This is a wee bit overdue, but here is part deux to It’s Tea Time!

Now that you are aware of some of the benefits of drinking tea, you may want to incorporate it into a special event.  When it comes to planning your event, whether it’s a wedding or a house-warming, it is the details that will make the occasion memorable for everyone. So instead of leaving the entire menu up to a hotel, restaurant, or caterers, see if you can personalize it by including a few items of your own. Your menu choices should reflect your personality and/or the theme of your event, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. In addition to serving traditional drinks, such as wine, spirits and soda, why not try something natural and refreshing – like tea? Depending on the time of year, tea can be served hot or iced, and the possibilities for flavours are endless. And because it can be served in so many delicious ways, the time of day doesn’t really determine whether it is appropriate or not. It all comes down to whether it suits you and your event.

For those of you who are budget-conscious, cutting alcohol cost will go a long way, so just remember that tea can be included as both a non-alcoholic and an alcoholic option. There are plenty of recipes out there for tea punches, teatinis and tea-cocktails, whether they are virgin or… not so virgin. Keep drinks interesting by serving options like The Vanilla Sky recommended by The Ivy Keep, or a warm, sweet blend like Fireside Punch recommended by ThatsTheSpirit.com.

You may also want to consider making tea your party/wedding favour, especially if you found a special blend that perfectly suits your event or you as a couple. Tea is best stored in solid metal tins so that light and temperature won’t damage the flavour, but glass jars are a beautiful option too since you get to admire the colourful leaves and ingredients inside. Assuming your guests will use the tea within a couple months of your event, the loss of flavour shouldn’t be an issue when choosing a packaging option. They’re sure to be delighted to be taking such a delicious part of the event back home with them.

Do more research online, look for local tea shops to visit, and have fun smelling and tasting the wonderful array of teas and tisanes available. You may be surprised by what you find. Happy brewing!

{images from the rice scott empire, kathy beymer, praesentire and The Galt Museum on Flickr}

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m partied out. All the festivites… the wining, dining, indulging… with mutliple holidays/reasons to celebrate (Christmas, New Years, a House-warming, and a Birthday), I’m more than ready for a detox.

So let’s get down to it: tea. Tea is probably the easiest, healthiest and most natural solution to the “I ate too many fatty/greasy/sugary things this holiday season and now I feel like an elephant” problem. It’s also a great resolution to drink more tea this year if you’re a little late with coming up with one, because there are copious benefits to drinking tea that most people are unaware of. Whether you have a cup to start your day, finish your lunch, or snuggle up before bed with, it could quite literally change your life (or at least how you feel). Here are some of my recommendations for getting your detox on:

Green Tea: This tea type has been proven to suppress the appetite and pump you full of antioxidants. Antioxidants destroy free radicals which allows your body to heal and maintain well-being. It is probably the best tea to drink if you’re trying to lose weight (along with Oolongs) as they increase your calorie burning ability by speeding up your metabolism.

White Tea: A more delicately processed tea that is extremely rich in antioxidants, meaning it is the best fix if you are trying to boost your immune system. It is also the least oxidized of the teas so the caffeine levels are very low. There’s a new trend happening of companies using white tea in their skincare products too, so you might even notice yourself with a bit of a ‘glow’ from drinking this tea.

Pu’erh Tea: A fermented black tea that tends to be earthier in flavour since it is buried underground in caves in China and left to age (and just like wine, it gets better because of this). It contains probiotics like yogurt, which have a lot of potential benefits, like lowering both cholesterol and blood pressure. Pu’erh teas also aid with digestion and could possibly help to maintain lactose intolerance.

Rooibos: This caffeine free tisane is a powerhouse! It comes from South Africa and has been known to cure insomnia, hangovers, and even prevent dementia. Plus, it’s another great fix for your skin! Other benefits include it’s anti-viral, anti-spasmodic and anti-allergy properties, as well as iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin C and fluoride. How does it all fit in one cup?

Tea with Ginseng: Ginseng has been used for thousands of years to improve health, so it’s a guarantee fix. It has benefits such as lowering cholesterol, increasing energy and endurance, reducing fatigue and the effects of stress, and preventing infections. It is said to have a sharp, coppery taste that might be somewhat bitter, but you may find it blended in a tea with other ingredients that make it more pleasing to your palette.

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Interested in learning more? You should be able to find out a lot just by doing a Google search, but you can head right over to Your Cup of Tea and get a thorough break down of the history of tea drinking and many of the benefits involved. You should also visit sites like Chinese-Herbs.org to find out more about specific ingredients to look for in your tea and why.

Make sure to check back next week for Part 2 of It’s Tea Time! This time around I’ll be focusing on how to use and serve tea at a special event. Hope you’re as excited as I am. Until then, happy detoxing!

{images from *Cinnamon,  michenv, and Archangeli on Flickr}