Anyone who knows me knows how much I love trying different teas. My big brother introduced me to the world of teas. We would try mostly black teas like Darjeeling, Irish Breakfast and Earl Grey, but since those days, the variety of teas available has exploded. Right now in my cupboard I have 16 different types of tea.
I have Earl Grey in the cupboard for when my sister visits. That's her favorite. I keep some orange pekoe tea on hand for when I have guests who simply want a cup of tea. The rest of the teas are ones that my family and I enjoy.
There are a few teas that I always keep on hand:
Camomile tea
Ginger tea
Echinacea tea (sometimes a few different varieties including a throat coat tea)
"Sleepy time" tea and a special herbal mix of strong "sleepy time" tea
I consider those teas to be part of my tool box to keep my family healthy because there are so many uses for them. In my book, a good cup of tea benefits just about anyone. If someone has an upset stomach, the first thing I reach for is Ginger tea (camomile tea works well too). If someone has a sniffly nose, then we brew some echinacea tea. And for those nights when you want to just relax and get a good night's sleep, we have a cup of camomile tea or "sleepy time" tea.
I keep my special strong "sleepy time" herbal medicine tea for those nights when I'm stressed out and I know I really need a good night's sleep. Or if I've been sick and not sleeping well and I need a solid night's rest to help my body along the road to recovery. This mix I picked up from Thuna Herbs in Toronto, a herbal shop that was recommended by my naturopath. Here's the recipe if you are interested in getting it from a herbalist in your community:
1 oz Jamaican Dogwood
1 oz Hops Flower
1 oz Lavender Flower
1 oz Tonga Root
1 oz Skullcap Herb
This mix cost me about $40 but is has lasted a long time. I've even shared some of this loose tea with friends and family who have a hard time sleeping. Another friend was taking sleeping pills to get to sleep. He's now off of them and uses this tea when he needs to.
To brew the tea fill a tea ball with the tea leaves. Steep covered for three to five minutes, even longer if you can. This tea doesn't taste very good, so I like to add a bit of honey. It is important to drink it warm, because the warmth is part of what helps you to settle down. One of the effects of this tea is it helps you to get a very deep sleep. So even if you only get a few hours of sleep, you will feel rested.
For those looking for a tea source online, I made a new friend recently that may interest you. Neeta Khanna has a premium tea Web site where you will find tea, including black tea, white tea, green tea, oolong tea, herbal tea, decaf tea and Rooibos tea. Her family has a long history with teas and she is sharing her passion with the world through www.languageoftheleaf.com. Neeta personally travels to India and around the world to secure the highest quality ingredients for her teas. She is skilled in the art of tea, combining interesting blends. She offers sample packs for those who want to try a variety of teas.
I'll sign off now...I'm off for a spot of tea!
Link to blog: http://www.livhealthy.tv/blog.php?blogID=Teas_for_Good_Health