White Licorice Tea is by far my favorite beverage. I drink it hot, but really love it as iced tea. Normally I sweeten it with a little honey, but on really hot days I forgo the honey. Unsweetened licorice tea is extremely thirst quenching. It has a slightly astringent taste that I find more refreshing than water. Sweetening White Licorice tea really brings out the licorice flavor. It is truly delicious and has replaced all my other soft drinks. At a price of under 10 cents a glass it is a real value. My friends are a bit apprehensive about trying it and I get a kick out of this because once I convince them to, 9 out of 10 love it!

Not only is it delicious and a value it is very good for you too. White Licorice Tea is white tea flavored with Chinese Star Anise. White tea has numerous health benefits associated with it (see posts on “Health Benefits of White Tea and Green Tea” and “Research is in 09/09”. The two that stand out most to me are the high levels of antioxidants (15x that of fruit) and its anti-viral properties. Antioxidants are cancer fighters and preventers.  They work to rid our cells of free-radicals which are precursors to cancer. We can all use anything that will aid us in that area. I also believe in the anti-viral aspect because the year before I started drinking it I was out of work 6 times for viral infections (I work in a germ-filled environment). I have not had one viral infection since I started drinking it. Also Chinese Star Anise contains shikimic acid which is the main ingredient in Tamiflu. I suggest White Licorice Tea to everyone I know and I suggest it to you as well.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER WHITE LICORICE TEA NOW!

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White tea as all true teas (White, Black, Green and Oolong) comes from the Camellia Sinensis (tea) plant. Green tea leaves are more developed or adult leaves and Black Tea leaves are fully matured. White tea is more wholesome for two reasons. One it contains anti-oxidants which are extremely healthy for us. Secondly oxidation of the White tea leaves is immediately halted by steaming them often right in the field. This simple but immediate processing allows the anti-oxidants to remain intact. The other teas also contain anti-oxidants, but their methods of process differ and the amount of anti-oxidants diminishes with the processing. Green tea is pan fried and then dried. Black tea is allowed to ferment and Oolong tea is partially fermented. Green Tea retains a significant amount of anti-oxidants, much more than Black Tea, but latest research declares that White Tea outperforms Green Tea 2:1. The caffeine level is also lowest in White Tea.

Anti-oxidants do many wonderful things in our body. They help to eliminate free-radicals from our cells. Free-radicals do damage to our cell walls and alter our DNA. These alterations are what trigger the mechanism that causes many forms of cancer to begin. Anti-oxidants fight cancer on two other levels as well. Apoptosis is the natural process that cells go through in order to die off and make room for new cells. Cancer cells do not follow this natural process. Anti-oxidants target cancer cells and stimulate Apoptosis in them without accelerating it in health cells. Another characteristic of cancer cells is that they rapidly reproduce and produce tumors. Research shows that tea consumption slows and in some cases even reverses tumor growth and cancer reproduction.

You would think that alone would be enough of a reason for everyone to include White Tea into their daily regimen.

White tea and Green Tea also include many more heath benefits. Tea also stimulates the body to increase the production of interferon. Interferon is a powerful anti-viral. It also improves the functioning of the liver and reduces liver inflammation. This is wonderful news for people with liver and viral issues. Tea consumption also improves the cardio vascular system by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while enhancing the performance of arteries.

Other health benefits associated with tea drinking include…

• Reduces blood sugar
• Antiviral
• Anti Fungal
• Anti Bacterial, Reduces the growth of staphylococcus and streptococcus, pneumonia and dental caries
• Treats boils, stomach ulcers sore throats
• Increases elasticity and decreases breakdown of skin cells

So what are you waiting for? Two cups of White tea (or a little more Green Tea) only costs a few cents a day there are some wonderful varieties to choose from.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER WHITE OR GREEN TEA NOW!

Wild Licorice is native to Southwestern Asia and Southeastern Europe. It is now cultivated in many warm climates. It is a perinial and can grow to 6 feet in height. Licorice has a large tap root. The useful part of this plant is the long-branch roots that spread out from the tap root to a radius of 3 feet. Licorice has value as an anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, as an expectorant, and a duiretic .

It aids the respiratory system with its mild expectorant quality. Licorice makes phlegm less cohesive and easier to cough up. Licorice root contains the chemical Glycyrrhizin, which provides an anti-allergic effect similar to cortisone, without the side effects of cortisone. Licorice has been used to treat peptic ulcers, because it reduces the acidic secretions in the stomach that aggravate them. It also provides an additional mucus layer of protection in the stomach.

