Friday, June 29, 2012

Guess the Tea & Win a Prize!

Below is a description for a specific kind of tea.  Whoever guesses this tea correctly will get both of my tracks for FREE. (Wait..What tracks?)

In January of this year, I started a campaign called Songs for Orphans, where all of the music I record and sell and shows I put on will go to benefit a specific local or international orphanage.  

On January 29th, I released my first single called "Orphaned One" and just a week ago released my second track called "Wilderness".  Since the release of my first song, I have raised around $800 for an orphanage I personally visited in Hyderabad, India called Agape International.  ALL of the money I make off my music right now is going to benefit this orphanage.

So, if you guess the tea, you will get both of these tracks for FREE.  Take a listen!  And hey, if you want to donate, that would great also. : )


 
Description:  This tea comes from Africa.  It is not a very bitter tea.  The fermented kind when steeped is red while the unfermented kind when steeped is yellow.  Most people don't realize that this tea is just as beneficial to drink as green tea. The antioxidants in this tea are believed to help prevent cancer by killing free radicals in the blood stream.  It is not a caffeinated tea. It reduces stress, irritability, and headaches.  It is also said to lower blood pressure.  (Leave a comment with the answer!)



What do you think?  Take a guess : )

Only the first person who gets this tea correct will receive both tracks. 

Good luck! (May it be ever in your favor...)

Kayla   







  

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Chai: Ce qui est mieux?

French for "What gets better?"

I know I am being 100% completely biased when I say this, but if you have not yet had a cup of Chai, you are just CRAZY (honey badger).  I know some people don't like it (you people don't have to read this post), but this is the drink that got me started on tea.

Chai is basically a tea that is steeped in about one-third water and then mixed with two-thirds milk with sugar added.  If you like coffee but are wanting to look into a healthier option with the same sort of texture, this is the drink for you.  Chai.com gives a good bit of info on this cup of tea.  Black tea is the main ingredient used in Chai and contains a good amount of antioxidants.  This tea in general is good for your immune system, blood pressure, helps to lower cholesterol, and prevents diseases like cancer and Alzheimers.  Compared to coffee, it also has less caffeine.  This means you can have more cups and still be drinking less caffeine than you would with one cup of coffee.



When I was in India, we had this tea twice a day and it was completely authentic (no tea bags or  a can you pour the tea out of).  Twice a day our hostess brought out the cardamom pods, cloves, fresh ginger, and other ingredients involved in making this delicious cup.

After I got back from India, my mom and I found an Indian Spice market off of 39th Street (in Oklahoma City).  There is probably and Indian market somewhere near you that you don't know about.  Look it up!  You can buy all of the authentic ingredients, and you will have plenty to make for a while.

Also, more and more places are beginning to serve Chai as a regular drink.  You can get a Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks (not really my favorite).  I prefer Chai from more authentic coffee shops.  Here in Oklahoma City you can get it at places like cuppiesandjoe.  Or when I am at school in Tulsa, I love to get it at either NordaggiosShades of brown, or CHOCS.  Find local places around you like this and try their version of chai.  You most likely won't be disappointed.

If you would rather make it at home, you can buy the easy tea bags maybe at Walmart or  Target or your local Asian Market.  You just steep the tea in water and then add milk and sugar to it.

Here is my mom's recipe on her food blog DishinandDishes for how to prepare authentic Chai.

Try it out.  Then you'll be asking me, "Ce qui est mieux?"

Kayla


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The Darling Darjeeling

This morning I tried what is known as "Darjeeling" tea (cue images and quotes from The Darjeeling Limited, which I still have yet to see).  I guess it counts a little bit that I have actually been to India.


One reason I am so fascinated with tea is because of the health benefits involved.  It is amazing to me that something that comes straight from the earth can be used to cure things in the body.

While drinking this specific kind of black tea today, I researched some to see what the health benefits were.  One of the greatest benefits of tea in general is the amount of antioxidants included, which serve to kill bad cells in the body while keeping the good cells healthy and intact.  Darjeeling tea has the compound TF-2 in it, which does just that.  It kills bad cells (ex. cancer cells), while keeping the good cells unimpaired.  TF-2 also supposedly reduces inflammation for conditions like arthritis and helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes.  The tea lower cholesterol and helps to maintain heart health.  According to livestrong, darjeeling tea also helps to fight dental plaque and keep your teeth healthy.


So why not drink this cup of tea?  You can most likely find it at your local walmart,  Akins, or an Asian market close to you.  Asian markets carry three times as much tea as our grocery stores.

How I prepare Darjeeling Tea:



1.  I fill up my tea pot with water and plug it in (super cheap, you can get it from Walmart).
2.  Pour water in my cup and set the loose leaf tea in it inside a tea filter (don't need this if you bought tea bags).  Let it steep for a couple minutes.
3.  Take out the tea and stir in some honey to desired taste.
4.  You're done!  Unless you like to add green leaf pearls like me (just for some extra antioxidants).


आमोद-प्रमोद! (Enjoy!)


Kayla