Put on the Kettle

Every happy or tragic event in my life, the words, "I'll put on the kettle," were part of the telling of the tales of the day. A ritual I've kept sacred over the years.

Fun, friends, and a hot cuppa a tea to share joys and sorrows.

Born in Ireland, I grew up with tea. Tea in the morning with breakfast, tea all through the day, and then there's your teatime (supper). It was a staple in our house. Directly after dinner, we'd father round the living room and share a cuppa. At the end of the night, around 10:30, the family regrouped, had a bit of a yarn, another drop of tea, and we'd tarry awhile, as my Mum used to say.

Tea is valued for its warmth, taste, and ability to soothe after a long or bad day.

Every happy or tragic event in my life has been punctuated with, "A cuppa, Love?" My mother believed the tea ritual solved everything. I carried on the tradition when I became a mother. I dosed my children with peppermint tea when they had a stomachache, chamomile when their nerves were frayed, and raspberry when their throats were sore. When they had a cold, I mixed up my own brew of basil, garlic, Ceylon cinnamon, lemon and honey. On a down day, I made them the Goddess Tea because who doesn't want to be a Goddess? Even our Big Girl Fun Nights included a movie, a little something sweet, and a cuppa tea.

"I'll put on the kettle," lifted spirits. It meant someone cared about whether you had a good or bad day. Your tale of woe was going to be listened to, and there was going to be camaraderie. Full of chatting, biscuits, laughter, and maybe a few shared tears.

Turns out Mum was right about tea—it has some serious health benefits, which have been attributed to the healthy properties of polyphenols and phytochemicals. Polyphenols are antioxidants, which means they inhibit the destructive effects of oxidation. Polyphenols are plant substances that research has shown can protect you against disease and improve immunity. Most of these studies include green and black teas; however, many teas provide excellent health benefits, such as white, oolong and herbal teas.

With so many teas, it’s hard to know where to start. Let’s start with a tea tip. Perhaps you should ponder the wonder of The Goddess Tea.

Tea is valued for its incredible warmth, taste, and ability to soothe anxieties. Anytime there is a bit of good-natured craic to share, a cuppa is required, and everyone must be present before the ritual begins. Many memories of sad faces being appeased with the simple words: "I'll put on the kettle." It lifted your spirits. it meant someone cared that you had a day. Whether it be a job well done or a tale of woe, you were going to be listened to. There was going to be chatting, biscuits, laughter, and maybe a few shared tears.

There is a wide range of medicinal values of tea, including reducing the risk of heart disease, aiding in weight loss, strengthening the immune system, supporting your hormonal health, and clearing up problem skin. I love blending my own teas with ingredients like mint, raspberries, and Goji berries, along with dashes of turmeric.

With so many teas available, it's hard to know where to start on your tea journey to better health. Perhaps you should ponder the wonder of the Goddess Tea. It's a flavourful but quite potent tea. It's best to start slowly. However, I have found it to be an excellent daily health tonic once your body has adjusted to its potency. Listen to your body. Always.

Tea can interfere with medications you are taking, so please ensure you consult with your doctor. It's essential to exercise caution when taking alcohol, sedatives, or antidepressants.

Turmeric is recognized for its many health benefits, containing 20 antibiotic compounds, 14 anti-cancer compounds, 10 antioxidants, and at least 12 anti-inflammatory agents, among others. The combination of turmeric, ginger, pepper, and lemon is perfect for colds and sore throats. Adding tulsi (holy basil) and raw honey amplifies the tea's benefits. Remember, if you are predisposed to heartburn, the lemon and ginger may need adjusting.

If you want to give it a go, here it is:

The Goddess Tea Recipe

Ingredients

700 ml of water

3 cm of turmeric root (always start small if you are not used to it) peel & thinly slice.

*I prefer to shred my turmeric. Or use powder, starting small with 5 ml.

3 cm of ginger root (follow the same advice for turmeric)

5 Tulsi (holy basil) leave or 5 to 10 ml of dried holy basil.

1 lemon, freshly squeezed.

A pinch of ground black pepper.

Raw honey to taste.

Preparations

In a tea kettle or saucepan, add water, turmeric, ginger, pepper and Tulsi. Bring to a boil and let it cook for 10 minutes. Using a small strainer (optional), pour the liquid only into 2 cups. Squeeze 1/2 of a lemon into each cup. Add honey to taste. Serve and enjoy!

Be aware of your tea intake to avoid consuming excessive amounts. Once a day for this tea, please.

Tea can interfere with medications you are taking, so please ensure you consult with your doctor. It's essential to exercise caution when taking alcohol, sedatives, or antidepressants. Always read the potential side effects section of any tea before consuming. Not all organic products are equal. Not all are healthy for our bodies. Side effects are rare in many teas, but it's essential to be mindful. You are one in a million, for sure, and we want to preserve the wonder of you with your shining heart and not that one in a million who suffers from side effects.  

For example, I'm thinking of passionflower tea. It goes far beyond its natural allure; it's also used to make medicine. The practice and principles of classifying plants have identified over 500 species of passionflowers. The whole passionflower plant, including the flower, leaves, and stems, has numerous medicinal applications, but only the leaves are used to brew tea.

It's a beauty, the Passionflower, isn't it?.

Health Benefits

• Aides sleep disorders

• Reduces anxiety

• Eases menopausal symptoms

• Manages depression

• Heals skin complaints

Side Effects

• Low blood pressure

• Insomnia

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Upset stomach

• Drowsiness

Be aware of your tea intake to avoid consuming excessive amounts of passionflower tea, but truthfully, that's true of anything. Moderation is always key. Most people can safely consume a cup of passionflower tea without difficulty; however, based on research, individuals with low body weight, a medical condition, or a weakened immune system need to be cautious. Children and older adults are far more susceptible to the side effects. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or think you might be pregnant, please speak to your health care practitioner before consuming, especially if you are allergic to the Passiflora series.

Teas are powerful drinks that should not be trifled with, but people don't associate power with tea. I've been in the wellness business for fifteen years, and I had a patient who came to see me exhausted. She said her husband had insomnia. His discomfort made it difficult for her to sleep. He looked oddly red, so she took his blood pressure; it was very high, even with his medication.

I asked if he had tried anything new to eat or drink. She mentioned reading an article about ginseng tea helping to prevent cancer, so she bought some. Ginseng is a Chinese medicinal tonic that is widely used, but her husband had high blood pressure, and two side effects of ginseng tea are insomnia and rapid heart rate. She called her husband immediately and said, "Don't drink the tea!"

Often, customers believe that if a product is labelled organic, it's automatically good for you, but there is a list of ingredients you might not be aware of, such as castor beans, St. John's Wort, and mangos. Bitter almonds have a toxic compound that converts into cyanide in the body. My lovely patient thought she was doing preventive medicine with ginseng tea.

I love tea, and I love making my own with ingredients from my kitchen or garden that have been well researched and passed down from my Celtic roots. Given that, nothing beats:

• Taking yourself out on a date to a local tea shop;

• Treating yourself to a new tea;

• Inviting a friend over for a bit of a chat and putting on the kettle,

Sláinte

     Jillean