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Matcha Tea: Its Healthy Effects on the Body

Matcha tea and its special properties at a glance. We will tell you everything about the effect of Matcha tea and how you can prepare Matcha tea successfully. Because regular consumption has many positive effects on your health.

Matcha tea is made from green tea powder and comes from Japan. It is very popular because it is said to have a very healthy effect. Accordingly, it can reduce stress and prevent cardiovascular diseases. That’s why you should definitely try it.

History of Matcha Tea

Tea has always been an essential part of the local food culture of the people of China. According to Chinese legend, the divine ruler and plant expert Shen Nong tested numerous plants on himself about 5000 years ago. His goal was to find useful species that could be used to make beverages with medicinal properties, giving rise to tea. Later, Buddhist monks traveled to China. From there they brought green tea to Japan as a meditation drink.

This is how the preparation and drinking of ground tea, the so-called Matcha, became known. While it was gradually forgotten in China, it became increasingly important in Japanese Buddhism. Today it is regarded as the highest quality and rarest type of tea in Japan and is still characterized by its meditative and health-promoting effects. Also, note other superfood foods and their benefits.

Manufacture of Japanese Gold

Matcha is a tea that is only made from the finest components of the green tea leaf, the fine leaf flesh. As a result, it is also characterized by strong, green color. To harvest, the tea is ground in stone mills into an extremely fine powder. Only the freshest leaves with a smooth aroma are suitable for further processing into matcha. This corresponds to about five percent of a tea bush.

Since the tea is very elaborate and produced according to centuries of tradition, it is considered a particularly noble and high-quality type of tea and is correspondingly expensive. Nevertheless, its valuable ingredients and its invigorating effect make it so popular. The cheaper alternative would be soothing green tea.

The healthy Matcha tea effect

Scientific studies confirm: Green tea has a health-promoting effect if it is drunk daily. The ingredient EGCG has an anti-inflammatory effect and has a positive effect on diseases of the immune system. Matcha is even said to have health-promoting effects on cancer, as it appears to inhibit tumor growth. And by enjoying Matcha tea, the body absorbs not only the water-soluble but also all the water-insoluble active ingredients in green tea. This includes valuable ingredients such as:

  • chlorophyll
  • antioxidants
  • catechins
  • Vitamins A and E
  • beta carotenes
  • minerals
  • proteins
  • cell fibers

Benefits and uses of matcha tea

In the following, we have listed the advantages of regular consumption of tea. It is important to note that most of the findings come from studies with animals and cannot be transferred one-to-one. Nevertheless, the results show the valuable and healthy effects of matcha.

1) As a healthy alternative to coffee

Matcha is not only healthy, it also has other great properties. Because the tea is a real pick-me-up. As a result, it represents a healthy alternative to classic coffee. It contains half the caffeine of a cup of coffee but is just as invigorating. At the same time, it has a balancing effect due to the large number of amino acids it contains.

2) Stress reduction through matcha tea

Since the popular tea contains the ingredients theanine and arginine, it contributes to effective stress reduction. A few amounts of matcha powder are sufficient. So you should treat yourself to 2-3 delicious matcha biscuits or a cup of green tea a day.

3) Matcha tea for weight loss

In addition, Japanese researchers have discovered that catechins boost the breakdown of fat in the body. For this reason, it is increasingly used in diets. Consequently, it is one of many effective tips for losing weight faster without having to give up anything.

4) Effectively protects the skin

Matcha is also a very good skin and sun protection. If the body is exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, free radicals damage the cell membranes of the skin. This causes them to age faster. The catechins contained in Matcha prevent the radicals from penetrating the skin and prevent wrinkles and skin damage.

5) Lower blood pressure with matcha tea

Since matcha powder is made from green tea and is a good home remedy for lowering blood pressure, it can be assumed that it will have a similar effect. Consequently, this could prevent strokes and cardiovascular diseases. However, you can do just as well with the cheaper green tea.

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Ginger Lemon Iced Tea: Recipe For The Best Summer Drink in The World – Without Alcohol

Are you looking for the perfect summer drink? Then you should try this ginger elderflower lemon ice tea with honey. The alcohol-free refreshment tastes delicious and is really healthy. Here is the recipe.

