The Journey to Loving Tea & Herbs
My love affair with tea wasn’t the route of a traditional tea enthusiast or connoisseur. In fact, it began in my parents kitchen as a child watching my mom sip tea and my father drink coffee. My mothers demeanor was in my childlike eyes a beautiful woman sipping her tea slowly while enjoying her pastry as she conversed with my father who made breakfast. Tea, however, was not my beverage of choice as a child and wasn’t forced on me. My family traditionally drank tea in the morning, afternoon, and evening from cultural upbringing. As I got older and we spent time with my west indian family in New York, each breakfast was accompanied with earl grey tea along with mimosas and the obligatory OJ for me. Again, I watched my mother and female cousins sip tea elegantly from fine teacups and nosh on bakes (fried flower patties), plantains and buljol (salted codfish with onions and tomatoes).
When I first began practicing yoga in 2008 and eventually received my yoga certification to teach, one of the topics discussed was diet and how it played a role in a healthier life. The body functions best on optimal resources (food) which in turn keep us agile and mentally clear. When intent is present as it was for me with yoga the changes were made. Tea fit nicely into those changes I made over time.
In the spring of 2009, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) which left me partially paralyzed on the right side of my body. I had no movement in my right leg and severe weakness in my right arm. It was yoga that allowed me to rediscover how to walk again and rebuild overall body strength. MS however, also required that I take a deeper look into my food and lifestyle to make changes to control any future attacks. I began to move away from eating whole meals of pasta and drinking sugary juices on a regular. If you ask, it’s a process and my best advice is consistency and small changes not drastic are the key. Instead of drinking a sugary juice with a meal, I opted for fresh juicing instead. I learned some recipes, bought a Vitamix and was off to the races.
Tea resurfaced a few years after being diagnosed in 2015 when I met a man who worked overseas and often visited the Washington, DC area where I lived at the time. I was never a coffee drinker and often if I had a breakfast meeting or so, it was hot chocolate or maybe tea. However, this time things were different. He reintroduced me to tea in a way I hadn’t imagined. We would meet sometimes at tea shops and because I was unfamiliar with teas he would often pick a tea he thought I would enjoy. He never had a miss on his selections of choice. In fact, I was hooked more on the tea that is.
Since 2015, I’ve learned in my tea adventures and from watching family, tea is about savoring and enjoying the flavors more than anything. It’s not about how fast you consume it but how it complements the moment and time. Over the years I’ve broadened my palette trying different types of teas, blends, and companies that make it. I find myself sitting with my dainty teacups from my grandmother pouring a nice cup of tea, enjoying the flavors while smiling as it comforts my body. It’s calming even when I’m in the office surrounded by others. It’s peaceful taking the world noise away and instead tuning into myself. I try not to get attached to one blend but stay open for the new adventures that lie ahead.
When I discovered the Latin scientific plant name for which most teas are derived from Camillia Sinus, I also wanted to learn the benefits. It was at this point, I discovered (adaptogens) herbs or maybe they rediscovered me. An adaptogen assists the systems within the body with regulating how it responds to stress, maintain balance and homeostasis. As a child when I was sick, the number one go to for colds was ginger, lemon and honey. If my stomach hurt, it was ginger to the rescue. Ginger, ginger and ginger. In west Indian culture, ginger can cure any disease. It doesn’t but it was presented as if it did. Learning about adaptogens, I discovered ginger is in fact classified under this name with more than one type growing in the world, Asian and American ginger. A new passion and love were rediscovered in tea and herbs. I found an Apothecary near my house and started purchasing herbs to blend.
My life changed in 2009 when I was diagnosed with MS. There was a period of confusion, anger, sadness, depression, loneliness that I experienced over the years as I navigated my life, but in that navigation I discovered a new me, strength, passion and love, tea and herbs.
Let my journeys continue to grow and develop and hopefully this short blog will inspire you to try tea and discover your own love affair.
Until next time.
Langteen & James
