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#TeaTuesday Soda Pop Substitute
September 12, 2017
— 3 Comments
regional names for the stuff
One of my colleagues at work announced her intention to give up diet soda for her health. She has cut down from an amazing eight daily, but still has a steady habit. I suggested she might be able to switch to tea if she found flavors that satisfy her taste buds. She agreed to try a “tour of tea” I provided in the form of several tea samples from my major stash at home. She accepted the gift and with encouragement from her daughter she is trying the flavors in the starter pack. I gave her some black flavored tea, chocolate chai, lemongrass, and more to pique her interest in this broad field.
I have thought about how much money is spent in the United States on soda pop and similar sugarcoated drinks (usually made with corn syrup). It is shocking when you think about it. Half of us drink soda every day, but the popularity is waining. People are aware of the health risks associated with soda consumption and are making the switch to other beverages. Bottling companies are shifting production to meet the demand for calorie free seltzers and other beverages. The bottler still makes a giant profit on shipping and selling what is mostly water, or in many cases, only water, to the world. Brewing tea at home, especially in the sun which provides free energy and perfect brewing conditions, is a wonderful way to drink very well at low cost. You just provide the water and the jar, then strain it and keep it in the fridge. The range of flavor and health benefits available from tea is wide and deep. The expiration of tea can last a lifetime and constantly be inspirational. I can’t say that for soda.
soft drinks and you
beverage trends
I drink tea because I love it, but I am proud of all the money I save by brewing my own. Math alone should convince you to switch, but I know the pull can be very strong for the old habits. I hope my colleague will be able to happily switch her preferences. If you have a soda addiction you want to kick, I highly recommend tea tasting to all my gentle readers. It is a bargain.
white blueberry tea
#TeaTuesday Dewey Cherry
July 4, 2017
— 1 Comment
Brewing Dewey Cherry
Nothing says summer more than the taste of ripe cherries. I get excited when the various kinds of cherries show up in the grocery store every year. They all make me happy, from the tart to the white Mt. Ranier. The fun of sucking them off the pit never fails to please me. I keep the pits in my mouth for a while because they have their own flavor. All the cherries we eat are imported from other places, so they are pricey by the time we buy them. There is one cherry I can count on all year to deliver that tangy special taste. That is my Dewey Cherry tea from Adagio. I am drinking it this week to accompany all the fruit we are enjoying.
I think it is a pretty good symbolic 4th of July drink because many Americans associate the holiday with George Washington. We may know little about his life, but we have all heard the story of his cherry tree. It is also red in color, so it brightens up the look of the party table. A dessert in itself, it naturally aligns with all fruit flavored sweets such as pie. The slight sharpness of the tart cherry cleanses the palette between samples of sticky sweet samples. It would be the perfect drink for a pie eating contest.
Serving this as a cocktail base leaves the options open. It would be delicious combined with whipped or black cherry vodka, or some rum. I like to make tea cocktails very weak in alcohol so they are drinkable and tasty, but not too psychoactive. I like to micro dose. You could add a splash of this tea to a Pimm’s Cup, designed to be consumed all day while watching tennis matches. The color and taste match well with this legendary beverage.
So, if you are watching Wimbledon today, or celebrating the American Independence (from those fabulous Brits) I can recommend the fantastic fruity flavor of Dewey Cherry to enhance your festivities. Enjoy it straight up or with a little shot of your favorite alcohol. Drink it in good health, gentle readers. Cheers!
Pimm’s Cup
Tea Tuesday Roiboos Lemon Cloud
May 30, 2017
— 3 Comments
rooibos lemon cloud
Roiboos Lemon Cloud
Today I am enjoying the lilting lemon flavor of Roiboos Lemon Cloud tea from Adagio. The weather is hot and my day will be busy. I don’t need any extra caffeine. This delightful tea has zero to put me on edge as a breeze through the afternoon. I will probably consume half a gallon of this on ice to stay cool and hydrated. The natural lemon flavor is highlighted with vanilla and lemon grass. This blend reminds me of lemon merengue pie, but has no fat or calories. I think the creamy vanilla adds the dessert touch to this tea without adding any sweetener.
