Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am so excited to welcome Chrystle here today. Her books pack a punch with clever mysteries and so much information about Natural Remedies. Check out her post, then brew yourself a cup of tea and escape into a cozy mystery!
THE JOYS OF DRINKING TEA AND READING COZY MYSTERIES
By Chrystle Fiedler
Nothing warms the body and soul like holding a fragrant steaming cup of herbal tea, inhaling its subtle scents as you slowly sip, while you enter the world of a cozy mystery. Not only does tea bring you flavor, variety, and easily digested nutrients, it also provides numerous health benefits from soothing a sore throat with fennel to easing anxiety and stress with chamomile. Making herbal tea is a unique way to use the benefits of aromatherapy, the theme of my latest cozy Scent to Kill: A Natural Remedies Mystery.
I like to brew a nice cup of tea in the late afternoon, what the Brits call “tea time” and drink it as I am writing my cozy mysteries. Use this guide to make the perfect cup of tea the next time you’re planning on reading one!
Here’s how:
Making the Perfect Cup of Tea
Herbal tea is an infusion of leaves, seeds, roots or bark, whose goodness is extracted in hot water and sipped for its benefits, both mental and physical. To begin, use pure water, distilled, spring filtered, or well water. Use one heaping teaspoon of dry herbs per cup of hot water. Dried herbs available in loose bulk form are often less expensive and offer a wider variety of flavors. Health food stores offer muslin tea bags and tea balls, which can be filled with herbs and used to steep to make herbal tea.
You can also try using a conventional teapot. Here’s how:
Teapot Method
Fill a china or porcelain tea pot with hot water and allow it to stand for a minute or so. This warms the pot so that the tea you pour into it will not cool down quickly because of a cold pot and impede the steeping process.
Then pour off the water, add loose herbs (1 heaping teaspoon for each cup plus one extra one ‘for the pot’) and fill the pot with boiling water. Cover and allow the herbs and water to steep for ten to fifteen minutes. This also allows the herbs to cool to a comfortable drinking temperature. To serve the tea, simply hold a strainer over each cup as you pour.
The Infusion Method
The Infusion method is ideal for herbal leaves, flowers and seeds and even roots (such as ginger, osha, and valerian) that have delicate essential oils that would be diminished if boiled. The best way to prepare this type of tea is to lightly bruise seeds with a mortar and pestle to help release their flavor and properties.
Next, simply boil a cup of water and remove it from the heat. Add one heaping teaspoon of herb, cover (to prevent the delicate essential oils from
evaporating) and allow it to steep for ten to twenty minutes.
French Press
A French press is a glass pot, a gadget beloved by coffee drinkers, but works great for herbal tea. Simply add the herb to the press, cover with hot water and allow it to steep for ten minutes. The press automatically strains out the herbs, and you can give it a squeeze to further release therapeutic value.
Sun Tea
Sun teas work best with leaves and flowers. Add one cup of herb or herb mixture or twelve tea bags and allow the herbs to sit in sunlight for four to six hours. Cover the jar to prevent leaves from blowing into the jar.
Strain before drinking.
Cold Water Infusion
Cold water infusions retain more vitamin C, and a brighter color than hot infusions. Fill a glass pitcher with fresh picked herbs from the list below and cover with spring water. Allow to steep in the refrigerator for several hours (8-12) or overnight.
These herbs are good choices for cold infusion:
Bee Balm
Catnip
Lavender
Lilac
Lemon Balm
Lemon Verbena
Anise
Hyssop
Peppermint
Rooibos
Rose
Rosemary
Spearmint
Add Flavor to Your Tea
Make your tea even more flavorful by adding a touch of honey, agave nectar, apple juice, maple syrup, raw sugar, cinnamon extract, a squeeze of fresh lemon, lime or orange. I like to add Truvia which is a kind of stevia. You can keep tea up to four days in the refrigerator.
Types of Tea You Might Like to Try:
Chamomile tea is a soothing and sedative herb that’s effective at relieving stress and anxiety and easing insomnia. Valerian tea also helps you to relax.
Ginger tea soothes tummy and digestive troubles like nausea and an upset stomach.
Milk Thistle tea is a gentle liver cleanser that helps this important organ to regenerate and work more efficiently.
Lemon Balm tea can help you see the glass half-full so it’s good for the winter blues. It can also help you concentrate better.
Rosehip tea is bursting with Vitamin C, so it’s good for your immune system and can help to ward off colds and flu. Green tea is also packed with polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that helps boost health.
