August 2023 Newsletter

Hello all! I hope everything is well and you have been enjoying summer :)

Even though summer is only half-way through, I've been busy getting prepared for autumn. Be sure to mark your calendars....the annual Women's Expo is coming up! Also, Gong Fu Tea Service continues and our summer menu is available. Appointments for this seated service are being accepted and I look forward to preparing tea for you during this relaxing and culturally enriching experience. Please see details below for both the Expo and Gong Fu Tea Service :)

Herbs have been nature's medicine for thousands of years. When the appropriate herbs are used correctly, they can be a powerful tool for health and healing. However, when the wrong herb is used or if the correct herb is not used in the most effective manner, then desired results most likely will not be realized. In this month's newsletter we are going to take a high-level look at how the way we use herbs may be effective or have no effect at all.

Just a reminder that the shop will be closed from Monday 9/4 through Wednesday 9/13 for our last break of the year.

I've been organizing the "warehouse" and have been finding a lot of cool pieces of teaware that I forgot I had in inventory. All are one-off pieces that are defective in some way - designs are a little off, minor chips, missing parts, etc. - but all are perfectly functional as teaware or can be used creatively as planters or bird feeders/houses. They'll be offered in the shop at discounted prices for very minor cosmetic issues and clearance prices for everything else. Be sure to check them out during your next visit and see if there are any treasures that you can use.

As a reminder, I apologize to those of you who have arrived at 11:00AM when the shop opens and you have had to wait. If you arrive on a day when the shop is supposed to be open, but it is just past 11:00AM, the blinds and door are still closed and there is no "family emergency" sign on the door, please wait if you can, as I will be there within 5 or 10 minutes. I am sorry in advance for the inconvenience.

I again appreciate your continued support of my small business and I wish you much health and great tasting cups of tea in 2023!

-- Kristine, FDN-P

Blended up fresh batches of Mount Everest Breakfast Blend Black Tea, Calm Organic and Digestion Helper Organic Herbal Tisanes! :)

Mark your calendars for this year's Women's Expo!! :)

This annual event showcases the creativity and talent of women entrepreneurs from Suffolk and Nassau Counties. The timing is perfect for the upcoming holiday season, so be sure to stop by to show your support for all of the exhibitors and get some gifts knocked off your list.

When: Thursday, October 5th

Time: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Where: Middle Country Public Library

101 Eastwood Boulevard, Centereach

Check out the event's website womensexpoli.org or Facebook page Women's EXPO LI

***Please note that the shop will be closed this day if I am selected as an exhibitor. Next month's newsletter will provide any updates.***

Shop Schedule

Please note the following days that the shop will be closed:

Monday 9/4 through Wednesday 9/13

Be sure to check your stash and stock up before the extended break! :)

As a reminder, current hours, along with future long-term schedule changes and policies, can always be found on our shop website infuseteabarny.com.

Gong Fu Tea Service

This Chinese method of tea preparation means "done well" and it requires time and focus, delivering a more aromatic and flavorful infusion than those prepared using the more familiar western method of tea preparation. I am happy to be able to offer this cultural aspect of tea and guide you further through your own tea journey.

This is an appointment only, seated service and, at the moment, is limited to four appointments at a time. Each session lasts approximately 1-1/2 hours (allow 2 hours in case it runs long) and costs $30 paid upon booking. It includes multiple infusions of the tea that you select from the Gong Fu Tea menu and there are 4-7 infusions, depending on the tea selected and as time allows. It also includes a Gong Fu lesson, if you like, so that you may incorporate this method into your own tea ritual at home.

The menu is crafted and rotated seasonally and curated from the larger origin tea offering available in the shop. The summer menu is now available:

• Bi Luo Chun Green Tea - Jiangsu, China
• Tan Huong Tea Co-op Green Tea - Thai Nguyen, Vietnam
• Himalayan Organic White Tea - Nepal
• Jasmine Scented Silver Needle White Tea - Fujian, China
• Si Jie Chun Formosa Wulong Tea - Zhushan, Nantou, Taiwan
• Huang Jin Gui Wulong Tea - Anxi, Fujian, China
• Wild-Grown Hand-Made Black Tea - Georgia (Asia)
• Champawat Estate Organic Black Tea - Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India

Gong Fu Tea appointments are available:

Thursdays & Fridays - 11:30 through 3:00

Sundays - 11:30 through 2:00

Please note that there are no appointments on Saturdays.

If you would like to make an appointment for this unique experience, please email kristine@infuseteabarny.com or reply to this email and put "Gong Fu" as the subject. I look forward to preparing tea for you! :)

Pre-order Reminder

As a reminder, pre-orders of loose leaf teas are encouraged in order to streamline the preparation of your custom orders and reduce your wait time, especially if the shop is busy when you arrive. Orders also continue to be shipped nationwide and all (pre)orders can be placed in our online shop pleasuresoftea.com.

