Solution?

When you pour your loose tea from the canister to the steeping/infuser basket, tap the basket on a countertop or hard surface a bunch of times. You’ll even see the tea dust on the counter that previously ruined your otherwise beautiful cups of tea.

What is rooibos?

Well, before we begin, we definitely need to clear up the whole pronunciation issue that I’ve noticed a LOT of people faced. “Roooooo-eee-bows?” No. “Ry-o-bows?” No.

‘Roy-bus’. It’s that simple. Now stop sounding like an idiot and start sounding like the tea superhero you are.

This naturally de-caffeinated ‘tea’ comes from a South African red bush. You might also see this tea referred to as ‘red tea’, even though rooibos can also be green (both are caffeine free). The tea is thin and needle-like, and is usually a reddish-brown color. It is popular amongst children and those who are caffeine sensitive, due to it’s naturally de-caffeinated state.

Although this tea is not derived from the camellia sinensis plant, it is loaded with health benefits such as the promotion of a strong and healthy immune system and the promotion of a healthy digestive system. As an added plus, this tea can also help with an upset stomach (along with jasmine teas, too).

I like to blend my own rooibos, Rooibos Tropica (available at Teavana for $5.80 per two ounces) with my Strawberry Oolong (available in the IntoTeas Gift Collection from Teavana), but this tea can be blended with just about anything. Enjoy.

You all know the feeling of driving by a McDonald’s and dreaming of that sugary-sweet, ice-cold sweet tea. Right? Well frankly, I don’t care that you’re scrunching your eyebrow and disagreeing. Get with the program. Everybody else does, you health freak.

Just kidding.

Conveniently, you can get the large size for only a buck. But with ONE POUND OF SUGAR per gallon, these deadly treats pack on the pounds. Where is the actual tea in this shit?

Waiting in the drive-through line may seem quick, but why not simply brew a batch of your own loose black tea, sweeten it with agave nectar or honey, and pop it in the fridge? Save the calories and get real tea.

When someone mentions sweets, we all imagine that fine white sand we all know as sugar. Right? Well, maybe you don’t. But I don’t care about your creative mind and how it isn’t mainstream right now. My point is: why not find a healthier image? We’ve all forgotten about an organic product that is healthier than cane sugar–honey.

Waiting for those annoying little grains to dissolve in your tea is annoying. What’s even more annoying is when your tea tastes different because of the sugar. With honey, all you have to do is pour (or scoop, if you’re using raw honey) and stir.

White sugar undergoes processing which destroys the organic acids, vitamins, and all the good stuff that is contained in sugar cane. Honey undergoes minimal heating, which is usually the only form of processing it faces. This way, the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties are conserved, making your cup of tea that much more beneficial.

Although honey contains about twenty more calories per tablespoon than sugar, it is sweeter than sugar; you use less of it, and probably save calories by doing so.

Honey is also easy for your body to digest, since those nifty little bees already used their magical enzymes to separate the glucose and fructose molecules.

If you’re vegan, or just want the most natural product out there, try agave nectar. You can purchase a bottle of 100% pure blue agave nectar for around four bucks at any WholeFoods or Trader Joe’s store.

Whatever you choose, skip out on the white sugar and never use artificial sweeteners. They’re even harder for your body to digest than white sugar, and can actually lead to weight gain.

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Today my family decided to truck on through the freshly covered roads of death and snow to Dublin, Ohio to visit the wonderful organic paradise of WholeFoods. Like a Trader Joe’s, but a BAZILLION times bigger. I almost peed my leggings.

There is a whole section devoted to natural beauty products (woot woot, Burt’s Bees included), which me and my mother and grandmother went crazy over. My mother showed me so much shit, I thought she was trying to make me spend my money. I picked up a bottle of Burt’s Bees Herbal Deodorant and Burt’s Bees Multicare Toothpaste, both of which I love already. The sage of the deodorant goes really well with my patchouli perfume. For the natural stuff you can’t even find in the Natural Products section in Target, this is the store for you.

There was also a nice-sized collection of pre-canned loose teas; Dragon Well, Assam Gold Rain, Silver Needle, and even magnificently-priced matcha were just a few. On the lower shelves were even some beginner teapots. Most of the teas appeared to be reasonably priced, but then again, I didn’t check how many ounces were in the tins. Hell, there may have been a little dancing monkey inside, ready to laugh in your face for paying ten bucks for his hairy ass.

Well, most were around $10. They all appeared to be nice quality teas, but I guess you should try at your own risk. Obviously you will have paid too much if it tastes like last night’s toilet drop-off. Not that you should know what that tastes like.

