We have about 6 inches (15cm) of snow on the ground here in Southeast Ireland (and in most of the country), but spring is starting to arrive in small steps. The tulips are inches above the ground and one has a flower bud nestled in the cocoon of leaves. Birds are singing, courting and looking for a good nest spot. The grass is starting to get long in the garden and the weeds are waking up. Early Spring (late winter) is a great time for a cup of hot tea while looking out at the rain (or snow), as well as a great time to thing about spring cleaning - of house and body!
So, to that end, I am going to share some information on a hated weed that springs up in the damp and exposed areas - The Stinging Nettle!
While you can use them fresh to good effect, it does take some time and care to avoid those stinging hairs. Very young nettles can be quite nice in a soup or even fried in a light tempura batter. But here I'll mostly talk about dried nettles, since that is how we sell them.
Dried Stinging Nettle looses its sting and instead brings great health benefits and amazing versatility. The flavour is similar to spinach, so I like a fairly light infusion. I also prefer it at room temperature (maybe that is strange, let me know how you like it best). You may find it nice with a little lemon and honey.
Nettle is very rich in iron, protein, potassium, and vitamins A, C, D & K. Nettles purify and nourish blood, build liver, kidney and adrenal functions.
They can also help with allergies, although it contains histamines, so best to check on your particular allergy before using it to relieve this ailment.
For women, Nettle can be effective in PMS relief and functions as a diuretic. It also is beneficial for pregnant women and increases milk supply in nursing mothers.
Nettle stimulates circulation, also good on these chilly early spring days. In addition, it relieves aches caused by arthritis, rheumatism and gout.
Nettle has antiseptic properties which help fight infections, so it can be helpful in fighting coughs, colds and congestion.
In addition to all of these wonderful health properties, Nettle tea can also be used in the garden. A strong nettle infusion can be sprayed on plants as an effective aphid deterrent, while being safe to the plants and animals in your garden.
So enjoy your spring and enjoy your nettles!
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Tuesday 3 February 2009
Sunday 9 November 2008
Matcha - the new health craze!
Two years ago the craze was all about Pu Erh (you know, that tea that Victoria Beckham claimed helped her stay thin). It was being sold in spas here at over 20euro for 15 teabags! Yes, according to Chinese medicine, it does have lots of health benefits, but I'll leave that for another issue.
This time I wanted to talk a bit about Matcha, which has suddenly gained popularity on out shores. While we are not experts or connoisseurs, we know a bit which you may find interesting. And I've got a recipe at the end...
So, Matcha is a finely ground green tea which is used in the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. The veins and stem of the Sencha green tea leaf are removed and the leaf that remains is steamed, dried and then ground. The resulting powder is quickly used or vacuum packed to keep the nutrients in the powder and the flavour fresh. Once the tin is opened, it is best to use all of the Matcha within 3-7 days and it is best to store in the refridgerator. The less access to air, the better.
To prepare a hot cup of Matcha, place about 1/2 teaspoon of powder into a small teacup. Add about 2/3 cup (200ml) water at about 70celcius (below boiling) and whisk quickly until foamy. Traditionally, a bamboo whisk would be used, though a small metal whisk could be used in a pinch.
The reason for the recent interest is that when you drink Matcha, you are ingesting the whole leaf and therefore a greater amount of the anti-oxidants and polyphenols inherent in the plant. The caffeine content is higher than a cup of green tea, though not as great as a cup of coffee. The interesting thing is the caffeine gives a different buzz than both tea and coffee. It is a gentle energy release which lasts 4-6 hours and fades without the drop associated with coffee. Green tea is also considered helpful to de-toxing your system and possibly to assisting weight-loss.
There are different grades of Matcha, depending on the type of leaf it is made from. I am not an expert on this, but that information is around, if you want to get specific. You can get Matcha from Japan or China, though the flavour of Japanese Matcha is generally considered preferable (though the cost is much greater!). The flavour should be clean and fresh with grassy or seaweed notes, a slightly chalky feel in the mouth and a sweet aftertaste. Think of it as an alternative to wheatgrass juice - with a caffeine kick!
Also, just a note - it is generally preferable to use organic Matcha, as the leaf is being ingested and non-organic could contain pesticides that you might not like to introduce to your body, especially if produced in a country with lax pesticide regulation.
We are coming into winter, but this recipe is still a great flavour and can be made hot too!
Making An Iced Matcha Latte
1 teaspoon (or to taste) matcha
3 teaspoon sugar or 1 tsp honey
1/2 cup hot (not boiling) water
1/2 cup of cold milk*
1 cup of ice cubes
Put matcha into matcha bowl or teapot, add hot water & then sugar or honey. Stir to dissolve matcha preferably with matcha whisk. Pour matcha mix into a tall glass with ice and then fill the glass with cold milk. Alternatively, put the matcha mixture and ice cubes into a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!
This time I wanted to talk a bit about Matcha, which has suddenly gained popularity on out shores. While we are not experts or connoisseurs, we know a bit which you may find interesting. And I've got a recipe at the end...
So, Matcha is a finely ground green tea which is used in the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. The veins and stem of the Sencha green tea leaf are removed and the leaf that remains is steamed, dried and then ground. The resulting powder is quickly used or vacuum packed to keep the nutrients in the powder and the flavour fresh. Once the tin is opened, it is best to use all of the Matcha within 3-7 days and it is best to store in the refridgerator. The less access to air, the better.
To prepare a hot cup of Matcha, place about 1/2 teaspoon of powder into a small teacup. Add about 2/3 cup (200ml) water at about 70celcius (below boiling) and whisk quickly until foamy. Traditionally, a bamboo whisk would be used, though a small metal whisk could be used in a pinch.
The reason for the recent interest is that when you drink Matcha, you are ingesting the whole leaf and therefore a greater amount of the anti-oxidants and polyphenols inherent in the plant. The caffeine content is higher than a cup of green tea, though not as great as a cup of coffee. The interesting thing is the caffeine gives a different buzz than both tea and coffee. It is a gentle energy release which lasts 4-6 hours and fades without the drop associated with coffee. Green tea is also considered helpful to de-toxing your system and possibly to assisting weight-loss.
There are different grades of Matcha, depending on the type of leaf it is made from. I am not an expert on this, but that information is around, if you want to get specific. You can get Matcha from Japan or China, though the flavour of Japanese Matcha is generally considered preferable (though the cost is much greater!). The flavour should be clean and fresh with grassy or seaweed notes, a slightly chalky feel in the mouth and a sweet aftertaste. Think of it as an alternative to wheatgrass juice - with a caffeine kick!
Also, just a note - it is generally preferable to use organic Matcha, as the leaf is being ingested and non-organic could contain pesticides that you might not like to introduce to your body, especially if produced in a country with lax pesticide regulation.
We are coming into winter, but this recipe is still a great flavour and can be made hot too!
Making An Iced Matcha Latte
1 teaspoon (or to taste) matcha
3 teaspoon sugar or 1 tsp honey
1/2 cup hot (not boiling) water
1/2 cup of cold milk*
1 cup of ice cubes
Put matcha into matcha bowl or teapot, add hot water & then sugar or honey. Stir to dissolve matcha preferably with matcha whisk. Pour matcha mix into a tall glass with ice and then fill the glass with cold milk. Alternatively, put the matcha mixture and ice cubes into a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!
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