They say you should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day – but I’m not that fond of just plain water. I’m trying to loose weight as Aleesha’s wedding is fast approaching and it would be nice to be a little slimmer for the big event. So, I’ve been drinking a lot of tea. There are so many different kinds of tea I was wondering how many of these teas are good for you. I did a little research and this is what I found.
Research indicates that naturally occurring flavonoids found in tea have very effective antioxidant properties. Tea is the world's most popular prepared drink. Chinese Emperor Shen Nung discovered it in 2737 B.C., when a tealeaf accidentally fell into the bowl of hot water he was drinking. The first tea shipment to arrive in Canada was imported by the Hudson Bay Company in 1716 and took more than a year to arrive - Canadians have been tea lovers ever since. I never really thought about where the tea I was drinking came from – just like a lot of the items we purchase at the local store – you never think about how long it has traveled to reach us, well, most of the worlds tea is grown in the hills of Sri Lanka and India to the mountains of Kenya. Tea is grown in some of the world’s most exotic places. Over the past 15 years, research has found that drinking black, green or oolong tea may offer some protection from cardiovascular disease and cancer, lead to reduce risk of kidney stones, and strengthen bones, teeth and the immune system. So, instead of reaching for a soda or a coffee, maybe think about having a nice cup of tea. I’ve included a couple of tea recipes for you to try – might be your next favourite drink.
Berry-Mint Iced Tea
2 or 3 orange pekoe or mint tea bags 8 cups (2 L) boiling water 6 cups (1.5 L) cranberry-raspberry juice or a mix of cranberry and pomegranate juice 2 cups (500 mL) fruit, such as a mix of berries Ice cubes Steep tea bags in boiling water for 3 min. Remove bags. Refrigerate tea, at least until cold. Stir in juice and fruit before serving. Pour into a pitcher and add ice.
Tea Smoothie
1 cup (250 mL) cold strong English Breakfast or other black tea 1 cup (250 mL) frozen blueberries, raspberries or strawberries 1/2 cup (125 mL) cranberry, apple or other clear juice 1/4 cup (50 mL) plain yogurt or silken tofu (optional) 1 tbsp (15 mL) liquid honey (optional) In blender or food processor combine tea, blueberries, cranberry juice, yogurt and honey, if using. Blend on high speed until smooth.
Author: Kathryn Hartwell