History of Mint

Mint is an ancient herb and the use of mint tea dates back to medieval Europe. Mint's distinct smell has made it one of the more popular herbs throughout history. From Europe to India to the Middle East, it has been used to clear the air. In ancient Greece, mint leaves were rubbed on dining tables to welcome guests, while in the Middle East, the host still traditionally offers mint tea to guests upon their arrival.

What is Mint?

There are about 25 different species of mints and peppermint is actually a natural hybrid cross between Mentha aquatica (water mint) and Mentha spicata (spearmint).

Peppermint: Peppermint has greenish-purple lance-shaped leaves and has tastes of a cross between pepper and green chlorophyll. Where chamomile tea can be calming and soothing, peppermint tea is very refreshing and relaxing.

Spearmint: Spearmint has crinkled leaves and pointed leaf tips shaped like spears and is more of a grayish green color than peppermint leaves and has a little more subtle and cool taste than peppermint.

Other plants in mint family include:

• apple mint
• orange mint
• water mint
• curly mint
• Corsican mint

Health Benefits of Mint

Mint has significant health benefits mainly focussed around the digestive system.

It has an anti-spasmodic action which helps with:

    * stomach cramps
    * wind
    * dyspepsia
    * diarrhoea
    * Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
    * heartburn
    * indigestion
    * morning sickness
    * nausea

It is also excellent for:

    * clearing a head when suffering from a cold or headaches
    * sweetens breath
    * baby colic
    * manage stress
    * asthma

Mint has an amazing power to cure cancer. Mint contains a phytonutrient called perillyl alcohol. This phytonutrient prevents the occurrence of colon, skin and lung cancer. Mint works by attacking the tumour's blood vessels, starving cancer to death.

With Spearmint teas, recent studies have found that drinking two cups a day can help with Hirsutism – this condition in women, where hair grows in areas such as the face, stomach and chest is thought to be caused by too many androgens (male hormones such as freely circulating testosterone).

Recipe

Chocolate Mint Tea

Chocolate goes well with tea, not just coffee. You can brew up this recipe is a jiffy, using instant hot chocolate powder and bags of mint tea.

Ingredients: 6 mint tea bags / 6 cups milk / 6 tablespoons hot chocolate mix

Preparation: In a saucepan, heat milk with tea bags until almost boiling. Steep for a couple of minutes and strain out tea bags. Pour our 6 mugs of milk, and then stir in a tablespoon of chocolate powder in each mug.

Visit http://www.teaworld.co.uk/search.php?start=0&end=9&query=Mint to see the full range of Mint teas at teaworld.co.uk

Written by Uma Mays
Article source: Articlesbase.com

Chamomile tea has been used as a healing drink for centuries so it’s no wonder that it is estimated that over 1 million cups are ingested every day. The medicinal properties of this tea are wide and many, but perhaps the best known is it’s ability to help you relax. Many people like to drink it before bedtime as a sleep inducer and one herbal medicine guide claims that drinking chamomile tea before bed will stop nightmares.
Chamomile tea can be purchased from almost any health food or grocery store. You can make your own by pouring one cup of boiling water over four or five fresh flower heads. Let the tea steep for 5 minutes and strain.

Some natural medicine books recommend using chamomile tea for children and the does should be half of the adult dose. Make sure you let your childs doctor know before you give him chamomile tea.

Although this tea is fairly safe, some can have severe allergic reactions. If you suffer allergies such as ragweed or hayfever, it might be best to avoid drinking chamomile tea. People with Asthma should drink chamomile tea with caution. Although it is said chamomile tea can help relieve the pain of labor, it is not advisable to drink a lot of it during pregnancy as it may cause uterine contractions.

 
Healing Uses Of Chamomile Tea

- Add several cups chamomile tea, to a cool bath and have a relaxing soak.

- Use chamomile tea to relieve anxiety or put a handful of chamomile flowers in a bowl of hot water and inhale the scent.

- Use a poultice of cool chamomile tea for burns.

- To relieve insomnia, drink a cup of chamomile tea at bedtime

- Drink a cup of hot chamomile tea to soothe an upset stomach.

- Add chamomile oil or tea to a hot bath to help soothe dry skin.