Recipe: Ginger-lemon iced tea with honey and elderflower

You need this for one liter of iced tea
A thumb-sized piece of ginger
Three to four tablespoons of elderflower syrup*
A tablespoon of honey
juice of a lemon
It’s that easy
Wash ginger and cut into thin slices
Pour a liter of boiling water over it and let it steep for at least 10 minutes
Add elderflower syrup, honey and lemon juice
Remove pieces of ginger, stir, allow to cool, add ice cubes and enjoy
A few more tips
You can peel the ginger, but you don’t have to – just wash it
The longer you let the ginger steep, the more intense or spicier the tea will be
If the iced tea tastes too sweet according to the recipe, simply reduce the amount of syrup and honey accordingly

By the way: You can easily grow ginger in a pot or in the garden yourself. Cut a thumb-sized piece with a “bud” off a ginger root, soak it in water overnight, and plant it the next day, about an inch deep. Water regularly and after just a few months you will have your own ginger plant at home, whose bulb you can harvest and eat as soon as the leaves turn brown. I’ve tried it myself, it works – even if the tuber harvested was admittedly not very large.

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Use Green Tea as an Effective Home Remedy

Green tea is a home remedy for skin and hair, as well as to support health. We’ll show you how the effects of green tea can help alleviate minor ailments and help you live a long life.

The beneficial effects of tea

Green tea as a silver bullet against nasty diseases? Probably not. But there are studies that show that tea drinkers lead healthier lifestyles and live longer as a result. And the tea has a few good properties that make it worth enjoying. For example, it contains tannins that are said to have a calming effect on the stomach and intestines. This tea also contains vitamins such as vitamins A, B, B12, and flavonoids. And these are good for strengthening the immune system and supporting metabolic processes. For the perfect green tea effect, you should always pay attention to the temperature and brewing time when brewing tea.

Buy green tea

Before we get to the health-promoting facts, you should know which tea you should buy. Because green tea is not just green tea. There are significant differences here! Many types of tea are contaminated with pesticides or other toxic substances. Therefore, it makes sense to always pay attention to an organic seal. Because organic cultivation guarantees you good quality. In addition, the people here also benefit economically from cultivation.

Green tea for better health

In the beginning, there were only a few people interested in green tea. Then, over the years, more and more people came to appreciate the miracle cure. In the meantime, green tea has become a popular drink for many and is also a versatile household remedy. Since there are many myths about the cult tea, we’ll tell you what you can use the versatile drink for.

1) To aid in weight loss?

It is said that if you want to lose weight, you can support this with green tea. Some believe that the tea boosts fat burning. Therefore, just a few cups of tea should help burn 70 additional calories a day. However, this effect has not been scientifically proven to be significant. Therefore, you should use other tricks for healthy weight loss.

2) Green tea for atherosclerosis

Green tea prevents atherosclerosis by increasing bad LDL cholesterol into good HDL cholesterol. In addition, green tea lowers high blood pressure and improves the flow properties of the blood, which counteracts clumping and blood clotting. With a joint intake of silicic acid, the blood vessels can be kept elastic. Studies also show that this tea can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. So if you suffer from arteriosclerosis, you should definitely drink green tea.

3) The tea helps with appetite disorders

You can recognize an appetite disorder by a permanent decrease or increase in the feeling of hunger. Physical as well as psychological reasons can be responsible for this. The green tea effect can help here since the bitter substances contained in green tea stimulate the appetite center in the brain. To get an effective effect, you should drink 1 cup of green tea 1-2 times a day, preferably 1-2 hours before meals. In order to have an optimal effect, the tea should steep a little longer (5 minutes) so that the bitter substances can develop optimally.

4) As a home remedy for sunburn

Sunburn can cause reddened skin, skin tenderness, and even burn blisters. Green tea contains flavonoids, tannins, and high vitamin C, which has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects on sunburn. In addition, the ingredients of the tea are stored in the skin tissue and keep it supple. Consequently, the tea is very helpful as a home remedy for sunburn both externally and internally. For internal consumption, simply drink the tea as usual. For external use, prepare 300 ml of green tea and let it steep for 5 minutes. Then let it cool down a bit. Then soak a linen cloth in it and place it on the burned skin for 20 minutes. Repeat this 2-3 times a day.

