Simple syrups are a staple in confectionery and bartending, and their name is no lie—they're easy to make, customizable, and perfect for adding a hint of flavor and sweetness to beverages, sauces, and glazes. Their most popular use is for blending into beverages, and we can see why. Not only can you personalize the drinks you make, you don't have to worry about trying to stir sugar into cold beverages. This way, the sweetness is more evenly dispersed and doesn't settle at the bottom of your drink. Making your own syrups at home also allows you to control how much sugar you're consuming in your drinks—perfect for those of us trying to avoid oversweetened store-bought drinks and high-fructose corn syrup.
Of course, simple syrups are no big secret; many home cooks and bakers make and use them on a regular basis. At its most basic, a simple syrup is just a 1:1 ratio of granulated sugar dissolved in water. However, there's a great way to make simple syrups shine: Just add tea!
While the most traditional method of making simple syrup is to heat the sugar and water in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until the sugar has completely dissolved, you can also infuse your tea, herbs, and/or spices directly into the water, allowing the tea flavor to shine through the syrup. You can use your favorite infusion system, or make it a one-pot process by using a Capsule Infuser or Folding-Handle Infuser to steep the tea into the water following our steeping guidelines. When it's done, simply remove the infuser, add an equal amount of sugar, and stir until over medium-high heat until the sugar has completely dissolved (do not let it come to a boil). When your syrup is cool, pour it into an airtight container and store for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
If you're looking for inspiration for blended drinks, here are some tips to get you started. Teas with citrusy or herbaceous profiles, like our Earl Grey and Tropic of Jasmine, blend well into gin-based cocktails. Our Kama Sutra Chai and Vanilla Cream black teas add rich complexity to bourbon and whiskey. You don't have to stick to alcoholic drinks, though—I love mixing peppermint syrup into iced tea and hibiscus or Black and Blue Monk syrup into homemade lemonade! For those of you who want to experiment even more with simple syrups in the kitchen, stay tuned: Our next blog on the topic will talk about using syrups in bases for everything from homemade pies to meat glazes.
It is that time of year when temperatures are climbing and we are all enjoying the beauty of nature outside. Two issues we often face in the summer as we sweat more is loss of water (dehydration) and loss of electrolytes. Electrolytes in the body help regulate the heart, nervous system, muscle strength, oxygen delivery, and so much more, so when they are lost in sweat, the body’s ability to balance and maintain these systems is decreased, sometimes to dangerous levels.
How do we fight electrolyte loss naturally? By using herbs. It is always important to drink enough water throughout the day, and doubly so when it’s hot out; adding the right herbs to your water can help hydrate you, cool you down, and, of course, help replace those ever-important electrolytes.
Herbs can help in several ways. For example, both hibiscus and peppermint are cooling herbs that reduce your body core temperature. Maintaining a lower body core temperature helps prevent heat stroke, exhaustion and even muscle cramping. Another great herb to beat the heat is raspberry leaf; not only is it refreshing, it is an adaptogenic herb that contains magnesium, potassium, iron, B-complex vitamins and vitamin C to help replace electrolytes. Dandelion is a circulatory aid that also contains potassium, iron and B-complex vitamins as well as vitamin C. You can find some of these herbs already in blends such as our Tropic of Jasmine, Cranberry Apple, Mo-Rockin’ Mint, FemiginiTea, Peaceful Pathways, and Lavender Lemonade, or have them on hand separately and add a pinch to your regular cuppa for some extra benefits.
You can also blend all four of these herbs together to create your own blend that can even act as a natural, low-sugar alternative to drinks such as Gatorade. Simply combine 2 teaspoons each of hibiscus, dandelion, peppermint, and raspberry leaf, hot-brew in a half-gallon of water for 25-30 minutes, and refrigerate to sip on or to fill your water bottle throughout the day. You can even add a teaspoon or two of one of our fruit blends as well for a great burst of fruity flavor. (My personal favorite is the Piña Colada.)
