Lessons on Lemons

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#whatsinmycup, food, lemon, tea, what's in my cup

Today is a lesson on lemons, but don’t pucker up just yet.

Lemon contains Vitamin C, a  necessity for the formation of blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen in bones. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb and store iron. It’s vital to healing and as an antioxidant, protects cells against heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Vitamin C is a natural diuretic, and is known for its cleansing properties. Drinking hot water with lemon is extremely good for you. So it would stand to reason that we could assume it would be extremely good for you in tea as well. But to get your daily allotment for 1 day, you would have to drink approximately 1 cup of lemon juice. That’s a lot of lemon! And a lot of cups of tea!

Catechins are the main health compounds in tea. They are tied to reduced risk of cancer, heart attack, and other diseases, but our guts don’t absorb them well. Catechins are unstable and  breakdown quickly so that less than 20% remain after digestion. But studies using green tea suggest that adding citrus juice can help the body absorb more healthy catechins and may stabilize catechins so that up to 80% remain after digestion. 

Did you know…

Both colour and flavour are affected by the oxidation and fermentation processes on harvested tea leaves but overall brewed black tea is a strong reddish-brown colour.  Lemon is a strong acid and when added to tea made with hard water (an alkaline),  for example, the lemon reduces the ph balance and lightens the colour of your tea.

When life hands you lemons, slice them and put them in your tea.

Happy Monday!

Purdue study

Why does lemon juice lighten the colour of tea

 

What’s In My Cup: Bed of Roses

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#whatsinmycup, tea, what's in my cup

In 1992, Bon Jovi crooned for a love he would “die to defend” because “I wanna lay you down in a bed of roses”. Even at the time, while lovers circled the dance floor, I thought “Ew, what a mess!” That was long before I worked in the cubicle of purgatory, dealing with bridezillas, who envision prim 2 year old cherubs in ruffles and bows, sweetly tossing rose petals down the aisle. I think the former custodian at the church is still traumatized from trampled petals ground into the carpet.

Organic Bed of Roses tea is one of David’s Wellness Blends and part of the Feel Good boxed tea set. It’s a rooibos base so it’s caffeine free. It also contains rosehips, silver linden flowers, natural honey flavouring, rose petals, marigold blossoms, hops, and passionflower. Passionflower and silver linden flowers have mild sedative and anti-inflammatory properties. However, pregnant and nursing women should avoid them. They may also interact with some medication, such as heart medication.

This tea reminded me of a bouquet of roses, with both a strong aroma and flavour. It was also slightly sweet with hints of honey and florals. I have tried it twice, and while I loved the idea of it, it still reminds me too much of rose-scented soap…or the weird purple gum my Dad sometimes bought at the convenience store in the ’80s. It tasted like soap and we didn’t really like it, yet we also kept asking for it.

I think I prefer roses in a vase beside the bed … long-stemmed and scarlet red.

O my Luve’s like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in june;
O my Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly play’d in tune:

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry…

Robert Burns

Happy Monday!

What’s the Skinny…

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#whatsinmycup, health, tea, what's in my cup

With that holiday between Christmas chocolate and Easter chocolate over, it’s time to refocus on those New Year’s resolutions. Plus sweatshirt season won’t last forever.

I love sweatshirt season. Am I wearing a bra? Who knows! Am I wearing what I wore to bed under it? Maybe.

So what if a cup of tea could melt your fat away, boost your energy, make you look like a supermodel? Oh, if it were only that easy, I could wear anything I wanted…without causing a traffic accident or traumatizing the neighbourhood children.

It’s been marketed by different names: flat belly tea, slim tea, skinny tea, fit tea. They can be sold in kits, with one of more teas to be taken daily over a period of time. The marketers are geniuses, using celebrities and skinny “bunnies” with great abs wearing postage stamp yoga wear to sell promises: lose weight, burn calories, boost metabolism, suppress appetite, increase energy, cleanse and detoxify…like most things, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Most of these products allege that they can detoxify the body from toxins you accumulate through food, the environment, you name it! But our bodies were created with systems to deal with pollutants, and a healthy body simply doesn’t need more help.

