Jan
5
2010
Green Tea Leaves
My husband convinced me to start up a blog and though I have many interests I am wholey passionate when it comes to the best of tea. (please be sure to scroll to the bottom for the newest posting). With tea it is not simply the flavour, the caffine or the ambiance but I get a thrill out of the health benefits. The first thing I look to when I have a headache, stomache ache, or feel flu like symptoms is my tea stash. For a headache I go for green tea, if my stomache is unsettled I go for fennel, chamomile or peppermint teas. I have a tickle in my throat I reach for the Tulsi Tea or if I am recovering from a cold or flu I reach for the Dragon Blood Tea filled with vitamin C. When I was breast feeding I went for raspberry or rose hip tea to help my milk come in (both teas are also both good for headaches). Now don’t get me wrong I am not a doctor or naturalpath just a lover of tea and a listener of my body. I thoroughly enjoy these teas and as a bonus they have helped me and my family become healtiher, avoid harsh medicines (at times) and recover much more quickly than we have in the past.
I’ve a great idea for my blog post. It’s all about my experience with Tulsi Tea according to me….
Mar
14
2010
Pai Mu Tan (White Tea)
PAI MU TAN
REGION: Fujian Province, China
CONTENTS: High Quality white tealeaves dried in the sun. Offers many proven and effective health benefits (Organically Grown).
I had to try a plain version of White Tea before I stopped drinking it altogether and I am glad I did. The Pai Mu Tan is much smoother that the White Pear White Tea that I tried last week. I found the Pai Mu Tan to be smooth and very similar to a mild green tea with absolutely no bitterness and I steeped it by accident a bit too long. It’s good morning tea in place of coffee because I need the caffiene and if I’m not drinking coffee I need it! I found that before I knew it my cup was empty and I was simply wanting more – it’s not in your face with flavour it’s just mild, unobtrusive and pleasant! It’s a good tea and for all the health benefits that it offers I will drink it often.
And as an aside I needed honey in the pear infused white tea to take the edge off the bitterness and bland flavor but not with the plain. With White tea promising weight loss, cancer prevention, and a decrease in wrinkles. I’m game to keep White tea in my diet!
Did you know… In a Swiss Medical University, they discovered that tea does not contain any calories… drinking it actually stimulates the body to burn calories and body fat! If you drink 2 – 3 cups of tea you will burn up to 80 calories.
Feb
27
2010
My tea lady gave me a large bag of White tea and I was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to finish it, it has never been a favorite of mine. I usually drink all of my tea in the buff with nothing added but I find that I do need a wee bit of honey with White tea otherwise it is too bland and
Loose Leaf White Tea
sometimes bitter. Now I have to admit that it is growing on me and I may be seeing a benefit that I hadn’t imagined. I have been trying to lose some weight (I have no idea where it came from) and wasn’t seeing any success until I started drinking 2 -4 cups of White Tea a day and each day I am seeing a slight decrease in my weight! Almost a pound a day! Maybe it is a coincidence but… I haven’t been drinking anything else in about a week and haven’t changed anything in my diet. I know that green tea is touted as a weight loss aid but when I was drinking it I didn’t see any benefits other than the great caffiene boost. I have recently stopped drinking coffee (it is a process) so I am drinking alot of black, green and white tea for the caffiene substitute. Without the caffiene I was sufferring from horrible headaches. They were awful…
So, I will continue my trial of white tea and weightloss. I don’t know if it will prove to be correct or not but it is a great way for me to appreciate white tea some more. Afterall many people call White Tea the elixir of life. I have given a sample to my Mom and we’ll see if she has any weight loss success.
White tea compared to green tea
Pace University conducted a study in 2004 which showed white tea had more anti-viral and anti-bacterial qualities than green tea. And get ready for this… White tea contains higher catechin levels than green tea due to its lack of processing. Catechin concentration is greatest in fresh, unbroken and unfermented tea leaves. White tea is less processed and in turn gets to keep all of that goodness. There have been studies that show it is the Catechins in tea that has been shown to increase the amount of abdominal fat loss when combined with excerise. Furthermore, one study examining the composition of brewed green and white teas found that white tea contained more gallic acid and theobromine. Both of these chemical compounds are good for you in the dose that you would receive in a cup of tea.
Okay, so I’m not crazy and it’s not a coincidence that I have seen some weight loss. My body needed more catechin than Green tea could provide! Bring it on! The best place I have found for fresh loose leaf teas is The Tealicious Tea Company. They are friendly, and take their tea seriously! I haven’t had a bad cup yet! Click on the link for them and either visit in person or order online! You won’t be disappointed.
