The first (ok, technically second) snowfall of the year has arrived. Which means that for the next 6 months you can find me bundled up on the couch, wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket, sporting some over-the-knee knit socks and sippin' on a hot cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the snow... I just prefer to admire it from the comfort of my own (warm, dry and cozy) home. Enough about the snow... let's talk about the tea!
I was lucky enough to be introduced to tea at a very young age by my mother. Even though I mostly favored my father's taste in food (aka. every vegetable under the sun), I quickly acquired my mother's love for any and all types of tea. Not only did I enjoy the taste of it, but "tea time" with my mom is still a very sacred memory. I can still remember how excited I was to pick my tea and help my mom boil water in our tea kettle, which I thought was THE coolest thing. I may be 26 years old but I'm not ashamed to admit that I still love the sound of a whistling tea kettle!
Besides being nostalgic, why else do I love tea? It's no secret that tea has some amazing health benefits, ranging from helping burn fat to cardiovascular and cancer-fighting agents, but each type of tea has its own, unique flavor. I may have a mild obsession with trying new blends from local herbalists and custom blending my own, but I do have some tried and true teas that are staples in my cupboard. I'll list my top 4 below!
Matcha tea blended with natural citrus flavors, this is happiness in a cup.
This tea includes spearmint, lemongrass and plum for a light, fruity flavor.
My absolute FAVORITE! Smells like Earl Grey, black currant and vanilla aromas with a hint of caramel.
This will give you the kick you need in the morning - straight up ginger with a hint of black pepper. ZESTY!
So... hypothetically speaking, what does one do if they don't particularly 'love' the taste of tea in general, or a particular flavor your purchased?
If you just don't like tea in general, I recommend making sure you are brewing your tea for the appropriate time, at the appropriate temperature. If you let your tea steep for too long it can cause it to have a bitter taste because it will start to release tannins, and if you are brewing your tea at too high of a temperature it can burn off the good components of the tea. So you might actually like the taste of tea, and not even know it.
If this doesn't help, you have options people! One of the easiest ways to incorporate any teas you are not too keen on, is to brew a cup (as in 8 oz) and replace it as the liquid for a morning smoothie. If you don't want to replace your preferred liquid, you can simply freeze ice cubes from your brewed tea and add them in as needed. Another great smoothie add-in? Matcha powder!
If you have a tea that you just can't stand the taste of, you can always use it for beauty purposes! Add it to a DIY sugar scrub OR brew it, let it cool and use it as a hair rinse. This will leave your hair looking super healthy and shiny!
If you have a tea that you just can't stand the taste of, you can always use it for beauty purposes! Add it to a DIY sugar scrub OR brew it, let it cool and use it as a hair rinse. This will leave your hair looking super healthy and shiny!
You guys. I could literally talk about tea all day (but I won't, don't worry). If you want to learn more and have any questions or want me to direct you to more specific tea-sources (aka. tea resources), I would be more than happy to. Please let me know what some of your favorite brands/blends are and how you use tea in non-traditional ways!
Xo - Auburn
