GREEN TEA

Green tea is well known for its health promoting benefits. This herb is a polyphenol antioxidant, reducing inflammation, helping to protect against heart disease & strengthen the immune system & lowers the risk of cancer. Green tea has an impressive solvent property, cutting fat & oils from a rich meal, promoting weight loss. It contains magnesium which promotes greater bone-mineral density, muscle function & is antiaging. According to the traditions of Chinese Medicine, green tea has the energetic flavor of sweet (strengthening & tonifying) & bitter (benefits the heart, drains & counteract dampness) & is cooling. It is NOT recommended for children since it is a growth depressant & can deplete iron.

Tea connoisseurs consider several factors to determine quality including where the tea was harvested & at what elevation, the size of the leaf, when it was harvested & if it’s organic, to name a few. The leaves of green tea are steam heated to deactivate the enzymes immediately after harvesting & most production is in Japan & China. Here’s the proper way to prepare your tea: Bring your water to a boil. Warm your tea pot with a bit warm water & then pour it out. Add a teaspoon of tea for each cup you are making to the tea pot. Add the boiling water & let steep for 3-5 minutes. Serve & strain if necessary- Enjoy! Try this light, simple sauce for chicken or scallops: Mix ½ cup of brewed green tea with 1 tsp. each honey & lemon juice. Also try a rub of Matcha (green tea powder) on pork or chicken. There is a cookbook that you might enjoy & it’s Cooking with Green Tea, by Ying Chang Comestine.