Rainy season has officially started in Oregon. It usually means October Fest, Halloween and Thanksgiving are following pretty soon. Are you ready for it?
Do you celebrate harvest time?
Do you observe harvest moon ?
What’s your favorite fall holiday ?
We would like to celebrate cooler season by having a tea party outside with the samovar we bought in spring and never used it since.
Tea is the best drink for colder days. Especially if you have different jams to go with it. Anyways, I wanted to wish you a happy fall season despite the weather and cooler temperatures.
How to celebrate the harvest moon?
1) Make a fire or light a candle to say “thank-you.”
During harvest time, a fire reminds us that the summer light is waning. It signals warmth which will be necessary for survival in the coming months.
Many cultures celebrated harvest with a fire ceremony. In ancient Celtic tradition, for example, the celebration of Lammas (between the Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox), involved elaborate pagan rituals and ceremonies around large fires. These ceremonies were believed to ensure a successful harvest and invoke spiritual support in the event that harvests were less bountiful.
If you do not have access to a fire (or live in an especially dry area, where having a fire may be dangerous), you can light a candle. Sit down and say thank you—to whomever you pray to—for this day. That simple act is a form of celebration and ceremony.
2) Play an instrument, sing, and dance.
Just as the animals are more active during a full Moon, allow the full Moon to illuminate what is moving through you. Be active. Play an instrument (i.e., a drum), sing, and dance.
Dancing reinforces the lymphatic system of the body, which encourages toxins to be more efficiently released.
3) Read or write a poem.
A full Moon is a potent time to express yourself. Take a moment for yourself and reflect on what inspires you personally, then put it into action through writing or recite a poem that embodies these inspirations (see an example of poetry for the Full Harvest Moon below). Taken from https://www.farmersalmanac.com/
Today I’m making lentil soup with red lentils. This reminds me of Istanbul and the food we ate there last year. Turkish food is something absolutely amazing for so many reasons. Let me share a few dishes with you and then you will let me know if you agree or disagree with this opinion.
Tea in Grand BazaarFish Sandwich with Pickle JuiceLentil SoupLate Night KebabPide (pizza)
Pickle juice is something I have never seen sold any other place, I loved it with fish sandwich. Kebab is very common so you can get it anywhere really. Pide is a kind of pie I have never seen anywhere else , it’s essentially pizza without tomato sauce. Lentil soup is easy to make at home, you need red lentils and a bit of red pepper on top. Tea is easily made at home, feel free to add milk and sugar. I can’t find a picture of durum, goat milk ice cream, it’s absolutely delicious even though it looks like typical ice cream.
Turkey has its own version of a loaded baked potato, it’s called kumpir. You choose the toppings and this is what makes it exactly what you need and want – perfection. I hope you inspired by now to go cook something for yourself, it’s easy if you have the right ingredients. And if you don’t, grocery shopping is what you need to do first.
My soup is ready, but all I want is to have access to all the variety of street food that you can get on every corner. We spent there 3 weeks and didn’t get food poisoned once. It was a really friendly place with great customer service – foodie’s paradise.
Today is international tea day, as a tea addict I can’t miss the opportunity to ramble about my favorite drink. Tea has been the most highly regarded type of religion in my family dating back to late seventies, early nineties. Tea hunting has been and still is one of the biggest priorities for our clan in modern days. The ritual of tea drinking is a bonding experience promoting meditation, reflection and collaboration.
Why drink tea?
Tea is a beverage made from the Camellia synesis plant. Tea is the world’s most consumed drink, after water. It is believed that tea originated in northeast India, north Myanmar and southwest China, but the exact place where the plant first grew is not known. Tea has been with us for a long time. There is evidence that tea was consumed in China 5,000 years ago.
Tea production and processing constitutes a main source of livelihoods for millions of families in developing countries and is the main means of subsistence for millions of poor families, who live in a number of least developed countries.
The tea industry is a main source of income and export revenues for some of the poorest countries and, as a labour-intensive sector, provides jobs, especially in remote and economically disadvantaged areas. Tea can play a significant role in rural development, poverty reduction and food security in developing countries, being one of the most important cash crops.
