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Tea Recipes

3 Simple and Delicious Matcha Recipes You’ll Make Over And Over Again!

November 12, 2022

Matcha is a powder that is manufactured from specially grown green tea and is prepared using a traditional Japanese tea-making technique that dates back to the 12th century. In China and Japan, the process of preparing and drinking matcha, as well as serving and drinking it, is considered ceremonial, and the drink itself has gained popularity all over the world. Matcha has been compared to the protein powder used in the world of tea: Smoothies, baked goods, yogurt, and just about anything else you can think of are all wonderful candidates for its incorporation. You’ve probably heard of matcha, a sort of green tea that is pounded into a fine powder and has a flavor described as having hints of earth, spinach, and umami. You are aware that it is said to be beneficial to your health: It is strong in antioxidants, just like traditional green tea (that is, the leaves-in-a-bag type), but because it is a powder, you wind up swallowing the full leaf, and as a result, more nutrients—at least, that is what many people speculate. But what in the world are you supposed to do with it? Matcha is traditionally consumed by adding water that has been brought to a boil and then whisking the mixture with a bamboo whisk until it becomes frothy. However, that is only the beginning of things to come. Matcha has been compared to the protein powder used in the world of tea: Smoothies, baked goods, yogurt, and just about anything else you can think of are all wonderful candidates for its incorporation. In this collection of recipes, we have included a few of our favorite ways to prepare food with matcha, we hope you enjoy making these recipes as much as we do!

Matcha White Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients:

Matcha Powder
1 cup of heavy cream
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
4 oz white chocolate

Recipe:

Sift matcha powder into a double boiler and whisk in 1 tablespoon heavy cream. Add white chocolate and 3 more tablespoons cream. Melt chocolate over medium-low heat, stirring. Remove from heat and cool, stirring periodically, for 15 minutes.
Beat remaining heavy cream and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Fold the leftover whipped cream into the white chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate 4 small dishes for 2 hours.
Serve fresh, add whipped cream, white chocolate shavings, or berries.

Matcha Coated Almonds

Ingredients:

½ cup of almonds
60g dark chocolate
1 tbsp matcha powder

Recipe:

Line a baking tray with baking paper. Set aside.
You can melt the dark chocolate in the microwave or in a double boiler. If you like, you can temper the chocolate.
After adding almonds to chocolate that has been melted, give the mixture a good swirl so that the almonds are evenly coated in chocolate.
Spread the almonds out on the prepared baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Take special care to maintain the separation of one component from the others.
If you are using tempered chocolate, you should let the chocolate set at room temperature. If you are using chocolate that has not been tempered, allow it to harden in the refrigerator.
When the chocolate has cooled and hardened, place the almonds in a container that has a lid and sprinkle the matcha powder on top. Put the lid back on the jar and shake it vigorously until each almond is covered in matcha.
Voila, you have a perfectly healthy snack filled with matcha goodness.

Matcha Chia Pudding

Ingredients:

Chia Seeds
Oat/Almond milk
Matcha powder
Sweetener
Vanilla extract

Recipe:

In a dish, combine the chia seeds and the non-dairy milk, making sure to break up any clusters of chia seeds that may have formed. In a second bowl, whisk together the matcha powder and the warm water, and mix until smooth.
After thoroughly combining the matcha mixture, maple syrup, and vanilla with the chia seed mixture, place the mixture in the refrigerator to chill for at least two and a half to four hours, or for as long as overnight.
When you are ready to have your matcha chia seed pudding, I highly recommend garnishing it with some of your favorite fresh fruit, granola, almonds, or a dollop of non-dairy yogurt. Alternatively, you could also try serving it with a spoonful of chia seed pudding.

We have curated some of our favorite recipes with matcha, which are not only healthy but also really simple and easy to make. We’re hoping you get to try them and fall in love as much as we did! Let us know your favorite in the comments below and share it with a loved one. Give them a push to try a healthy but really yummy match recipe…maybe even this weekend?!

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Tea Health Benefits

Five Teas That Will Get Rid of Your Hangover

March 18, 2022

We’ve all had those night where we have one to many drinks at happy hour with friends and we wake up feeling not our best. Alcohol being incredibly dehydrating will result in symptoms like headache, dry mouth and fatigue when you’re hungover, which is why you need to hydrate as much as possible while restoring your body’s electrolyte balance. One of the best ways to do this is with teas. We’ve put together a list of our top teas to help kick your hangover.

Before we jump into the teas best for a hangover, it’s important that we discuss some things to avoid. IF you are not used to consuming lots of caffeine, do not overload on it while trying to get rid of your hangover symptoms. Too much caffeine can further accentuate the symptoms. If your stomach is already reeling, your head is already spinning and you already feel dizzy, you don’t need another jolt. You definitely don’t need another stimulant, especially if you suffer from hangover shakes. One to two cups is more than enough to add to drinking plenty of water to get back to your normal self again!

