Tulsi (Holy Basil)

To answer this week’s most popular question …


What is Tulsi?

Known as "The Queen of Herbs", tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) or holy basil is the most sacred herb of India. Although called holy basil it is a different plant from the pesto variety of Basil (Ocimum basilicum). For over five thousand years, tulsi has been revered in India as a healing balm for body, mind and spirit, and is known to bestow an amazing number of health benefits. Today, available at SensibiliTeas, it is known as a stress-relieving, energizing and delicious tea.

What are the health benefits of tulsi?
Tulsi, rich in antioxidant and renowned for its restorative powers, has several benefits:

• Relieves stress
• Boosts immune system
• Enhances stamina
• Provides support during cold season
• Promotes healthy metabolism
• Lowers cholesterol
• Eliminates toxins
• Protects against radiation
• Relieves inflammation
• Prevents gastric ulcer
• Reduces fever
• Improves digestion
• High in antioxidants
• Improves viscosity of blood
• Regulates blood pressure
• Normalizes blood sugar

How soon can you expect to see results from drinking Tulsi?
Some of tulsi effects are quite immediate, while others develop gradually after weeks of regular use. You may feel more relaxed and energized after the first cup. With regular use, you may simply notice that you do not seem to be bothered by stress or common illnesses, such as colds or flu, as often or as much as before, or you may generally notice that you tire less easily. As with many other herbal supplements, it usually takes at least a week or so of consistent use for the body to experience major benefits. For best results, we recommend drinking 3 cups a day (or two mugs) if possible.

As well as carrying plain Tulsi, I also carry a tulsi blend, Shanti, that contains orange peel, fennel and spearmint. I’m also working on a Tulsi Chai blend, and a sensuous, relaxing blend that is yet to be named containing rose petals, chamomile, lemon myrtle.

If you have any further questions about tulsi, please feel free to ask!

Want to try Tulsi? How about a sale through Saturday, February 14th? 20% off all purchases of Tulsi or Shanti to blog readers. For online orders, use the code ``blog020809'' in the special comments field of the online order form. For in-shop sales, remind me of the blog sale for Tulsi.

Tea May Decrease Breast Cancer Risk

It was reported earlier this week that a study led by a researcher at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL has indicated that drinking tea may help women under 50 stave off breast cancer.

Published in the January issue of the medical journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, the study looked at potential links between regular tea consumption and the risk of breast cancer.

The Moffitt Cancer Center's Nagi B. Kumar headed a team – which also included researchers from Dartmouth Medical School (Lebanon, N.H.), the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle) and the University of Wisconsin (Madison) – that surveyed more than 9,500 women ages 20 to 74, some with cancer and others without. The team conducted phone interviews, asking the women questions about tea consumption and other breast cancer risk factors.

According to an abstract, the results indicated that "tea consumption was not related to breast cancer risk overall." However, when looking at results only for participants 50 years of age or younger, "those consuming three or more cups per day had a 37 percent reduced breast cancer risk when compared with women reporting no tea consumption." While conceding that further work is needed to confirm their conclusion, the team stated: "We observed evidence to support a potential beneficial influence for breast cancer associated with moderate levels of tea consumption (three or more cups per day) among younger women."

The study did not indicate the type of tea most commonly consumed among the test group, however it is our believe at SensibiliTeas that the tea consumed was authentic tea (black, green, white, yellow, oolong, puerh) and not rooibos or any herbal teas.

Drink your tea and eat it too!

When I was a kid, I loved most vegetables, but not all of them. I happily ate corn, green beans, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, parsnips – more vegetables than most kids I think – but I hated peas and carrots. American Kitchens put out some frozen French fries that contained the vegetables I hated. They were called ``I Hate Peas”’ and ``I Hate Carrots’’. They weren’t on the market for long as I believe most kids saw through the trick. I must have been a little slower on the uptake, or perhaps a little more trusting. But I loved them!

So I thought … I don’t like green tea much, but I do eat oatmeal. So what if I made the oatmeal with green tea instead of plain old water. Hmmm… get the health benefits of the tea while I’m eating my breakfast? Sign me up! So I tried a recipe provided to me by a friend and it was fabulous! Now it’s my favorite breakfast! Here’s the recipe in case you’d like to try it. (She said I could share it!)


