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by Jennifer Seaton

When was the last time that you were out in the elements with only the sky for the roof and the ground for the floor? How about the stars for the blanket and the moon as the pillow? How many times have you been outdoors with your family enjoying the scenery and the beauty of the wild?



During those times what did you share with your beloved wife as you reminisce the times that you two were still in high school and your spirits were high? What did you reach for in the open flame trying to make sure that everything was just right?

What was the one thing the two of you could share hurriedly in the morning and savor slowly and deliberately in the evening? What one thing that bonds you and your wife on the cold nights of autumn and the very cold days of winter? What is the only thing that you enjoy more than a two-inch steak?

I think you know what I’m talking about here. I think you have caught the drift…I am talking about the only potion known to man that is both powerful and soothing at the same time. Yes folks, I am talking about coffee. Coffee, the caffeine packed, antioxidant rich and most flexible of God’s entire gift to man.

Enjoying the power of coffee

Coffee has shared our lives in many ways than one. For some people, it is that first cup of coffee that they made for a special someone. For others, it is that cup of coffee they shared on a cold winter night.

I can still remember one of my friends going like this…one day I was at one of them fancy cafés outside the office building. I had a regular cup of brewed coffee in front of the piles of work I had to do for the day. I was just finishing my work when a voice came at me out of nowhere.

“Hi there! Mind if I share the table?” I looked up and saw the most beautiful face I have ever seen in my life. I said it was okay and I stood up and got her seated. Man! I couldn’t believe we talked for over an hour.

I was about to ask her a question when she excused herself. She suddenly said, “Oh! I’m sorry I’ve got to get going my husband’s here!” the thing is, I didn’t even get her name but I do remember the coffee she was having that day…Hazelnut Frapuccino. Good thing that I know my coffee, I think hazelnut frap will forever hold a very, very special place in my heart.

Find tips about essiac tea and green tea caffeine at the Types Of Tea website.

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by Jeffrey Lorien

The verdict is in: Tea is good for you.
Now, researchers continue to study tea and its healthy constituents such as polyphenols, tannin, catechins and other antioxidants. The science is progressing on parallel tracks in research institutes and universities around the world, quantifying and qualifying the effects of tea on cancer, high blood pressure, cardiovascular health, microcirculation and even weight loss.



Beyond the health benefits, there are purely personal (and pleasurable) reasons to drink tea, and choosing the right one (or two, or three) for your particular life goals and wellness plan is something you should consider carefully. This is not because there is any risk involved with picking the “wrong” tea. The fact is, however, that choosing the right tea(s) will ensure that you are experiencing the maximum possible health benefits from the beverage and its ingredients.

Reading the tea leaves for health
There are several different factors to consider when choosing the right tea for your life and health profile. Although most teas have some range and amount of various beneficial elements, particular teas contain certain substances that may not suit certain individuals. The primary one to watch out for, of course, is caffeine. Some people are surprised to discover that tea can be very high in caffeine, as if it were not itself a “natural” product. Caffeine is a natural product that occurs in many foods, including the renowned kola (cola) nut, from which a famous soft drink with about 100mg of caffeine is made.

Ordinary teas contain beneficial properties such as alkaloids and catechins that help refresh the mind, strengthen the heart, eliminate toxins in the system and relieve inflammation and its associated discomfort. Polyphenols can actually protect people from radioactive material, counter the ravages of arteriosclerosis and actively assist the blood flow through the capillaries (called microcirculation).

In fact, the anecdotal evidence that tea is a good hangover cure has been backed by scientific studies showing how improved blood flow and other effects of tea’s ingredients are important in restoring normal functioning following the ingestion of alcohol. Any tea is good for these tasks, and you can choose from among a great variety of simple or complex teas, both herbal and standard types.

Studies on the antibacterial properties of tea have shown conclusively that it disrupts a key step in the replication of the bacterium’s DNA chain. Therefore it can be considered a safe and effective antibiotic that can fight infections and tooth decay. That it also contains vitamins and fluoride makes tea an even better bet for an addition to your program of dental hygiene and general health. A good, strong green tea would be an excellent choice for general antibiotic and hygienic purposes.

