the Legend Of Tea-Drinking

 

Five thousand years ago, the Chinese Emperor, Shen Nung, accidentally discovered a new beverage. He believed, as did those who practiced Indian Ayurvedic medicine, that boiled water was the safest to drink. The Emperor was traveling in a distant region with his court and they were hot and thirsty, so stopped to rest and have boiled water. The servants prepared the water but dried leaves from a tea bush fell into the pot and were infused into the water. Shen Nung drank this new beverage and liked it so much that it soon became all the rage. And that was how tea was introduced into China.

How Chinese Teas Are Made

 

Fermentation of tealeaves occurs as a process of oxidation immediately after gathering. The leaves are broken to expose the oil to air. The intensity of fermentation depends on the amount of time allowed for oxidation before the roasting process begins. Green teas typically undergo no fermentation. Lightly fermented teas such as some Oolongs may range from 10% to 50%.

Roasting is done in an oven after the desired level of oxidation is achieved. The amount of time the leaves are roasted categorizes them from light through heavy. The more roasted the leaves, the darker the tea will be. A combination of fermentation and roasting gives each type of tea the particular qualities for which it is named. For example, a typical Oolong tea is fermented to more than 50%, but only lightly roasted. This gives Oolong its distinguishing aroma of honey. A green tea with minimal fermentation and roasting will have a fragrance and flavor of just-picked flowers.

French Healing Tea - Recipe

The recipe only calls for one herbal ingredient, and you probably have it on your kitchen shelf. As you sip, think of cozy French farmhouses surrounded by fields just beginning to thaw after the long cold winter. The sun is getting stronger. Spring is returning. Life is good.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup boiling water
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (1 teaspoon fresh)

1. Place thyme in cup and cover with boiling water. Cover and allow to steep for 10 minutes.

2. Strain and serve, with honey and/or lemon, if you like.

Makes one serving.

Lavender Mint Tea

There are teas for all occasions: for morning, afternoon, and bedtime, teas to soothe, and teas to stimulate. In recent years, our appreciation of tea has expanded to include herbal tisanes (some of which are centuries old) and a wide array of green teas, barks, and spices. Taking a break for tea or making a pot to share with a companion is somehow very relaxing.

Lavender Mint Tea

1 teaspoon fresh lavender flowers or 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender flowers
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves or 2 teaspoons dried mint
1 cup boiling water

1. In a teapot, combine the lavender flowers and mint. Pour boiling water over the mixture; steep 5 minutes.
Yield: 1 cup

Variation: For more interesting blends, add rosemary, lemon balm or lemon verbena, and rose geranium.

Three ways to Make Iced Tea Brewed Tea. Make tea approximately double strength and steep only 5 minutes. Pour into a pitcher over an equal amount of ice. (If you are using a glass pitcher, let the tea cool before pouring it in.) If you sweeten the tea while it is hot, you'll need only half as much sugar.

Refrigerator Tea. Follow the procedure for sun tea, except let the mixture brew in the refrigerator overnight. This method has two advantages: When it's done, it's already cold, and no matter how long it sits, it doesn't get cloudy.

Sun Tea. In a glass jar or pitcher, place 1 teaspoon of loose tea or 1 tea bag per pint or tap water (with sugar, if you wish). Cover and set in the sun for 1 hour or so. Timing is not critical - because the water doesn't boil, the tea will not get bitter.

Peachy Iced Green Tea Recipe or how to lose weight

Drinking green tea may help you lose weight. According to clinical studies conducted by Dr. Abdul Dulloo, of the University of Geneva in Switzerland, green tea raises metabolic rates and speeds up fat oxidation. Green tea is also a great immune-enhancing health-booster and anti-cancer agent, with flavonoids and polyphenols thought to inhibit tumor formation.

So here is our easy-to-make recipe for green tea, but this one tastes so good you’ll never guess how good it is for you! A great, healthy thirst-quencher for hot summer days.

INGREDIENTS

6 green tea teabags
6 cups cold water
2 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced

1. Place teabags in a large teapot or pitcher.

2. Put sliced peaches in a saucepan, add cold water, and bring to a brisk boil, then pour water and peaches over teabags.

3. Steep for 6 minutes, then add sweetener (maple syrup, honey or Succanat are recommended). Allow tea to cool, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

4. Include a few peach slices in each glass and serve with a spoon, garnished with a sprig of mint, if you like.

Even Easier Alternative Method: Make a pitcher of green tea and add the contents of a can of organic sliced peaches. Chill thoroughly.

Makes 6 servings.

Thai Tea Recipe

Ingredients:

1 gallon water
8 Chinese star anise, ground
1 tablespoon orange flowers
1 tablespoon powdered vanilla
1 pinch of clove powder
1 pinch chopped cinnamon
3/4 quart long cut China black tea leaves
1 to 2 cups sugar
1 quart half & half
red food coloring
crushed ice

Boil water. Add star anise, orange flowers, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, and tea leaves to boiling water. Continue boiling for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Cover and allow to steep until luke warm. Strain, and add sugar to taste. Serve in a clear glass over plenty of crushed ice. Top with half & half.

Traditional Variation: Substitute coconut milk for half & half.
Decaffeinated Variation: Substitute decaffeinated tea leaves.
Low-fat Variation: Substitute evaporated milk or rice milk for half & half.
Natural Variation: Substitute unrefined cane sugar for refined sugar and beet powder for food coloring.