Physiognomy... or do your eyebrow shapes have meaning?
All of last week I have been observing that our faces communicate so much. By our expressions, of course, but do they also express some of our character traits - regardless of expression?
Some would say yes. It even has a name - physiognomy - the judgment or interpretation of a person's character by examining the face. Physiognomy has been an enduring study despite its lack of scientific validity.
Leonardo da Vinci was not a fan of the idea that the shape of your face dictated your personality. He did however acknowledge that lines or wrinkles that formed on the face over time as a result of particular repeated facial expressions did tell you about the person. Well, yes indeed. That has to be so.
Crow's feet around the eyes in later life can only mean you laughed a lot (well done). On the other hand sparse eyebrows may or may not mean that you doubt yourself and have low self esteem (wish someone had mentioned that in the nineties before I got out the tweezers….)
Apparently eyebrow shapes reveal a fair bit about us. Another interpretation of the sparse brow is that while often a sign of a benevolent nature it also indicates someone who cannot forget a wrong. (So if you are that guy who cut me off in the traffic this morning… I’d like to forgive you, but my eyebrows are just too thin.)
If someone has arched brows it could indicate that they are less approachable and more reserved. My right eyebrow is more arched than my left. Well, clearly this must mean you should always attempt to approach me from my left hand side for the warmest reception. Just saying.
Are you looking for a life coach? If so, you might need to enquire after their brows. Those with low eyebrows are reliable, easy going approachable types who are likely to stay with you. Although, if it is unemotional, logical thinking you are after, then best to go for someone with straight, unarched brows.
Rounded arches indicate kindness and peaked brows signify fun loving, fast thinkers. Bushy brows belong to active, confident sorts. Those with longer eyebrows handle stress better than those with shorter brows. Are you finding eyebrow shapes as fascinating as me? You might want to head over here for the full scoop and a celebrity brow or two.
Physiognomy is regarded as a pseudoscience, albeit an enduring one. Aristotle was rather taken with the idea, for example. There is a history of Greek philosophers pondering the face and what it might mean. Chaucer even mentioned it in The Tale of Beryn. Admittedly he wrote it as ‘fisnamy’ or ‘visnomy’, but we knew what he meant.
Making character assessments by studying facial characteristics was considered a solid scientific approach in the Middle Ages. It was even taught at universities, until Henry VIII declared it to be unlawful along with palm reading.
Physiognomy might not be scientific, but it sure is fun. It wasn’t just the ancient Greeks or ye olde England who found it interesting. Oh no, there is plenty more to learn from China too. If you have a five minutes to spare why not check out this short fun video about what Chinese face reading would make of your own features?
Learning to draw different facial expressions
Drawing faces is becoming something of a passion of mine. That is not unusual. Portraits have been a popular subject choice for artists for as long as we have been drawing.
For many of us making art is a way of understanding ourselves and each other. Our faces are what we present to the world. Whether they reveal or conceal our innermost thoughts and feelings, faces can be endlessly fascinating.
Spending time learning to draw different facial expressions and even just different faces is time available to observe and contemplate. That feels like a privilege. I'm sure there is no substitute for a live model, but an ample supply of patient and willing models is not so easy to come by. Not everyone is comfortable with your intense and enduring scrutiny... funny that...
I have learned of a great resource to overcome this particular problem. Mark Simon has developed a series of books that contain photo references - especially made for all types of artists. There are books of adults from 20-83 years of age as well as a book of children from babies to young adults. The books show multiple expressions and angles of each face. Invaluable whether you are learning to draw faces as a beginner, or learning to draw facial expressions, or even if you are a professional needing to draw particular phonemes for animation or graphic novels.
I bought the book with children in it as they are my subject preference. The book is large and feels like a substantial support to my endeavours! At first I was a little disappointed because the cover is in colour and glossy but the interior pages are all in black and white. I soon realised, however, that this is in fact very useful. It is so much easier to see value contrast in a black and white photo. And since I seem determined to give all my subjects green, blue or pink hair, I am hard pressed to think why I would even want to see the photo in colour in the first place.
