< Previous50 COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016TEA TIPSTea comes in six basic varieties — white, yellow, green, red, oolong and pu-erh or black. The differences in these teas are dependent on a number of fac-tors, including the type of tea, when it’s harvested and how it is handled from that point on. Caffeine content varies by tea. Herbal teas are not true teas, but rather infusions or tisanes, and their handling may vary widely.all tea experts agree that tea is best when left in its whole leaf state. as tea leaves are cut, broken or crushed into smaller and smaller pieces, flavor is lost and the cut surfaces can allow bitter tannins to escape when the tea is brewed. Commercially packaged tea bags contain the smallest of pieces.Different teas require different brewing methods. extremely hot water should not be used in brewing the milder teas, but is essential with dark teas. Microwaved water is never a good choice for brew-ing any type of tea.The flavor of any tea is maximized by starting with freshly drawn cold water, allowing about 6 to 7 ounces per serving. While the water is heating, pre-warm the teapot with a bit of extra hot water. Heat the water for the tea to the desired temperature for the type of tea chosen — this usually will be just as it starts to boil — but don’t overheat, as this will deplete the oxygen in the water and make the tea taste flat. empty the teapot of the warming water, and refill immediately with the boiling water, then add and gently stir in the appropriate amount of loose tea leaves — 1 to 2 teaspoons for each serving — for the number of people being served. Let brew 3 to 10 minutes, depending on the tea variety and the strength desired. Serve promptly with milk or lemon, and sugar or honey.Some Like It HotThe Tea House Under the Oaks features a variety of teas such as Mandarin Orange, bottom, Rose Congou and Pomegranate Green.owner Jessica Geary, who grew up in El Sal-vador, where afternoon tea also is a popular activity. “Now, I am happy being the owner of a tea room in Texas and having a fabulous chef who cooks much better than I do.”In addition to a basic afternoon tea menu, for which she used her Irish husband and his German mother as resources, Geary’s own multicultural background is evident in the additional dishes she and her chef, Kelsey Lowe, a League City native, have put on the menu. South American, Mexican, Greek, Italian and Asian influences are seen in soups and salads, and the duo also will work with customers to create vegetarian and gluten-free items. Photos by Jennifer ReynoldsVintage cups and saucers are on display at The Tea House Under the Oaks in League City.SECURITY LIGHTS ANYWHERENO ELECTRICITY NEEDED AS LOW AS $180 INSTALLEDSolar Power / Motion Detectors Patio / Deck / Yard / Garden Driveway / Stairway RV / Boats / Campers / ShedSOLAR LIGHTSPECIALISTLee Remodeling 409-771-8717Ricki Dipuccio-BergeronRealtor®rdipuccio@aol.comCell (409) 256-2856 Now is the time for buying and selling!“Let’s Get A Move On” 6502 Stewart Rd. 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The future has never looked better.GALVESTON OFFICE13655 FM 3005 (Physical) | 4121 Pirates Beach (Mailing)Galveston, Texas 77554409.737.4000heritagetexas.com®Frank Petronella409.771.2435Linda Sivy409.599.5847Holly Wade409.996.9126Sallie Waters409.599.5333Promoting and Advocating for Business and Community Development Since 1845Produced in partnership with:Like us! facebook.com/GalvestonCelebratingWomenFor Tickets, Sponsorship or Vendor Information, visit www.GalvestonChamber.com or call (409) 763-5326THE LATEST IN WOMEN’S HEALTH INFORMATION FROM UTMB HEALTH PHYSICIANS DYNAMIC SPEAKERS • BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT • EXCITING VENDOR MARKET AND MUCH MORE!Thursday, April 14th, 2016Moody Gardens Convention CenterGalveston Island, TexasFEATURING6GRETCHEN RUBINAuthor of New York Times bestsellers, Better Than Before, The Happiness Project and Happier at Home JENTRY KELLEY Renowned Owner of Jentry Kelley Cosmetics and Creator of ‘Cute in Carpool’ makeup series54 COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016Some Like It HotStory by K. Pica Kahn Photos by Jennifer ReynoldsAmanda Vermillion has always had a relationship with tea. The daughter of a French mother, Vermillion at a young age was introduced to “tisanes,” which are herbal teas. After taking a class in college, where she learned about the healing properties of herbs, her love affair with tea continued.But it was when Vermillion read the obituary of Thia McCann, owner of The Path of Tea in Houston, that her interest in tea became serious.“I learned that Thia was a Certified Tea Master,” Vermillion said. “I then knew this was what I wanted to do.”Vermillion, a Seabrook resident, discovered Infusing knowledgeSeabrook ‘Mistress of Tea’ masters an art steeped in warmth and rituals(Left) Amanda Vermillion, a Certified Tea Master known as The Tea Mistress, holds a traditional Japanese bowl with gold flake matcha tea. (Above) Tea tongs are a part of Vermillion’s collections of tea related tools, cups, pots and types of tea.Vermillion’s favorites are Indian chai and oolong tea with their many spices. She be-lieves tea is a drink that helps one become alert while relaxed at the same time, she said.