MANVILLE: Seniors enliven palates

By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
   Tea is known to have great medical benefits and the senior citizens at the Manville Senior Center learned all about those benefits and got to have a taste testing on Tuesday at their center at Fire Company No. 1.
   Lisa Carra, the manager of the center, thought this would be a great way to let the senior citizens learn about teas while letting them try something different.
   ”There are a lot of facts and maybe today you will find one that you like,” Ms. Carra said. “There are a ton of flavors. Some say that it lowers your cholesterol so find the tea that you like. They also say that drinking warm tea at night helps you sleep better — decaf, that is, or green tea. I find tea really relaxing. Some of the benefits are from the green tea; some are from the black teas. There are a lot of benefits of drinking tea.”
   The seniors started out with one of four teas that were freshly brewed for them. Ms. Carra brought out one tea at a time and the seniors tested it and had to identify which one it was by marking it down on a piece of paper. They were able to sample and taste mango, blueberry, orange and raspberry tea, while Ms. Carra explained about the different benefits of drinking tea.
   Jess Aggabao was in the kitchen brewing up the flavored teas. He said that he boiled the water really hot and then dropped 10 tea bags for each type and brewed it for about five to seven minutes. He let it cool for a few minutes, then served it.
   As the seniors patiently waited for the next tea, they worked on a word find featuring all words about tea in the shape of a cup. A few were able to find all the words by the end of the tasting.
   Irene Matisak found out that there is more than just black tea.
   ”I liked having a tea tasting party because you get to know different flavors. The blueberry was very good,” she said.
   Ms. Matisak is a tea drinker but never had the flavored teas. She just drinks black tea but now she is willing to try others.
   Jeanette Vecchio had fun taste tasting. “I am a tea drinker and I always drink green tea. Getting a chance to drink the different ones was very interesting.
   Tea drinking is not just for the ladies; Willie Martin was one of the men who taste tested, too. Mr. Martin is a tea drinker and said “It was really good, excellent. One tasted like mango and one was raspberry.” He said he really enjoyed the raspberry.
   The Somerset County Senior Center, according to its monthly calendar, is “The best bargain in town where you can enjoy lunch, friends, fun, events, and wellness programs for a suggested donation of $1.50” The $1.50 donation is for lunch as the programs are free. Transportation is available for seniors who do not drive. Lunch can also be delivered to homebound senior citizens
   The senior center has daily activities and events planned for the senior citizens in town. For more information on how to join in the fun or come to have lunch call Ms. Carra at (908) 526-0175.