So, if you are looking for some inspiring faces to draw, check out these books. Yes, I know. There is Pinterest, of course. But for a variety of ages, and expressions over consistent faces, you can't beat a nice sturdy printed book. That's what I think.
Beautiful eyes
Beautiful eyes
"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." - Audrey Hepburn
I love drawing beautiful eyes. In fact I think the eyes are the reason I draw faces in the first place.
Jane Davenport did a recent video for the documented life project - all about eyes. It is fascinating to watch her pull these eyes out of the page... check it out here.
A little help starting the creative process
I have learned that you often need a little help starting the creative process. There can be a sort of inertia to overcome. Steven Pressfield calls it Resistance.
To me it is often just the seemingly insurmountable question of where to begin. Jane advises her students to copy with abandon in the interests of learning - not of course, to pass off these copies as one's own, but to start somewhere. To draw something.
If I am drawing faces, then I can't help but start with Jane Davenport. I am loving her book... this one...
One of the things that troubles me is having all my faces turn out the same. Often quite pretty, but with something of a vacant stare. And once you get used to drawing a particular angle or pose it is very easy to get stuck in a rut.
So today I started out with a face and a bit of a body from the early part of Jane's book. It's quite a surprise how far away you can get from your original inspiration source. This particular page gave me a nice face shape to start with. Braids - I liked those. And a lovely languid pose. But by the time I was done choosing marker colours without thinking too much she turned out with a completely different feeling about her compared to the girl on Jane's page.
What a relief that a little bit of ourselves can't help but ooze out - even when we start from the very same point as somebody else.
Pale and interesting
I am learning to love the beginning of a new series. The first one is hard. After a month of drawing a particular subject using a particular set of supplies you start feeling comfortable and easy. Changing supplies and subject feels like a challenge. Actually, that's rather the point.
But I loved doing the first 'Jane-ish' face for August. And I loved the pale hair. So here is some more pale hair. In fact I think she is altogether 'pale and interesting'.
I like that phrase... pale and interesting. Reminds of a particular friend who went out and bought a very pale coloured lipstick when that was all the rage (oo way more years ago than either of us cares to recall). Anyway, she said this was her special lipstick for when she needed to be 'pale and interesting.' It was an important phase, I'm sure.
I didn't realise it was a Thing. But it seems it is. According to the Urban Dictionary, it refers to a rebellion against fake tanning, and what it might stand for. An embracing of one's natural appearance in the hopes that it will be taken as an indication of sufficient intelligence to resist the urge to paint oneself a shade of orange.
Here, here.
Learn to draw faces
New month - new series! August is going to be all about faces. I have been enjoying drawing teapots but found myself wanting to put faces on them. So I have decided to spend August working on faces.
One of the first things I learned to draw was faces. Whimsical faces. 'Jane style'. And one of my favourite ways to draw faces is using alcohol markers - something else Jane introduced me too. There is nothing quite like them for making creamy skin tones.
Today I started with Jane's book on drawing beautiful faces. I started, of course, at the section that shows you how to draw a face step by step using markers. This is my version. I am using Spectrum Noir markers. They are the cheaper brand of alcohol markers, but as long as I use proper marker paper, I find that I rather love them. They don't have the brush tip unfortunately, just the chisel but I seem to be okay with that too. After all, significant precision is just not my style!
I highly recommend learning to draw faces. With a few good tips, it is really not as hard as you might think. I started off with Draw Happy, one of Jane's workshops which introduces face drawing. Then I was hooked and did more of her courses that cover faces.
Faces are fascinating. We communicate so much with our faces, even if we don't intend to. So being able to draw a face feels somehow empowering.
Studying faces and expressions to be able to draw them has made me a little more perceptive I think. It certainly makes me really notice someone who is talking to me. I'd like to say that it makes me more present. I think on a good day, it does. But it is also possible that I missed what they were saying because I was trying so hard to observe and remember the tiny expressive crease of brow, a particular dimple that appears only for a certain type of amusement, or the shapes made by shadows falling across the face.
