June 25, 2012

• Jujube tea

  #Jujube #tea

  #Herbalism

  My exposure to #TaiChi as a martial art, also exposed me to other eastern practices. The Shi fu who trains me studies in China for several years and adopted many of the Chinese practices. One of the things he is trying to introduce both from a commercial and cultural perspective is the practice of drinking Chinese tea. Although green tea is the most well known, it seems that any herb or fruit that can be put into water can become Chinese tea. The number of teas are endless. Combining that with my interest in herbs it seems that the Chinese tea is not different from herbalism.

  I like the taste of the teas I was introduced to a few days at a free Chinese tea tasting. As a Cape Town resident I am used to wine tasting events. The difference between wine tasting and Chinese tea tasting is that wines are a rich combination of flavours while Chinese tea is more  one taste. Apparently when you have an understanding of the different teas you can start to combine different teas to get a more complex taste. So I bought myself a little inexpensive mug to start my journey into experimenting with Chinese teas. I will later invest into a more expensive tea set. The mug is a mobile option I can easily take to my work environment where I would like to be refreshed with a cup of Chinese tea. So this entry marks the first cup of Chinese tea in my Chinese cup.

  I bought two types of teas namly Jujube tea and Goji tea. Jujube is a herbal tea prepared from the sweet jujube fruits and contains sugar, vitamin A, B1,B2 and C and is used to improve muscular strength and stamina and as a tonic for the liver. I chose this one because my flu is still persisting and my throat not totally cured. I am still coughing at night due to a persistent nasel drip.  The teas like other herbal rememedies all are associated with connected health properties.

  The jujube tea has a sweet refreshing taste. The tea is a cheap option relative to other options like corbonhydrated colddrinks that are available at work. It normally does not contain caffeine like other teas and coffees. So for now it is an interesting alternative and once more an opportunity to expand my knowledge. Like herbs, Chinese tea is not an quick solution like other medication for healing ailments. Herbs tend to work a slower more natural process of dealing with the actual problem rather than just removing symptoms. It does not replace conventional medication but given the alternatives available the drink and use of Chinese tea does offer an alternative with consequent health benefits.

  Making the tea is an art in itself for the true experts. Each tea must be at a particular temperature and mixed in the correct quantities. However for me starting of on this journey it is simple. You put the jujube fruit in a strainer, pour boiling water over it and allow it to stand for a minute or two. Then you remove the jujube fruit with the strainer and can drink the tea at any later time. You can drink it both cold and warm. When you want another cup you simply put the strainer back over the cup and pour additional  hot water over it. The strength of the tea deminishes over time giving you a different taste sensation. The golden rule is that you can use the tea for the whole day by adding water if you like but you do not leave it overnight. I could not find out the reason for it but ...that is the folklore rule to abide by.

  On health and refreshment!

  

  My Chinese cup for drinking Chinese tea. On the top you can see the strainer as well as the lid to keep the tea warm while it is brewing.

   

   

   

  • 3:21 am
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