~Chrystle
About This Author
Chrystle Fiedler is the author of Scent to Kill: A Natural Remedies Mystery,
Scent to Kill:
A Natural Remedies Mystery
2nd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Gallery Books(February 26, 2013)
A Division of Simon & Schuster Inc.
Trade Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1451643619
E-Book File Size: 968 KB
ASIN: B008J4RPRK
Willow McQuade, naturopathic doctor, along with her hunky ex-cop boyfriend Jackson Spade, attend a party for a psychic TV show that is filming on Long Island’s idyllic East End. However, Willow is much more interested in visiting the estate’s lavender farm, seeking inspiration for the new aromatherapy workshops she’ll be holding at her store, Nature’s Way Market & Café.
Before the party is over, Roger Bixby one of the producers is dead and the police suspect murder. Roger was working on the show, MJ’s Mind, with Carly Bixby, his ex-wife and the new girlfriend of Willow’s ex from L.A., TV writer/producer Simon Lewis.
After Willow leaves the party, she gets a frantic text from Simon asking for her help. Since Simon had a fight with Roger earlier in the evening, and because of his death is now the primary shareholder in Galaxy films, Willow’s ex becomes the prime suspect. Simon begs her to crack the case and clear him of the murder. MJ McClellan, the psychic and star of the show also asks Willow for help. She hires Willow to provide natural remedies, including aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture and yoga to soothe the agitated crew of her show.
To find the killer, Willow has to deal with ghosts in a haunted mansion, a truly dysfunctional family, death threats and “accidents,” while trying to untangle a homicide identical to one committed during prohibition.
Thankfully, Jackson has been hired to provide security and is there to watch her back and help Willow solve this spooky mystery. As a bonus, you’ll find dozens of natural aromatherapy cures throughout the book that can improve your health in mind, body and spirit!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I was fortunate to be able to read the two book back to back and really enjoyed both.
Scent to Kill
Willow McQuade uses her knowledge of herbal remedies to put herself right in the middle of the action. Helping the crew through the stresses of their jobs and the added stress of knowing there may be a murderer among them. She also keeps the door open to a more supernatural solution that could solve this murder and those that took place decades earlier. She and retired cop Jackson Spade make a great team. Their romance is also growing at a perfect pace.
Strong characters and setting made this a fun whodunit. The ghosts and the spooky mansion really added great elements to the story.
I can’t wait for my next trip to Nature’ s Way. I will need an appointment with both Hector and Allie. I once had a doctor tell me to do yoga for my back pain. Maybe Nick can explain how someone like me, paralyzed on one side could do yoga 🙂 while I enjoy the nice healthy smoothie. I am sure the author will have a wonderful mystery to solve too!
Would you like to win a copy of this wonderful book?
There are two copies available plus 1 lucky winner
will receive a copy of Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery
To win a copy of Scent to Kill: A Natural Remedies Mystery
just leave a comment telling Chrystle your favorite cup of tea!
The winner will be randomly selected from the comments.
To win my review copy of both books
fill out the entry form. (Link Below)
U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.
Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
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If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End April 17, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
I have always loved the original red zinger tea, but usually I drink Tetley British Blend. I can’t wait to read you books. Dee
Thanks to a British born and raised co-worker, I’m a Tetley British Blend lover also. Books sound great and can not wait to start reading!!
My favorite teas are Bengal Spice and honey lemon chamomille. I loved a hot cup of tea in the evening when I lived in Minnesota.
My favorite tea is Earl Grey. I drink it when the office is so cold early in the morning that I have to wear my coat. Being in the south, I also love my iced tea-winter or summer.
I am not a tea (or any hot beverage) drinker. About the only tea I’ll drink is Lipton iced tea mix with lemon and nutrasweet.
Anne
I love a cup of Earl Grey with a good book.
I really like sun tea. I think I will have to make a batch today. Thanks for all the tea information. I may find a new favorite.
I’ve read both books and own a copy of Death Drops… I’d love to be able to add Scent to Kill to my home library. We are very partial to the Wissotzky brand of teas and prefer their English Breakfast tea at almost any time of day.
I look forward to reading your Natural Remedies Mysteries, Chrystle ~ sounds like “my cup of tea” ~ 🙂 My favourite tea is Twinings ~ English Breakfast Tea, Scottish Tea, Chamomile and Earl Grey ~ I take my tea with milk and a wee spot of honey~ Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to win one of your books~ I look forward to reading your mysteries! Cheers~ Elizabeth
My go to tea is Camomile with a drizzle of honey. It’s great just before bed, very relaxing.
My favorite tea is an Herbal Mint! sounds like a fun series!