Feb
12
2010
White Tea
Part 1 on Loose Leaf White Tea
My first experience with white tea was a white tea that had been infused with pear. OMG yummy! I have to admit that my first sip was rather bland. It didn’t taste anything like the smell… The smell nearly knocked me to my knees in bliss, I couldn’t wait to taste it and hoped that it would taste as good as it smelled! I was over come with the beautiful fresh fragrance of clean simple juicy pear. But I have to admit that the flavour of this tea while hot was a bit blah so… I ignored it and once I thought about it again it had gone cold and had been sitting on my desk with the the tea bag in it for quite some time. I will drink cold White tea again to be sure it had so much flavor and was delicate to my palate! And please let me mention that while I tout the health benefits of loose leaf tea and that the best of tea hides in the freshest loose leaf tea that you can buy, I have had a journey with tea and this journey my first taste of white tea began with a tea bag… I stress that if you want to experience the best of tea you had better be drinking a quality loose leaf tea that is hopefully organic and maybe even from our local tea lady at The Tealicious Tea Company! I have yet to buy the loose leaf white tea but it is on my list and I will be by to get some shortly! Since enjoying my first cup of white tea I have learned some wonderful things about white tea. Apparently it is called the human antivirus!
Throw away the Echinacea, put down the cold FX and pick up a new kettle, tea pot and some loose leaf tea! Simply brew yourself a cup of white tea and you’ll be boosting your immune system against the common cold or the flu! White tea is a natural killer of bacteria and viruses. The antioxidants are so abundant in white tea and protect the entire immune system, providing protection against a variety of invaders and a wide range of diseases. Its helps guard against the common cold and flu, and can ease the symptoms of HIV.
Since the western world discovered that the health benefits of White Tea are real, sales of White Tea have nearly tripled since 2001, bottled and loose leaf tea alike.
White tea health benefits range from cancer fighting because of the polyphenols to increased dental hygiene. WHAT, dental hygiene? Let’s have a look…
White tea fights plague and can help maintain a cavity-free smile… White tea contains small amounts of fluoride and other nutrients which keeps the teeth strong and healthy. It also kills the bacteria which causes plaque, tooth decay, and bad breath.
Read more at http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3079355/ and if you’d like to purchase I highly recommend going to http://tealiciousteacompany.com – Nancy’s tea is fresh and fabulous and she is so passionate about tea!
Feb
1
2010
As much as I love writing the best of tea blog it really does take a bit of dedication. It has been over a week since I wrote last. I was suffering from a busy beginning of the year with actual work!
Loose leaf Chamomile Tea
My exciting tea news is that I bought my first package of loose leaf chamomile tea! It’s like I have never tried chamomile tea before! My first sip was a revelation it was an amazing and intense flavour. I added way too much loose leaf tea to start with and clogged my tea pot and then quickly realized that a good rule of thumb is 1 tsp of tea to 1 Cup of tea. I have to admit that I was expecting bland because that is what you get in a chamomile tea bag and that is why I added more tea than I normally would. But the bonus of loose leaf tea is that it is fresh. It tastes fresh and really worked at calming me and putting me to sleep. I don’t actually have difficulty sleeping but I definitely can say that I am sleeping deeper and with absolutely no tossing and turning. I haven’t been bothered by anything since I have been drinking the loose leaf chamomile tea. I have begun adding a few of the chamomile flowers to tulsi tea and because it is a fairly mellow flavour it goes with just about any other herbal type tea.
I must say that the loose leaf chamomile tea didn’t work for my husband with his sleep problems so for him we will stick to the Rooibos tea and leave that at that.
So, for anyone that has tried bagged Chamomile tea and you didn’t enjoy it I suggest trying it again but in the fresh loose leaf form! My favourite place to buy loose leaf tea is at my local tea store she’ll ship anywhere and it is guaranteed fresh! Plus her costs are super reasonable. Check out the Tealicious Tea Company.
Jan
21
2010
tea-bag
Well the jury is in. Loose leaf wins the flavor contest again.
Since I am a new lover of Rooibos Tea I thought I would see if some of the bagged teas were any good. I bought a peach apricot Rooibos Tea and unfortunately all you can taste is the dried apricot and passionfruit that is added and it was flat. I didn’t have the same silky texture that I got with the long steeped loose leaf Rooibos tea. I have tried double bagging it in a small cup and steeping for 10 minutes but it just didn’t work, it wasn’t the same tea. I didn’t get the flavor and my husband didn’t receive the the health benefits? We started drinking Rooibos Tea because my husband was having a tough time sleeping the loose leaf tea put him to sleep and he woke up feeling refreshed however the pyramid tea bags didn’t do the trick he was restless throughout the night and did not wake up refreshed. So back to the Tealicious Tea Company I went and bought a new bag of loose leaf Rooibos Tea. This time I will try the SunCity Rooibos Tea blend it has real grapefruit mixed in with the tea leaves. I can’t wait to try it! Not only will it be a sleepy time tea for my husband but it could very well be a weightloss aid as well?