- Use chamomile tea and powdered milk as an exfoliating paste for sensitive skin.

- Cooled chamomile tea can be made into a compress to soothe irritated and strained eyes and is reputed to help treat conjunctivitis.

- Chamomile is an anti-fungal, therefore a tea can help treat fungal infections by dipping into a cotton ball and applying to the area.

- Chamomile tea is also said to help relieve menstrual cramps in women due to it’s ability of relaxing the uterus.

Chamomile tea has been a common beverage for eons and its safety can be regarded as well proven. The calming effects of this tea are rather mild, so they may not be experienced by everyone.

Article written by Lee Dobbins of Herbs and Home Remedies - where you can learn more about herbs and natural healing. To view the original post, click here.

There are only a few 'proven' white tea health benefits to date, but they look very promising from here.

A lot of good things have been said about white tea. So when I look into it, I expect to find lots of gold.

It hasn't disappointed. Although I find only 4 published studies on white tea health benefits, 3 of them claim white tea to be a more effective cancer-fighter and germ-killer than green tea.

It is not easy to out-do green tea. The results are preliminary, but it is a fantastic start.

Am I surprised? Not really.

High grade white, like high grade green, is made from young tea shoots, which has been shown again, again and again - to have the highest concentration of nutrients.

White tea is the least “fired” of all teas, which may explain why it contains more antioxidants than green tea.

A 2001 study conducted by Oregon State University compared white tea and green tea for their cancer fighting potential.

Each cancer starts with one cell.

It happens when the genes become damaged or lost in a process called mutation, causing cells to multiply uncontrollably.

People only take notice when they feel a lump and see a doctor
Green tea has been known to protect against cell mutation. Does white tea offer the same antimutagen benefit?

Scientists from Paul Linus Institute conducted a test called Salmonella assay to find out.

Bacteria culture was exposed to a carcinogen called IQ, which is also found in fried or broiled meats. Either white tea or green tea was added.

It was found that white tea was always more protective than green tea, sometimes by a factor of 5.

A 2003 study conducted by Oregon State University found that white tea is highly potent in treating colon cancer in mice.

The scientists compared white tea, green tea and an anti-cancer drug called sundalic. They were given to mice pre-disposed to developing cancer to drink.

After 12 weeks, untreated mice developed 30 tumours.

Mice that drank green tea and white tea developed 17 and 13 tumours respectively.

The best result went to mice that had both white tea and sundalic; they developed the lowest number of tumours - 6.

White Tea and Colon Cancer - Medicine Without Side Effects

A 2004 study conducted by Pace University concluded that white tea fights bacteria, viruses and fungi.

White tea retards the growth of bacteria such as Streptococcus, which has been known to cause infections such as sore throat (pharyngitis), scarlet fever, and pneumonia, as well as dental caries.

White tea also fights fungi such as Penicillium chrysogenum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and so may be helpful to people suffering from yeast infections.

The scientists added white tea extract to several toothpastes, then placed the paste on germs in a lab.

Previous studies have found that green tea boosts the immune system. This study suggested that white tea is even more powerful than green tea.

"People should drink white tea," said Milton Schiffenbauer, who conducted this study.

"Our research shows white tea extract can actually destroy in vitro the organisms that causedisease. Study after study proves that it has many healing properties."
A 2003 study suggested that white tea may slow down aging skin conditions such as wrinkles and pigmentations. This study was conducted jointly by University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University.

The scientists applied white tea cream on the subject's buttock, then exposed it to artificial light.

They found that tea-treated skin continued to function properly afterwards with limited DNA damage, but untreated skin was damaged by light.

The scientists believed white tea works because of its powerful antioxidant. The study suggests that white tea cream may have anti-aging effects on skin.

"Similar to the way oxidation causes a car to rust, oxidative stress of the skin causes a breakdown in cellular strength and function," said Dr Elma Baron, director of Skin Study Center.

"The white tea extract protects against this stress."

"We know that younger skin tends to be able to resist the oxidative stress associated with exposure to the destructive rays of sunlight," said Kevin Cooper, chairman of the Department of Dermatology.

"The white tea extract also appears to build the skin's resistance against stresses that cause the skin to age."