Hi, Chrystle! I’m a big fan! As far as tea goes, I used to strictly be a peppermint girl, but now I’m branching out (trying to wean myself off of coffee!!) I’ve discovered this lovely vanilla tea, and also these honey sticks that you can stir in your tea instead of sugar. Mmmmm!
A steaming cuppa Earl Grey hits the spot. Especially today. It’s gloomy and raining. I love iced tea also and drink it every day, no sugar, no lemon, and strong!
Thanks to my German heritage I have never been a tea drinker – my husband will drink any tea and at the moment he likes green tea – but have always been a coffee drinker
When I have tea, I try to find anything decaf, so my select gets a bit limited. I cannot wait to try the cold infusion teas that you listed. I container grow a variety of herbs every year and peppermint, spearmint, rosemary& lemon verbena are always available. It is going to be a yummy summer!
I’m picky on tea–I love the spicy ones (ginger, cinnamon, clove) and then I love fruity ones (citrus especially) but the traditional flavors really don’t work for me.
I love either Earl Grey or perpermint tea!!
In the summer, I brew my own iced tea with green tea, home-grown mint and a touch of lemon. Very refreshing.
I love Jasmine teas. First I smell the flowery fragrance and almost inhale the tea!
I am not a hot tea drinker as I prefer coffee. I will occasionally drink a pre-sweetened Brisk or Snapple. I liked your book Death Drops, Crystle. I look forward to reading book 2!
I am not a hot tea drinker unless it is at a chinese resturant. I do drink iced tea. This book sounds sooo good.
I am not a tea drinker but; I love the smell of any spiced teas. Love your book covers. Really enjoyed your post.
Sue B
My favorite tea? Well, I just finished a cup of Earl Gray (with milk, not lemon), but I think I prefer English Breakfast or possibly Yorkshire Blend for afternoon tea. Before bed, it’s usually chamomile or Sleepytime to help me sleep. In the morning? A nice, hearty Irish Breakfast. (Sadly for me, all the black teas have to be decaffeinated for medical reasons, but I find it doesn’t affect the taste very much at all.)
When I am sick I love peppermint tea, on a daily basis I like plain green tea. I love my tea. Thank you for the chance to win the book.
My favorite cup of tea is chamomile or chinese resturant tea with sugar. Thanks so much for all the information on teas. Great book I would like to have
I like the sleepy time tea that you can buy in the grocery store—it actually relaxes me.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I like Black tea and would love to read this book. Sounds like a winner to me.
At the risk of being branded a Yankee Philistine … I developed a taste for sweet tea when I moved to north Florida. While I’ve had to swear off it in the past few years, that’s still what I think of when I hear “tea”. (Of course, the technique for steeping, and the brand, are usually immaterial …)
Thanks for coming out and making this **not** the typical author interview!!
kuligowskiAndrew (at) gmail (daht) com
I really like Celestial Seasoning’s Sleepytime tea.
I have two favorite cups of tea. My favorite tea is Bigelow’s Plantation Mint. It is ideal for giving me a little spring in my step, and it is a perfect compliment after a good meal. My second is horehound tea. I make it with a tea ball. The reason it is my second favorite is because my son gets horrible coughs that can last for weeks. Now at the onset of a cough I give him a cup of tea in the afternoon after school and a cup before bed. His cough is gone within two days. It is amazing stuff!
KellysShining(at)gmail(dot)com
I’m a huge fan of Teavana’s loose tea blends… my favorite is Tranquil Dreams which is a chamomile, fruit blend. This looks like a wonderful series…I’m very interested in natural medicine and healing. Thanks for the giveaway.
Interesting title, thank you for a chance to win this book.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I have not been drinking tea as I have bladder problems so I have been drinking hot water with lemon. If I were to have some tea, it would be decaf Earl Grey.
I like Rooibos flavored with orange or lemon.
I usually drink iced tea ( but sometimes drink hot tea ! ) =)
My favorite kind of iced tea is Raspberry Unsweetened.
Thanks for the chance to win!
My favorite Tea is Constant Comment.
I love peppermint tea!
My favorite is Earl Grey
I love the Indian Tea that I get from my local tea shop
book sounds good thanks for the chance.
earl grey
this sounds like a novel I would enjoy. I hope I get a chance to check it out.
i love apple spice!
Post was great.Favorite kind of teas are Earl Grey or Orange Pekoe.
I love Earl Grey.
green tea or anything with a orange peels in the blend
Sleepytime or Peppermint
Thank you ever so kindly, Chrystle and Lori ~ I am so looking forward to reading “Scent to Kill” ~ Happy Reading and Writing~ Cheers~ Elizabeth