It's Time for Tea Somewhere in the World

I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.
― Fyodor Dostoevsky

So, I like tea.  And, I think I can trace this preference back to my Grandma.  When I was younger, she’d always drink lemon tea; I think it may have been Lipton’s or Nestea Lemon tea.  It came in a big container, and it was granularized.  She also drank it out of a taller glass, that to me, recounting the experience, seemed like it was a very special glass, only for her tea.  I liked it, and I’d always steal sips out of it, if I could. Then a long time passed and I really had no interaction with tea.  I don’t think I started drinking it again till I was in college.  

While in college, I would go in spurts: tea for a while, then coffee for a while.  I liked both, equally.  I probably had an equal amount of gadgets to make my own version of the brew.  For the coffee, I had a french press and later I had a Italian moka pot (a great device to make pitch black coffee, then all you need is to add a bit of honey!!).  For the tea I had a, well, a french press, the same one as I used for coffee, and I also had a small portable tea steeper, and then I also had tea bags.  I think primarily, in the beginning, I used store bought, pre-packaged tea.  It was convenient, as I was crunched for time while in school.  But, as time progressed, I feel like, as with a good wine or cheese, I matured (hopefully, not as smelly) into what I am today.

What I am today is not necessarily pretentious but  just accustomed to what I like.  And that is, for me, having an accurately timed and appropriately heated loose leaf tea.  It can be the best thing in the world to me.  I can almost taste that first sip as I write this, and it is divine.  I can’t explain it the way it should be explained, but just imagine tasting the earth while in the middle of a very green forest with the sun shining through the canopy, sitting peacefully with no distractions.  The smell, the taste, the warmth creates an experience and I get to enjoy that with a simple cup of tea.  

It is hard for me to understand, completely, how some may not like such a thing.  And, I’ve been told by numerous people that tea just tastes like warm leaf water.  As the emotions rise, I have to remind myself we are all different and we have different opinions.  But, it’s HARD! tea is great!  

Some of my favorite teas are genmaicha, which is a tea with roasted or puffed pieces of rice.  Which gives the tea a more earthy flavor.  Pu-erh is also a preferred tea of mine.  At first, I was a bit put off by the aging process.  However, as soon as I tried it, it once again brought me to the forest, I could taste the ground, the air, the time it took to age; it was like a rainforest in my mouth.  As I write this, I can see why some may not like tea, all I’m talking about is tasting dirt or trees or leaves... but I love that symbolism.  I grew up in a place where the look and smell of nature was very apparent, so it does strike a chord with me, and it is a very good one.  

I hope I’ve inspired some of you to try tea.  Leave some feedback in the comments about tea you’ve tried, and how it has made you feel.  Or, maybe you enjoy and feel similar things, but it’s coffee, let me know, it won’t bother me :)

A Tincture a Day... Licorice, Garlic and Oregano Tinctures

My small collection of tinctures

Lately, I’ve become more interested in natural health remedies.  I think it began during my bouts with insomnia.  At the time I knew that the insomnia I had wasn’t very severe but it still wreaked havoc on my energy levels the next day.  So, I looked for ways to help me fall asleep at night.  I began to take sleeping pills, but I was worried about the continued use of these drugs because I knew they could be addictive; it even said so on the box!  Aside from that, they left me groggy in the morning, and for the better part of the afternoon.  I didn’t really like that.  Then I found another drug, or more accurately, a hormone, melatonin.  I like this one.  It still made me groggy in the morning, but not as bad.  However, after some time of taking it, I had to begin increasing the doses.  After finding out that this was a hormone and understanding the basic science behind hormones and neurotransmitters, I came to the conclusion that it was similar to what was happening to the brain during a cocaine addiction.  Basically, your brain gets used to the elevated hormone levels (or neurotransmitter levels) and requires more of that chemical.  I know my brain can produce melatonin on its own, so I was just adding to that by a lot.  Now, I only take melatonin when I really need to fall asleep, and I divide the pill into quarters.

After doing a bit more googling about certain sleep aids, I happened upon a tincture of California Poppy Seed extract.  I was worried about it containing opium, since it said poppy in the name.  But, I found out it was from a different genus or species of plant and was non-narcotic.  So, I took bought it and started taking it twice a day.  And it worked! I didn’t feel groggy, and I actually started to wake up earlier and more refreshed.  As with anything, though, I don’t take it all the time, as moderation, I feel, is key.  But, that kind of inspired me to find out what other plants made by natural means, not synthesized in labs, could be beneficial to me and how I can extract those beneficial properties.

Everybody should have some experience with this; we have all made, either, tea or coffee.  That is, essentially, an extraction of the beneficial properties of the plant or seed.  So, a baby step of mine was making a tea...wait for it... out of garlic!  I made it for my girlfriend.  The reason being is that it has, purportedly, amazing cold/flu/sickness fighting properties within that awesome tasting little bulb.  Let me tell you, that amazing taste isn’t very amazing when it’s concentrated; I had to fight tooth and nails to get my girlfriend to drink it, as she felt a cold coming along in her lungs.  She hated it. I didn’t much care for it, either, and we both suffered through some awesome(?)/awful garlic breath (I persuaded her by saying I would have some with her).  To her chagrin, she no longer felt that cold creeping up on her the next day!

After that I began making tinctures of some simple things, like: oregano, garlic, peppermint, and licorice root.  All out of fresh or dried leaves, roots or bulbs and some grain alcohol or vodka.  I think they work great.  When I’m getting a stuffy nose, I take a bit of the oregano tincture and some of the garlic tincture and the next day I can breath again.  But, I do have to say the garlic smell is STRONG!!! But, I like it.  I’m very excited about my licorice root tincture finishing up here in the next month.  As I like to do combat sports like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and I’m starting back up with Thai boxing, I get some nice bruises and muscle aches.  Licorice root has anti-inflammatory properties, by working in similar ways to hydrocortisone, as well as alleviate stress and anxiety.  

