Persian Jeweled Rice is a spectacular rice pilaf topped with colorful gem-like fruits and nuts ~ this popular wedding dish is a celebration in itself!
Tea has a rich history, cultural significance, and there are countless varieties or flavors. I used to think there was only one flavor, i.e., black tea. Later on in my adult life, I discovered all kinds of herbal teas. My Chinese friend often drank rice tea. My daughters drink everything from chamomile to matcha to … the list is too long!
At any rate, this blog post is a round-up of my various posts about tea. You probably think: 'For a person who loves coffee, you're sure do talk a lot about tea.' All I can say is: "Yeah! I do!" (O.o)
Enjoy
International Tea Day! đ”✨.
Sip a cup solo or share a pot with friends!
***
BLOG POSTS ROUND-UP:
Food and Drink History : The Evolution of Tea
My Favorite Two (2) Fruit Teas: Cranberry and Black Cherry
Autumn is here! Is a Season Your Reason to Drink Tea?
First Food and Drink Experiences: Chai Tea
Four (4) Medicinal Flowers and Plants (to make tea)
5 Unique Caribbean Teas and Herbal Benefits (Guest Post)
Food and Drink History Lesson: English Tea (Guest Post)
According to available information, tea was discovered accidentally. It seems that some guy in China was preparing a meal and had a pot of water boiling. It was a windy day, and leaves were blown into the pot of hot water. To the cook’s surprise, the water turned into an amazing drink. That’s how brewing tea began. The versions of this story or legend vary, but it sounds believable to me. Weren’t many of the wonderful things we enjoy in life discovered accidentally? Everybody knows tea is delicious and has great medicinal value. I want to talk about two of my favorite fruit-flavored teas: cranberry and black cherry.
A nurse once told me cranberry juice would restore the vitamins and minerals I had lost during childbirth. So I thought to myself: ‘If cranberry juice is good, cranberry tea is probably good too.’ Cranberry tea has lots of minerals and Vitamins C, K, and E. There are numerous health benefits, but what I mainly like about it is that it is good for weight loss. It helps burn fat and flushes toxins out of your body. It is considered a detox tea.
Black cherry juice and black cherry tea are in high demand. I discovered the health benefits accidentally. My late husband had a problem with his big toe. Turns out that it was gout, and eating black cherries helped. Cherry juice is kind of expensive. But the tea is reasonably priced. Cherry tea helps reduce inflammation, eases muscle pain, and decreases pain from gout, arthritis, and headaches. Maybe this is why a lot of medicine comes in cherry flavor. You think? Black cherry tea is also used for detoxification.
Thanks for reading.
When it comes to growing children, it's extremely important to choose drinks that support their health and development. Based on my research (and life experience), here's a list of the best drinks for children, in order of what's generally considered the best.
Plain
Milk: Provides essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and
protein. My mom
always kept milk in the fridge because we ate a lot of cereal.
Although? The amount of sugar in those boxes
of cereal? I'm not sure. IT might have canceled out the benefits of
the milk.
100% Fruit Juice: Limited amounts can be
beneficial, but it's best to avoid juices with added sugars. The only juice I remember drinking a lot growing up was orange juice. Back in
the day, we had a milkman who delivered, and either that was the only
juice he sold, or the only juice my mom bought. I really loved
pineapple juice so whenever I got to enjoy it (usually around the
holidays), it was a special treat. These days it seems like
everybody is into “juicing” and blending fruits and veggies into
a drink; or you can buy from the store. There are lots of fruit
juices with carrots or beets. That's cool! But I prefer my fruit
juice separately.
100% Vegetable Juice: Similar to fruit
juice, but with added vitamins and minerals. It used
to be there was only V8 tomato juice and I tried my best to avoid it.
LOL. Now V8 has a lot of variety in their vegetable juice product
line. Of course, you can buy a juicer and make your own. Green
drinks are very popular. I'm guessing that kids will drink it.
The point to be made is coffee, tea, sodas or carbonated beverages and fake fruit drinks that have dyes for color and a small percentage of real juice are probably not the “best drinks” for a growing child. (Although we did drink a lot of Kool-aid.) But let's see what a medical professional says about it.
What Should Kids Drink? Water, Milk, Juice, Soda | WebMD
Life's Guilty Pleasures: French Fries
We probably all have our guilty pleasures don't we? Never prepared a list, but if I did, french fries would be on it! French fries, smothered with melted cheddar cheese, sprinkled with crispy bacon pieces. If I'm going to indulge myself, might as well go all the way! Right?
Would You Eat Food Not Grown on Planet Earth?Root Veggies From Jupiter Taste Better!
