Riddle Me This…
Health experts call it the “world’s healthiest beverage” and “the beverage of centenarians.” It’s a potent source of antioxidants and contains zero calories. You can drink it all day and night without getting drunk. Can you guess what it is?
Yep – TEA! If you’re “into” tea, chances are you know a thing or two about the different types. Instead of boring you with the usual blurbs, we wanted to share some information most folks don’t know about tea. Read on to learn more about powerful herbs in our favorite teas, steeping times (we bet you’ll be surprised!) and caffeine content.
Plus… Did you know we had a Par-Tea complete with tea sandwiches and chocolate tasting? (photos at the bottom) I know, I know. We’re adorable. If you missed it, we’re also bringing you the tea menu we featured. So go brew your favorite cup, then come back and read what we’ve put together for you. Get ready to be transformed into a smart-tea! (couldn’t help it)
What’s So Great About Tea?
Before we go any further – let’s start with antioxidants. Getting more antioxidants into our diets is a hot topic in nutrition these days”¦ and for good reason – antioxidants are what help prevent and repair damage to our other cells from pesky free radicals. Damage that otherwise accelerates degenerative disease and aging. No thanks. Did you know some teas have a higher ORAC score than most fruits and veggies? Sign us up!
Luckily for us, it’s a snap to get a good dose in your regular diet – provided you know where to look. Drinking your daily cup(s) of tea, and getting plenty of fruits and veggies is, of course, the cornerstone in any antioxidant, cancer-fighting, longevity diet. And when we’re in a rush (so pretty much every day) PaleoGreens, PaleoReds and C+BioFizz helps plug any holes in our diets.
“But doesn’t tea also have caffeine?”
Caffeine is naturally occurring in tea, though is much lower than coffee (did you know that coffee is the biggest source of antioxidants in the American diet? That’s just sad.)
To give you a sense of how much caffeine your favorite cuppa tea is packing under the hood, check out this chart:
Did you know? The smaller the leaf, the higher caffeine – a tea bag full of cut leaves will release more caffeine per cup than full leaf tea.
All-Star Herbs in Our Go-To Teas
Valerian Root
Found in our favorite sleepy tea, (as well as a more heavy duty sleep aid we can identify for you), this herb gives a gentle push toward zzz’s without a sleep hangover. Plus it doesn’t interfere with REM sleep so you’ll wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed, not groggy and covered in drool. It’s often used in conjunction with other herbs.
Passionflower
Renowned as powerful herb that can provide anti-anxiety, GI-helper and sleep-aid benefits. It’s also used as a flavoring in foods and beverages. Like Valerian, it’s often used in conjunction with other calming herbs. Fun fact: this herb got its name from the Spanish explorers who “discovered” it in Peru in the 16th century who thought it symbolized Christ’s passion and approval for their mission.
Milk thistle
This rockstar liver-lover is one of our everyday staples around these parts. The active ingredient in milk thistle is called silymarin, which is both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
Dandelion
Liver AND digestive support? You had me at hello. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and, as if things couldn’t get any better – the name means “lions tooth.” I mean, come on! That’s pretty cute. If you’re not into dandelion tea, you can also eat this powerhouse plant as salad greens or in a sautee.
Steeping Times
Our Par-Tea on May 17
Want some inspiration for healthier tea party treats? Here’s what was on our menu:
- Raw veggie rounds (tomato, cucumber) with piped hummus and fresh herbs
- Homemade almond meal cookies
- Dark chocolate nibbles
- Walnut & date bites
- And of course, lots of tea! We served iced and hot.
What are your favorites for a tea party? Share your ideas in the comments!
Tomato rounds with piped hummus:
Walnut & date bites:
The table spread:
