Boost the Immune System

Rosehip and hibiscus tea contains vitamin C. This important immune-support vitamin is found in rosehip and hibiscus tea, as reported by the National Institutes of Health. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. This means that it cannot be stored and is excreted from the body daily. For this reason, it’s important to receive vitamin C every day in our diet. It boosts the immune system because it’s a natural antioxidant. The Linus Pauling Institute of Oregon State University reports that small amounts of this vitamin can be beneficial for the protection against free radicals. This results in healthy, strong cells throughout the body.

Lowering Blood Pressure

The hibiscus portion of the tea has shown to lower blood pressure in human studies. Chronic high blood pressure affects almost 30 percent of Americans. A study reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture discussed the blood pressure-lowering effects in pre-hypertensive and hypertensive adults. During this six-week trial, the group drank 3 cups of hibiscus tea daily and had a drop of approximately seven points in the systolic blood pressure. If you have elevated blood pressure, you should discuss herbal and other treatments with your health-care provider.

Arthritis Remedy

Rosehips are used to relieve pain associated with arthritis conditions such as osteoarthritis. This condition is a degeneration of the cartilage that sits between the bones. Cartilage provides a cushion in joints such as knees and hips. Without cartilage, bone rubs on bone and an inflammation process starts. This can be painful. Rosehip found in tea decreases inflammation. A Danish research group identified a component called galactolipid in rosehip that is an anti-inflammatory component.

There will be a Round 2 voting that will begin May 19th and the top 25 charities  will receive additional funds.

Round 2: From May 19, 2011 to May 25, 2011, users can vote for any of the Round 2 Charities through the Chase Community Giving application on the Facebook platform. On or about May 26, 2011, the votes will be tallied and the 25 eligible Charities receiving the most votes will be considered the winners of Round 2 and will share in $2,500,000 in donations from Chase.

Vote at:

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/541215402-wildlife-center-of-virginia

Round 2: Chase will donate to the 25 Charities receiving the most votes in Round 2 in the following amounts:

• $500,000 to the Charity receiving the most votes (rank 1);
• $400,000 to the runner-up Charity (rank 2);
• $300,000 to the next runner–up Charity (rank 3);
• $200,000 to the next two runner-up Charities (ranks 4-5);
• $100,000 to the next five runner-up Charities (ranks 6-10);
• $40,000 to the next five runner-up Charities (ranks 11-15); and
• $20,000 to the next ten runner-up Charities (ranks 16-25).

http://www.facebook.com/wildlifecenter

You can also watch the Eaglets live at:

http://www.wvec.com/marketplace/microsite-content/eagle-cam.html

Thanks  for helping to spread the word!

After the UK, Hampstead Tea has organised a contest for the USA ! There will be two winners and the prize is

100g Darjeeling Tin Loose Leaf Tea

25 sachets of Mint Green Tea

50g Oolong Pouch Loose Leaf Tea

and 20 sachets of Fennel Liquorice infusion

It’s very easy to participate. You just need to:

• Like our page on Facebook
• Answer to the following question “What estate does our tea come from and what is so special about that place?” (the answer is on our website)
• And e-mail your answer to naha@hampsteadtea.com

Out of the correct answers 2 will be picked randomly and their authors will be the winners!

The contest starts today May 21st 2011 and will end on Wednesday, May 25th 2011 at noon (GMT – London time)

Only the answers received by e-mail and within the dates specified will be taken into account.

The prizes will only be shipped within the USA

Don’t forget to check for other contest because more are coming soon!

It was so exciting to receive it, everyone in the office read it.

Thank you very much Evelyn for sharing your thoughts with us, and do not worry, we will keep doing the tea!

Hampstead Tea has decided to make everyone in the UK participate in a contest! There will be two winners and the prize is

100g Darjeeling Tin Loose Leaf Tea

25 sachets of Mint Green Tea

50g Oolong Pouch Loose Leaf Tea

20 sachets of Fennel Liquorice infusion

and an Oolong Elderflower Iced Tea

• Like our page on Facebook
• Answer to the following question ”What is so special about Hampstead Tea’s packaging?” (the answer is on our website)
• And e-mail your answer to naha@hampsteadtea.com

Out of the correct answers 2 will be picked randomly and their authors will be the winners!