Article Source: Amazing Green Tea.com

Recently, Japanese scientists found that Rooibos tea is an enzyme containing peroxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant, which mimic the attack of free radicals and limit their adverse consequences.

Rooibos helps stomach ulcers, nausea, constipation and heartburn.

A cup of Rooibos tea before going to sleep a good night's rest! Rooibos has been found to help insomnia, sleep disorders and headaches. It contains no caffeine and has a relaxing effect on the central nervous system.

Rooibos helps you strong bones and teeth, the calcium, manganese and fluoride.

Rooibos helps peace infants with colic, stomach cramps and sleeping problems. Simply mix some Rooibos tea with milk or formula. It is 100% natural with no coloring or preservatives. It is a wonderful mother.

Rooibos contains alpha hydroxy acid and zinc for healthy skin and smooth. This wonder tea is especially useful if the skin irritation such as itching, eczema, sunburn, diaper rash and acne.

Place waste Rooibos tea bags in the refrigerator or freezer. Eyes tired after a long day, or red to soothe and relax doing.

Rooibos contains magnesium which is essential for a healthy nervous.

Rooibos increases the absorption of iron in the body.

Rooibos contains potassium and copper minerals necessary for metabolic functions.

Rooibos is often prescribed for anxiety and mild depression that makes a relaxing sedative.

Rooibos contains no oxalic acid and can therefore be appreciated by those suffering from kidney stones.

Rooibos helps to control your appetite can be beneficial in weight loss.

Rooibos helps you recover after a hangover again.

Rooibos is a great thirst-quenching drink and sports. Because the content of the mineral iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium, sodium, restores the balance of the body after strenuous exercise.

Rooibos is very versatile! It could be drinking hot or cold, with or without milk, sugar or honey, lemon juice or mixed with fruit juice for a nice blend. Rooibos Tea is also used in cooking and baking. It replaces the liquid content in recipes for soups, marinades, sauces, stews and cakes for added flavor and nutrition.

And Rooibos tastes divine! It is less than most bitter teas.

For more details, visit Loss Weight Diet Guide
Source:  Articlesbase.com

Ginseng tea has been used for centuries as a natural tonic and remedy for a variety of ailments. The ginseng plant is botanically called Panax, which means, “all heal” in Greek. In addition, just as its name depicts, this tea is highly effective at improving health. The tea comes from the fleshy root of the plant. It contains natural components called Ginsenosides, which is where the healing abilities are said to come from.

There is a variety of different types of ginseng tea, all from various forms of the plan found around the globe. In India, the tea is called Ashwagandha. Asian teas are some of the most popular forms, though there are also Brazilian, American, and Siberian forms as well. Each is slightly different and tea aficionados say they can taste the various flavor differences based on the region the plant was grown in.

Healing Benefits

However, what are the healing benefits of this form of tea? It has long been used to treat just about any type of ailment, but there are some areas that are seen as more promising. Science has yet to prove these health benefits as of yet, but Ginseng has been used for 5000 years to help cure some of these conditions.

Ginseng is seen as an ideal way to lose weight. It helps to increase metabolism in the body. It also improves digestion. It is able to restore and maintain the immune system and is said to help fight ailments such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, cancer, stomach ulcers and diarrhea. It is also able to improve blood circulation and reduce both physical and mental stress. Some even say that it is can be used as an aphrodisiac.

With all of these marvelous wonders, there is no doubt that ginseng tea has become an important tool in various herbal remedies. The good news is that it is also quite tasty and affordable to purchase. Virtually all aspects of the plant can be used to aid in improving health, though the tea seems to be more beneficial when it is made from the root of the plant.

Source: Bestorganictealeaves.net

How do you prepare your tea? Are you a "bag dunker", or do you steep gourmet loose tea in your infuser?

Only one of these methods will give you tea the way it was meant to be enjoyed!

Which is it?

At the conclusion of this article, tea bags may be a thing of the past for most folks! But don't throw them away, they make good odor absorbers in the refrigerator, in fact, that is all they will seem good for after experiencing tea the way it was meant to be consumed.

Five Interesting Things To Know About Gourmet Tea

1) As hinted above, gourmet loose tea will provide much better aroma and flavor over ordinary tea bags. The simple reason why is that loose leaf tea contains more essential oils since there is more surface area. The result is a fresh cup with a very appealing aroma which tastes very inspiring. Each sip will reward the senses.

