Aontacht - Volume 7 Issue 3

Brown Hue and full-bodied taste that resultsfrom an extensive oxidation process once theleaves of the Tea Plant, "Camellia Sinensis", areHarvested. There is actually No Orange inOrange Pekoe Tea. It refers to the Dutch thatoriginally started importing it, whose RoyalHouse was "The House Of Orange". "Pekoe" wasan Anglicized Version of the Chinese Word forTea. This Black Tea comes in Grades like FineWines.Though all Teas comefrom the same Plant,each variety is processeddifferently. The TeaPlant is actually a Treeand grows only inCertain Climates. TheWorld's Major Tea-Growing areas are in theHigher Elevations (up to6,500 feet) of China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka andEast Africa.After the Evergreen Shoots of this Tea are picked,they are Withered, Rolled, Fermented and Dried.An important ingredient in Black Tea isCaffeine. Unlike the high levels of Caffeinefound in Coffee, the lower amounts in this TeaPromote Blood flow in the Brain without OverStimulating the Heart. Black Tea also containsabundant Tannins, Astringent Chemicals foundin many Herbs that have Soothing Anti-Inflammatory effects on the Digestive Tract. Italso seems to help the Nervous System ininstilling a new sense of Well Being in the Drinker.There has been Research done that found thatPeople who Drink 1 to 2 cups of Orange PekoeBlack Tea per day reduces risk of Heart Attackby 46%, 4 cups a day reduces risk by 69%. It issuspected that the Tea's Flavonoids, PowerfulAntioxidants, help improve the Blood Vessels'ability to Relax. Flavonoids also prevent theso-called Bad Cholesterol, or "LDL," fromOxidizing, which experts believe may promotehardening of the Arteries. The substances mayalso keep Blood from Clotting too much.There is reference to a Study done that showedthat adding Milk to Tea will block the normal,Healthful Effects that Tea has in protectingagainst Cardiovascular Disease. It was claimedto do this because casein from the Milk binds tothe Molecules in Tea that cause the Arteries toRelax, especially a Catechin Molecule calledEGCG.The Cowslip Herbis a Perennial Herbwith Oblong OvalFinely HairyLeaves forming aBasal Rosette,European Cowsliphas pleasantlySweet SmellingYellow Flowers marked with Orange Dots. TheFlowers Grow in a Hanging Cluster atop anunbranched Leafless Flower Stalk. Cowslips arean Underused but Valuable Medicinal Herb.They have a Very Long History of MedicinalUse. The Cowslip are Harvested in the Springand can be used Fresh or Dried for later use. It'sRoot can be Dried and Crushed into a Powderthen used as a Sternutatory.Cowslip have been Employed in TreatingConditions Involving Spasms, Cramps,Paralysis and Rheumatic Pains. The CowslipHerbal Plant have Salicylates which are theAontacht • 53