Chico Chai founder Sarah Adams shares the benefits of the increasingly popular drink often referred to as "chai tea".

A cup of spicy chai invokes images of the sultry Indian subcontinent. Creating your own chai may seem difficult, but Sarah Adams makes it deliciously easy with her special blend of tea, sweetener and organic spices known as Chico Chai. Sarah breaks down the basics of brewing the beverage at home, as well as giving the Hipsters a few ideas for, shall we say, less conventional concoctions? Also, Val nurses a touchy tummy, leaving Dori to drink alone. For the team.

Beer: Thanks to our lovely guest Sarah for contributing a bottle of Hard Blackcherry Red Branch Cider. Pink, fizzy freshness.

Chocolate: Due to Val's inability to ingest solids, we sat out the chocolate this week. On the plus side, Val is just one stomach flu away from her goal weight!

Finds:

• Rock Your Birdie. Singer Justin Timberlake opened Mirimichi Golf Course in Memphis, the first Platinum LEED certified golf course in the US. He's bringin' eco back.
• Mug shot. Still think you don't need a reusable coffee mug? Plug your digits into the Coffee Waste Calculator for an espresso shot of reality.

• Dim bulbs. So, the US Dept. of Energy is wasting enough electricity to power more than 9,800 homes for a year, according to an audit. D'OE!
• Just moo it. Sportswear giant Nike will stop using leather sourced from cattle raised in the Amazon. Officials say they're committed to curbing deforestation.

Rediscover rubbish. If you're dealing with bored kids this summer, raid the junk drawer! Create a treasure chest by filling a personalized shoebox with marbles, seashells, rubber bands, old pipe fittings...anything that's fun and free. Kids will use their imaginations to turn the trash into treasure. Just recycle the trinkets when they're done!

Five years ago, Sarah Adams started a specialty tea business called Chico Chai. Using her own blend of organic spices, she began to share her love for this Asian beverage with the population at large, to great success! Fresh from her Chai-versary celebration, Sarah sat down with the Hipsters to reveal her affinity for water buffalo milk, her secret other career, her puffy porn star name and the glory that is chai.

• Chai is just another word for tea. The spicy, milky beverage we love is really masala chai.
• Spices commonly used in the drink include cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, star anise, vanilla bean and lemongrass. Usually 2 or 3 of these is enough!
• Loose leaf chai should steep in a tea ball or tea stick. For stronger chai, simmer the leaves in a pot of water, then strain.
• Chaitini for the over-21 crowd: Chico Chai concentrate, a splash of half-and-half, a shot of vanilla vodka and a shot of Stoli. It's to chai for!
• Order Chico Chai from our good friend Maisie Jane. Namaste!

 

Listener E-mails

Be a part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and chai recipes at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please!

• Noah in Oakland, CA wants to put his mad skillz to work as a volunteer overseas. We recommend Habitat for Humanity or the Peace Corps.
• Eileen in Dominica loves the Smell of Books, but thinks the site may be a joke. Sadly, we agree.
• Steve in New Jersey, the long-lost Mr. Designer, took a break from selling Carmen Electra Stripper Poles to share this link about diapers. See why we've missed him?

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for back-to-school or anytime!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace! Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

Are microwave ovens safe for our food and our families?

Since 90% of American homes have a microwave oven, we must think they're pretty safe. But concerns about radiation linger, as do questions about cooking with plastic. The Hipsters serve up facts and expose fiction about the appliance that's been nuking our nachos for decades! Also, Dori spends big money and Val gets punny.

Beer: We love the bite of an India Pale Ale on a stinkin' hot day, so Red Chair IPA by Deschutes Brewery should have hit the spot. Alas, though it's named after the oldest operating ski lift at Mt. Bachelor, Red Chair only took us up to the bunny hill.

Chocolate: Another middle-of-the-road choice. Rapunzel Swiss Organic Dark Chocolate isn't bad for only 55% cacao, but we wouldn't give up our firstborn for it.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Tea drinkers, this one's for you...the JOEmo Stainless Tea Travel Mug brews your favorite beverage on the go, keeps it hot or cold longer and comes with its own zippered bag. It's ideal for commuters, with an innovative lid that lets you drink from any side. Just push the button in the center of the lid to dispense the tea. Keep your eyes on the road and your tea off your clothes!
• Show me the greenbacks. E Magazine lists some great Green Opportunities for job-seekers. From geeks to globetrotters, there's a career for everyone.