It's all good. It's these tiny details of every little part of our lives that makes them worth living, I think.
Who invented high tea?
Have you ever wondered who invented high tea? Or is that afternoon tea? I think it depends where you are from. And either way, thank heavens they did!
High tea is a rather glorious tradition. Dainty sandwiches and delicate baked morsels accompanied by carefully brewed tea from a pot and drunk out of a proper tea cup and saucer. This to me is the modern version of high tea. A decadent outing to a swanky hotel for a smorgasbord of old fashioned high sugar, labour intensive, “unhealthy” and therefore luxurious treats. And frankly about the only time that most people would drink tea from a cup and saucer as opposed to a mug.
It is Anna Russell, the Duchess of Bedford who is widely credited with transforming afternoon tea into a meal while visiting Belvoir Castle in the mid 1840s. However there is some debate about this as food historians document evidence of tea being recognised as a meal while Anna was still young, not yet a Duchess and not yet as influential as she was to become.
At around this time, the evening meal was being served later and later. In the early 19th century dinner has been documented as being served at between 7pm and 8:30pm. Luncheon, served around midday was very light. As a result, by 4 or 5 pm everyone was a little peckish. A few baked morsels alongside a fortifying cup of tea was a perfect solution.
In some parts of England, Ireland and Scotland, high tea describes the evening meal for the lower working classes. ‘High’, in this case meaning well advanced, ie later in the day than afternoon tea. It is sometimes called tea time or meat tea. It would usually consist of a hot dish, or perhaps some cold meats, followed by cakes, bread, butter and jam.
Outside of this group, what is called high tea nowadays, harks back to the decadent social occasion that was the Duchess of Bedford's afternoon tea.
The Duchess of Bedford was a friend of Queen Victoria, and a social celebrity. Afternoon tea was a ritual of the Victorian Age. An opportunity to socialise and network. To tell stories and enjoy conversation. Of course, a ritual with rules and etiquette, demanding politeness and decorum. A place for political agendas, scandal, gossip and rumour too, no doubt.
The upper and then middle classes mirrored the behaviour of the celebrities of their time, like Anna Russell and Queen Victoria, as and when tea became more affordable for them. So whether or not Anna 'invented' high tea she certainly played a part in its evolution.
Afternoon tea to me, means a cup of tea and a bicky or two. Perhaps a slice of cake. And most certainly, a good chat. High tea is a decadent special occasion at a fancy hotel. Most probably including champagne. All tea rituals are rather charming I think. I can't be the only one as they have been around for centuries. Good rituals endure.
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Is a woman like a tea bag?
When I first read this quote - apparently from Eleanor Roosevelt... I loved it. Then I thought about it a bit more.... Is a woman like a tea bag? Hmmm ... do I really want to be compared to a tea bag? Not sure about that, thanks, Eleanor!
This quotation is often attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt but without citing which original writing it actually came from. Then others attribute a very similar quotation to Nancy Reagan:
"A woman is like a teabag — only in hot water do you realize how strong she is." - Nancy Reagan The Observer (29 March 1981)
Well yes, Ladies. We are definitely strong - I'll give you that. And I appreciate the sentiment although I would prefer to be compared to something more shapely and less disposable, to be honest.
Although, Eleanor Roosevelt often gets the credit for the remark it has apparently been around for many years. Or at least variants of the saying. The Quote Investigator believes that in the 19th century similar adages featuring eggs and potatoes and hot water were evident in Irish papers.
I guess it is something we have known for a long time, which applies to all of us - not just the women.
We don't necessarily realise how strong we are until we are tested.
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Tea and lettering
If you love tea, and quotes and doodling it doesn't take long before you put them all together.
