Rethink What You Drink - The Tealish Blog

Rooibos to the Rescue: the Headache Eliminator

rethinkwhatyoudrink — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:57:14 +0000

Excuse us while we state the obvious: Nobody likes a headache. It interrupts our day and hey, it’s painful! There are a long list of headache causes that we won’t dive into here, because no matter what the cause, we’ve got something up our tea-stained sleeve for all you headache sufferers.

The dreaded at-work-headache!

And if you haven’t already guessed, it’s rooibos! Yes, this herbal superstar serves yet another positive health function. While you can try your luck with Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen, rooibos naturally has the same effect, and can be taken to prevent headaches all together. Plus, we love drug-free, all-natural treatments!

The most important thing to note in this equation: Rooibos is a relaxant. It decreases bodily tension from the head to the toes, and is especially effictive in the gastrointestinal tract. It is therefore very useful as a sleep aid and, since drinking it will leave you less tense and better rested, it might diminish the likelihood of getting a headache in the first place. Add it to your daily regimen to experience more headache-free days!

Steeping some delicious rooibos!

Once that first twinge of head pain strikes, it is still wise to drink a large cup of hot or cold rooibos. Most headaches are caused by muscle contractions in the face, neck and head, so the relaxing power of rooibos will definitely come in handy here! Its anti-inflammatory properties can help ward off the pain, and if you’re suffering from nasal congestion, rooibos will block your body’s histamine release, meaning you will de-congest in no time! Another major cause of headaches is dehydration. Lucky for all us rooibos fanatics, our favourite helping herb contains naturally occurring electrolytes and is therefore fabulous as a hydrator!

So lift a glass (preferably of rooibos tea.. c’mon people) and salute the super-herb that is rooibos!

2 Simple, Summer Matcha Recipes We Can’t Live Without!

rethinkwhatyoudrink — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:37:46 +0000

We won’t lie, we’re picnic-ers. While many of our fellow urbanites may roll their eyes at that sentence, consider this: There is no better way to “escape” city living for just one day. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to do something fun! Just pack up a blanket, a book and some goodies to eat and drink, then head out to a local park.

One of our favourite picnic flavours is matcha. The powdered green tea is incredibly useful for so much more than just making hot tea – as you’ll find below, with our favourite matcha treats. If you still aren’t on the picnic wagon, you can always come in to the Tealish Tea Cafe and we’ll make one of our famous matcha drinks for you!

So, why do we love these treats? Easy, they’re simple recipes that require very few ingredients. Also, the end results are more delicious, nutritious and cost effective than anything you’ll buy at the grocery store. Try to prove us wrong! Bonus points go out to these recipes in particular because they’re energizing and preservative-free.

Easiest-Ever Matcha Ice Cream

1 cup cream

1 can preservative-free condensed milk. We like Eagle Brand.

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tsp Tealish Matcha Organic

1 tbsp hot water

Whisk the matcha powder into hot water using a matcha whisk. Put the matcha mixture, cream, condensed milk and vanilla extract into a blender or whisk by hand. Freeze mixture in a loaf pan. Once frozen, scoop mixture into a bowl for the final hand blend. Then, enjoy your delicious ice cream! You can also re-freeze after the final step (but ours never lives to see the freezer again). If you’re lactose intolerant, play around with these measurements using coconut milk! Adding coconut shavings will beef up your mixture and add great texture. Yum!

Matcha Lemonade

8 ounces hot water

1 tsp Tealish Matcha Organic

1/4 lemon, sliced for squeezing

1 glass filled with ice

Sweetener (optional)

Mint and/or lemon to garnish

Whisk the matcha powder into hot water. Squeeze the lemons into the mixture, tossing in one or two of the slices as garnish. Sweeten to taste. Pour over ice and sip! Good, right?

Get Beautiful Summer Skin… With Tea!

rethinkwhatyoudrink — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:14:43 +0000

Ever wonder how some people just GLOW in the summer time? It’s as though all of that sweat and sun that gives the rest of us an unfortunate mixture of everything from acne to dry skin just doesn’t affect them. Do these people know something the rest of us don’t? Is there some kind of secret ingredient they use? It just so happens that one of these secret ingredients is none other than TEA!

She's got a secret weapon! We'll tell you how to use it.