The “quick-fix” mentality may also encourage bad eating habits, like fasting or shying away from nutrient-rich foods, which end up weakening the body.

While many of these teas contain natural ingredients, frequently there is not enough information to determine whether they are in fact effective. Others have been proven to make no difference. The tea component contains flavonoids, antioxidants, and some level of caffeine. All of these are conducive to weight loss, and may help reduce inflammation and digestive upsets, but let’s be honest, on their own, without proper diet and exercise (and sometimes even with), they aren’t miracle workers. Drinking any type of tea increases water intake, which flushes out excess salt and retained water, and fills you up so you snack less. It’s also a great option to high calorie beverages like soda or beer, but water is one of the best, easiest and least expensive ways to shed a few ounces. I like my water with tea leaves, please!

So if the promises aren’t true, why are they allowed to market this way? Skinny teas are considered dietary supplements and therefore are not subject to the same standards that require them to prove their claims. 

Now do you feel cheated, used, and abused? Me too. I’ve always been skeptical of the whole “slim tea” bandwagon, but once again, as with most things, if it sounds too good to be true, it may not be true.

Look, I can’t make everyone happy. I’m not bacon! Live in the moment – drink tea!

Happy Monday!

What’s in My Cup: Cranberry Dandelion Detox

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#whatsinmycup, food, food photography, tea, what's in my cup

Red is a popular colour this month: scarlet heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, silky cherry lingerie, and velvety ruby-red roses. And for a tea lover, David’s Tea just introduced Cranberry Dandelion Tea. Cranberry shouldn’t be reserved only for Thanksgiving or Christmas, right?

Not only is it a rich claret colour, but it is a tart and spicy tea with a slight earthy, bitterness from dandelion root, a very subtle whisper of cinnamon. This caffeine-free, kosher tea has a rooibos base. It also contains hibiscus, rosehips, and oat straw.

There are some health benefits to cranberry, and to dandelion tea, but as with all things, should be taken in moderation. Cranberry may also interact with some medications.

Where rooibos tea keeps you hydrated, dandelion tea is a natural diuretic, which means it can help decrease water weight,and regulate blood sugar levels. Both dandelion tea and cranberry may help flush toxins and aid in preventing bacterial infections in the urinary tract. Compounds in  dandelion tea decrease inflammation and the diuretic effect increases the production of urine, and acidic compounds in cranberries fight off bad bacteria.  Too much cranberry, though, can increase the discomforting sense of urgency associated  with urinary tract infections. Other side effects for both dandelion tea and cranberry are mild stomach upset and diarrhea.

Dandelion tea has vitamins A, C and D, and high amounts of vitamin K, which is known to build bone strength. Dandelion root is also said to help cure hangovers. Cranberries are high in vitamins C and E, as well as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. In fact, they are rated just under blueberries.

I know no joy as great as a moment of rushing into a new love, no ecstasy like that of a new love. – Anais Nin

Happy Monday!

What’s In My Cup: Min-tea!

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#whatsinmycup, tea, what's in my cup

Last Wednesday, I enlisted the help of some fabulous ladies to sample and review 4 different mint-based teas from David’s. I love mint – mint and chocolate especially – but mint…well, mint doesn’t like me. Fortunately, these 7 women do!

Did you know…Peppermint stimulates passion and creativity. It’s good for upset tummies and soothes sore throats.

All of these teas are herbal, and therefore, caffeine-free. I asked the ladies to sample each tea and provide their description of it. Then I asked them to rate them from least favourite to favourite.

#4 Organic Serenity Now. It currants, rosehips, apple, lavender, spearmint, hibiscus, blueberries, strawberries, quince, and rose petals. Lavender is calming and spearmint is rejuvenating.

Ranking: 4/7 placed this in  #4 place, while the remaining 3/7 placed it in #3.

