January is National Hot Tea Month.
Affordable and easy to make, hot tea is enjoyed by millions all over the world. In fact, it’s second only to water. The differences of black, green, white and oolong tea are due to changes that take place during processing. All tea comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis.
Green tea is often associated with being a healthy choice, though white tea has even less processing; however, black tea is also reported to have benefits.
I enjoy many kinds of tea. One brand I like is Tazo. Tazo Zen green tea is good; however, it takes on a new meaning when you add a bag of Tazo Refresh to it. They complement each other nicely. I picked up this tip from Rivertown Coffee Shop in Florence, Alabama.
I like Bigelow Plantation Mint. I also like Moroccan mint. I discovered Moroccan mint at McGraw’s Coffee Shop in Florence, Alabama. I can’t think right now which brand they sell. The link above goes to a brand that I bought from Whole Foods Market in Birmingham, Alabama.
As for white tea, I love Saphara White Tea with Schizandra. I tried a couple of other brands of white tea and didn’t like them. As with anything, whether you like a particular kind can vary by the brand.
I also enjoy Tazo’s organic darjeeling tea, a black tea, often nice for the afternoon – a little something stronger. Another black tea I enjoy is Earl Grey, though this very much depends on the brand. I have encountered Earl Grey that had lavender, of all things, added to it. If you want to try Earl Grey, I suggest the Bigelow brand.
Tea contains less than half of the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee and contains antioxidants known as catechins. A number of laboratory studies suggest that drinking tea may help to prevent heart disease and cancer.
Herbal tea is not actually tea. Instead, it’s an infusion properly referred to as a tisane. Common ingredients include herbs, spices, roots, etc. This is not purported to have the same health benefits as tea; however, it is reputed to have other health benefits, such as feeling more relaxed. Chamomile and ginger are popular types.
Whatever you choose to try, make sure to enjoy your tea. Take a few minutes to relax. I always like my tea plain, so no calories are involved. Experiment with how long you steep the tea – how long you leave the tea bag in, usually 3-5 minutes.
What kind of tea you prefer may depend on the time of day. While it does have less caffeine than coffee, unless it’s herbal, there will be some caffeine, so just keep that in mind. — Caffeine in and of itself is not bad, though.
While you can enjoy tea anywhere, it’s fun to go to a coffee shop or tea room. Make a whole experience out of it. You can go by yourself or with a friend. Think of it as a field trip, an interesting way to relax and “just be.”
If you are in Huntsville, Alabama, you might enjoy Emma’s Tea room.
I hope you found this helpful. I’ll be going now. – It’s time for tea!
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