Friday 28 December 2012

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

Wednesday 12 December 2012

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

Saturday 8 December 2012

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

Friday 7 December 2012

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