As the weather turns cooler, everyone loves curling up with a warm cup of tea to enjoy. This hot drink may taste good, but there is so much more that goes into tea than just the flavor.
The Kawasaki Reading Room is holding weekly Take Home Tea Time Fridays, from September 18 to November 20. Every Friday, you can stop by the Jackie Gaughan Center Room 302 to pick up a goodie bag. Each bag will contain a tea bag, either a Japanese treat or US candy and information about the tea you selected. Students will be able to choose from two or three teas each week.
All available teas will be loose leaf tea from Green Leaf Tea Company, a local tea shop in Lincoln. In addition to tasting better, loose leaf tea is also better for you. There will also be an herbal option for those who are caffeine free.
Tea holds a wide variety of mental and physical benefits. There are kinds of tea that can help you sleep, provide antioxidants and even fight off illness. For instance, green tea is known to be very healthy and benefits your skin and heart.
"From my personal experience of someone who has anxiety, chamomile lavender tea instantly calms me down with just the first sip," said Alexa Allen, graduate assistant for the Kawasaki Reading Room.
Tea also plays a huge role in Japanese culture, through tea ceremonies and the meanings of different tea varieties. A traditional Japanese tea ceremony represents respect, simplicity, and harmony.
"We hope that through Take Home Tea Time Fridays, students still feel connected and gain an understanding of the importance and value that tea can have," said Allen.
Participants in Take Home Tea Fridays can also post a photo with the #TeaTimeFridayKRR to be entered into a monthly drawing. Each month's winner will receive a $10 gift card to the UNL Bookstore or their favorite coffee shop.