Happy First Day of Spring! 🌷🌸🌼🌱 In typical PNW fashion, it’s grey and wet. But that won’t stop me from dreaming about my favourite thing about spring- flowers! I have bulbs that are just coming up, seedlings to start in anticipation of summer, and of course indoor likenesses like this puzzle. What’s your favourite part of spring? #firstdayofspring #springequinox #vernalequinox #teatime #vintageteacup #puzzlelover #floralsforspring #individualitea (at Blaine, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMpR6EEhCYF/?igshid=13qpz4ahldnka

#teaoftheday having some @what_cha_tea Kenyan Silver Needle, one of my all time favorite teas. Though I'm sad because cat shenanigans broke a piece of teaware which ended up with me getting glassed in the finger. Not the best start to the morning. . . . #IndividualiTEA @teacouncil #tea #teatime #teaofinstagram #tealover #instatea #cha #chai #茶 #Чай #teaculture #drinktea #gongfucha #whitetea #africantea #kenyantea #teaphotography #teapot https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsi2ZbXH_ip/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xudlluw60y1o

Taking the uses of hot tea to a new level by bringing you this chai spiced tea infused trifle on the blog today #linkinbio, celebrating #nationalhotteaday on January 12th and bringing y’all the opportunity to get into this sweepstakes that the Tea Council of the USA is running: $500 dollars and a year’s supply of tea! 🥳 Tea lovers rejoice! Entering is really easy: share a photo or video of your favorite “true tea” (black, green, oolong, white) explaining how, when, or why you enjoy tea on Instagram or Twitter using #IndividualiTEA and tag @teacouncil for a chance to win! The sweepstakes is running until January 31st, 2019, so let’s get on it and win y’all! Good luck! - https://www.sweetteaandthyme.com/chai-spice-tea-trifle/ _ #blackfoodbloggers #blavityfoodie #beautifulcuisines #essenceeats #forkyeah #thebakefeed #imsomartha #wepineforpantry #bakingblog #bakersofinstagram #foodfluffer #blackfoodies #sweeeeets #thesunsetkitchen #shareyourtable #chai #foodwinewomen #tohfoodie #goodmoodfood #southernrecipe #blackfoodie #browngirlbloggers #blackgirlswhoblog #feedfeed @thefeedfeed #todayfood #saveurmag #bonappetitmag https://www.instagram.com/p/BsOaOiZA0Tb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gzotgo1l8rxv

National Hot Tea Day 

National Hot Tea Day celebrates the rich culture and history, diverse types, health benefits, and soothing qualities of tea, and encourages "tea fans across the nation to raise their cups in honor of the beloved beverage." The day, which takes place during National Hot Tea Month, was started by the Tea Council of the USA, a non-profit association that connects tea packers, importers, and allied industries in the United States and in the major tea producing countries. They work to promote awareness about tea by providing info about its positive attributes. They assert that "drinking tea is the perfect way to start the New Year with a sound mind and body."

The drinking of tea may date back almost 5,000 years. According to legend, it was first drunk in China in 2737 BCE, when Emperor Shen Nong accidentally imbibed it, after tea leaves blew into his boiling water. Tea went from being a medicinal beverage to a casual beverage around 300 CE. It has long been tied to Britain, but it wasn't until the seventeenth century that it became popular there, when the upper class began drinking it. At the time it was rather expensive and taxed by the government. By the late nineteenth century, it was popular with all British social classes.

Water is the only drink that is more popular than tea. Four out of five Americans drink tea, and the United States is the third-largest importer of tea in the world after Russia and Pakistan, with consumption continuing to rise. Tea-drinking is most widespread in Turkey and Ireland. Today's holiday is dedicated to hot tea, but only 15-25% of tea that is sold in the United States is hot tea. Both the young and old drink tea at about the same rates in the United States, and there and around the world sugar, honey, and milk are often added to it.

True tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. The main types of teas are black, green, white, dark, yellow, and oolong. They all come from the same plant—their differences lie in how they are processed. Tea leaves begin to oxidize after they are picked. White tea is the least oxidized, green tea is more oxidized, and black tea is the most oxidized. Dark tea is fermented after it is manufactured. Black tea is the overwhelming favorite of Americans, although green tea has been gaining in popularity. Besides true tea, there also is herbal tea, which is made from herbs or plants such as chamomile, mint, and hibiscus.

