Green Tea Incognito

Green tea has a number of health benefits due to its antioxidants and polyphenols, which some studies have shown positive impacts against cancer. It is believed that green tea also provides heart benefits, lowers cholesterol, reduces the risk of stroke or developing type 2 diabetes, improves brain cognitive functions, and more, according to Medical News Today. The problem is, I don’t care for the taste of green tea. But I can still get its benefits by hiding it in a low caffeine black tea blend.

Donna’s Green Tea Blend

1 family size bag of black tea

1 family size bag of decaf black tea

3 single size bags of green tea

Place bags in 2 cups of water; heat in the microwave for 3:45 minutes (the time for your microwave may need to be adjusted up or down). Let it steep at least 15 minutes before adding it to water.

Makes 1 gallon of tea. Note: Unsweetened tea lasts longer in the refrigerator than sweetened tea, so sweeten it by the glass rather than the entire gallon unless it will be consumed quickly.

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I microwave the tea bags in a glass measuring cup for 3:45 minutes, but every microwave is different. Forgive me, authentic tea brewers for taking a shortcut. Feel free to brew your tea as you see fit. I can drink tea unsweetened, but I usually add Stevia to it.

I am an iced tea drinker. I never drank hot tea until I went to London and Scotland, and I actually learned to enjoy it, especially in chilly weather. But where I live, winter is like two weeks long, and the idea of drinking hot tea in 100 degree weather makes me sweat.

When I visited Canada with my friends Yvonne and Darla, we hit Tim Horton’s a number of times. Tim Horton's is something like our Dunkin' Donuts, but Timmy's menu is broader and probably healthier. I asked at one Tim Horton's if they served ice tea, and the young man said no. So I ordered a hot tea, two cups of ice, and a cup of water and made my own. The ingredients were there, but the concept of “iced tea” wasn’t in their vernacular or even on their radar. : )

Here’s to your health!

Donna Van Cleve

June 2020 - Health & Wellness