Choosing teas for taste
Choosing the right tea for you may be as simple as the change of seasons. Spring is considered the season for flower teas, summer is for green teas and autumn is a season of changes, perfect for a Oolong tea (between black and green). Cold winters are perfect for any of them!

You can also choose to drink certain teas according to the time of day. Morning time can be great for green tea because it does contain an average amount (60-70mg per cup) of caffeine. Chrysanthemum tea can be a good tea for the afternoon because it helps relieve and counter depression, stress and anxiety. In the evening it’s nice to relax with a tasty Medlar tea, as it is rich in B-1, vitamin C, calcium and iron and can also help relax the body after a long day.

There are so many types of teas too choose from, it can be difficult to decide which ones are right for you. Although not based on any scientific findings, anecdotal evidence over centuries has helped some health practitioners to develop a list of teas associated with different people. At the very least, it is an interesting exercise, trying to match people and their unique needs to the vast range of teas in the world, and the vast number of properties and effects that have been observed in their use.

Just for fun, try picking a tea from the following list and trying it out. In fact, try a variety of teas, at different times of day and in different settings. Chances are you will quickly discover which are best for your needs.

Office workers: Chrysanthemum tea and green tea
Sports lovers: Oolong tea and black tea
Those averse to sports: Green tea and flower teas
Those exposed to heavy air pollution: Green tea
Smokers and drinkers: Green tea
Meat lovers: Oolong tea
Those suffering constipation: Honey tea
Those wanting to lose fat: Oolong tea, Pu’er tea and green tea
Those with a weak spleen and stomach: Oolong tea and flower teas
Those hoping for longevity: Oolong tea and black tea

Remember, this is not medical advice of any kind. However, you are ultimately responsible for your own health and wellbeing, so stay educated on the subjects that impact your life and diet, and remember the importance of getting a good balance of scientific facts, anecdotal evidence and educated opinions (the last from your primary healthcare provider). There is a place for tea in your wellness plan, without a doubt, but it doesn’t mean you can’t find the one that tastes the best to you, and gives you the effects, both pleasurable and medical, that you want.

Zhi Tea is a leading retailer of top-grade Oolong teas online. They provide a full line of organic and Fair Trade teas teas and organic tea gift baskets from around the world for you to enjoy.

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by John Hilaire

Coffee is so popular these days that it ranks as one of the three top beverages that people drink. Different people have different tastes, which is the reason why coffee manufacturers have taken to blends and coffee flavors to meet the demands and tastes of different people. The different kinds of coffee and coffee blends are sometimes called gourmet coffee.



The Beginning Of Coffee

The discovery of coffee was sometime in the 9th century, in Ethiopia, when a shepherd notice his goats cavorting around with fresh energy after having dined on some red berries on a high bush. It was told that the shepherd took home some of the berries and roasted them to be able to eat the seeds. This was how coffee was discovered. Soon, coffee reached the Turks and they started to pound the coffee beans and mix them in water.

As the beverage traveled to Europe, many people liked the strong taste and energy, which came with it. Many coffeehouses sprouted in Europe and people started experimenting on different roasting processes and different ways to prepare coffee.

Specialty Coffee

Nowadays, many companies and stores sell their coffee products with variations. Coffee is not anymore the simple black with sugar and cream but it has many different flavors. Some people still prefer their coffee straight black with just sugar but some of the younger generation like the newer gourmet coffee.

Gourmet coffee or specialty coffee is coffee made from exceptional beans and grown in very specific climates and soil. These kinds of coffee have very distinct flavors, which are sometimes adapted from the soils they grow on. Even the care that is given to the plant and the ways it will be harvested or process may be factors to the coffee being gourmet coffee plant.

Freshness is also an essential part to gourmet coffee being called gourmet coffee. If the beans that are used are processed while they are fresh, these give out a definite aroma. Truly fresh coffee is ground right before brewing and brewed within a week of roasting. Being aromatic is a big part to coffee being called a specialty coffee. It is usually the highest quality green beans roasted by expert roasters.

Specialty coffee does not refer to the way that coffee is brewed but instead refers to the quality of the beans used to make the coffee grounds and the process by which the grounds are processed. True gourmet coffee does not need additives to enhance their flavor. When flavor is added to coffee it becomes flavored coffee, not specialty coffee.

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