Teas to Drink When You're Sick

     Stuffy noses, chapped lips, scratchy throats and overall bleh-ness are unfortunately common symptoms for the winter holidays. I myself am feeling quite under the weather. But if you're like me and stuck with snow-time icky illness there's at least one plus side; you get to drink a lot of tea.
     The warm natural flavours of a nice cup of tea can do wonders for a cold or flu. The nutrients in the leaves help to quicken your healing process and the smooth texture of the tea helps to de-clutter that mucus flooded throat.
     A healthy Green tea is recommended for its antioxidant value, maybe try a super cup of Matcha. Ginger tea is also great for upset stomachs and Peppermint tea helps soothe the throat and freshen the sicky breath. Licorice tea can help to quiet a nasty cough and a nice relaxing cup of Chamomile can lead you to a nice peaceful sleep. Adding honey or a squirt of lemon to any of these teas will also benefit the heath process. High caffeinated teas are not preferable due to the risk of a buzzing headache and adding milk might not be the best option for a phlegmy cold.
     Of course any tea will help when your sick, whether it be physically or simply mentally. Just holding a warm mug can comfort you when you're feeling down. So if the medication isn't doing its job, take a second and brew yourself a cup. Happy Healing!

-Sarah

Tranquilli-tea

 

     Have you ever had a moment of total relaxation? A moment when your mind dulls and you focus simply on your five senses rather than the piling stress? I experienced one last night, and surprise, surprise, it involved tea.

    I had just finished a hectic night of volleyball and basketball games, hours of English homework, and to top it all off, I had to be at the school for 7am practise. I had just showered and my mind was still racing from the crazy day, I needed a way to cool down.

     So I brewed myself a cup of smooth chamomile tea, grabbed my book and went to go curl up in bed. I lit a candle and turned off all my lights. But before flicking on my book light I just sat there, staring at the dancing flame, smelling the falsified scent of a pacific ocean breeze.

     I put my book down, folding my legs in front of me on the mattress and cupped the mug with both hands. I sat there hunched over, sipping my chamomile with my eyes closed, occasionally glancing at the hypnotising candle for what felt like either a minute or an hour.

      I forgot about how sore my legs were, how little sleep I would get that night, how tough the day's math test was, and simply focused on the little things. The pattern of the fire, the smell of the ocean, the warmth in my hands and the soothing taste of my tea. I was in a trance.

     So my advice for the day, is take the time to notice the little things, enjoy the bits and pieces we take for granted, like how beautiful a candle is, or how delicate a cup of chamomile can be.

-Sarah

All I Want For Christmas

     With the new year just around the corner no doubt you are beginning to get those pesky emails or phone calls from family members requesting for the list. The enchanting yet seemingly impossible holiday wish list. We all have items in mind for majority of the year, but once the month of December arrives, our minds blank, or at least that's how it is with my family. Here are some quick suggestions for tea-related gift ideas.

      Obviously actual tea would be nice but if you are going to buy tea how about an assortment of different types done up in a nice little gift basket. I received one of those from my aunt last Christmas and I absolutely loved it.

        Mugs are also a great gift idea and there are many different ways to go. Local craft stores or gift shops sell speciality mugs with hand painted designs on them. Some ceramic mugs can even be personalised at certain engraving shops or printing companies. Travel mugs also come in handy, whether it be a fancy loose leaf mug with a built in steeper or just a Walmart brand acting as a stocking stuffer.

       Tea pot sets can be a very elegant gift, or you can go for those goofy tea infusers like "The Sharky" or "Mr. Tea." Tools like tea timers or tea thermometers can be nifty presents for those who take their tea making seriously. And if you're willing to go big, a Keurig or Tassimo hot beverage machine can definitely come in handy. I myself have a Keurig and I use it to make instant tea in under ten seconds, it also doubles as a water boiler for those tired of time consuming kettles.

     Hope these quick suggestions can help you with your shopping this winter. And who knows, maybe you've found some new additions to your own wish list. Happy Shopping!

-Sarah

How to Buy Tea

     Talking to some of my friends I've realised that for some people, ordering at a loose leaf tea store can be quite confusing and essentially overwhelming if you have never done it before. I know I was scared the first time I bought at Teaopia. So I decided I should write an entry with helpful instructions for all of my troubled viewers.

     This guide will not be suitable for all loose leaf tea stores but majority of the ones I have been to operate in a similar fashion.

