Unveiling the wellness wonders of hibiscus tea, about water and self care through writing, foraging, drawing, photography
Musings on a Friday morning
When you are on a journey of reclaiming your life in micro-steps, sometimes random words come to your mind followed by stories, stories waiting to be told, reclaimed, processed, cherished maybe. This is an invitation to pick up your journal, a pen or more, a cup of something, maybe hibiscus tea after reading my words and … start ….
What you will read in this piece
stories about water and an invitation to tell your own water story
a glimpse into the Romanian revolution
water and community spirit in rural areas of Romania
an invitation to meet 🌺 Hibiscus, a plant you might fall in love with
a few nourishing hibiscus tea recipes
WATER? WHAT IS THE TASTE OF WATER?
Water. A word but behind the word there is a rainbow of tastes and stories. The taste of water can be completely different one place to another, one country to another, one region to another even one street to another.
Does water actually taste? Something to be explored.
TAP WATER IN COMMUNIST ROMANIA
While in Romania, 30+ years ago, we used to drink tap water without worrying that it might contain some nasty things. The idea was not even in our mind. The only time I remember being told not to drink tap water was during the Romanian so called revolution. The first time I heard that drinking tap water was dangerous was on December 24th, 1989 while in the hospital, caring for my father.
Quite exciting times - please read traumatic - getting information about the outside world in bits and pieces, many times like Chinese whispers, via the last injured person admitted to the hospital, who was talking to a nurse, and then to another one and so on or from one of the many volunteer “revolutionaries” guarding and protecting the hospital.
REVOLUTIONS, STORYTELLING AND MASS MANIPULATION
Revolutions, major political changes, come with a lot of smoke and mirrors, with many rumours flying around that makes my head spin even trying to remember. It is all about deflecting attention and hey it is not a new technique and you see it nowadays in full glory day in and day out.
So, back to the water …during those days the rumour was that tap water was poisoned! So childish even to think about this but many people believed it.
Could it be because back in the days, around 1400, during many Turkish invasions of parts of Romania, entire villages were left deserted, people ran for their lives with whatever they were able to carry on their backs and oh yes … they poisoned the wells as a farewell gift to the invaders? So yes, this story was already in the collective memory of the nation and the poisoned water story seemed plausible and got traction!
Communists used the same techniques to keep the “plebs’s” minds as occupied as the majestic, puritanical, faultless western world. Hmmmm yes I am being a bit sarcastic.
Fear helps the rulers of the day control and manipulate the masses and of course good old storytelling does the trick!
Water sustains life. It is true. Water nourishes, heals, even has memory and understands feelings according to a Japanese scientist.
The Miracle of Water https://amzn.eu/d/amDUTSU
I remember that years ago on rare occasions when I was visiting my grandmother in a tiny village in Romania where water “came” from the well, a well in the garden situated by a majestic walnut tree. It was crystal clear, cold and obviously pure. Nothing used to “clean” it or enhance it.
The village also had a communal well just in case of emergencies. At that time communities cared for their needs without being told what to do, micromanaged by the village leaders or bullied into action. The rules of the land were passed on from one generation to another through simple “learning by example and observation”.
MINDFULNESS AND WATER
I am interested in the power of water and it fascinates me to realise how disconnected I was for a long time from even noticing it. We mechanically use it to wash, clean, cook but without any soul level appreciation.
Life is so full of noise, it pollutes and disconnects us from the most precious things in our lives. This week I suddenly had flashes of memories connected to water and decided to approach it … mindfully wherever I come across it.
COOKING AND LOVE
My father used to tell me that his mother cooked very simple food but it always tasted good. In his opinion it was because she was cooked with her heart. If we go back to the Japanese scientist it makes sense. Her energy, her pure pleasure of cooking found its way through the water she was cooking in and into her food, adding that extra magical alchemical ingredient … LOVE.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU WANT TO INCREASE YOUR DAILY WATER INTAKE
I ve been struggling to drink water for many years, ignoring this issue until recently when I took the decision to start caring about my needs and to apply a touch of self love and self compassion in my daily life.
When one is not used to doing this, starting small quantities is the way forward.
So I applied creativity and playfulness and progress is visible. No, I am not drinking 2 litres a day yet but I believe in micro progress and this is good enough for now. I also know that consistency is one of the hardest things to achieve so slow and steady progress is the way.
Drinking tap water is not my thing and to be frank I don t quite like it. Water from plastic bottles doesn’t appeal to me either so I came up with something that works for me and might work for you too. Tea. No, not hot tea from teabags but combinations of dry plants and fruits, infused and served at room temperature. My journey started with hibiscus flowers and moved onto various combinations tailored to my desire to innovate.
HIBISCUS TEA - hibiscus sabdariffa
Let s talk about this beautiful plant and healing potion.
I came across hibiscus tea while on a business trip to Cairo many moons ago. I remember buying a big bag of dried flowers when I came back to base in Bucharest but this was it. I couldn’t buy it locally and I forgot all about it until 3-4 years ago while browsing through a Turkish groceries shop. Much to my joy, I was reunited with a taste I had never forgotten.
Where and how does it grow!
Its origin is from West Africa where the plant thrives, growing fast and adoring the sun.
Interestingly enough this hibiscus is closely related to okra and also to cotton and the leaves, flowers and calyxes are edible.
The calyxes are the ones used to make tea. The plant is rich in vitamin C and is used not only for the tea but … one can make sauces, jams and lots of other treats. I have to say I am planning to make some jam.
The flower petals develop into calyxes after pollination and are ready for harvesting about 7 days after the flower has dropped.
I knew hibiscus tea under the name karkade and I have to say it has such a romantic connotation for me. It reminds me of a Romanian author I love, Panait Istrate. He mentions karkade in his books. Out of curiosity I researched what other names this tea is known under?
Here is what I found
Thailand - rosella
Panama - saril
Jamaica - agua de Flor de Jamaica
Sudan/ Egypt - karkade
Ghana - sobolo
Senegal - bissap
Why drink this tea?
First of all because it is a refreshing beverage, bursting with vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, supporting the immune system, helping fight viral infections, diabetes and more.
How to prepare the tea?
🌺 pour boiling water over a cup containing a few dried calyxes - it is up to you so try and taste until you find out what works for you - start with a full teaspoon for a big mug of water
🌺 let it steep for about 5 min
🌺 add sugar if you want or honey
You can drink it hot or cold.
During the summer, feel free to add some ice cubes and mint leaves.
More recipes and ideas? Here we go:
🌸 Jamaica and Thailand style - add lots of sugar and ice cubes
🌸 Panama style - boil and add ginger, sugar, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg
🌸 Italy - add lemon juice
🌸 my way 😀 I like to try many combinations - the latest is oats straw, green tea and lime flowers.
For me, drinking hibiscus tea and other combinations is preferable to drinking water and this is definitely a micro-step in the right direction.
Until next time, be well.
INSPIRATION CORNER
🎶 MUSIC
Mesmerising music, the inviting one to dance, heal, connect with Mother Earth!
🎤 INTERVIEW
I am always in awe of people who cannot accept the lies anymore and speak the truth.
Nice what you write about adding that extra magical alchemical ingredient … LOVE!✨️🤍👌🏻