"Food ways" is an expression that dates back to 1946. It refers to the eating habits and culinary practices of a people, region, or historical period. Food Ways Presented by Everyday Exotic Spices: Food finds for foodies and food lovers - curated content from around the web, sharing the ways we all like to enjoy our food! Food history, recipe sharing, and all things food-related. This foodie blog is aimed at newbie cooks or beginners. But everyone is welcome!
Today
is May 21st, and tea lovers around the world are
celebrating.
Even though I am a loyal coffee lover, tea holds a
special place in my heart because of my big sister. He made the tea
in the world. Iced tea or hot tea, whenever we spent time together,
tea was her drink of choice. I was so happy to be spending time with her, I drank the tea any way she served it – hot or cold. My tea
memories are under “precious moments in life to appreciate
FOREVER!”.
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)
Learning about the medicinal uses and benefits of flowers and plants has become my new passion. It grew out of concern for not only my own health and well-being but mainly the health and wellness of some of my children. Some of them do not like going to the doctor and prefer to search out natural remedies for whatever is ailing them.
My late mother rarely went to see a doctor. She believed in herbal medicine and treated herself as much as she could before finally being persuaded to seek the advice of a medical professional. I have to say that many times her natural remedies really did work. Unfortunately, I did not pay attention to the various concoctions she used to mix when I was growing up, and so none of her knowledge was transferred to me.
When my children started strenuously objecting to visiting the doctor’s office and opted instead to find alternative health practitioners, I decided to do research. I started studying on my own because I wanted to know about the various remedies that were being suggested to my children. I say “children” as if they are minors, even though they are past 20 and 30 years of age. My late husband also began to use herbal remedies in addition to his prescribed medications for his health condition.
Please note that I am not a healthcare professional and when I speak about using these remedies I am only talking about my personal and family experience. You should always seek professional medical advice if you have an ailment. Don’t play guessing games with your health.
In this article, I want to share a summary of what I have learned about four (4) flowers or plants used for medicinal purposes:
honeysuckle flower;
hawthorn berries;
gynostemma plant; and
sophora flower.
Honeysuckle flower
Many people grow honeysuckle flowers in their home garden because not only do they have a wonderful fragrance but they attract hummingbirds and butterflies. There are close to 200 different varieties, but the most common is the Japanese honeysuckle. This variety grows profusely in Japan and Korea. Other varieties grow in China, Europe, and North America. They remind me of the hibiscus flower because you can suck the sweet nectar from the tubes. Since the Middle Ages, people in Europe would eat the stems to treat dysentery, for infections in the upper respiratory tract. The ancient Chinese used honeysuckle for snake bites. Be careful which variety of honeysuckle you pick because some are edible and some are toxic. Botanists say the ones that grow in Europe are usually poisonous. You are also advised not to go by the taste. Sometimes the sweet tasting berries are toxic, and the berries that are not sweet are not toxic at all.
Who says watching TV for entertainment isn’t educational? The first time I ever heard the word “hawthorn” mentioned, I was watching a Korean drama about a vampire. They didn’t use crucifixes in Korea to repel vampires. They used hawthorn. Interesting huh? The hawthorn berry grows in Asia, Europe and North America. Good to know! Suppose you’re in Europe or North America but you get attacked by an Asian vampire. It’s just humor. On a more serious note, hawthorn berries have many health benefits. To name a few: they can lower your blood pressure, reduce blood fats, and treat digestive problems. Is it any wonder it is used with traditional Western medicine to treat heart failure? You can make a tea using the entire plant: the flowers, the dried berries, and the leaves.
This perennial plant has been called the “immortality herb” Some say it’s the “new ginseng”. Ginseng, as you probably know, is credited with making you strong, smart, and sexy. The gynostemma plant is a climbing vine that grows in southern China and other parts of Asia. It grows and grows and grows. The Chinese simply chew the leaves, serve them in a salad, or make tea to drink. Advocates claim that this plant can improve your cardiovascular health. They say it enhances the “yin” and supports the “yang”. In Vietnam, they are researching to determine if traditional medicine and Western medicine can be integrated, and this plant can be recommended in mainstream medical practice to treat diabetic patients.
The sophora flower is often used as a Chinese herbal remedy, and that’s why whole, dried flowers and the flower buds can be found in Asian markets. They treat headaches, high blood pressure, and even bleeding hemorrhoids. Be warned. It may be an effective herbal remedy but an overdose can prove fatal. Women who are pregnant or lactating should not that not take any medicines that contain the sophora flower. It’s also called the Japanese Pagoda Tree. Those who practice Western medicine are also familiar with this flower, but say that even though people use the flower for such ailments as hemorrhoids, menopause symptoms, and vomiting, there is no reliable scientific proof of its efficacy.
♦ What do these 4 flowers and plants have in common? When dried and combined, they can be used to make a medicinal tea that reduces your cholesterol. But, according to health experts, many other foods and drinks can lower cholesterol.
The Caribbean is an idyllic paradise comprising of different countries and territories that are savored by vacation tourists, pleasure-seekers, and people looking for relaxation in exotic locations. Trinidad, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, West Indies - take your pick and be transported to whole new worlds where you wish your days of freedom are not numbered. Your experiences will be very pleasant and memorable.