     First off, before going to the store you should decide what you plan on buying, a cup of tea, and bag of tea to go, or some tea ware? Maybe you want to do all three. If you want a physical object like a mug or steeper they are usually just placed on shelves throughout the store and you purchase them as you would at a regular department store, paying at the cash.

     Now ordering tea involves a slightly more advanced method. It is hoped that you have some knowledge of tea when purchasing but even that's not mandatory. Most employees are happy to help you (tea people are always friendly!) it is just the matter of asking them the right questions.

      You obviously can't go up the the employee behind the counter and ask for a "Regular tea" because simply, there is no such thing. Like I've mentioned in a previous post, stores like Teavana or David's Tea offer tea in a variety of different categories; green, white, black, oolong, herbal, mate, and pu'reh are all possible sections (they are usually colour coded). If you don't know what type of tea suits you best, check out my Core Four post which should shed some light on things.

     Then in each category you have a handful of differed teas, flavoured teas, hand picked natural leaves, fruit teas, nut teas, dessert teas. From there you can simply ask your server what they prefer, because they do know a lot and odds are they have tasted most of them. For example you can ask them something like, "What is your best chocolate tea?" or "Do you have anything with mango in it?". When they find a match to your request they will let you smell the leaves to make sure it is what you're looking for.

     Once you've decided on a tea you can either get a bag to go or a cup to drink. After selecting a tea you simply state the weight in which you want to buy the leaves (50 grams is the standard amount, which should last you a few months) or you tell the the temperature of the cup you want to drink, hot or iced. (You can get fancy as well with lattes or smoothies). If you are drinking the tea they will ask you for anything you want added to it, as in milk or sugar.

       Then you let the tea steep, pay the price and that's it, you're done! Now wasn't that easy? It's not as scary as it looks and never assume that all tea employees are snobs. They won't judge you for you lack of knowledge in the subject, they'll aid you and welcome you to the tea-drinking community. 

     Hope this 'tutorial' helps you, and let me know in the comments if you have any further questions!     

-Sarah Collie

Books + Tea

 

     So it's the weekend! Well not technically, it is a Thursday, but for all the students at my school it basically is. We have a day off tomorrow for "Professional Development/Activity", which means kids get to stay home and sleep while the teachers have to stay at school and do boring stuff.
     And for this long weekend, alongside basketball and homework I plan to get a lot of reading done which will lead to a lot of tea. Everyone knows tea and books go hand in hand. I have been reading this really exciting book all week but haven't had enough time to finish it, only stealing a couple dozen pages a night before collapsing into sleep. But with three whole days of "me time" I'll finally get to the end of this intense 500 page novel.

     But I want to know, is it just me who feels this way about reading and tea? Does anyone else feel the extreme comfort of curling up with a book in one hand and a mug of warm tea in the other? To me it's something to look forward to, a few hours of blankets, pillows, words and a steaming beverage. I just love glancing over the mug's rim at the printed words, closing my eyes and swallowing my sip at the really good parts. It makes me smile just imagining it. It is the the simple pleasures that truly get you.

    For those that are wondering, the book I'm reading is the first of the popular teen trilogy "Divergent", it's so good and I definitely recommend it!

-Sarah

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." - C.S. Lewis.



Infusion

     This is an appreciation post for one of the greatest inventions of man kind. The over the mug tea infuser. This magnificent device is yet another method for steeping loose leaf tea. And definitely my favourite way.What it is, is essentially a cup where you put leaves and water into it to steep, then when the time is up you place the infuser on top of your mug. The bottom of the cup is a push activated strainer, and all of the water falls into your mug, leaving the used up tea leaves behind. The first time I saw an infuser I was so excited, I thought it was so cool. Right now my family has three Teaopia "Tea Masters", with the idea being one for my sister, one for my mother and one for me. But you can all guess who uses all three for herself.

     The only inconvenience with this way of steeping is cleaning it out. With reusable tea bags or items like the "tea-rex" you can more or less just dump the leaves right out into the garbage. But with the shape of most infusers you need a long spoon and the sink to get all the leaves out. My mother always yells at me because I put off the cleaning until later. I leave the leafs in the strainer until I have used up all three infusers than clean them out only when I'm about to make a new cup of tea. And in my defence, I do make a lotof tea so it's not like the leaves sit there for weeks.

