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March 7, 2010
 Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has been used by herbalists around the world for thousands of years. From China, where it has been used to heal sore throats, treat respiratory and digestive problems it made its way westward. Hippocrates, the Greek physician Dioscorides as well as the German abbess/herbalist Hildegard von Bingen all swore by the powerful healing properties of this sweet tasting root.
The plant itself is perennial, reaching 2 meters in heigt from a root system of taproots and branch roots. It can be found in southern Italy, Spain, Russia and other countries east of the Mediterranean. While it still grows wild, it is now extensively cultivated to meet global demand and to protect the plant.
The materia medica of the American Botanical Council indicates that licorice is in the FDA ’s list of herbs generally regarded as safe.
Parts used are the rhizome and root.
Licorice has widely been used to
- relieve coughs, sore throats, break up congestion
- soothe the digestive tract
- support adrenal function and combat stress
- fight disease-causing bacteria and the fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections
- stimulate and strenghten the immune system
- strenghen and balance the female reproductive system
Licorice is 50 times sweeter than sugar and is added to chocolate to extend the sweetness of sugar. It is also used by brewers to give body and color to porter and stout. Did you know that licorice is an ingredient in the Irish ale “Guiness” and used to flavor the Italian liqueur “Sambuca”? It is used in the make up of many other products, but interestingly the popular candy “licorice” does not contain licorice root but gets its flavor from a distant cousin “anise”.
To make a decoction that can be taken for coughs, colds and to soothe stomach ulcers, put 1 1/2 oz of licorice root in 1 1/2 pt of water, bring to a boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain and drink as required.
While licorice is considered safe, it is not recommended during pregnancy and for those with liver conditions, severe kidney disfunction or suffering from hypertension. If taking prescription drugs, it is always advisable to consult with your physician first before taking any herbals medicinally.
December 15, 2009
Kerstin just finished making a ton of great cookies and sweets for Christmas. I absolutely love German goodies and look forward to them every year. I really enjoy something a little sweet after dinner. While my kids can eat sweets without any outward signs, I have to spend more time hiking the mountains or on the treadmill to counteract the effects. Fortunately, there are some alternatives that satisfy but don’t pile on the calories. Teas and Herbals can provide the sweet treat without the guilt – Teas like Pumpkin Pie, Tiramasu Marscapone and Gingerbread House are examples of very low calorie teas that even when not sweetened, curb the cravings.
Kerstin was recently on Sonoran Living Live here in Phoenix to talk about this and even gave a recipe for a Chai Latte that has less than a quarter of the Big Chain’s calories with no compomise in flavor.
While I plan to occasionally indulge with the home baked goodies, it is nice to have a alternative for days when I don’t have the time to work it off.
Have a great Holiday time whatever your tradition!
November 12, 2009
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Contents
New Website
Sage
It’s that time of Year
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Featured Items
Gingerbread
House
Just in time for cooler
temps – smooth and
aromatic – Caffeine
Free
We have lots of
great, personal
gifts for the tea
Tea Tools Basket
This kit has all
the tools needed to
dive into the world
of tea
Be our Fan!
Cold Chaser
Savory and soothing
this German Blend of
herbs can naturally
boost one’s immunity
and shorten a cold
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What’s New?
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 Just as we are updating our physical presence, we have updated our virtual one this month! We launched our new website this week with:
Take a look and tell us what you think!
Check out the events section below for the tea sale, free back rubs and music.
Trick or Tea has come and gone. However, for a Limited time we can get it by the pound. It will take about 6 business days from time of order – Can only be ordered in one of the stores.
Cranberry-Peach (black), Nutcracker Suite, Gingerbread House(rooibos), and Harvest Moon(green) are in the stores. Look for Ambrosia White in December.
Tea Word of the Month: High Tea [hy tee] –noun : a meal usually with breads, meats and cheeses served after 6pm often confused with Afternoon Tea but more of a meal than a social diversion
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Herbal Corner – Sage – “all is well”
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 Sage (Salvia Officinalis) was the first herb my grandmother introduced me to. I still remember the honey sweetened, aromatic tea she gave me to soothe my sore throat when I was sick.
The generic name for sage, salvia, is Latin and means “to heal” and in ancient Rome and Greece Sage was believed to heal everything, from snakebites to colds. It was also attributed to have memory enhancing properties. Every country’s herbal healers, from China to Europe, recommended Sage and, because of its many medicinal properties, it became known as the herb that could extend life to the point of immortality.