• Off-the-Walmart. The world's largest retailer opened a new can of worms with their latest announcement. They want to establish a global eco-ratings index for all kinds of products. Let the debate begin.
• The reel world. Now that we've all seen Food Inc. - right? - get set for a new film by Robert Stone documenting the history of Earth Days, coming soon. In the meantime, watch the latest doc by our friend Gerard Ungerman; it's called Belonging.

A quick tip from Real Simple magazine: turn a muffin tin upside down and use it for a cooling rack! You could set a hot pie or casserole on it and let the heat flow out through the channels. Val plans to use one as a DIY laptop cooler.

Most of us use a microwave oven nearly every day. But what about the radiation? Is it harming our food or our health? Is a microwave ever dangerous? How would we know? Our friends at the Daily Green did some research and busted the myths around microwaves.

• Waves. Microwaves are simply radio waves that are absorbed by water, fats and sugar, then convert to heat.
• Efficiency. Using a microwave to boil water won't net you much in energy savings, but preparing a meal will reduce energy use by about two-thirds compared to a conventional oven.
• Safety. Microwave ovens are quite safe when used properly. If you feel your oven is leaking radiation, invest in a home leak detector.
• Labels. The term "microwave safe" is unregulated, so it has no verifiable meaning. Tests have shown that some "microwave safe" products leach BPA at toxic levels.

Be a part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and microwave recipes at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please!

• Katie in Toronto (eh!), the long lost Audiokitty, checks in with an appalling article about packaging and a catchy jingle. Welcome back!
• Tabitha in North Carolina is going green, baby! She and her buddy Melissa wonder about water filtration systems. We recommend carbon filters over reverse osmosis, but start with a water test kit to see what you're dealing with.
• Jasmine (aka Bullet ViaVista) has a recommendation for birth control, but makes a good point: perhaps Hipsters should breed more!
• Liz in Kentucky wonders about the "green" cred of her beloved Ghirardelli chocolate. Er...have you tried Dagoba?
• Michele in Arizona plans a trip to Idaho soon. Don't miss Pilgrim's Wall o' Beer, or your chance to see Idaho's Athol!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Summertime or anytime!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

Why are organic almonds so much more expensive than conventionally-grown almonds?

At the request of a listener, the Hipsters crack open the facts about nuts by enlisting a local almond farmer, Maisie Jane Hurtado. Learn how they're grown and harvested, then discover why growers don't pronounce the "L" in almond! Also, Val reveals her aggie roots and Dori promotes pedal power.

Beer: Idaho's Laughing Dog Brewery is not one of Val's favorites, but their full-bodied Devil Dog Imperial IPA scores big! This hoppy ale hits the midsummer sweet spot.

Chocolate: Two great tastes that go great together: Coconut and Curry! Theo Chocolate paired them up in their line of 3400 Phinney bars, which are also organic and Fair Trade Certified. This slightly exotic flavor combo (in creamy milk chocolate, no less!) shook up our weary palates.

Finds:

• Listener Dana's blog, Green Mom On-the-Go, is in the running for a Nickelodeon Parent's Pick Award! Send her some Hipster mojo!

• G8 UPD8. Leaders of the G8 nations agreed that a) global warming is a real problem, and b) developed nations need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 80% over the next 40 years. Details? Um...December...Copenhagen...yeah.
• Fair drinkum. Residents of Bundanoon, Australia voted to ban the sale of bottled water, possibly the first community in the world to do so. Says a Bundy: "It's time for people to realize they're being conned by the bottled water industry."

Open wide! The new 12-oz. Wide Mouth Klean Kanteens are flying off the shelves. Val is collecting your brilliant ideas for the many different ways to use these bottles. Send your suggestions to hip@greenfeet.com, so Val can publish them in an upcoming Greenfeet newsletter!