      The infuser is definitely a must have for any loose leaf tea drinker. Its the most efficient way to strain the leaves, not leaving behind specs like most other methods. They're not too expensive, usually around 20$. And you can purchase them in most quality tea shops. Teavana calls them "The Perfect TeaMaker". Here is a link to all of Teavana's methods of steeping http://www.teavana.com/tea-products/tea-makers-infusers     So what are you waiting for, go get yourself an infuser!

-Sarah

Happy Birthday!

     Friday was my seventeenth birthday and a few of my friends came over to celebrate. All week I've been getting the same question: "What do you want for your birthday?" Simple; books and tea. And that's exactly what I got.

     In total I got around 400grams of loose leaf tea from Teavana. Plus a travel mug made out of recycled material and a loose leaf steeper. But this was no ordinary steeper, no my friends are far more creative than that. For my birthday I received a Tea-rex, a silicon green dinosaur with an opening for tea leaves.

     The night of my get-together, I tried once more to convert my friends into tea drinkers. There is one other girl in my group who appreciates tea but the others are complete rookies. I made them smell all the tea and took orders. Then I got busy making six cups of tea.

     The results were predictable and I failed as a sales person. A few managed to get through the mug but when they left I had to (painfully) dump half full cups of cold tea down the sink. The verdict was that tea didn't have enough flavour which I suppose could be my fault. If I had added more leaves the taste would've been brought out. I guess I was just getting greedy with my leaves.

     But in summary I had a good weekend and tasted a bunch of new tea.

-Sarah

World's Healthiest Tea

     Ever went to a smoothie shop and stared up at the menu only to find these bizarre words that have absolutely no meaning to you? Most likely one of those strange words is the word Matcha. Matcha is a form of Japanese green tea that has been grounded down into a bright green powder. Although it can be prepared as a traditional tea, it is most commonly found as an added ingredient, to things like smoothies, yogurt and even desserts.

      Matcha is definitely not a tea for everyone. Of course I'm a big fan but it has what you would call an acquired taste. Much like regular green tea, Matcha has a pure almost bitter taste to it that needs some time to get use to. But once you get past it's unique taste the benefits are out of this world.

     One cup of traditionally prepared Matcha tea has an anti-oxidant value equivalent to that of 10 cups of regular green tea (Simply because you are consuming the whole leaf). It has over twice as much antioxidants than the amazing 'superfood' Gogiberries. This amazing beverage also boosts your energy naturally, barely relative to its caffeine content. Matcha also speeds up metabolism and burns calories, without raising blood pressure or heart-rate. The chlorophyll in the powder also serves as a powerful detoxer.

     Matcha is generally prepared in a stone bowl with a bamboo whisk, mixing it into a cup of hot water. I tend to drink this when I'm feeling sick or tired and need a good picker-upper. It just makes you feel good. But like I mentioned earlier because of its powdery substance Matcha is an easy ingredient to add to anything. Personally I like putting it in blueberry smoothies, vanilla yogurt,apple sauce, or even other types of tea. Also Matcha can be found in a variety of baked goods. I do enjoy the occasional Matcha cupcake now and again.

     Now that you learned about this amazing super tea, who knows, maybe on your next trip to that crazy healthy smoothie bar you'll give it a try, you just have to get past the colour first.

-Sarah

Myth Busters

     I was frolicking around the internet last night as we tend to do, and I came across a surprisingly relevant article in Yahoo news. What drew me to the article was a delicious looking picture of a nice cup of green tea, it was titled: 5 Myths About Tea. Right up my alley.
     I was pleased to learn some new things, things even I didn't have knowledge in. For example I knew that tea has a shelf life, for I have experienced this in my early years (funny tasting bag of pina colada loose leaf). But I wasn't aware that there was a rumour about how adding milk to your tea can destroy its health benefits (It doesn't). In the article, they even touch base on the topic of my last blog entry about herbal tea. In this particular article they say herbal tea is not technically a tea but a 'tisane'. I do agree with this statement, however I won't be the one going around correcting whoever calls it a tea, it's really not a big issue for me; call it what you will.
    There are more busted myths, how peppermint tea is good for stomach aches for example and how tea is best when nothing is added to it. If you wish to learn more it's a really interesting article and I suggest you give it a look.

P.S. Like the new cover photo? I took it and edited it myself.