If you think you would like to have a go at doodling some letters - and why wouldn't you? Its easy, fun and doesn't require that you know how to draw!... Anyway, if you wanted to have a go, I recommend checking out one of my favourite online teachers Joanne Sharpe. She has several lettering classes available. Joanne has a delightful manner and her classes are accessible and broken down into short managable video lessons.
I have written about her before, so if you want to find out more about her classes you might want to read this next.
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The best watercolour brush for beginners
Watercolour is fast becoming my favourite medium. I can't say it is easy - acrylic paint is far more forgiving I think. If you are just getting started with watercolour it is easy to get discouraged. If that resonates with you, I have two suggestions that might be helpful. They relate to one of the most important watercolour supplies for beginners. A great brush. The best watercolour brush for beginners can make all the difference when it comes to enjoyable painting.
Luckily, a good brush doesn't mean an expensive brush necessarily. When I started out I had a set of paints which came with a brush. I always wondered when to spend more money on a brush or if it was even necessary. It felt like a cop out - you know, a bad workman blames his tools. But there is always that little shred of hope - perhaps my painting would be so much better if I had a better brush....?
I now have a brush which has become the only brush I want to paint with. It is a Princeton Neptune Round No 12. Yes, that is quite a big brush. The thing about a good brush though, is that it holds its point well. That means that if you just use the very tip of the brush, and hold it vertical to the paper you can achieve a lovely fine line - even with a number 12. So my first suggestion is to find yourself one of these brushes. They are not too expensive and a total joy to paint with.
The second thing you can do to help yourself is to learn how to use this brush.
I think one of the easiest ways to do this is to watch someone else using it. One of my favourite You Tube teachers is Angela Fehr. She is also a fan of this very same brush, and recently put out a video which demonstrates some easy some leaf painting. Angela makes watercolour painting seem much more approachable. Check out her video here.
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How to make a big goal manageable with tiny steps
A couple of months ago I resolved to create something every day and post it here. I have been pretty good at keeping this up but last week I seemed to be wavering.
I have also been doing the 100 day project with Elle Luna at The Great Discontent. I took up the additional challenge to post a daily 10 minute journal every single day for 100 days. Last week I completed that 100 days. Yay! (You can check it out on Instagram by the way).
Completing a challenge like this is rather motivating. It helped me remember how important it is to take tiny steps towards your goal. As the Chinese proverb says,
"The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."
This is really the only way to take a great big goal, and turn it into something manageable. Never underestimate the cumulative power of small repeated actions. The big picture goal can be overwhelming. Choices too, can be overwhelming. So devising a plan of tiny steps is a way of taking a large abstract goal or objective and making it into a series of executable actions without the distraction of having to decide what to do next. For me, the overarching objective of learning to draw and paint better is now simply a question of turning up every day and making a painting of a predetermined subject. Much more achievable.
My main objective is to be creative every day, and to learn to draw and paint. Sometimes the writing part of my posts is a bit of a distraction. The main purpose is to keep drawing. And I am rather pleased with my subject choice for this month. It turns out that drawing curvy exotic teapots and then decorating them is a surprisingly relaxing pastime... who knew!
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." - Robert Collier
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Earl Grey Tea - love it or hate it?
Today’s teapot in my teatime series turned out to be rather elegant, I think. Stylish. So what else could I write about today, but Earl Grey tea? It is an elegant, stylish tea. It has stood the test of time and seems to evoke strong reactions. What is your reaction - love it or hate it?
Unsurprisingly, the history of Earl Grey tea starts in Britain. Charles Grey was an English aristocrat and Prime Minster from 1830 to 1834. He also had 6 daughters and 10 sons. (… so what exactly is in Earl Grey Tea again….??)
The characteristic flavour of Earl Grey tea comes from the addition of bergamot. Bergamot is a mediterranean citrus. Some stories say that bergamot and tea were shipped together once and the flavours of the fruit mingled happily with the tea. Others say a Chinese friend of the Earl blended the tea with the citrus to counteract the mineral taste of the water in his home - Howick Hall in Northumberland, England. Yet another story suggests that Earl Charles Grey was given the recipe for the tea when he saved the son of a tea blender in China from drowning.