As it turns out, our favourite bevvy serves yet ANOTHER role in its endless array of health benefits: skin softner, soother, clearer-up-er, de-puffer… we could go on. What we mean to highlight for this season, is that tea works wonders for damaged summer skin! We’re here to tell you just how to put this skin superstar to work in the most effective ways.

For starters, it’s helpful to know WHY tea is so great for skin. Green tea is best, boasting a particular kind of anti-oxidant that serves as an anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogen. It also rejuvenates skin cells, making your skin bright and soft. You can even use the leaves themselves, without steeping! But more on that later (We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves)…

Fresh, healthful tea leaves!

1) Beautiful skin is HYDRATED skin. That means getting your 8 glasses a day. Iced Tea offers more flavour than water and can be enjoyed unsweetened, keeping sugar out of it! Make yourself a big jug of iced tea and keep that puppy on hand. Here’s our recipe.

2) Green tea rids your body of unwanted toxins AND acts as an anti-inflammatory. Use it after the sun to de-puff, refresh and detoxify! We love using it as toner, applying it to the face with a moistened cotton ball. Also, try it as a skin spritzer, keeping a spray bottle full in the fridge and using it post-sun. Added bonus: green tea’s anti-inflammatory properties will keep pimples off your radar!

3) Green tea rejuvenates dead skin cells. Seriously! To maximize the results, make your own green tea exfoliant. Add a concentrated shot of green tea to your favourite, all-natural lotion. Then, use a pestle and mortar to grind dry leaves into fine dust. Add it all together and massage onto the face gently in the morning or at night. Rinse to reveal glowing skin!

4) To soothe a bad sunburn and soften that dry, sun-scorched skin, make a tea compress, cool it, and apply it directly. If it’s a REALLY bad burn, add some aloe vera to the compress! You can also add a few cups of green tea to luke-warm bath water for a seriously refreshing effect. Don’t forget to rinse well. Otherwise you might end up with a green-ish fake tan… Yikes!

5) Flaunt that flawless skin like nobody’s business!

Check it out! An in-depth article detailing the anti-oxidant, skin rejuvenating properties of green tea:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0429_030429_teaimmunity.html

Summer Tea Cocktails!

rethinkwhatyoudrink — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:11:02 +0000

Every group has one: the summer party host! This generous friend offers up their backyard/cottage/patio throughout the warm summer months, but faces a great challenge. What do you serve to the friends who’ve tried all of your signature punches and cocktails a dozen times over?

Create something new by adjusting classic recipes!

Tea cocktails are making a BIG splash on this summer’s drink list. This is nothing new – in fact, tea has been used in punches since the 16th century – but the options are now endless as tea aficionados and mixologists alike roll out recipes for summer tea-infused deliciousness!

We’ve tried and tested our own blends against this trend! Let us say, these recipes are sure to stay in our repertoire for years to come as they are OUTRAGEOUSLY YUMMY.

Toronto Island Iced Tea

1/2 oz. triple sec

1/2 oz. vodka

1/2 oz. gin

1/2 oz. tequila

1 oz. sour mix (2 parts lemon juice, 1 part sugar, 1 part water)

4 oz. Citrus Grove

Prepare the citrus grove as described in our recent post. Mix all liquids together over ice. Shake or stir. Add lemon slice to garnish!

Moroccan Mint Julep

2 oz. Moroccan Mint tea

1 oz. bourbon

1 oz. soda

Oranges, cherries and mint sprigs

Mix tea, bourbon, fruit and mint, making sure to mash up the cherries and mint sprigs a little bit. Pour over ice and top with soda!

Pink Dragonfruit Vodka Mar-tea-ni

1 oz. Pink Dragonfruit infused vodka or gin (Let 1tsp of tea soak in 100ml of vodka for 4-8 hours)

1/2 oz. triple sec

2 oz. Pink Dragonfruit, chilled

Mix all liquids and pour into martini glass. Garnish with citrus fruits.

Pina Colada Punchbowl

2 parts Pina Colada tea, chilled

1 part coconut water

1 part pineapple juice

1 part rum

Mix all liquids together in punch bowl, add ice and slices of pineapple to garnish.

