Mark "Dr. Tea" Ukra, with Sharyn Kolberg
Harper Collins
December 26, 2007
On January 1, I cozied up with my copy of The Ultimate Tea Diet, steaming mug of coffee in hand, and by page eleven I was firing up the teakettle.
"Now rise, and show your strength," says Dr. Tea, quoting from Jerome K. Jerome (Three Men in a Boat). "Be eloquent, and deep, and tender; see, with a clear eye, into Nature, and into life: spread your white wings of quivering thought, and soar, a god-like spirit, over the whirling world beneath you, up through long lanes of flaming stars to the gates of eternity."
If that's not a worthy New Year's resolution, I don't know what is.
With a collection of more than three-dozen teapots, some from Jerome's own Staffordshire, England, you'd think I'd know how to use them by now. But, like many of my other good intentions, they languish on bookshelves, windowsills, kitchen counters, even my toilet tank, hoping that someday I'll put them to good use.
Flushing away the dust from one of my favorites -- a 1940s vintage "pink plume" from Hall China -- with some hot water from the teakettle, I then coated the inside of the vessel with a thin layer of organic white tea, a thoughtful gift from my son's new girlfriend. Mark Ukra's instr
uctions are easy to follow, and soon I was sipping the delicate brew, my mind wandering to China's southern Fujian province in 650 A.D. White tea was produced there during the Tang Dynasty, but believe me, this beverage tastes nothing like Tang.The rituals and ceremonies of tea interest me more than its weight-loss properties, though I've benefited before from the combination of tea's secret ingredients -- caffeine, L-theanine, and epigallocatechine-3-gallate (EGCC). I didn't know these ingredients by name, but I guess I've always had a feeling that tea was good for you. Last year I lost 22 pounds eating a balanced diet, drinking tea instead of coffee, and exercising 5 days a week.
I don't think you will find me on the Ultimate Tea Diet, but I'm quite sure you will find me in Dr. Tea's kitchen -- his tea-infused recipes are just too tempting, and the book belongs on every cook's bookshelf. Tonight I'm whisking together the ingredients for Rosemary Orange Tea Chicken, tomorrow morning my blender will be humming with a Fruit Tea Smoothie. January, here I come!
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Comments: 32
If you are looking to lose weight and keep it off in a fun and natural way.Pick up a copy of my book and start your journey to loosing weight one cup of tea at a time.
dr. tea
www.ultimateteadiet.com
Thanks, Lisa....BTW, I like your new icon photo!
The Book Review
Richard, the PF Chang dish sound terrific!
Cecile, brew some tea and watch your metabolism kick in for the upcoming history conference!
Sonia, you are too kind. I'm feeling a bit like Hemmingway these days.
I am very impressed with your knowledge of tea as well as the histore of tea.
Always a great pleasure to speak to a fellow tea afficionado. I know there will be amy more appearing as we spread the word about tea in our country!
dr. tea
www.ultimateteadiet.com
GREAT JOB!
I can not wait to read about your weight and inches lost as you begin to change your lives.
dr. tea
www.ultimateteadiet.com
Love your comments! They are well spoken and I appreciate everyones opinions.
A> You are right as I wrote in the book, tea alone will not be able to do it alone. We all have to exercise as Spartan points out and we all need to eat right. As the book points out tea will assist with your exercise because the L-Theanine actually creates the feeling of satiation and combined with the EGCG you actually have more energy than you have ever had before.
I have read many of the bloggers responses who validate this as well as the testimonials found in the book.
I am sure Spartan after reading the book wanted to only reiterate the points made in the book.
B. I have read many medical reports about the acids in coffee creating many medical problems written by MD's. I appreciate Spartans notifying us about his Uncle and the possibility of the acids in tea casuing some damage to your liver and kidneys.
I, and Spartan urge everyone to speak to their MD's before embarking on any diet or change of ingestibles.
Sending you much love and light!
dr. tea
www.ulitmateteadiet.com
In the book Marsha L speaks to her menapausal issues. She found my blueberry pie white tea assited with relieveing many fo the issues.
Take a look.
dr. tea
www.ultimateteadiet.com
Keep up the great job! By the way, I ahve many on my plan coupled with Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig!
Stay in touch
dr. tea
www.ultimateteadiet.com
I went to a Tea Ceremony while I was living in Japan. That was quite an experience. I'm glad to say I experienced it but would never do it again.
The Japanese tea ceremony is a great once in a lifetime experience.
Glad you made the switch to tea. How do you feel?
Have you read my book which explains how it all works?
dr. tea
www.ultimateteadiet.com