In reality, no one knows exactly how or why Earl Grey became associated with the tea. But it has certainly stuck. It is possible that more people know Earl Grey for his namesake tea than for abolishing slavery during his time in office!
Like all teas, Earl Grey is loved for its many health benefits, mostly from its natural antioxidants. Bergamot is also thought to be beneficial. So choosing Earl Grey today might just help guard against heart disease. Bergamot contains contains enzymes known as HMGF (hydroxy methyl glutaryl flavonones) which can attack proteins in the body known to cause heart disease.
Earl Grey has lovers, of course… like Sir Leigh Teabing in The Da Vinci Code, Captain Picard in Star Trek, and Q in Skyfall. But then there are the haters. Not me, to be sure. I can’t say I agree with the sentiment but, if you have 1 minute and 47 seconds to spare check out Kenny Enda’s song for a bit of a giggle!
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You won't believe the size of the world's largest teapot collection
I love a quirky teapot. I'm not the only one apparently. In fact, you wont believe the size of the largest teapot collection in the world...
For a while I was in danger of becoming something of a teapot collector. Collectors fascinate me - but I am not sure I am one of them. Combining obsession and shopping seemed a slippery slope for me. And then there is the dusting, of course. At last... the triumph of practicality over whimsy.
But teapot collecting seems to actually be a Thing. Who knew? Not me... bet my husband is somewhat relieved that I didnt know this... There are even instructions about how to begin a teapot collection.
In Kent, there is a lady called Sue Blayze who clearly has no need of such a set of instructions. Sue Blayze turned her 7000 strong teapot collection into a tea museum. It is aptly named Teapot Island, and even received a royal visit from Charles and Camilla.
7000 teapots? That impressed me. It was enough to earn a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2004. In 2011 however, the record was taken apparently controversially by someone in China with a collection of 30 000 teapots.
Part of the fascination with teapots is that they sit at the intersection of art, craft and social history. They offer insight into world culture and the history of ceramics.
As far as basic design goes, the teapot has hardly changed in 300 years. Some might have feet, (like my own favourite - the one I painted earlier this month) some might be shaped as frogs, but they all still tend to feature a pot, a spout, a lid, and a handle.
The original design is thought to be based on wine ewers from China or Islamic coffee pots. The first ceramic teapots were heavy and broke easily. Chinese porcelain pots were brought in by the East India company until 1791. William Cookworthy established a ceramic works in Plymouth and the industrial revolution brought continued improvement in the quality of the ceramics. Tough, durable bone China was created in the 19th century and was perfect for tea pots and cups.
An avid historical teapot collector would know that the size of tea pots has increased over time - particularly once William Pitt's government cut the tax on tea. Until then, the most popular drink in the UK was ale, but between reduced tax on tea and weak grain harvests the general population started to consume more tea than ale.
So get out your teapot - whether it is shaped like Buckingham palace, or looks like it belongs in a Chinese restaurant. Whatever its shape or size... tea definitely tastes better from a teapot.
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A gluten free Irish Tea Cake with your very own signature
I have been thinking a lot about tea and traditions this week. And it seems to me that you can't get much more traditional than a grandmotherly fruit cake. One of my favourite fruit cakes is this gluten free Irish Tea Cake. It is based on a traditional Irish cake which is sometimes called a barmbrack if it is served around Halloween time. For the festivities it would also have had trinkets baked inside like a ring, or a coin.
I have no idea if I am correct or not, but in my head I think of barmbrack as being more of a yeasted bread with fruit in it. This is most definitely a cake - no yeast, no fuss. It couldn't really be much easier because you don't even need a mixer. You do want to start the night before, however.
