Winter chills...Hot tea! ...or Powerful Herbal Teas

January's colder temperature is always favorable in creating nature's most spectacular ice sculptures...

Photo Julie SAUVÉ 2011

As winter sets in its very cold temperatures, it’s time to find ways to counter those chills without burdening our organic systems.  Not to replace comfort food for something else, however just adding tea and herbal teas as a new daily hot beverage is simple and should prove successful.

Tea is considered by most Eastern cultures a powerful drink for its numerous and various inner properties and medicinal vertues.


I say, it's definitely a hot item!!

Teas and herbal teas are complex drinks.  Not only is it used in sacred ceremony in Tibet, India and China, it is also used in most ancient and present Eastern cultures for medicinal purposes.  Tea has long been deeply set into, and apart of, Japanese traditions...In Japan, teais so important, it even has its own elaborate ceremony.

Powerful Sencha Green Tea served in these traditional Japanese cups I received as a gift a long time ago...they were even brought back, with a story of course, from Japan!  Stories, as much as tea itself, fill the cup and infuses the tea with memories and certainly a little magic!

Photo Julie SAUVÉ 2011

In a daily routine, tea can certainly be a ritual and fill a need for personal care and attention, but it certainly does not have to be complicated.  Any gesture or action we do in life can be fueled with a variety of personal intentions and mindfulness, and when that happens, it then becomes a powerful ritual.  

Like watering flowers can become a prayer through conscious gestures and delicate thoughts, cooking can be a creative meditation.  Likewise, tea prepared with mindfulness and great presence will transform the tea into a powerful beverage, a potion...

I find it always makes a difference when you have special tea cups or glasses.  A while back a good friend of mine went back into her country of Marrocco to visit family and friends.  Knowing I loved and had been looking for original Marroccan tea glasses, she brought back for me two set of different colored Marroccan glasses.  Ever since, I use them everyday for tea, and it does contribute to my experience of preparing tea for myself or for others, and also enjoying the tea it self.  

Mmmmm...Hot Herbal Teas seem to taste better in these wonderful sparkling  Maroccan tea glasses...;)

Photo Julie SAUVÉ 2011

So, go ahead, take out your vintage family china and use it to create a wonderful personal experience!

Enjoy!

FENNEL INFUSION

Fennel seeds are very powerful.  They have been used for thousands of years in various cultures for various purposes.  The mixtures and infusions from dry fennel seeds eliminate stomachaches and stimulate digestion.  The fennel mixture is used to sharpen the eyesight and alleviate eye irritations.  Fennel seeds and roots unclog the liver, spleen, billiary bladder and eliminate cramps.  Also, the tea from fennel leaves and seeds is beneficial for removing intestinal worms and bacteria.

Here’s looking at you...Fennel Seed!

There is two methods you can use to make fennel infusion.  

1. Boil loosely 1 heaping tablespoon of fennel seeds in about 1 liter of purified water for 10 minutes.  Avoid direct contact of the fennel seeds with metal that is why we let them boil loosely.  Drain the tea through any device or just pour the tea into a jug or teapot.  The seeds usually end up at the botom and so will unlikely get into your cup or tea glass.

1. Place 1 heaping tablespoon of fennel seeds into a teapot and pour boiling water over.  Let steep for 10 minutes.  The feenel seeds will end up at the bottom of the teapot, so just pour straight into your cup or tea glass.

Keep this infusion with fennel alone as the usage of tea would counteract with tits appeasing effect on the digestive system.

Folkloric Stories...and Ancient beliefs

Here are some interesting folkloric stories about how fennel was used during the Middle Ages, and all the way back into Ancient times.

The fact that this herb was used in the ancient times is shown by the traditions presented in mythology. In Greek myths, this plant was associated with Dionysus, god of feasts and wine. It is also said that intelligence came from the gods and reached the humans through a fennel stem. 

Fennel was also considered to have magical characteristics. In the Middle Ages during the summer solstice this herb was placed by the door in order to fend off the evil spirits. What is more, the plant seeds were used to block the keyhole to keep the ghosts from entering the homes.  

It is believed from folklore that this herb has mysterious vitalistic characters. It was believed that snakes would digest fennel to shed their skin and to sharpen their vision. Likewise, it was believed that this herb has a rejuvenating effect on man and helps the eye sight.

MINT INFUSION or MINT TEA

Mint’s active compounds make it a useful sedative, disinfectant and cicatrizing agent.

