Hi Dr. Tea
I was wondering if you can tell me what to do with my tea leaves after the first steep? I know I can resteep them, but do I just leave them in pot? Do I store in fridge? How long can they be left for?

Thanks so much,
Leanne

Leanne,

This all depends on when you are going to use them again?

If soon, in the pot is fine. If it's hours later put them in the fridge.

Let me know how it goes?

Sending you much,

Love and light
Mark Ukra

Dr. Tea:
I read and enjoyed your book the Ultimate Tea Diet. I'm a tea lover, I drink between 4-6 cups per day. My concern is some of the different components of tea. I understand that tea contains high levels of copper and I wonder if it could disrupt mineral balance, especially zinc. Also, I've read that tea contains high levels of aluminum as well as fluoride. I'm sure you've studied the ingredients in tea. Can you shed some light on this? I understand the antioxidants and polyphenols are beneficial but I'm somewhat concerned about these others.

Andy,

Great to hear from you. If you're concerned about the mineral contents in tea and other plants in your diet, what I recommend is to steep your tea for a minute, first, then throw away the liquid and resteep for your appropriate amount of time. This will remove most of the items you mention as try accumulate into the outer layer of the leaf.

Love and light
Mark Ukra

Hello, I recently read news reports that Lipton tea is no longer testing its tea and tea ingredients on animals. Does Dr. Tea's Tea Garden and Herbal Emporium test its tea and/or tea ingredients on animals or do you pay anyone to test on animals for you? I would like to know before I purchase your products again.

John,

I can whole-heartedly assure you there is no animals testing on any of our products.

Love and light
Mark Ukra

I can't find a place where it says which of your products contain caffeine. Where can I find this? Specifically, does the Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Tea contain caffeine?

Amy,

Good morning.
Amy:

Any tea on the site has some caffeine. The rooibos is not tea and has no caffeine yet, has antioxidants.

The mint chocolate is a rooibos base, so no caffeine.

Enjoy!!!

Hi

While visiting Rio I went into a second-hand book shop and found "The Ultimate Tea Diet"....an uncorrected proof by your goodself! I bought it out of curiosity as I am English and the book was in English.

I kept it at home without reading it for nearly two years and only recently read from cover to cover with great interest. Shortly after buying the book I decided to lose weight without any idea of the benefits of tea as you enthusiastically wrote. However, I was already drinking large quantities of green tea as, due to high uric acid, I cannot have too much caffeine. The biggest benefit arising from your book was the fact that the leaves could be used repeatedly which, after experimenting, I fully agree with. So you have now cut my tea bill by about a quarter, thank you!

I have now lost 16 kilos, regrettably before enjoying your book, but at least I know that I am on the right track to keep the weight off and, you are right, I feel much better generally.

So, many thanks, and I wish you well in the teagarden.

Ewart,

What a nice way for me to start my Sunday by reading your note below.

It's readers like you who make all the hard work worthwhile!!!

Sending you much,

Love and light
Mark Ukra

Hi there. I tried to search your mailbag so as not to have to bother you, but I couldn’t find anything on Stevia. I use Agave as well (have for years) but for a zero calorie sweetener – is there anything negative with Stevia? I am actually using the Pure Via which is a mix of Stevia and erythritol. Also I read your mailbag article regarding french presses, I wasn’t sure I understood what you meant about not touching the leaves so as not to press out oils…obviously I can re-steep 6 or so more times correct? So then I would simply take the press out, add more hot water, steep and drink as many times as needed right? I think I may just get your steeping pot since that seems easiest! I am amazed you can re-use such a small amt of tea leaves that many times!

Brooke,

Great to hear from you.

You should have no worries about Stevia today! The research is still ongoing. Stay tuned. We use stevia in our home and stores. Plus I love cooking with stevia.

Now, as to the French press. What I am saying is, use the press in the French press, only do not press the leaves, like you would coffee grinds. In making coffee you want all of the oils pressed out because your using it once.

With tea, you want additional steeps, so press down to the top of the leaves without harming them, this way you can resteep the leaves.

See how your flavors change with each steep.

Hope this helps. Stay in touch.

Love and light
Mark Ukra

My friend loves tea, so I referred her to this korean tea called Oksusu Cha ( english translation = Corn Tea, I know it's not Tea, since it doesn't come from Camellia Sinensis plant). I don't know if you are aware of this type of drink, but it is a roasted kernel where you boil it in water. But my friend refuses to even TRY it, stating that corn has starch and therefore is bad for you. I did plenty of research and nowhere did I find that Corn Tea contains starch, and I've also looked up the process to extract starch from a corn kernel and it seems like a difficult process requiring an agent such as ammonium hydroxide and need to obtain a certain PH level to extract starch from the kernels. Is there any truth to her statement? Because there were also plenty of health benefits from drinking Corn Tea as well.

J

Great to hear from you.

Starch is a very complex agent ergo, very difficult to remove. For example, when you boil potatoes the starch still exists in the potato.

I am so pleased you are enjoying the Korean corn tea. It is also delicious in it's use in place of water in some recipes.

I am also impressed with your knowledge that it is not a true tea!!

Love and light
Mark Ukra

I bought yor book in the store where I usually buy my teas. I am an avid consumer of teas, and right now I have 35 kinds of tea at home. I didn't know many of the facts that you mention in your book, but I have 2 questions:

why do I have to choose one kind of tea? can I drink different kinds during the day?

Second, is any study or after you wrote this book about people who stop their femenine menstruation. Because when it stops is to difficult lose weight.

Fabiana

Great to hear from in Lima. I have spent time in Mira Flores during my studies.

As to your questions

1. Yes you can drink any type of tea and lose weight. But tea alone will not do it. You have to eat right and exercise, along with tea watch what happens.

2. I have had many in my studies during this tine and yes, it is tougher as your hormones change. But they lost weight also.

Just stick with the entire program, and keep in touch!

Love and light
Dr. Tea

Dear Dr. Tea/Mr. Ukra -

Several years ago, I came across a Yerbe Mate that was dark in color even after brewing, and had a relatively smokey flavor. I absolutely loved it but have not been able to locate the same type...the Yerba Mates on the market now are either light in color or have cereal added to make them "dark", and of course none even come close to the rich, smokey flavor that I loved about that drink.

Can you please advise me on where I can find this type of Yerba Mate?

Thank you so very much!

Kathy T

Kathy

Great to hear from you. Ah, I say to myself in reading your note as I recall the many teas I was not able to replicate later as I search the world.

Each yerba plantation, like tea plantations produce theirs in their own unique way. Some light, some dark, some smoky some sweet. So much goes into the production they are never the same, even if you buy consistently from the same producer.

I have the same issues with bringing in my teas each year. I have come to appreciate the sip for the moments satisfaction, because I will never again replicate that moment in time, the leaves brewed, water used, the pot to hold it or the exact amount of leaves, water and time brewed, all of which brought you to the incredible sip you are in search of.

I can recommend if you do like smoky, try adding some lapsong suchong black tea to your everyday yerba.

Please, stay in touch, and let me know if you ever find it again!

Sending you much,

Love and light
Mark Ukra

Hi

I just recently purchased your "Coffee tea"

I was wondering much to use per cup, instead of making a whole pot, sorry to bother.

Thanks.
PB

To start try filling half the strainer then adjust

Make sure to steep at least 4 minutes then adjust

Enjoy
Doc