Preliminary preparations - the night before
- In a medium sized mixing bowl combine the following ingredients
- 1 cup (250ml) black tea
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 375g packet of mixed fruit
- Leave overnight to soak so that the fruit absorbs most of the tea
The next day
- Preheat the oven to 160C
- Line the base and sides of a loaf tin with baking paper
- Add 1 large egg (gently beaten with a fork to break it up) to the fruit and tea mixture and mix together
- Stir in:
- 1 cup gluten free self raising flour (I choose White Wings brand if possible)
- 1/2 cup of almond meal
- Tip into the prepared tin and sprinkle a few chopped nuts (I like pecans) over the top of the loaf to be a bit fancy.... (or don't - its up to you!)
- Bake for 90 minutes
- Once it is cool, serve it in thick, buttered slices... next to a lovely cup of tea. This loaf lasts well and is rather good toasted too.
What's your signature ingredient?
This cake also gives you the chance to put your spin on it. Your very own signature ingredient. Stir something quirky into the batter before you bake it.
Some chocolate chips, perhaps?
Orange zest?
10ml of Chinese five spice?
50ml whisky?
Oh yes... the whisky... start with that.
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The comfort of tea is enough to inspire the poets
I have to say, drawing tea pots is fun. Especially if those tea pots have feet. This is actually one of my very own tea pots, a favourite for sure.
And to go alongside my cute teapot, I would like to share some rather cute poems. The first was written circa 1670. Tea has been comforting us for centuries - to the point that poets have been inspired to write about it. None of these poems has a title, but they are all rather apt, I feel. They acknowledge the benefit and comfort tea brings as well as its fairly illustrious history.
“Tea that helps our head and heart.
Tea medicates most every part.
Tea rejuvenates the very old.
Tea warms the hands of those who’re cold.”
“Steam rises from a cup of tea
and we are wrapped in history,
inhaling ancient times and lands,
comfort of ages in our hands.”
“The cozy fire is bright and gay,
The merry kettle boils away
and hums a cheerful song.
I sing the saucer and the cup;
Pray, Mary, fill the teapot up,
And do not make it strong”
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Is the national drink of Britain actually Portuguese?
Tea is such a British institution.
But is the national drink of Britain actually Portuguese? I think, perhaps it just might be.
The very first account of tea was recorded by Samuel Pepys. Pepys was a naval administrator and Member of Parliament whose diary has become a most important source of British history. In 1660, Pepys notes that he sent for a cup of tea - a new drink from China. Tea probably entered England by ship, from Amsterdam, thanks to the Dutch East India Company.
In spite of the timeline, it is usually not Samuel Pepys who is thought of as introducing tea to England. That title goes to the wife of King Charles II. Catherine of Braganza was born into the most senior noble house of Portugal and was the Queen of England Scotland and Ireland from 1662 to 1685.
Tea reached Portugal in the 16th century, being first introduced to Portuguese priests and merchants in China. Catherine of Braganza was an established tea drinker when she married King Charles II. Her dowry included a chest of tea!
It was Catherine’s tea drinking habits that strongly influenced the aristocracy. In place of wine, ale and spirits, tea gradually became the court drink. Before long, drinking tea became universal among the English upper class. Tea was soon being sold in markets, and became a part of the regular trade of the English East India Company.
She was an interesting woman, Catherine. A devout, but private Catholic. She did not bear any heirs and had several miscarriages. She spent her life separated from her family and had to contend with her husband’s many mistresses. Her inability to produce an heir brought Charles under pressure to divorce Catherine - but he did not. He is said to have sided with her against his mistresses and insisted that she be treated with respect. (Do as I say and not as I do, perhaps….?)
It doesn’t sound too terrific for poor old Catherine, does it? But, as they always say…
You can’t buy happiness but you can buy tea and that’s kind of the same thing
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16 reasons why tea is good for you
I don't need any encouraging to drink tea. But if I did, there are at least 16 reasons why tea is good for you:
- Anti ageing. Thanks to the polyphenols in tea your daily cuppa provides anti oxidants to protect the body from the ravaging effects of time
- Healthy teeth. Tea contains fluoride and tannins which fight plaque
- Anti stress. Cortisol is the stress hormone that contributes to belly fat and makes your skin age quicker. One recent study suggested four cups of tea per day may make your cortisol levels spike less.