I have been buying my loose leaf tea from my ‘Tea Lady’ of the Tealicious Tea Company for almost 5 years now. I love her she has plenTEA of wisdom and is so happy to share her passion and knowledge of all the best of tea!
The belief is that loose leaf tea is more expensive but it’s not when you consider it is more fresh and flavorful and usually I can steep my tea leaves twice which you aren’t able to do with a tea bag. It is also much better for you and the environment. I’ll be adding a link the the Tealicious Tea Company soon so if you’re having a tough time finding a qualiTEA tea you can be sure to find it a her store. It’s located in Port Moody, BC and you’ll be able to pick it up or have it delivered. I have never once had a bad cup of tea from her store!
Jan
14
2010
We have tried out the Rooibos tea by itself for enough nights to know that it is a successful natural sleep aid. It works like a charm, my man sleeps like a baby and wakes up refreshed (when he drinks it at night as prescribed).
rooibos plant
Our house is becoming a tea house and I am naturally starting to lay off the coffee and the wine, ok more laying off the coffee than the wine! Now don’t get me wrong, I love coffee but somehow my body feels cleaner when I am just drinking tea. I enjoyed two cups of Fukuju Green Tea this morning and after they were gone I had completely forgotten about the missing coffee intake. I really thought the best of tea blog would be a simple pass time discussing my passion of tea and the health benefits of tea but I never meant for it to wean me off of coffee, and yet I will welcome it!
The more I talk about tea the more it is changing the dynamics of the house… Everyone wants a cup of tea when they visit and I want everyone to have some tea when they come. It’s exciting. Tulsi Tea is becoming a popular request of our guests, but my new favorite is Rooibos Tea and I plan on offering it to everyone as a first choice. My daughter is the only one who is so far not converted but with the new test I have planned she will be assimilated! Rooibos tea contains alpha- hydroxyl which contributes to healthy skin, something all pre-teens can benefit from.
We tried Rooibos tea for a few consecutive nights to see if that made him sleep or if it was the chamomile tea and we discovered quite a few things. One, is that it is meant to be steeped for at least 10 minutes – not only will you get more flavor from your tea but you will also reap the health benefits of the anti-oxidants. Apparently the longer it is allowed to steep the more anti-oxidants will be released and of course it will release more of the minerals that also make this tea extra special. Rooibos tea contains copper, iron, potassium, calcium, fluoride, zinc, manganese, alpha- hydroxyl (for healthy skin) and magnesium (for the nervous system & skeletal system) are also components of this Rooibos tea and it explains why it lulls you off into a nice deep sleep. Magnesium rich foods calm the nervous system and is a vital component of the human diet and it seems we overlook it. Only 32% of us are getting our daily requirements. Studies have shown that a lack of magnesium could be responsible for increased cases of insomnia, asthma, ADHD and osteoporosis. Who knew the blog would go from the best of tea to the benefits of magnesium? Just make sure you’re getting enough because not only will it lull you to sleep but it could also ward off some serious negative health conditions. Eating anything with chlorophyl, green leafy vegetables, nuts, cereals and of course our favorite supplier of Magnesium is of course tea!
Rooibos Tea
With the various flavours of Rooibos tea you can enjoy the comforting aromas and flavors and reap all the amazing health benefits of tea. Just remember to let it steep for at least 10 minutes. I did and I now have a happy, well slept husband who is getting a good nights sleep and that makes for a happy well-slept wife who is, balanced and serene. ;oD Not to mention that I will also have a willing subject to try new teas on!!!
If you have any comments I’d love to read them. Please post them here at the site and I will respond as soon as possible.
Jan
9
2010
Loose leaf rooibos tea
The beginning of the year brings busy schedules and busy minds. Also as we age we can find it more difficult to sleep. My husband came to me surrendering himself to me and to tea! I knew it would catch on! After having a few rotten nights of sleep he wanted help. Rather than go for harsher sleep medicines we thought we’d give some tea a try. I have never had difficulty sleeping and while I know Chamomile tea is relaxing and good for indigestion I didn’t know it would be relaxing enough for a true sleep sufferer.
