Showing posts with label herbal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label herbal. Show all posts

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Kanpe

Kanpe! A tea by DavidsTea that was a limited edition, and is no longer out on their website at least. 

And, is one of the reasons why I am not buying any Sweet Apple Cider! Kanpe basically tastes like apple cider, and is this beautiful, blood orange color! The other reason is this.

It's a gross, wet, dreary day. Perfect for hot apple cider Kanpe! 

I used two scoops, because I like it fairly strong. I wish there was more cinnamon in it, but that is an easy remedy if I put my mind to it. I steeped it for about 5 minutes.

It's a little light, but sweet, kinda creamy, apple-y, and yummy.

I pity those who never got to try it's apple cider-y flavor, and it makes me understand why people are getting the apple cider tea (although the apple cider I put in the clicky up top is amazing and I say go with that)

-Much love

L

Wednesday, 21 May 2014

The Last of Us: Mixing of Obsessions Part 1

Ellie is basically amazing. Image source here

This has to be a two parter. I'm sorry, but the information portion (this portion) is simply too long to be combined with the tea review portion! I'M SORRY I DIDN'T MEAN TO. BUT YOU BETTER READ BOTH BECAUSE I PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS.

This is literally the only game I'm going to play the entire way through, mostly ALL BY MYSELF. I've watched it be played online  numerous times and in person (Thank you, fiancee). So, I'm pretty well versed in the game itself.
Did I forget to mention I've watched ALL of the behind the scenes videos and googled the fuck out of things and have completed the DLC? No? Well now you know.

As you can see, this obsession has reached the same level as my tea obsession. So, I decided why not mix them together, and see what sprouts out?

The tea I found is actually an Icelandic Tea. It's closest to what I wanted, without having to basically make my own. One of the ingredients is pretty specific to where it is made. LUCKILY, the one ingredient that is not located in the USA, has a counterpart in the USA. SO IT'S ALL GOOD YA'LL.

Okay, so let's start with The Last of Us map. Basically every chapter has been mapped out and color coded! 

Image source is here

Now, let's move on the plants in the tea!

  • Birch (Betula pubescens) [1] [2]
  • Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica)
  • Angelica (Angelica archangelica)*

The angelica is the only non-American plant; and even then, it is only that specific species of angelica.  The North American specific angelica is Angelica Atropurpurea. Flavor and health benefit wise, it is basically the same.  Props for edible plants.

Image source here
All of these plants (replacing the Angelica archangelica with the Angelica Atropurpurea), are located in Massachusetts, and/or Pennsylvania, and/or Wyoming, and/or Colorado, and/or New England. Which, happily enough are all on The Last of Us map! As for the angelica, we have to pretend.

Now, let's go over the health benefits of all of the
stuff in this tea. You know, the thing that makes it something people would actually WANT to brew. Since just boiling water is easier than making a tea with barely any supplies, it has to be worth it. Otherwise, fuck that noise.

Birch: [1] [2]
  • Source of vitamin C. Vit C helps with collagen production. Collagen is required to help wounds heal. It also boosts your immune system.
  • It helps treat UTI's by increasing the amount you pee. Flushing out bacteria is rad
  • Helps treat arthritis/aching joints
  • Helps treat skin rashes
Iceland Moss: [1]
  • Helps with dry coughs/bronchitis/common cold
  • Helps treat indigestion
  • Helps treat fevers
  • Helps treat irritation of the mouth and throat
  • *It can be applied directly to poorly healing wounds
  • *It can also be used as an emergency food source
Angelica (Angelica Atropurpurea): [1]
  • Helps treat heartburn
  • Helps treat gas
  • Helps treat arthritis
  • Helps induce menstruation *see health warnings for more details
    • Abortive qualities would be beneficial if being pregnant would be a health risk

My plan is to actually take this tea before my period is due, and when I am in a bit more pain. As someone prone to joint and muscle pain, as well as someone with a uterus, I figure timing it out that way would make things a tad bit more scientific. If I have heartburn or gas at the time, I'll let you know.

Health warnings!

Image source here
Birch: [1]
  • Do not take if pregnant or breast-feeding
  • Do not take if allergic to mugwort, wild carrot, or celery
  • Do not take if you have high blood pressure
Iceland Moss: [1]
  • Do not take if pregnant of breast-feeding
  • Do not take if you have a stomach or small intestine ulcer
Angelica:  [1]
  • Do not take if pregnant or breast feeding
    • *It is suggested that angelica can cause uterine contractions
There seems to be a theme of DO NOT TAKE WHEN PREGNANT...


Oki Doki Smokey!  That's the end of Part 1! 
Now that you are up to date as to WHY this tea would be beneficial, available, and the potential health risks, next week we can do the actual tea review! 

Thank you for bearing with me!

Endure and survive until next week!

-L

I may even include a video of me playing TLoU. I'm not good at it, so it will be funny.

Again,
We DO NOT take responsibility for any possible consequences from any use of the information provided by this information, or information contained in this blog. The post of this information does NOT constitute the practice of medicine or replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider(s). Please seek the advice from your doctors.

Friday, 22 November 2013

White Chocolate Frost

White Chocolate Frost
from DavidsTea
I chose to start off the Winter/Holiday collection of posts with this tea because it smelled good, and because I wanted to save the super Christmas-y ones until it is actually December.

It looks incredibly dull... Like a mint tea, but with little ball things inside of it. But it smells like a really creamy mint. I steeped for four minutes, trudged out in to the snow for a picture for you, then scuttled back inside so I could drink it. Wow.



This tastes EXACTLY like those little Christmas chocolate candy things. Those white, pink and green white chocolates that taste like peppermint with the little balls of candy stuck to the bottoms. Do you know what I'm talking about?! They sell them during the Christmas season at a kiosk at the mall, and they kick ass. So does this tea.

I LOVE this tea. Wow. I must have more!! It is so creamy, without being sweet or overbearing, and minty. This tastes like my childhood; when I would sit with my English neighbour drinking peppermint tea with cream while we made fancy Christmas cards to sell at the local craft market. Good times. Good tea. If you love peppermint tea, get your ass over to DavidsTea and get yourself some of this before it is too late!



What a perfect way to end an evening in from the cold.



Happy Steeping!
~K