real, that comes with the drinking of coffee"
I had been a long term tea drinker, preferring tea to any other beverage for
years, until one day, I had a new assistant. I was working as a dealer
representative for stocks and shares at that time, and that means in a really
stressful environment, being in the trading room all the time. So taking some
time off to catch a cuppa and to be back to trading and watching the trading
screens for the best prices was the perfect break anyone could hope for.
My new assistant was a young lady in her mid twenties, and it was interesting to
see her prepare her drink.
No, she wasn't a tea drinker like me. Instead, she was a coffee fan, perhaps
even an addict to coffee, you may say. On her first day at work, she took out
of her handbag three packs of instant coffee 3 in 1 - namely instant coffee,
sugar and non-dairy creamer, and then proceeded to empty the three packs into
one cup,adding hot water, making a strong coffee. She wasn't through yet,
because she also opened another pack of chocolate powder and sprinkled the
chocolate powder on to her hot coffee, creating a tremendous aromatic smell that
pervaded the trading room.
That was some "oomph" in her coffee.
After a period of three months, I found I was suddenly drinking coffee myself
and wasn't a pure tea drinker anymore. It was a subtle conversion process, and
soon I found I really need that coffee in the afternoon trading session.
Now, looking back, I have learnt a lot of techniques to add more "oomph" to my
cup of coffee.
One way is to enhance the taste with some special add-on ingredients.
My most popular add-on ingredient is powdered ginseng. Ginseng is the
traditional chinese herb which is a root, and american ginseng is preferred to
korean or chinese ginseng. This herb makes one alert when taken, and is normally
taken to strengthen one's immune system or body. You can get the ginseng powder
from the Natural Herb Store or in the form of capsules that you can empty into a
cuppa when you need the "oomph".
Be reminded that the ginseng root powder carries a somewhat bitter taste. So
don't equate quantity with more "oomph". You just add sufficient to give you the
enhanced aroma and the "oomph" you need.
Another way is to add the "tongkat ali" root powder, which may be slightly
harder to obtain. This root is from an original plant in Malaysia and is a well
researched herbal root with aphrodiasic features. The aborigines of the tropical
jungles of Malaysia use this to enhance their "maniless" and this they prove by
having big families. Commercially, you can get a bottle of this Tongkat Ali
powder under the brand name "Power Root" throughout the world. Just add a small
pinch and you will find the difference in your taste and feel the subsequent
well-being.
Now you can have that extra edge and "oomph" when you next take your coffee,
irregardless whether it is an espresso or a latte.