Howard Kurtz is The Daily Beast's Washington bureau chief. He also hosts CNN's weekly media program Reliable Sources on Sundays at 11 a.m. ET. The longtime media reporter and columnist for The Washington Post, Kurtz is the author of five books.

Like The Daily Beast on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates all day long.

For inquiries, please contact The Daily Beast at editorial@thedailybeast.com.

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Research and Markets: Tea Market in Indonesia to 2014 - A Comprehensive Resource of the Tea Market Data from 2004 to ...

Press Release Source: Research and Markets On Thursday June 2, 2011, 11:00 pm EDT

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2F26093b%2Ftea_market_in_indo&esheet=6746754&lan=en-US&anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2F26093b%2Ftea_market_in_indo&index=1&md5=ba4ebe35e4f2273490e56b20f32fa3c4) has announced the addition of the "Tea Market in Indonesia to 2014 (Hot Drinks)" report to their offering.

Tea Market in Indonesia to 2014 (Hot Drinks) is a comprehensive resource for tea market data from 2004 to 2014 and market/company shares for 2008-09. This report also provides data on key distribution channels and reveals the leading companies in the Indonesian tea market.

Features and Benefits:

Identify key market segments by analyzing market size data for the tea market Design business strategies by gaining insight into quantitative market trends over 2004-09 and expectations for 2010-14 Identify key companies in the tea market in Indonesia and design M&A strategies by analyzing market share data Predict how consumer preferences will change in the future by analysis of expenditure and consumption information from 2004 to 2014

Highlights:

The tea market in Indonesia increased at a compound annual growth rate of 2.1% between 2004 and 2009. The green tea segment led the tea market in Indonesia in 2009, with a share of 52%. The leading player in tea market in Indonesia is Unilever.

Key questions answered:

Which will be the fastest growing segment within the tea market in Indonesia? How will the forecast growth differ from the historic growth exhibited by the tea market in Indonesia? Which company accounted for the largest share of the Indonesian tea market in 2009? How will consumption and expenditure patterns change from 2004 to 2014?

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1 Executive Summary

Chapter 2 Definition

Chapter 3 Category Analysis: Tea

Chapter 4 Macroeconomic Profile

Chapter 5 Research Methodology

For more information visit http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2F26093b%2Ftea_market_in_indo&esheet=6746754&lan=en-US&anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2F26093b%2Ftea_market_in_indo&index=4&md5=737eec62474d8f14fb583527217ea9d6

Source: Datamonitor

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Research and Markets: Research Report on China's Tea Industry 2011-2012 - The Biggest Tea Producing Country in the World

Press Release Source: Research and Markets On Thursday June 2, 2011, 6:28 am EDT

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/82df75/research_report_on) has announced the addition of the "Research Report on China's Tea Industry 2011-2012" report to their offering.

Chinese people have the habit of tea drinking. Tea drinking and tea planting in various countries in the world are spread from China directly or indirectly. In 729 AD, tea drinking spread to Japan first. In 1610, Dutch traders bought tea from China, which was transferred to various European countries afterwards. Subsequently, tea became a kind of worldwide drinks. China's tea planting technology was first transmitted to Japan. In 1780, East India Company in India imported tea seeds from Guangdong to India. Nowadays, there are over 50 countries planting and producing tea worldwide.

In 2010, the total output of tea in China exceeded 1.40 million tons, ranking the first in the world.

In 2010, China's domestic market consumed about 1.10 million tons of tea. In China, in addition to traditional tea, deep processed products with high technology content have become new favorites of the market. Tea drinks, tea food and instant tea have met people's requirement for increasingly accelerating life pace. Tea polyphenol, theanine, tea pigment and other tea extract products have become health care products chosen by many people.

Statistics show that China's tea deep processing field adopts raw material occupying 6% of China's total tea output, but creates the market of CNY 30 billion, accounting for one third of the market scale of China's tea industry.