1 cup brewed green tea
1/2 cup quick oats
1 TBSP or so diced apricots
1 TBSP or so of dried berries (cranberries, craisins, cherries [my favorite], or a mix)
1 TBSP of toasted almonds
1 tsp almond extract (vanilla extract is nice too)
honey

Make the tea. Remove the tea leaves from the brew. Reheat the tea to boiling. Add the oatmeal. Let it sit for a few minutes. This is when you can dice your apricots, and maybe cut the berries into smaller pieces if you wish. Add the toasted almonds to the fruit mixture.

Mix the almond extract into the oatmeal. Top with the fruit & nut mixture. Drizzle with honey.

Want to make it vegan? Omit the honey. If you want it sweetened use agave nectar or brew the tea with stevia leaves. Or sugar … there’s really nothing wrong with sugar used in moderation!

Don’t have toasted almonds? Plain slivered almonds are fine too. But almonds are easy to toast and they are so much tastier when they are toastier. One pound of slivered almonds equals about 4 cups, so toast a whole bunch one day and have them on hand. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. spread nuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden OR stir in a heavy ungreased skillet over medium heat until brown.

Now, though I haven’t tried it I would bet this recipe would work just as well with rooibos or honeybush or just about any tea you like. Think of the variations! Maybe oatmeal made with chai, or a fruit tea. Maybe you could get the kids to eat oatmeal! Gotta get your omega-3 fatty acids? Try adding some flax seed or walnuts. Ooooo … Banana Green tea with bananas and walnuts and a little dab of cinnamon. The ideas just keep coming! Why does breakfast come only once a day!

Today’s Birthdays

Albert Schweitzer – Born on January 14, 1875 Schweitzer, a philosopher, theologian, missionary and musicologist, was one of the most remarkable people of the 20th century. His life and work were governed by a great humanitarianism and a reverence for the natural word. In 1952, he was award the Nobel Peace Prize, and used his $33,000 award money to open a leprosarium (home for those with leprosy) in Lambaréné in Gabon. From the early 1950s until his death in 1965 he spoke tirelessly of his opposition to nuclear tests and nuclear weapons. And yes … he was a tea drinker.

LL Cool J – Hip hop artist LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith on January 14, 1968 in Bay Shore, NY and raised in St. Albans, Queens NY. He adopted the stage name which stands for Ladies Love Cool James. LL Cool J's Platinum Workout: Sculpt Your Best Body Ever with Hollywood's Fittest Star, he states: “Drink 2 cups of green tea every day. It gently boosts your metabolism and is loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants. The most potent among them has demonstrated 100 times the antioxidant power of Vitamin C and 25 times the power of Vitamin E.” While his music is not my cup of tea, and tea hasn’t done much for his humility, you have to admit the man is in pretty ripped shape for 41 years old.

Celebritea quote of the day:
Never say there is nothing
beautiful in the world anymore.
There is always something
to make you wonder in the shape of a tree,
the trembling of a leaf.
Albert Schweitzer (01/14/1875-09/04/1965)

A relaxing cup of tea

Studies conducted by University College London researchers have proven that drinking 4 daily cups of black tea can help you recover more quickly from the stresses of everyday life. This scientific evidence showed that black tea has an effect on stress hormone levels in the body. The study found that people who drank tea were able to destress more quickly than those who drank a fake tea substitute. The study also showed that participants were found to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood after a stressful event, compared with a control group who drank the fake or placebo tea for the same period of time. Similar results are not produced with a similar intake of green tea, oolong tea or white tea.
(Black tea is what some folks would call``normal'' tea. It's the with which tea nearly everyone in America is familiar and includes varieties like Assam and Ceylon)

Conditions of excessive cortisol production cause high blood pressure, thinning of the skin, storage of fat in the abdomen, defective immune function, and mood disorders such as depression.

Black teas and flavored black teas will be available at 10% their regular price from now until Saturday, January 17, 2009. Mention you saw the sale mentioned in this post at time of purchase, or enter the code blog010909 in the special comments section of the online order form.

CelebriTea quote

You don't get to choose how you're going to die.
Or when.
You can decide how you're going to live now.
– Joan Baez (01/09/1941-present)
(A celebriTea is a tea-drinking celebrity)

Yerba Mate

Yerba mate (pronounced herba maatay) is an shrub or tree native to the subtropical regions of South America, primarily Argentina, eastern Paraguay, western Uruguay and southern Brazil. A member of the holly family, it grows to be about 40 feet tall. Yerba Mate is NOT A TEA. It is an herbal tisane, which is prepared and enjoyed as tea is, but it comes from a plant that is not a TEA plant (camellia sinensis) Yerba means herb and mate means gourd. In South America, mate is typically drunk from a gourd called a cuia through a long silver straw called a bombilla (both available at SensibiliTeas, though not yet on the website). Drinking it from a cup is perfectly acceptable, though.

