Who Needs A Favorite Food When You Have Tea? (Vocal Challenge)

Valuing Tea Over Food Any Day Of The Week

Food has always been weird to me growing up, but I must preface by saying that I was never in a household that lacked necessities, nor have I ever grown up in poor conditions. I always had a roof over my head, and parents that made sure I ate whenever I needed to. Since we’re on the topic of food, I figured it was worth mentioning that.

Whenever someone asks me what my favorite food is, I often recall a conversation I had with some friends of mine where they asked if I would rather not be able to taste liquids or taste foods again, and without skipping a beat I went with the food option.

Much to my surprise, everyone else thought they couldn’t live without food. Whether it is the taste, the culture behind each dish, or the memories they got from smelling the melting pot of ingredients, everyone chooses the food option. To which I jokingly replied, “If I could take a pill every day for the rest of my life that had all the standard nutrients I needed in place of food, I’d go for it”. To this day I still stick by that truth.

I would only consider myself a slightly picky eater. Other than soups, chilis, cereals, and other bowl-related dishes, I can eat pretty much anything without issue. If I truly wanted to pick down a “favorite” food, I’d go for sushi, but mostly because I love the presentation and the clean feeling I get from finishing it afterward.

After I went with the drinks option, of course, all of them asked “What kind?”. A few years ago, it would be a variety of ales and other drinks that were sure to give me a hangover. I’ve also learned to be a bit of a connoisseur for coffee and milkshakes; you better believe I know the best milkshake spots at every vacation spot.

But above all else: the number one thing I love to drink is tea. I wouldn’t even consider it love, more like a passion for the vast variety of flavors, combinations, and processes that are involved around tea. Inside my kitchen, I have a whole cabinet dedicated to the hundreds of different bags of tea I have in my collection. Green, white, black, oolong, chai, any kind of category and flavor of tea you can think of, there’s a good chance that I either have it or tried it at one point in my life.

I got the obsession from my Grandma, as whenever my brother and I went to her house she always made tea for us. Over time I guess it made a profound impact on me and I’ve been enjoying at least two cups a day ever since. On the inside of my right bicep, I actually have a tattoo of a teacup representing my Grandma, along with other icons entwined with it that represent my other close family members.

I have written about her a thousand times before, and I’ll probably continue to talk about her for the rest of my life because she was truly someone special who made everyone feel welcome. After she passed away when I was in seventh grade, it was apparent even from a young age how much of an impact she had made to the rest of my family. I don’t just drink tea to enjoy the plentiful benefits from it, but also in remembrance of her for how much she used to look out for us when we were younger. It has become less of a casual hobby and more of a daily ritual I now share with those around me.

So now you might be wondering, “Well if you’re so invested in tea, what’s your favorite kind?” Truth be told I do believe that changes every so often, and for good reason. Our palettes change over time, including the benefits that we need from our daily intake of nutrients. Someone who is constantly outdoors and needs more energy may prefer a breakfast tea while someone who gets sick easily may prefer one loaded with probiotics.

There is one tea, however, that I do think has stood the test of time and I still go back to and enjoy it for extremely special occasions, as I only have half of an 8oz tin of its original form left, as the store chain that sells it has closed.

Thankfully, I have found a way to make it yourself. Allow me to introduce you to my…

“Samurai Chai” Tea Recipe

Note: This tea is loosely (see what I did there?) based on Teavana’s “Maharaja Chai Oolong & Samurai Chai Mate” combination, which has since been discontinued, along with the rest of its stores closing as well.

Samurai Chai Benefits:

-Samurai Chai has a bold taste of spice and flavor that truly tastes special when made just right. It is perfectly balanced between the chai, black, and oolong tea categories.

-Low amount of natural caffeine, giving you the energy to go about your day while not giving you the jitters of withdrawals after.

-Can also be made in the form of a cold brew. Simply follow the recipe in its entirety and place it in the fridge to chill.

Items Needed:

-Tea Strainer (using infusers work also), a Stirrer, a method to heat water.

Base Ingredients:

Oolong tea, Green Matcha, Rooibos tea, Chaif leaf/tea, Cane Sugar, Cinnamon, Ginger, Orange Peel, Anise, and Coriander.

Making the Leaf:

-Ingredients are to be chopped to their smallest forms and mixed evenly. The ratio between the ingredients should be as follows:

4 Oolong Tea Bags, 3 Green Matcha Tea Bags, 2 Rooibos Tea Bags.

4 Parts Chai Leaf and Cane Sugar.

2 Parts Cinnamon and Ginger.

1 Part Orange Peel, Anise, and Coriander.

-All these ingredients can be found at a local food market.

Making Samurai Chai:

-Heat water just before the boiling point (or let it boil and sit open for about 5-10 minutes).

-Place around 2 Teaspoons of tea leaf into your strainer and pour over with heated water.

-Continuously mix and stir, adding sweeteners as you prefer in the process. Personally, I go for another teaspoon of sugar.

-After around 5 minutes of stirring (depending on how strong you want it), strain the tea into a cup. If you wish, you may use an infuser to keep some of the tea in your cup to prolong the taste.

-Enjoy!

To Those Who Partake In Samurai Chai…

Once you are finished with the lengthy process and chopping and preparing the eighteen or so ingredients to make your own Samurai Chai, take a breath. Take the time to sit with your new cup of tea and smell this elixir of spices. In a way, I wasn’t joking when I said that drinking tea has turned into a ritual for me. In fact, it's probably more of an art form now.

As you take your first sip, see if you can focus on the specific flavors. Which part of it has a “spicy” taste? Which part of it has the somberness of Oolong? Should you have added more sweetener or maybe less? Take this time to let any worries you have in your life fade away for just a moment, and focus on the cup in your hands.

In the same way that my Grandma tried to comfort and bring peace into my life, I hope this Samurai Chai brings you a moment of solace so you can keep going.

~~~

Writer’s Endnote

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

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Thank You For Your Time,

-Kadence <3