Despite many unfavorable factors such as appreciation of RMB and increase in costs of production goods and labor, in 2010, China's tea export volume still exceeded 300,000 tons, ranking the second in the world, and the tea export value hit the record high, reaching USD 784 million.

Seen by categories, in 2010, the export of green tea, scented tea and Pu'er tea increased while that of oolong tea and black tea decreased. Seen by markets, the export to the U.S.A. and Russia increased rapidly. However, influenced by shortage in raw material supply, increase in production costs, quality standardization, etc., the export to West Africa and other traditional markets experienced a decline.

Despite the large number of China's tea enterprises, there's a lack of leading enterprises and global well-known brands in international tea industry in a real sense, and standardized and normalized tea production chain has not been formed. At present, China's exported tea is still mostly raw material products, and the competition is mainly low-level price competition. In 2010, China's average tea export price was less than 2.70 USD/kg, lower than that of Sri Lanka, Kenya and other countries.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Related Concepts of Tea Industry

2 Overview of Major Tea Producing Countries in the World, 2010

3 Analysis on China's Tea Industry, 2010

4 Analysis on China's Major Tea Producing Regions, 2010-2011

5 China's Major Tea Processing Enterprises, 2010-2011

6 Prediction on Development of China's Tea Industry, 2011-2012

Companies Mentioned:

China Tea Co., Ltd. Yunnan Landsuntea Green Industry Co., Ltd. Wuyistar Tea Industrial Co., Ltd. Longrun Group Tenfu Group Yunnan Dianhong Group Co., Ltd. Anxi Tiekuanyin Group Hunan Tea Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Shenbao Industrial Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Tea Group Co., Ltd

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/82df75/research_report_on

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Dayton Tea Party sues city, township groups to obtain records

By Cornelius Frolik, Staff Writer 11:45 PM Friday, June 3, 2011

DAYTON — The Dayton Tea Party is suing the Ohio Municipal League and Ohio Township Association to compel the groups to release records about their finances, operations and lobbying efforts.

In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday with the Ohio Supreme Court, the Dayton Tea Party challenged the Municipal League’s and Township Association’s position that they are private organizations.

The lawsuit contends the two groups receive most or all of their funding from public officials across Ohio using taxpayer dollars, which makes them subject to open records laws. The organizations dispute this claim.

“The rule in Ohio is that if you are the functional equivalent of a public agency, you can be compelled to produce records, even if you are not, per se, public,” said Maurice Thompson, executive director of 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, a public interest law firm in Columbus that advocates Constitutional rights and limited government.

Thompson represents the Dayton Tea Party in the legal action.

Rob Scott, president and founder of the Dayton Tea Party, said his goal is to determine and expose how taxpayer dollars are being spent by these groups.

“We want to shine a light on local governments using taxpayer money to lobby for more taxpayer money,” Scott said.

The lawsuit grew out of public records requests Scott submitted to the groups on March 31 that he says they denied. Scott said the documents requested were in regard to the groups’ opposition of repealing of Ohio’s estate tax and support of increasing spending on local governments.

Thompson and Scott said the Municipal League and Township Association use public money to support and lobby for ideological causes, including higher taxes, more regulation and increased government spending.

Matt DeTemple, executive directive of the Township Association, said he could not comment on the case because he has not examined it, but his organization is private and exempted from public records laws.

The Township Association represents more than 5,200 members from 1,300 townships, and its goal is to promote township government through lobbying efforts and educational forums.

Susan Cave, executive director of the Municipal League, also declined to comment on the case because she has not seen it.

But she said her organization represents 750 of Ohio’s 900 cities and villages and offers members educational and training resources.

Cave also said her group lobbies on behalf of members.

Most of the group’s funding comes from membership fees.

The Municipal League and Township Association have 21 days after receipt of the lawsuit to file a response with the court, according to the Ohio Supreme Court.

