Behind the walls of a hidden monastery garden, a master herbalist teaches the secrets of healing to his apprentice. Half a world away, a tribal shaman gathers medicinal roots along the Amazon. In the hills of Tibet, a Buddhist monk brews a pot of green tea for an ailing brother. And, at home in a coastal Mediterranean cottage, a young mother keeps her child’s fever at bay with a simple spoonful of thyme. For centuries, people across continents and cultures have experimented with the restoring properties of “nature’s bouquet.” And you, too, can enhance the flavor and vitality of your everyday meals with the health benefits found in such herbs as thyme, basil, parsley, cinnamon, dill, and many others. As a source of vitamins and antioxidants, herbs are natural energy boosters and disease fighters—and you can add them to your menu with the easy-to-prepare recipes found in this book. From amazing appetizers and super salads to extraordinary entrées and dynamic desserts, The Magic Teaspoon offers it all—with just the flick of a teaspoon: More than 100 recipes for health-boosting meals and snacks—listing the healing virtues each herb brings to your table “The All Naturals” herb chart revealing the best herbs to choose for specific health issues Vegetable profiles—from artichokes to zucchini How to make processed foods healthier The Sugar Lover’s Survival Guide How to make potent herbal purées for instant energizers The 25 top teas for healing The health properties found in honey, vinegar, and olive oil And much more

Table of Contents The Magic of Green Tea Table of Contents Introduction History of Tea How to recognize Green Tea How to Prepare Green Tea Health Benefits of Green Tea Best Detoxifying Agent Cardiovascular Diseases Stress Buster Weight Loss through Green Tea Cancer Fighting Properties Antiaging Properties Other Health Benefits Green Tea as a Beauty Aid Skin Rejuvenator Getting Rid of Sunburn Green Tea for Your Hair Traditional Green Tea Home Cure Remedies Basil leaf – green tea decoction Conclusion Author Bio Publisher Introduction Since ancient times, man has been looking for healthy drinks, which could promote good health, longevity, and vitality. Green tea comes in this category. A majority of us cannot do without the cup that cheers, early in the morning. Sometimes we may even find ourselves addicted to our cup of hearty java, first thing in the morning before we can wake up completely. But since ancient times, green tea has been such a major part of the lives of people who are very careful about their health, that it is no wonder that it is one of the most popular of natural healthy drinks going in the world today. The ancient Chinese preferred going without food rather than forfeit their cup of refreshing “Cha”. That is because tea was such a major part of Chinese culture in ancient times, that tea drinking ceremonies which were then adapted by Japan, were a major part of the social fabric. Even today, there are exotic teas which are going for thousands of dollars on the auction table, because they are considered to be such rare, distinguished and exotic beverages. Of the three major beverages of the world, tea is definitely the most popular. “Cha” is a word which is recognized all over the world, especially when one demands something refreshing to drink after a hard days’ work at the office or sitting doing that hard days’ work in the office. History of Tea Historically, tea has been assimilated in the social fabric for millenniums. Serendipity has a great hand in the knowledge of tea, like that of coffee. Coffee was supposedly found by a shepherd who had seen his goats eating some berries off a bush and then acting in a very enthusiastic and frisky manner. In the same way tea was supposedly discovered by a Chinese Emperor more than 3000 years ago. He was sitting in his garden and a few leaves of a fragrant camellia bush accidentally fell into a cauldron of boiling water in the vicinity. The resulting fragrance tempted the Emperor to sip this refreshing brew. And soon everybody in China was steeping the leaves of the Camellia in hot water and drinking the resulting infusion down. It was only later that the proper preparation of tea, in the form of drying the leaves, fermentation, oxidization and other tea preparation methods before it was packaged and sold to the consumers, became known globally down the ages. The Camellia sinensis plant is normally used for the preparation of green tea. The tea available in the market is normally found in 3 forms – black tea, green tea and oolong tea. All these teas are made through different phases of drying and intensity of the fermentation process. About 3 billion kgs of tea are consumed all over the world annually, of which the major tea drinkers are the Chinese, Japanese, Indians, which come up to 43% of the world population of tea drinkers. In ancient Eastern medicine, tea has been used as a relaxant, and healing drink. According to the Chinese, drinking lots of tea meant that you would not suffer from stomach problems, headaches, nervous tension, and any other disease, of which you could think. For the last 4000 years, tea has been an important ingredient used to cure people in alternative medicines in the East.