Recently there has been a flurry of excitement about yerba mate being an effective aid for losing weight. Mate raises metabolism, regulates appetite and aids digestion. It is also thermogenic, meaning it induces the body to burn calories. Mate is a good source of antioxidants and provides the B vitamins, minerals and amino acids needed for long-lasting metabolism stimulation. I personally have not used yerba mate for weight loss purposes, as I am satisfied with the abilities of oolong and Pu Erh, but I do find it to be a pleasantly uplifting cuppa in the afternoon. I especially enjoy the Citrus Mate, which I have come to refer to as ``sunshine in a cup.’’
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Quote du jour:

"We must use time wisely and
forever realize that the
time is always ripe to do right."

Nelson Mendela (07/18/18-present)

Green tea and weight loss

Green tea can be a great part of a healthy weight management diet. It is calorie-free, fat-free and carbohydrate-free with no added sugar and no artificial sweeteners. Like oolong, pu-erh and yerba mate, it boosts your metabolism. Green tea is the perfect complement to meals of fresh fruits and vegetables, which should be a large part of any weight loss regime.

Green tea more popularly used for weight loss, because green tea is what has been marketed as the right tea for weight loss. More of the tea harvest is allocated for green tea production. Green tea is less expensive than oolong and therefore more profitable for a big company to use green tea for the ready-to-drink market. Once it hits the ready-to-drink market, it’s the cure-all. Personally, I think the effects of green tea weight loss combined with its superb health benefits (that will be discussed at another time) make it a good adjunct to any weight loss program. However, I have personally seen better results with oolong and Pu Erh. Drinking five cups of green tea a day will burn between 70-80 calories daily.

Oolong

Oolong tea is a variety of tea that falls somewhere between a black tea and a green tea. Anyone who has enjoyed tea at a Chinese restaurant has likely had oolong tea. It’s a natural choice for Chinese restaurants as it is the perfect complement to most meals and is reputed to cut through the grease of a meal. It is commonly called Wulong. Some Chinese translations of Wulong equate to ``black dragon’’ while others translate to ``blue mist’’. The black dragon translation is far more popular, but have you ever seen a black dragon without blue mist? It originates from Mount Wu Yi, or Wuyi Shan in the Fujian province, which is on the sea coast of China just across from Taiwan, another fabulous oolong producing country.
At another time I will explain better what makes an oolong an oolong. For today, I want to discuss the health benefits of oolong as they pertain to weight loss. Oolong has rapidly gained in popularity for weight loss attempts since an alleged endorsement by Oprah In recent years there has been a flurry of new businesses marketing oolong as an ancient Chinese weight loss solution, many of them based on these endorsements. It doesn’t matter if Oprah or Rachael endorsed oolong tea, there is science to support these claims. Studies done in China, Japan and the US all clearly indicate that people consistently consuming oolong lost weight through increased fat oxidation and further see blood sugar levels significantly reduced after a meal. My personal experience has been oolong helps me lose inches, while Pu Erh helps me lose pounds. That’s a perfect combo for me. It’s something different for everyone.
Be warned that the companies getting rich selling wulong slimming tea and the like are selling tea bags of oolong dust, the lowest grade of this tea. This is essentially what you can get at a take-out Chinese restaurant. They are selling typically a one-month supply (60 servings) for about $35 plus shipping. Many of these companies lock you into a auto-ship plan as well. Here is an informative website about oolong without trying to sell you something. In fact, the opening page examines the business practices of the most popular "oolong for fitness" sites.
http://www.wulongtea.org/index.php
A one-month supply (I recommend three cups a day) of nine ounces for ninety servings of organic loose leaf Wuyi Oolong from SensibiliTeas would cost (as of this posting) $25.88 and there is no auto-ship plan. Nine Dragons Oolong, a rolled oolong from the Wuyi region, is also organic and is exactly like what you would get in a Chinese restaurant would cost the same. If you would prefer flavors, all the flavored oolongs at SensibiliTeas are based on a Wuyi oolong. Citron Oolong ($4.50/oz) and Grapefruit Oolong ($3.00/oz) are the most popular.
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Today's quote is in memory of my older brother,
whom I will greatly miss

