17 December 2011

Soul Spice Tea

A few weeks ago, my sister felt under the weather with a sore throat.  She shared a home remedy for a sore throat posted on the most popular social media site.   The recipe follows:  mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar; a small pinch of cayenne pepper; 1/4 cup of lemon juice; and one teaspoon of honey in a cup of hot water. Drink the tea three times a day or until the infection clears up. 

When I told my sister that I was miserable from allergies, she suggested the recipe and recommended I pick up a bottle of liquid cayenne.   I left work early and headed for the organic market on the way home.  I grabbed the cayenne and honey.  I was exhausted from sneezing hard all day long; I had a headache; tears constantly welled in my eyes; and the skin around my eyes was red, swollen and dry.  I looked like a 3 am drunken mug shot.  My plan was to get home eat some serious carbs and jump under the covers.  I was a draggin’ and moanin’ slug.  I was also dehydrated.  I needed fluids and my favorite drink is a monster sized mug of hot green tea.  Instead of making the sore throat recipe, I just added the ingredients to my tea. 

The recipe in a large mug:

About 14 to 16 ounces hot water
1 organic green tea bag
1 teaspoon of orange blossom honey
1 teaspoon of organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar 
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
2 to 4 drops of liquid cayenne pepper

I admit that I was not scared to try the tea.  I was desperate and hopeful.  After I drank the huge cup of tea, the itchy burning dry eyes stop bothering me within 15 minutes.  My eyes stopped watering and it was the first time I could see straight in the last four days.  The aching at my left temple subsided and the pressure in my head was relieved.   I felt like I could breathe normal again.  As things improved, I had to blow my nose a few times and I felt much better.  The sneezing was much less frequent and when I did, it was a normal run of the mill sneeze versus the loud and wrong kind of sneeze.   The sneezing helped get all the mucus out of my system, so I did not mind.  I had to keep tissues nearby to catch the unexpected drips.  This recipe works!

Next thing I knew, I felt a little pep in my step.  I started my wifely cleaning chores and never got around to eating the carbs that I wished I had in the house.  The nap went by the wayside.  I felt so much better.

The tea tastes good.  I could taste the lemon and a hint of the apple cider vinegar.  The honey muted the citrus and spice.  The cayenne was not too spicy, but I did taste it a bit after I finished the tea.  The tea was different; an enjoyable experience.  I imagined sitting in a room surrounded by deep red walls; large pillows; and silky vibrant fabrics blissed out listening to Jill Scott circa 2000.  I was a cool neo soul child chillin’ by myself. 

This beverage is so much better than the chemicals on the pharmacy shelves.  In fact, each ingredient is celebrated for its functions to support health and vitality.   Cayenne pepper is important in circulatory system and heart health.  Green tea is an antioxidant and aids immunity.  Honey is an energy booster and has antimicrobial properties.  Raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar helps remove toxins from the body.  Lemon juice resolves digestive problems and helps calm anxiety.  I’ll be drinking this tea on the regular.  I don’t need to be ill to reap the benefits of Jill Scott’s vocal expressions and a little soul spice tea.

Thanks: publicdomainpictures.net