5) Green tea for bad breath

Green tea can help with bad breath caused by bacteria. Green tea has an antibacterial effect and prevents microorganisms from multiplying in the mouth area. In addition, green tea can reduce the acidity of the stomach and counteract putrefaction, which can also cause bad breath when exhaling. Consequently, you can fight bad breath by making a special green tea mouthwash. Or you drink a cup of green tea with each meal.

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The Basil of India: What Is Tulsi Tea and Why Is It So Hyped?

Whether in the form of a spice, tea or essential oil: the “Indian basil” Tulsi has long been part of the repertoire of Ayurveda medicine. The tea is said to have healing effects. But how is tulsi actually best prepared – and is the herb really as healthy as it is claimed?

What is Tulsi?

Tulsi, also known as Tulasi, is a species of basil in the mint family and is grown in tropical Asia and northern Australia. It is not called “holy basil” for nothing, because the Indian herb is said to have special effects. Overall, the Tulsi spice is most similar to basil, which is also commonly used in Germany.

Tulsi tea in particular is no longer just popular in India, but has also made a name for itself in Europe. On the one hand, this is because Tulsi contains various beneficial active ingredients such as eugenol, polyphenols and flavanoids. As a result, Tulsi has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect and can help with colds, fever, stomach problems or sores in the mouth. Another benefit of the herb is that it has a stress-relieving effect thanks to the antioxidants it contains, such as phenols and flavanoids.

Antioxidants are natural substances that protect the human body from oxidative stress and help break down harmful substances. This degradation ensures that oxidation processes are triggered in the body, which in turn increase reactive oxygen compounds and prevent oxidative stress. Since in medicine it is assumed, among other things, that oxidative stress is involved in the development of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure, Tulsi herb can help to reduce the risk of disease with its antihypertensive, detoxifying and nerve-strengthening effects.

Does Tulsi basil also help fight cancer?

Tulsi has many beneficial effects, but it cannot be assumed that it also helps with cancer. Even a preventive effect would be purely speculative. The current study situation and studies carried out so far are not sufficient to prove any causal connection between the herb and cancer.

Tulsi Tea: How to Prepare It Properly

Tulsi tea is not experiencing its current upswing in Europe for nothing. Its aroma can be described as fine, sweet and slightly peppery. Either fresh or dried Tulsi leaves can be used to prepare the tea. In the well-stocked tea shop you can have your own Tulsi blends put together, for example with orange and ginger.

How to Properly Prepare Tulsi Tea:
One teaspoon of Tulsi herb per cup
Pour 200 ml of boiling water over the tea per cup
Let the tea steep for 6 to 10 minutes

Lose weight with Tulsi

Due to the blood sugar-lowering effect of Tulsi, we feel less hungry and the substances already mentioned stimulate digestion. In addition, the herb is said to have rejuvenating effects.

In addition to the already mentioned positive effects of Tulsis through anthocyanins, the plant’s own substances are the actual ingredients for the healing effects. These are mainly found in essential oils and can help against asthma, colds, gout, fungal infections, rheumatism, worm infestation as well as tooth and gum inflammation. Tulsi essential oils tend to have a sweet, fresh, green scent with balsamic undertones.

Tulsi in the kitchen

Indian basil is used regularly, especially in Asian cuisines such as Indian or Thai cuisine. Tulsi is particularly suitable for curries, vegetable, rice, pasta dishes or stews and gives the dishes a fresh touch. In combination with spices such as aniseed, chili, ginger or caraway, Tulsi unfolds its full effect and comes into its own. For example, Tulsi pesto is easy to make yourself and then combines with pasta, lasagne, rice, potatoes or bread.

For Tulsi Pesto you need the following ingredients:
2 hands of fresh Tulsi
2 tbsp Tulsi powder
1 clove of garlic
100g raw almonds
50ml olive oil
Zest of 1 lemon
salt and pepper

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Bubble Tea: Harmless Trend Drink or Dangerous Calorie Bomb?

