LP’s Tea Pick of the Week- Yerba Mate, the South American Anti-oxidant Powerhouse

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The flavor of traditional yerba mate [yer-bah mah-tay] has been described as “vegetal” and grassy. In comparison, roasted yerba mate has a more mild and nutty, toasted, full bodied flavor that is comparable to coffee, with chocolate- like notes.

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Did you know that Yerba Mate contains tons of vitamins, minerals, and even more antioxidants than Green Tea?  Some of the nutrients in a serving of Yerba Mate tea are: Potassium, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, and Flavinoids. Anti-oxidants are essential for the body to stay healthy and have been shown to inhibit cell deterioration which may slow the signs of aging. The main antioxidant found in Yerba Mate is chlorogenic acid, which has been shown by some studies to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Celebrate Fall with our Apple Pie Chai!!

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Our Traditional Chai Steamer gets an autumn-inspired makeover in our latest new recipe!  Spicy chai is steamed together with apple cider and milk (whole milk, almond milk, or soy milk), sweetened just a bit with honey and caramel, and sprinkled with cinnamon to make the perfect hot tea for crisp autumn weather!

You can order our Apple Pie Chai from our specials menu to-go, in our teahouse, or in the Foot Sanctuary.  This tea is also the beverage in our new monthly special, “The Spirit of Soaktober!” More details on the package coming soon!

Rescue chapped hands!

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Our hands are often abused by the harsh soaps and sanitizers we use, leaving the skin stripped of moisture.  The solution? Hydrate and soften your hands with Savannah Bee Company’s Tupelo Honey Hand Soap! Did you know that honey has natural antiseptic properties?  Other ingredients, such as aloe vera repair the skin while cleansing, reduce redness, and soothe the skin as they hydrate. Its mildly sweet honey fragrance makes for a delicious lather!

To further hydrate and protect the skin, be sure to follow with Savannah Bee Company’s Beeswax Hand Cream. Propolis and Royal Jelly replenish and repair skin.  This peach scented lotion is creamy and packed with anti-oxidants which help to restore the skin.

These products and many others are available to try out and purchase in our shop. Come by Soakology today and check them out!

How Much Caffeine is in Tea?

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Whether your favorite tea is a black, green, or white tea, it comes from the same tea plant; Camellia sinensis. The “color” of the tea refers to the amount of oxidation the tea leaf is subjected to during processing.  White tea is not oxidized at all, it is the dried tea leaf in it’s natural state. Green tea is only allowed to oxidize very slightly, Oolongs a bit more, while black tea is allowed to completely oxidize.

Where a particular tea falls in the oxidation spectrum determines it’s caffeine content.  Thus, a full-bodied black tea will contain the most amount of caffeine, whereas a white tea will contain only a minimal amount.

Here is a little tip for curing even the most severe case of the Mondays: Try a cup of Matcha tea!  Though Matcha is a green tea, it is made by whisking the powdered leaf into hot water, rather than steeping.  Steeping teas releases the caffeine into the water. When it’s consumed, the caffeine goes directly into the blood-stream causing a sudden spike and later, a crash. Since the tea leaf is actually ingested when drinking Matcha, you end up consuming more caffeine (and nutrients) but it’s stimulating effects come on more gradually and last longer. There is no “crash” after the fact.

Check out the chart below to see exactly how much caffeine is in the average cup of your favorite beverage.

White Tea………………..15 mg.
Green Tea………………..20 mg.
Oolong Tea………………30 mg.
Black Tea…………………40 mg.
Coffee……………………..110 mg.

Relax in Style!

Upper Body Wrap

We just got in all new Upper Body Wrap Covers in all new colors and patterns!  Tension relief that’s personalized and  fashionable!  Our Upper Body Wraps are filled with herbs that give off a relaxing aroma when heated to soothe and relieve tension.  A must have for the quickly approaching chilly nights.  You can find these on our website or in our shop!  www.soakology.com

LP’s Tea Picks of the Week!

Spicy Cranberry w/ Black Mango
Spicy Cranberry w/ Black Mango

This week LP has chosen a splendid blend of herbal spicy cranberry and a black tea infused with mango.  This blend you are sure to FALL in love with!  It has a sweet and soothing taste with a kick of cinnamon.  Also, we are introducing for the first time APPLE PIE CHAI!  A steamed blend of traditional chai, apple cider, and caramel topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a whole lot of love.  Enjoy these in our teahouse, in our spa with a nice relaxing soak and massage, or to go for a crisp walk about town.

Echinacea Honeybush, a Cold Season Staple

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The immune-boosting powers of Echinacea have been widely publicized.  We blend this dried herb into our South African Honeybush tea to make a delicious infusion with a sweet aroma and a straw-like flavor reminiscent of honey.  Honeybush is a red tea, or Rooibos tea that is healthful, strengthening, and full of Vitamin C, Iron, Potassium, Calcium, and Zinc.  It’s a great “go-to” tea for the common cold.

Here is a great tea blend that can be made as a cold/flu season remedy or preventative tonic: Use about a teaspoon of Echinacea honeybush.  Add a little Ginger tea and Lemon Myrtle, a pinch of cayenne pepper, a slice of lemon, and honey to sweeten to taste.

Matcha-do About Tea

Matcha is a Japanese ceremonial powdered green tea.  Matcha has special significance in Japan and is traditionally sipped from a traditional bowl and prepared in a Tea Ceremony called Chanoyu.  This  tea has a unique, creamy, sweet and rich oceanic taste.  Matcha is also one of the only types of teas where you ingest the leaf, thus providing larger health benefits than most other teas, like additional vitamin C and protein. Scroll below to find out how to prepare.

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The bright-green matcha powder in the bowl before water is added.
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The powder is vigorously whisked together with hot water until the surface is light-green and frothy.
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A perfect bowl of matcha!
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The lovely LP enjoying her tea.
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There are many ways to enjoy matcha. Here, LP has added soy milk and natural vanilla flavoring to make a iced matcha latte!