Tea v.s. Coffee

So okay, I understand that there is nothing better "I do realize then the smell of coffee in the morning"..  And I am not saying that coffee is outlawed in my household or anything that extreme....  I love coffee just as much as the next person, but for about almost 3 years or so I have become an avid Tea drinker..  I indulge in a cup of coffee when I get the craving, but for the most part I always end up with Tea in my cup.....  At first it was just to have something warm and yummy at night when I was pregnant...  Then it became a actual love of the flavor of tea as well as some actual helpful side affects, to now I must say I have an overall love and admiration for the stuff,,  a deep love..  I love learning new things about it, I love the way a tea cup sounds on a saucer I am just a big ole geek about it..

I have read about a dozen books on tea and love love love to find new blends and tea houses to go to, to learn more and taste new flavors of Tea...  With that said here is some of the reasons that I have nothing but love for tea....  Besides the fact that I can drink it throughout the day and not feel like a crack head nor do I crash and burn from drinking it..  My breath doesn't get nearly as stinky, and my teeth are a tad whiter......  My internal organs don't feel as coated and heavy either,,,,  Now I know that sounds a little funny...  One might ask well Melodie since when have you become so intuned to your internal organs...  And to that I answer "once I started to take care of them.. ;)  You know that pit in you're tummy when you have drank to much coffee or coffee on a empty stomach but you don't have an empty stomach..  Not for certain but to me that is your insides saying um no good pal!!!!!  So here we go lets start with my Hippie stuff first!!!!!

Environmental: Coffee filters can be used only once and are then thrown away. None are needed for tea. Tea companies are also, on the whole, much more involved with eco-friendly, fair-trade and organic projects and processes. The coffee-roasting process also emits particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, organic acids and many gaseous pollutants into the atmosphere. Many types of tea processing involve little more than human labor and sun- or wind-wilting. Baking processes used to complete the drying cycle can emit greenhouse gasses but do so to a far lesser degree than coffee processing, due to the lower temperatures and length of time used in tea processing. Finally, tea weighs much less than coffee, requiring less fossil fuel (on a cup-to-cup basis) to ship and export it around the world.
Purchasing organic black tea is more than just a better tasting, better quality product. Since there aren't any fertilizers used in organic black tea crops, the water and soil is better preserved. The harmful chemicals that are used in non-organic estates can damage land use, contaminate local waterways and poison our eco system. While most will purchase organic black tea for their own benefit, it is important to remember that buying organic helps to better our environment.


 Health: Coffee has been linked to a handful of health benefits, but it can also lead to hypertension, caffeine-related problems and heart disease. Tea has dozens of proven and widely-suggested health benefits.
- Tea has much less caffeine than coffee - between 25-50% as much.
- Tea contains tannins and catechins which have been associated with cancer and heart disease prevention
- Tea has been shown to act as a stress-reliever.
- Tea contains the polyphenol quercetin, which may interrupt the oxidation of LDL or "bad cholesterol". It may also lower blood pressure and blood sugar, suppress aging, prevent food poisoning and skin disease and act as an anti-viral. Quercetin can also act as a natural COX-2 inhibitor, providing pain-relief similar to pharmeceutical versions like Vioxx and Celebrex.
- Tea decreases triglycerides and free fatty acids in your bloodstream, while coffee contains cafestol, a fat-like chemical that actually can increase your cholesterol levels.
- Tea contains EGCG and theaflavins which can suppress the enzymes required for cancer-cell growth, thereby slowing the progression of some cancers. (Some research suggests that the antioxidants in tea may neutralize this effect, however).
- Tea is a digestive aid, it flushes the digestive system.
- Unlike coffee, tea has almost no carbohydrates, fats or proteins.
- Tea contains L-theanine, which has been shown to boost mental alertness and help the body's immune system.
- Oxalates found in tea can bind with free iron in the bloodstream, which can help the body fight HIV.
- Polyphenols in green tea can reduce intestinal inflammation related to IBD.
- Tea can help prevent diseases like Alzheimer's
- Tea may also be a significant factor in strengthening bones against oseoporosis
- Tea lowers your blood pressure
- Tea can help prevent kidney stones
- Some anti-venom serums have actually been extracted from black tea!
Tea fights cancer.
A number of scientific studies have found that antioxidants may slow or possibly prevent the development of cancer. Because tea is high in antioxidants, drinking it regularly can help ward off cancer.
Tea fights heart disease.
Tea protects the heart by relaxing blood vessels, inhibiting clots, and reducing cholesterol levels. Its high antioxidant levels also help ensure your heart’s health.
Tea prevents tooth decay, Coffee can contribute to brittle teeth, whereas tea helps inhibit the bacteria that lead to cavities. Mostly in the green teas you can find a means to fewer cavities.....  And that means a more brilliant smile...
Tea treats inflammation.
Studies have found the catechins in tea help reduce bladder and skin inflammations. This is good news for your body, inside and out!
Though tea surpasses coffee in terms of health benefits by leaps and bounds, coffee does present its own merits for the human body. For example, caffeine can help alleviate asthma and enhance the pain-relieving effects of aspirin. Unfortunately in the long run, the benefits of coffee still pale in comparison to those of tea. So, whether you enjoy green, black, oolong, or Earl Grey, you are doing your body a wonderful favor by brewing that next healthful pot of tea.



