A cup of Tea is a cup of Love
For as long as I can remember, I’ve sipped tea for the bond it built with family and its bevy of halth benefits. Join me for a cup!
While sipping my ice tea during the heat of summer one day, I realized I had been drinking this beverage in some form or another for most of my life. Ad a child, I loved tea with milk and sugar. Today, I drink my tea iced or black, green or fennel and drizzled with a spot of raw honey.
Tea History
Made form the camellia sinensis plant, tea started out as a healing beverage and was often used medicinally to treat illness. According to Chinese legend, it is thought that tea was discovered after Shen Nung, an ancient Emperor and healer, found a leaf from the plant had fallen into his boiling water and that he enjoyed it. Today, tea is said to be the second-most commonly consumed beverage in the world, behind only water.
I always remember the words of my grandmother, who educated me on the benefits of drinking tea. On those special afternoons when I visited my Oma in Holland, she would make a pint of stopping whatever she was doing to enjoy her favorite cup of tea. She used to say with such enthusiasm, when I drink tea, it completely revives me! It’s a pleasant habit I still share today with my own mother when she comes to visit me. I only help I can spend as many happy hours with my own daughters.
But the fact that tea imparts a reviving effect is valid, since the leaves from the camellia sinensis plant contain numerous antioxidants and phytonutrients. Tea also provides a hydrating effect if you follow my personal two-handed rule: With a steaming mug of tea in one hand, you must chase it down with one and a half times as much water.
Is tea better than coffee?
Brewing a cup of tea versus a cup of coffee can be a conflicting decision. It may come down to taste preference and time of day. Many people will start their day with a cup of coffee and switch to tea in the afternoon. Both contain caffeine, which delivers a stimulating effect to the central nervous system. Many prefer the less-jittery effect of tea. One eight-ounce cup of black coffee contains somewhere between 95 and 200 milligrams of caffeine, while a similar amount of black tea contains 40 to 120 milligrams. I love to start my day with a cup of coffee made with my French press. Later on, I enjoy chamomile Herbal Detox Tea by Arbonne or my absolute favorite, fennel tea. I know green tea is good for so many reasons, but unfortunately I get a severe case of the jitters when I drink it, so I need to be careful to not have too much.
I have heard of recipes that contain green or Earl Grey tea as an ingredient. Can I use tea this way, and do you have a recipe using tea?
Lately, teas have been incorporated into the cooking of many popular chefs. I’m not a chef, but I too have used tea in my cooking. I especially like the herbal teas that are fragrant and aromatic because they deliver a unique depth of flavors, particularly in baking.
Source： CleanEatingMag