Matcha

Matcha is praised for all its benefits as a superfood so it’s no wonder that it is great for the day after drinking. Matcha is not only loaded with antioxidants, it also has the caffeine and chlorophyll to help pick you back up! It is essentially a trifecta combination to help you kick it back into gear. Caffeine helps to reduce your headache, the antioxidants help your body detox, and the chlorophyll acts to restore the natural balance in your body. An added benefit is that Matcha is also known to have the ability to protect your liver. Since it is high in caffeine, we suggest only one cup of matcha when combatting your hangover. Too much caffeine can make you jittery and make the hangover process more difficult.

Pro tip: To maximize your matcha, add coconut water or coconut milk. The day after a big night your body is craving electrolytes. Add this to your cup, hot to iced, will make it that much more effective!

Ginger Tea

We have been using ginger for years and years to help treat all sorts of ailments. Rich in antioxidants and full of rich spice, ginger tea is a beloved option at any time of day, whether you’ve been drinking or not. Ginger is known to help calm your stomach and elevate nausea thanks to its active ingredient, gingerol! This ingredient is one reason why pregnant women suffering from morning sickness often nibble on ginger snaps or hard ginger candy to help keep their bellies calm. Studies have also shown its effective in reducing joint and muscle pain. Our lemon ginger herbal tea is the perfect tea to sip on as it has no caffeine and has a boost of lemon in it!

If you do not have a ginger tea handy, you can certainly use raw ginger by adding it to boiling water. A little splash of lemon will make for the ideal soothing hangover tea.

Turmeric Tea

Turmeric is well known for its anti-inflamitory properties so it could help with the hangover headache. It is also known to stimulate blood flow and metabolism which helps to boost detoxification. Its anti-inflammatory properties are also known to soothe and restore the skin from the inside out, and help with overall gut health. Many blends of Turmeric tea also contain ginger which is known to help with nausea, as stated above.

Chamomile Tea

Another great hangover tea choice is herbal chamomile tea. You’ll probably have some hidden in the kitchen and it’s a fantastic feel-good tea. It is great at helping settle the stomach and being caffeine-free, with every soothing sip, it provides a healing boost to your nervous system. It’s been used traditionally for centuries to settle upset nerves and is an easy-to-drink tea when hungover. The active ingredient in chamomile is apigenin which has been studied for its stress-relieving properties.

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Tea Recipes

5 Refreshing Iced Tea Recipes for Summer

July 2, 2021

Nothing is better than a tall glass of iced tea to kick off your summer days. Whether you are drinking it for the refreshing, cool taste on a summer afternoon, or you need the caffeine and want something lighter than a latte; iced tea has the answer to all of your summer needs.

We sifted through and found 5 refreshing iced tea recipes for you to try out this Summer.

Summertime Orange Tango Tea

First on our list is the Summertime Orange Tango Tea. This tangy summer tea will leave you begging for more! Drink it as it is or add tequila for a delightful summer cocktail.

What you’ll need:

Water
Black Iced Tea Bags (Try our Assam Black Tea for a basic black tea!)
Sugar
Orange Juice Concentrate
Lemonade Concentrate
Tequila (optional)
Fresh lemon slices and mint leaves (optional)

Directions:

1. Bring your water to a boil, turn off the heat, and add your tea bags. Allow this to steep for 3-5minutes, then remove the tea bags.

2. Stir in the sugar, orange juice concentrate, lemonade, and add more water!

3. Refrigerate until chilled.

4. Add tequila (if desired) and garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves(optional).

Blackberry Mint Iced Tea

Our next summer favorite is the Blackberry Mint Iced Tea. This combination of a sweet berry with refreshing mint makes for the perfect drink on a Hot Summer Day! Kick back and relax with this iced tea while getting your daily dose of antioxidants.

What you’ll need:

½ cup of Fresh Blackberries
6 leaves of Fresh Mint
1 bags of Green Iced Tea (Try our Young Hyson Green Tea for a delicately sweet green tea)
3 cups of Hot Water
Raw Honey (optional)

Directions:

Start with adding fresh blackberries, fresh mint leaves, and tea bags to your container.
Second, pour hot water over the ingredients. Allow this to steep for 15 minutes.
Finally, you will remove the tea bags from the mixture and place your container in the fridge. Allow it to chill for 3-4 hours to get the maximum amount of flavor!

Homemade Southern Sweet Tea

Next on our list is famous in the South and is perfect for any BBQ… Homemade Southern Sweet Tea (and NOT the kind you try at McDonalds). Nothing beats the sweet, smooth, and tasty tang of Southern Sweet Tea! It’s important to remember that you should be using tea that is specially made to make iced tea, NOT any old bag of tea in your pantry.

Another key tip for making the best Southern Sweet Tea is to brew It yourself! Your tea should steep for 15 minutes while brewing.

What you’ll need:

Water and Tea Bags for Brewing (We recommend our Assam Black Tea for this iced tea!)
Sugar
Ice
Baking Soda (optional)

Directions:

The first step is to boil 1 quart of water over medium heat
Next you will turn the heat off and place your tea bags into the water. Allow this to steep for 15minutes.
Remove the tea bags and press them against the side of the saucepan to get the maximum amount of tea out of them as possible!
Afterwards, pour your sugar into the pitcher and pour half of the amount of tea over the sugar.
Stir until the sugar is dissolved
Add the remaining tea.
Finally, stir in baking soda. This step is optional but, is recommended to leave your tea in top condition if you are planning to keep it in your fridge for a while! You are free to either serve it right away or refrigerate and wait for it to cool down.

