The Properties and Benifits of the Tea Leaves

TEA
Tea is a beverage made by steeping processed leaves, buds and twigs in hot water for a few minutes. The processing can include oxidation, heating, drying and the addition of other herbs, spices, flowers and fruit. Tea is a very popular beverage, especially in Europe. Most teas are served hot but iced tea is also quite popular. Many teas are designed for a relaxing effect to promote a restful sleep or to help aid along a cold. So now a little homework to get you informed about some tea talk you may not have known. I shall be sitting at my desk enjoying a nice cup of earl grey. You know where to find me with any questions.

PART ONE-Herbal tea
Please give me the names of three herbs you can add to te leaves to make an herbal tea. I would like the names and the physical description of the three you chose as well as any medicinal properties they may contain. (30)

PART TWO-True tea
Please give me a description of what the classification of "true tea" means. I would also like the names of the four true teas. (15)

PART THREE-The tea bush
Please give me the proper scientific name for the tea bush and a detailed description of what it looks like and the climate it grows best in. (15)

PART FOUR-Tea time
I would like you to create a tea recipe. (It can be hot tea or iced) I want a list of ingredients and I want to know why you have chosen those specific ones. What would it taste like? Would it have any medicinal benefits? (20)

Possible points earned is 100

Have fun and do not forget to site any sources you have used with a link to their site.

The Properties and Benefits of Tea Leaves
By: KatieBellaTrix

Echinacea~ used in making tea. Native to North America it’s name is Greek meaning spicy referring to the middle of the flower. They grow from one to two meters in height. There leaves form a “cone” shape. It is said to releive cold and or flu symptoms.

Catnip~ up to 250 speices of this flowering plant. Grow mostly in the Mediterranean and China. Physical charectoristics include a strurdy steam and heart-shaped leaves. Catnip has many medical uses including it promotes sweating when used as a herbal tea. It is also known to treat nervousness, cold, and flu, and preventing childhood diesases.

Kava Root~ an crop of the Pacific wher it has many different names including kawa. They can make you very talkative, pale and calm. It has large green leaves.

The four kinds of true tea are black tea, oolong tea, green tea, and white tea. Sorry I couldn’t find a definition.

Camellia sinensis is the scientific name of the tea bush. Native to main land south and southeast Asia, it is now grown all around the world mostly in tropical and subtropical areas.

I will call my tea “Simplex Sapor” which means “Simply Tasteful” in Latin. The list of ingredients is as fallows

~Mint or peppermint for extra flavor
~Neem leaves to help settle the stomach and aid in digestion
~Stevia to sweeten it
~Anise for flavor and spice
~Fennel to make it smell good

My tea would have many medical benefits, the neem is great for digestion, stevia, has had medical controversy but I would use the leaves which are not toxic. Anise releaves toothaches, and head lice. Fennel treats chills and stomach problems

PART ONE-Herbal tea
Lavender flowers- a pale to light purple to very light or very pale violet. Lavender has been extensively used in herbalism. An infusion of lavender is claimed to soothe and heal insect bites. Bunches of lavender are also said to ward off insects. If applied to the temples, lavender oil is said to soothe headaches. Lavender is frequently used as an aid to sleep and relaxation. Lavender oil (or extract of Lavender) is claimed to heal acne when used diluted 1:10 with water, rosewater, or witch hazel; it is also used in the treatment of skin burns and inflammatory conditions.
Chamomile flowers- the whole plant is downy and grayish green in color. It is used as a tonic, stomachic, anodyne (relieves pain), and anti-spasmodic. As a volatile oil it has an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, which help relieve, inflamed and irritated conditions, tension and colicky pains. Also used in insomnia, as it helps to promote sleep when changing time zone while traveling. A tincture is used to cure diarrhea in children and it is used with purgatives to prevent griping, and as a tonic it helps dropsy. It also reduces fever and calms restlessness in children. It is also used as a mouthwash for gingivitis. Externally, it can be applied alone or with other herbs as a poultice to relieve pain, swellings, inflammation and neuralgia.
Red Clover blossoms- the flowers are large, pink blossoms that appear throughout the summer months, with a particularly large flush in mid-spring/early summer. Red clover is reported to have antispasmodic and expectorant effects, and also promotes the skin’s healing process, including use for athlete’s food, sores, burns, and ulcers. Traditional uses also include use for coughs, bronchitis, and whooping cough. It has also been used as an anti-cancer remedy.

http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/herbalteas.html
http://www.answers.com/topic/lavender
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender
http://www.kingtutshop.com/Egyptian-Herb/Chamomile-Flowers.htm
http://pages.prodigy.net/groovyskye/10.html


PART TWO-True tea
“True Teas” comes from one plant: Camellia sinensis. There are four basic types of true tea: black tea, oolong tea, green tea, and white tea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea
http://reviews.ebay.com/The-True-Definition-of-Tea_W0QQugidZ10000000001213416


PART THREE-The tea bush
Tea Bush is also called Camellia sinensis. Camellia sinensis is native to mainland South and Southeast Asia, but is today cultivated across the world, in tropical and subtropical regions. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is usually trimmed to below two metres (six feet) when cultivated for its leaves. It has a strong taproot. The flowers are yellow-white, 2.5–4 cm in diameter, with 7 to 8 petals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sinensis



PART FOUR-Tea time
I would like you to create a tea recipe. (It can be hot tea or iced) I want a list of ingredients and I want to know why you have chosen those specific ones. What would it taste like? Would it have any medicinal benefits? (10)

· Japanese Sencha Green
· Ginger
· mint leaves
· honey

I chose these because as a child my grandmother would add ginger, mint leaves, and/or honey to tea and I have always considered her a natural herbalist. I chose the Japanese Sencha Green because I like green tea and it described it as sweet, and I love sweet. It would taste sweet. The medical benefits from the green tea could be: Cognition ,Stopping certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's , Preventing/treating cancer ,Treating arthritis ,Treating multiple sclerosis ,Preventing the degradation of cell membranes by neutralizing the spread of free radicals (which occurs during the process of oxidation).,Increases fat oxidation (helps the body use fat as an energy source) and raises metabolism. ,Lowering LDL cholesterol,Preventing lowered T-Cells due to HIV - In lab tests, EGCG, found in green tea, was found to prevent HIV from attacking T-Cells. However, it is not known if this has any effect on humans yet. From the Ginger: a remedy for appetite loss, indigestion and motion sickness, ginger root has a proven ability to combat all forms of nausea and vomiting, It has also been taken to loosen phlegm, relieve gas, and tighten the tissues, Ginger may also ease sore throats, headaches, ulcerative colitis, some types of menstrual and arthritis pain, and fevers and aches caused by colds and flu. It is thought to improve muscle tone in the gastrointestinal tract. A few studies have provided preliminary evidence suggesting that ginger may be also useful in relieving both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. For honey: If you have allergies, honey can be beneficial. Honey may also be good for your skin. If you have a sore throat, take some honey. Honey is a natural antiseptic. Honey may also be effective in the treatment of your ulcers.In And for mint : Eases many stomach and digestive problems, Helps relieve headaches, Relaxing .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sencha_tea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea#Health_benefits
http://www.bees-online.com/HealthBenefitsOfHoney.htm
http://www.nutrasanus.com/ginger.html
http://coffeetea.about.com/od/herbaltea/p/mint.htm

You both did a great job!
Here are your grades.

KatieBellatrix (gryffindor) 36/40
drkangelcat (slytherin) 36/40