Comments: From “plain”, “flavourless” and “no mint” to “very bitter, no fragrance”. Someone commented that it was “minty, hint of fruitiness, mild overall” as another noted “very floral but not minty”.

#3 Organic Peppermint Amour. The only ingredient is peppermint leaves. This tea is Fair Trade.

Ranking: This received one each for spots #1 and #2. 3/7 ranked this #3, leaving 2/7 placing it #4.

Comments: It had a nice golden colour, but the majority of comments related to an aftertaste. Some liked it; others found it “dry”, “bitter”, and “sour”. Some found it very minty while others found no mint flavour.  I noticed that the leaves expand significantly.

#2 Organic Mother’s Little Helper.  This contains peppermint, lemongrass, hibiscus, rosehips, chamomile, valerian root, cornflowers, and peppermint flavouring.  Valerian root is known to relax nervous tension and induce feelings of sleepiness.

Ranking: 2/7 in #1; 3/7 in #2; 2/7 in #3.

Comments: This tea was “similar to Sleepy Time Tea, with equal parts mint and chamomile” and someone else noted that the “lemon grass comes through”. While an aftertaste was noted, most of the comments were “good”, “very nice flavour”, and “mild peppermint”. One comment still didn’t find it “minty”.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE…

#1 Organic Cold 911: This particular tea contains peppermint, apple, eucalyptus, juniper berries, and natural orange and peppermint oils. Eucalyptus can help relieve sore throats, sinusitis, and bronchitis.

Ranking: 4/7 placed this as #1, with 3/7 placing it as #2.

Comments: The words “good” and “best” were used to describe this tea. It has a “strong mint flavour but rounded, with little to no aftertaste”. It was also described as “smooth, containing a light fragrance and taste, while another described it as “strong peppermint flavour which reminds me of spearmint gum”. I noticed that it had a vibrant, bright yellow colour, which was very inviting!

Many thanks to the lovely ladies who took time to sample and provide their feedback.

A cup of tea warms the soul like a good friend.

Happy Monday!

What’s In My Cup: Rhubarb Cream Soda

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#whatsinmycup, food photography, tea, what's in my cup

This past weekend, the weather was pretty tart: heavy and abundant rain coupled by frozen ground and plummeting temperatures made for an interesting Sunday morning. Most of my worship team called in sick, and my bass player spent over an hour chipping his way into his vehicle. He made it just in time, and with the help of another guitarist/vocalist, the congregation wasn’t subjected to me leading alone!

Life isn’t always sweet! Nor is it always tart!

David’s describes Rhubarb Cream Soda as bright and fizzy, but I found this fruit infusion has many mixed reviews, oftentimes the reviewer being uncertain whether if it’s a hit or a miss!

Some find it too sweet, too creamy or too artificial. Most were disappointed that rhubarb was not the dominating flavour, but rather apple and mango. It’s true that my container appeared to be mostly apple, mango and pineapple chunks. This tea is also supposed to contain rosehip shells, hibiscus, red currants, and of course, rhubarb. I could taste the acidity from the rhubarb, but it is quickly overpowered by a strong berry flavour at the back of my tongue.

While it smells wonderful, I didn’t get the rosy hue I was expecting either. I located others’ photos of this tea and it was wonderfully pink. What did I do wrong? It’s possible my ratio of water to blend was off. I certainly let it steep longer than the recommended 5 minutes.

I loved cream soda as a kid, mostly because it was sickly sweet and PINK. I confess, I still buy a can once in awhile. With “cream soda” in the description, I fully expected “cream soda”, which I didn’t get. I got more of an artificial, almost metallic aftertaste. I wouldn’t say it “popped” or “fizzed”.

This infusion is recommended hot or cold, and reviews of it as an iced tea are also mixed. One person recommended mixing it with lemonade to add depth of flavour to regular lemonade. To be honest, I’m not sure if I like this particular tea or not, but I’m willing to experiment further. If I find a winning combo, I’ll let you know!