It is true that sage has very powerful antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and was therefore used by the Greek and Romans as a meat preservative. Even today, it is no accident that we are so fond of adding a little sage to that Turkey stuffing!
Medicinally, sage is a wonderful digestive remedy. It stimulates the flow of digestive enzymes and bile and helps settle the stomach and relieves indigestion.
Sage is also known to be a tonic to the nervous system, enhancing the body’s strength and vitality.
Its antiseptic properties have been relied on in wound healing and the mild estrogenic effect may help relieve menopausal problems, especially hot flashes.
The French call this herb “toute bonne”, which means “all is well”. Indeed, Sage has many healing properties and should not be missing from your herbal remedy kit.
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It’s that time of year!
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No, we’re not putting up Christmas decor just yet but we are thinking about it. Some upcoming events -
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We will have our “after Thanksgiving sale” on Friday and Saturday, November 27th and 28th – In Phoenix, we will have free chair massages for everyone spending $20 or more
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We’ll open Sundays, 12pm-5pm on December 6th, 13th and 20th
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On Fridays – December 4th, 11th, and 18th , music returns to Souvia from 4pm-6pm with some soothing Recorder to de-stress for the Holiday
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In January, “Souvia Saturdays Community Forum” begins. These will be held in the Phoenix location from 10am-12pm on certain Saturdays. We have three speakers already lined up, See the topics on the calendar or Blog. Ideas? Send them to info@souvia.com
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It was great to see so many of you at the Local First Festival – If you missed it, pencil in the first Saturday in November for next year. For those with an eye for detail or design, please send us feedback on the new website – I will draw two names to receive 50 grams of any of our Holiday teas!
We hope to see you in the stores but if not, remember we ship everyday, locally and nationwide!
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Meet the Author
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 Meet Author and Speaker Greg Petersen at the Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe on Monday, November 16th at 7pm. Greg will be talking about a new and unique series of mini books designed for the busy, fast-paced life we live. The series, called The Urban Farm’s Simple Sustainability Series – The first two are out My Extraordinary Yard and Fowl Play
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November 9, 2009
Thanks to Bella Donna of BHealthyBHappy LLC, (and a guest Souvia Instructor) for the nice note and great recipe that follows
“Dear Souvia,
I have been using your teas as a base in my healthy smoothie drinks for years now. There are
so many different flavors and I appreciate the quality of products that you offer. I have recently
discovered your Angel’s Kiss tea and must say that the smell alone is ‘heavenly’. The flavor
is absolutely delicious and am going to start using it in one of my smoothies that I offer to
clients who come for detox treatments.
I thought I would share my recipe in case you could pass it on to your customers and I think
they would appreciate it as my clients do. It offers many health benefits and is especially good
now with flu season upon us. Enjoy, share, play with the ingredients.
Bella”
www.BHealthyBHappy.com
IMMUNE ENHANCING SMOOTHIE
Mix in a bowl:
4 T. yogurt with 2 T. organic flax seed oil
Mix in a blender:
1 t. honey
1 t. bee pollen
1 T. cinnamon
1/4 cup fresh lemon or lime juice
2 T. freshly ground flax seed
5 soaked and rinsed almonds
5 soaked and rinsed walnuts
1 apple with seeds and skin, remove top and bottom of core
1/4 cup organic grapes
1/4 cup fresh cut pineapple including core
2 T. Brewer’s yeast
½ cup any flavor kombucha
1 cup green tea
5 spinach leaves
Add yogurt and flax seed oil mixture
Re-blend and serve immediately.
September 16, 2009
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Contents
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Early or Late
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Immunity
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All about Tea
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Featured Items
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Banana Split
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Smooth black tea with
? a rich banana taste –
As yummy as the
dessert without the guilt
- Great Iced!
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Souvia on TV
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Check out our most
? recent TV appearances
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August 11th on
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and see us August
12th? 9-10am on
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? Jiaogulan
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Jiaogulan is best known
as an herbal medicine
reputed to have
powerful? antioxidant
and adaptogenic
effects that increase
longevity.? It has a
pleasant Oolong like
taste and color.