Listener Eileen sent us this e-mail:

Hi ladies, Since you live in almond country, can you enlighten your listeners on the organic/conventional issues surrounding almonds? Organic almonds cost a LOT more than conventional - when you can even find organic ones. Usually when the cost of an item grown organically is much higher than conventionally, it means that the item is already hard to grow with pesticides (thus using a lot) and is REALLY hard to grow organically. I worry that conventional almonds are farmed pesticide-intensively. Any answers?

Meet our friendly neighborhood almond farmer, Maisie Jane Hurtado!

• Almonds have two layers of protection from herbicides: the shell and the hull. You won't find these healthful nuts among the Dirty Dozen foods.
• Farmers may use a variety of methods to grow nuts conventionally, including IPM. Labor, fertilizer, processing and fees are all more expensive for an organic operation.
• Find organic almond goodies at Maisie Jane's California Sunshine Products. Val is all about the dark-chocolate covered almonds; Dori is tempted by the almond butter pie. Just don't pronounce the "L"!
• Organic Wine? Maisie Jane's brother is a vintner. Check out Bertagna Son-Kissed Vineyard. We're totally crashing their next family reunion.

• Melissa in North Carolina reminds us to look for the Oregon Tilth label, another reputable certification for organic products.
• Anna in Alberta (eh!) applauds her country's new organic standard. She also taught us the word Kijiji!
• Jenn in North Carolina wants to keep her critters safe, so she found out how to make a non-toxic cleaning kit.
• Amanda has 5 cats and a load o'litter! We recommend the NatureMill composter. Or this.

Be a part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and almond recipes at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please!Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Summertime or anytime! Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes!More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

Green. Natural. Eco-friendly. These terms look good on labels, but buyer beware!

Every time we buy a product, we make a choice. As Hipsters, we hope that choice has the best possible outcome for the environment. But our decisions are sometimes influenced by marketing terms that have little or no actual meaning. Our pals at Yahoo! Green "out" these buzzwords and help to identify credible claims, so you won't succumb to the seductions of greenwashing! Also, Dori takes the kids to the movies, Val's toenails have the blues and oh, that noise you hear in the background? School of Rock, dude!

Beer: With hotter weather comes lighter beer. Dragon King Lager from Laughing Buddha Brewery in Seattle is nice and crisp, without the barfy aftertaste of cheerleader beers.

Chocolate: Making the most of only a few ingredients, Madelaine Premium 72% Dark Chocolate bar satisfies a craving for Just. Plain. Chocolate.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Insulate your reusable bottle with the new NeoGreen Water Bottle Tote. Made from a new material similar to Neoprene, but without the nasty chemicals or harsh smell, this nifty tote comes in 3 sizes to fit just about any bottle. (Check out the Laptop Sleeves too!)
• Like a virgin. Need a cure for snoring? Squeaky doors? Hairballs? We found a few surprising uses for olive oil, thanks to our friends at the Daily Green. Then there's Val's idea, involving flavored oils, a tub of bruschetta and a Slip 'n Slide...

• GI812. The world's most powerful leaders are in Italy for a G8 summit to discuss climate change and more. A report finds Canada has edged out the US as the worst greenhouse gas offender among the eight nations. Lay off the poutine, eh?
• Ham on the lam! In Arkansas, a fugitive pig found lounging in a swimming pool won't meet his fate at the slaughterhouse. It's feared the 800-lb. porker may have tainted his meat by eating at Cracker Barrel.

H2Over it! Yes, we need plenty of water in the summer months, but yawn! How about kicking it up a notch by adding your own flavorings? Check out Val's easy recipes for cucumber, lemon/lime, strawberry or orange-vanilla. For less than a penny a glass, you'll have a healthy, refreshing drink with less packaging than the stuff in the store. H2Ahhh!

Every time we buy a product, we make a choice. As Hipsters, we hope that choice has the best possible outcome for the environment. But our decisions are sometimes influenced by marketing terms that have little or no actual meaning. Learn to recognize these buzzwords and to identify credible claims, so you won't succumb to the seductions of greenwashing!

• Words. Marketers use a variety of vague terms to convince you of a product's green cred. Consumer Reports can help sort it out.
• Logos. Not all "certifications" are credible. You can trust logos from Energy Star, FSC, Rainforest Alliance, Green Seal, BPI and ASTM, to name a few.
• Experts. A lot of the research has already been done for you! Consult GoodGuide, Greenzer and Skin Deep Cosmetics for info on products and merchants.
• Sins. According to TerraChoice, there are Seven Sins of Greenwashing. Thou shalt avoid them!