Living the Gluten Free Life.

rethinkwhatyoudrink — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:41:04 +0000

Here at Tealish, we’re sensitive people. Whether we like it or not, everyone has a little something in the intolerance department. In fact, between us all, the only option that works is a gluten-free vegan one.

Our Gluten-Free Vegan Cupcakes by TeaTree Cafe!

You may already know this, as we serve both vegan and gluten-free vegan cupcakes in the shop! However, finding a source of good knowledge, food reviews and recipes is hard for those of us who have to scan the ingredients list with fingers crossed…

That’s why we were SO excited to come across – our now good friend – Gluten Free Gigi! Her website is a haven of knowledge and sharing for those of us who need to eat a gentle diet. So, when we started talking with Gigi about her project and ours, we realized that Tealish and Gluten Free Gigi were actually kindred spirits, hoping to provide better options for people in the food and drink category.

Visit her at www.glutenfreegigi.com to check out her latest entry, a review OUR VERY OWN TEAS and follow her instructions to win some of your own. Isn’t it fabulous when like-minded peeps come together?

Healthy AND Refreshing Iced Tea!

rethinkwhatyoudrink — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:15:28 +0000

Tea is a cold-month favourite, but most people turn to the “classic” drinks of spring and summer once the warm weather hits, including pre-packaged sodas, juices, and iced teas. What many don’t realize is that these drinks are typically loaded with sweeteners, and indulging in a glass or two a day is usually equal to one full day’s amount of recommended sugar. Aside from the unpleasant weight-gain that follows sugar gorging, other side-effects such as migraine headaches and intestinal issues are linked to over-consumption of sugar. So what should you turn to when you’ve had too much ice water, don’t want the sugary drinks of summers past, but need some flavour in your life? …

Water can quickly turn from refreshing to bland when trying to stay hydrated in summer!

… Any tea can be iced. It’s true. And the most simple method is often to make a large quantity and store it, so that your favourite drink is on-hand and convenient. What you’ll need:

A jug
An infuser (Any old jug and infuser will do, but if you’re committed to iced teas the way we are, we suggest something made specifically for loose-leaf iced teas. We offer Bodum® and Takeya® varieties in-store)
2-3 grams of tea per serving (When making large quantities, 1 teaspoon per 6 ounces. If you’re doing a two-litre jug, that means you’ll need 11 teaspoons or 22-33 grams. )
Cold water

Put the cold water and tea-filled infuser in the jug and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Voila! Your favourite iced tea awaits you in the morning.

Iced tea can be made in all quantities and varieties!

You can make individual cups of iced tea, too. Here is our classic Citrus Grove recipe for a single serving:

3 teaspoons loose leaf tea
6 oz hot water
6 oz ice cubes
Lemon, fruit or herbs to taste

Infuse the tea in the hot water, add ice cubes and enjoy!

If you’re interested in something a bit sweet, loose-leaf iced tea is still a better option. Simply add a bit of honey or sugar syrup (a bit of sugar mixed with a bit of hot water) to your cup. This way, you know exactly how much sugar you’re consuming with each glass!

Grow Your Own Herbal Teas with Tealish!

rethinkwhatyoudrink — Sun, 15 May 2011 13:57:38 +0000

Eating local and home-grown food is more popular than ever. While social conscience plays a role in the decisions we make regarding food sources, it’s also nice to know where and what created the food you’re eating. With that in mind, and because today – May 15th – is optimal for planting, we thought we’d share some easy gardening tips that will help both the green- and black-thumbed alike! After all, what’s more rewarding than plucking something from your garden to create a delicious cup of tea?

Organic herbs grown in recycled tins! Credit: hedgewitchuk.blogspot.com

It’s important to know why today is so great for planting: we’ve braved through the last frost and we are generally safe by this time of year. If you plant before the last frost, you risk damaging the seedlings and needing to replant. The next thing to consider is what you will be planting. Some herbs and flowers that prosper in southern Ontario weather and make great tisane (herbal tea) include anise, fennel, lavender, vervain (lemon verbena), mint and chamomile. Next, what will you do about soil?

Typically, herbs adore well-drained soil and don’t like to get their roots soggy. Most of the soil in GTA backyards is a bit dense and clay-y, so we suggest compost, compost and more compost. The plants and the environment will thank you If you’re growing mint, our experience tells us that it is least picky and will grow just about anywhere!