Tea has numerous health benefits. It contains a high concentration of flavonoids: bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties that may help neutralize free radicals that cause chronic disease. Studies show that tea may promote heart health. One bioactive compound that may promote this is EGCG. Tea may lower overall cholesterol as well as "bad" LDL cholesterol, while at the same time raising "good" HDL cholesterol. It may also improve blood pressure. Black tea is especially beneficial for cardiovascular health: it may reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Some components of tea may have a negative effect on cancer. In particular, the main antioxidant in green tea, EGCG, may help kill cancer cells. Drinking tea is associated with a lower weight, waist circumference, and BMI. Its flavonoids may boost the metabolism, increase fat oxidation, and improve insulin activity. Tea may help improve energy levels, partly on account of its caffeine content.

Finally, tea improves cognitive performance and has numerous soothing qualities. It may help improve memory and concentration: Studies have shown that green tea may improve memory, attention, and brain function. Another study has shown that drinking two cups of black tea may increase attention. Green tea may act as a bulwark against creeping dementia, and the antioxidants in tea may protect brain cells from free radicals. L-theanine and EGCG are two of tea's bioactive compounds that may enhance brain function, and both may also help reduce anxiety. L-theanine may help the brain with focusing attention and in the solving of complex problems. On National Hot Tea Day, we raise a glass in celebration of these health benefits and soothing qualities of tea, as well as to the diverse types of tea that can be found, and in appreciation of its rich culture and history.

How to Observe

Raise a cup or two of hot tea in honor of its history, diversity, health benefits, and soothing qualities. The focus of the day is on the drinking of true tea—tea from the Camellia sinensis plant, such as white, green, or black tea—but herbal tea may be drunk as well. Picking up various types of tea from a store to try or stopping at a tea shop are excellent ways to spend the day.

You could also participate in this year's IndividualiTEA Photo Sharing Sweepstakes, sponsored by the Tea Council of the USA, where $500 and a year's supply of tea can be won. This can be done by taking a photo or video, or writing a description of the unique ways you use tea, and sharing it on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #IndividualiTEA and tagging @TeaCouncil. Go to the IndividualiTEA webpage for more information.

Source

individualitea turned 2 today!

IndividualiTEA Photo Sharing Sweepstakes - Win $500 And A Years Supply Of Tea Eligibility: US This Sweepstakes Ends on January 31, 2019. https://www.giveawaynsweepstakes.com/individualitea-photo-sharing-sweepstakes-win-500-and-a-years-supply-of-tea/

IndividualiTEA Photo Sharing Sweepstakes - Win $500 And A Years Supply Of Tea

IndividualiTEA Photo Sharing Sweepstakes – Win $500 And A Years Supply Of Tea

IndividualiTEA Photo Sharing Sweepstakes is sponsoring by Tea Council of the USA Inc. and the Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who have attained the age of majority. The IndividualiTEA Photo Sharing Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 a.m., ET November 15, 2018 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on January 31, 2019. The Prize for the winner of the…

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Oh yeah, belated shout out to new followers individualitea, lighters-looking-just-like-stars, and fallen-cresent

Because I usually forget :P Welcome!

Happy Solstice! Today we celebrate the longest night, which heralds the slow return of the sun. I like this day because it is a reminder that even in the worst times we can hope for the best. 🌙 #wintersolstice #teatime #timefortea #individualitea #teacouncil @teacouncil #teacup #cupandsaucer #midwinter #yule #yuletide #vintage #finechina #norcrest #norcrestchina #firstdayofwinter #winter #wintertime (at Bellingham, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJEIHV7AWOa/?igshid=1b9i7myajjcgt

Warmly welcoming 2021 with gold trim, delicate flowers, antique lace, and a simple brew. 🌸 Cup and saucer by Royal Grafton. #happy2021 #newyearsday #teatime #teatimemagfeed @teatimemagazine #vintageteacup #vintage #antique #antiquelace #gilding #lightacademia #cottagecore #myteatime #individualitea @teacouncil #nationalhotteamonth #bonechina #finebonechina #madeinengland #royalgrafton #cupandsaucer (at Blaine, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJgOnuMA095/?igshid=rsvcix4u1vjw

