5 Unique Caribbean Teas and Herbal Benefits by Damian Powell (Guest Post)

The Caribbean is an idyllic paradise comprising different countries and territories that are savored by vacation tourists, pleasure-seekers, and people looking for relaxation in exotic locations. Trinidad, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, West Indies - take your pick and be transported to whole new worlds where you wish your days of freedom are not numbered. Your experiences will be very pleasant and memorable. 

If you have visited any of these locations then there is something you won't want to forget.

When browsing the local shops, you probably noticed certain herbal tea drinks which catch your attention with names like turmeric tea, soursop tea, bissy tea, cerasee tea, and fever grass tea. They may be native to other places but they were brought here to the islands and they were given a distinctly Caribbean twist. They could be Asian, African, or Latin American in origin, but Caribbean folks everywhere made use of them extensively and many people in the islands are familiar with them since childhood. Other herbal teas that are worth mentioning are peppermint, soursop, cinnamon, lemon ginger for its digestive aiding properties, and sorrel benefits of the hibiscus flower known as roselle.

WASHOUT HERBAL DRINKS:

Most Caribbeans, locally and abroad, would remember rituals or must do's administered by their parents at the end of the holidays or summer vacation. They were to do a "washout" with a mixture of local herbal drinks bought from the store. They could include turmeric, soursop, bissy, cerasee, fever grass tea, and other herbals concocted by the elders. They are supposed to deworm or bring out the toxins from the kids' systems before they return to school.

Below you will find information regarding 5 Caribbean herbal teas that are not only good for you but are also delicious.  

1) TURMERIC TEA

Turmeric tea adds zest to your morning routine. Turmeric is sometimes mixed with other herbs and spices like ginger, lemon, honey, and cinnamon to add more flavor. There is also caffeine-free turmeric tea which helps balance and supports a healthy inflammation response. Turmeric is a popular spice made from the rhizome or root of the Curcuma longa plant. It is native to Southeast Asia and is a member of the Zingiberaceae or ginger family. It has been used as a herbal remedy for generations in Caribbean alternative medicine. A range of turmeric teas is available for purchase in health stores or online. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin gives turmeric its characteristic yellow color and is proven to have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. Curcumin has low bioavailability, which means the body has a hard time accessing and absorbing the compound. For this reason, the herbal benefits of turmeric tea, with its guaranteed high concentrations of curcumin, are in demand. Turmeric tea, brewed using grated turmeric root or pure powder, is considered one of the most effective ways to consume curcumin. Drinking turmeric tea is believed to bring about several health benefits: 

1.Reduces arthritis symptoms 

2. Boosts immune function 

3. Helps reduce cardiovascular complications 

4. Helps prevent and treat cancer 

5. Helps manage irritable bowel syndrome or IBS and other digestive conditions. 

6. Prevents and treats Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative conditions. 

7. Protects against liver damage, gallstones, and manages liver conditions. 

8. Helps prevent and manage diabetes 

9. Helps treat and manage lung conditions 

With these health benefits, wouldn't it be nice to have some turmeric tea stocked on your pantry shelves at home?

2) SOURSOP TEA

It is derived from the Graviola tree that is native to Latin America. It is used to treat stomach ailments, parasitic infections, fever, rheumatism, and hypertension. It is also a sedative and can aid in sleep problems and has an effectivity that can compete with chemotherapy when it comes to battling cancer cells. Soursop herbal tea is also a good source of vitamin C which boosts immunity. Thus, it also promotes the destruction of free radicals to protect your skin from oxidative damage.

3) BISSY TEA 

Bissy tea originated from Africa but is a staple drink in many Caribbean homes. It is an antidote for poison and aids in digestion, relieves diarrhea and inflammation, treats fever, and is considered a tonic. Bissy tea shows antioxidant properties and bissy is also used to treat fever, relieve inflammation, and diarrhea. Bissy tea is sourced from grated cola nuts which can expel toxins from your system. Its high concentration of tannic acid is the reason why it has antioxidant properties. When you're busy and you want a hot beverage, why not drink "bissy" tea and take a break from your busyness? You can buy bissy tea online on Caribbean websites tropical supermarket if it is not available at your local grocery store.