The contest starts today May 10th 2011 and will end on Monday, May 16th 2011 at noon (GMT – London time)

Only the answers received by e-mail and within the dates specified will be taken into account.

The prizes will only be shipped within the UK

Don’t forget to check for other contest because more are coming soon!

Chai tea is a centuries old tea that has been important in many cultures around the world. This rich black tea that is traditionally sweetened with milk and honey also includes various spices which add not only to its zesty taste but to its health benefits as well.

Made from a base of black tea, Chai is full of antioxidants from the tea leaves which help boost your immune system and prevent illness. As of late, all teas including black tea have been in the news for their significant health benefits. In fact, the National Cancer Center Research Institute in Tokyo has suggested that in the most practical method of preventing cancer may be drinking tea. studies have shown that drinking tea can lower instances of all types of cancer but is particularly helpful in inhibiting cancers of the esophagus and digestive system as well as long and breast cancer. Not only that but there is some evidence that drinking tea can help counteract some of the damage that chemotherapy does to your white blood cells.

Not only does Chai tea offer the health benefits that you get from the tea itself but the spices added have additional health benefits that you won’t find in other types of tea. some spices that are typically added include Cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and pepper.

Cinnamon is quickly becoming a favorite medicinal herb is it has many uses but perhaps the most important is that It stimulates other herbs which help them to heal you faster. It is said to lower blood pressure, reduced pains and fevers, relieve symptoms of indigestion, nausea, gas and heartburn and can also help with menstrual cramps. Incidentally, another spice in Chai tea – Cardamom helps relieve indigestion problems so if you’re having digestive problems, this tea may help.

Cloves are said to help invigorate the body and are reputed to be great at relieving flus and colds.

Ginger is a great medicinal herb that’s been used for thousands of years and is said to help fight off the common cold as well the flu and is particularly effective in strengthening and healing the respiratory and digestive systems. It is also said to help with cardiovascular health, heal ulcers and reduce fevers and body aches.

Nutmeg is said to to help keep the mucous membranes, particularly those in the throat, moist it is a great herb for anyone that has problems in this area.

Pepper, which might seem like an odd thing to have in a tea is another ingredient of Chai tea which helps stimulate the taste buds and is said to improve digestion. it has been used for ages to help prevent gas and has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It is a great herb for promoting a healthy digestive system.

So, you see, the next time you sit down for relaxing and tasty cup of chai tea you will not only be getting something delicious to drink but also helping to improve your health as well.

STEP-BY-STEP Instructions:

You will need:

• 3 Hampstead Tea Rosehip Hibiscus sachets
• 1 clementine
• 1 lime
• 1 tbsp of brown sugar
• 3 handfuls of ice
• 3 springs of fresh mint

Put the teabags into a large jug, then use a speed-peeler to peel off the skin of the clementine and the lime into long strips. Add the peel to the jug along with the brown sugar. Fill the jug halfway with boiling water and leave to steep for at least 10 minutes.

Remove the teabags. Add a few large handfuls of ice to the hibiscus tea, then halve the clementine and the lime and squeeze in all their juices. Add both halves of lime and the sprigs of mint to the jug.

Enjoy!

Tonight I am cooking the Easter Tea Bread and I feel like sharing the recipe with you… Don’t forget that you can then enjoy it with a nice cup of BioChai tea!

You will need the following ingredients:

• 15 Cardamom pods
• 500 g pack Tesco Crusty White Bread mix
• 75 g (3oz) golden caster sugar, plus 3 tbsp
• 50 g (2oz) slightly salted butter, melted
• 2 medium eggs, beaten
• 200 ml (7 fl oz) semi-skimmed milk, warmed
• 300 g tub low fat soft cheese
• 2 tsp natural vanilla extract
• 250 g (7oz) mixed dried fruit
• 100 g pack Tesco French Glace Cherries, Halved
• Icing Sugar for dusting

Now, once you have your ingredients, simply follow the instructions!

