sinus, cold, flu season teas.

Welcome to Kentucky with the weather hot one day and cold the next.

It is difficult on the immune system to function and recover with such erratic weather changes, going from one extreme to the next.

Sinuses, flus, colds ... all are just yuck!!

Hot tea is a great way to sooth some of your symptoms. I was reaserching some of our teas here to see what was in them to soothe some of these sypmtoms and give ease to them. Several of our teas have great herbal additives that are good for what ails you. :)

 

Researchers have discovered that some herbs, in fact, destroy viruses. Besides fighting viruses and bacteria directly, herbs can relieve unpleasant symptoms caused by colds and flus.  Lavender is one that has been proven to inhibit viruses, but is also good for sleeping and soothing properties that calm the body's systems down, and Peppermint also carries an antiviral punch. Both of these herbs also foil bacteria responsible for infections in the throat, sinuses, ears, and eyes that often come along with the flu or a cold. In addition these herbs aid in relaxing your cough, in digestion, and encourage circulation. Even if you're in the thick of your sickness herbs will help you heal faster and stave off future illnesses.

Bergamot and Lavender also stimulate the production of infection-fighting white blood cells called leukocytes. Licorice seem to slow down viral replication by increasing the production of macrophages - white blood cells that devour viruses.

It's amazing to me what we can do with medicine, but it also amazes me what we can do without. Tea and herbs can definately help in assisting us to a easier recovery. Come check out what we can offer you and the herbs that can help you get back to the daily grind.

a cup a day.

The aroma of fresh coffee and the warm mug pressed against my lips ready for my morning taste of freshly roasted, freshly ground coffee is the start of my day- today. Nothing is better than being in the still of the shop- before customers and staff arrive and getting the bar ready to serve our product to people. Getting their morning cup of coffee is their ritual; and mine too. Everyday we make and have a delicious drink, sip a cup of tea, or pour a cup of black coffee for ourselves or for someone else. It's this place, the service, and the product that keep peolple rolling in. Every month we have a new coffee calendar that we create to serve/showcase a new coffee everyday, that way people can taste and try what we roast and offer. Today's coffee of the day is Copenhagen. As if Vienna Roast wasn't absolutely amazing on it's own, we added half Colombian Supremo to it. This blend is in my top 5 favorite blends. Why? Because as simple as both elements are in the blend they birth a whole new flavor on my palate. It's the best of both worlds- between dark and light beans. Colombian Supremo is grown along the foothills of the Andes Mountains where climate is temperate and moist. We carrry the highest grade of Colombian bean and roast is medium making it rich, superbly balanced, sometimes with a nutty flavor. Vienna Roast is a vienna raosted Colombian bean; making it slightly spicy, full bodied, and oily. These two combined make a delectable and rich blend. It is a great morning coffee and evening, because like I said ... it's the best of both worlds!

time for tea.

Starting my morning drives to work I often wonder what my choice will be between coffee and tea. Usually coffee wins, only because I need that morning wake up jolt to get myself in gear. Recently, I have come to enjoy and love the ritual of tea and its soothing, healing properties. In the same way people share conversation and laughter over a cup of coffee, tea drinkers have their traditions of 'afternoon tea' and much of the same. In the evenings I have been enjoying a cup of tea and have found that it is a good ending to my days ... a peaceful, uninterrupted time I can grab a book; read and sip, & it gives me a solution to my local honey collection that's been sitting in the cabinet :). The process of tea is what draws me in; first you have to boil your water (which takes time), then you have to steep your tea 3-5 minutes, wait for it to cool and then enjoy. Soething about taking a few minutes to sit and be silent and wait is calming. It's in those few minutes that my heart beat a little slower and my mind takes a break from running. Tea is good for all kinds of things ... and I learn something everyday. Some teas are recommended for cardiovascular health, weight loss, cognitive and bone health, and in general a prescription for good health. Take some time to get to know tea, give it a try!

new line from Republic Tea Co.

Republic of Tea is so good! No matter what I've gotten from them I have always enjoyed it. They know tea! 

We've recently started carrying more Rooibos tea from them with really nice, eye-catching labels and the tea is pre-bagged in a unique tea tin full of information and great descriptions as to what is in the tea. Which is really helpful especially if you are searching for one particular herb that isn't carried in bulk. This new tea line is geared towards getting you ready for your New Year's Resolution workout or replenish what you used after you are finished. They all have weight loss herbs in them and refreshing herbs to help recover. So encouraging and helpful! 

 We are carrying Get Hydrated, Get Restored, Get Burning, Get Active, and Get Limber ... 

What's in them ... I wondered the same thing, so let me tell you!

Get Hydrated- an organic green rooibos (naturally decaffeinated) mixed with Hibiscus, to boost refreshment and re hydration  dates (which replenishes the potassium and electrolytes), with black current and rose-hips extract to add even more electrolytes and antioxidants. If ever a tea was "cool" this would be it! 