If you do like rhubarb, I would recommend Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait instead.

In any event…

Happy Monday!

…With Tea

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#whatsinmycup, food photography, photography, red, tea, teapots, what's in my cup

It’s the first Monday of the year, and I’m certainly feeling it. How about you?

I just spent a frustrating hour trying to deal with my cell phone provider and a trumped up bill. It’s not the first time. I was especially pleased when the phone number the online guy gave me to call, wouldn’t accept my number and advised me to call my cell phone provider, and hung up on me. So how did I cope without completely losing it?

My very sweet and creative sister-in-law knows me SO well!

Happy Monday!

CB&W: Hot/Cold

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#whatsinmycup, black and white photography, black&white Photography, mittens, Photo Challenge, photography, snow, tea, winter

Whether you are spending the weekend indoors or outdoors, may your cup always be filled with warmth, and your heart overflowing with love.

This is my post for Cee Nuener’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Hot or Cold Things. (I just decided, why not both!)

What’s In My Cup: Maple Syrup Oolong

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#whatsinmycup, tea, what's in my cup

I think maybe, if I could be a Canadian super hero, I’d have some kind of freezing power and some sort of maple syrup weapon. Could be a little sticky. – Nathan Fillion

Go ahead and poke fun, but we Canadians love our maple syrup. It’s tasty on waffles, pancakes, ice-cream, or straight from the jar! It was no great surprise that Big Guy gave me a tea for Christmas with “maple syrup” in the name. I gave my mom the same thing!

Last night, the three of us shared a pot. Mom needed tea for refreshment after a long drive. Big Guy needed comfort after suffering all weekend with a bad head dose. I needed something sweet.

Maple Syrup Oolong is both sweet and satisfying. In addition to oolong tea, it contains apple, candied papaya, raisins, buckwheat seeds, roasted chicory root, maple sugar, and stevia extract. Surprisingly, this tea has a low caffeine rating; Oolong tea is normally rated moderate to high. I would assume that with the lower rating, a minimal amount of oolong tea is used, and the tea is more of a chicory root, buckwheat and fruit infusion.

In any event, this tea is sweet and satisfying. The buckwheat and chicory provide a deep roasted flavour. The tea is sweet but not cloying, and without looking at the ingredients, I would have guessed it contained some spices. If you expect the tea to taste like pure maple syrup on waffles, you will be disappointed.  Maple is present but very subtle. However, this tea is a delight to the senses whether for a weekend brunch with friends, or an evening comfort with family.

We woke this morning to a world covered in ice, so since we’re not going anywhere today, time to put the kettle on!

Happy Monday!

What’s In My Cup: Home-made Chai

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#whatsinmycup, tea, what's in my cup

This weekend, I tried more than just new recipes for sweet treats; I tried making my own tea blend. The inspiration came from a link my cousin shared with me.

I only made half the recipe in case this proved to be a disaster. To that end, I purchased small amounts of cardamom pods, cloves, black peppercorns, and cinnamon sticks from The Bulk Barn. Altogether, they cost me just over $1. I opened a Tetley tea bag for my tea leaves (but I didn’t bother measuring).

The night before I put this together, I also dried my own ginger by slicing it thinly and baking it on parchment paper, at 120F for 60 minutes. I also left it in the cold oven overnight. The only ingredient I didn’t have was the maple chai flakes.

I was able to make over 2 pots of tea with half of this recipe. It was really good, although I might venture to say that it didn’t have the same complex flavours as commercial chai. For example, I found the ginger and clove very strong. In fact, I added more hot water to the first pot to “mellow” it for my taste buds. I probably would be willing to try it again, and I might experiment with the flavours (i.e., less ginger and the addition of another spice).

In the past I have given homemade jams,baked goods, and beverage mixes as gifts. A blend of homemade chai might be the perfect gift for another “tea granny” like me.

Happiness is home-made!

Happy Monday!