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Want to learn how to get pregnant?  That might sound like a silly question, but if you're trying unsuccessfully, it's a very serious and emotional question.  As a new mom, I am constantly reading about motherhood and child care and I recently came across a great study about the relationship of tea and pregnancy that I want to share with you.  If you're looking for tips on getting pregnant, this could be the big one:

According to the latest study, you can start by drinking a cup of tea. Professor Elizabeth Hatch of Boston University studied 3,600 Danish women with an average age of 28 years for over a year. She observed that women who drank 2 cups of tea per day increased their chances of getting pregnant by 27 percent. 27% is enormous!

Interestingly enough, women who drank carbonated soda, whether regular or diet, at least two times a day actually decreased their chances of getting pregnant by 20 percent. Moreover, women who drank coffee had no effect at all.

She also cautioned that “tea is not a miracle cure to get pregnant” but “drinking two or three cups a day for anyone wishing to get pregnant will be fine.”

Prof. Hatch further noted: "Tea contains a lot of antioxidants which are very good for male and female fertility."

The study invites many questions, leaving one thirsty for more data. It was unclear what type of tea was used, if the tea was caffeinated or herbal, and how it was taken, how many cups each woman drank per day, whether the teas were hot or cold, and what region they were from. Thankfully, her research team is conducting further studies on these findings. It will come to no surprise if tea’s special antioxidant property, ECGC, which is has already been credited for combating serious severe illnesses ranging from cancer to multiple sclerosis, is responsible for this benefit. It may be safe to rule out caffeine as a factor given that coffee had no effect at all. As soon as I find out more details I will be sure to fill you in.

*Image from Buzzle.com

Here in Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia International Flower Show’s one of the big social events of the year and the largest harbinger of spring. This year’s theme was Hawaiian. Think leis, orchids, and hibiscus. Also think many judging categories and the crowds befitting the largest indoor exhibition in the world.  So, when my husband and I discovered that the Pa Horticultural Society was offering a garden tea in a converted conference room away from the bustle of the crowds, we leaped.

Each tablecloth in our delightful improvised tea room was of a Hawaiian floral design and each was graced with an elegant large silver teapot in the shape of a watering can. As a matter of fact, the large teapot really did contain just water and we were offered a selection of bagged teas to steep in individual ceramic pots.

I first chose a black mango coconut which I sipped while eating crust-less tea sandwiches. We were served 5 varieties of those which included salmon with cream cheese, deviled ham, cucumber, watercress, and egg.  My favorites were the cucumber and the salmon.  My husband loved the deviled ham as did some of our table-mates.  We were also treated to cheese, a strawberry garnish, and seedless grapes as well as a few yummy bites each from a pineapple upside down cake and of a tasty basic scone with the option of adding the classic accompaniments of cream and lemon curd.

While finishing up all my goodies, I drank a cup of mango passionflower herbal tea and combined it with some black tea. That was both to cut the tea’s sweetness and to get just a little more energy for round 2 in the Flower Show’s exhibit area.  To keep my aloha spirit going, I’m planning lots of tea breaks with macadamia nut cookies and green mango tea.  

There’s really no magic number of how long you can wait between tea re-steeps, but it’s a good practice to not let your tea sit for longer than 12 hours between steeps.  A shorter time between steeps, like 4-6 hours is even better.  

That being said, there are a few things you can do to make sure your tea is in best condition between steeps.

• Don’t try to move the leaves to another pot or container, you’ll just disturb and break up the leaves.
• Try to drain as much water out of the pot and leaves as you can (very easy to do with our Sleek Steep).  The moisture will speed up potential mold growth.
• Put your tea out of sunlight, like in a shady corner of the kitchen with the top on while it sits.
• Don’t put the tea in the refrigerator as it will pick up some of the smells and flavors of the other foods.

 Follow these practices and you can enjoy the same tea for several cups throughout a day or two.  Oolong, pu’erh and Silver Needle are a few teas that sometimes are even better in a re-steeped cup!

I'm not proud to admit it, but though I consider myself a tea lover, I've never been a fan of green tea. I'd love to get a dose of green tea's healthy antioxidants, like the EGCG I profiled in a previous post, which can fend off cancer and Alzheimer's. I like green vegetables, green lights, and the green movement to save our beautiful planet - and yet, somehow, green tea left me cold. 

I recently received, as a gift, a small tin of green tea flavored with pomegranate and hibiscus. Honestly, pomegranate is another so-called superfood that has just never thrilled my taste buds. And while two wrongs don't make a right, today I learned that two flavors I don't particularly like can combine to create a beverage I truly enjoy. 

Yes, I brewed a cup of pomegranate tea. I was first charmed by its pleasant pink color, then by its gently fruity and tropical sweetness. (Full disclosure: I added sugar.) It may never be my go-to tea, but it's another pleasant afternoon infusion to add to my tasty arsenal. I wish that every time I tried something new it went this well!  When was the last time you tried a new tea?

In my tea travels, I’m always looking for a great place for afternoon high tea. If you happen to be in Wayne, PA, I have found the perfect place: A Taste of Britain. Tucked away amongst cute shoppes off Route 30, this wide-planked, restful-rooms restaurant, with its soothing pale green walls, classy chandeliers and homey atmosphere, this truly is the place to have lunch, tea, or the full complement of tea and scones- the Afternoon High Tea.

My friend Di and I walked in and were immediately greeted, as well as fascinated by the wall of full English goodies for sale- Spotted dick, English candies and Cadbury chocolates, teas to take home as well as meat pies and scones to go.

We each picked out a tea when we were seated and were brought loose tea to create just how strong we’d like it- I went with Snow Angel. We got to each pick a scone. I went for the special scone of the month- Irish Potato- just like the candy, and DI went with Lemon. We could choose from Buttermilk, Raisin, and Cherry Almond as well.

Then, a tired serving platter arrived, and with it, the most delicious assortment of tea sandwiches: chicken salad and tuna salad (savory and hearty), strawberry cream cheese on cinnamon bread (sweet and delicious), cucumber (tart and tasty). Then came the scones- these scones were huge and delicious. Along with it came sweet clotted cream, fresh raspberry preserves and tart lemon curd. Plus, my scone was full of cinnamon and coconut, and had the most delicious warm cream cheese icing. I need to go back and buy a dozen of those; they were so hearty and yummy!

All of this was a perfect complement to our teas. My Snow Angle was rich and sweet, green and white teas sweetly blending together with red peppercorns, smooth vanilla and pineapple bits. All too soon it was gone! Di’s Decaf Earl Grey was warm and soothing, just right to compliment her lemon scone.

To wrap it up- and at this point we were getting quite full from all the yummies- an assortment of mini pastries to round out our afternoon high tea. We choose from chewy ginger cookies, rich warm walnut brownies, mini cheesecake bites and sliced strawberries.

The entire experience was delicious, relaxing and soothing. The owner, Debbie Heth, was gracious and welcoming and knows her tea, as many, many customers came through the door all afternoon, seeking comfort and relaxation, as only a good tea can provide.

Photography by DL Cooney.

Special thanks to Debbie Heth!

You can find A Taste of Britain with Easy Elegance
at Eagle Village Shops, 503 West Lancaster Avenue,
 Wayne, PA. Call for reservations at 610-971-0390 

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