On Life As A Picky Foodie

Dear Friends;

I am fascinated by synesthesia.  And while I have by no means been gifted with this strange “affliction,” I do associate tea with melodies.  Each tea, be it the fruity, flowery kind, the harsher blacks or their less-militant green cousins are, to my mind, like melodies.  Tea pours through us, soothing, awakening, revitalizing as needed.  It can be like a Japanese string instrument, or a bagpipe, a viola or a trumpet depending on its notes: earthy, sweet, astringent, bitter.

Like food, tea can be a potent source of vitamins, minerals and energies that can help strengthen our weaknesses – from immune function to a sluggish liver, tea offers remedy as well as respite.

Who doesn’t love a cup of tea? 

(disclaimer: people who don’t like tea are as much of a mystery to me as people who don’t like cats).

A couple of years ago, DW and I had just heard about the very sudden death of a family member and had been trying to digest such tragic, incomprehensible news.  An hour or so after receiving the news, we’d fallen silent, each ruminating on the terrible sadness and repercussions of this person’s demise when I realized that I was terribly thirsty.

“I’m sorry to ask this right now,” I said, feeling the senseless mundanity of such a question in the face of what we were dealing with, “but would you like a cup of tea?”

He raised his head slowly and the expression in his eyes was one of pure gratitude.

“Peppermint please,” he replied.

Though our tea didn’t change the grave facts of the situation or ease our grief, the cheery smell of peppermint combined with its healing properties did provide a moment of relief followed by a newfound energy to accomplish what we needed to -- like buy plane tickets and notify other family members.

Much like pieces of music can imbue situations with different atmospheres or moods, so teas can bring a day to a quiet close or kick-start a great morning.  Tea can be a relaxant and a stimulant, a dreamcatcher or a flu-kicker.

When was the last time you tried listening to classical music?  Or rap?

Next time you reach for that routine earl grey or chamomile (or even coffee), how about giving something new a try?

I love herbal teas for their taste, but the fact is that that they offer numerous health benefits in addition.  Here are a few of my favourites:

Fennel

Fennel tea is known to be soothing to the intestinal tract, helps relieve gas and bloating, calming to an upset stomach as well as abdominal cramps.

The tea, made from the seeds of the plant is also a source of B and C Vitamins, potassium, magnesium and calcium.

Nettle

Stinging nettles were one of my biggest fears as a child.  Little did I know that those rash-inducing bastards would one day become one of my go-to hot drinks.  Rich in iron, folic acid, and calcium, nettle tea also -- surprisingly – contains protein.  Nettle tea really is a wonderful thing: from PMS to seasonal allergies, it is used to treat a myriad of ailments as well as stimulate milk production in women and help them regain their strength after giving birth.

Verbena

Often drunk in conjunction with mint tea in the Middle East, Verbena has potent properties of its own.  Mostly, it is soothing in every way: it helps calm everything from colic to nerves from digestive complaints to fevers, and its lemony flavour is incredibly comforting.

Dandelion

Dandelion tea can be made from both the root as well as the leaves of the plant. 

Known as a liver tonic, dandelion tea has a strong earthy taste.  It is also one of the most effective herbal diuretics, and is a great source of vitamin A, B12, calcium, zinc, iron and potassium.  I love combining it with the Vitamin C-rich Rosehips as their flavours really balance each other out.  And did you know that dandelion leaves contain more beta-carotene than carrots?

With love,
Gabriela