dried loose leaf green tea and plant leaves on a wooden surface with a wooden spoon for scooping

Green Tea and Matcha – Mother Nature’s Precious Gifts

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Green Tea and Matcha truly are Mother Nature’s precious gifts to us. But lately, these treasures have become so mainstream in people’s food vocabulary that you practically see the ingredients everywhere!

From the non-dairy delicious iced tea blends (like the one that I’m sipping right now) to the matcha green tea powder form in decadent green tea chocolate cake and cupcakes like these little guys that always seem to make my mouth water! chocolate cupcakes with green tea matcha icing

It’s very comforting to know that when you are in control of making your tea, food, desserts, etc., you can choose deliciously, high-quality ingredients with nutritional benefits.

What’s not so comforting, sadly enough, is that most of the green tea shown on labels in packaged foods today is purely for the taste and the hype and bears little resemblance to the real green tea, or to tea at all.

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sunflower wagashi japanese confectionery art

Wagashi, The Elegant and Traditional Art of Japanese Confectionery (Candy Making)

 

wagashi plum japanese confectionery artwagashi sunflower japanese confectionery art

 

 

 

Wagashi, a word that is perhaps unknown to many of us, but that describes such an elegant and traditional candy making art in the Japanese culture.

Those of us who enjoy tea, also like indulging in a little something deliciously sweet along with our tea.  Here in America, that might be a cookie, a brownie, a delicious tea bread, pound cake, or even some lovely scones (okay, maybe not traditionally American, but we sure do love them!).

However, If you happen to be visiting Japan (as someday I hope to be), you will very likely find yourself lucky enough to have your tea (especially green tea) accompanied by a bit of wagashi.

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woman in shower enjoying a tea infused beauty ritual

10 Tea Infused Beauty Rituals To Help You Relax and Unwind!

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I don’t know about you, but I sure do LOVE me a good cup of tea! And not just for drinking either. I love to use my tea for some tea infused beauty rituals too, and here are 10 tea infused beauty rituals to help you relax and unwind. 

Have you any idea of the many other ways that there are to enjoy and benefit from a cup of tea beside just sitting down and drinking it? Ever think of trying one or more tea infused beauty rituals?

Tea is such a marvelous addition to your beauty regime. Let me share with you some of the best recipes I have found to get the most out of your delicious cup!

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close-up of blonde woman sipping tea from a white tea cup with both hands

The Making and Health Benefits of White, Yellow, Oolong, and Pu-erh Teas

 

Hello, friends! If you’re reading this, then it’s very likely you have enjoyed a warm, soothing cup of tea or two and are interested in the making and health benefits of white, yellow, oolong and pu-erh teas. Perhaps you regularly drink tea to absorb all of the wonderful antioxidants and health benefits. Or maybe it is simply to relax and be comforted by a favorite cozy and warm mug of tea.

While there are many varieties of tea to choose from, tea leaves themselves come from only one plant, the Camellia Sinensis. How can the same plant give us many different teas? Well, it’s in the magic of the processing! The processing that will determine the outcome…White, Yellow, Oolong, or Pu-erh.

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