Be a part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and greenwashers at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please!

• Jenny in Canada (eh!) is excited to see green transport in her hometown! Read all about the new fleet of hybrid buses in Windsor, Ontario.
• Michelle in Portland loves letterboxing. Read about her hubby's romantic letterbox proposal. Awww!
• Joanna in Texas (yeehaw!) loves her vintage hankies and has an idea for a DIY topsy-turvy tomato gadget. She's also trying to keep it green while working for an oil company (we still love you)!
• Shout-out! Thanks to Green Mom on-the-Go for mentioning us in your blog!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for summertime or anytime! Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace! Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

Klean Kanteen is the original BPA-free stainless steel water bottle. Be among the first to hear about their new product line!

Klean Kanteen and Greenfeet go together like, well, beer and chocolate. We're proud to support this local Chico business, and excited to launch their latest design! Dori and Val talk to KK's Peter Melton about plans for the future and pose a few listener questions along the way. Also, the Hipsters congratulate the Grand Prize Winner for the MHTH 4th Anniversary Quiz: James from Erie, PA!

Beer: The first of many from Val's Pacific Northwest beer run is Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry Ale. The delightfully sweet, fresh flavor of real fruit makes it a winner. Val and Rob picked up this bottle at Saraveza, a hip bottle shop in Portland, OR. (Many strawberries were harmed in the making of this ale.)

Chocolate: Oh my! Val also brought back a naughty cream-filled confection from Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland. By the way, if putting bacon on a maple bar is wrong, we don't wanna be right.

Finds:

• Novel ideal. Love your Kindle, but miss the scent of fresh ink on a page? Spray on the Smell of Books! At home or on the road, you can always get a lungful of literature. (Thanks Anne!)
• Greenbacks. Take your money out of your mattress and invest it in the some of the Top Sustainable Stocks, chosen by Sustainable Business.com. Stimulus is a 2-way street, ya know!

• ACES high. The American Clean Energy and Security Act squeaked through the House of Representatives last week. But the landmark climate change bill faces a tough fight in the Senate.
• Sun of a beach. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar signed an order that set aside 676,000 acres of federal land out west for the possibility of developing solar projects. Looks like Ken blew his chance at the Rubber Dodo Award.

Planning a 4th of July party? Get out the compostable plates, cups and utensils. Fill up the reusable bottles. Set out a recycling can. Declare your independence from waste!

Klean Kanteen makes the original BPA-free stainless steel water bottle, and they're based right here in Chico. We brought in Awareness Representative Peter Melton to field some listener questions, talk about the new line of bottles launching this month and discuss the company's fundraising program. He also managed to swipe Dori's naughty doughnut.

• Healthy. Klean Kanteens are routinely tested to ensure your safety. The bottles are NSF certified and CPSIA compliant.
• Fresh. A new line of wide-mouth bottles debuts this month! Coming soon: 5 oz. and 9 oz. bottles for little ones, plus new double-wall Classic bottles.
• Responsible. Klean Kanteen partners with NatureBridge and the Breast Cancer Fund, and they're a member of 1% for the Planet.
• Aware. Raise money for your school or non-profit organization, or just help your company go green with Klean Kanteen. Ask them about co-branding. Here's a great example!

Be a part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and naughty doughnut photos at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please!

• Erin in Washington is a fan of Silkies! These luxurious chickens lay light brown eggs and have black skin and bones. We think they're hottie hens.
• Jeanne in Kentucky found a substitute for fake maple syrup. Golden Eagle keeps her hubby happy.
• Trystan at Yahoo! Green calls out a greenwasher. Beer in a pouch? Really?
• Tamar in Israel reports that the Dead Sea is, in fact, on its deathbed. RIP.
• Sandy in New Jersey gives us another good reason to avoid artificial sweeteners. Turns out, they're "sweetening' the water supply.
• Shout-out! Thanks to Lynn for mentioning us in her blog, the Actors Diet!

*FREE SHIPPING on your $75 order at Greenfeet thru July 6, 2009!*Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Independence Day or everyday! Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Independence Day or everyday! Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.