Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Dear Betsy,I am a lady with a round fatty face what shape of sunglasses are best for me?
SJ
Dear SJ
Take a good, honest friend with you and try on lots and lots of frames.
The best shapes to try are those Aviator-shaped frames and square-ish, thick frames to help slim your jawline and reshape your face.
Avoid round-shaped frames and those rimless lenses as they will not be flattering.
Large frames can be very flattering and they are also fashionable right now.
Spend an hour or so visiting different stores until you find just the right frames.
Most importantly, you should ensure the lenses are UVA and UVB protective lenses to protect your eyes from sun damage.
Dear Betsy,
Your column is always so interesting and I like to keep each one for future reference to help me in my life.
Today, I want to know the correct way to make tea. Is it better to use leaf tea or are teabags just as good? Is it true that tea is good for your health and which one is best?
Carlotta
Dear Carlotta,
Tea is an excellent beverage and has many health benefits. I personally use tea bags, mainly because of the mess the leaves make, but purists will berate me for this I am sure.
The Brits are acknowledged as the world's leading tea drinkers, but the Chinese are said to be the first to 'discover' tea which is their national drink.
Since 1664, when the first shipment of tea arrived in the UK, taking afternoon tea has become a British institution. I thought that it was best therefore to find out what the United Kingdom Tea Council had to say about the art of making tea;
Use a good quality lose leaf or bagged tea
Use freshly boiled water, but only bring it to the boil once as it needs to be oxygen rich to bring out the flavour of the tea and this is reduced if you boil it more than once
Warm the teapot first by filling it with hot water and leaving it for a few minutes then discard it
Use one teabag or rounded teaspoon of tea per person
Leave the tea to infuse for three to 10 minutes according to the manufacturers instructions
Add sugar and/or milk as desired
Personally, I like to drink tea from a fine bone china cup (I hate drinking from mugs) and I don't add milk or sugar to tea as I like to experience the full flavour of the tea.
A popular modern method of tea drinking, much favoured by the Americans is iced tea and an American friend tells me it should be brewed strong and sweet and adding lemon juice or peach juice for added flavour, then pour it over a tall glass of ice for a cool refreshing drink.
In the Gulf, 'chai hamer' or red tea using a strong 'Lipton' tea remains a firm favourite and adding rose water and sugar is the most popular way to enjoy it, usually from a dainty glass tea cup, which I think adds to the experience.
The Japanese Tea Ceremony is legendary, and something not to be missed if you ever have the opportunity to experience it.
Green tea is increasingly popular due to its health benefits but it does have a high caffeine content, so bear that in mind if you are caffeine sensitive and avoid drinking it in the evening as caffeine can cause sleep disturbances.
So, what are the main health benefits of drinking tea?
Polyphenols in tea are powerful anti-oxidants and help protect against cancer, high cholesterol and heart disease. Some scientists believe that drinking two cups of tea a day can help halve your risk of having a heart attack.
Green tea is credited with super powerful anti-oxidant and immune boosting properties. Research has also shown it can stimulate your metabolism and the latest slimming trend is to drink green tea throughout the day or take concentrated green tea capsules to aid weight loss.
Tea is also said to warm you in cool weather and cool you in hot weather.
Tea bags, once used, have a myriad of uses. Keep them in the fridge and use them as soothing eye pads for 10 minutes, to revive tired, puffy eyes.
A strong dilution of black tea can be used as a fake tan, but just make sure you don't get caught in the rain!
Putting used tea bags in your pot plants is said to help keep the soil moist.
If you cut yourself shaving, then a cool used teabag will soothe and calm.
Sunburn can also be calmed by having a tepid bath with a pint of concentrated tea added to it.
Don't ask me how it works, but apparently used teabags can cure corns! Taping a tea bag to your toe for half an hour a day will see it magically disappear after a week.
Drinking black tea with honey and lemon can soothe a sore throat and the tannin content in tea can help diarrhoea and calm a tense tummy.
A breathe-cleansing, digestive-aiding cup of black tea with fresh mint leaves is perfect after lunch or dinner.
Impress your dinner guests by making up a smokey marinade with lapsong souchong tea and leave your beef to marinate for half an hour.
Earl Grey tea is black tea with added oil of bergamot which gives it that wonderful citrusy aroma.
For a refreshing palate cleansing sorbet, make up a sugar syrup with lemon juice and add a strong brew of half a pint of earl grey tea and freeze well. Serve as a between courses palate cleanser or with some rich dark chocolate mousse for a decadent dessert.
One of the most popular drinks today is a cup of herbal tea, which is made without using black or green tea, but using only dried herbs such as camomile to aid sleep, fennel for stomach upsets, lemongrass to energise and detoxify and peppermint to facilitate your digestive processes.
Do you have any good recipes or favourite remedies using tea?
Share them with us, email : betsymathieson@hotmail.com
BETSY SAYS RELAX
Have an early night. I know I have said it before, but every hour of slumber that you enjoy before midnight is worth two hours of benefits compared to an hour after the witching hour.
Preparation is important so unwind with a warm-scented bath, add a handful of dried milk powder, six drops of lavender and three drops of geranium, light some candles and after a 15 minute soak slip into a fluffy bathrobe and slippers and sip a cup of camomile tea.
Sweet dreams are made of this.
IF ONLY YOU DO ONE THING THIS WEEK
IT is French National Day on July 14, so celebrate everything French, especially their fabulous cheeses, breads and beverages.
Geant has lots of excellent quality French produce at reasonable prices. Lightly-grilled French goat cheese on a bed of rocket salad leaves with toast ...yum.