- Lower cholesterol. Green tea has been found to reduce the level of total serum cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol. Tea is thought to work by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol from the large intestine.
- Better memory, focus and concentration. According to extensive research the combination of caffeine and L-Theanine, a naturally-occurring amino acid found in tea, improves reaction time and memory, while simulataneously increasing focus and concentration. So tea drinking (especially white tea) is easier than meditating but gives similar results. Hurrah.
- Increased Metabolism. Apparently you can burn 70 to 80 additional calories by drinking five cups of green tea per day.
- Anti allergen. Quercetin, which is a flavonol naturally-occurring in tea is known to mitigate histamine response. Tea also contains the polyphenol, EGCG, which may be helpful for reducing pollen allergies.
- Boosts endurance. Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins which have been found to improve the body’s ability to burn fat as fuel. This greater efficiency means improved muscle endurance.
- Calorie free. So few pleasures in life are actually calorie free, but tea is (unless you start adding sugar and milk!
- Strong Bones. Green tea has been found to improve bone mineral density and strength. It is thought that this may be the work of tea's many beneficial phytochemicals.
- Eyesight. Studies have shown that drinking tea can help to prevent the blindness caused by cataracts (the clouding of the lens inside the eye). Anti oxidants, which we know can be provided by tea have been found in eye tissue.
- Parkinson's Disease. Studies have shown that drinking tea is associated with a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease in both men and women
- Hydration. There was a school of thought that suggested that tea should not be considered as part of our daily fluid intake. Luckily, this is no longer thought to be the case. Our tea does hydrate us.
- Radiation. Tea has been found to help the body recover from radiation. It has been shown to protect against cellular degeneration upon exposure to radiation, as well as helping the skin bounce back after exposure to radiation.
- Anti Cancer. Research on this is mixed, but some studies show that the anti oxidants in tea might be helpful in fighting a whole raft of cancers.
- Alzheimer’s Disease. We already know that tea has a positive effect on memory and concentration thanks to those polyphenols. As we age, drinking tea helps to lower the risk of dementia by acting through multiple pathways, including those of nerve synapses and blood sugar regulation.
Convinced yet? Time to get the kettle on!
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Discover the different types of tea - true tea, that is...
There are so very many different types of tea available these days. However, purists say there are only 4 true teas. A true tea is made from the leaves of the tea bush or Camellia sinensis. Herbal teas are infusions of the leaves, roots or buds of other plants like peppermint, chamomile, ginger and rosehip. Stay tuned for more on those next week…
The four true teas are:
1.White Tea
White tea, comes from the buds and youngest leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The beverage itself is not white or colourless but pale yellow and light in taste. It derives its name from the fine silvery-white hairs on the unopened buds of the tea plant, which gives the plant a whitish appearance.
White tea is the most subtle, delicate and complex of the teas because it is the least processed. The tea leaves are simply steamed and then dried. White tea has very little caffeine, 1-2% as much caffeine content as one cup of coffee.
2.Green Tea
To make green tea, the Camellia sinensis leaves are picked, dried, and heat-treated to prevent fermentation of the loose leaves. After moisture is removed through the heat treatment, the tea leaves are typically rolled and dried again before they are ready for use.
The heat treatment of green tea varies. For Chinese green tea the leaves are roasted in a hot roasting pan. This gives Chinese green tea a toasted taste and a yellow-green colour. In Japan, green tea is made by steaming the leaves. Japanese green tea has a grassy taste and is dark green in colour.
3.Black Tea
Black tea is a fully fermented variety of tea from the Camellia sinensis plant. To make black tea, the leaves are withered and rolled. They then undergo a long period of fermentation. Once fermented,the black tea leaves are fired. This natural oxidation process gives the the black tea its characteristic complex flavour and colour.
