rose tea

http://www.choitime.com/rose_tea.asp

Preface
What's the impression while thinking of rose?
Well, people usually give this perennial shrub an fantastic and romantic imagination.
I have learned that roses have another beautiful name--"givings from angels".(天使的贈與) It can be seen as a major reason I introduce them here. :P

Uses for Health
However,besides these imagination and fantastic names, people easily fail to recognize roses its health benefits. In the article above, it mentioned that rose tea is the most beneficial drink that has been reported. Nadine Taylor, who published the book rose tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, says that rose tea has been used as a medicine in China at least 4000 years.

Hard evidence
And rose tea do have a variety of evidences proving its health benefits.
Scientists around the world are providing evidences for the health benefits associated with drinking rose tea.
For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking rose tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers have recently found a compound in rose tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
A research also indicates drinking rose tea lower total cholesterol level...etc.

What makes them so special and beneficial to our body?
Well, the secret lies in catechin(兒茶素).
Roses contain a very rich catechin polyphenols and EGCG: functions mainly as powerful anti-oxidant. Besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills the cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It is also effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels; inhibiting abnormal blood clots--the latter plays additional important role to people who afraid of heart attacks and stroke.
In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol(白藜蘆醇)--which prevents French from having heart diseases.

How to plant rose?
Using "Cutting":To take a branch fresh off the plant and plant it in soil

Harmful effects?
And as for harmful Effects? Well, to date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking rose tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, rose tea contains less caffeine than coffee: 30-60mg (in rose tea) v.s 100mg (in coffee)


PS. Where you can buy cheap dried rose with high quality in Hualien?
The answer lies in 中山路 in front of 鐵道. The shop is called 萬安堂.
cost:100 NT dollars.
products(rose tea)from: France.

knowing & using rosemary

original article

While enjoying your rosemary tea, why not sit down and know more about its story.
"There's rosemary, that's for remembrance."
-- Shakespeare's Hamlet to Ophelia

Why called "rosemary":
The botanical name for rosemary is derived from the old Latin for "dew of the sea"--
a reference to its pale blue dew-like flower and the fact that it is often grown near the sea. It is a symbol of remembrance and friendship.

Now view the description of rosemary~
Rosemary is an ever green shrub with needle-like leaves. Its blue flowers last through spring and summer in a warm and humid environment.It will grow to a height of between 3 and 5 feet.


The Romance of Rosemary
http://health.learninginfo.org/herbs/rosemary.htm

The ancient perennial's legend grew in the 14th century; 72-year-old Queen Elizabeth of Hungary used it as a treatment to her rheumatism and gout, and enhanced her health and beauty, even fanned the passion of 26-year-old King of Poland who requested her hand in marriage. It became known as Hungary water and the aide of beauty for women for hundreds of years.

Ancient Romans and Greeks are familiar with this shrub as well. They thought it would improve their memories and rejuvenate their spirits. Greek scholars wore garlands of rosemary during examinations in order to improve their memory and concentration.

While Christians called rosemary "Holy Herb" and associated it with Mary, who, according to Spanish legend, drops her cloak over a rosemary bush while on Holy Family's flight to Egypt, turning the color of rosemary blossoms from white color to blue.


How to grow them (cultivation):
It can be grown from seeds, cuttings, and layer.
Choose a sheltered position and a well-drained soil, and allow the plant lots of sun. In a warm climate it could remain in the same location up to 30 years.
You can start planting them by "Cutting":To take a branch fresh off the plant and plant it in soil


Uses for Health
Congratulations!! You might be reducing the risk of cancer already...
Rosemaries are frequent used in preventing cancers, cosmetic uses, and culinary uses.
A professor showed that applying rosemary oil to the skin of experimental animals reduced the risk of cancer to half that found in the animals that did not receive application of oil. Besides, other studies show that animals whose diets contained rosemary oils have half the incidence of colon cancer or lung cancer and breast cancer compared with animals not eating rosemary.
However, researchers pointed out that rosemary oils should not be taken internally.
Use a tea instead.
Pregnant women should not use rosemary medicinally, although it's okay to use it as a seasoning.

Rosemary used in cooking:

vocabulary:
remembrance--回憶起的往事--There's rosemary, that's for remembrance.
pale--(淡的)顏色--it's pale blue color
shrub--矮樹 灌木--Rosemary is an ever green shrub.
well-drained --通水良好的--Choose a well-drained soil
Hungary--匈牙利--Elizabeth is the queen of Hungary.
rejuvenate--變年輕--They believed that rosemary would rejuvenate their spirits.
aide--助手--Rosemary is the aide of beauty for women through hundreds of years.
enhanced--增大的--Taking rosemary shower has enhanced the beauty and health of Queen Elizabeth.
gout--痛風--She suffered from gout for many years.
rheumatism--風濕病--She used rosemary as the medicine for rheumatism.
tonic--生髮水--Some people used rosemary as the tonic or stimulant.

episode 1--where you can get free rosemary

After you got the materials, you can wash them gently and flush it with boil water(just like the pictures). It's now the time to relax your mind and take easy with everything.

Introduction and expectations

I have studied a course helping us know plants associating with human beings when I was a junior.
I was so happy and had much fun being near with those herbs; plucked it delicately, smelled at it, washed it gently,(sometimes hydrated it) and flushed it with hot water.
Occasionally, I put them into tea bags and presented them to dear friends who are as precious as my presents.
I thought my presents are as unique as them are.(They think otherwise, though)

My little expectations toward this aromatic blog is--to enjoy it, and to make herbs into your lifelong friends.

And this is what I am going to make you are.