“The ritual of tea can put you in a good mood,” she said. “People often have their own personal tea rituals, maybe a favorite cup or pot. I collect tea pots now, there are so many beautiful ones old and new.”Vermillion holds tea parties at which time COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016 55the Certified Tea Sommelier program in Janu-ary 2013, and began her pursuit. At a friend’s suggestion, she became “The Tea Mistress,” and founded a company with the same name.To become a tea master, Vermillion spent three, eight-hour days in class in San Diego, Calif., and then 14 weeks studying online, before becoming certified. She worked from a book and online assignments while mas-tering her craft.“We took what we learned in San Diego, went home, studied and applied the knowl-edge,” Vermillion said. “We practiced with different teas and emailed evaluations to the instructor.”Different teas need different temperatures with varying steeping times. White and green teas need to steep generally two to three minutes, no longer than five. Herbal teas need five to 10 minutes, she said.(Left) Amanda Vermillion places a blooming tea ball into a pot. Pour hot water over the ball and it blooms into a floating flower as the tea steeps. (Above) Viet-namese rosebud tea fills one of Vermillion’s tea cups.“The ritual of tea can put you in a good mood. People often have their own personal tea rituals, maybe a favorite cup or pot. I collect tea pots now, there are so many beautiful ones old and new.”– Amanda Vermillion56 COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016the teas are often accompanied by foods, such as varieties of chocolates. She matches the depth of the tea with chocolates that complement the drink.“I knew a woman who, as a child, spent many summers in France and other Euro-pean countries,” Vermillion said. “When she went to Turkey with her parents on a bus tour, she told me she was for some reason afraid to get off the bus. She said the Turkish bus driver brought her a cup of peppermint tea in a tiny demitasse cup with lots of sugar. She told me she has been trying to duplicate that taste since then. I hope I helped her.”Vermillion sells her teas at festivals and farmers markets, as well as a variety of specialty social and private events. Serving as the director of the Lone Star Houston Tea Festival, she holds a number of certifications from several tea associations.Coming from a background in banking and securities compliance, her work days are now very different. She works for herself with her own schedule, and on good days, she feels very satisfied and accomplished in her new life, she said.No matter how well her work day went, she always looks forward to returning home and having a nice cup of tea. Some Like It HotAmanda Vermillion uses her Moroccan tea set to serve a Moroccan mint tea.Come Visit!Tour the ships that dueled for supremacy of the violent seas of World War II! In the deadly cat-and-mouse actions of submarine vs. convoy escort, the USS Cavalla, sub SS-244, and the USS Stewart, destroyer escort DE-238, earned places in naval legend. Special events and group sleepovers are welcome!Call: (409) 770-3196 or visit: www.americanunderseawarfarecenter.comLocation: Seawolf Park, Pelican Island, Galveston: 51st St. north from Broadway and continue past the bridge on to the park.★★★Serving Galveston for 55 Years!2102 26th St., Galveston, TX 77550Let us host your next party!Happy Hour Daily 10am-7pmCome Enjoy Football & Free Food Every Sunday!Karaoke Tuesday Nights @ 8pm409.539.5740 Mon-Sat 10am-2am • Sun 12pm-2am COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016 57Galveston office5934 Broadway, Galveston, Tx. 77551(409) 740-7744conroe office606 Everett Rd.Conroe, Tx. 77301(936) 760-3050richmond office1500 Jackson St.Richmond, Tx. 77469 (281) 238-4454homestead office9324 HomesteadHouston, Tx. 77016 (281) 501-1196Dental implants are great at replacingmissing teeth necessary for proper function and digestion. Treatment can be done in one visit for most patients. And now Affordable Dental can place implant body only for $995. This offer is available for a limited time so call the Affordable Dental location closest to you for a no charge consultation usually worth $399.Take years off your smile with dental implants.For a twist on a cold-weather classic, add Tequila to make a South of the Border Hot Chocolate. COASTMONTHLY.COM / February 2016 59Down the HatchStory by Mark G Hanna | Photos by Jennifer ReynoldsWhere there’s smoke, there’s fireBartenders add some heat to accentuate the flavors of cocktailsFire, brimstone, smoke and spirits un-leashed.Is this Dante’s hell? Actually, it’s proba-bly just a rather trendy bar.It’s true. In the past couple of years, mixologists across the country have taken a renewed interest in playing with fire, and the results have been quite, well, illuminating. What they’re showing is that fire, and all things associated with it, can actually transform even the most basic drink into something new and intriguing.Here along the Gulf Coast, in these weeks known comically as winter, having some fire behind the bar is even more appropriate. Those slushy, icy drinks of August don’t have the same appeal when the air conditioning isn’t needed.One of the first things fire brings to the bar top is heat, and in the cocktail world, that means drinks served hot. Hot cocktails have a long, long history with drinks such as warmed brandy, hot buttered rum or the more medicinal hot toddy. These go back to the earliest of cocktail history in Europe and have never really lost their appeal. After all, when it’s chilly outside, a hot drink warms the insides.Hot cocktails like the hot toddy or buttered rum can work much like cough medicine in soothing a sore throat or nagging cough.Next >