I discovered this humorous Grant Wood painting titled Daughters of Revolution recently while visiting the Cincinnati Art Museum. It never fails to put a smile on my face.

Grant Wood, Daughters of Revolution


Wood (most known for his iconic American Gothic) stirred up considerable controversy with his satirical portrayal of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a group which he called “those Tory gals.” Wood’s disagreement with the DAR was the result of a controversy over a World War I memorial window that the artist had been commissioned to do in the late 1920’s for his hometown, Cedar Rapids.

These rather dower ladies pictured here might benefit from a few cups of tea throughout the day. The reason is an amazing amino acid called L-theanine. Discovered in 1949 in Japan, it is rarely seen in nature except in tea where it is so abundant. 

It is a neurophysiologically active (mood enhancing by stimulating alpha brain waves) compound that subtly balances and moderates the affect of caffeine. Caffeine and L-theanine together make tea unique as it both stimulates and enhances mood – just what these ladies could use!

I’ll be the guest lecturer at a local DAR event next month. I might be wise to share several cups of tea with the audience before I speak because a bit of L-theanine should help put a smile on their faces!

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