Tea consumption can bring health benefits and wellness due to the beverage’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and weight loss effects. It also has cultural significance in many societies. (taken from UN.org)
International Tea Day
Re-emphasizing the call from the Intergovernmental Group on Tea to direct greater efforts towards expanding demand, particularly in tea-producing countries, where per capita consumption is relatively low, and supporting efforts to address the declining per capita consumption in traditional importing countries, the General Assembly decided to designate 21 May as International Tea Day.
The Day will promote and foster collective actions to implement activities in favor of the sustainable production and consumption of tea and raise awareness of its importance in fighting hunger and poverty.
How to Celebrate International Tea Day
If you’re a lover of tea, then do some research about some of your favorite companies. Try looking up tea brands that support fair trade, and possibly switch to those brands to make a difference in the way you buy products such as tea. Use the hashtag #internationalteaday to help recognize it as an official holiday and educate others about the tea industry if you’re interested.
You could also use International Tea Day to try a variety of tea you have never had before. Matcha, for example, is highly popular as of late. You need to shop with care, though! The first thing you need to take a look at is how the Matcha has been produced and sourced.
You need to ensure that all veins and stalks have been removed so that there is not any bitterness and only the finest leaves should be used. Secondly, the color of the matcha powder is a significant factor. The greener the color is, the better. This is because the leaves are forced to overproduce chlorophyll because Matcha is shade-grown, which causes the vibrant green shade.
If the Matcha is yellow or brown in color, this is a sign that the leaves have not been properly shaded or that branches and stalks have been included. The price is the third factor to consider. Like most things, if you want quality, you can expect to pay a little bit more.
If something seems too good to be true, the chances are that it is. The feel of Matcha is also important. It should be a fine powder that is very silky. Last but not least, the taste is obviously a crucial attribute when it comes to quality. It should have a clean and naturally sweet taste.
Why not make some delicious baked green tea treats on International Tea Day and have a bake sale to raise money and awareness regarding working conditions in the tea industry? Green tea recipes are available in their abundance. People are actively searching for different ways to enjoy green tea. While green tea is delicious when simply mixed with hot water, there is nothing wrong with switching it up from time to time, especially on International Tea Day!
An easy and delicious recipe is Matcha Meringue Kisses. To make this you will need Matcha, sugar, egg whites, and powdered sugar. Begin by sifting together the Matcha and the powder sugar, and then whip the egg whites until they have soft peaks. Gradually add the sugar and whip until stiff peaks. Gently fold the Matcha into this mixture and then transfer to a pastry bag. Pipe the mixture into small kisses onto a baking tray and then bake for around an hour.
Or, why not make Green Tea Donuts? For this, you need green tea, honey, melted butter, milk, egg, salt, baking powder, sugar, and cake flour. You whisk the green tea, salt, baking powder, sugar, and flour. Add the honey, melted butter, milk, and egg, and then whisk. Use a pastry bag to pipe the batter into the mould. Then, simply bake the donuts for eight minutes. You can make your own glaze to go on the top – chocolate goes well!
Other delicious baked treats to try include green tea muffins, brownies and shortbread! (Taken from Daysoftheyear.com)
Health benefits of tea
Multiple scientific studies have found evidence that drinking tea can be highly effective in warding off some serious health conditions like obesity, cancer, and dehydration. Tea contains antioxidants which are helpful in boosting the overall health of the body.
4 health benefits of tea:
Risks of heart diseases are reduced – key arteries are widened and blood flow is improved.
Keeps the body hydrated – some scientists believe that drinking tea is nearly as useful as drinking water.
Strengthens the teeth – tea also contains fluoride and prevents tooth decay.
Boosts memory power – tea (green tea) strengthens memory cells and provide protection against Alzheimer’s and dementia. (Taken from Teafolly.com)
Tea production and its Goals for the UN
Tea production and processing contributes to the following goals:
Moreover, there is an urgent need to raise public awareness of the importance of tea for rural development and sustainable livelihoods and to improve the tea value chain to contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
What are the most famous teas?
