As someone with a strong Chinese heritage, I grew up looking at food as medicine. The harmony of tea, science, and health is such an amazing thing! I’m very passionate about teaching others the culture and health benefits that come with incorporating tea into their everyday lives.
Now, as we celebrate Heart Healthy Month, here is everything you need to know in order to get the maximum benefits out of drinking tea.
First, You Need To Learn How To Brew Tea Like A Pro
When it comes to steeping or brewing tea, a lot of people are off-put by a heavily concentrated blend. The strong aroma of it can cause headaches or stomach aches if not consumed properly.
However, the most effective and medicinal way to consume tea is to create a heavily concentrated blend that is steeped with a lid over the top.
This method allows for a greater extraction of flavor, nutrients, and essential oils when the loose tea leaves unravel in the water.
Tip: Make sure you’re pouring the hot water over the loose leaf tea and into the cup. That way you will get every flavor and nutrient within the blend.
And don’t forget! Tea is meant to be steeped 3-4 times. The more you steep it, the stronger the flavor will become.
Now That You've Steeped It, It's Time To Taste Your Tea Properly
A lot of factors go into the experience of drinking tea. Follow these 4 simple steps to get the most out of this unique sipping experience.
Step 1: Observe the environment that you’re in
There are a lot of environmental factors that can affect how your tea tastes. For instance, if you’re in a coffee house, your tea might reflect some notes of coffee beans from the strong aroma around you. If you are outside in the cold, the temperature of the air can change how strongly the flavors present themselves to you.
Drinking the same cup of tea can taste differently in different environments.
Step 2: Slurp your tea loudly
Sounds weird, right?? Slurping your tea allows for its contents to get across all of your tastebuds. Not to mention, it helps to cool off the loose leaf blend when it’s hot.
Step 3: Take a spoonful of the tea and move it around in your mouth
This is so that you can get the full experience of your tea. Oftentimes, it’ll allow you to pick up on hidden flavors that leave you wanting more.
Since It's Heart Healthy Month, Let's Talk About The Different Teas That Are Beneficial To Your Heart
Black Tea
Black tea contains antioxidants that promote overall health. It’s also known to reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol. After a 12-week study on participants who drank black tea every day, the results shown:
- Decreased triglyceride levels by 36%
- Reduced blood sugar levels by 18%
- Reduced LDL and HDL plasma ratios by 17%
Dragon Well Green Tea
As one of the Top 10 most popular teas in China, Dragon Well Green Tea has been known to promote lung health and prevent respiratory illnesses. It also contains cardiovascular and skin-healing nutrients that heal and nourish the body.
White Tea
White tea contains various health benefits, ranging from anti-aging effects to hair growth and hydration. White tea is also commonly known to aid in diabetes prevention and weight loss.
If you’re looking to learn more about tea culture, wellness, and art; we are hosting an immersive tea wellness retreat at the end of March 2023!
Click here to learn more about the 2023 Tea Wellness Retreat.