Crush the cardamom pods using a pestle and mortar or a bowl and a rolling pin to release the seeds. Discard the pods and crush the seeds a little more.

Put the seeds in a bowl with the bread mix and 75g (3oz) sugar. Combine the butter, eggs and milk, and add to the bowl. Mix with a round bladed knife to make a fairly firm dough, adding more milk if it feels dry. Turn onto a surface and knead for 10 minutes. Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.

Oil a baking sheet. Beat the cheese with the Vanilla and athe 3 tbsp sugar. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead the fruit and cherries. Cover and leave for 10 minutes

Preheat the oven to 200 Degree C/ 180 Degree Fan/ Gas 6. Thinly roll out the dough to a 40cmX30cm (16 X 12in) rectangle and cut into 3 strips. Dot spoonfuls of the cheese mix down the centre of each. Bring up the sides of the dough over the cheese, pinching the edges to make 3 sausages. pinch the ends together and loosely plait. Join the two ends to form a circle. Carefully transfer to the baking sheet. Cover with oiled cling film and leave in a warm place for 30 minutes more.

Remove the cling film and bake for about 40 minutes until risen and golden and the base sounds hollow when tapped underneath. Transfer to awire rack. Serve warm or cold, susted with icing sugar.

Have a very nice Easter tea time with some Chai tea!

Fennel was well known to the Ancient Greeks and was revered by Pliny, who believed strongly in its medicinal properties and used it in as many as 22 remedies. It was taken by the Romans to all of Italy and France, where it became popular as a galactogogue, a substance which increases a mother’s milk supply. Fennel’s potential to aid in breastfeeding is due to its content of flavonoids and coumarins, which are groups of phytoestrogens, plant compounds which exert a balancing effect on female hormone levels. This action to benefit female hormonal balance has also made fennel a popular choice for breast enhancement formulatons, and in European herbal tradition even taking fennel alone can encourage breast development. In any list of herbs for increasing a mother’s milk or for promoting breast growth, it is likely that fennel will feature strongly.

Like other plants containing phytoestrogens, fennel has become knownas a treatment for any conditions related to hormonal imbalance, such as PMS and other menstrual irregularities and the symtoms of the menopause. Its other popular application is for its digestive and carminative properties for which it enjoys an unparalled reputation, being renowned since earliest times for relieving indigestion and intestinal gas and acting effectively in cases of colic. It aids digestion by stimulating the production of gastric juices, is said today to provide relief from the symtoms of IBS, and more than any other herb is an excellent tonic for the stomach and the intestines.

Fennel is also anti-spasmodic in nature and affects the nervous system and nerve function due to its ability to prevent or relieve spasms of muscles; it’s hepatic and affects the liver and the body’s detoxification systems due to its ability to tone, strengthen, detoxify and heal the liver; it’s anti-inflammatory and affects immune system and reactivity due to its ability to counteract inflammation; it’s diuretic and detoxifies the organism by stimulating the production of urine and the elimination of toxins through the urine; it’s choleretic and furthers its reputation as a digestive aid by increasing the liver’s production of bile; it’s anti-microbial and has actions against a range of bacteria as well as various fungi and yeasts; and it’s proven useful as a pleasant smelling and tasting herb, as this has led to it being much valued by herbalists as a way of improving the palability of preparations containing other less-agreeable herbs. Traditional Chinese medicine includes the use of fennel for gastroenteritis, hernia, abdominal pain, for a calming effect on bronchitis and coughs, and to open nasal passages and to resolve phlegm. The infusion may be used as an eye wash or compress to treat conjunctivitis and blepharitis, and oil of fennel can be used externally to ease muscular and rheumatic pains.

After reading all these benefits who would not want to start consuming FENNEL?