Oh Sweet Tea

There is more to sweet tea than sugar and ice

There is more to herbs than smoke and spice

I want to share my love and appreciation for tea because I realize that everyone did not grow up with this exposure to holistic teas and alternative healing. I may not be the stereo type poster for natural healing, but I know my teas.

I was raised on holistic healing. My mother was the first college graduate in my family and back in the 70's there was a high interest and influence in natural healing. My grandfather grew his own fruit and vegetables in his personal home garden and built a large adjoining, functioning greenhouse. I didn't know why grandad mixed old fruit in the kitchen, from the extensive vines growing along the side of the house, until I heard him talk about his White Lightening. It was common in my family to find other methods by using what nature naturally blessed us with. As much as I adore this about my family, I understand the paths of others was not the same. I want to help with that.

Currently we are all still in a global pandemic which has stirred so much fear and helplessness amongst us. Herbal remedies provide homemade diy solutions. Herbs are grown from our earth used as spices and vitamins and minerals to assist our daily bodily functioning. We take Vitamin D, VitaminC and Multiple Vitamins, in our daily routines for maintaining optimal health. We use herbs for seasoning our food. Some of those same herbs have healthy benefits that contribute to our functioning.

Most of us drink coffee and hot chocolate for energy and warmth. Tis the season for cold weather blues and the cold air weakens our bodies and contracts our muscles, signifying our immune systems to go in to hyper drive and battle any intruding germs. Against all ailments our best chance to maintain optimal functioning is to consistently develop routines that strengthen our immune system. That is where the natural health provided by herbs can become your secret weapon, just like using Mom's secret ingredients in your cooking and your great grandmother's flu remedies.

If herbal fruity teas is new to you, I hope to provide a guide before you get lost in the tea aisle and overwhelmed by all the hundreds of options.

The first tea that I want to present is 'Echinacea Plus' by Tradiitonal Medicinals. Echinacea Plus consist of pure echinacea root with lemongrass and spearmint herbs. Echinacea is known for healing respiratory ailments, reducing inflammation, preventing bacterial and viral infections and naturally boosting your immune system. I'm not saying it is a cure or a heal all, but its natural so why not strengthen your immune system.

This tea, Echinacea Plus is pretty smooth unlike Green Tea which is very bitter- there's only a few green teas that don't have the bitter aftertaste (I will post about that later).

Sweeten however you like. If you are used to sodas, alcohol, coffee, MC D's sweet tea and kool aids you may have a sweeter tooth. A lot of people will admonish too much sugar or honey but the hardest thing is to start a new routine that completely alters your habits.

Echinacea is great with sugar, agave, honey, Truvia, Splenda. Chai tea, black tea are better with sugar and cream, a lot like coffee.

In this photo I also have Elderberry Syrup. Elderberries, a lot like Echinacea; enhance the immune system, provide respiratory relief, antibacterial, antiviral properties, and antioxidant allergy relief. However elderberry is also noted for reducing blood pressure improving heart health, lowering blood sugar, encouraging diuretic properties to combat constipation and manage diabetes. Often elderberries are boiled in hot water and strained once they have completely produced the dark berry color in the water. Finding elderberries can be difficult but there are elderberry teas with dried elderberries in the tea bag.

I also have oranges. Oranges are high in Vitamin C, preventing colds, flus and fighting off bacteria.

I boiled 16 ounces of water to fill my glass, and I used two tea bags of Echinacea. I poured the hot water on top of the tea bags to increase the speed of herbal infusion from the tea bad. I let it sit and steep covered or uncovered for about 5 minutes The hotter the water- the more immediate the disbursement of herbal infusion from the tea bags. I also prefer to stir in my sugar and/or honey while hot so that it dissolves immediately.

You can add ice to cool it quickly or wait until it cools and add a ton of ice to have more of an 'iced tea'. To add flavor I dripped elderberry syrup over my oranges, dropped in my orange slice and squeezed one on the side. Thats it, here is a simple snack with simple benefits.

At least you know as you drink this and eat this that you are directly strengthening your immune system. Our current health crisis is scary, so it doesn't hurt to do something that will benefit and comfort your soul at the same time.