And remember, for a high-energy summer, it’s important to stay hydrated in order to recharge your batteries!
Are you exhausted from all the stress life keeps doling out? It seems to be coming from all directions, with nowhere to hide until finally crawling under the covers at night; only to wake up and have it all flood right back into consciousness. Day after day, dealing with the onslaught of stress takes its toll mentally, emotionally and physically. There’s no question that stress is a huge contributor to feeling out of sorts or even illness, diminishing quality of life.
In honor of April being Stress Awareness Month, let’s talk about easy ways to utilize tea to head off different types of stress, bringing back a sense of balance and empowerment.
1. Feeling emotionally drained, depressed, or moody: Certain teas with uplifting and mood elevating qualities may help flip the switch. Teas blended with Jasmine, Rose, Lavender, Vanilla, or bergamot (which is the signature note of an Earl Grey) have all be used historically to improve emotional states. We also have a tea blend that combines all these elements into one, our Blooms That Brighten House Blend. Sipping on a cup of this is like taking a walk through an English garden!
2. Exhausted, low energy, or mental fatigue: Energizing brews are in order here to find that motivation and clarity to face the day. To really jump start the morning on a high, try our Newport News Shipbuilders Brew. This black tea blend has potent caffeine and a bold, robust cuppa to get you running on all cylinders. For the green tea fan, go for the Mo-Rockin’ Mint blend containing a strong Gunpowder green tea with Spearmint and Peppermint, waking up mind and body. For an afternoon pick-me-up, our Minty Mocha Mata Madness is great to shake off nap’s siren song and increase mental focus.
3. Physically spent, worn out, or needing restoration: A session at the gym is a fantastic tool to combat stress! But what about recouping afterwards? The body needs rejuvenation to help heal after a tough workout, so reach for a hot or cold steep of MetaboTea. This tea and yerba mate blend with Ginger and damiana helps restore precious electrolytes and nutrients, hydrates the body, plus can provide that extra boost to the metabolism to take it to the next level. Rooibos is another excellent way to replenish essential nutrients and hydration. It’s an easy-on-the-body, natural energy drink! Try Thai Lemon Ginger Rooibos instead of reaching for a sugary sports drink.
If a way to destress isn’t in sight and that flight-or-fight mode is constantly being signaled throughout the body, the adrenal glands can get over taxed, free radicals build up in the blood, and the immune system can take a hit. In these cases, stock the shelf with our Gentle Cleanse and Defense Boost WellTeaing herbal blends. The Gentle Cleanse assists the detox process in the body by supporting the adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, lymphatic system, and blood. It’s gentle enough to use every day. Our Defense Boost blend supports the immune system in general, helping the body stay strong.
4. Muscle tension, feeling uptight, or racing thoughts: Relaxation is key, so take a deep breath. Then pick up a cup of our Egyptian Chamomile. This particular chamomile is potent as a neural sedative. Enjoy it straight or blended with other herbs. Chill out and unwind with some Peaceful Pathways Tisane, a wonderful flavor adventure combining that chamomile with ginger, lemongrass, hibiscus, rose hip, coconut, pineapple, and apple. Need something a bit stronger to conquer panic attacks, palpitations, mind chatter, or even help fall asleep? Then reach for our AnxieTea WellTeaing blend. Another option is our Sleepeeze which is specifically formulated as a sleep aid blending that chamomile, ultra lavender and valerian root. This one is meant to work on all levels to help relax mentally, emotionally and physically for a good night sleep.
5. Being off center, feeling lost, or losing purpose: Using tea for spiritual renewal is not a new concept; just ask any Buddhist monk. There’s a benefit to tea taking extra time and care, especially loose tea. It encourages mindfulness. Brewing tea is a great way to exercise ritual, stability and routine, and a healthy excuse to take a self-nurturing break. Making a pot of tea can become a meditation in itself. Whisk away to a misty mountain top retreat while preparing cup after cup of our King Hsuan Oolong throughout the day. The evocative, sweet floral notes will be a reminder to breathe deep, come to center, and appreciate the moment.