Sharing a tidbit from stuff that gets thrown into my "I would have never thunk it!" files. Have you ever thought that: "Plants grown on other planets...
World Cuisine: Spotlight on Jordan
Yielding to temptation again. Have to share something foodie oriented. A famous athlete was a guest on a TV cooking show and he was being interviewed by the host who asked him, since he had traveled so many places around the world, what type of food did he like the most.
5 Things You Thought You Knew about Indian Food
By Petrina Verma Sarkar Come on, be honest. What are the first things that come to your mind when you think of Indian food? Hot, spicy, oily, rich, fatty, bad for you, difficult and time-consuming to cook, curry powder....
15 Interesting Facts Related To Indian Food You Should Know
Facts that will blow your taste buds
20 unbelievable facts about Indian food
Before it turned into an art that involved culinary expertise, food in India was about rasas and doshas. Taste or rasa in Sanskrit guides the tongue and it is a balance or misbalance of these rasas that cause or correct the doashas in body.
Known and unknown facts about Indian cooking
It is about experimenting with different spices and ingredients and to come up with your own secret recipes. Then just go for it, Visit Masala Fry! Enjoy!
Are you familiar with Kawaii Cooking?
Kawaii is the Japanese word for “cute”.
I describe this cooking style in 2 words: adorable cuteness!
It's a Japanese way of preparing food that is aimed at making kids happy to eat their food. It is edible art! Per Wikipedia: “Generally delicate and tiny items are called "kawaii" in Japanese; miniature food is created with the Japanese miniature-art techniques of recent decades.”
Learn more about the technique and try some recipes:
Make A Bento Box Lunch!
Raye gardens organically, harvests rainwater, strives to eat locally, and honors the gods from her home in the Pacific Northwest. Bento boxes are fast becoming popular as a modern Western lunchtime option. These small meals offer lots of variety and can be created from very healthy ingredients.
This nifty kitchen appliance offers a healthier alternative to traditional deep frying methods by using hot air circulation to cook food. Since the air fryer requires a fraction of the oil or sometimes none at all, that also means lower fat intake and fewer calories. The textures of the foods are still crispy just like when food is deep-fried. Everybody also knows how expensive cooking oil is these days. At my local grocery store, a small bottle of canola oil that used to cost 98 cents sells for almost $2 these days.
A healthier cooking option is not the only advantage or benefit of using an air fryer. There are several
Air fryers cook a wide variety of foods. Not just traditionally fried items like French fries, chicken wings, but also baked goods. The appliances usually come withs accessories like baking pans and racks, etc.
Air fryers are not only easy to use but easy to clean because of the non-stick coatings on the cooking basket and accessories. Many parts are dishwasher-safe.
Air fryers are super safe! No worries about hazards, such as hot oil splattering and the risk of burns from handling hot oil.
Air fryers have precise temperature control and even heat distribution. When cooking foods don't need to be constant monitored and the results are often consistent.
Two things are on my gift wish list for the holiday season. One is a rice cooker and the other is an air fryer.
(NOTE: I'll talk rice cookers in another blog post.)
In conclusion, air fryers offer numerous benefits that appeal to health-conscious individuals, busy families, and anyone looking to simplify their cooking routine.
Reblogging link from a fellow foodie who publishes wonderful recipes via their food blog "Tasteful Tale Recipes". These recipes are specifically for food cooked using an air fryer. (For more air fryers recipes from this blog click here.)
Nuwave Brio 15.5Qt #AirFryer Rotisserie Oven, XLarge Family Size, Powerful 1800W, 4 Rack Positions, 50°-425°F Temp Controls, 100 Presets & 50 Memory, Integrated Smart Thermometer, Linear T Technology https://t.co/xlO7cZGaDj via @amazon #kitchen #dining #food #cooking #giftideas pic.twitter.com/x5YGDR0Mm0
— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) June 18, 2024
Starbucks Flavored Ground Coffee — Mocha — No Artificial Flavors — 6 bags (11 oz. each) https://t.co/QYuBf4ausx via @amazon #coffeedrinkers #coffeelovers #giftideas #grocery #gourmet #foodanddrink @EverydaySpices @goshoppingbees pic.twitter.com/yJQhWn9ysL
— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) December 15, 2021
My research on the history of coffee was surprising. Did you know its origins are traced back to Ethiopia? I grew up in the generation where Juan Valdez from Columbia was in your kitchen cabinet. Ethiopia? Not Columbia? It was quite fascinating. There's even an Ethiopian legend.
From Ethiopia it spread to Arabia and by the 15th century, coffee plants were cultivated in Yemen, and Sufi monks used coffee to stay awake during their night prayers. Coffeehouses started showing up in cities across the Near East. People gathered there for fun and intelligent banter, kind of like Mars Hill. Only on Mars Hill the intellectuals and philosophers probably drank wine instead of a cup of coffee.
