AFTER THE RAIN!

... and wisdom comes quietly ...

C'est la vie! Yes ... it's time to catch up and guess what? ... the wind direction is showing the right altitude for a cuppa! Scuzi, as I was hoping to meet at the garden a little sooner but it's been raining over here ... so I decided to look out from my window and continue to embrace the beauty from a far in as many ways as possible ... amazingly it looked and felt as magnificent! I took these moments to thank God for the showers of rain as it brought freshness and newness of life to nature and filled the ground with showers of blessings! It was poignantly timely and it solidified this idea for me.

    "If you want to experience the rainbow, you have to embrace the rain".

Rain is grace; rain is the sky decending to the earth; without rain, there will be no life.

John Updike



Tea. Garden. Tea.

Does a good morning need anything else? As the dawn mets the sunrise, I made my way to a resting place of sentiments carrying along my faithful pen knowing that my garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts! 

  These words from the Book of Life* came to mind, " What is the Kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? Imagine a person who has taken a mustard seed and planted it in the garden. The seed has grown and become like a small tree, so that the birds of the air shelter in it's branches." Luke 13 : 18-19. To know His enduring presence in every raindrop was comforting! So here I'm back again ... after the rain.

Watching the beauty of every raindrop resting on the flower petals and leaves soon after the rainfall was amazing! The ray of sunlight radiated a tinge of sparkle on every drop of rain leaving behind the spectrum of rainbow colour reflections from the surroundings!   

Enjoying Haven on Earth* in the coolness of the dawn and a carpet filled flower petals on the ground left behind after the gentle blowing winds. Need I ask for more! 

 The Wheel of Life is always turning. I began to understand  the idea that although we may have rough times and while the climb may seem challenging to reach, it is during those moments we are at the bottom of the wheel. As the wheel is constantly turning, it does mean that we will inevitably be in one particular spot but in just a matter of time, we will be back up at the top of the wheel again, experiencing fulfillment and wholesomeness in our lives. The rainbow will follow the rain of hope!

There is just so many things to talk about and since I've been on and on and on about a cuppa, I was wondering if it would be nice to talk about  ... Tea Truths!


TEA TRUTHS!

~ tea leaves. tea loves. loves tea. lives tea. leaves tea? never. ~

Tea types
While all tea leaves come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, they are processed differently to obtain distinct types of teas. Once plucked, tea leaves wilt and darken by a process that is known as oxidation. Depending on the amount of oxidation tea leaves undergo, four main categories of teas are obtained: black, green, oolong, and white.

Black tea
Black tea is made from leaves that are fully oxidised. It has a stronger flavour and has higher caffeine content than the other types of teas, which undergo less oxidation. Unlike other teas, black tea stores well and retains its flavour over many years. Black tea is the most popular tea in the West and in India.

Green Tea

Green tea considered 'true' tea, is made from leaves that have undergone the least amount of oxidation. The brew is light yellow and has a subtle astringent flavour. It is believed to be healthier than black tea because of its high anti-oxidant content. Medical research suggests that green tea plays a role in preventing heart disease and certain cancers. It is most popular in China and certain other Asian countries, where it is drunk without milk or sugar. Green tea is gaining popularity in the West due to its health benefits.

Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is made from partially oxidised leaves, which places it somewhere between black and green tea. It has a floral or fruity flavour that is less robust than that of black tea, but less grassy than that of green tea. In China, it is traditionally brewed strong and served with meals. Connoisseurs drink it without adding milk, sugar or lemon to retain its delicate flavour!

White Tea
White tea is produced from the buds and new leaves that appear on the tea plant in spring. These are processed using very low heat, without rolling. White tea is often the most expensive type of tea, the more prized varieties being made exclusively from buds. White tea has lower fluoride content, which makes it healthier. Medical research indicates that it has higher antiviral and antibacterial properties than green tea.

*   After water, tea is the most largely consumed beverage in the world!

*   Tea bags were invented in America in the early 1800's and were initially used to hold samples of tea brought from India. Today 96% of all cups of tea served around the world were made using tea bags.

*   Tea is perfect when sipped steaming hot, tea is also one of the most thirst quenching sunny drinks when drunk cold especially with ice and possibly with some lemon, lime or mint leaves to add flavours! 

*   Tea is a natural antioxidant and rich in vitamins.

Keep enjoying every cuppa in whichever altitude you are in ... it's all in how you make it!
Until we meet again, see you soon!
 ~  la veda presto! ~