June is National Iced Tea Month: Recognize with TasTEA Recipes

Below are a list of links to some of the best iced tea recipes I came across while searching high and low. These teas are perfect anytime, and not just in liquid form (hint - try some of these recipes as frozen slushes or popsicles)! Browse, click, try and enjoy! 

Blueberry-Lemon Iced Tea

Hot Steeped Lime Green Iced Tea

Citrus Rosemary Iced Tea

Hibiscus-Pomegranate Iced Tea

Pineapple-Mint Iced Tea

Black Tea Punch 

Pomegranate and Lime Iced Tea

Blackberry Mint Iced Tea 

Mixed Berry Iced Tea

Mango Iced Tea 

Thai Iced Tea

Frozen Iced Tea

Sip, Smile, Stay Awhile 

Match by Mood: Teas if You Need Energy

Tired: Whether it's the morning and you need a kick start, or mid-day and you need a boost, tea can be an all-natural way to sip the zzz's away. Depending on your caffeine sensitivity green tea may give you enough of a perk. Most commonly, black tea, with the highest levels of caffeine in tea, is a sure thing to get you moving. Chai tea, which is black tea based, has added spices that provide an extra zing when consumed. As a bonus, they have been known to even trigger creative inspiration. 

• Bombay Chai 
• Orange Dulce 
• Organic Earl Grey 
• Organic Breakfast
• ORIGINS Berry Black 
• ORIGINS Classic Breakfast 
• ORIGINS Earl Grey 
• Marrakesh Mint 
• Organic Mint Melange 
• Green Tea Tropical 
• ORIGINS Citrus Green 
• ORIGINS Kyoto Rice 
• ORIGINS Jasmine 

Sip, smile, stay awhile

Match by Mood: Teas if you feel Sad

Sad: If you're feeling a little blue, a cup or two may be what you need to turn that frown upside down. Now you may be wondering how tea could possibly help to improve one's mood, but it's the truth. Herbal infusions typically include tisanes, which contain natural mood-boosting properties. Teas that include lemon verbena, lemongrass, rooibos, and cinnamon are excellent sources of tisanes. 

• Organic African Nectar 
• Ginger Twist 
• Bombay Chai 
• ORIGINS Ruby Spice 

Sip, smile, stay awhile

Tea-rrific Benefits

It probably comes as no surprise that drinking tea has many wonderful health benefits. People have long been touting green tea for all of its healthy properties, and rightly so. However, there is more than just green tea out there. If you're like me and wanting to know what you're getting out of the tea you're putting in, this list will serve as your tea field guide. In addition to the individual benefits listed for each type of tea (note, this is a full list but does not list every single type of tea, that would be more like a book) the beverage is delicious hot or iced, it has no calories and it serves as a wonderful alternative to sugary sodas. Read on and drink to your health!

Hibiscus Tea

- High levels of vitamin C

- Proven to lower blood pressure

- Lowers cholesterol

- Stimulates detoxification

Oolong Tea

- Stimulates fat burning

- Helps metabolic rate

- Excellent for skin and complexion

- Naturally increases antioxidant levels

Rooibos Tea 

- Helps control allergies and fight off colds

- High in vitamin C and minerals

- Natural remedy for stress and insomnia

- Helps maintain a healthy heart

- Anti-aging properties

- Improves bone strength

Mate Tea

- Stimulant similar to coffee but without the jittery side effects some people get from caffeine

- Natural appetite suppressant

- Proven energizer

- Great source of vitamins and minerals

Ginger Tea

- Supports immune system (best tea for cold and flu*)

- Helps control chronic pain

- Supports better digestive functions

- Reduces allergy symptoms

- Invigorating for the entire body

Green Tea

- Excellent source of antioxidants

- Helps burn fat and increase energy

- Lowers stress and boosts brain power

- Reduces high blood pressure

- Helps preserve and build bone

- Boosts immunity

- Helps protect liver from alcohol

- Helps clear up acne

- Lowers blood sugar 

White Tea

- High source of antioxidants

- Promotes healthy skin and improves complexion

- Promotes detoxification

- Hydrates the body

- Has antibacterial and antiviral properties

Chamomile Tea

- Reduces diabetic complications and hyperglycemia

- Improves liver function

- Reduces inflammation

- Boosts immune system

- Relieves muscle spasms and menstrual cramps

- Helps promote restful sleep

Mint Tea

- Aids digestion

- Helps relieve bloating

- Natural cure for nausea and vomiting

- Natural appetite suppressant

Black Tea

- Energizes

- Can help lower blood pressure

- Can help prevent heart disease

- Reduces risk of stroke

- Reduces diabetes 

Sip, smile, stay awhile

This Time Baby I'll be Bulletproof...Coffee

Riddle me this - butter + coffee = fat burning secret? Yes! I could not believe it either, so naturally I had to try it myself. While, I can't support the fat burning claims just yet (I've only tried it once), I can tell you that it is delicious, and nutritious! So if you're curious about being bulletproof, check out the recipe below.

Ingredients 

• 6-8oz of black brewed coffee 
• 1 tbsp of UNSALTED grass-fed butter
• 2 tbsp of MCT oil or Organic Virgin Coconut Oil 
• Cinnamon to taste (optional - provides a little extra flavor, and metabolism boost) 

Instructions 

1. Start with your black brewed coffee, be sure you use organic mold-free beans! 
2. Add 1 (up to 2) tbsp of unsalted grass-fed butter 
3. Add the coconut oil (this is the key for maximum energy, weight loss and increased brain function)
4. Blend with a warm hand blender or counter top blender until there is a creamy head of foam 

Try it! Tell me what you think! 

Cheers to feeling super!!

Sip, smile, stay awhile

Tea Envy

For once it's ok to be green (tea) with envy; the health benefits and multiple uses for green tea make it a drink worth coveting. I'm sure this is not the first time you have come across green tea health benefits, so let us go over a few you may not have heard of and some that are just so impressive they are worth repeating.

Weight Loss - Green tea works to promote weight loss by boosting metabolism. Green tea contains a polyphenol that increases fat oxidation and speeds up the rate at which your body turns food to calories.

Diabetes - Green tea helps regulate glucose levels, helping to keep blood sugars from rising too highly after eating.

Heart Disease - Scientists have found that green tea helps to line blood vessels, keeping them relaxed and better able to handle changes in blood pressure. It can also help to reduce clotting, the primary cause of heart attacks.

Esophageal Cancer - Green tea can help reduce the risk of this cancer as well as help kill cancer cells.

Cholesteral - Drinking green tea lowers bad cholesteral in the blood and helps balance the ratio between good and bad.

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's - Drinking green tea is said to slow the process of deterioration caused by Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, some studies have even begun to show that green tea may help protect and repair brain cells.

Tooth Decay - Green tea contains a chemical antioxidant, "catechin", that can rid the mouth of bacteria and infections that can cause things like throat infections and dental conditions.

Blood Pressure - Drinking green tea regularly can help reduce the risk of having high blood pressure.

Depression - Green tea and other teas contain an amino acid, theanine, that helps provide a relaxing, calming effect.

Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial - Some studies have shown that green tea stops the spread of many diseases, and the "catechins" have strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties that are helpful in treating things from the flu to several types of cancer.

Skincare - Green tea has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce the appearance of aging, fighting off the free radicals that cause wrinkles and and sagging.

So I don't know about you but I'm going to brew some green tea now, and get my health on. For more ways to use and enjoy green tea, check back later for posts on how to create your very own green tea skin treatments.

Sip, smile, stay awhile