In a world where stress is an everyday—sometimes every moment—occurrence, tea can be a powerful combatant to the resulting effects from it. Be prepared and have your own arsenal at hand to take back your life. Slow life down to the speed of tea.
When we think of egg-dyeing, we normally think about the neon colors available every spring in supermarkets, but there are much more natural ways to make colorful festive eggs. In this blog, we're exploring natural plant dyes for eggs—in particular, tea!
Using natural dyes such as tea will give your eggs a more muted color than what you may expect from over-processed, store-bought egg dyes. There are a few ways to bring out brighter color, though. White vinegar's acidity dissolves a tiny bit of the outer part of the shell, making it rougher and allowing it to hold more dye. Salt can help, too, by helping bind the dye to the egg shell. When you take the eggs out of the dye, be careful handling them—the fresh dye can scrape off easily, leaving you with an egg much paler than you expected. Once the egg shells are dry, take a touch of veggie or olive oil and rub it over the egg shells—it will make them shine, and the color will stand out even more!
Ready to add some color to your spring? Boil the following for 15-30 minutes in four cups of water with two tablespoons of white vinegar and two teaspoons of salt to make your dyes:
• Two tablespoons of strong black tea, like our Turkish Tea – the resulting eggs will be brown.
• Two tablespoons of Japanese-style green tea, like our Japan Sencha – the eggs will turn bright yellow-green.
• Two tablespoons of Chamomile – the eggs will turn pale yellow.
• Two tablespoons of Hibiscus – the eggs will turn lavender-grey.
• Two tablespoons of Turmeric – the eggs will turn bright gold.
• Two tablespoons of Honeybush – the eggs will turn red-brown.
• Two tablespoons of Elderberries – the eggs will turn grey-purple.
You can even try combining different dye components to get more color variation. If you feel like raiding your local grocery store, red onion skins make gorgeous brick-red eggs and two tablespoons of red cabbage—believe it or not!—will give you bright blue eggs.
From ancient Egypt to the Caribbean, wherever it grows, hibiscus is known for its cooling, refreshing taste and a variety of health benefits. If you have ever enjoyed a lemon or raspberry zinger tea you have experienced the tart, refreshing crispness of hibiscus. Not to mention its delightful red color. It's as if hibiscus was made for summer!
Hibiscus provides a variety of dense minerals, organic acids, and packs a solid vitamin C punch that gives it the signature tart taste. Vitamin C is known to be helpful for colds, respiratory tract infections, and may be helpful with loss of appetite. Hibiscus is often used for the gentle diuretic effect it has which is helpful with edema and water retention. A few cups a week may help maintain healthy hydration and prevent unwanted water retention.
Historically hibiscus has been associated with the ability to help with blood disorders, heart disease, circulatory problems and stomach irritations. The acids are also a natural antibiotic; having antimicrobial compounds that are effective for digestive health, and can even get rid of worms according to Grandma. (I always trust Grandma.)
A trial conducted in 2010 involving 222 patients with metabolic problems, focused on hibiscus’ ability to aid in blood sugar regulation and cholesterol balancing. The study reported that “Hibiscus tea supports normal blood sugar levels and helps in cholesterol maintenance.” Hibiscus has also been studied for the high levels of antioxidants it contains in the form of Anthocyanins, a powerful flavonoid. One of the main effects reported is softer more flexible skin with less wrinkles!
So whether you’re looking for an elixir of youth, wanting to balance cholesterol and blood sugar, or simply wanting to put some zing in your cup, try a blend with some hibiscus. Some of my all time favorites are Pina Colada Fruit, Lady Hannah’s Whole Fruit, and Peaceful Pathways. Of course, it’s also fantastic all on its own!
