It’s also time to start thinking about getting my hands in the soil to plant my own garden – lettuce, peas, onions, then tomatoes, peppers, carrots and corn. It occurred to me while perusing the aisles of the grocery store, that those days of plucking a ripe, red tomato off of its bitter-smelling vine are not far off.
While the shelves inside the store are lined with cartons and packages properly labeled with nutrition information and a list of ingredients, it’s refreshing to look forward to warm days to come and the fruit that will follow – one ingredient. No label necessary. I can rely on my own senses, sight, smell, taste, and touch to know exactly what I am putting into my body without stumbling through ingredient lists filled with more words that I can’t pronounce. It’s not that I’m totally a purist when it comes to food. There have just been so many studies done and foods forbidden or others that carry caution labels or else advertise what bad chemicals and foods are omitted – high fructose corn syrup, GMO’s, trans-fat, etc. It leaves me cautious and defensive as I fill my grocery cart.
Opening a canister of tea is a bit like a stroll through my garden in late summer in the way that my own senses can tell me what is in it. Very often there is only one ingredient – tea leaves. No nutrition information label necessary. Unless of course, you feel like something a little more fruity, but then too, you can rely on your senses to see, smell, and after infused, taste what goes into these teas. A few examples are the whole blackberries in Boldly Blackberry, and strawberries in Subtle Strawberry, and the variety of peppercorns, nutmeg pods, or cinnamon pieces in the Masala Chai teas.
How refreshing. Over ice, even better!
Your Barista,
Katie