Its a question thats been cropping up in the news a lot lately and one I've felt compelled to get answers on. Although I'm never happy with just reading the latest news drivel so I headed for some real science.

Here's a list of scientific studies and their conclusions:

• "Addition of milk to black or green tea did not affect the observed increases in plasma antioxidant activity" - Good
• "When tea was consumed with milk, their in vivo activity was totally inhibited." - Bad
• "Addition of milk to black or green tea did not affect the observed increases in ...

I'm not sure how these will taste but the balance and coordination is impressive:

Adagio teas currently have a policy running where 15% of all sales will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross for the victims of the recent tsunami and earthquake. Please consider buying your teas from Adagio during this time or at least donating to Japan's relief effort.

• Adagio Teas
• Japan Red Cross
• Donate via Google Crisis Response

Gyokuro Green Tea is a shade-grown superior quality green tea. This variety spends 20 days out of the sun to allow the rich green leaves to darken. This is done by spreading bamboo leaves over the tops of the plant as it approaches harvest time. This has the effect of making the leaves produce more chlorophyll, in turn making the leaves a rich green color, a trademark of this type of tea.

In Japan this type of tea is known as “sencha” but Gyokuro Green Tea is slightly different to the regular sencha which is grown in full sun and ...

White Monkey Tea, despite its name is actually a variety of green tea produced in the Taimu Mountains in the Fujian Province of China. This eastern seaboard province has a fine climate and a history of tea production to rival many of its compatriots. In appearance this tea lives up to the color of its name. The leaves are large, white tipped and covered in a fine down of hair. The area enjoys plentiful rainfall and temperate zone, coupled with a landscape that is well-suited to elevated tea plant cultivation. Tea grows best at altitude, and the cream of the ...

Jing Tea are going through a lot of changes at the moment and they're asking all existing and new customers for their feedback. If you're a fan or just fancy helping them out with your comments (you get 10% off your next order!) then be sure to check out the survey.

Another great Teavana tea reviewed today and one many people are more familiar with in its green form as tightly rolled leaves like this are popular as "Jasmine Pearls".

Black Dragon Pearl Black Tea comes from the southernmost area of China, Yunnan province, home to the range of mountains the province is named after. The area produces a number of well-known teas, in particular Pu-erh and Yunnan red or black tea also known as Dian Hong tea. The history of tea growing in this area is a rich and ancient one. The distinction between black teas produced in the Yunnan ...

Assam Gold Rain Black Tea originates from Assam, a region in the misty foothills of the Himalayas in Northern India. Assam has been a source of fine black teas since the colonial days of British rule. Britain made some serious money growing opium in India back in the heady empire days of the early 1800’s and for over 25 years sold it to the Chinese across the Himalayan borders. They had to raise silver bullion in order to buy tea from Chinas Eastern seaboard ports. The Chinese, the only tea growers at the time, only took silver as trade ...

The Observer food awards are now in full swing with nominations now being taken at the survey site. The Observer food magazine is a huge UK food and drinks magazine run by the Guardian newspaper. They run an award every month to find the very best in the country. You can vote for your top tea room or tea merchant in the poll so make sure to get involved at the Observer food awards site.