Around
the 17th century, thanks to the trade routes, coffee made its way
to Europe. Coffeehouses began dotting the European landscape and were
used for socializing and intellectual discussion.
18th Century
and beyond? Coffee was being cultivated in the Caribbean, and Central and
South America. Brazil became the world's largest coffee producer by
the mid-19th century. In the 20th century Colombia, Ivory Coast,
Ethiopia, and Vietnam emerged as major producers.
CaffĂš Florian, one of the world's oldest coffee houses, opened in Venice on this day in 1720. pic.twitter.com/J0u3Lkll2U
— Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) December 29, 2024
There are two (2) famous coffeehouses in Europe:
CaffĂš Florian in Venice, Italy, was established in 1720. Notable figures such as Lord Byron, Goethe, and Charles Dickens hung out there.
Les Deux Magots in Paris, France, founded in 1822, was known to be a favorite spot for Hemingway, James Joyce, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. La dee dah!
Inspirational Coffee/Tea Cups ... Set of Four Rustic Stoneware #Coffee/#Tea #Mugs w/#BibleVerses ... Colors: Sage Green, Ivory, Paprika Red, Pumpkin Orange https://t.co/t8CGyjVdlp via @amazon #homeandkitchen #kitchenanddining #gifts #giftideas #holidays #autumn @EverydaySpices pic.twitter.com/gTLILzCVbG
— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) October 31, 2022
Today coffee beloved drink served worldwide, hot or cold. I can't tell you how many Korean dramas I've watched where the characters order “Iced Americano”. Coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages, and it's enjoyed in various forms and preparations, from espresso to cold brew.
REFERENCES:
“The History of Coffee.” National Coffee Association of U.S.A., Inc., https://www.ncausa.org/About-Coffee/History-of-Coffee. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.
Myhrvold, Nathan. “History of Coffee.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 May 2021, https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-coffee.
Paajanen, Sean. “The Evolution of the Coffee House.” The Spruce Eats, 4 Mar. 2009, https://www.thespruceeats.com/evolution-of-the-coffee-house-765825.
MacDonnell, Kate. “The History of Coffee Houses: Centuries of CafĂ©s!” Corner Coffee Store, 24 Feb. 2021, https://cornercoffeestore.com/history-of-coffee-houses/.
Lush, Emily. “17 Historic European Cafes Worth Travelling For.” Wander-Lush, 11 Sept. 2020, https://wander-lush.org/beautiful-historic-european-cafes/.
Sophie. “11 Coffee Houses in Europe with a Classical Taste for Culture.” Tourism on the Edge, 19 Nov. 2024, https://www.tourismontheedge.com/coffee-houses-in-europe-with-a-classical-taste-for-culture/?form=MG0AV3.
15 Holiday Coffee Recipes That Will Keep You Warm This Winter
Kopi Joss (Indonesia):
This is coffee with a twist—literally. A piece of burning charcoal is dropped into the coffee, giving it a unique flavor and reducing acidity.
Egg Coffee (Vietnam):
Known as CĂ PhĂȘ Trứng, this concoction blends coffee with a creamy mixture of egg yolk and condensed milk, creating a rich, custard-like topping.
Cheese Coffee (Sweden):
Called Kaffeost, it's coffee poured over chunks of cheese called juustoleipÀ. The cheese softens and absorbs the coffee, making for a unique, chewy treat.
Cascara Coffee (Global):
Made from the dried husks of coffee cherries, this drink is brewed like tea and has a fruity, slightly sweet flavor, different from typical coffee.
Civet Coffee (Kopi Luwak, Indonesia):
This controversial and expensive coffee is made from beans that have been eaten and excreted by civet cats. The fermentation process in the cat's digestive system is said to enhance the flavor.
Bulletproof Coffee (Global):
This high-calorie coffee is blended with butter and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, popularized by the ketogenic diet for its purported energy-boosting effects.
Lemon Coffee (Italy):
Known as Espresso Romano, this involves serving espresso with a slice of lemon, which is believed to enhance the coffee's flavor.
Mazagran (Portugal):
An iced coffee drink that combines coffee with lemon juice or lemonade, sometimes with a splash of rum.
Soya Sauce Coffee (Japan):
In some regions, coffee is flavored with soy sauce to add a savory twist to the drink.
Spiced Coffee (Middle East)
In countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, coffee is often brewed with spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves for a rich, aromatic flavor.
Coffee is a versatile beverage that can be enjoyed in countless ways.
The More You Learn About Coffee, the More You Love Coffee https://t.co/jdofe5t29C
— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) January 4, 2025