I will drink it for lunch with a big salad. Roiboos tea has no bitter aftertaste, and therefore combines well with any meal. The fresh light taste combines perfectly with fresh raw vegetables and fruits. Hot or cold with dessert of any kind Lemon Cloud provides a sweet yet tangy contrast. We have some blueberry cheesecake ice cream in the freezer that will be superb with the vanilla/lemony tea. I have some rhubarb to stew that will also taste great with this tea. My flavor profile for the day promises to be healthy and delicious.
I like gin and tea cocktails, but think that fruit flavored rum would be a fun way to create a Lemon Cloud tea cocktail. A coconut rum shot would compliment the flavors nicely. You can use your imagination and discretion. I use a little alcohol to tea, but you can use the ratio you prefer during your cocktail hour. Experiment. There is a world beyond Long Island Iced Tea waiting for you to discover.
I recommend this tea to everyone. It is a good calorie and caffeine free choice for kids as well as adults. The sophisticated flavor blend might convert some soda pop drinkers to iced tea. It could be served at high tea with milk and sugar for a twist. I buy it in the 16 ounce pouch, which prices out to about 10 cents a cup. It is a thrifty and delightful alternative to bottled drinks. The high mineral content and antioxidants contained in roiboos give the body a healthy boost while delivering sweet, slightly nutty flavor. Santé!
Roiboos Lemon Cloud
Tea Tuesday Honeybush Mango
May 2, 2017
— 1 Comment
The tea I am drinking today is iced honey bush mango tea from Adagio. This is an old favorite at our house. All the roiboos and honeybush teas deliver flavor punch without caffeine. They come in many flavors to please any palate. I brew it in the sun, and use a light touch on the measurement. I think it is important to suit your own taste and mood when brewing tea. Sometimes in summer I make the teas dark intentionally in order to add lots of ice. In spring I drink them without ice, so I use a lighter dose of tea.
brewing honeybush mango
This tropical delight pairs well with any fruit. This tea brings a high refreshing high note that combines with sweets, both natural and man-made. With the addition of a little passion fruit or pineapple flavored vodka or rum (and a cocktail umbrella) this tea will take you through happy hour in a delightful, tasty, cordial manner. These drinks will pair well with Joni Mitchell or other soprano voices in the background..something light and lilting.
The health benefits of drinking honeybush (Cyclopia) tea are impressive. Both long and short-term wellness benefits include reducing inflammation, and improving the immune system. Consuming this beverage is a delicious way to improve your body’s systems with no adverse side effects. Try it. You’ll like it.
Poetic Procrastination, Pen Pals, Tea Party
May 1, 2017
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cactus blooms
I feel proud of my accomplishment to have finished #NaPoWriMo again this year by writing 30 poems in 30 days. I thought I would be very productive as a poet and in all other parts of life, but I was wrong all wrong. I did wrote the poems, but slacked on all kinds of other goals for no particular reason. I had planned to hand write poems to all my pen pals and send them on very artful paper, and I did that zero times. In fact I have not even written to the pen pals, which has caused quite a bit of guilt, since many have continued to write letters to me. My neighbor suggested I send them all a card saying “Roses are red. Violets are blue. I am so sorry I haven’t written to you.” I might do it. I have a stack of mail to answer. I look forward to getting into the swing of that again and seeking the forgiveness of the pen pals.
After my prose break I have considered new features I want to include. I plan to do a blog post each week about tea. I drink iced tea daily in great quantity. I had a limited knowledge and palate for tea, partly caused my my own ignorance of proper brewing. I had created bitter and undrinkable black and green teas by brewing them too long at a high temperature. I began to try new kinds of tea and learned more about making it taste good. I have come a long way in my own personal appreciation for the world of tea.
Almost all the tea I brew now is done in a jar buy the sun. In Arizona we have plenty of solar energy to brew tea on the sidewalk almost every day. This method never results in overly bitter or over brewed taste. It is the natural way to make sure I brew it properly. I do strain and refrigerate it as soon as I bring it in (usually after about 10 hours). We go through it quickly, so there is no need to cover the pitcher in the fridge. I collect big pitchers so we can break a few every year. Tea keeps us refreshed and healthy. It is a bargain in comparison to any bottled commercial beverage.
I plan to promote tea drinking for tea lovers, but I specifically want to interest those who normally drink beverages in cans and bottles which they purchase. These drinks are very expensive compared to the most exotic and pricey teas, and offer no benefits for health. Even bottled water has destructive effects on the environment. When one knows about the varieties and flavor combinations available in tea, a world of gourmet delights opens to reveal a plethora of new experiences. Tea pairs well with both foods and alcohol, offering new ways to serve old favorites. I hope to bring out some flavorful ideas the gentle readers will want to try.
