Much of the available tea out there is dried and peppered with preservatives. Much of the time, the drying process is what draws out the caffeine. While energy is a good thing, there are more gentle, long lasting ways of pepping up your body than this caffeinated shock-therapy.
It's called fresh leaf tea! Ohmygoshsogoooood. Mmm. It goes to show that the complicated ways of doing things aren't always the most beneficial. God handed us the goods, and we just get to boil them? SO easy.
Here are a couple I like, and the reasons I like them.
1. Mint: This one tops my list. Unlike its dried and slightly bitter counterpart, fresh peppermint leaf tea has a slightly sweet flavor naturally. I usually add honey, but you really don't need to. It's as simple as getting some mint leaves (easy to grow in a small kitchen garden or to buy at the average grocer), throwing them in a pot, and boiling them until the water turns a pretty green. My grandmother used to do this when I was growing up, and it was delicious. Not only good to the taste, mint tea will knock out menstrual cramps like nobody's business! It is also a great cure for gastrointestinal issues and inflammation.
For a wintry treat, melt 1/4 Lindt 70% Cacao chocolate bar into 1 1/2 cups milk. Add 2 peppermint leaves, and simmer. Add a bit of raw sugar to taste. Natural, delicious mint hot chocolate!
2. Ginger:
I grew up despising ginger. In large quantities, it has the kind of flavor that slaps you in the face. I did not appreciate being slapped by a root, so I wrote it off.
I am, however, returning. Ginger actually makes a nice tea! Add only a few peeled slices to your boiling saucepan to keep the taste at bay. Or if you like it, add as much as you wish. It plays nicely with others, so you can also include a cinnamon stick with some lemon, orange, or peach nectar.
Ginger is excellent for inflamed joints, bloating, nausea, menstrual cramps, or even the common cold.
So there you have it! As it gets chilly, enjoy these simple teas that give powerful results.
