Liquid Assets
SPRING CLEANING IN A CUP by Shawndra Miller Photo by Dan Cooper
There comes a day every April when we open the windows and start to shake off the winter’s lethargy. Somehow, spring cleaning is good for the soul. It’s also good for the body, as the lighter weather prompts an urge for internal spring cleaning—otherwise known as a cleanse. Cleansing can take many forms, from mild to draconian. But a simple cup of tea can be a gentle way to ease into cleansing or to support a new health regimen. One local tea purveyor is passionate about the beverage’s healing properties and invigorating flavors. Peace Leaf Tea’s Christi Smallidge, who crafts her own blends from sustainable and organic sources, says whole-leaf green, white and red teas fill your cup with sheer unadulterated goodness, no matter what your health goals. “There’s a wellness feeling that goes with drinking them,” she says. Peace Leaf is sold at Indy Winter Farmers’ Market (and other markets in the summer) and through Green B.E.A.N. Delivery. For a full list of locations or to buy online, visit peaceleaf.biz.
A trio of teas Jumpstart a spring cleanse with these custom blend green, white and red teas from Peace Leaf Tea. These tasting and cleansing notes will point you in the right direction. The Green: Kyoto Garden Delicate cherry overlays the slight astringency of jasmine, a taste reminiscent of leisurely dinners eaten with chopsticks. How it “cleans”: Antioxidants mop up the free radicals that lead to cellular damage. Smallidge says that the caffeine in green tea boosts your metabolism, helping you shed toxins while avoiding the adrenaldepleting effects of coffee. Green tea may help prevent hardening of the arteries and other health woes. Some say it boosts liver function and protects against the growth of cancer cells. The White: Pomegranate Vanilla A pearlike tang is softened by mellow Madagascar vanilla that lingers on the tongue. This is the most refreshing of Smallidge’s teas to drink iced. How it “cleans”: White tea is minimally processed, according to Smallidge, preserving even more antioxidants than green, so it can cause even more free radicals to bite the dust. Combine that with a minimal amount of caffeine and you have a potent addition to your health arsenal.
Kyoto Garden Tea
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edible indy
The Red: Longevity Ginger lends a bright spiciness to rich, full-bodied rooibos. How it “cleans”: Strictly speaking not a tea but an herbal tisane, rooibos is getting a reputation for aiding acne sufferers because it contains alpha-linoleic acid, says Smallidge. The health benefits of rooibos
Spring 2012