Ever remember that great glass of wine or awesome cup of gourmet coffee you had at a cafe? Was there a difference from the usual? The same may go for your new tea experience...

Tea bag tea contains fannings, also called "tea dust", and while this may be great for tea leaf reading, will never yield a cup that rivals its larger loose leaf brothers. A big reason why is because tea bag leaves are crushed which depletes most of the oils. Another is that most tea bags can be over a year old, which means more of a stale flavor. All tea is best enjoyed within 6 months.


2) Gourmet tea also contains more antioxidants and polyphenols which are responsible for teas amazing health benefits. Some benefits include, lowered blood pressure, lowered cholesterol, a stronger immune system, and even weight loss! Since loose tea is fresh and contains more oils, naturally they will give us more of the goodies health conscious folks are looking for in each cup.



Tea bags will offer little of these benefits, and although you may receive some, they are not in the numbers as with loose leaf.


3) Gourmet loose leaf yields way more varieties compared to what a selection may be at a supermarket! There are four main types of tea, white, green, oolong, and black. But each type branches out into thousands of varieties.

Seasoned tea drinkers are always looking for a new cup to discover, and this is one of the most simple pleasures gourmet tea is known for.





  
4) Another thing gourmet loose tea excels at is it makes a great gift idea! For a loved one, you're always on the hunt to impress them with something, well, different. Depending on a person's likes, loose leaf tea is a good choice and one way to bring out a "WOW!" when they open the present.

Purchasing little tea tins with an infuser, cup set, tea pot, and fitted in a small box or gift basket is the perfect way to make a person feel surprised.

It may very well make them form a healthy new habit as well!


5) Are you thinking that gourmet grade tea is expensive? The truth is, loose leaf will cost a little more, but in the long run, you are getting what you pay for. In the long run, you're saving money. Look at it this way, a normal cup of tea-bag brewed at a restaurant will cost around a dollar.

Loose leaf when purchased in the popular 2 or 4 ounce tins can be an average of 10 to 25 cents per cup. That is not too bad for something that you will enjoy is it? In addition, 2 ounces of tea will make many servings too!

Now while these are five top reasons to enjoy gourmet tea, I'm sure you'll find others. It is a good way to impress company, and is a perfect companion for a social gathering. In time, you may find yourself shaking you head every time you see someone dunking a tea bag and smile that it was the way you once enjoyed what you thought was "tea".

Article written by David Carloni. Source: FoodEditorials.com

Ginseng Tea:
Ginseng, botanical name Panax ('All Heal' in Greek) is a perennial plant with a fleshy root. You can make herbal tea from the fleshy root of the Ginseng plant. Ginseng Tea is said to have many healing and energy-giving properties. All the health benefits are brought about due to the presence of natural chemicals called 'Ginsenosides' in the Ginseng root.

Ginseng originated in Manchuria and has been in use for some 5000 years. It was called 'Ren Shen' by the Ancient Chinese. 'Ren Shen' means 'Man Root' and refers to the human-like shape of the Ginseng root. In Korea and Japan, Ginseng is called 'Ninjin'. The Chinese placed great faith in Ginseng and considered it a sort of rejuvenating, cure-all palliative for a variety of ailments. They also believed that regular drinking of Ginseng Tea would lead to a long life. Ginseng was so valuable it was bartered for silk and even prized above gold. The demand was such that the supply of Ginseng from the Chinese Mainland was not enough and the Chinese had to import it from Korea. Soon the Ginseng stock in the wild was exhausted and commercial cultivation became inevitable. However, Wild Ginseng has more medicinal value than cultivated Ginseng.

The Ginseng root is used fresh or dried for later use. You can buy it whole, sliced, in powder form, in tea bags, etc. Sometimes the Ginseng plant leaves are also used, but these are not considered as important as the root. Cultivated Ginseng can be had as Red Ginseng and White Ginseng. In both cases, the Ginseng plants are grown for about 6 years before their roots are harvested. The difference lies in the way the roots are processed for use. To make White Ginseng, the root is peeled and sun-dried. The dried root looks yellowish-white. To make Red Ginseng, the unpeeled root undergoes steaming, turns reddish-brown, and is then dried.