The colorful drink from 2010 is back: bubble tea. Experts have re-examined the drink on this occasion – and warn of the consequences for health.

Carcinogenic substances? That’s what the experts say

Although it has long been very widespread in Asia and regularly consumed with meals there, the hype first came to us in 2010. The drink was very popular at the time, but quickly fell into disrepute due to rumors about harmful ingredients. The turning point shortly before the pandemic: Bubble tea celebrated its comeback and is more popular than ever. One more reason for researchers to take a closer look at the drink.

As the portal Mimikama mentions, the allegations regarding the harmful ingredients are said to have been refuted beyond a doubt. Deutschlandfunk also writes that no carcinogenic substances were found when the ingredients were examined more closely. Nevertheless, both agree that the drink should be enjoyed with caution, because the drink is one thing above all: sweet.

Although the investigations did not find any direct dangerous ingredients, it was found that a large part of the drink consists of sugar and sweeteners. The sweetener acesulfame was also found, although this was often not specified.

Sugar, sugar, sugar and sweetener on top

So why you shouldn’t overdo it with bubble teas is the enormous number of calories that the “drink” brings with it. These quickly range from 300 to 500 calories, replacing a full meal. It is therefore better for people who are overweight or have previous health problems to avoid it. Nevertheless, with a general balanced diet, it shouldn’t be a problem to drink a bubble tea from time to time. Nevertheless, consumer protection warns against children consuming Asian tea. Because with a sugar content of 180 grams per liter, a risk of addiction cannot be ruled out.

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White Tea: is This The Healthiest Tea in The World?

White tea makes us healthy: This rare and extremely tasty type of tea contains numerous valuable ingredients that are good for our health. Whether for combating free radicals, burning fat or as a means of preventing cancer – white tea is a herb that has grown to combat a wide range of ailments. We will introduce you to the miracle tea and tell you what makes it so special.

White tea: That’s what makes it so healthy

White tea is considered a real “magic drink” due to its countless health benefits. Teekenner.de points out that white tea is one of the oldest remedies in traditional Chinese medicine. Since white tea, unlike teas such as black tea or oolong, was not fermented and only went through a short processing time, most of the healthy ingredients are still included.

On the one hand, the polyphenols contained in the tea have an antioxidant effect and thus protect against free radicals. Kobu-Teeversand says that some experts assume that a glass of white tea has the same polyphenol content as twelve glasses of orange juice – so it is extremely healthy. In addition, the catechins contained in white tea are also popular in the field of cancer prevention due to their antioxidant effect. Even those who want to lose weight can lose weight by regularly taking white tea. Studies show that under the influence of the active ingredients in white tea, human cells accumulate fat less and also lose it more quickly. The polyphenols contained are probably also responsible for this. Other health benefits of white tea include:
good for the heart and preventive against cardiovascular disease
antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal effects
preventive against signs of aging of the skin and tissue
anti-inflammatory
helps with menopausal symptoms

Production and characteristics of white tea

It is important to note that all major tea varieties come from one and the same plant – Camellia Sinensis

A special feature of white tea, which characterizes it as probably the highest quality tea, is its naturalness. This means that it is processed very little and is allowed to dry naturally in the sun. Since white tea is generally only allowed to oxidize for a very short time, the production time is limited and the finished tea is often produced after just one day – other types of tea go through a much longer production process.

The degree of fermentation or oxidation is also important. White tea is characterized by a particularly low degree of oxidation, which makes it taste so mild.

White or Green Tea: What’s the Difference?

White tea is not easily compared to green tea, as both are very different in several aspects, but are similar in others. This starts with the production of the respective tea type: while white tea goes through a relatively short production process and only wilts for a short time, green tea is steamed or roasted after harvesting, according to Verbraucherfenster Hessen. Both varieties are unfermented teas.

However, the difference in taste is immense: while white tea tastes extremely mild and sweet, green tea has a rather bitter taste. The types of tea can also be distinguished visually, as explained by the scientific information service for tea at the Technical University (TU) Braunschweig: the lighter the type of tea, the lighter the leaf material.

