Live Right Now - Episode 026 – Totally Tea! “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you.”  ― William Ewart Gladstone “Writing is a job, a talent, but it's also the place to go in your head. It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.”  ― Ann Patchett, Truth and Beauty “There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.”  ― Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living   The Japanese tea ceremony is called Ocha. It is a choreographic ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea, represents harmony, respect, purity and tranquility How to Be Mindful with Tea: When it's difficult to meditate or stay centered, build moments of mindfulness into the day through simple activities like brewing and enjoying a cup of tea. If you’re depressed or anxious… bring mindfulness to drinking a cup of tea, cleaning your teeth, or going for a walk   About tea: the world’s second most popular leverage next to water. In America, meh, we drink fizzy health-destroying crap in a can that trashes temple health and wellbeing; but it sure tastes good! Really, that’s the reason you drink Diet Coke, Mt. Dew, and Dr. Pepper loaded with toxic aspartame, HFCS, artificial coloring, preservatives, has no nutritional value? We’ve been dumbed down mw sweet gullible friends. America is gradually become a nation of tea drinkers. Some 80 percent of U.S. households have tea in their kitchens, and more than half drinks tea on a daily basis, according to the U.S. Tea Association. What I’m talking about is much more than Lipton’s that’s been thrust upon as the only tea on earth. tea can be from herbs, roots, and mushrooms too. There’s black and green tea, tulsi (holy basil), oolong, antioxidant chai, chamomile, stinging nettle, hibiscus, green Rooibos, ginger, dandelion, echinacea, a garden of herbs, lion’s mane and reiki mushroom tea, and the list goes on and on. Instant tea? You should be flogged with a used teabag! Studies reveal many teas may help with cancer, heart disease, diabetes and encourage weight loss, lower cholesterol, has anti-microbial qualities and increased mental alertness. Tulsi tea or holy basil that is hot right now, for or example has anti-microbial properties and is rich in anti-oxidants that fight free radicals responsible for causing various chronic degenerative diseases. “There doesn’t seem to be a downside to tea. First, tea has less caffeine. It’s pretty well established the flavonoids in tea – are good for the heart and may reduce cancer.” Many teas contain  dangerous ingredients. most major brands contain fluoride, use a chemical to bleach the tea bags, and the leaves sprayed with carcinogenic pesticides. Tea meditation: Pay attention to the sound of the water heating and boiling in the kettle. Hear its bubbling and gurgling…. see wisps of steam coming from the spout?? Be open to your senses, rather than try to analyze what’s happening. Pouring the tea, watch the color of the water change as it meets the teabag. When your mind wanders into thought, gently return your attention to sensing. Lifting the teabag out with a spoon, feel, the weight of the bag dropping away as you tip it into the bin. Notice the warming of the cup that contains the hot liquid. How do your hands feel as you hold it? Bring the cup to your lips. Take a sip. Savor the taste—is it pleasant? Stay present to the swallowing. Pause and noticing a sense of peace or stillness within   For more from Chef Wendell including the “Eat Right Now” books and info on how to book Chef Wendell to speak to your group go to http://www.chefwendell.com. To connect with the Live Right Now Podcast “like” our Facebook page or email us at LiveRightNowRadio@gmail.com.   The Live Right Now theme music is “future soundtrack II” by Adam Henry Garcia from the Free Music Archive licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0