These days Ginseng Tea is a popular herbal drink the world over and Ginseng is grown in many places.

Health Benefits of Ginseng:
While Ginseng has been traditionally considered a 'cure all', many modern researchers question the actual efficacy of the root. The studies done on the subject have either not been extensive enough or have produced controversial results. Even so, a great many people swear by Ginseng Tea and consume it on a regular basis. According to these Ginseng supporters, it is beneficial in the following different ways -

• Ginseng helps build up an appetite.
• Ginseng helps with digestion.
• Ginseng aids respiration.
• Ginseng is rejuvenating and works against fatigue.
• Ginseng helps reduce physical and mental stress.
• Ginseng aids the immune system.
• Ginseng works as an aphrodisiac.
• Ginseng helps counter arthritis.
• Ginseng helps counter asthma.
• Ginseng helps counter diabetes.
• Ginseng reduces the risk of cancer.
• Ginseng lessens the effects of Crohn's Disease.
• Ginseng is effective against Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome.
• Ginseng helps lower (LDL) bad cholesterol levels.
• Ginseng is effective against headaches.
• Ginseng provides a cure for stomach ulcers.
• Ginseng provides a cure for diarrhea.
• Ginseng is good for blood circulation.

Article written by By Sonal Panse. To read more, click here, 

A study by University College London (Oct. 2006) revealed that people who drank tea after stressful events were able to de-stress more quickly than those who did not drink tea. The researchers discovered that black tea lowers the levels of cortisol, a harmful stress hormone, by a significant average of 47 percent. No distinction was referenced between decafinated or catinated tea.

Tea is chemically complex—containing catechins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and amino acids, and so far it is not known whether it is a single substance or the synergistic interplay of all its components that are responsible for black tea’s health promoting effects. More studies are planned.

Professor Andrew Steptoe at UCL Department of Epidemiology and Public Health states that although drinking tea has traditionally been associated with relaxation, scientific evidence for the stress-relieving effects of black tea has been limited. This is one of the first studies to assess tea in a double blind placebo study whereby the participants did not know whether they were drinking tea, or just a tea-like beverage.

As a black or green tea drinker exclusively instead of coffee my entire life, I can attest to a natural ‘craving’ for tea when I am feeling stressed or need a pick-up in the late afternoon. This ‘natural’ gravitation to drinking tea in the late afternoon coincides with the British and many Europeans having tea time at 4:00 p.m or the Chinese and Japanese drinking tea with lunch and dinner. This practice may have started with their ‘natural’ craving for tea when feeling stressed or when needing a pick-up and it then became a national ritual. According to this research—not ironically done in London—it has proven what has been known for centuries—black tea has a calming effect.

Article written by Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD. To view the original post, click here.

Green tea might be getting all the press, but black tea also deserves your attention because of its remarkably potent health benefits.

Black tea deserves just as much press as green tea once you realize all of the benefits, including: reducing stress, improving memory and decreasing your risk for stroke! Be sure to learn more about Body Ecology's top-rated black Assam tea yielding 60-90 servings per bottle - ideal for hot tea or iced tea recipes - and check out the limited-time SUPER special opportunity on the Body Ecology Tea Pack!

Black tea, the second most popular beverage in the world after water, has been a part of medicinal and cultural traditions for centuries. If you grew up in the south, "sweet tea" was served at every meal. Here in Atlanta, where one of our Body Ecology home office is located, every restaurant still offers black tea.

Now, however, due to the growing prevalence of Body Ecology's highly acclaimed stevia, you have an option of ordering it with or without sugar. (Always be sure to keep a bottle of our great-tasting, sugar-free stevia in your pocket or purse if you enjoy sweet tea or coffee and want a great substitute for unhealthy sugar and artificial sweeteners.)

Long considered a folk remedy, new scientific studies have shown that black tea can:

* Reduce your levels of the stress hormone cortisol
* Improve your memory and possibly treat Alzheimer's
* Act as an anti-carcinogen and inhibit tumor growth
* Decrease your risk for stroke

Black tea certainly has huge implications for your health, but not all black teas are the same, so if you want the benefits of black tea, choose right!

Article Source: BodyEcology.com