• Please place orders at least 24-hours ahead of desired pick up time, if possible, to ensure that it will be seen in the portal and there is enough time to pull it together in time for your arrival.
• Indicating the approximate date and time of pick up in the Comments section in the Cart helps ensure that your order will be ready for you upon arrival. Pick-ups can only be done during shop hours.
• If you plan to browse at the shop or grab a cup of tea, then please do not pay online - select the Pay at pick-up option. You will receive an emailed notification once your order is ready for pick-up.
• DO NOT send orders to my email or leave on voicemail - they will be lost and most likely will not be seen until weeks after you are looking for them.

Thank you for your continued cooperation in helping to serve you in the most efficient and expeditious manner possible! :)

Using Herbs for Wellness

I get a lot of questions from clientele about which tea or herbs I can recommend for a particular issue. And if you have asked me this question, you would have received a response that was probably not what you were expecting or what anyone expects.

In fact, my response is usually the same.....lots of questions. You see even though I love using herbs for my own health and wellness and to address a multitude of issues that may arise, knowing which herb may help another person's particular issue requires a deeper understanding of the issue in that person. Without this understanding, there is a greater chance that the herb selected will be ineffective and the person will think that herbs don't work.

First off, it is important to understand that teas and herbs will be most effective when included regularly as part of a healthy lifestyle. If they are used sporadically, then they will not be as effective, especially since many of them are slow-acting and need to build in the body. Herbs are rich in phytonutrients, and when used regularly, are excellent in supporting the various systems of the body. Preparing herbs as a tea is a traditional way to include them and it has a long history of use, especially the herbs that are particularly tasty.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misleading information available when trying to figure out which herb to use to address a particular issue. The vast majority of this information is presented from the viewpoint of allopathic herbalism - i.e. "this herb is for that" mentality. The allopathic approach may only work at most fifty percent of the time because this viewpoint is symptom-driven as opposed to person-driven. With some herbs this approach may work beautifully, for example using marshmallow root for a dry, sore throat. As an aside, I am not an allopathic herbalist because I believe in getting the best results possible. Instead, I follow a holistic and vitalist approach which seeks a deeper understanding of why there is an imbalance in a person's body in the first place - hence the multitude of questions.

For other herbs, however, the desired result will not be achieved using an allopathic approach. This may occur possibly because of something that is being done to cause or exacerbate the problem. Take the ever-present inflammation as an example. For many, using turmeric may be what immediately comes to mind to address it. But let's say someone's inflammation is a result of consuming excess sugar or eating gluten when there is an unidentified gluten sensitivity, both of which cause inflammation in the body. Using turmeric may address some of the inflammation; however, continuing to do what is causing the inflammation will reduce the effectiveness of the herb or render it entirely ineffective. In addition, there are different kinds of inflammation and using turmeric (which is warm/hot, dry constitutionally) with an inflammatory condition that is also warm/hot and dry may exacerbate and further inflame it.

In many cases dosage will make a difference. A distinction needs to be made between a drinking dosage for enjoyment and a dosage that is meant to be medicinal or therapeutic. Chamomile is a great example where dose matters for its intended purpose. We are all familiar with chamomile's relaxing properties and many use chamomile to help with sleep. These effects, however, may not be experienced by everyone. In addition to being classified as a relaxing nervine, chamomile also has purported pain-relieving properties. But dose matters! Preparing an infusion using the standard amount of blossoms most likely will not result in pain relief. To achieve this, a very strong infusion needs to be prepared using many more blossoms and a longer steep time - an infusion that will not be very palatable, but one that will most likely provide some relief. Nettle leaf is another example of a strong infusion, and one which is mineral-rich and nourishing. A classic way to prepare a nourishing infusion is to steep one ounce of leaves in one quart of boiling water and let steep overnight. This is then consumed throughout the next day for a much different experience than if four teaspoons of leaves were infused in the same amount of water for seven minutes.

In some instances when someone asked me for an herbal recommendation for a particular issue, my response was that there wasn't an herb to address the issue. In many cases this was an inartful, incomplete response and what I should have said was that the appropriate herbs cannot/should not be consumed as a tea. My specialization as an herbalist has been with herbs that can be consumed as teas, but many herbs that we use therapeutically taste downright awful! As a result, this specialization had limited the herbs that I would use regularly. With some herbs, other modes of delivery are better options and/or more effective for the issue at hand. Such delivery options include, but are not limited to: tinctures, capsules, herbal oils, salves, liniments, poultices and compresses. Each of these options work wonderfully in different situations, but they take more time to prepare than infusing as a tea.

The information provided here is not comprehensive, as books have been written about it and space here is limited. I hope, however, that it provides a baseline in understanding how herbs can be used and why some experiences may not deliver the desired results. Have questions? Feel free to ask during your next visit to the shop! :)

I don't usually do this, but if you would like to help.....

