CHAI HOT COCOA

I just discovered a great recipe for a fast Chai Hot Cocoa. You can enjoy this any time.

YOU WILL NEED:
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1 chai flavored teabag
1 packet of instant hot cocoa

PREPARE:

Place water and milk in saucepan; bring to a boil.
Add teabag and steep for about a minute.
Pour into mug, add packet of hot cocoa.

Stir and enjoy!

BENEFITS OF CHAMOMILE TEA

A soothing fruity flavored tea, chamomile tea helps relax and brings restful sleep. It is also widely used to settle upset tummies. One research study found an increased immunity to bacteria in the volunteer subjects. This may explain why there have been numerous reports that chamomile tea has been effective in fighting colds and viruses.

It has been effective in treating colic, diarrhea and fever in infants and small children. The dosage needs to be approved by the pediatrician. Using a dose that is too strong can have an adverse impact on the child.

No matter what you hope to achieve by drinking chamomile tea, be sure you use a high quality tea and remember that too much of a good thing may not be good for you! You also need to be aware that as an herb from the Aster family, chamomile should be avoided if you have an allergy to ragweed or any plant in the Aster family.

BALLERINA TEA – PROS AND CONS

Fascinated by the name “Ballerina Tea”, I decided to do some research. It has some fans, of course, but there are also some very negative reports. Because it is made with herbs and “all natural” ingredients, it might mistakenly be considered safe; no side effects. This is untrue.

Ballerina Tea is used for weight loss and the fans of Ballerina Tea rave about their fast weight loss. And, yes, because of the senna in this tea, weight loss occurs. Unfortunately, this is the result of senna as a stimulant and laxative. The extent of this effect is determined by the strength of the senna used in the Ballerina Tea formula.

Many users reported severe abdominal cramping, diarrhea and dehydration. Some of the Ballerina Tea drinkers experienced nausea and dizziness.

Before using this tea for weight loss, I would recommend a visit to the doctor. It also has the potential to interfere with certain medications. Do your homework and research and use common sense before you embark on this or any other weight loss plan. Yes, it may work but at what cost to your well being and overall health?

ARE BODYBUILDERS REALLY SIPPING TEA TO SHAPE UP?

Most bodybuilders stay focused on nutrition, health issues, nutritional supplements and especially supplements that burn fat. It’s no wonder that the bodybuilding world has discovered the potentially amazing health benefits of tea and, of course, the claims of weight loss. Oolong and green tea are the favorites for these muscle men (and women). Both of the teas are available in capsule form as a supplement.

According to an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, “absorption of polyphenols was enhanced in the capsule. Polyphenols are the antioxidants in tea. It would take many cups of tea each day to provide the same benefits provided by the supplement in capsule form.

And then there’s the bodybuilder ego to consider. Imagine several of these guys at 200 plus pounds sitting around sipping tea from delicate little tea cups!

On the serious side, it was interesting to note the widespread attention tea has received for its potential health benefits. Taking a capsule is certainly fast and convenient. For those of us who enjoy tea, we would miss the wonderful taste treats. Those capsules would destroy the job of celebrating tea!

Chai Tea Bags - A Real Surprise

Have you ever tried Twinings Chai Tea Bags? I really wanted a nice cup of hot Chai but didn't have time to brew and prepare so I made a fast trip to the store. I found Twinings Chai Tea Bags! I was pleasantly surprised to find a good cup of Chai from this little bag. Of course, Twinings has other tea bag flavors available so I'll have to give them a try. It's nice to know that when time is a factor, you can still enjoy the good taste of Chai.

So the next time you have a yearning for hot Chai but you're pressed for time, I highly recommend Twinings Chai Tea Bags.

Just add a little honey to the tea and you're all set for a nice cup of Chai.

GREEN TEA FROM JAPAN

Although the process of making green tea originated in China, it spread throughout Asia as a delicious beverage with healing properties. It was introduced to Japan by a Japanese Buddhist priest. Within the green tea category in Japan, there is a wide assortment of teas graded by quality, processing method, where it was grown and the parts of the tea plant used. There is also a great difference in price and quality within this wide assortment of green teas found in Japan.

Let’s explore some of these green teas:

1) Gyokuro is grown in the shade for about twenty days. Its name means “jade dew” because of the pale green color of the infusion. Growing in the shade increases the caffeine and amino acids in the tea leaves. The catechin in the leaves decreases which gives the tea a sweet taste. Gyokuro is one of the more expensive teas.
2) Sencha is the most common green tea in Japan. It is made from tea leaves exposed to direct sunlight. It is named after the method used to process it, sencha, meaning “decocted” which is defined by Webster: “to extract by boiling”. It is made without grinding the leaves. The flavor of the tea results from the place it was grown and the season it was processed. The temperature of the water used to process also affects the flavor of the tea.
3) Kamairicha is not processed with the usual steam treatments of Japanese tea. It is a pan-fried green tea and this process eliminates the bitter taste found in most Japanese teas.

The steaming process is one of the reasons for the taste difference between Japanese and Chinese green teas.