can I have a hot cup of tea??

[pattico]

Just wondered hot tea fits into this diet. I used to be a huge coffee drinker...no more for me. My day ALWAYS starts off with a hot cup of tea with some agave in it. I have been raw for 10 days now :D !! and have not had my morning tea. I am not dying, but find that I miss a warm drink in the morning, especially now that winter is on its way. Please advise. Thanks!!!

[rawfigure]

I drink warm Yerba Mate Tea. I am drinking it now ! :D

[Revvell]

What's great about life is you always have choices. Whether you have a hot cup of tea or not is your decision. Are you looking to be 100% raw? If not, then putting boiling water over tea leaves is acceptable. If you are, then, most likely not.

If you do a search here, there will be quite a few responses to this question. One being whether commercial tea in and of itself is actually raw. If you are making tea with your own unprocessed product such as ginger and you don't heat the water over 118 degrees (can you stick your finger in it?), then you may consider the drink to be raw. IF you have enough sun, you can also make a warm drink and/or put it in the dehydrator.

Revvell

[VeryBerry]

I used to be a huge tea drinker. Never though I could give it up. When I first went raw I decided to drink tea when I really wanted it. Now I find that I don't want it anymore. I would still drink herbal tea if I go to a coffee shop with friends or clients, but I would let it cool down first.

[Cinnamon]

I was also a huge herbal tea drinker but found with time that my morning warm cup of water gives me the same feeling as the tea did. Might sound a bit odd, but I really enjoy my most favorite mug filled with nice warm water and am drinking some right now!

Sometimes I add a squeeze of lemon or orange and even a bit of agave (or honey for those who use it) and it is very refreshing.

[Sharon in Colorado]

The only kind of tea I like is white tea, and certain herbal teas. In the summer, I'll make sun tea out on the porch but now I just use regular hot water for it.

Like Rev said, it is up to you. How pure do you want to be?

[star1919]

It is a question of being 100% or not. And, overtime I've found my tastes for most things have changed. I love raw! However, I do choose a few things that aren't raw... hot steaming tea is one of them. I've found it helps me stay raw in the colder months and I truly enjoy it. :p

[yeahbethany]

You can have whatever you'd like. =)

Make sure your decisions are YOURS, not OURS.

Hope this helps with something...

[swingbolder]

Sure tea is cooked, but realistically we're talking about a thimble-full of leaves, and not even the leaves, it's just water with minerals and flavoring and such dissolved in it.

I drink tea sometimes in the winter when my house is freezing cold and I need to warm up quick. It doesn't affect me negatively at all. But I could also easily just drink a boiling cup of water and get the same effect, I guess.

I would try it and see how it works for you.

[sport]

I seldom drink a cup of tea now but only because I no longer want to and not because I am afraid of The Raw Police.
I somtimes add some grated nutmeg to some hot water and let it stand for a while or add a spoonfull of unpasturised miso to a mug of warm water.

[pattico]

Thanks to all of you for answering. I like the raw food police comment!!
So far I have been 100% raw and want to keep it that way and to be honest I am afraid of reverting back if I add something "illegal". I DO love the fact that it is a personal choice as to how "raw" I want to be. Thanks again :)

[trinity082482]

some teas like green tea is sooooo good for you, its almost a shame to not incorperate it into your raw life style. Right, its not raw but it **** well should be LOL!! :rolleyes:

[lissomllama]

Well first of all, you can have whatever you want. It's your lifestyle. But hot tea is not raw. Once you warm something it is no longer raw. Especially if you make it 'hot'. True, you're not drinking coffee or eating a big mac but it isn't raw no matter how you slice it (or pour it, rather, hee hee). You're still heating, boiling leaves/herbs etc.

Everyone is different though and not everyone believes that hot tea will hurt you, in fact, many believe quite the opposite. Regardless of what tastes good, what seems right to you and your body here? This is the real question to ponder.

Personally I don't see the point of being raw if I'm not going to be totally 100% but again everyone is different. The thought of drinking hot water/tea kind of scares me, like I'm boiling my insides or something, but if it is body temperature it is obviously not as bad. I also don't like to drink freezing cold water, it kind of shocks my system. Room temperature does it for me and you can still hake good herbal teas with room temperature water or even let it sit in mild sun for a bit to infuse it. It just has to sit a while longer and the bag needs to be squeezed more. I make my own tea bags by folding herbs that I'm sure are raw into cheese cloth or natural coffee filters folded over.

[Bechtel]

Raw food - is a food that does not processed with high temperature (over 60 C). The whole idea of raw that raw temperature destroys nutrients. Water is boiled for the sfety reasons and to remove polutants and chemicals

Here is a way to make tea for the raw foodist: heat up distilled (steam distilled) water to just above room temperature (50 C). Pour over bag of tea or tea leafs and leave for an hour or two in covered container. I use thermos.
Perfect tea and ... raw.

[Sunshine9]

Tea is raw if ya don't boil the water and you use quality herbs.

Herbs are healing.

[Revvell]

some teas like green tea is sooooo good for you, ...

I think you'll find some dispute on this. Green tea does have bioflavinoids or some such yet, for me, the caffeine negates the good that does. Anything green tea has can be obtained through raw fruits and veggies.

There are, or were some VERY long threads about green tea, caffeine, etc., here.

Revvell

[trinity082482]

I think you'll find some dispute on this. Green tea does have bioflavinoids or some such yet, for me, the caffeine negates the good that does. Anything green tea has can be obtained through raw fruits and veggies.

There are, or were some VERY long threads about green tea, caffeine, etc., here.

Revvell

Thank's :)

[Tom]

Hi Pattico

I once saw the defination of raw or percentage raw defined as how many calories in the raw compared to the cooked. If you use stevia balance with your tea the calories are nil so it would be OK. That is my reason or excuse for my only possible borderline indulgence. I think stevia balance is also the only sweetener that is not acid forming. Remember to get the balance and not the regular because the taste is much better even though it costs about 20% more.

Drink up

Tom

[Wendee]

Yes! Of course! One lump or two? Cream and sugar? :D


Wendee
~80 more pounds to loose!