Earl grey and homemade pecan sandies. A good afternoon. 🫖 #tea #teatime #myteatime #homemadecookies #bakersofinstagram #bakersgonnabake #pecansandies #gladstonechina #finechina #bonechina #madeinengland #earlgrey #earlgreytea #blacktea #individualitea @teacouncil #teatimemagfeed (at Bellingham, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKl2mLYBsY_/?igshid=19nw9g6rlbdrs

It’s National Hot Toddy Day!!! Made an extra-special toddy this year featuring brown butter washed bourbon! @davidlebovitz has an excellent tutorial on his blog about how to fat wash bourbon, which is what I followed in order to give my local @woodinvillewhiskeyco bourbon that little something extra. I paired the brown butter bourbon with fresh steeped sage leaves and fresh orange juice for a toddy that is rich, savoury, and chock-full of health. (That’s why you drink a toddy, right? 😉) If sage isn’t the flavour for you, this toddy would also be great with a straight black tea or even plain honeybush for the decaf folks. Cheers! 🍊🌱🥃 #nationalhottoddyday #hottoddyday #hottoddy #hottoddies #nationalhotteamonth #brownbutterbourbon #fatwash #fatwashed #cocktail #sageandcitrus #teaforhealth #individualitea @teacouncil #drinklocal #vitaminc #sagetea #cheers #teatipples (at Bellingham, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ6EuH_ARmd/?igshid=1bmj23kvwma82

It’s Girl Scout Cookie Season! Coming in hot is this pairing for one of my favourites, the Tagalong/Peanut Butter Patty. I’ve always loved peanut butter everything, and these are no exception. They’re sweet but salty, thanks to the peanut butter, and the silky chocolate coating keeps them from feeling too dry. I’m drinking it with a smoky earl grey from @fortnums . This black tea is strong enough to stand against the cookie flavours, and the bergamot notes help lift what could otherwise be a heavy combination. Add a little creamer and you’ve got a perfectly grown-up snack; like milk and cookies meets afternoon tea. What tea would you like to drink with these? 🔴 #teatime #teaandcookies #girlscoutcookieseason #teapairing #tagalongs #milkandcookies #afternoontea #girlpower #girlscouts #internationalwomensday #peanutbutterpatties #smokyearlgrey #earlgrey #hottea #vintagelove #individualitea #teatimemagfeed (at Bellingham, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKVvy7gd1Z/?igshid=1a9j3qs2jnkdw

I went and cut down a Christmas tree yesterday! It’s a hefty 7 feet tall, and I sawed and dragged it through mud and over moss all by myself! (Wow am I out of shape...) The good news is it fit perfectly in my car, where I had tea waiting to congratulate me on a job well done. I’m picking up a stand today and will decorate it this weekend! 🎄 #teatime #englishteashop @etsteas #teaadventcalendar #adventcalendar #festivespice #individualitea #teacouncil @teacouncil #teatimemagfeed @teatimemagazine #christmastree #freshchristmastree #realchristmastree (at Alpine Meadows Christmas Tree Farm) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIVsc1cA13R/?igshid=jfc5dmlqxm5w

Girl Scout cookies and tea pairing number 2: Thin Mints and Peach Tea! This combo tastes like a summer day. Sweet, but not too sweet, and indulgent without weighing you down. If you’re already looking past spring (3 days in!) and getting anxious for summer, I highly recommend tracking down some Thin Mints and giving it a try! 🍫🌱 #girlscoutcookieseason #girlscoutcookiepairing #cookiesandtea #teaandcookies #tea #teatime #peachtea #blacktea #flavouredtea #vintageteacup #wellingtonchina #madeinengland #thinmints #individualitea @teacouncil #teatimemagfeed @teatimemagazine (at Bellingham, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMuQshjhk78/?igshid=1xf18g9dtabb2

I bought this teacup last summer but have been waiting for snow before debuting it! Isn’t it just perfect for a winter cup of tea? I would love a team of sled dogs to take me through my current winter wonderland! Cup and saucer hand painted by Rosalyn on Windsor China. #teacup #cupandsaucer #rosalyn #windsorchina #bonechina #madeinengland #vintageteacup #sleddogs #handpainted #winterwonderland #snow #snowday #teatimemagfeed #teacouncil @teacouncil #individualitea #pnwonderland (at Blaine, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7W8bV5gIWj/?igshid=1bkn7ss8cneqr