Surprisingly, there were even bottled pre-made teas from the Chicago-based Argo Tea, where my mother first got me hooked on loose teas by bringing home some of their Strawberry Green. That bastard…

Enjoy some honey with your tea? We got something even HEALTHIER than honey. It is the honey subsitute. Madhava’s raw agave nectar was chillin’ by the organic honeys, so we decided to pick up a bottle, and boy does it deliver. You need about 25% less than regular honey or sugar, because of it’s sweetness. An 11.75 ounce bottle runs at $3.99. It is USDA organic, vegan, and gluten free, so great for everyone. I really wish tea shops carried it, as it goes very well with light and fuller teas alike. *Sigh*…

Most things here are a bit more expensive than your average Walmart run, but you get what you pay for. All of their products are either natural or organic and great for everyone. A feel-good store for everyone, from hippies to the elderly to vegans to [insert group of people here that makes this sentence witty, such as 'health-conscious circus clowns'.].

What’s a simple measure we can all take to prevent being at risk of stones? For every cup of tea you drink, just drink a glass of water. One for one. This way, we not only help to cleanse the kidneys, but we also reverse tea’s dehydrating properties. I know, I know–after a nice flavourful cup of tea, water might as well be toilet water. But it’ll make that cuppa even more enjoyable when your brain isn’t swollen from dehydration.

Want some alcohol to celebrate, but just can’t have any for whatever reason? Chateau Blanc (^above^) is a white tea that is specially made to satisfy the wine connoiseur. Two ounces of this tea runs at $15.00, but is the highest-rated tea I’ve seen so far on the Teavana website, and it is one of the best I’ve tried. Since white tea naturally only has 1% of the ‘caffeine’ of a cup of coffee, and provides the most antioxidants out of any tea type, this is a healthy alternative to that alcoholic drink you wish you had…or a great feel-good drink to ease the pain of the one you wish you didn’t have.

We all hate throwing tea away. It’s just a fact. Those nice, unfolded, full tea leaves going down the sink drain is just an uncomfortable sight, even after you’ve exhausted the tea’s flavour.

Fear not!

Here are a few things I do to extend the life of my tea leaves after use. Although most of the nutrients and beneficial properties are pulled out by your hot water, it’s better than feeding your garbage disposal.

Tea Hair Mask

I read about this about a year ago and have tried it multiple times on my normal/slightly dry blonde hair, but this is for any hair type.

(Can only be used with straight teas [teas without fruits, flowers, sugars, additives)

1. Get a large glass, and bring the water to boiling.
2. Steep your tea for 10-20 minutes, depending on how patient you are. If you have light hair and you are steeping a tea that produces a darker brew, be aware that the tea may alter the color of your hair. (But usually if you’re reusing a darker-brewing tea, most of the color has already faded.)
3. Wait for the tea to cool. Boiling your head and hair is not the objective of this treatment.
4. Set the cup of tea in your bathroom in a place that will be easily accessible from the shower or tub.
5. Take a shower or bath as usual. Use minimal conditioner, and none if possible.
6. Turn off any running water. Pour the cooled tea into your hair and massage gently. Let the tea set in for about five minutes, and then rinse out.
7. Go about your normal post-shower routine. Done.

Tea fertilizer/compost

There are no steps to this one. If you have any potted plants or plants in general, just toss your used tea in the dirt and gently mix it in with a spoon or fork or your hands or whatever. It’s a great alternative to chemical fertilizers.

Fridge Deodorant

Tea is known for its ability to absorb scent–ever wonder why you’re supposed to store tea in airtight containers? Gather up a bowl of used tea and place it in your fridge, or even other places where odorsare a common issue, such as your bathroom. Empty the bowl every time you exhaust more tea leaves and fill it with the new used tea. To further extend the life of your tea, compost it.

Ever faced the awkward situation where you’re text messaging a loved one wishing them a (insert holiday here) and you don’t know whether you should capitalize the ‘happy’ or ‘merry’? And when you DO type out a “Wishing you a Happy New Year!” you just feel like something isn’t right?

Bah, holidays.

Maybe it was just the gasoline fumes from my boyfriend’s family’s bonfire last night getting to my head, but it seemed that humanity had taken a step forward and refrained from shooting their guns at midnight. Of course, there were still a few of the ever-so-patriotic drunkards that felt the need to pull the trigger on the sky. Oh, joyous holidays.

Happy Holidays. Drink a celebratory cup of tea.

(There’s that awkward capitalization crap. -_-)

Tea bags are enormously convenient, right? Right. But, that’s really about the only super-great thing about them. The teas in tea bags are just a jumbled mixture of small tea leaves, creating a faster but harsher less nutritional and less flavorful brew. The small bits usually dont have much room to move, either.

Loose teas are made with whole leaves, and when steeped with an infuser, are allowed room to really spread their wings. Or leaves. Silly me.

Think loose teas are inconvenient? Think again–you can purchase empty tea bags and fill them with your own loose tea. Fillable tea bags like ones sold by Teavana are roomy, allowing the tea to move and brew, and they preserve the nutritional values and full flavors of your favorite loose teas. It’s simple, too; just brew the teas or tea blends like you would with a tea infuser (I included a link to my post on brewing instructions at the bottom).

At Teavana, you can purchase 100 of these little miracles for only $4.99.

Teavana’s fillable and affordable tea bags: http://www.teavana.com/tea-products/tea-makers-infusers/p/perfect-paper-tea-filters

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