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The Paleo Diet and Tea

January 9, 2013

As many embark on the journey to full-body health for the new year, it’s fitting to explore the increasingly popular, paleo (Paleolithic) diet. The paleo diet has been around since humankind, but there has been a rise in this particular diet because of CrossFit, a trending fitness regimen that involves constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity within a community environment. It was first introduced to the CrossFit community by Robb Wolf, former CrossFit nutrition adviser and author of The Paleo Solution. News of this low carb, high protein diet quickly spread throughout the CrossFit community and eventually replaced the initial CrossFit Zone diet because it produced results to be lean, energized and strong.

What is Paleo?

Known as the caveman or hunter-gatherer diet, this nutritional plan entails consuming unprocessed foods with high protein, lean meats from grass-fed animals and complimented with moderate fruit and vegetable intake for healthier carbohydrate sources. The diet restricts processed foods, dairy, grains, legumes, and sweets. When in doubt, ask, “What would a caveman eat?”

Paleo and Tea

Water is the recommended beverage of choice, but is tea accepted in the paleo diet? Paleo purists would probably shake their heads no, but nowadays, modern Paleoists make exceptions to fit these modern times. Bacon is processed meat, but many paleo dieters can’t resist it. Along the same lines, tea is a subjective topic for paleoists. Purists forbid it because of its caffeine content; while some say caffeine-free blends or tisanes are fine.

Nonetheless, paleo palates can enjoy tea-like substitutes from Art of Tea’s Rooibos blends. Although rooibos is part of the legume family, a dietary restriction, paleoists still drink it for its many health benefits. This caffeine-free red bush from South Africa is notably rich in antioxidants and helps fuel the body with iron. French Lemon Ginger, Italian Blood Orange, and Bright Eyed alone are great tisanes to start with.

Other paleoists argue that organic teas or least processed teas are accepted. Given that reasoning, white teas are the least processed tea type (simply picked and dried) and so are often referred to as the most organic. Paleoists who don’t mind the caffeine can drink organic white teas such as Silver Needle or White Peony.

Paleo-coffee fanatics also known as caffeine lovers can still get their caffeine in healthier doses through green tea. It’s widely accepted because of its natural health benefits. In keeping with the Stone Age premise of the diet, we recommend Art of Tea’s Matcha+ and Matchasticks.

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Health & Lifestyle
Tagged: caffeine, crossfit, diet, Green Tea, paleo, rooibos, Silver Needle, tisanse, white tea

New Fair Trade Silver Needle Is Here!

December 7, 2011

Art of Tea’s new Silver Needle just arrived, and it’s proving to be the best Silver Needle AOT founder, Steve Schwartz has ever tasted, he says. This 2011 crop of hand-picked Silver Needle is organic certified and is now also fair trade.

These delicate and rare white tea leaves can be found only in the Fujian Province in Southeastern China. Silver Needle tea leaves uniquely resemble uniformly-shaped needles that are covered in a silvery green fuzz or “hao”. When the tea is brewed, the fuzz disappears to reveal a vibrant green tea leaf. Chinese legends say Silver Needle was solely picked just two days a year in the spring by virgins wearing white gloves and offered exclusively to the emperor. Only the top buds are harvested to maintain Silver Needle’s supreme quality among white teas. Today, this prestigious and widely sought-after white tea is still revered for its high quality and rareness.

This new batch of Silver Needle is pure splendor in your cup. It has a golden ivory flush with an inviting earthy tone. Its light woodsy aroma lingers in the taste, but offers a mildly sweet finish. These leaves are fresher and softer in texture, and provide a beautiful green hue. Contrary to the Chinese legends, Silver Needle can widely be enjoyed by everyone, and that is something you should definitely take advantage of. Steep for one to three minutes for best results!

-MELISSA CHUA

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Fair Trade & Organic, Tea Profiles
Tagged: Fair Trade Silver Needle, Organic Fair Trade Silver Needle, Organic Silver Needle, Silver Needle, Silver Needle White Tea

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