The Magic of Tea - Getting to Know More about the Cup That Cheers Table of Contents Introduction Growing Tea Tea cuttings Two Leaves and a Bud Flushes, Banjis and Janams Harvesting – Plucking, Tipping and Pruning Processing Tea Green and Black Tea Processing Fermentation Enemies of Tea The Art of Drinking Tea Masala Chai Iced tea Masala lemon tea Tea Bags Tea bricks Storing tea Conclusion Author Bio Publisher Introduction Many of us cannot do without the cup that cheers, first thing in the morning, to wake us up. And whenever we smell the delicious aroma of freshly brewed tea, we thank the person who found out this plant and the brew made from it, which would wake us up and rejuvenate our systems. Why not, this is the refreshing beverage which is consumed gratefully all over the world, second only to water. According to historical documents, Tea leaves of an evergreen shrub – Camellia sinensis-were steeped in water to make an aromatic beverage in China, more than 4000 years ago. That is because this shrub was first found growing native in Asia. Even today you can find while the plants growing in many parts of northeastern India, Southwest China, northern Burma, and North Indochina. This native Chinese tea was slightly bitter, had a cooling effect, and had and astringent and warming flavor. Other tea varieties had floral, sweet, grassy, and even nutty overtones and flavors.

From the author of Refuge, a magical novel about a young Iranian woman lifted from grief by her powerful imagination and love of Western culture. Growing up in a small rice-farming village in 1980s Iran, eleven-year-old Saba Hafezi and her twin sister, Mahtab, are captivated by America. They keep lists of English words and collect illegal Life magazines, television shows, and rock music. So when her mother and sister disappear, leaving Saba and her father alone in Iran, Saba is certain that they have moved to America without her. But her parents have taught her that “all fate is written in the blood,” and that twins will live the same life, even if separated by land and sea. As she grows up in the warmth and community of her local village, falls in and out of love, and struggles with the limited possibilities in post-revolutionary Iran, Saba envisions that there is another way for her story to unfold. Somewhere, it must be that her sister is living the Western version of this life. And where Saba’s world has all the grit and brutality of real life under the new Islamic regime, her sister’s experience gives her a freedom and control that Saba can only dream of. Filled with a colorful cast of characters and presented in a bewitching voice that mingles the rhythms of Eastern storytelling with modern Western prose, A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea is a tale about memory and the importance of controlling one’s own fate.

After his parents announce that his bizarre, emerging abilities are getting in the way of their divorce, Felix Silver relocates to Dorset Harbor and becomes the charge of his Grandma Aggie. As Felix adjusts to life in a new school, Aggie decides that it's time he learn The Silver Way, and teaches him all she knows about sorcery and magical arts. When Felix and his new friends decide to solve the mystery of local teenagers who have gone missing, Felix learns that his crush, Aero, has a big secret. Is dark magic creeping into the town, and can Felix learn enough from Aggie and the witches of Dorset Harbor to combat it? From actor and author Harry Cook, Felix Silver is a charming and funny Golden Girls-meets-Harry Potter YA fantasy adventure in the tradition of Rainbow Rowell's Carry On.

Dive into the world of green witchery and uncover the destiny that awaits at the bottom of your tea cup with this guide to spells, rituals, and divination. Enter the enchanting world of herbal magic with this perfect book for present-day witches. This all-in-one guide will show you how to cultivate the use of various herbs, magical tea rituals, and the mystical art of tea leaf divination. Learn the perfect tea to brew for every occasion, from lunar readings to morning meditations. Master spells to heal and invigorate the spirit and uncover anyone’s destiny at the bottom of a teacup. Inside you’ll find: A comprehensive list of herbs and their magical properties A brief history of tea divination A symbol dictionary to assist in reading tea leaves Tea recipes, rituals, and spells And much more Packed with magic you can incorporate into daily life, this book is a must-have for tea lovers and aspiring witches alike!

Host a magical, sophisticated, and traditional British tea inspired by the Wizarding World with Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts: Afternoon Tea Magic! With more than 50 original and classic recipes and stunning full-color photography, as well as behind-the-scenes facts from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, this cookbook outlines how to host your own Wizarding World-themed high tea, as well as how to make many other classic tea-time recipes. Indulge in afternoon tea inspired by the Wizarding World and learn to prepare and enjoy this English tradition with the favorite afternoon repasts of wizards and Muggles from Harry Potter and Hermione Granger to Newt Scamander, Queenie Goldstein, and Jacob Kowalski. Bursting with gorgeous photography of afternoon tea party food, drinks, and sweets, this cookbook offers step-by-step instructions on how to arrange a magical Wizarding World-themed traditional tea. With more than 50 recipes for clever beverages, enchanting sweets, and savory treats, Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts: Afternoon Tea Magic is the perfect guide to creating a memorable and magical tea party for one, two, or more. RECIPES FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: With accessible step-by-step instructions and helpful cooking tips, Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts: Afternoon Tea Magic is a great guide for adult fans of any skill level, from kitchen novices to seasoned chefs FESTIVE FOOD: More than 50 recipes for teatime offerings from appetizers to main dishes, drinks, and desserts STUNNING IMAGES: Full-color photography of finished recipes help ensure success OFFICIALLY LICENSED: Created in collaboration with Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts: Afternoon Tea Magic is the newest addition to Insight Editions’ delightful line of Harry Potter-themed cookbooks, including Harry Potter: The Official Christmas Cookbook, Harry Potter: Feasts & Festivities, and Harry Potter: Homemade.