4) CERASEE TEA 

Cerasee Herbal Tea is derived from bitter melon. Bitter herbs and food are very nutritious because they contain various plant-based chemicals that are beneficial to health. Cerasee tea is full of phytochemicals like triterpenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids that slow the growth of cancers and reduce the risk of heart disease. It also lowers blood sugar levels in diabetic people. Cerasee is also healthy for the gut because it takes care of worms and parasites. Thus, it can make you lose weight. Caribbeans are full of healthy surprises, and cerasee tea is one of the "bitter" but healthy truths.

5) FEVER GRASS TEA 

Fever grass tea, also known as lemongrass, has long been a painkilling remedy for many households, may it be in the West Indies or Guyana, or elsewhere in the Caribbean. Drinking it for one month straight can increase hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count. It also prevents bloating. Fever grass is a perennial plant that is indigenous to Asia. It has long thin leaves and contains citral, an essential oil that has medicinal significance. Fever grass has a pleasant smell which makes it ideal as an additive when cooking rice. Fever grass tea, doesn't give you a fever, ask the locals. Instead, it heals fevers and many disorders associated with blood.

♦  ALL 5 TEAS have been part of Caribbean life and culture for generations. Their medical uses overlap each other, so each kind of tea should find its own space on your shelves. 

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About the Author: Damian Powell is the CEO at Islsnac LLC.  Caribbean Dreams teas are available via Amazon.

Image credit: Caribbean Islands Souvenir Blue Map Embossed Ceramic Coffee Mug Tea Cup 11 oz

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Food Gift Baskets Are Perfect for Holiday Gift-Giving

The holiday season is upon us, and I, for one, am very content to share a few precious moments with family and friends. It is not necessary to give me a gift. However … if you want to make me happy for the holidays, you can give me a cheese gift basket. Several years ago, my brother gave my husband and me a basket for Christmas, and we thoroughly enjoyed all of the tasty cheeses. 

Image credit

You can buy gift baskets that are ready-made or make a basket yourself. If you want to make a gift basket and you are not sure which cheese to pick, you can follow the advice published by Serious Eats or Taste Atlas.

REFERENCES:

• Thorpe, Liz. “Cheese Expert's Picks: 10 Essential Cheeses to Know and Love.” Serious Eats, SERIOUS EATS INC., BY DOTDASH, 31 Oct. 2019.

• “100 Best Rated Cheeses in The World.” Taste Atlas, AtlasMedia Ltd. (EU), 5 Dec. 2020, www.tasteatlas.com/100-best-rated-cheeses-in-the-world.

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Me personally, I like gouda, gruyere, extra sharp cheddar, Greek feta, and Camembert. But I would be more than happy to try any of those other cheeses recommended on these lists.

Of course, I know a cheese gift basket is kind of expensive. But it's just a suggestion to get you thinking about all the various types of gift baskets you can put together and give to family and friends.

For example, do you have a friend who is a cocoa or coffee or tea lover? Or a friend who likes various sorts of jellies and jams? You can choose a theme like … chili fixings or ingredients for Italian or Mexican food. Making gift baskets is fun. They don't have to be edible gifts either. (I just like receiving gourmet food baskets!) The items don't even have to be in a straw basket. Gift baskets can be very personalized and unique. You can give one to an individual, a couple, or a family. And of course … they come from the heart.

How to Make Easy Fancy Gift Basket



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Two (2) Southern Cooking Techniques by Ken Miller (Guest Post)

According to Wikipedia: The cuisine of the Southern United States developed in the traditionally defined American South. Tidewater, Appalachian, Cajun, Creole, Lowcountry, and Floribbean are examples of types of Southern cuisine.

Ken Miller is a freelance writer and webmaster, and enjoys sharing cooking tips and recipes for authentic Southern cooking.  In this article he shares two (2) Southern Cooking techniques.

TECHNIQUE 1:

This first technique may sound unrelated to Southern Cooking, but you will see the connection as we proceed. Here's the first tip, which should be applied to all your recipes, not just Southern Cooking.

The Chinese figured this out long ago. Combine sweet and sour in your cooking. That is, in a dish that is intended to be sweet (desserts), add a pinch of salt, vinegar, or hot spice. In a dish that is intended to be sour or savory (i.e., not sweet), such as vegetables, chili, or meats, add sweet. I prefer syrup or molasses rather than regular sugar to add that sweetness.