Since Tuesday is the day of the week that alliterates with tea, I believe tomorrow will be the first installment of Tuesday Tea Party. I am brewing some mango honeybush right now which will probably be featured. I hope you will join me for a cup. Cheers!
New Moon, Year Of The Rooster 2017
January 27, 2017
— 3 Comments
Rooster paper cut
Year of the Fire Cock 2017
The lunar year of the fire rooster begins today. In many parts of the world this is the most significant and superstitious time of the year. The lunar calendar was widely used around the world before Pope Gregory of the Roman Catholic Church had his way with time keeping, creating the solar Gregorian calendar in 1582. It has become the most widely used, but plenty of people are still on the lunar system. Jewish calendars and Asian calendars are lunar, as they have been forever. Countries varied greatly in adopting the system:
Adoption of Gregorian Calendar
1582: Spain, Portugal, France, Italy,
Catholic Low Countries, Luxemburg, and colonies
1610: Prussia 1700: ‘Germany’, Swiss Cantons, Protestant Low Countries, Norway, Denmark 1873: Japan 1912: China, Albania
1584: Kingdom of Bohemia 1648: Alsace 1752: Great Britain and colonies 1875: Egypt 1915: Latvia, Lithuania
1682: Strasbourg 1753: Sweden and Finland 1896: Korea 1916: Bulgaria
1918: USSR, Estonia
1919: Romania, Yugoslavia
1923: Greece
1926: Turkey
Greek and other Eastern orthodox churches celebrate Easter on the lunar calendar, which explains why it does not match the Roman Catholic date. When you look up your Chinese year on the placemat at the restaurant you may be in error because our western new year is never the same as the one in Asia. Ours is January 1 every year. Theirs falls between the end of January and the middle of February. The significance of the animal of the year is considered to be a big deal to those who celebrate this holiday. A change is expected in luck and finances, and much attention is given to enhancing both at this time. Gifts of currency with symbols and pictures of the animal are given to increase good fortune. Adjustments are made to the feng shui to make the most of the new energy that will flow. You may not personally believe that astrology or calendars have any significance, but a very large part of the world’s population does believe it. It can’t hurt to learn a little bit about it. This is a time to reinvent whatever needs to be changed.
The year of the cock is not expected to be the lucky year for those born under the sign of the rooster themselves. Their trademark weaknesses, boastfulness and vanity, will get them into more trouble than usual this year. Their active, talkative nature will cause problems. They will be challenged to put up or shut up, which is hard for them to handle. Everyone turning 60 this year is a fire rooster. They include famous fire Roosters Dawn French, Donny Osmond, Martin Luther King III, Stephen Fry, Hans Zimmer, Dolph Lundgren, and Jools Holland. This year the new moon in Aquarius begins the reign of the rooster over good luck and chance. I wish all my gentle readers a healthy, prosperous, and happy year. I appreciate your presence here.
Wishing Tree For Year Of The Fire Rooster
January 18, 2017
— 1 Comment
The Chinese tradition of the spring festival celebrates the new year for two weeks around 4 February each year. In 2017 the celebrations will begin 28 January with the first official day of the rooster year falling on the 3 February. There is a custom of making a wish then throwing it up into a ” wishing tree”. The wish to carry us through the year is similar to a resolution, but also resembles a letter to Santa. We can celebrate this cool custom in our own private ways. If planning the year at the start includes a fresh start in health, wealth, career, family, and community, what will your wish be? The rooster is a confident, well dressed and chivalrous. He will not back down in a fight. He is known to, in fact, go beyond reason to get his way. The cock wakes up crowing and does not hold back criticism and domineering attitude toward others. Feathers will fly during this year, and egos will be bruised. The rooster is the most misunderstood sign of the Chinese zodiac, a heroic Don Quixote, taking on windmills of gigantic proportions. I wish that during the cock year you will learn to do less, but do it with precision and passion. Cock-a-doodle-dooooooooo
Transforming Apathy To Empathy
October 19, 2016
— 1 Comment
fall flora
There is despair in the air. Our society’s collective adrenal gland is shot from the constant stress of our current political battle. Fight or flight, a reasonable healthy reaction to scary circumstances, has been exhausted by the season’s campaigns. We are sick of the fight, and there is no place to flee from reality. The blame and shade is flying freely. Our weary spirits are drained of faith hope and charity. By charity I mean extending the benefit of the doubt to those with whom we disagree. The most charitable act to make is to listen with care. The most civilized goal to set is mutual understanding. After this election we will still be living with each other, so our current problems will not vanish in November.