-Sarah

The Core Four

     There are many different types of tea, all coming from around the world sporting different names and tastes. There is a bit of a debate going on about what is really considered 'Tea'. Most say that there are four main types of real tea and that is it; Green Tea, White Tea, Black Tea and Ooolong tea. Black tea is more traditional, it being very popular in Europe and North America, the most caffeinated of the four. It usually has a stronger flavour to it and is commonly taken with milk and sugar. Green Tea also has now become very common in the West, it being known for its wonderful health benefits. Green tea has a very natural taste that can sometimes come off as being slightly bitter, I take my Green tea with honey and lemon. White tea is slightly less common than the previous two but also has its health benefits. White tea is a light tasting tea known for its soothing and relaxing taste. Oolong tea is the last of the major four and it covers a lot of bases. Unlike the others it doesn't have a set taste. It can be light and fruity or harsh and woody, it all depends on how it is prepared or what brand you buy.
     All of these types of tea actually depend on the levels of oxidation. Black, Green, White and Oolong are all harvested from the flowering plant, Camellia Sinensis, and the type of tea is determined by the different levels of oxidation. Black tea is oxidised the most, then Oolong, then Green, then White with the least.
     In my opinion I think there are more than just the four categories of tea. Other companies (like Teavana) sell branches of different tea like maté, roobios and herbal tea. But according to "the professionals" it will not  be considered true tea unless it comes from the Camellia Sinensis and is prepared in the standard way. To me tea is tea, and it's good. But if you want to be technical, beverages like roobios or maté are considered 'tea-infusions'. Another 'borderline tea' is pu-erh which does come from the Camellia Sinensis  but is prepared using a different method called post fermentation process. What do you think, are there only four categories of tea or can there be more? Let me know in the comments.

-Sarah

Caution: Possible Blandness Up Ahead

     I realise not everybody shares my irrational fascination with tea. That means that majority of my viewers have no clue what I'm talking about or at least to a certain extent.Which can be very boring. I'm not saying I'll up and quit this blog, I'm just warning everyone reading this that there is a risk of being confused, or at least astounded by my odd amounts of knowledge and opinion  I have on this random topic. Luckily for you there is a comment function on this blog and you can absolutely ask questions whenever you're having trouble. Hey maybe you know something I don't, and want to teach me something new!
     Because this blog is a class project, I do have a 'quota' and a deadline. By the end of December I must have around twenty posts. That means an entry a day. And because I chose to do such a specific topic (bad move on my part) all of my post will have to be on tea.Which can make it very boring for those 'coffee people'. But I like to say I'm a fairly optimistic person and think I can get through this. I do have a well oiled imagination and I'm sure I can conjure up over twenty posts relative to this age old beverage, I just hope you guys can stay with me here. Wish me luck!

-Sarah

Happy Hallow-tea! (sorry for the bad pun)

     No morning tea for me today :S Ironic how yesterday's post was all about the mug I bring everyday to school and the next day I must go without it. You see, I had a very busy morning. If you do not live under a rock, you would know that today is in fact Halloween. The day where kids and teenagers alike dress up in ridiculous outfits and beg for candy. My school is actually pretty good when it comes to Halloween, of course not everybody dresses up because, well, it's "embarrassing". But enough kids to make it a thing dress up. I am wearing a costume. I am none other than the icon of our childhood, Scoobert Doo.
     I had a hard time figuring out what I was going to wear this year. It had to be something good, it is my senior year after all. At first I was thinking about going as Marty Mcfly from the famous eighties sci-fi- Back to the Future. But then one day my dad brought home a pair of footie pyjamas with ears a tail and black spots. That's when I knew I'd be Scooby Doo.
     Sorry this post wasn't about tea, I'll try and get back on track tomorrow.

-Sarah

Morning Pick Me Up

     I try to drink a cup of tea every morning. Like what coffee is to most people, tea is for me. It's my waker upper, my morning caffeine dose, part of my routine. I know tea isn't exactly known for its high levels of caffeine, but you'd be surprised on how much. Obviously teas such as white tea, herbal tea and roobios all have little to no caffeine in them. But certain green teas, oolongs and black teas have enough caffeine in them to open my eyes a little wider. Also there is a certain type of tea sold at Teavana called maté that contains 100% of the caffeine found in coffee.

     Because I wake up so late for school I rarely have time to sit down and sip on a hot cup of tea. So most mornings my tea is enjoyed at school, at my desk in my first period class. I have a special Teaopia mug that I got for my 16th birthday. It's bright orange, has a rubber top, an in cup strainer for leaves and no handles. It also has a picture of a person meditating with a teacup on the side. Beacause of my time deprived morning routine I don't have time to waste steeping my tea, so the in cup strainer is really useful. I usually prefer a chai, earl grey or any other black teas for my early morning, most likely with vanilla skim milk and if I'm really sleepy, a tablespoon of white sugar.