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Research and Markets: Tea Market in China to 2014 - A Comprehensive Resource of the Tea Market Data from 2004 to 2014

Press Release Source: Research and Markets On Thursday June 2, 2011, 10:00 pm EDT

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2Ff456b5%2Ftea_market_in_chin&esheet=6746763&lan=en-US&anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2Ff456b5%2Ftea_market_in_chin&index=1&md5=49e7abc54c5c7efdd08ab9291a294fe1) has announced the addition of the "Tea Market in China to 2014 (Hot Drinks)" report to their offering.

Tea Market in China to 2014 (Hot Drinks) is a comprehensive resource for tea market data from 2004 to 2014 and market/company shares for 2008-09. This report also provides data on key distribution channels and reveals the leading companies in the Chinese tea market.

Features and Benefits:

Identify key market segments by analyzing market size data for the tea market Design business strategies by gaining insight into quantitative market trends over 2004-09 and expectations for 2010-14 Identify key companies in the tea market in China and design M&A strategies by analyzing market share data Predict how consumer preferences will change in the future by analysis of expenditure and consumption information from 2004 to 2014

Highlights:

The tea market in China increased at a compound annual growth rate of 7.4% between 2004 and 2009. The green tea segment led the tea market in China in 2009, with a share of 71.4%. The leading player in tea market in China is Unilever.

Key questions answered:

Which will be the fastest growing segment within the tea market in China? How will the forecast growth differ from the historic growth exhibited by the tea market in China? Which company accounted for the largest share of the Chinese tea market in 2009? How will consumption and expenditure patterns change from 2004 to 2014?

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1 Executive Summary

Chapter 2 definition

Chapter 3 Category Analysis: Tea

Chapter 4 Macroeconomic Profile

Chapter 5 Research Methodology

For more information visit http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2Ff456b5%2Ftea_market_in_chin&esheet=6746763&lan=en-US&anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2Ff456b5%2Ftea_market_in_chin&index=4&md5=d752b4bff2ba2a01ea0fee60ca0997a3

Source: Datamonitor

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Tea Championship Names "Blue-Ribbon" Iced Teas, Just In Time For Summer

Press Release Source: World Tea Expo On Wednesday June 1, 2011, 12:42 pm EDT

LAS VEGAS, June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Specialty iced teas are gathering steam in popularity and quality, according to organizers of the North American Tea Championship (www.teachampionship.com), which named 14 first-place winners in various categories in the annual Iced Tea Class evaluation. The event took place May 24 in Montebello, Calif. The Championship is the only independent competition, judged by professional cuppers, to distinguish the highest quality and best tasting teas that are commercially available in the North American marketplace.

Tea experts who judged the North American Tea Championship include: Michael Cardenas, owner, Innovative Dining Group; David De Candia, senior manager and tea master/tea blender, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf; and Patrick Main, quality manager, Peet's Coffee & Tea.

A total of 43 tea companies showcased an assortment of more than 130 premium iced teas – nearly double the entries than 2010. Competitors ranged from small, boutique tea manufacturers to mid-size tea companies and mass manufacturers, and there were winners to represent each.

Wilbur Curtis (www.wilburcurtis.com) a leading manufacturer of tea brewers and accessories, was the host and equipment supplier of the competition. Cirqua Customized Water (www.cirqua.com) provided 300 gallons of water for the Championship. ?

Winners include:

Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Snapple Green Tea (www.drpeppersnapplegroup.com); Ready-to-Drink-Flavored Green TeaITO EN, LTD, TEA'S TEA Low Calorie-Mango Oolong ?(www.ITOEN.com); Ready-to-Drink-Flavored Oolong TeaMilo's Tea Company, Milo's No Calorie Tea Gallon (www.milostea.com); Ready-to-Drink-Sweetened Black Tea Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee, Classic Southern Iced Tea Concentrate, Sweetened (www.motherparkers.com); Foodservice-BIB Unflavored / Sweetened Black Tea Numi Organic Tea, Earl Grey Pu-erh Tea (www.numitea.com); Ready-to-Drink-Flavored Black TeaQTrade Teas & Herbs, Summer Classic, Organic & Fair Trade (www.qtradeteas.com); Foodservice-Unflavored Black Tea QTrade Teas & Herbs, Imperial Green, Organic (www.qtradeteas.com); Foodservice-Unflavored Green Tea Rare Tea Cellar, Lemon Berry Meritage-Organic (www.rareteacellar.com); Foodservice-Flavored Herbal The Republic of Tea, Calorie-Free Sweet Green Tea (www.republicoftea.com); Ready-to-Drink-Sweetened Green Tea Revolution Tea, LLC, Revolution Iced, Classic (www.revolutiontea.com); Foodservice-BIB Unflavored / Unsweetened Black Tea Rooibee Red Tea, Herbal RRT Watermelon Mint (www.rooibeeredtea.com); Ready-to-Drink-Flavored / Sweetened Teas Etc., Meyer Lemon Black (www.teasetc.com); Foodservice-Flavored Black Tea Tejava, Tejava (www.tejava.com); Ready-to-Drink-Unflavored Black TeaWalters Bay Bogawantalawa Estates, Tropical Green Iced Tea (www.waltersbay.com); Foodservice-Flavored Green Tea

A complete list of first, second and third-place winners, and details on the Championship, is available at www.teachampionship.com.

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Tea towels may have caused fire

The SPONTANEOUS combustion of tea towels has been raised as a possible cause of the fire at the Tamworth restaurant Stetsons.

Insurance assessors were still working yesterday to assess the extent of the damage at the Craigends Ln building and although the exact cause is yet to be established it emerged that hot tea towels taken from a dryer might have smoulded and set off the blaze.

Forensic investigators and police have still yet to deliver their verdict, but tea towel combustion or an electrical fault in a store room located near the kitchen have been named as likely causes.

Although the structural damage is yet to be finalised, the restaurant will remain closed indefinitely and owner Marlene Manvell yesterday told The Leader it was likely it would take a couple of months before it was back up and running.

She said staff were being looked after and how to cater while the restaurant was closed was one a number of issues being worked through.

NSW Fire Brigade Duty Commander, Tony McPherson, said spontaneous combustion of tea towels was a remote phenomenon.

Such combustion results from the oil or grease embedded in tea towels, dirty overalls or massage towels reaching combustion point in clothes dryers, where there is a considerable amount of heat.

In his 30 years as a fire fighter Inspector McPherson said in a restaurant where there was a high turn over of tea towels and things were kept clean while it was not impossible for such a thing to happen it was pretty unheard of.

He said it would be possible for tea towels to ignite if they were in the dryer or still hot when placed on top of one another.

Grass is more commonly known to spontaneously ignite.

Inspector McPherson said it was hard to identify spontaneous combustion as the cause of a fire.

One of more than 18 fire fighters who attended the blaze in the restaurant’s kitchen and food preparation area about 4.50am on Monday ((30.5)), Inspector McPherson, was responsible for ensuring the building was fully extinguished before forensic police were able to enter the building and begin their investigations.

He described the damage to the three rooms as extensive and said severe damage had been caused to the roof cavity and structure of the three rooms where the fire reached its peak.

Inspector McPherson said in his experience the restaurant would be able to be rebuilt but it would prove to be a costly exercise.

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Taking tea for charity

 Cancer Hair Care founder Jasmin Gupta (middle) with Sarah Parker and colleague Catherine Speight

By Richard Young Thursday, June 2, 2011
11:02 AM

A fundraising day at a tea room will mean dignity for women suffering from chemotherapy induced hair loss.

Over ￡800 was raised at The Brewery Tea Rooms in Walkern in support of Cancer Hair Care’s work with cancer sufferers at Lister Hospital. A raffle with donated prizes and tea and cake sales helped to raise the funds which will pay for head scarves and hair care.

Sarah Parker, owner of the tea rooms said her team were very passionate about helping those less fortunate than themselves and thanked all those who had supported them.

“It was a truly successful day - we were still serving cakes and teas at 8pm!” She said.

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