When it comes to distinguishing between the two types of tea based on their ingredients, it is often difficult to make a clear distinction. Both white and green tea contain similarly large amounts of polyphenols and flavonoids. The healthy catechins are also contained to a similar extent, albeit in a slightly higher proportion in white tea. However, it is noticeable that white tea generally contains more caffeine than green tea. A study by Dr. re. of course Yumen Hilal at the TU Braunschweig. Teekenner.de locates the caffeine content of a high-quality tea at five to six percent of the dry matter. In comparison, coffee contains only one to three percent caffeine based on dry matter. In contrast to coffee, the caffeine in white tea is not as strong and has a longer-lasting effect.

White Tea: These varieties are the best

The silver needle tea, also known as Bai Hao Yin Zhen, is probably the best type of white tea. This special tea comes from the “silver needle” tea variety of the same name and is grown in the southeast Chinese province of Fujian. The special feature: only the youngest, unopened leaf buds are used for this excellent white tea. Due to the very low level of oxidation, the silver needle tea tastes lovely and looks very light and subtly golden when poured. The taste is described as fresh with a sweet aftertaste.

What also makes it so special is the very low degree of oxidation of up to a maximum of two percent, which gives it its extreme mildness and sweetness. Because: The higher the degree of oxidation, the more the quality of the white tea decreases. Since only the most tender tea buds are harvested for silver needle tea*, the pickers have to be more careful not to damage the leaves than with other types of tea. Therefore, the use of picking machines is taboo here, which could never reach the level of care of picking by hand. For this reason, if you value a particularly high quality of white tea, you should make sure that the tea is hand-picked instead of using picking machines. Because if the buds are damaged, the tea already begins to oxidize – and the excellent mildness of the tea is endangered.

The tea variety Pai Mu Tan is also considered a particularly high-quality variant of white tea. This is characterized by a large proportion of coarse green leaves and a large number of white buds and is considered one of the most expensive types of white tea in the world. In terms of taste, the Pai Mu Tan* is described as mild but nutty, with a subtle cocoa note. Only the freshly opened leaf buds are suitable for this special white tea, the unopened ones are reserved for the silver needle tea. Another good, but by far not as excellent type of tea as the silver needle tea is the Shou Mei, which in terms of quality also has to rank behind the Pai Mu Tan. The Shou Mei is harvested after the Pai Mu Tan, which is why slightly older leaves are used for its production. This makes the Shou Mei less mild in taste, but still aromatic and fresh.

White tea: healthy but expensive? – Saving tip

White tea should actually be our daily companion due to its numerous health benefits and is an ideal substitute for one or the other coffee due to its gently invigorating effect – but unfortunately high-quality white tea is quite expensive!

One reason is that really high-quality white tea is only grown in one region, and that’s in the Fujian province of southeast China. Between 2010 and 2019 there are signs of a sharp jump in prices and tea prices are now more than twice as high as they were a few years ago. One of the reasons for this is that the demand for white tea from the Fujian region has increased immensely. White tea is scarce anyway: it can only be picked a few days a year and the areas under cultivation are limited. The weather must also be right to ensure a rich harvest. This is also extremely high, since each individual bud has to be carefully harvested by hand, which means that a comparatively large amount of working time goes into the harvest of the white tea.

So here’s our tip for getting as much expensive white tea as possible: Pour the tea several times. White tea is perfect for multiple infusions, as are green tea and oolong tea. When infusing, make sure that the water is no more than 70 to 80 °C hot, as water that is too hot is harmful to the healthy ingredients and the excellent taste of the white tea. With each new infusion, the taste of the tea develops, but it doesn’t get any worse! In principle, however, high-quality white tea is advisable, as it can be infused several times without any loss of quality.

Conclusion: White tea – the healthiest tea in the world

White tea can rightly be called the healthiest tea in the world: Due to its countless benefits for our health, it should actually be consumed every day. Thanks to its naturalness and the very short processing time, there are many healthy ingredients in the tea that have a preventive and alleviating effect on many physical ailments and diseases.

When buying, you should make sure that the white tea is of high quality. The best of all white teas is Silver Needle Tea, followed by Pai Mu Tan and Shou Mei.

Since high-quality white tea is rare and therefore expensive, you can save with this tip: Pour the tea several times, this does not damage the taste, it even develops further.