OOLONG TEA
Oolong tea is one of the popular types in Japan, Taiwan, and China. When it comes to its taste and color, we find it a cross between green and black tea. It’s made through a partial fermentation (30% to 70%) and then drying it up. Another common technique used to make Oolong is baking.
Strange it may seem, but it is true. Oolong gives a wide range of taste and aroma that most of its sub-categories do not possess. We can find the proof when tasting Big Red Robe and Ti Kwan Yin. Both are Oolong teas, yet offer vastly different flavors.
BLACK TEA
The most consumed type of tea which completes the breakfast of the western morning. It’s produced after full oxidation (fermentation), allowing the leaves to evaporate the water and absorb oxygen from the air, thus becoming withered and dried.
The output product is black and dark brown, resulting in a pronounced flavor and rich taste. Black tea, once prepared, adopts amber color and provides pleasing taste with a refreshing aroma. Among its sub-categories, Darjeeling and English Breakfast teas are very popular.
GREEN TEA
A lighter taste with a reduced amount of caffeine is produced in the cup of a green tea. Green tea turns pale green or light golden in color once prepared. The process of its preparation is based on preservation: the leaves are prevented from oxidation and kept under rapid heating (with fire) to preserve its “greenness”.
After picking the leaves, they are withered and dried, skipping the process of oxidation. The preparation of green tea is rather easier as it only requires steeping the green leaves for a few minutes at a lower temperature.
WHITE TEA
White tea is made with the simplest way of picking and gently drying until they are done. As the white tea goes through a minimalistic process, the output product is sometimes slightly oxidized, which is accidental, rather than intentional. White teas are liked mostly in China only. (Taken from Teafolly.com)
What’s your favorite kind of tea? Do you add sugar or anything else in your beverage? How often do you drink tea? Is it a communal activity? Have you ever been a part of tea ceremony? Do you go to high tea parties? I have never been and need to hear about it all from the horse’s mouth. I want to go to one. Let’s have some tea now! Cheers
The colder it gets outside, the more hot tea is consumed inside. There is a great variety of different kinds, I personally prefer black. Tea drinkers usually get together for the ritual, did you know that? There is always a conversation and its importance is obvious, I love to invite people over for a cup of tea if I have something to share. In Asian countries it’s pure hospitality to offer a cup of tea to the guest. You don’t have to be close friends or anything.
Tea lovers don’t always need a company, sometimes it’s better to be alone for meditation and analysis of the day. Solitude can be beautiful as well. Don’t you think?
When you start your day with a cup of tea, it’s kind of a great habit to have caffeine early with some kind of snack. Some people prefer to go out for that, others like to stay in. Breakfast places serve teas with milk and sugar, lemon and honey. The best ones have a nice selection to satisfy your demand.
My day is usually tea bound, I mean I have to have it at least twice: in the morning and in the evening. Without it my day is no good, you can call it addiction, I would say it’s a necessity. We all need something to keep us moving, right? For some folks it’s coffee or nicotine, energy drink or sugar fix. Tastes differ. Trends come and go.
What would you choose to be your guilty pleasure if it all to be started anew?
When you want to have a private conversation with someone just invite them for a cup of tea. It is always a pleasure to chat with an old or a new friend while drinking something as delicious as green, black, white or herbal tea.
I have been wanting to order a tea ceremony for a long time now since I really dreamed of something authentic. You know what, it is coming in May next year fingers crossed, or should I use legs crossed instead?
In my family tea drinking is like a religion, food for your soul. We are really serious about having it at least 5 times a day in spite of the season. The reason for it is to get enough caffeine in your body to keep it going. Or maybe having enough meaningful talks with each other to feel loved and appreciated?
Tea drinking is especially good in cold weather. Some people add sugar or honey into it. Some like it really hot with lemon but one thing they all have in common is that time stops when you indulge yourself in a cup of tea. Say, you are having a bad day at work or the weather is bringing you down, or you name it. After having just one cup of a good tea the world around you gets better. No you don’t have to add vodka into it but some people do so.
Why I quit my job 