If you’re choosing to pot your plants, put some pebbles in the bottom of the pot before adding potter’s soil. This will keep the roots nice and dry. Make sure the pot drains well, too!

City-style herb garden! Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnson7/1344178331/

Sit back and wait for the fruit of your labor (literally). Leaves can be snipped once the plant begins to flower and flowers can be taken just as they start to open. Fruit and seeds are best removed when fully ripe.

You can use the herbs when fresh, adding about 10grams/6ounces of water. Or, dry them yourself. This article gives in-depth direction for drying herbs. Once dried, use about 5grams/6ounces of water.

Follow our advice and you’ll be sipping a hot cuppa in no time Good luck!

Rooibos to the Rescue: Allergy Edition

rethinkwhatyoudrink — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:10:58 +0000

If you’ve ever been to the Tealish Tea Boutique, you know that we LOVE rooibos! It’s caffeine-free, tastes great and – with an ever expanding collection of studies pointing toward its VERY positive health benefits – we feel that drinking rooibos should become a daily ritual for just about anyone.

A recent study on the antioxidant capacity of rooibos proved that this tea is packed full, containing levels that we thought only green tea could offer. So many of our customers ask us about the many healing powers of rooibos that we’ve decided to take a more in-depth look at its health benefits, including its use as a digestive aid, powerful hydrator and so much more…

This is the first installment in a series we call Rooibos To The Rescue.

Drinking rooibos tea can help allergy sufferers.

Rooibos is a must-have for illness prevention in every season and spring time is no exception! With a score of anti-inflammatory properties that have the ability to reduce our body’s histamine release and allergy response, no allergy sufferer should be without rooibos this spring.

Not only does rooibos heal from the inside out, preventing swelling and itching, but it can also be applied to the skin for instant relief. Itchy eyes can be soothed instantly with a cool, moist bag of rooibos. Put a small amount of rooibos in a paper, cotton, or silk tea filter, dip it in water and you’ve got a fool-proof solution to skin and eye irritation. This is especially helpful for those of us suffering from hay fever!

Spring brings the good and the bad. With fresh flowers and grass popping up everywhere, prepare yourself by drinking a few cups of rooibos each day. And keep a look-out for our next installment on the wonder-tea that is Rooibos!

Oh Christmas Tea – HOLIDAY TEA LATTE RECIPE

rethinkwhatyoudrink — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:12:58 +0000

Using one of our festive tea blends you can make delicious tea lattes this Holiday season!

HOLIDAY TEA LATTE (12oz)

4 heaping teaspoons Oh Christmas Tea
6oz boiling water
6oz steamed milk
1 teaspoon honey or sweetener

Sprinkling of cinnamon

Infuse Oh Christmas Tea in 6oz boiling water for 3-5mins.
Stir tea leaves briefly during infusion to release more flavour.
Remove tea from water.

Stir in steamed milk and honey, and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Enjoy!

TIP: You can adjust the strength of the latte by using more/less tea and by
modifying steeping times. Use this recipe to make lattes with any of your
favourite teas!

TRY MAKING A HOLIDAY TEA LATTE WITH THESE TEAS:

Oh Christmas Tea

Rudolph’s Red Rooibos

Toasty Almond

Driedels & Donuts

Chai Rooibos

Come visit our NEW LOCATION at 728 Queen St. W.!

rethinkwhatyoudrink — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:56:27 +0000

New design!!

So we’ve settled into our new spot at 728 Queen St. W. and would love for you to come by for a visit! Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll find in our new digs!

New teaware for sipping in style!

Blomus teaware from Germany

We’ve got some amazing new teaware for you to add to your collection! Classic and stylish pottery from Bauer, teapots and brewing devices from Blomus Germany, handmade mugs and teapots from local ceramic artists and best of all………

Tea Cafe

A new cafe seating area where you can enjoy all of your fave tealish bevvies in house! Sit in the back room and watch us whip up tea lattes, or park yourself in the window so you can watch all of the hot action on Queen St. West!

Come by for a visit and let us know what you think!!

And coming soon……..Cookies! Not just any cookies, but ones with your favourite chocolate bar mixed into it -Skor White Chocolate anybody???

Tealish

728 Queen St. W

Toronto, ON

M6J 1E8

www.tealish.com

416.203.3301