4.Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is similar to green tea. However, after the tea leaves are picked, they are intentionally bruised by shaking. While the leaves are drying, the edges of the bruised leaves turn reddish in color and the surface becomes light yellow due to fermentation and oxidation. After some fermentation period the tea leaves are pan fired to create a semi-fermented tea.
The fermentation period can vary producing slightly different results. Chinese oolong tea is fermented only long enough to achieve 12-20% fermentation and results in a lighter oolong. Taiwanese oolong teas are fermented for longer, resulting in 60-70% fermentation. This gives Taiwanese oolong tea a stronger flavour.
There is a lot of choice when it comes to tea. Wherever your preferences lie, it seems that tea is a beverage we can happily enjoy, as each of the different types of tea offers some health benefit. But that is a subject for another day….
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Gluten Free Lemon Tea Cake - the best accompaniment to a cup of tea
It is a very small leap for me, from tea to cake. And what sort of cake goes best with a cup of tea? Well, just about any to be frank, but my favourite is this gluten free lemon tea cake.
There is much to recommend about this recipe. Most importantly, its very quick and easy. Almost as important it's lactose and gluten free... otherwise I would not be able to eat it!
In a very short space of time and with very few ingredients you have alongside your cup of tea, a tender sponge with a sprightly lemon icing.
If you have need of such an accompaniment to your lovely cup of tea, proceed thusly:
Preliminary preparations
- Preheat the oven to 180C
- Line the base of a 20cm cake tin with paper and give the sides of the tin a quick spray of olive oil (if you can be bothered... I'm not sure this is strictly necessary.)
Gather the ingredients:
- 120g dairy free spread
- 120g soft brown sugar or raw caster sugar
- 150 g gluten free self raising flour (I choose White Wings brand if possible)
- 2 eggs ( I use the biggest I can find)
- finely grated zest of a lemon
- a splash (15ml) of soy milk or water
Method
- Place all of these ingredients in the mixer and mix on low for 30 seconds (to avoid the flour shower) and then on high for a minute or two until the batter is smooth and glossy.
- spread into the prepared tin and bake for 20-25 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
- remove from the tin and cool completely on a wire rack
Icing
Mix 180g pure icing sugar with enough lemon juice (from the lemon you zested earlier) to make a smooth icing of a soft dropping consistency. Go slowly adding the juice, too much and it will be too drizzly, too little and you will have a hard time spreading it. If the consistency is right it spreads itself most obligingly over the top of the cake and stays there. Marvellous.
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Who made the first cup of tea?
Did you ever wonder who made the first cup of tea?
Tea (and indeed tea time) is very close to my heart. In fact, so much so that it is the subject of my series for the month of July - Tea time!
The first thing I have learned, in my research of this delightful topic is that tea might just have been a happy accident.
Legend has it, that the Chinese emperor Shennong, was the first person to may a cup of tea - way back in 2737 BC. Apparently, the emperor was sitting beneath a Camellia sinensis tree while his servant boiled drinking water. Some leaves from the tree blew into the water. Shennong, who was a renowned herbalist, decided to try the infusion that his servant had accidentally created. The resulting drink was what we now call tea.
Shennong is also known as the Emperor of the Five Grains. He was a legendary ruler of China and a cultural hero. Shennong is thought to have taught the ancient Chinese not only their practices of agriculture, but also the use of herbal drugs. Some say that the emperor tested the medical properties of various herbs on himself. Legend has it that the god of agriculture would chew the leaves, stems, and roots of various plants to discover medicinal herbs. If he consumed a poisonous plant, he would chew tea leaves to counteract the poison.
So tea might well have been a happy accident. But thanks to that accident we continue to enjoy tea all over the world thousands and thousands of years later.
Artists know all about happy accidents. Sometimes I think the happy accident is really our stock in trade. It is a willingness to experiment. An allowing. Being open to what is. Making the most of what you have. So many reasons art is just practice for life.
So why not make a cup of tea, get out some art supplies and see what happy accidents you come up with?
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