One of these days, those of you who like to read this blog early in the a.m. are going to wake up and find there's nothing new from me that day. Why? Because I croaked overnight after drinking some bizarre potion just because it had "tea" slapped on the jar. This jar listed its ingredients as water, yellow root, and citric acid.
This latest discovery comes courtesy of the Smart Shop Antique Mall in Rome, Ga. The huge and wonderful (and ancient) Smart Shop Antique Mall used to be located on North Broad Street in Rome, and I knew it had been a while since I visited, but I was stunned on Saturday when I asked someone in Rome which road the antique mall was on (I couldn't remember) and she told me it had been torn down! I had a hard time believing that, and besides, they couldn't have torn it down. I had so many happy memories of shopping there with my mom, and I have so many great teawares that came from this mall. (Like
this and
this and
this.) But indeed, I drove over to the old spot and, as Joni Mitchell used to sing, "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot." So, there was that. I heard that there was a new place I should check out on Shorter Avenue, however, and it turns out, it's just a new location for this old antique mall.
And that's where I spotted my jar of Wild Bill's World Famous Yellow Root Tea. Have you ever heard of Yellow Root Tea? I had not, but it's more commonly known as goldenseal and is said to be a folk remedy good for, among other things, digestive disorders, eye infections, skin issues, urinary tract infections, and more. I don't actually have any ailments at the moment (knock on wood), but I love folk remedies and, with a little self-education, could perhaps give up doctors and drugs entirely in favor of using herbs and natural remedies. (Actually, based on the letter I got from my health insurance provider this week telling me that their company will no longer sell health insurance in Georgia next year, that may be a distinct possibility … but that's another story, isn't it?) Anyway, the sales clerk at the antique mall told me her sister drinks Yellow Root Tea each day, and she recommends drinking it cold, so I did. For some reason, I expected it to taste dreadful, but it did not. Perhaps because of the citric acid, it simply tastes like the sourish dregs of Alka Seltzer. I've been drinking a few ounces every day, but so far I don't know if I'm benefiting from the Yellow Root Tea or not. I'm just happy I survived drinking something that my husband said looks like either moonshine or, well, something that's not tea!
I'm glad you were able to find the new location! And glad this "tea" didn't kill you. You have many more tea adventures ahead.
ReplyDeleteHeh heh, yes it looks like that something - very glad it doesn't TASTE like it - though I cannot imagine we'd even KNOW what that would taste like.................I digress.
ReplyDeleteGlad you found the "new" spot for the place. I hate it when things get torn down, but it does happen often around here.
Happy you found the antique shop and you were brave enough to try this concoction! Maybe you have to have an ailment for it to work, othwise it is just like drinking colored water!
ReplyDeleteAndrea, You have no idea how many times I have wondered if you really know what the "tea" leaves are that some of the far off places send you to try. Maybe after years of tea tasting you have developed some kind of immunity to anything that might harm you. This is a funny story, and I am glad you survived. I would not have tried this tea myself, and I am a gutsy woman. Blessings
ReplyDeleteAnd actually it isn't tea since there isn't any camilla senesis. It is a herbal concoction, which indeed could help what ails I suppose. My goodness but you are daring.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! My sister would enjoy this. Glad the antique mall simply relocated... you have more treasures to find!
ReplyDelete"Tisane" is another good word for herbal concoction I just learned recently!
ReplyDeleteI just bought a jar of it yesterday at the local food depot! Ran across your page while researching it's uses. There seems to be two different yellow roots. 1 is golden seal and then this one used in wild bill's yellowroot tea. Both contain something called berberine. The uses are many and I am going to try a few of them. Yellow root , parsley-leaved yellow root , yellow wart , shrub yellow root . Not to be confused with “yellow root,” also known as goldenseal ( Hydrastis canadensis L. ).
ReplyDelete