Get Restored- After a hard workout we need something to help rebuild. Detoxify, balance sodium and potassium, take in essential nutrients  A base of organic green rooibos combined with Ramon nuts (known for potassium) and chicory root (which aids in a quick recovery). Milk Thistle seeds help support detoxification, carob balances blood sugar, and grape seeds to give you a boost of antioxidants protection! ARE YOU READY?

Get Burning- Are you feeling sluggish? This spicy herbal blend will rev up your internal engine! "Spicy" increases the body's metabolism and resistance to stress. This tea also had an organic rooibos tea base with Holy Basil (which increases energy and stress), Cordyceps (a Traditional medicinal herb used by Chinese athletes to boost energy and endurance, and the KICK of chili peppers. This tea stimulates the body with spice.  

Get Active- Exercising should be a part of our daily habits ... some of us are disciplined and some of us are NOT! This tea is designed for both parties. An organic green rooibos base with Holy Basil (which is rejuvenating and helps the body adapt as it copes with physical stress) and Licorice root and Maca root (these 2 support the endocrine system). The endocrine system keeps all our systems in balance! A great start to any workout! 

Get Limber- We all need a little assistance when it comes to taking care of our joints. This tea helps reduce inflammation  and allow joints, ligaments, and muscles to stretch more fully. Another organic green rooibos based tea with Turmeric (an anti-inflammatory) Cat's Claw and Yucca extract (which is great for relieving sore joints), and lastly Ginger Root (which helps reduce post-exercise inflammation). This is a 5 Star team of goodness you must try pre-exercise.  

and it's gone ....

Where has all the time gone?

Everyone says that time flies, especially here under the blanket of great drinks, customers, and satellite radio :) ... but really as cliche as it is time has flown by and another year faces us all.

I was walking through the shop the other day and semi-reflecting on the year 2012. What we did good and bad, hoping that we remained true to what we do and giving people quality customer service and great coffee & drinks, what 2013 was going to look like ... all these things rolling around in my head- I am excited! With every new year there are new opportunities and faces we get to meet, our town in thriving and growing (and so are we). We have such an amazing connection working at a LOCAL coffee shop with our customers and the rituals they following in pursuing coffee. We get to see sides of people's lives and be in the epicenter of change and conversation, meetings and engagements, learning and trying new thing ... it's really kind of neat! We are constantly growing and are challenged by the people who come in here.

We've had a great year! Coffee Times has had a great year. :) We've accomplished exactly what we should have; connecting with our community and loving coffee. We've shared our lives with you and let you share yours here. We appreciate that! We hope that this next year we can do a lot of the same and more. New products, new events, and new inspirations!

Fa lalalalalala ... Christmas bells are ringing ...

I always love the week before Christmas. I love that the shop comes alive with new and old faces, we love being busy, and there is a joy behind helping our customers find the perfect gift.
Coffee brings people together, not just at Christmas time but throughout the year; to having conversation over a cup of coffee, reading the newspaper before a long days work, or sharing moments with friends on your down time (or day off), there is something magical behind a coffeeshop, and it's coffee. Its a hub where people come together in a comfortable environment and share life over cups of coffee.

"Coffee is real good when you drink it it gives you time to think. It's a lot more than just a drink; it's something happening. Not as in hip, but like an event, a place to be, but not like a location, but like somewhere within yourself. It gives you time, but not actual hours or minutes, but a chance to be, like be yourself, and have a second cup."                       

~Gertrude Stein

We hope this holiday season that you have time to sip your cups of coffee and share life with your loved ones. The New Year brings so much opportunity and refreshing joy, we hope you can share these days and the ones to come drinking Coffee Times coffee with us. :)

Merry Christmas from your local coffee shop!

And CHEERS to a new year!!

love,

your Coffee Times staff

 

gift guide for the COFFEE and TEA lover.

If you have a COFFEE or TEA lover in your life, we've got great gifts for you this season.

Everyone is looking for the perfect gift this year for their special person, and if that person loves coffee and tea we have the special gift for them.

 

For your tea lover ...

We have an incredible tea selection from the Metropolitan Tea Company, that gets the best tea from all over the world!

We carry a wide variety of loose leaf tea, especially for someone who is trying out tea and not sure what they want you can purchase smaller quantities. We also have tea infusers for steeping tea, we have 2" and 3" infuser balls and some decorative ones too! We've got Price & Kensington teapots and accessories, which come in vibrant colors and some have infusers included.

 

For your coffee lover ...

We have fresh roasted coffee! What else could you want? We roast on site, so nothing is ever stale or old. We also flavor all the coffee on site too (at LCT), by hand. So we add a little love into everything that we do and serve at Coffee Times.

So we have a large variety on our sales floor for our customers, anything you want from espresso blends to dark, bolder roasts to something a little lighter like a medium roast. To go with your fresh roasted coffee we also have lots of brewing mechanisms. Toody, Aeropress, BUNN, Capresso, Bodum, Bonjour, Hario, and Chemex to name a few brands we carry here at the shop.

What does your coffee or tea lover have on their Christmas list?
 Maybe we can help. We love to share our knowledge and help!


Stop by and let us help you find the perfect gift for the holidays!!