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Green Tea From The Himalayas: That’s Why It’s so Healthy

The positive effects of green tea on health are undisputed and are backed up by countless studies. Green tea from the Himalayas is of particularly high quality. We’ll tell you why Himalayan tea is so extraordinary and why green tea is generally so healthy and should be drunk every day.

Green tea from the Himalayas: That’s why it’s so healthy

Green tea from the Himalayas: At 800 to 2,500 meters, dry air alternates constantly with humid air, and it is both cool and hot (due to the strong sunshine). In addition, there is a lot of precipitation here during the monsoon, which together with the fog ensures high humidity. The southern slopes of the Himalayas offer ideal, albeit unusual, conditions for tea cultivation.

Green Tea: Numerous Health Benefits

As the German Green Cross explains, the consumption of
Furthermore, regular consumption of green tea can lower cholesterol levels. In addition, the good cholesterol, the HDL, is strengthened by reducing the bad cholesterol, the LDL. And also at

There is even suspicion that green tea may help with liver transplantation due to its antioxidant properties. Also who under one

Green Tea: Protects the heart and prolongs life

Those who drink green tea regularly may be able to prevent cardiovascular diseases and strokes – this is the conclusion reached by scientists from the Peking Union Medical College in a long-term study published in the European Journal for Preventive Cardiology. The European Union’s Community Research and Development Information Service CORDIS also reported on the results. According to this, consuming green tea at least three times a week should help you live longer and be healthier. The long-term study by the Chinese researchers examined more than 100,000 Chinese over a period of seven years, who were divided into two groups – regular tea drinkers and those who rarely consume tea.

The regular tea drinkers were, on average, 20 percent less likely to develop heart disease or stroke, and they were also 15 percent more likely to survive diseases that have been the death sentence for non-tea drinkers. On average, regular tea consumption can extend life by 1.26 years, and tea drinkers develop heart disease or a stroke about 1.5 years later

What the researchers also noticed is that the positive effects of tea on men’s health were particularly evident. Only slight improvements in health were seen in women. One reason for this could be that the proportion of tea-drinking men in the study was significantly higher than that of tea-drinking women. The scientists hold polyphenols in the tea leaves primarily responsible for the life-prolonging effects of green tea*. These are able to reduce inflammation and at the same time act as antioxidants

Green Tea: Can It Protect Against Cancer?

There is also evidence that green tea can protect against cancer. In an overview study authored by researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration, the scientists looked at a total of 142 studies on the effect of green tea on the prevention of colon, lung, breast, prostate and other types of cancer. However, the results are mixed.

In some studies, there appears to be a link between reducing the risk of developing cancer and consuming green tea. The scientists blame the antioxidants found in the substance epigallocatechin gallate contained in tea for this. These antioxidants inhibit free radicals in the body that have harmful effects. This means that oxidative stress is avoided, which damages the cells and thus causes cancer cells to develop.

Weight Loss: Lose weight with green tea

Regular consumption of green tea* can also have a positive effect on weight. A study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry links green tea drinking to modest weight gain.

In the animal experiment, mice were given particularly high-fat food for eight weeks, which made the animals overweight. The control group continued to receive normal food. The highlight: Half of the mice in each of the two groups were given two percent green tea extract

The surprising result: the mice that had the green tea extract in their food gained an average of 20 percent less weight than the mice that did not consume any green tea. They were also shown to have lower insulin resistance. Green tea also had a positive effect on the intestines: the intestinal wall was less permeable, which increased the health of the microbes in the intestine. Since the study is an animal experiment, the results cannot be extrapolated to humans without further ado, so further studies must be carried out.

Beauty: Green tea’s positive effects on the skin

As reported by the Saarland University Hospital, the flavonoid epigallocatechin gallate contained in green tea is able to have a positive effect on skin damage caused by UV radiation. Green tea also proves to be a tried and tested remedy for some skin diseases, especially if they result in vasodilatation and reddened areas of the skin.