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Early or Late…
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As many? children head back to school the summer? spontaneity is exchanged for? more structured routines. Traffic? flow changes, stores are less crowded during the day, and other schedule patterns change.? Based on customer feedback, Souvia is making some schedule changes too:
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Monday, August 17th? our Phoenix location will open at 7am – Monday through Friday
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Our Scottsdale location will stay open until 7pm, Monday through Friday.
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? Hopefully this will allow those needing an early cuppa or those who work later and a chance to visit.
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With all the news about flu and illnesses transmitted in schools, we have invited Dr. James Moore, NMD,? back? to speak? about herbals that help boost and strengthen one’s immunity – naturally.? ? He is a popular speaker so be sure to register your seat early for the August 31st session.?
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Watch for new teas as we move into Fall.
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Tea Word of the month:? ? FTGFOP [eff-tee-jee-eff-oh-pee]? adjective?  ? ? Literally, Fine Tippy Golden, Flowery Orange Pekoe – A grading term based solely on how the tea leaves look, used primarily in India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka
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Kerstin’s Herbal Corner – Staying Healthy
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Staying healthy at home as kids head back to school.
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While in Germany, we heard about the “Schweinegrippe” (swine flu) as it is daily? headline news.? Many German kids are in school until late July and the flu bug showed no mercy this summer in the US either, affecting camps across the country and sending many kids home sick with the flu.? ? While some of the stories are a bit hyped and overblown, no one likes to get sick.
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Now that children are back in school and socializing with others, what’s the most natural way to protect you and your family?? ? Below are? five suggestions of what to do when your son or daughter brings home more than just homework!
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Start by incorporating more black tea in your diet -? Black tea has been shown to have anti-viral properties and? it is also an immunity booster.
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Consider herbal infusions: Elderberry, astragulus, lapacho, in addition to Cold Chaser are all great additions to tea to keep you healthy.? ? Elderberry can also be made into a syrup to help at the first sign of symptoms.?
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Besides drinking herbal remedies, reduce stress to help ward off a bug.? ? Sitting down to enjoy a cup of tea is a great way to slow down for a moment.? Choose what works for you be it exercise, yoga, or whatever.
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Consider infusions rich in vitamin C.? Hibiscus and fruit blends fall under this category.
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Arm yourself with information.? Learn more about natural herbal medicine, or consult a Naturopathic doctor and learn how the body can heal itself.? ? ? Take a class
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While natural remedies can shorten the course of an illness, it is best to take steps before symptoms appear.
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It’s All about the Tea
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We were invited in July to visit one of our suppliers in Germany.? As you know, we like the Germans due to the excellent flavorings and vigilance over things that do not belong in Tea,? ? We spent several hours tasting over 60 teas both flavored and Orthodox.?
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Tasting this many teas requires that one does not actually swallow them but it is a great exercise and helps determine the relative tastes and quality of teas.? We tasted teas and herbals covering the price, flavor, and quality spectrums.
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The result?? You’ll be seeing some new teas in the fall some not currently available from any other source in the USA.? ?
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We continue to explore new ways of staying in touch.? ? Dozens of you? are following ua on Twitter – we are posting the teas of the days, interesting news items on tea and other items? that may be of interest.? ? We have recently also started a Facebook page.
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? Our goal is always to educate and enlighten our customers about tea and herbals.? We hope the web based technologies enhance that.
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Other news about our teas
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Larger Tins – up to 250 grams of tea – keep it fresher, longer.
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One Pound Size – an excellent value for teas you love
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Key Lime Pie - back for a limited time and only while supplies last
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Thanks for reading this month.? We hope you will stop by for a morning brew in? our Phoenix location or shop until 7pm in Scottsdale.? ? Question of the Month:? A European study indicated that adding something to black tea might reduce its benefits to the cardiovascular system.? What did it refer to?? I will draw a name from the respondents to get 50 grams of the black tea of your choice.? Send you answers to info@souviatea.com
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We hope to see you in the stores but if not, remember we ship everyday!
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September 11, 2009
 Many herbs that we consider to be longevity tonics have their origins in China or India.
In both countries, herbal medicine has a long and rich history that dates back thousands of years. In China, holistic healing is described and practiced as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In India it is called Ayurveda, meaning science of life. Both practices place equal emphasis on body, mind, and spirit, striving to restore innate balance and harmony.
