Sunday, November 7, 2010

Tea Tutorial

Lately I’ve been finding myself digging out the sweaters, pulling on my warm boots, and bundling up in scarves. Those sunny Fall days are quickly turning cold! Perhaps a little too quickly. Our house primarily uses our wood burning stove for heat, and unfortunately we haven’t gotten our cord of wood delivered yet. I’ll admit I’m a bit stubborn, and I just can’t bring myself to turn on the heat!

Instead I’ve been seeking other ways to warm up. The kids and dogs will only cuddle with me for so long, so I have been drinking a lot of hot tea these days. Herbal teas are a great way to stay warm and healthy in colder weather. And I’ll tell you a secret; they are really easy to make yourself. You can check your local health food store for bulk dried herbs, or purchase herbs online. One great online resource for herbs is www.mountainroseherbs.com. Herbs have a multitude of healing properties, so be sure to research each one you choose to make sure it is right for you. You can create blends to ease colds, anxiety, assist sleep, aid digestion, rejuvenate you, or create ones that simply taste good. The possibilities are endless! So have fun with your research and warm up with some good tea.

I’ve shared my favorite cold season recipe with you below in a short tutorial. Hope it does the trick for your colds this season!


Cold Season Tea

Ingredients*:
-1/2 cup Nettle leaf
-1/2 cup Echinacea root
-1/4 cup Peppermint leaf
-1/4 cup Rosehips
-1/4 cup Slippery Elm Bark
-1/4 cup Mullein Leaf
-1/4 cup Rosemary Leaf
*Measurements are based on dried herbs

To Make:

1. Measure out each herb




2. Mix




3. Store in jars or airtight containers in a cool, dark place



4. Place 1-2 teaspoons in a tea ball and steep in hot water for 10 minutes. Sweeten if desired and enjoy! Yum!


Told you it was easy! :)

In Health,

Kristin Henningsen, M.S., C.H., R.Y.T,

2 comments:

Laurie Hansen said...

Kristin,

I love tea! But I also love coffee!! Last year I attempted to quit coffee cold turkey but ended up with headaches and feeling less energetic. Is there a tea that can help wean me off coffee?

Thanks Kristin!

Laurie

Unknown said...

Laurie-

Great question! There are a lot of wonderful coffee substitutes out there depending on your tastes.

Easing off the caffeine can be the hardest challenge. You can try black teas, chai (which is made with black tea), or green tea to still get a bit of the caffeine kick until you are able to wean off of it.

Once you have weaned yourself off the caffeine you can move onto herbal substitutes. Dandelion root and chicory provide you with many cleansing benefits and have that same rich, bitter (but yummy!) flavor. Peppermint has great digestive benefits and will give you the boost in the morning that so many of us need. There are many others as well, but those are just a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

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