Teatime Tuesday: White Tea

Teatime Tuesday: White Tea

Because caffeine tends to “disagree” with me, I stopped drinking coffee many years ago. I was eventually introduced to herbals “teas” which are actually tisanes or infusions. A couple of years ago, I discovered green and white teas which do contain caffeine but not enough to cause issues. Jasmine, a green tea, is my absolute favorite, but I also partake a white tea, a lighter, brighter flavored tea.

According to The New Tea Companion, white tea “was originally named after the tiny white or silver hairs that cover the bud {of the Camellia sinensis plant) as it develops at the top of each tea shoot.” White tea was originally only made in China from two varieties of the team plant, but with the popularity of white tea, it is now being produced in other parts of the world.

For tea aficionados, there is a difference between white teas. Some are made from only the new leaf bud

and gathered before it starts to unfurl, while other white teas are made from the new bud and one or two young open leaves. Purists will notice these white teas look significantly different from Yin Shen White Needles.

I’m still dabbling with white teas but find that almost all when brewed have a very pale, almost champagne-colored liquid. Some popular varieties in addition to Yin Shen are Bai Mudan (White Peony), Monkey Picked White Tea, and Darjeeling. The aroma is light, soft, and sweet, which author Jane Pettigrew describes as “velvety.” (I’m not sure how to interpret that!) Others have used words such as floral, grassy, honey, fruity, melon, peach, apricot, vanilla, chocolate, citrus, herby, mild, subtle, delicate and sweet. Because it is the least processed of the three teas (black, green, white), the level of antioxidants in white tea is higher than that of others.

In addition to its antioxidants, white tea is a great source of fluoride which can help protect your teeth from bacteria and sugar. Some studies have shown the compounds in white tea may protect against osteoporosis, heart disease, and insulin resistance.

What I find most beneficial is taking time to brew the tea, sitting down, and enjoying the fragrance and taste – being in the moment – which lessens my stress level. If you’ve never tried white tea, I highly recommend you give it a try!

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Dutch Dawn

Will they survive the 500-mile journey to freedom?

Isak Westgard is only six missions short to be rotated stateside. Then the unthinkable happens, and he crashes in the occupied Netherlands where the chances of him making it back to England are slim to none. The beautiful and tough-as-nails resistance courier begs to differ and claims she hasn’t lost anyone yet. The problem is the longer they’re together, the less he wants to escape.

 
Annaliese Claasen has escorted her fair share of refugees and downed Allied pilots to safety - too numerous to remember. Until now. There’s something different about the Norwegian-American lieutenant, and it’s more than his good looks. Can she get him out of the country before losing her heart?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/bMjoxV

Sources:
The New Tea Companion by Jane Pettigrew & Bruce Richardson, Benjamin Press, Kentucky, 2008
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/white-tea-benefits
https://www.teatulia.com/tea-varieties/what-is-white-tea.htm

Photo Credits:
Tea “needles:” By Iateasquirrel, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Cup of White Tea: Courtesy of SakiProducts.com
Tea Plants: Pixabay/sxh41920

Teatime Tuesday: Herbal Tea

 Teatime Tuesday: Herbal Tea

“Herbal tea” is a misnomer, as tea is only made from the Camillia Sinensis plant. The more appropriate term is tisane, which like tea should be infused with freshly boiled water. Infusion is a fancy term for the process of steeping (soaking) herbs until the water absorbs the oils and flavors. With a few exceptions most herbs are caffeine-free which is why some individuals prefer them over coffee or tea. Others drink herbal tisanes for their medicinal and healthful properties. Since ancient times infusions have been recognized as an excellent source of antioxidants.

The length of times the herbs should steep depends on the part of the plant being used:

• Roots and bark: 8 hours
• Leaves: 4 hours
• Flowers: 2 hours
• Seeds and fresh berries: 30 minutes or more

Once the required timeframe has elapsed, strain the liquid, wash the container, then pour the infusion

back into the container and store in the fridge for no more than 48 hours.

According to Tea and Herbal Infusion Europe (THIE), as many as 500 plants and 400 parts of plants are used for making herbal and fruit infusions. Some of the more popular contain:

• Cardamom: Great for helping with tummy aches and indigestion
• Ginger: Also great for indigestion, but also has excellent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties
• Lemon Balm, Valerian, and Chamomile: All effective for combatting insomnia and helping you get a good night’s rest.
• Echinacea: Thought to help with colds

Things to remember:

Herbs can be harmful if you ingest too much. Do your research to ensure you don’t combine the wrong herbs. Follow recipes from trusted sources and pay attention to any warnings given. Consult your doctor or herbalist before drinking infusions.

What are your favorite flavors?

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Shetland Sunset:

Bonded by a cause but an ocean apart, will their love survive a world war?

After months in Norway helping his cousins with their fishing business, American Askel Westgard seems trapped when the Germans invade until he has a chance to get back at the Occupiers as part of the Shetlandsgjengen, or Shetland gang, a group of fishermen who transport weapons and equipment from Shetland to Norway under cover of darkness. Unfortunately, the beautiful Norwegian woman he’s just met refuses to join him in safety. Will he ever see her again?

Distraught when the Germans overrun her beloved Norway, Tonje Bondevik refuses to take the occupation sitting down. She joins the fledgling resistance movement, deriving great satisfaction distributing the underground newspaper and performing acts of sabotage…until the day the Nazis come looking for her, and she must flee for her life. Perhaps she should have listened to the handsome Norwegian American when he offered to take her to Shetland.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4AWqJk

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbal_tea
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10144634/
https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-make-an-herbal-infusion-1762142
https://www.tea.co.uk/about-infusions

Photo Credits:

Peppermint: Pixabay/Conger Design

Sage: Pixabay/Conger Design

Teacup: Pixabay/Olga Kachor