? The most valued herbs used in these traditional healing systems are those that restore energy and promote overall well-being. Such herbs were used on a regular basis to build and maintain vibrant health. Today we call these herbs adaptogens, because they help the human body adapt to physical, environmental and emotional stress, while supporting normal metabolic function and restoring balance. Adaptogens help strengthen the immune system and have antioxidant properties, along with many other health-benefits.
? In China, Jiaogulan is praised for its adaptogenic properties and is even called the herb of immortality. People in the mountainous regions of Southern China take it as a tea before work to increase endurance and strength and at night to alleviate fatigue. Jiaogulan, like all adaptogenic herbs, can energize or calm the system depending on need, while also regulating hormonal function in men and women.
Modern research seems to support what the ancient healers knew intuitively and specific studies show that Jiaogulan:
- assists in the regulation of serum cholesterol
- helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels
- strengthens digestion and improves the absorption of nutrients
- enhances cardiovascular function, increasing strength and endurance
- supports the immune system
- ? has antioxidants that help protect against free radical damage
? Not only does Jiaogulan offer a wealth of health-giving benefits, the leaves also produce a sweet-tasting tea that can easily be savored at any time of the day.
? Also, check our class schedule and look for the upcoming Creating Herbal Blends class, in which you will learn to blend herbals into tasty and healthy concoctions.
February 4, 2009
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Drink your way to a Healthier Heart!
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No, it’s not what you are thinking….
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Every year 700,000 people the U.S. die of heart disease. According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. This is a sad statistic especially since we all can lower our risk for heart disease by making some lifestyle changes. Research studies show that maintaining a healthy weight and diet, regular exercise, not smoking and moderate alcohol consumption can greatly reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke. die of heart disease. According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. This is a sad statistic especially since we all can lower our risk for heart disease by making some lifestyle changes. Research studies show that maintaining a healthy weight and diet, regular exercise, not smoking and moderate alcohol consumption can greatly reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke.
In recent years, researchers also found that drinking tea regularly (3-4 cups per day) can help to lower cholesterol and keep your heart healthy.
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Another alternative are the many herbals mother nature provides so generously to support health and wellbeing. Hawthorne (Crataegus), in particular is known as the supreme herb for heart health. It dilates arteries and veins, allowing blood to flow more easily and releasing cardiovascular restrictions and blockages. In Germany, where herbal medicine is more mainstream than in the U.S., three dozen hawthorn-based heart medicines are prescribed today.? Hawthorne is a tonic herb and best results are achieved if it is used over a period of time. It can be taken as tea, tincture or capsules. For an infusion, it is recommended to use 2 teaspoons of dried leaves and flowers per 6oz of boiling water and steep for 5-8 minutes. Add honey and drink 2 cups per day.
For a tasty and heart-healthy infusion combine hawthorne with lemon balm or lemon verbena sit back, sip and relax
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Souvia will be featuring this herb and other heart healthy choices at an event on? February 21st 1pm – 3pm at our Phoenix location.? We will also have Proactive Health? Screenings? on site to show how technology can help you take a peek at your cardiovascular health in a? noninvasive and painless way.? Stop by drink to your health and learn more about screenings.
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Here’s to your health!
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January 11, 2009
Beleive it or not we taste 20 new teas per week.? We are currently tasting teas for the Spring and Summer.? Today we tasted:
- A roasted almond – not enough almond taste
- A green tea with orange and passionfruit note – Would make an excellent iced tea
- A lemon grass vanilla herbal blend – had a strong smell and weak taste
- A new black tea blend – Excellent blend of Chinese teas – on the short list
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November 25, 2008
Don’t forget our annual tea sale and massages are this Friday, November 28th.? ? The sale lasts all day but the massages are from 1pm-3pm.? Read more about it in World Tea News.
? All teas will be 20% off and slected teaware will be on sale as well.? It is always fun and a great time to stock up on tea.
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November 12, 2008
 Hibiscus Tea May Cut Blood Pressure
Study Shows Drinking 3 Cups a Day Can Lower Hypertension
Nov. 10, 2008 (New Orleans) — If you’re worried about your blood pressure, you may want to follow the British custom of regularly “sipping a cuppa” — tea, that is.
In a new study, drinking three cups of herbal tea containing hibiscus each day lowered blood pressure. more…
Souvia Tea does carry straight Organic Hibiscus as well as several blends contaning hibiscus.
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