Mid – morning break with a Matcha Latte… Soooo delicious….
Happy Tea Break
Category Archives: Green Tea
Sencha Green Tea
Sencha is one of the most popular varieties of Japanese green Teas and definitely one of my favourite Teas. Sen meaning green and cha meaning tea, sencha translates literally as green Tea.
The process by which Sencha is created differs from Chinese green Teas, which are initially pan-fired. This Tea is gently steamed to fix the leaves and preserve their original green colour before being rolled and dried into a flat needle shape.
Source: republicoftea.com via Amy on Pinterest
Sencha is the most common Tea in Japan, accounting for three quarters of all Tea drunk in the country. When you drink Tea in a Japanese restaurant it is likely to be Sencha.
This Tea is grown in almost all the Tea producing areas of Japan so the quality can vary a lot depending on the harvesting season and area.
I’ve recently tried a sencha from the Uji area which was delicious. The leaves had a deep green colour with an aroma of fresh grass and perfectly balanced flavour. It had a refreshing and sweet aftertaste with a subtle astringency.
If you’re a sushi fan I encourage you to order Sencha Tea on your next sushi meal! It’s delicious…
Happy Tea Break.
Tania
Genmaicha – Brown Rice Tea
Genmaicha, often called “Popcorn Tea” or “Brown Rice Tea” is a traditional Japanese blend with Green Tea and roasted brown rice.
Source: teashop.es via Tea on Pinterest
Although there are several versions about the origins of Genmaicha, it seems that it was invented about 90 years ago by a small Tea shop in Kyoto, Japan. The original motivation was to create a more affordable Tea for mass consumption. The reputation of being a cheap tea has stuck with Genmaicha until very recently. It was mostly made with low grade tea leaves from the late harvest (bancha) and the rice was used to mask any off-flavours. Nowadays, you can find Genmaicha with much higher quality sencha or the addition of matcha and is now consumed by all social classes in Japan and abroad.
Genmaicha has a natural nutty and toasty flavour and aroma and can be served either as a hot or cold drink. It is delicious either way…
Source: teas.com.au via Teas on Pinterest
To brew this Tea you should use spring water (as always!), temperature should be between 70°C and 80°C and infuse between 2-3 min. The Tea leaves do not have to be removed after the first steeping, simply add more hot water after the first cup is enjoyed.
Happy Tea Break.
Tania
Green Tea KIT KAT!!!
Tea Zen – Premium Green Tea liqueur
Hi,
Being one of the most popular drinks in the world, Green Tea is being used in new forms. Big brands like lipton and others are creating their own beverages with Green Tea. This is mainly due to its restorative and antioxidant properties.
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Zen Green Tea liqueur is a recent beverage that combines Green Tea & Spirits!
Matcha is the green Tea chosen in this beverage, which explains it´s dark color and texture. The Tea leaves are carefully selected to ensure a high quality. “After being chosen, the leaves are infused with neutral spirits for a period of ten days and then blended with flavors and exotic herbs such as lemon grass.”
This particular brand suggests different combinations like:
ZEN -TINI
1 part Zen Green Tea Liqueur
2 parts SKYY Vodka
Splash of lime
Shake and serve in a martini glass.
ZEN & TONIC OR SODA
1 part Zen Green Tea Liqueur
Club soda or tonic
Serve in a rocks glass. Garnish with lemon
for club soda or lime for tonic.
ZEN SAKE-TINI
1 part Zen Green Tea Liqueur
2 parts dry sake
Shake and serve in a martini glass.
ZEN Breeze
1 part Zen Green Tea Liqueur
2 parts white cranberry juice
Serve in a tall glass over ice. Garnish with
a mint sprig.
Lets try it?!
Happy Tea break,
Mariana
Matcha Smoothie
Today I tried this Matcha smoothie recipe. The recipe is very simple. You combine 1 cup of greek yogurt (you can also use 1 cup of milk or soy milk) , 1 teaspoon of matcha powder, and ice cubes in to a blender.
