THE TEA ON TEA

T H E T E A ON TEA

BY ANGELIQUE ALEXOS

When the weather outside is just not giving you that TLC you need to finally start focusing and getting your work done before the week starts, what better way to warm up than with a nice hot cup of tea? Coffee and hot chocolate enthusiasts may already be reeling at this point, but tea is so much more of a complex, beneficial beverage than one might expect. From the bold Earl Grey to lightly sweet chamomile, the possibilities and options are truly endless. Such a variety, however, does present the problem of which tea to choose. Each little packet of dried leaves, herbs, and spices is incredibly rich with flavor and even contains its own unique properties. So where does one start? Enough is enough. It’s time to finally spill the tea on, well, tea!

Let’s start with the basics. According to Penn Medicine, all tea comes from the exact same plant: the Camellia sinensis. The differences that provide the distinct flavors of an Oolong or green tea, for example, come from the amount of time the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant are exposed to oxygen, or oxidized. For example, green tea is not given much time to oxidize in the production process, giving it a much lighter taste and color. Black tea, on the other hand, is allowed to oxidize until it turns black, hence its name, color, and bolder flavor profile. In addition, each tea is composed of properties that are thought to aid in a variety of health issues. Oolong tea increases alertness, while green and black teas are anti-inflammatory.

And then we come to herbal teas. Perhaps the white chocolate of the tea world, herbal teas, unlike the name suggests, are technically not tea as they do not contain leaves for the Camellia sinensis plant. Although they aren’t defined as “tea,” herbal teas are also extremely beneficial. Additionally, when making your own tea blends at home, herbal teas are the easiest and most accessible.

The key to making your own herbal blends at home is to sample your ingredients and be open to experimentation. First, it’s important to taste each individual ingredient before adding it to the blend, as this will give you more of an idea of the flavor and strength that each component will add. As with many things, there is not simply one way to make the perfect cup of tea. A good rule to follow would be to not combine too many overpowering flavors together in one blend, but then again, everyone has different preferences on their ideal cup of tea. To get you started, here are a few specific herbs and spices to use for different tea occasions:

When making a blend for relaxation and sleep, chamomile, lemon balm, lemongrass, and honey are all sweet, milder flavors that provide a soothing effect on the body. Ingredients with lemon have a zingier sweetness, versus the more neutral chamomile. Honey also aids in soothing the throat, and in combination with ingredients including lemon, basically creates the equivalent of having hot lemon water with honey.

To cure stomach ailments or feelings of sickness, peppermint, ginger, and cinnamon can be extremely calming. While their bold flavors may become overpowering if used with a heavy hand, all of these herbs and spices contain anti-inflammatory properties that may aid in pain relief.

Finally, floral herbs such as hibiscus, rose, and rooibos are great additions to more sweeter, everyday blends. These ingredients not only add rich flavor, but also a beautiful, deep red color to the tea itself. Rooibos and hibiscus have also been shown to lower blood pressure levels. When your blend has been created, you can either add about 2 tablespoons to a kettle with hot water or, for a larger quantity, add about a quarter cup to a large mason jar. Depending on the amount of liquid, the mixture should be steeped anywhere from 10-35 minutes before it is poured through a strainer and into your cup to enjoy!

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