-Sarah

Mug Shot

    Is it weird if I say my favourite part of tea is holding a mug? Well I guess that's not true, the taste is pretty substantial but I really really like holding a mug. Tea was the first hot drink I really got into so it was my first experience holding a mug. At the risk of sounding cheesy, I just like the warmth in my hands. I am one of those people who grasp the mug with both palms and hold it under my chin so the steam hits my face. It's probably the one of the most comfortable scenarios out there. The effect is lost with a skinny cup with those too-small handles that you can't fit more than more than two fingers in; you need a big fat ceramic mug. I suppose you could do that will any hot drink but I don't know, everything just seems better when it's tea.

-Sarah

Bagged or Loose?

     Today I will be giving my opinion on the age old battle when it comes to tea. Loose leaf or Tea bags. I am a loose leaf person, but I'm not exactly a snob when it comes to bagged tea. Teavana (Teaopia) is solely a loose leaf store with drums filled with perfectly dried leaves, flowers and fruits. I find that way makes the flavours more distinct and clear instead of them being all smushed together. Also loose tea is better for you, being made of all natural ingredients, unlike bagged tea which is grounded up into fine and processed specs.
     Though my preference is loose tea there are some aspects that can be frustrating. For one it is generally more expensive than a two dollar box of bagged tea. Then there is the issue of steeping. Obviously steeping a tea with a bag is extremely easy an quick, only needing a few dunks to get an acceptable amount of flavor. With loose leaf however you need certain tools and a few minutes to make a perfect cup of tea. This could be the reason why 96% percent of all cups of tea are steeped using teabags. Teavana sells a variety of ways to steep their leaves, some are make-shift tea bags or 'steep-as-you-go' travel mugs. I personally don't find it that much of a hassle but I can understand that side of argument. I guess it's a matter of opinion, what's more important, quality or convenience?

A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water- Eleanor Roosevelt

-Sarah

Tea___a?

    Every teenager has a favourite store at their local mall. Whether it be American Eagle, Cinnabon or Coles. I visit my favourite place at least once a week, sometimes it being the only store I enter that trip. This store is currently titled Teavana, a quality loose leaf store where you can purchase a cup or a bag of tea as well as nifty teaware.
    Now Teavana is still new to me. A few months back it went by a different name, a name that became a regular addition to my everyday vocabulary. The store used to be called Teopia. It was Teaopia that really got me hooked on tea about two years ago. But last January the small Canadian company was bought out by a larger American one with a similar goal.
    The Teaopia I grew to love slowly morphed into the strange new Teavana that I've heard all about. I was nervous at first because Teaopia had become a common hangout for me. I knew all of the employees and they all knew me. We'd talk and laugh about how many teas on the wall I had tried. And it was unsettling that I wouldn't get to finish "the wall" that I worked so hard to taste.
    But eventually the transformation went through and in that giant space next to the fountain a new store appeared. But I grew to love Teavana. The familiar orange and black turned into earthy green and humble pink. The teas are different but equally as tasty. All the employees are the exact same people, and it even has its own tea wall!
    Change is always scary but once you accept it you can find some positive perks.

-Sarah

Let's Get Started, Shall We?

Hiya people!

    So my name is Sarah Collie and I am a grade 12 student from Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School, and this blog is a class project. The course is writers craft, and the task is to carefully construct our thoughts. Our teacher is trying to keep us 'hip' by letting us write and essentially express on a medium other than lined paper. Now unlike other blogs out there this is not a stream of consciousness project, not a 'brain dump bin' but a well crafted log of our thoughts.
     Now, why liquid wisdom? Tea. I am a down and out tea addict. I drink minimum three cups of tea a day with my record being eight. I can't get enough of the stuff. So because the best type of blogs are themed ones, I figure why not write about stuff I'm passionate about.
      So I'm not sure how long this little arrangement will go on for. Currently I have a lot of ideas for entries but as many of you know, opinions change over time. I'm not saying I'll suddenly hate tea (that will never happen) but my opinions for posts may change. Basically this blog's expiration date is whenever I run out of ideas.
     I can't promise right this instant what the content will be. I'm thinking reviews, famous quotes, tea related anecdotes and just opinions in general. Also apparently I'll be assigned some class projects so those might not be relative at all to the theme. We'll see I guess.
      I look forward to sharing my liquid induced wisdom with you.

-Sarah