As I continue to make more of these tinctures, I think I may sell a few of these, here and there.  I make very small amounts, but definitely more than what I can consume.  So, if you’re interested in something I’ve talked about, let me know in the comment section.  Also, if you would like me to make you one, let me know about that, too.  As I become more proficient at making these tinctures, I may even step into the distillation of essential oils.  I just have to make my own distillation apparatus.  The distillation process can be very fun, as I’ve done a few distillations in my organic chemistry class :)

Finally, if you have used any tinctures before, or even found some interesting plant or natural product that you’ve used to help with something, please tell me in the comment section! I always find it interesting when someone uses non-conventional ways to help themselves and forgo pharmaceutical drugs.

It Was A Cold and Lobster Filled Night

**Ok, so I got a little bored writing about my night with lobster, so I decided to make it into a 50’s noir type post.  I have read very little from this genre, and I haven’t written a story in a long time.  Also, it will be a little (probably a lot) lame.  Finally, everything in this story didn’t happen, other than for the fact that I made lobster tonight. Have fund**

Tonight was an interesting night.  It all started with a very sincere want to make a lobster pot.  Two weeks ago, I was at Albertson’s and they had some lobster for sale in the deli case.  I thought to myself, “I can’t pass this up, the price is just too good.”  I asked the deli-man for two.  He gave me a keen look, but I couldn’t be distracted by him, I was worried about my girlfriend, and if she would like lobster.  The deli-man said something under his breath as he was handing me my lobster, I wasn’t too happy and I opened my overcoat to show him I meant business.  He got the message.  I was glad, I didn’t want any more stains on my hand; doing my kind of work you think you get used to it, but you never do.  It’s a cold and dreary night, and I have to walk home, lucky for me it’s only a few blocks away.  So, I hunker down and make my way, hoping I don’t run into Vinnie.  Our last poker game didn’t go so well.  What I’ve heard on the streets is that he wants the 100 bucks or two of my fingers.  I sure as hell wasn’t going to part with my fingers, but I didn’t have his money, either.

I make it home.  My girlfriend is on the phone and when she spots me she drops everything and gives me a big kiss.  I wasn’t the mushy type, but that was the first good thing to happen all day.  Maybe, she hasn’t figured out that I got the lobster, but she’ll know soon enough.  As I’m putting the groceries away, she grabs the lobster and grabs my coat by the neck.  “You got lobster?!  I don’t know if I even like lobster; what did you have in mind with this?”  I smell  her perfume, it’s sweet and intoxicating and I almost forget that she’s got me by the neck.  “It’s for the lobster pot I’m going to make,” I say as I loosen the grip from my neck, “You’re going to like it, I swear, Honey.”  I figure I have to let the situation cool for a bit, so I don’t bring it up for two weeks.  

It’s finally time.  I had to settle my nerves, so I stop by the local bar to grab a few beers.  I ask the bartender for 2 beers.  He doesn’t understand why I don’t order one now and get the second one later, but as he’s about to ask me why, I spot Vinnie in the corner of my eye.  Not the person I wanted to see when I needed to relax a bit.  He’s alone, which means I can give him a hard time if he comes at me with his knife for my fingers.  As he walks over, I reach down to get my gun ready.  But, I keep reaching, there’s nothing there; I must have forgotten it at home.  “I know you’ve been looking for me, Vinnie.  I don’t have your money.”  He reaches inside his coat, and I think I’m a goner, when he suddenly slams down a stack of cards.  He says, “I heard you got some lobsters two weeks ago, I want them.  I’ll play you for them.  If you win, I’ll let your debt slide, if you lose, I take your lobster and you owe me double the money.”  With that offer, I couldn’t refuse.  Three hours go by, and we’re down to the last hand, winner take all.  Where the hell is my second drink.  I gotta keep focused, I have it all on the line.  There’s a flush draw on the table and I know he’s got it, but I have three of a kind and the river hasn’t been played, yet.  The sweat is dripping down my brow, the bartender has stopped serving and the dealer is shaking.  What is it already!!??  All I need is another king.  Time slows to a standstill as the dealer flips over the last card.  It’s the king of spades.  I dodged a bullet there. Little do I know, I wouldn’t be so lucky later.

Fresh off my win, I decide I’ve done enough relaxing, more like none at all, and go home to make the lobster pot.  I take my knife out of my pocket, and start to cut up the sausage.  I get the shrimp and scallops ready; all go in the pressure cooker.  Five minutes later, we’re ready to eat.  I let her take the first bite.  How are we going to get into the lobster! We don’t have any claw crackers, only our cutlery.  That’s when everything goes flying.  It hit me first.  She was going at the claw with her fork, and it slipped.  The shell dislodged and came right at me; it almost took out an eye.  But, I could go on.  After the claws and the tail, we wanted more, but what else could we eat?  Opening up the shell around the body, everything looked odd and unlike anything I’ve seen before.  I tried going in for something, but she said, “Don’t eat anything green!”  I was going to do it, but I think she saved my life.  

Well, fake story aside, here are some tips, and questions I have about lobster.

Tips:
Learn what you can and cannot eat on a lobster
make sure you have claw crackers.
Don’t be afraid to get dirty.  You are going to hit whomever you’re eating with with stray fluids or shells.
Throw the trash out right away.... pew

Questions:
Can you eat the green stuff?
What can’t you eat from a full lobster?

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