Happy Chinese New Year!

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

Happy Chinese New Year! This Chinese New Year is the Year of the Black Water Tiger, which represents balanced determination and power. Chinese New Year occurs on the day of the new moon between January 21st and February 20th, which for us this year falls on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022.   Traditions associated with Chinese New Year The days leading up to Chinese New Year are spent in preparation for the holiday!   Make Room for Abundance From the last days in January leading up to February, it is traditional for Chinese families to thoroughly clean their home to sweep away any negative energies and make room for incoming prosperity and good luck. It is customary not to sweep the first few days after the New Year, so as not to sweep away any good luck.   Update Your Wardrobe Another way to celebrate is to purchase new clothes or new shoes, representing a fresh start. The Dragon's Den T-shirts are a great option!   In celebration of Chinese New Year, Dragon's Den is offering 20% off on our T-shirts on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022. Come and grab one of these colorful shirts!      Decorate Your Space Another tradition of Chinese New Year is to decorate with the color red. If you have an altar, take down the old decorations of the year and replace with new decorations.   Gather With Family & Friends The night before is usually marked with a dinner feast for family. Prayers of thanksgiving are said during the reunion dinner to celebrate the safe passage of the previous year. Many places in China still follow the tradition of eating only vegetarian food on the first day of the New Year, as it is believed that doing so will bring joy and peace into their lives for the whole year.   Give Gifts On the day of Chinese New Year, families usually gather at each other's homes and give each other oranges and tangerines to symbolize wealth and good luck (due to their roundness, their brilliant color and 'fullness'). Family will also give red envelopes containing money to the younger members of the family. A free gift from us to you... This year, we'll be celebrating at the Dragon's Den with fresh, local, and organic Tangerines, along with lucky Red envelopes (with a gift inside!). We hope to see you and celebrate together! Find this Chinese New Year post and others at our Dragon's Den Blog. Visit Our Blog New Product! ~ Pu'erh Tea ~ Any Puerh tea fans out there?   Pu'erh tea is unlike any other tea. It undergoes a fermentation process that can last many years, with the end result being a slightly earthy tea that can last for several steeps. Pu'erh is a great tea to enjoy after a heavy meal and is believed to help regulate cholesterol, cancer growth, and weight gain. It may also help in fatty liver disease. Learn more about the health benefits of Pu'erh Tea in this article. All in all, Pu'erh will invoke your curiosity and leave you feeling well and warm. Available in the Dragon’s Den and on our website! Shop Pu'erh Tea Herbal Blend of the Month ~ Organic Chinese 5-Spice Powder ~ What is Chinese 5-Spice Powder? Quite simply, it's a perfect balance of star anise, cloves, fennel, and other spices designed to add that authentic Chinese flavor to your favorite dishes. It also makes for a delicious tea!   Here's a breakdown of some of the herbs: Fennel is a well-known carminative herb that can help with unpleasant gas and bloating after meals. It also helps to freshen the breath! Cinnamon is warming and tasty. It is known to help regulate blood sugar metabolism. Clove buds are also warming to the body and has been used traditionally as a vermifuge, to help eradicate parasites and micro-organisms in the body. Star Anise is known for its flavor, which is similar to black licorice. This herb is said to be helpful for unblocking the sinuses! Directions for use: Add 1 tsp to hot water for a pleasant caffeine-free tea to support digestion and warm the body. Also can be added to stir-fries, soups, and other dishes for an authentic Chinese flavor! Buy Chinese 5-Spice Powder Must-Try Recipe: Vegan Chinese 5-Spice Molasses Cookies Ingredients 2 1/4 cups of bread flour (you can use all purpose flour, but bread flour gives cookies a more chewy texture) 2 teaspoons of baking soda 3/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger 2 teaspoons of Chinese 5-spice powder 1/4 teaspoon of pink salt 3/4 cup of softened (not melted) vegan butter 1 flax egg (1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons of water and let sit for 15 minutes) 1/4 cup of molasses 1 cup of coconut sugar 1/4 cup of separated coconut sugar (for rolling the cookies)   Directions   Set your oven to 375 degrees. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Cream the softened vegan butter and light brown sugar with your mixer.  Add in the flax egg and beat until smooth.  Add in the molasses and mix til combined. Sift or whisk in a bowl the bread flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, five spice powder & salt.  Once combined add to the butter/sugar/molasses mixture.  Stir until just combined, not over mixing. Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. Scoop roughly 1.5 tablespoons of cookie dough and roll that into a ball.  Place the ball in a bowl of granulated sugar and roll the ball of dough until coated.  Place on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake roughly 8-10 minutes.  Let cool on the pan for a few minutes before moving to a cooling rack. Let cool and enjoy! On Sale Now! All planners at the Dragon's Den Herb Shop are now 20% off while supplies last! Please note that The Witches' Datebook 2022 and Wemoon 2022 are no longer in stock. Mahalo (thank you) for reading and may your year be filled with abundant blessings and joy! ~The Dragon's Den Team