To make your Mint Tea, boil 200ml of water for 1 tablespoon of mint leaves.  You can drink it hot or cold throughout your day.  You can also infuse it with your favorite Tea, preferably a green or a white tea to allow the flavor come through.  If you use mint as a sedative, avoid mixing it with teas.

Numerous benefits

Because of its menthol, mint has a very good action over the digestive system, causing a small anesthesia of the gastric mucous membrane. It also stimulates digestion.

It is also recommended in cases of asthma, bronchitis and the flu because of its antispasmodic and sedative properties. Sinusitis can well be treated with mint also through inhalation or chest massages.

CORIANDER INFUSION

Dried yellow fruits, we generally know as coriander seeds, have a nice smell and a sweet flavor. The bitterish taste is predominant to the sweet hot astringent taste.  

Fructus Coriandri, in other words coriander fruits are used as a stimulant for the gastrointestinal secretion, sedative and carminative. They ameliorate the abdominal pains, reduce digestive spasms and distend. Coriander is also known as a bactericide, fungicide and anthelmintic. It has also a good influence over the neural system and stimulates memory.

To make your Coriander Infusion, prepare with half a spoon of fruits mixed in a cup of hot water.

Sit back and enjoy its  wonderful aroma and southing, calming effect.

Remember water is simple but combine with the simple addition from one of nature’s jewels, it can become an ever so powerful elixir.

Let’s rejoyce everyday in Mother Earth’s abundance of jewels, and let’s celebrate Her infinite power of healing, nurturing and eternal wisdom.

With much Yoga Love Life to You,

Julie

Yummy Super Avocado Drink

Let me share with you the recipe of a powerful drink I often make in the summertime and helps replenish my skin and rejuvenate my digestive system during those dry winter months.  It’s highly alkaline and nutritious, as it’s full of essential minerals, fatty acids and vitamins.

AVOCADOS

Avocados are a great source of vitamin K and folate.  It’s also rich in vitamin B6 (pirydoxine), vitamins C and E, as well as Pantothenic acid, Potassium, riboflavine,niacin and fiber.  Avocado fruit is rich in oil and fatty acids which is often used in hydrating hand and face creams.  

YOUNG COCONUT JUICE & MEAT

Young coconut juice is a powerful laxative and cleanser that also heals the bowel as it’s absorbed.  Coconut water is pure clear and is one of the highest sources of electrolytes known to man.  It's also a great blood purifier.

I always add a pinch of good sea salt, like Pink Himalayan Salt.  Salt not only brings out the taste of a dish, it also adds extra minerals and oligo-elements which are good for the body.  Himalayan Pink Salt particularly can harmonize the alkaline/acidity balance in the body and normalize blood pressure.  It can also help with skin diseases by cleaning from inside out.

Yummy Avocado Drink

1 Hass Avocado or 1/2 Bruce Avocado

Juice and Zest of a Lime

1 cup of Young Coconut Water with its meat 

Pinch of Sea Salt (Pink Himalayan Salt)

1 Tablespoon of Agave Nectar

Thaï or Sweet Basil - or Parsley or Mint 

Blend all together.  In the summer, I often blend in some ice to the mix to make it frosty and cold.  You can also add a cucumber to get that extra fresh taste.

Play with the ingredients

I often vary some ingredients depending on what I have on hand, and I also play with the quantities.  It all depends if I want it to be tart, sweet or very green.  You may use any juice you like as long as it’s mild in taste and  light in color.  Apple or litchy juice will do.  You may even use fresh water as a base or to stretch the drink when you think it’s too thick.  I also vary my sweetener - honey or maple syrup adds a wonderful taste.  Also add a handful of herbs.  I personally like thaï or sweet basil, and sometimes will use parsley or mint for a more hearty earthy taste.

This mix is a drink but it may also be used as a intense therapeutic skin treatment.  Skin is the largest organ of the body and is the one that is most efficiently absorbing.  Since all that touches your skin quickly reaches the blood stream, what you put on it should be edible.  Avocado oil is often used in skin care products and beauty treatments.

Skin Treatment Use

So, to use this recipe as a skin treatment, I suggest you cut the quantity of liquid to make it thicker and use honey as the sweetener.  Honey is a powerful antisceptic and has been used by ancient civilizations as a beauty secret and medicinal healing ingredient.  You can also add a generous quantity of extra-virgin olive oil to add extra nutrients.  Apply to any area of the body and leave at least 20 minutes for best absorption.

Yoga Love Life,

Bon Healthy Beauty Appetit!

Julie