Garden and Hearth> Health/Beauty>Nutrition

Tea for a Healthy Holiday
 

Hot and cold tea has been a popular beverage in many countries for many centuries. Said to be good for what ails you, tea brewed from black or green tea leaves is said to have antioxidant properties as well as some natural substances that may decrease the chances of some types of cancer. Populations of women who traditionally drink large amounts of green tea tend to have less incidences of breast cancer.

Green and black tea comes from the same plant, a bush that is a member of the camellia family. Green tea is dried for a shorter time than black tea and is not allowed to go through the short fermenting process that black tea does. Point out to your clients that green and black tea have the same amount of caffeine.

Serve hot green or black tea on cold days to chase away the chills and to help boost the immune system. Hot tea can be made with green or black tea or you can use some of your favorite herbs or spices to brew a special cup of tea. Slice fresh or crystallized ginger into a cup and cover with boiling water. Allow to steep for three minutes and you’ve got a throat-soothing cup of ginger tea. You can try this with fresh or dried mint, dried edible rose or chrysanthemum petals and even fresh lemon or orange zest.

Chilling tea does not affect its health aspects and certainly makes it refreshing during the warm weather months. But don’t leave cold tea for the hot months. Cold tea is a good alternative to sugary beverages, even in the winter time. Leaf or herb teas are easy to brew and chill and do not contain the extra flavorings or sweeteners that instant teas may have.

To brew the perfect pitcher of tea for chilling, bring the amount of water you need to a rolling boil. While the water is boiling, measure the amount of tea you’re going to use into a squeaky clean glass or china container. Plastic and metal tend to pick up extra flavors. Pour a small amount of boiling water over your tea and let it steep for a minute. Add the remainder of the boiling water and allow to steep to the desired strength. Don’t leave the tea in for too long, as it will give an acid taste. Put your tea in the refrigerator and allow to cool for several hours. Brewed tea will keep its flavor for at least two days in the refrigerator, so you don’t have to brew it every day. Iced tea is a great way to get those eight glasses of water every day, as long as it’s decaffeinated . It can be a fast thirst quencher or you can pile a tall glass full of orange, fresh pineapple, grapefruit or fresh ripe peach slices and some fresh berries for a beverage and a dessert all rolled into one. Try serving an iced tea instead of the usual holiday punch. Along with chopped fresh mint, add a splash of iced tea to fruit salads for a “secret” ingredient.

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