Furthermore, green tea can also counteract the natural aging of the skin if it is processed in creams. Studies have shown, among other things, that green tea can increase the thickness of the skin in older people when used locally. An increase in keratinocytes in the skin could be proven, which play a role in inflammation, the immune system and the self-healing of the skin – and also in the self-protection of the skin from harmful UV radiation.

Another study concludes that green tea may help with acne. For example, the administration of green tea extract reduced inflammation on the nose, forehead and chin. However, according to the researchers, further studies are needed to make precise statements about the effect of green tea on acne.

How to recognize high-quality green tea

You can tell whether green tea is of high quality by looking at a few characteristics. If these aspects are given, it is most likely a high-quality green tea, according to the eco-magazine Waschbär*. It is important, among other things, the cultivation

What makes green tea so striking is its so-called “noble bitter note” and at the same time a fresh taste, which is caused by the tannins it contains and the secondary plant substances catechins. At the same time, green tea should always taste sweet, which is caused by the polysaccharides and amino acids it contains. Furthermore, minerals, essential oils and the flavor umami also play a role, which is considered the fifth flavor. Umami is described as hearty and aromatic and has a weakening effect on the bitter substances in green tea, making it more digestible in terms of taste. If one considers the aspect of green tea, the best quality tea is fetched from the tea fields with the so-called “first flush”, which is the first harvest after the winter. After that, the tea is harvested about five more times in the same year, but it no longer comes close to the taste quality of the first harvest. If a tea is labeled “Blend”, it is a mixture of leaves from different harvests.

After harvesting, the tea leaves are processed and go through a number of work steps: after the leaves have withered, they are heated, for example steamed or roasted. Heating stops the fermentation and seals the leaves so the flavor and healthy ingredients don’t escape. The leaves are then rolled so that the tea tastes more aromatic when brewed. When processing, it is important for the quality if as many work steps as possible are carried out by hand, as they are more careful than if the tea leaves are processed exclusively by machines. If the tea is processed manually, this is usually stated on the package, as this is an absolute sign of quality. Finally, it is also important that the tea is as fresh as possible. If the leaves are stored for a long time, they lose both flavor and healthy ingredients. However, there are a few types of tea that only become really high-quality through long storage.

Conclusion: Green tea from the Himalayas has many health benefits

Green tea has countless health benefits that have been confirmed in many studies. Green tea from the slopes of the Himalayas is particularly recommended, as it is considered to be of particularly high quality and tasty due to the external conditions.

In order to get green tea of impeccable quality, you can consider a few aspects of green tea production. Among other things, you should consider cultivation, taste, harvest, processing and freshness. You can ask about these aspects on the packaging or directly from your tea retailer – tea that is organically certified is generally recommended. Green tea can contribute a lot to our health – the miracle tea has a positive effect on this, among other things:

lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels
helps the liver
protects the heart and against strokes
can prolong life
can protect against cancer
helps with weight loss
can have a positive effect on the skin

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Cooking Tips

Tulsi Tea: Effects and Preparation of Holy Basil

Tulsi tea tastes good and is highly valued in Ayurveda for its healing properties. Here you can find out how the tea works and how to prepare it.

Tulsi is often also referred to as Tulasi or holy or Indian basil and is closely related to our spice basil. Very special effects are attributed to this special type of basil. The plant is therefore very widespread in the traditional healing art of Ayurveda. But not only in India Tulsi is very popular. In Europe, too, more and more people swear by the effects of Indian basil – especially in the form of Tulsi tea.

Effect of Tulsi leaves

The fact that Tulsi has a special place in traditional Ayurvedic medicine is due to the fact that it contains various beneficial active ingredients. The Indian basil contains, among other things, in high concentration:
eugenol
polyphenols
flavanoids
Thanks to these substances, Tulsi has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. It is used, for example, for colds, coughs and fevers, stomach problems and inflammation of the mouth or gums.

The herb also has a stress-relieving effect. The phenols and flavanoids contained in Indian basil are considered to be particularly effective antioxidants.

Tulsi tea: How to prepare it successfully

Tulsi is very popular in this country not only because of its effect, but also because of its special taste. This applies in particular to Tulsi tea: it has a fine, sweet, but at the same time slightly peppery aroma.

