The Benefits of Black Tea

I don't know if you noticed but most people refer to green tea when they are discussing tea and health. A customer asked me yesterday if there are ANY health benefits to black tea. You bet there are!! This is for all Assam & Ceylon lovers:

According to a study by University College of London researchers, drinking black tea lowers stress hormone levels of cortisol. "Just 50 minutes after a high stress event, tea drinkers, who had been drinking 4 cups of black tea daily for a month, had a 20% greater drop in cortisol than the placebo group. Blood platelet activation, which is linked to blood clotting and the risk of heart attacks was also lower for tea drinkers." (“Black tea soothes away stress,” Science Daily, October 4, 2006.)
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago stated that the polyphenols in black tea help inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath.
Mild burns such as sunburn can be treated with cold black tea. Soak a dishtowel in cold black tea and place the cold compress on the burn says Marie Savard, MD of the University of Pennsylvania. The phytonutrients will reduce the inflamed blood vessels. (Health News You Can Use At Home; Rodale 2008)
Black tea consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

Double Header This Sunday at The Hill Tea Bar!

Stop by this Sunday (1/25/09) for an entertaining afternoon!

Sunday, January 25th: 11am to 12noon/ Hypnosis with Sharon Muir
Expansive Trance at the Hill Tea Bar
Want to make sure you manifest your New Years Resolutions?
Hypnosis helps give you the edge you need to follow through.
Spend some time with Sharon Muir Certified Hypnotist!
Learn some practical Hypnosis you can use for yourself.

Sunday, January 25th; 12noon to 2pm/ Live Music with Michael Mabry
Folksinger Michael Mabry performs an eclectic mix of traditional and original story songs, drawing on American, British and Celtic roots. An accomplished singer, songwriter and guitarist, Michael has been entertaining audiences in and around Philadelphia for 15 years.

Lose Weight in 2009- With Oolong!

Well- it is resolution time again. I noticed all of the "resolution" people in the gym the first week in January (yes...I was among them). Some exciting study results have been published about the weight loss benefits of oolong tea that may make achieving your weight loss goal a bit easier in 2009.
A high profile Japanese study was conducted in 2006, and researchers concluded that oolong tea was able to reduce the absorption of fats eaten during a meal. They found that fat lipids were passed through the body at a higher rate than participants who did not drink the tea after their meals. The tea also had a positive effect on the participant's cholesterol levels. Another study, conducted in China in 1998 studied 102 women, and the effects of oolong consumption, over a six week period. The study revealed that consumption of oolong tea, for the six weeks period, resulted in a reduction of body weight. In 2001 the US Agriculture Research Services' Diet and Human Laboratory conducted a study regarding oolong tea and found that fat oxidation was increased by 12% after consuming oolong tea.

Why not try some oolong and boost your 2009 resolution!

Tea is Trendy Again!

Health Magazine has a recent tea article (Tea is Trendy Again) that I wanted to share with you. It is an interesting read...even though we all know that tea has always been trendy!
http://eating.health.com/2008/09/18/trendy-tea-caught-on-camera/

Puffy Eyes? Try This!

I looked in the mirror last week and realized that I looked like I had a down pillow under each of my eyes. Too little sleep was starting to take its toll and I needed help. I searched my handy Herbal Cures book and found that chamomile would reduce swelling if applied topically. I made 1 cup of chamomile tisane (1 tsp steeped in boiling water for 7 minutes) and chilled it in the refrigerator. I soaked two cotton balls in the cold tisane and let them rest on my closed eyelids for about 15 minutes (I did this laying down of course!!). The next morning my eyes appeared a bit better but it was not the big difference I hoped for. A friend told me to try Preparation H but I was determined to find a natural solution. I took the cold tisane and poured it into an icecube tray and put it in the freezer. Once I had chamomile icecubes I took out two and wrapped each in a clean washcloth. Again, laying down, I rested a wash cloth on each eye for about 20 minutes. The next morning the puffiness was significantly reduced! Try it out the next time you have a puffy eye issue.

Detox, Lose Weight & Relax in 2009...with tea!

We are dedicating the month of January 2009 to the health benefits of tea. We will be running a special discount of 20% off any 4 ounce purchase of loose tea for both our online and store customers. Our green tea face toner was a real hit and we will be featuring a variety of DIY beauty recipes using tea.

You probably already know that the L-theanine, caffeine and EGCG found in tea can help you burn more calories and curb your appetite but consider using tea to curb food cravings. If you are triggered by chocolate try a chocolate coconut tea or a caramel rooibos. If you crave blueberry pie try a green blueberry tea or if salty snacks are your weakness drink a smoky Lapsang Souchong. Replace dessert with a delicious guilt-free rooibos toddy:

1 rounded teaspoon of Vanilla Rooibos tisane (rooibos is not really a tea)
1 tsp of honey
1 cup of boiled water
1 tablespoon of sugar free whipped topping

Combine the tea, honey and water in a teapot or cup. Steep for 5 minutes and strain into a cup. Top with the whipped topping.

Holiday Chai Eggnog Brandy Punch

Last week during a special event we served an Eggnog Chai punch (with a bit of brandy) and have received numerous requests for the recipe. It is a twist on typical holiday punch recipes.
Here you go:

Serves 14

In a punchbowl mix together:

5 cups of strongly brewed Chai that has been chilled for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator

3 cups of cold eggnog

1 cup of good quality brandy

1/2 cup of ice (large cubes- do not use crushed ice)

Sprinkle of cinnamon & nutmeg on top

Yumm! ENJOY