It
was a perplexed day. My stubborn mind only craved for my own Chai. I felt like
a drug addict usually denied his fix.
Blue color is because of a water soluble vacuolar pigment called Anthocyanin, whose shades vary based on the pH.
A cup of hot tea has
always been an integral part of my life. It is my only companion during my long
study hours and during those never ending sleepless nights. It makes me feel
pampered and cozy. It gives me warmth and relaxation. To
take time to make a cup of tea is another way to tell myself to slow down.
What I love most about Chai
is the down time is gives me to sit, think and reflect, as the saying goes
“there is always time for Chai.” With this much reflection time, I have thought
so much about what has happened and what I hope for the next quarter of my
life.
Life in force, is much more
of an internal journey than I originally expected, I am coming to know myself a
little better. It is here my ideas of normalcy get challenges everyday and my comfort
zones expand. My daily reactions to the people so unlike myself are what it is
all about in the end.
Engaged in my thoughts over
my Chai, I just got remembered that today is International Tea Day. I
decided to pen down the recipe of my signature drink “The Blue Tea”.
Blue tea is made from flowers
of Clitoria ternatea; commonly called as Aparajitha, Shanka-Pushpi, Butterfly Pea
or Asian Pigeon wings. It resembles a female clitoris, hence, the name.
It is called Shanka-pushpi
because it resembles a Shanka- a conch shell and it is said to be a favorite of
Lord Shankara. Linga, the phallus form, likes the pushpa that is in shape of
clitoris. This signifies the natures union, the union of mother and the lord.
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| The climber- Clitoria ternatea |
Blue tea can be made both
with fresh flowers and also dried ones. The aroma of the fresh flowers can never
be compared with dried ones.
Boil a cup of water then add
6-8 full bloomed flowers preferably removing the green stalk. Let the flowers
get cooked in the hot water. Close the lid of the dish so that the vapors don’t
escape.
The blue color slowly
disperses from the flowers to the water. Let the flowers boil for 10min. Strain
the liquid and your tea is ready. You can add lemon or honey or sugar as per
your choice. As an avid tea drinker I suggest blue tea with honey and few drops
of lemon.
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| Adding a few drops of lemon will make the tea Purple/Pink due to Litmus reaction |
As the name indicates,
Clitoria is good for female pelvic health. It keeps us free from urinary tract
infections and flushes out toxins from the body. East Asian countries do use these
powdered dried flowers to get natural edible food color.
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| Ooo... why is the blue tea green? if you boil the flowers with the green stalk intact, the tea becomes green |
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| when lemon added to green colored blue tea... it gives an another shade of blue |
Next time do try this natural
flower tea. I promise… you will love it!
