Goddess Tea

Before yoga today, I was flipping through the new issue of LA Yoga and reading an article called Growing Tulsi, by Prashanti de Jager.  I am always fascinated by the ways in which nature has the ability to remedy so many of our human maladies and Tulsi is one of these important and Ayurvedic herbs.  This article gives the how-to's and talks about the benefit of growing Tulsi (also known as holy basil) and about its positive affects on the lungs, nervous system, and adrenals.  I've also read that it can reduce stress, sharpen memory, and assist our focus and concentration.  It supports and enhances the immune system and promotes heart health, increases stamina, and its leaves purify the air where it is grown.  Most notably for me, it relieves inflammation and improves digestive health.

I'm always one to pay very close attention to the herbal tea section of a menu and, from my experience, it is rare to see Tulsi tea on it.  But today at lunch, there it was.  Talk about a sign.  I ordered it.

It tasted, to me, a lot like green tea without the bitter, dry after taste.  Though it's an herbal, caffeine free tea,  it's a dark which surprised me and yet has a mild flavor, I enjoyed it.  I even had the server refresh the water and send me with a to go cup, which I somehow managed to get home on my bike without crashing.  Yes, I was that obnoxious LA bike driver with one hand on her coffee cup.

When I got home, I reached for my laptop so I could continue learning about the plant.  What I found was so interesting.  Aside from its medicinal attributes, I found that Tulsi is actually named for the Hindu Goddess, Tulsi or Tulasi, the goddess of loyalty.  In fact, the plant itself is considered sacred in India and most homes have at least one plant in their homes or enshrined in their gardens.  In India, people drink the tea or swallow the leaf whole with water as if taking a pill, so certain are they of its medicinal properties.  The Goddess Tulsi is said to be a gentle female energy and I was told by one website that growing her leaves in my own home or garden will bring beauty, health, elegance, and grace into my life.  I like the sound of that.  Stay tuned for tales from my own Tulsi Goddess garden...