Rosemary Gladstar was one of my first herbal teachers and the sanctuary in Vermont that she created was tremendously impacted by the flooding that took place in the NE last month. I am sharing here the message that was sent out from the sanctuary, which has spearheaded such important work in the world of herbalism for many decades.

​Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary has been a heartstone of the herbal community for over 35 years. As the home and teaching center of legendary herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, this land has not only touched thousands of herbal students but has made a positive impact reaching far beyond its six hundred acres of forest, including its role in the founding of United Plant Savers and catalyzing the medicinal plant conservation movement.

On July 10th, a historic and catastrophic thousand-year-flood swept through Central Vermont. The road to Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary turned into a raging river, stripping the road all the way down to the bedrock.

For decades, Sage Mountain has been a sanctuary to plants, animals, and people. For five years, our 501c3 nonprofit has continued herbalist Rosemary Gladstar's legacy of conservation, education and healing, through wildlife advocacy, botanical research, on site programs and retreats, and afterschool and summer outdoor education for low-income and at-risk youth.

The flood has cut off Sage Mountain's access to the outside world, and forced the cancellation of all of our 2023 revenue-generating programs - revenue which we rely on generating each summer to fuel our entire year of expenses.

Your tax-deductible donation will help sustain the Sanctuary through this long-term disruption. Your contribution not only provides a source of revenue to maintain the Mountain during this time of recovery, but also ensures that we can continue to our most vital programs that support the youth in our region - especially during this time of great community need - by funding the continuation of youth programming in spite of the interruption to our road access.

Each donation - large and small - sustains the work of Sage Mountain during this time of recovery and rebuilding. Thank you for your generosity!

Do you or someone you know need a personal health detective to address chronic wellness issues that can't seem to be resolved? If you haven't tried the FDN approach, then you haven't tried everything. Make 2023 your best year yet!

As a Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) Practitioner, I help clients get to the root of their health and wellness issues and reclaim the vitality that they very much deserve. I offer fully customized, programs that are unique to each client and that incorporate holistic protocols addressing body, mind, spirit and senses. This is an extension of my work in tea and herbalism for the past fifteen years, but I will now be able to help those of you who need it at a much deeper and personalized level than I can offer in the shop. In addition to the new tools in my toolbox, I will continue to draw from my experience in using tea for health, along with my herbalism training, during the development of the comprehensive protocols that will be specific to the bio-individualized needs of each client. I will educate and empower you to make the choices that are best for YOUR health so that you can be your own health advocate moving forward. I look forward to showing you what I can do to help you achieve your wellness goals and enjoy continued vitality well into the future!

To learn more, please visit https://vitalityholisticwellness.net. If you are ready to make the investment in your wellness, then I would be happy to discuss the potential opportunity with you. You may book a complimentary discovery call directly through the website so I can learn about your issues and you can learn more about how I work and how my approach is different from the conventional medicine and/or alternative approaches that you have already experienced. I also have an email address specific for Vitality Holistic Wellness business and I ask that all inquiries regarding these services be directed to kristine@vitalityholisticwellness.net.

The website also shares My Why - the reasons why I am so passionate about this approach to health and wellness. This is a very personal experience for me and I share my 32-year journey toward finding health and wellness and dealing with autoimmunity and a compromised immune system, among many other issues that you or someone you know may be experiencing. I hear from so many of you about your own chronic wellness issues and I share my story as a way to connect and open the door and show that there is hope…even after 32 years! If you would like to read my health story, please click here. It is long, so make sure you have a big mug of tea :)

I also email out a newsletter with health and wellness tips that do not fit within the scope of this newsletter. If you are interested in receiving the Vitality Newsletter, then feel free to sign up while you're at the website!

New at the Shop

We don't have any new teas at the moment, but all of our summer teas are still available! Customer favorites include: Minted Coconut Lime Green Tea, Cherry Pineapple Herbal Tisane, Coconut Lime Herbal Tisane, Coconut Fruit Punch Fruit Tisane, Kiwi Peach Fruit Tisane, and Watermelon Fruit Tisane. All are available in the shop and online shop - some have limited supply, so be sure to grab them before they are gone!

We are restocked in our varietal honeys from Spain. Select from Lavender, Orange Blossom, or Thousand Flower.

Infuse Tea Bar & The Pleasures of Tea

106 Main Street

West Sayville, NY 11796

www.infuseteabarny.com - shop

www.pleasuresoftea.com - online shop

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500+ Loose Leaf Teas, Herbal Tisanes & Functional/Medicinal Herbs

Certified - Tea Professional, Tea Sommelier & Tea Health Expert

Forever Student of the Art & Science of Herbalism

Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, MRC Healthy Gut Practitioner & Certified Terrain Advocate - Vitality Holistic Wellness