Source: elizadomestica.com via Patricia on Pinterest
One glass of matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green Tea in terms of its nutritional value and antioxidant content. That’s because when you drink Matcha you’re drinking the whole leaf (finely ground and powdered).
The result is a delicious and healthy smoothie and a boost of energy to start the day!
Happy Tea Break.
Tania
Kukicha Japanese Green Tea
A few months ago I bought this delicious Japanese green Tea – Kukicha- in a shop in Madrid called Bomec - http://www.bomec.es/home.html
Kukicha is a variety of Japanese green Tea. It is quite special as it is made of stems, stalks and twigs of the Camellia Sinensis. Therefore, this Tea is also known as Twig Tea!
Due to this mixture, Kukicha Tea has a very unique and distinctive aroma and flavour. It is light and fresh, mildly nutty and slightly sweet in flavour.
How to prepare the Tea:
- Water temperature: between 70°C to 80°C (155°F – 180°F).
- You can infuse up to four times
- Infusion times: 1 – 3 minutes
Health Benefits:
- Low in caffeine, so you can drink it all day long and it is great for those wanting to limit their intake of caffeine.
- High level of antioxidants, which helps preventing free radicals.
- Contains proven anti-carcinogens, which aid in preventing and fighting cancer, as well as other diseases.
- Some studies suggest that it is great for diabetics as helps stabilising blood sugar levels.
Happy Tea Break,
Mariana!
Japanese Tea Commercial
Hey everyone,
Happy Tea Break,
Mariana
IPPODO – Japanese Green Tea
A few months ago a friend gave me a gift from IPPODO – a Japanese Tea Co. with a shop in the centre of Kyoto.
IPPODO Tea Co. was founded in 1717. The Company is well known for its high quality green Teas. IPPODO means “preserve one”, as it is the company´s mission to `forever preserve its tradition of providing high quality tea with a supreme taste.`
Here you can buy all kinds of Japanese Teas – from Matcha to Gyokuro, Sencha, Hojicha and more. They also sell all the necessary Tea utensils.
You can buy their Teas online - http://shop.ippodo-tea.co.jp/kyoto/shopf/
Shop Contact details, in case you´re in town: Teramachi-dori Nijo, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0915 Tel: +81-75-211-3421 / Fax: +81-75-241-0153 Store hours: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (until 6:00 pm Sundays and holidays)* Kaboku Tearoom: 11:00 am to 5:30 pm*
Have a great weekend, Mariana
Cold Tea / Chá Frio
The Spring is here and the weather is now warmer (ihih!) ! So, today, I am suggesting Cold Tea.
How to prepare it? It´s very simple!
- You should infuse 10g of Tea in 1 Litre of water at room temperature for one night. Take the leaves in the morning and put your Tea in the fridge.
- Another way to prepare it is by infusing 10g of Tea on 1/2 L at the recommended temperature, let it cool down and add 1/2 L of cold water.
You can use aromatized or flower Teas, but also plain Teas. Last summer I used to drink a lot of Oolong Bao Zhong, an amazing Tea from Taiwan. I also recommend cold Rooibos, which is great for children! You can also add citrus peel, sugar, honey, mint, ginger and/or spices.
Happy Tea Break,
Mariana!
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Chegou a Primavera, o tempo está mais quente e apetece mais beber um refresco! My Tea Break aconselha que beba Chá Frio!
È muito simples de preparar: 
- Faça uma infusão de 10g de chá para 1 litro de água à temperatura ambiente. Deixe as folhas durante a noite. Na manhã seguinte retire as folhas e ponha o chá no frigorifico.
- Outra forma é fazer a infusão de 10g em 1/2 litro de água à temperatura recomendada, deixar arrefecer e acrescentar 1/2 litro de água fria.
Tanto os Chás aromatizados como os simples são óptimos para fazer Chá frio. Recomendo Oolong Bao Zhong, um fantástico chá do Taiwan e Rooibos, que também é óptimo para as crianças! Depois da infusão, pode acrescentar cascas de limão ou laranja, gengibre, menta, açúcar, mel e/ou especiarias a seu gosto.
Tenha um óptimo dia,
Mariana!