There are several solutions and I”m sure that one will work better than others depending on your tastes, chemistry and the severity of your sleep problem. But I’ll share what is working for us/him. What we found was that simple is good. Chamomile tea is so calming and gentle so we started with a cup of that early in the day and I continued reading about what other teas are known to be a good for a good nights sleep. I was surprised to see that Rooibos tea is a recommended tea for sleep sufferers. I have had the same bag of Rooibos tea (pronounced R0y-bos) in the house for over a year because it just wasn’t my favorite and no one else at the time was drinking tea. But once we knew that it was good for sleep that little bag of unused tea became irresistible, I was curious and I had a subject to experiment on…
When you open the bag the smell is delicious! Its a Hawaiian Cocktail Blend with bits of sugared pineapple and coconut mixed in with the rooibos tea. I find that I used more than I would have for a green tea or a black tea in order to get the stronger flavour that I look for. I also let the tea steep a little longer than I do for green tea or black teas. Once it was ready the tea was a fabulous rich deep amber colour and the temperature was perfect and two mugs went down my throat fast! I found it so pleasant, not too sweet and it had a smooth finish which I found very gentle in flavour and incredibly relaxing – not intoxicating just relaxing. We both manged two cups each from the pot and I am happy to say that Brian slept like a baby and woke up relaxed and feeling refreshed! We’ll keep it in the house and we’ll narrow the successful tea eventually or we’ll just continue the same ritual every night. One night Chamomile tea, one night Rooibos tea or both.
If you would like to comment on the Best of Tea Blog please leave your comments on the blog. I love hearing your comments!
Jan
7
2010
Tulsi Tea Flowers and seeds
The health benefits of Tulsi tea have been well known in India since 5000 BC! Apparently most households in India have a pot of the Tulsi plant growing in their homes in a simple earthenware.
7006 years later I brewed my first pot of Tulsi tea. Thanks to my tea ladies most excellent advice (I might add). She suggested that I try some tulsi tea for my nasty respiritory infection. I have always leaned toward natural remedies and like to start the healing process with a hot cup of tea and rest whenever possible because for me it has always worked.
And as I am sure you have probably already guessed the Tulsi Tea worked. My respiritory infection vanished and I now keep a stock of Tulsi tea in the house at all times. It is good for so many things. Everyday things:
- Stress relief,
- It promotes healthy liver function & kidney function,
- Lowers bad cholesterol
- promotes a healthy nervous system,
- repairs and protects cells during radiation therapies,
- Promotes respiratory health.
- Helps with digestion and gastrointestinal problems.
- And so much more…
There certainly is a reason it is called the ‘Queen of Herbs’ and is used in Ayurvedic medicince and has been studied and revered for the past 7010 years some call it the elixir of life! I swear by the product for 2 things in particular. Those are for a healthy nervous system and for healthy respiratory system everything else is icing on the cake. I enjoy the flavour of the Harmony Tulsi Tea in it’s loose leaf form but I just found about 6 new flavours that I plan on trying that are in bags. The loose leaf is a beautiful blend of the whole Tulsi plant the whole flowers the leaves which have a beautiful purple colour to it.
My most notable success story with Tulsi tea was when I came down with Bell’s Palsy on New Year’s Eve day 2007. I woke up and half my face was paralyzed. I couldn’t blink my left eye, I couldn’t smile or suck fluid up a straw I could feel nothing on the left side of my face! To say the least I was terrified. After receiving the facts of Bell’s Palsy and the percentage of people who never recover and the fact that there is no known cure or cause I realized quickly that I may have half a face for the rest of my life but after a couple days of the poor me, poor me I decided hey cest la vie. I figured I had had 32 good years with a normal healthy face and maybe it was time for me to try on something new and have a new experience. How long can we lament about one thing anyway? Well as coincidence would have it I was a regular drinker of Tulsi Tea and as luck would also have it Tulsi Tea (unknown to me at the time) helps your nervous system repair itself to a normal healthy state. Bell’s Palsy – the type that I had was viral and no one knows how you contract it as it is not suppose to be contagious and no one knows how to treat it either. Or rather Western Medicine doesn’t – not that I am knocking western medicine because I am sure that the effects of Tulsi Tea on the disease Bell’s Palsy has never been studied. But my experience with Tulsi Tea and Bell’s Palsy is that everytime I enjoyed a cup of Tulsi Tea at night my face was a little better the very next morning. Cause and effect is enough evidence for me. My face was notibly better. Once I finally clued in I was almost fully recovered. Now that was exciting to me because there is a huge percentage of people who never fully recover from Bell’s Palsy and I had the symptoms from beginning to end for a mere 3 weeks. Whether it can be proven or not I truely believe that my recovery was in large part due to the tea. And that my friends is another blog entry on the best of tea …. according to me!
