Tea Entry #1: Lotus Leaf Tea
July 17, 2024•378 words
Today I made Lotus Leaf Tea!
I used loose-leaf lotus leaves to make my brew. I put 3 tablespoons of lotus leaves into my tea infuser. I boiled the water to 85 degrees Celsius and let the water and leaves simmer for 5 minutes. The result? A majestic hue of emerald green—the exact color I was looking for!
While I wanted to start my tea journey with 'true tea,' or tea stemming from Camellia sinensis first, lotus leaves were readily available while I couldn't get my hands on the Camellia sinensis plant. Yet.
However, after drinking the tea, it was refreshing and somewhat bitter. I felt that with a slight sweetness, it could be the perfect concoction. I thought two drops of vanilla extract would do the trick.
It was perfect (to myself at least). The tea had a slightly sweet aftertaste that didn't overpower the slight bitterness of the leaf but added a sweet touch at the end. It was something I hadn't had before! I recommend trying the tea with a little vanilla. It was so good. SO GOOD.
Having drunk my brew, I wanted to do a little digging on the tea. I find it fascinating that all kinds of tea have various benefits for us. I wanted to look at the history of tea and its benefits.
According to Teatox Australia, the lotus leaf has been a prized ingredient in many different ancient civilizations, ranging from the Egyptians to the Chinese. It is a prevalent symbol of peace and beauty even to this day. Many ancient civilizations acclaimed the lotus leaf for its health benefits.
Modern research on the plant identified various benefits:
- Retaining skin moisture
- Reducing muscle spasms
- Spleen and liver detoxification
- And many more!
If you want to read the article yourself, this is where I got the information:
Teatox Australia: Lotus Leaf History and Benefits
https://www.teatoxaustralia.com/blogs/ingredients/39837825-lotus-leaf-history-and-benefits
Isn't it fantastic that a plant used years ago for medicine is still being used today? Perhaps many of the largest questions in health and biology may be found in nature. In a growing world of human innovation and technology, I believe that it is still imperative that we do not treat nature as obsolete but continue to learn from it.