My favorite about Tea reads:
http://www.amazon.com/Story-Tea-Cultural-History-Drinking/dp/1580087450/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326181852&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Tea-Cookies-Perfect-Tea---Delectable/dp/0061938335/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1326181786&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Tea-Coffee-Trade-Journal/dp/B00006KZ2E/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1326181880&sr=8-16

My favorite Teas:

http://www.deandeluca.com/coffee-tea-cocoa/tea-by-type/black-tea/dean-and-deluca-earl-grey-extra-tea.aspx

http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/rooibos-teas

Rooibos Vanilla Chai from
http://stillmountainteas.com/HTML/herbal-tea.htm

The first school I taught at had a few really amazing ladies from Argentina teaching there,  Maria the one that I assisted for my first year went home to see her family and when she came back she brought me this cool gourd looking cup with a little metal spoonish thing and a bag of yerb mate tea...  They taught me how to brew it their way and I was in love.... This is the brand that I have found that tastes as good to me....
http://www.herbco.com/p-839-yerba-mate-green-cs.aspx

http://www.arborteas.com/organic-pomegranate-white-tea.html

Places to buy:
The Tea Cozy Sacramento

Still Mountain Teas in Neveda City here is the link if you are not a native of the area
http://stillmountainteas.com/index.html

Sacramento Natural food Co-op has tons of loose varieties to choose from...  Great for trying new kinds without having to commit and buy a whole box of something you don't like..

Whole foods

Peets coffee and tea has some reallllllllllly good teas!!!

How to Brew it, now this matters friends!!!  If you have never liked tea, how you make it could have a ton to do with it!!!

As a rule of thumb - - use 1-2 teaspoons per  8 ounce cup and gradually add more
tea to achieve the briskness and body of your choosing.  For best results, be sure to
allow room for the water to circulate between the leaves for best results regardless of
which brewing apparatus you choose.

Loose leaf in a teapot – This method of brewing tea allows for maximum freedom for
the leaves to unfurl.  This makes for a stronger, more flavorful cup.  The
disadvantages are removing the leaves, and cleaning the teapot after brewing.  If the
tea is not served and allowed to infuse longer than necessary, the tea can become
bitter.
The tea ball – Most tea balls are made from aluminum or stainless steel mesh to hold
the tea in place.  This allows for easier cleanup of the leaves.  However, there is
usually insufficient space for the tea leaves to expand and prevents water from
circulating freely around the tea leaves.  Tea balls vary in sizes from one to three
inches.
Stainless-steel mesh infuser – This method is similar to the tea ball, however,
handles were added for easier handling and cleaning.  The same disadvantages hold
true for the mesh infuser as do for tea balls.

After gauging the proper water temperature, the tea leaves are steeped in the water
using one of the methods listed above.  Steeping tea leaves should be allowed to set
still during this process because excess motion can cause the release of more tannins
which can lead to bitter tasting tea.  Do not steep tea for to long before serving when
brewing in a teapot.  Many newer teapots have basket filters that can be removed
after the tea has steeped for the recommended time.  Start with 1-3 minutes and
gradually increase the time to your preferred likeness.  This is especially important
when preparing delicate green teas.


I say to those interested, go to the store and start with a bold Earl Grey!!!!  If you are a coffee drinker this is the tea that is most coffee like to me in flavor...  You add some creamer in my case soy milk or mocha mix and a tad of agave and see what you think!!!!  I promise you in a few days you will get a taste for tea and feel a difference....   This will be an updated post...  When I find new yummy kinds I will for sure share the wealth... “If you like what you see I’m sure you know many other like-minded people that would also appreciate this information.  Please forward this to them and ask them to subscribe to my blog.  There is nothing that motivates me to keep pushing these posts out than watching my subscriber list grow and I can’t do it without you!!!!” Please message or leave comments of any useful info or finds, and Tread Lightly!!!!