Tea to Try

With Christmas over, everyone's settling in for a long hard winter.  (Except Southerners - pore things.) When sharp winds and plummeting temps drive you indoors, brew a cozy cup of tea and settle down with your favorite book for the afternoon.

Tea seems to make everything feel a little cheerier, and its a writer's best friend.

Here are a few of my favorite cups.

(None of these are my images.)

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Type: Black


         - Helps lower cholesterol
         - Helps your teeth, skin, and bones stay healthy
         - May help keep your blood sugar at the right level

My favorite tea in all the world! Super Irish Breakfast is a hearty tea that's a good substitute if you dislike coffee.  It has a creamy, robust taste and goes down smoothly.  I have mine with a splash of milk and a spoonful of sugar.

Type: Black

If you can't find Irish Breakfast, English will do...but I think it tastes a little "dirtier" than the Irish.

Type: Black

Needless to say, I had this on December 25th and it was very good.  It's silky and light with a hint of spice.  Take with milk and sugar.

Type: Herbal

          - Good source of antioxidants / vitamins (Especially Vitamin C)

          - Other benefits depend on what herbs are used

          - Caffeine free

This fresh and minty tea is tasty and has sentimental value for me.  A long time ago, my grandma would come over every Friday with a box of doughnuts and we'd have mint medley and sit around the table scraping off frosting with our fingers.  We still get to do that sometimes - but doughnuts every week can't be very good for you :) Many people use sugar in herbal tea, but I prefer honey.

Type: Herbal

Soothe your nerves with a cup of this chamomile.  Take with a spoon of honey. 

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Those are my favorite bagged teas.  But there's also loose leaf tea.  It's been a long time since we've had any black loose leaf tea, but that was all pretty good.  It's just kind of a hassle to make, so we switched back to bag tea.  Something my mom does still make (which is very good) is mix Teavana's Blueberry Bliss with Teavana's Peach Bloom.  It's fruity, red, and has a hint of candyish taste.  Take with honey.  

Type: Rooibos

          - Caffeine free

          - Helps digestion

          - Good for skin / complexion

          

What are some of your favorite teas? Are they White (great for complexion)? Oolong (burns fat)? Or green (which is very healthy but I think is disgusting)? Whatever you like, I'd love to hear about it.

Happy brewing!

- Ellyn

P.S.  There is only ONE MORE DAY for you to enter my giveaway! If you haven't, there's not much time left! :O