Heaven of Tea

China: Shanghai Orchid

As tea was first discovered in ancient China by a happy accident of nature, it seems apropos to begin my tea journey here and hope I too should be so lucky!

Today I visited the beautiful Shanghai Botanical Gardens, world renowned for its rare orchid greenhouse. The captivating scent inside is one I’ll never forget and the inspiration for the Shanghai Orchid flavored white tea.

This soft, floral tea tastes as delicate and sweet as its aroma. Lemon myrtle, melon and apple lend subtle fruity notes and deliver a fresh, citrusy balance to this light, soothing tea. Such a simple pleasure!

Japan: Dokudami Umami

A local introduced me to an interesting plant today. After learning dokudami means ‘poison’ in Japanese I was initially nervous, but my guide quickly explained that the term comes from the ancient Japanese people who said it could counteract poison from an enemy. Hundreds of years later, it is still renowned for its medicinal qualities and considered a cure-all plant. To harvest, the dokudami is sheered from its root at the peak of summer after it has released its blooms. It is then placed in sunlight to dry fully.

The dokudami is then commonly used to make a popular Ayurvedic herbal blend. Inspired by Chinese (ayurvedic) medicine, this herbal infusion is a combination of eight holistic herbs: dokudami, habu, Job’s Tears seeds, licorice, soy bean, goji berry vine leaf, persimmon leaf, and brown rice.

Umami, a Japanese term for a pleasant savory taste, is the perfect way to describe this smooth bodied blend. A nutty and vegetal infusion with sweet licorice undertones and a rich, earthy aroma–a truly unique flavor profile.

Here are a few health benefits you may enjoy from the holistic herbs in this Ayurvedic blend:

• Dokudami may aid in lowering blood pressure and preventing hardening of the arteries.
• Habu and Job’s Tears seeds may aid in digestion and act as a natural diuretic.
• Soy bean may help reduce cholesterol.
• Persimmon leaf is known as a natural antihistamine and anti-allergen.
• Licorice root may aid in relaxation and relieve stress.
• Goji berry leaves are high in antioxidants.

Of course, check with your doctor to learn how wellness teas may benefit your individual health needs.

Off to my next destination…India!