The Magic of leaves......

I want to talk tea a bit today. Tea really is like a Miracle or Magic in a cup. Just as there are thousands of flavors in the world of food... there are thousands of flavors and several colors of tea. Ideally i think it would be a healthy practice to drink the Tea Rainbow every day. All of the tea colors have different properties just like those of the vegetable family.

What is tea? Tea is more the product of the leaves and or plant parts that we steep in modern times than the true Tea grown in China. Every person has their favorite be it plain or combination. In America we have the benefit of learning from all of the different cultures that call our land home. Tea is simply a leaf. Once a week i hope to write about a different type of tea. I personally love a great Oolong with fresh ginger! I have some great loose leaf Oolong i purchased from the Cornerstone Coffeehouse in Camp Hill, Pa.

To make the tea by the cup i mince a small amount of fresh Ginger, peel and all, and put it in the bottom of a heavy mug. On the stove top if possible i bring the water to just before the boiling point and let it set for a few minutes. Then i pour the water directly over the ginger releasing the wonderful aroma and let it steep for two to three minutes. Then a touch of honey and finally the Oolong. This is an exceptional tea for cold winter days. Not to mention the health benefits of the Ginger, Honey and the tea themselves possess.

Ginger is said to lower LDL or bad Cholesterol... Increase circulation while reducing blood pressure...Aid in digestion...help relieve stomach cramps and nausea and relieve morning sickness. Science has not necessarily found these to be true, but for thousands of years people have benefited from the effects of Ginger.

Now for the benefits of the Great and Powerful Oolong. Oolong is credited for the improvement of the entire body! People use it for weight loss and or control...Removing free radicals and other toxins from the body...skin care..stomach aches..vision..stress control...relaxation.. energy boosts in large doses. Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer protection...bone and cell health...and more! Holy Tea...this stuff is good!