19482887_3f07968e5c_oI was delighted to see yet another confirmation about the profound health benefits of tea which appeared in the British Telegraph:

“The Health Council of the Netherlands, an independent scientific body that advises parliament, this week published new guidelines recommending that people drink between three and five brews each day.”

They went on to report that children as young as age 4 are actually given tea to drink during school hours. Add the Japanese who’ve been doing so for years and it’s painful to compare U.S. beverage choices that are given to kids in our schools.  Yes, our kids can take their prescription drugs at school but tea? That might be too dangerous.  I find this so very disturbing on so many levels. The power of the pharmaceutical industry in this country is profound.  Although more people die from side affects of prescription drugs than in automobile accidents each year, the FDA feels they’re sufficiently safe to give to children. But when it comes to tea, they just don’t feel comfortable confirming that it has health benefits and won’t kill us.  How did we ever get here?  What can we do about it?

I think, for the general public, we’ve passed the tipping point and just about everyone, except our FDA it seems, has acknowledged that the research is clear.  Tea is the health beverage of the 21st Century.  I guess if people can still continue to argue about the existence global warming, then it’s no wonder the FDA won’t give tea its seal of approval.

So introduce this health beverage to your kids.  They’ll become life long tea drinkers which will enhance their lives on multiple levels. Create a family tea ritual that everyone can enjoy. One option might be to nix the cookies and milk after school and turn them onto whole leaf tea.  Perhaps a trip to the local tea shop might uncover a wonderful Yixing tea pot that would inspire and fit little hands.  Teaching your children about whole leaf tea and how to prepare it, complete with a thermometer to check water temperature and timer to insure correct brewing.  This will be the first step in their journey into the world of tea. Add some organic nuts to quell their hunger and they’ll be good to go until dinner.

Another good time to create a tea ritual might be after dinner.  Let the family sit around and share stories about their day while enjoying some delicious tea for dessert. Add some organic fruit for sweetness and it’s the perfect topper to a nice dinner. These days, families often don’t even share an evening meal, making a tea ritual even more meaningful for the family to engage and connect. These can become memories that your children will remember and cherish throughout their lives.

image