An Introduction to Tea & Botanicals

 
“Tea tempers the spirit, harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens the thought and prevents drowsiness”
— Lu Yu {The Classic Art of Tea}

So What is tea, really?

An aromatic beverage prepared by pouring boiling water over dried things? NO!

 

Tea {Camellia Sinensis} vs Botanicals

 
“Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage.”
— Kakuzo Okakura { The Book of Tea }

Tea {Camellia Sinensis}

Tea {Camellia Sinensis} is one of the oldest plant medicines on our pale blue dot. Originally discovered by Buddhist Monks in Yunnan China over 5000 years ago, it was incorporated into their meditation ritual to awaken and calm simultaneously.

Tea is freshly cured leaves of Camellia Sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to China as well as other East & Southeast Asian countries. Tea has 6 different types depending on terroir, oxidation length & processing techniques; White, Yellow, Green, Oolong, Black & Pu Erh. These tea’s, now grow in over 50+ different countries in the world, holding a dynamic range of growing & processing techniques, meditation rituals & ceremonies, spiritual & medicinal healing practices as well as cultural history. To understand pure tea, we must understand her rich and diverse history.

 
 

HEALTH BENEFITS

 

BOTANICAL Melanges

Herbal tea is not true tea, which is derive from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Instead, herbal tea is an infusion or blend of various leaves, fruits, bark, roots, or flowers belonging to almost any edible, non-tea plant. In Europe and abroad, botanicals are commonly known as tisanes or melanges.

Purists may turn up their noses at tea blends; however the enjoyment of tea blends is almost as old as the discovery of tea itself and is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Chinese have been making tea blends for over 2500 years, the first book on tea, The Classic of Tea, by Lu Yu published around 760 A.D. talks of many items {mostly herbs & medicinals} that can be blended with tea. Two of the most famous tea blends are Jasmine tea and Earl Grey tea, both going back hundreds of years.

Traditionally, a given geographic area would blend into their tea whatever was produced or available locally. In southeastern China would blend in orange peels from their citrus groves, Tibetans would blend in yak butter and salt, Indians would blend in local spices like cardamom, pepper, ginger and Eastern Europeans would blend in local berries, roots, leaves & herbs that would grow native to those areas.

 

HEALTH BENEFITS

  • AntiInflammatory: Ginger, Turmeric & Lemon

  • Digestion: Peppermint, Thyme & Eucalyptus

  • Diabetes & Sugar : Sage, Cinnamon & Jasmine

  • Liver Aid: Burdock, Dandelion, Liquorice, Chicory Roots, Milk Thistle & Mushrooms.

  • Headaches: Lavender, Mint, Rosemary & Sage

  • Respiratory: Thyme, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Ginger & Liquorice

 
 
 

Botanical {Fusions}

Herbal tea is not true tea, which is derive from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Instead, herbal tea is an infusion or blend of various leaves, fruits, bark, roots, or flowers belonging to almost any edible, non-tea plant.

Tea {Camellia}

Tea is freshly cured leaves of Camellia Sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to China as well as other East and Southeast Asian countries. Tea has 6 different types depending on processing; White, Yellow, Green, Oolong, Black and Pu Erh.

Subscriptions

We at Shisso Tea Company know how sacred our daily source of energy is. We deliver Tea Sommelier selected tea’s delivered to your door monthly. We offer the assurance of green energy to keep you vibrant throughout your day.

 
 
 
“A hardened and shameless tea-drinker, who has, for twenty years, diluted his meals with only the infusion of this fascinating plant; whose kettle has scarcely time to cool; who with tea amuses the evening, with tea solaces the midnight, and, with tea, welcomes the morning.”
— Samuel Johnson