To dig ourselves out of this mess we will need to:
- Set much higher standards for performance from our lawmakers
- Scrutinize the taxation policies in order to reduce and eliminate loopholes
- Focus on improving education quality, and close predator private colleges
- Base health care payments on patient success rather than per procedure
- Find real solutions for our opiate and exotic prescription drug addiction
- Stop bickering about every little thing
This is a tall order, especially when everyone is bracing for total disorder. We have our work cut out for us after we finish counting votes. Our futures depend on our ability to listen, which means we will need to be quiet for a while. We will need to be still and know. How hopeful are you, gentle reader? I am optimistically neutral. We have survived tragedy in the past. This too will pass.
Zylla Wellness Center Opens In My Neighborhood
September 23, 2016
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Zylla grand opening
party time
party time
party time
friends bearing basil
The nurse is in
I was happy to hear my favorite acupuncture practitioner decided to expand her office space near my home. Jessica Breton has treated me for serious chronic pain issues as well as tune ups for general well being for years. She decided to team up with some other diverse health and wellness professionals to offer our neighborhood a very well rounded and comprehensive set of offers from which to choose. This delights me because I am an extreme local shopper, wishing to support businesses as close to home as possible. I can bike to the center in five minutes to receive the highest quality services I know of in Tucson. The specialists who practice at Zylla offer a unique synergy of services for transforming health issues.
- Jessica is accomplished in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture and tui na. She is very attentive and hands on in her treatments.
- Justine Robbins is trained in cranio-sacral therapy and lymphatic drainage. She recently purchased a Theralase cold laser that she uses to produce miraculous results, decreasing pain and inflammation. This medical breakthrough is non-invasive, painless, and quick. I am extra pleased to have access to the magic Theralase right in my ‘hood.
- Denise Cabrera joins the team as an RN with a specialty in functional medicine. Her business, Natural Diabetes Nurse, serves patients who want to find natural alternatives to manage or prevent diabetes. This approach is much needed in the world today. I expect Denise to make a big difference with her coaching and medical practice. Folks need to be educated to improve their own wellness.
The grand opening party was a blast, with all ages and all walks of life attending. Welcome to Midtown Tucson del Norte. This is my kind of upgrade to the area.
Patience vs Violence
December 4, 2015
— 3 Comments
Doc, Me, Wyatt
I recently gave thought to the question “What is the opposite of gratitude?” I decided it is entitlement. This exercise works well for all kinds of grand concepts and world events. Our violent world is punctuated with opinions and some bravery, but the violence itself looks more powerful all the time. I am a believer in Chinese medicine and the power of understanding opposite forces. I go to acupuncture every week for my health to balance the chi in my body. There are macro and microcosms of chi as well, like the environment, social order, etc. Energy balances energy and life continuously flows. Balance depends on constant movement and exchange, like inhale and exhale.
With the bigger picture in mind I wonder what is the opposite energy to contradict and balance violence. I don’t own weapons or use them. My life is easy, comfortable, and fun. I don’t think about encountering violence even though there is plenty of it right in my neighborhood as well as across the globe. I agree with the sentiment of the Parisians who believe that fear to go out and live it up is what terrorists want to see in their victims. Caving in to fear may be the worst reaction, but what is the best one? I live in Tucson where we were shaken by mass shooting early in the game. Our city is plenty violent all the time with the full time smuggling at work here. Most people go about our business without any thought of the crime and violence we know happens. I have started to wonder if this is unrealistic or healthy.
As long as I stay aware of the shadow of violence I think it is healthy to be happy and free of fear. The only thing that has worked in my life as a cure for big and little violence is patience. Patience must be the opposite of violence. Patience develops into empathy if practiced for a long enough time. When you restrain your emotions long enough to see the bigger overview you always find ignorance was the cause of all problems. Ignorance continues to cause trouble, but if I sincerely practice patience I can stop myself from adding my own portion of violence to the boiling pot of trouble. What do you think, gentle reader? Have you found any new truths by observing all the horror lately?
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