Green Tea

If memory serves me right, I took the first sip of green tea about 7 years back at my friend’s house, and it stayed with me as a habit since then. In the earlier days, I made a conscious effort to have it as part of my daily routine, especially in winters. This practice of mine ensued from the awareness of numerous health benefits from all kinds of media, that this simple drink had to offer. Soon enough:

• I envisioned my centenarian self a few decades from now, who would dedicate the secret of her prolonged life span to the super food called the ‘Green Tea’. I might even enter the ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ for the oldest woman alive!
  
• I also started dreaming of shedding pounds from around my never-budging and ever-bulging waistline, because green tea is supposed to be a great fat burner and it even improves metabolism. In reality, my sunken cheeks are true testimonials to its fat burning abilities!!
• I imagined myself disease free forever sans diabetes and hypertension, thanks to the antioxidants in the green tea that would put up a fight befitting a warrior, to prevent cell damage…Yay!

I also realized not too late that you really don’t care about the benefits or the glorified stories of any food when it is part of your life, like your family members 🙂 I am glad to notice that it has taken a place in the hearts of my 17-year old as well as my husband. I for one, savor green tea not for any  specific intent, but for its refreshing aroma and earthy tone. It connects me to the basics, and reminds me where I come from.  It has an unassuming quality with only goodness to offer.  I also like green tea for the fact that it is light in the stomach, almost like water.

Green tea is simple to make. Fill three-fourth of a kettle with water. Bring the water to a boil. Switch off the flame. Add 2 teaspoons of green tea leaves or couple of tea bags, and let it steep for about 5 minutes. And voila, it is ready! Pour it in a cup and drink warm. One kettle would suffice for an entire day. It can be consumed just as is or with honey and lemon if you want added taste. If you like it cold, add ice cubes. I like mine simple and warm.

Green tea comes in all kinds of flavors, from just plain to simple lemon to a combination of fruit and flower flavors with exotic names! You can find a wide variety of them at most superstores,  covering an entire spectrum of texture, flavor and price; it is an empire in its own right!

On this cold winter day, I am at the beckoning of this warm and soothing beverage sitting on my kitchen counter!  Next time you are offered a cup of green tea, see if you reach for it with a gleam in your eyes  🙂