Licorice is also an adrenal stimulant. In other words, it encourages the Adrenal gland to produce its hormone. Increased adrenal activity helps us to cope with stress, reduces fatigue, depression, irritability and muscle weakness. It also improves digestions, nutrition assimilation, and concentration.

Below is a source I found for quality herbs.
You can purchase licorice root products there.
In the side panel is an ad and link to a my favorite loose leaf tea vendor.

Licorice Root Tea
& Products

Click here to ORDER SOME NOW!!

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Moroccan Mint Tea consists of…

Chinese Gunpowder Tea, a high quality Green Tea hand-rolled into small pellets.
Mint leaves, either spearmint or peppermint (even more delicious with both are used).

Traditionally prepared by the head of the family, Moroccan Mint tea is highly sweetened with hard sugar cones and poured into small glasses. In order to produce a foam it is poured from a distance of 2-3 feet. An additional of a sprig of fresh mint is considered an essential ingredient.

I am particularly fond of Green Tea with Mint because the mint seems to neutralize the grassy taste of Green Tea. I wanted the health benefits that Green Tea provides so I used to choke it down. Now I am able to enjoy hot or cold, the addition of mint makes all the difference in the world.

All of the 4 tea types are flavored by adding herbs and/or flowers to them. The following is a brief on each:

White Tea is ideal for flavoring . Its natural flavor is light, sweet and sometimes it has a smoky note to it. My favorite is White Licorice Tea. Quality White Licorice Tea gets its licorice flavor from Star Anise. It provides a milder flavor than the sometimes used Licorice Root Extract. When iced it is the most thirst quenching beverage I’ve ever had. It is invigorating and refreshing.
Ginger adds a wonderful zing to White Tea. Other popular flavors are Black Current and Cherry, Peach, Strawberry and my wife’s favorite Melon.

Green Tea is usually flavored with a single fruit or floral element. Jasmine is probably the most popular in the United States. Moroccan Mint is famous in that region. In Morocco it is considered “the drink of hospitality” and is consumed throughout the day. Highly sweetened, it is served hot or iced with and additional sprig of mint. I like mint added to Green Tea because it reduces the grassy taste. Chai tea is Green Tea which is heavily spiced with Cardamom, Cloves and Cinnamon. It is diluted with milk unless you are in the Himalayas where they prefer yak butter.

Oolong teas support the strong fruit flavors of Pomegranate and Peach. Oolong teas have a naturally fruit complex flavor that holds up well to strong flavorings. For a wonderful fruit/nut combination try Oolong and Almond. You also will not want to miss sugar/caramel or the exotic Oolong with orchids.

Well this brings us to Black Tea. Some flavored Black Teas have been around so long and we are so familiar with them we barely recognize them as flavored teas any longer. Earl Grey is one such tea. Its distinctive orange flavor has been a favorite among tea lovers since they first started adding Oil of Bergamot to a fine Black Tea. Fruit/spice combinations go well with Black Tea. Honey/Pear is very popular, but pretty much any combination that goes well with food will also work with Black Tea. Black Tea is also often flavored with a floral element. Rose tea is well liked as is Jasmine.

All the teas I have mentioned, along with several others, are available through the link in the sidebar. Explore, discover and have fun enjoying wonderful flavored teas.

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A new study just released from Kingston University London, finds white tea extract to be a super star, outperforming green tea and 21 other herbal extracts 2:1.  The study concludes that white teas high phenolic content along with its TEAC and SOD activities serve to slow the aging process of our skin. The most impressive figures reported on this healing tea were…

Anti Elastise inhibitory activity, white tea performed at 89% with its closest competitor, cleavers at 58%

Anti Collagenase activity, white tea at 87% and green tea at 47% (also its nearest competitor)

Only 9 of the 23 herbs tested ranked in both of these categories with white tea impressively leading the pack.

So now I add one more item to our list of health benefits associated with white tea consumption.

• Encourages interferon production
• Fights viral liver inflammation
• Enhances the performance of arteries
• Lowers blood pressure
• Lowers cholesterol
• Reduces chances of developing various types of cancer by neutralizing free-radicals
• Reduces blood sugar
• Antiviral
• Anti Fungal
• Anti Bacterial, Reduces the growth of staphylococcus and streptococcus, Pneumonia and dental caries
• Treats boils, stomach ulcers and sore throats
• And now increases elasticity and decreases breakdown of skin cells

Like I said before, white tea is good for what ails you. It is a healing tea and I continue to encourage everyone to add this delightful healthy beverage into your daily diet. Two cups a day will do wonders.

View the full report at: www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/9/27/abstract

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