If you have visited any of these locations then there is something you won't want to forget.
When browsing the local shops, you probably noticed certain herbal tea drinks which catch your attention with names like turmeric tea, soursop tea, bissy tea, cerasee tea, and fever grass tea. They may be native to other places but they were brought here to the islands and they were given a distinctly Caribbean twist. They could be Asian, African, or Latin American in origin, but Caribbean folks everywhere made use of them extensively and many people in the islands are familiar with them since childhood. Other herbal teas that are worth mentioning are peppermint, soursop, cinnamon, lemon ginger for its digestive aiding properties, and sorrel benefits of the hibiscus flower known as roselle.
WASHOUT HERBAL DRINKS:
Most Caribbeans, locally and abroad, would remember rituals or must do's administered by their parents at the end of the holidays or summer vacation. They were to do a "washout" with a mixture of local herbal drinks bought from the store. They could include turmeric, soursop, bissy, cerasee, fever grass tea, and other herbals concocted by the elders. They are supposed to deworm or bring out the toxins from the kids' systems before they return to school.
Below you will find information regarding 5 Caribbean herbal teas that are not only good for you but are also delicious.
1) TURMERIC TEA
Turmeric tea adds zest to your morning routine. Turmeric is sometimes mixed with other herbs and spices like ginger, lemon, honey, and cinnamon to add more flavor. There is also caffeine-free turmeric tea which helps balance and supports a healthy inflammation response. Turmeric is a popular spice made from the rhizome or root of the Curcuma longa plant. It is native to Southeast Asia and is a member of the Zingiberaceae or ginger family. It has been used as a herbal remedy for generations in Caribbean alternative medicine. A range of turmeric teas is available for purchase in health stores or online. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin gives turmeric its characteristic yellow color and is proven to have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. Curcumin has low bioavailability, which means the body has a hard time accessing and absorbing the compound. For this reason, the herbal benefits of turmeric tea, with its guaranteed high concentrations of curcumin, are in demand. Turmeric tea, brewed using grated turmeric root or pure powder, is considered one of the most effective ways to consume curcumin. Drinking turmeric tea is believed to bring about several health benefits:
1.Reduces arthritis symptoms
2. Boosts immune function
3. Helps reduce cardiovascular complications
4. Helps prevent and treat cancer
5. Helps manage irritable bowel syndrome or IBS and other digestive conditions.
6. Prevents and treats Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative conditions.
7. Protects against liver damage, gallstones, and manages liver conditions.
8. Helps prevent and manage diabetes
9. Helps treat and manage lung conditions
With these health benefits, wouldn't it be nice to have some turmeric tea stocked on your pantry shelves at home?
2) SOURSOP TEA
It is derived from the Graviola tree that is native to Latin America. It is used to treat stomach ailments, parasitic infections, fever, rheumatism, and hypertension. It is also a sedative and can aid in sleep problems and has an effectivity that can compete with chemotherapy when it comes to battling cancer cells. Soursop herbal tea is also a good source of vitamin C which boosts immunity. Thus, it also promotes the destruction of free radicals to protect your skin from oxidative damage.
3) BISSY TEA
Bissy tea originated from Africa but is a staple drink in many Caribbean homes. It is an antidote for poison and aids in digestion, relieves diarrhea and inflammation, treats fever, and is considered a tonic. Bissy tea shows antioxidant properties and bissy is also used to treat fever, relieve inflammation, and diarrhea. Bissy tea is sourced from grated cola nuts which can expel toxins from your system. Its high concentration of tannic acid is the reason why it has antioxidant properties. When you're busy and you want a hot beverage, why not drink "bissy" tea and take a break from your busyness? You can buy bissy tea online on Caribbean websitestropical supermarket if it is not available at your local grocery store.
4) CERASEE TEA
Cerasee Herbal Tea is derived from bitter melon. Bitter herbs and food are very nutritious because they contain various plant-based chemicals that are beneficial to health. Cerasee tea is full of phytochemicals like triterpenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids that slow the growth of cancers and reduce the risk of heart disease. It also lowers blood sugar levels in diabetic people. Cerasee is also healthy for the gut because it takes care of worms and parasites. Thus, it can make you lose weight. Caribbeans are full of healthy surprises, and cerasee tea is one of the "bitter" but healthy truths.
5) FEVER GRASS TEA
Fever grass tea, also known as lemongrass, has long been a painkilling remedy for many households, may it be in the West Indies or Guyana, or elsewhere in the Caribbean. Drinking it for one month straight can increase hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count. It also prevents bloating. Fever grass is a perennial plant that is indigenous to Asia. It has long thin leaves and contains citral, an essential oil that has medicinal significance. Fever grass has a pleasant smell which makes it ideal as an additive when cooking rice. Fever grass tea, doesn't give you a fever, ask the locals. Instead, it heals fevers and many disorders associated with blood.
♦ ALL 5 TEAS have been part of Caribbean life and culture for generations. Their medical uses overlap each other, so each kind of tea should find its own space on your shelves.
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About the Author: Damian Powell is the CEO at Islsnac LLC. Caribbean Dreams teas are available via the official website and also via Amazon.