Bob Burgess 01/12/1953-01/02/2009

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

---Robert Frost / The Road Not Taken

Pu Erh

If people come into the shop looking for the ``weight loss tea’’, I usually recommend one of two teas. One of them is Pu Erh. We'll discuss the other perhaps tomorrow. Pu Erh (pronounced Pu-Air or Pu-Er) comes from Pu Erh county in Hunan province. It is not uncommon for it to be made up of leaves plucked from ancient trees rather than from carefully cultivated bushes. It is a post-fermented tea. This means that all the normal processing to be a black tea, a green tea, or a white tea has already been done, and then the tea is aged. Essentially, it is composted, but likely without the worms and all. While in the past this composting occurred in highly guarded caves belonging to the emperor, it is now likely occurring in a climate controlled setting. During this processing the tea takes on an earthy quality. Tea can then be pressed into cakes or tuo cha, small single servings of Pu Erh that resembles a tiny birds nest (pictured in this post). It is also available in a leaf form, which seems earthier, but more popular due to the ease of preparation. Some say it tastes like dirt. I’ll tell you the black tea version, which is what I carry at the shop, certainly smells earthy. The older it gets, the more mellow it becomes. I find it to be a very smooth, relaxing cup of tea. It is believed that the caffeine level is reduced during processing. The most popular Pu Erh I carry is Immortal Nectar, as found in this collection.
http://www.sensibiliteasonline.com/teapuerh.html
I admit. I hated the first cup I ever drank, but told myself I must be professional about this, and I continued to drink the sample. By the end of the sample, I wanted more. It had become my go-to tea. And I had lost weight, to boot!

While there is no carefully controlled scientific evidence available to support the notion that Pu Erh is effective as a weight loss tea, I’ve had in-shop results. I invited 15 willing participants to drink Immortal Nectar for 10 weeks – one cup with each meal, for a minimum of three cups a day. Many of those participants had physicals before they started so they knew their exact weight, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and C-reactive protein levels. Of the 16 participants, 15 lost weight. After 6 weeks, we started receiving reports about cholesterol and triglyceride levels being greatly reduced.

Cholesterol reduction was the most popular result. After 6 weeks, the average cholesterol reduction was 60 points. One woman saw a reduction of 123 points while another saw a reduction of 102 points. When someone comes to the shop looking for Pu Erh now, it is not uncommon to learn that they have been sent by a doctor. For many, this may be an easy all-natural, organic way to avoid being put on cholesterol reduction meds.

Together they lost 164 lbs. The participant who gained weight (6 lbs.) learned that drinking this tea was not a license to eat Crispy Creme donuts for breakfast and lunch. May common sense prevail.

Love spicy food? Pu Erh is the perfect spicy meal complement.
I asked the father of a Chinese friend of mine how he could explain the effectiveness of Pu Erh in a weight management program. He surprising replied … ``Maybe it’s not the tea.’’ He went on to explain he theory that historically, Chinese consume most meals with a cup of tea while Americans take their meals with a cold beverage. And then he asked ``if you are going to put grease down the drain, would you follow it with hot water, or cold water?’’

Could it be that simple?
Well worth a try, I’d guess. And why not make tea that hot beverage?

No historical facts or links today, so instead I leave you with this simple thought:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
-- Margaret Mead (1901-1973)

The month of January is National Hot Tea Month. What a perfect companion to all those ``I’m gonna be healthier this year’’ resolutions! You know the resolutions … lose weight, eat right, get/be fit, reduce stress, drink less alcohol, quit smoking. Am I right? Every year the same things, but my! How things have changed since the simple Babylonian tradition of returning borrowed farm equipment!

You may be interested in how tea can assist you in sticking to those resolutions. Many of this months posts will deal with the health benefits of tea and how they relate specifically to these resolutions. There are far too many benefits to list in one post, and so many facets to each benefit.

Let’s start with the most popular resolution of all time – ``I’m going to lose weight”, as Jan 1 – 7 is officially ``Diet Resolution Week’’. The truth of the matter is there is really only one effective way to lose weight and keep the weight off – burn more calories than you take in. This is best accomplished through a combination of correct diet and exercise. It’s just that simple.

So where does tea come in? Here’s the most basic answer. Tea is calorie-free, fat-free, carbohydrate-free, gluten-free with no added colors or preservatives. Tea can make you feel full which means you may take in fewer calories overall. Tea can satisfy a craving for dessert, again reducing your total calorie intake. Tea can boost your fat metabolism. Tea can increase your energy level so you are inclined to be more active, burning more calories.