Matcha Mint Iced Refresher

Our fourth iced tea is the Matcha Mint Iced Refresher! This drink is refreshingly simple to make and perfect for summer sipping. Matcha is known for being high in antioxidants and boosting your energy levels and metabolism, so why not add it to your Summer list?

What you’ll need:

Water
Cooking Grade Matcha
Fresh Lime
Fresh Mint Leaves
Ice
Agave (or your favorite sweetener as an optional addition)

Directions:

First you will need a container to shake the mixture in. We recommend using a cocktail shaker, but any container with a trusty lid can work too!
Add your ice to the container and squeeze the lime over the ice.
Mix in your water and matcha, and be sure to mix until there are no more lumps of your matcha powder.
Add in your mint leaves and continue to shake the mixture in your container!
The last optional step is to add your agave or other sweetener and you are ready to serve!

The Arnold Palmer

Last, but definitely not least, the Arnold Palmer. This legendary drink combines iced tea and lemonade for a delightfully sweet taste. The Arnold Palmer was created one hot summer day in 1960 when Arnold himself asked his wife to prepare him this drink at the Latrobe Country Club, thus coining its’ name after its’ creator— American professional golfer, Arnold Palmer. The key to making an Arnold Palmer is all in the ingredients. Tea is the backbone of this iconic combination which is why the quality of tea you choose matters!

What you’ll need: Consider using homemade lemonade and iced tea for quality taste!

Lemonade
Fresh Lemon
Unsweetened Iced Tea (Try our Assam Black Tea for this recipe!)
Ice
Mint Sprig Garnish (optional)

Directions:

First you are going to fill your glass ¾ of the way full with iced tea, make sure to use tea bags that are specifically for iced tea.
Next you are going to fill the remaining ¼ with lemonade.
Finally, add ice and mint sprig garnish (optional) and you are all set for a Summer afternoon!

Now, what are you waiting for? Get to Summer sipping with these 5 amazing iced tea recipes.

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Tea Health Benefits

Why You Should Start Drinking Tea Now

May 22, 2017

The ceremony of tea evokes a grey-haired British grandmother with Victorian fine silver teapots; porcelain cups hand-painted with violets; Emily Post place settings on rustic William and Mary style antique chestnut dining tables; doilies on every available surface; dusty heirlooms and curio cabinets – you get the picture. And, certainly, the British have owned the domain of tea—originally discovered by China—since the 1600s and the advent of the East India Company.

And yet tea is not just for elderly grandmothers or the British. The beverage appeals to all generations and cultures. What’s more, the beverage provides certain health benefits as we age. These can only be fully taken advantage of by creating your tea drinking habit sooner rather than later. Here’s our guide to getting the most from your tea. The fountain of youth may very well be flowing with tea.

Detoxification

In the article, “Anti-Aging Research Brief” published by the Academy of Anti-Aging, tea is brimming with antioxidant polyphenols called catechins, flavonols, theaflavins and thearubigins. Antioxidants ultimately help prevent cancerous cells from forming, repair damage to cells and to protect blood vessel walls from free radicals. The article cites a study from King’s College in London that compared a group of black tea drinkers with a group of coffee drinkers. Scientists studied the health of both groups after one year, and found “that the tea drinkers’ risk of a heart attack approached half of the non-tea drinkers.” The scientists speculated “that tea’s beneficial cardio effects are due to the beverage’s large amounts of flavonoids.”

So what teas contain the highest levels of antioxidants? Many brands you can purchase at large chain grocery stores contain high levels of antioxidants, including Celestial Seasonings Green Tea, with 217 milligrams (mg) of antioxidants, Lipton Green Tea (201 mg), Bigelow Darjeeling Blend (164 mg). Surprisingly, a few brands of popular teas have absolutely no antioxidant content, including Lipton Lemon Iced Tea and Snapple Peach Iced Tea.

Prevent Cancer

Studies have shown that caffeine and consuming two cups of coffee can “harden a person’s arteries for several hours afterwards. This puts extra pressure on the heart, thus increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.” Further, “it is evident today that many of our cancers are related to a dominance of estrogen. In a world flooded with estrogen and estrogen-like compounds, it is important for our bodies to have as low of an estrogen load as possible.” So drinking more than two cups of coffee can increase estrogen and lead to breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Reducing caffeine is integral to cancer prevention, and replacing coffee with tea can easily half caffeine consumption and decrease the risk of cancer.

Blood Sugar Regulation

Teas, especially the variety of green tea known as matcha, can help regulate blood sugar. Matcha is actually powdered green tea leaves prepared with boiled water and a bamboo whisk, and is known to stabilize metabolism for those with hypo- or hyperglycemic maladies. Taking an active role in regulating blood sugar at a younger age can help prevent complications down the road.

Weight Loss

An ingredient in matcha tea, EGCG, boosts metabolism. While matcha has a high level of caffeine and may contribute to higher estrogen levels, which will help you burn fat and lose weight.

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