As an example, in Southern Recipes, I add a teaspoon of molasses to greens (turnip, collards, mustard), green beans and breakfast gravy. One exception to the adding sweet to sour is in cornbread. If you want real Southern cornbread, never put sugar in it. Sorry, that's not cornbread, it's cake (or Yankee cornbread). I also add a teaspoon of regular sugar to my cole slaw and chili.

Likewise, in all desserts that I cook, I add a pinch of salt. You are probably aware that most dessert recipes call for this anyway.

I have discussed the next technique at length in my other articles and on my websites, but it is so important that I want to repeat it here. You must use cast-iron cookware for most Southern dishes, especially cornbread. First, it is the traditional way to cook Southern. Additionally, the cast iron transfers heat unlike any other material, making it uniquely suited for Southern dishes. So, please use cast iron.


TECHNIQUE 2:

This next technique is employed in many Southern recipes. Southerners use cornmeal in many fried dishes to coat the food. This produces a crunchy texture and adds flavor. When frying chicken, coat (batter) the chicken in flour, but add cornmeal to the flour mix at a 3 to 1 ratio. In other words, 1/4 cup cornmeal to 1 cup flour. Also, fried okra should be coated in a pure cornmeal mix (with salt and pepper, no flour). Here's the point...experiment a little. When a recipe calls for flour or just because you have always cooked it that way, try substituting cornmeal for flour.

Here's something I remember from my grandmother's kitchen. She was a great cook of traditional Southern food. She made the best biscuits I've ever tasted. At first, I thought it was her recipe, until I found out there was nothing unusual about it (I think she got it off a bag of flour.) It wasn't the ingredients that made them so good. It was the size of the biscuits. I always knew she made bigger biscuits than I was use to but I didn't make the connection until after I found out her secret was not the ingredients. 

Larger biscuits will have more of the soft insides and a larger area outside for the brown crust. They are especially good with gravy or anytime you will be using a sauce. Here's what she did. She rolled out the biscuit dough to about 3/4 inch thickness. Then she used a biscuit cutter that was a little over 3 inches in diameter (who knows where she got it...it was probably a hundred years old.) A word of caution if you use this technique for your biscuits, do not make the dough over 3/4 inch thick. 

You may think that if 3/4 inch is good, then 1 1/2 inches should be better. Not so. The 3/4 inch rule seems to be the optimum for Fat Biscuits. If you make them much thicker, the tops will crack, and they will have a doughy flour taste. So, if you are one that has always made slim 2-inch biscuits, give these a try. And, try out the other techniques mentioned for real Southern Cooking.

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Rooting for Potatoes: The Spud Makes A Comeback

Forget low-carb diets and Atkins; those sweet, succulent spuds are once again finding their place among meat and vegetables at the dinner table.To celebrate its return to center stage, Kita Roberta of Girl Carnivore is recognizing the health benefits of a plant-based diet, while still including your favorite proteins.To that end, Girl Carnivore has created a recipe that is packed with carrots, beets, kale and Idaho potatoes. Add the sweetness of maple aioli and you’ve got yourself a good-for-you meal. 

Roasted Roots and Chicken Power Bowl with Maple Aioli 

* 4 Russet Idaho potatoes, chopped into 1/2-inch cubes

* 3 carrots

* 1 turnip, peeled, cut in half lengthwise, and then cut into wedges

* 1 red onion, cut into wedges

* 1 cup butternut squash, peeled and chopped

* 2 beets, rinsed, peeled, cut in half and then cut into wedges

* 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided

* Salt and pepper

* 3 sprigs fresh thyme, removed from stem

* 3 cups Swiss chard, removed from stem and chopped

* 1 garlic clove, minced

* 1 cup cooked rotisserie chicken, chopped 

For the Maple Aioli 

* 3 tablespoons fresh mayonnaise

* 1 tablespoon maple syrup

* 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 425 degreeF. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.  Toss all of the vegetables in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.Arrange the vegetables in a single layer on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with thyme. Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden and fork-tender, flipping once, halfway through.  Meanwhile, heat the remaining olive oil in a skillet over medium-heat. Sauté the Swiss chard with the chopped garlic until wilted, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Whisk the mayonnaise with the maple syrup and cinnamon until combined.  Spoon into a serving dish.  Divide the chard evenly in serving bowls. Top with the roasted vegetables and chopped rotisserie chicken. Serve with the maple aioli on the side for dipping.

For more recipes, visit the Idaho Potato Commission’s website at https://idahopotato.com. 

(NewsUSA) –