How to prepare Tulsi tea:
Take 1 teaspoon of tulsi herb per cup.
Pour 200ml of boiling water over the tea per cup.
Let the tea steep for 6 to 10 minutes.
You can use fresh or dried Tulsi leaves for a tea. To be sure that there are no pesticides in the leaves, you should only drink certified organic tea – or grow it yourself. In the next paragraph we will tell you how to do it.

Grow your own Indian basil

If you’ve got a taste for it, you can easily grow Indian basil for your Tulsi tea yourself. You can get Indian basil as a preferred plant in well-stocked (herb) nurseries. Alternatively, you can also buy seeds and plant the basil yourself. The requirements of the Indian basil do not differ from the spice basil that is widespread in Europe:
Sow the seeds in pots or boxes on the windowsill in spring. Later you should separate the plants.
It is worth dividing the plants if you have preferred plants. Too many plants often grow in a pot and are therefore too dense.
As soon as it gets warmer outside, you can put the Indian basil outside. It’s best to leave it in the pot though. This way it doesn’t fall victim to voracious snails so easily.
Make sure that the basil gets as much light as possible and always keep it moist. Tulsi does not tolerate temperatures below 10 degrees.
If you let the basil bloom at the end of summer, you can harvest seeds for next year. Since basil is difficult to overwinter, you can use it to grow new plants next spring.

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Food

Matcha Tea: Does The Green Pick-Me-Up Make You Healthy and Happy?

Matcha tea was and is the best and finest tea in Japan, which used to be reserved for the elite only. The bright green, frothy drink is still considered a cult drink.

However, the trend towards matcha tea did not come to Germany directly from Japan, but from the USA. Stars, starlets and wannabes have been spotted there with the green “in” drink in their hands for a number of years.

It is said to make you slim, fit and healthy, and helps fight signs of aging and even cancer. Like all other green teas, it also serves as a stimulating alternative to coffee with its caffeine content (tein). Is the expensive cult drink worth its price?

Why is matcha tea actually powder?

Matcha tea is one of the green tea varieties and is traditionally drunk in Japan. The tea probably originally came from China, but was forgotten there. Unlike “normal” green teas, matcha tea is not prepared as a decoction of tea leaves, but from a bright green powder.

This powder consists of finely ground green tea leaves from which the stalks have been removed. “For Matcha of the highest quality, the tea farmers even remove the leaf veins by hand,” explains Heidrun Schubert from the Bavarian Consumer Advice Center

Only the pure leaf remains, which is also consumed as a whole in tea. Since matcha tea is a so-called “shade tea”, the tea bushes are shaded with bamboo mats or similar four weeks before harvest. This makes the leaves particularly intense green.

Prepare matcha tea

If the matcha tea from the green powder is not brewed properly, neither the taste nor the effect are said to be right. Preparing matcha tea is part of a tea ceremony in Japan. You don’t have to make a ceremony out of it at home, but it still takes some practice and effort.

The water for the foamy tea should be as soft as possible, it must have a temperature of 80° Celsius when brewing. The easiest way to check this is with a roast thermometer. About a teaspoon of the powder goes into a bowl, which you then pour on with around 100 milliliters of water.

Then manual work is required – matcha tea has to be opened during preparation. To do this, take a special broom made of bamboo (the Chasen) and stir with a loose wrist in your own movement until the powder has completely dissolved and a fine foam has formed on the surface.

The right accessories

In order for the preparation to succeed, you need the right accessories – a normal teacup or blender is not enough to create the perfect foam. A set consists of the already mentioned bamboo whisk, a suitable bowl and a bamboo spoon for portioning the tea powder. Purists or lovers then get a suitable ladle and a Japanese kettle.

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Food

Flavored Tea: Cakes and Unicorns in a Cup?

We love it especially in winter: hot, wonderfully aromatic tea. Gladly flavored with appetizing flavors that make the tea taste like marzipan or, in summer, like tropical fruits and more. But what are we actually drinking?

Flavored tea is not always “real tea”

“Tea” is, strictly speaking, just the beverage brewed from the leaves of the tea plant. Green tea is simply the dried leaves of the plant. Black tea is more labor intensive. The leaves are first dried a little, then rolled and then oxidized in high humidity.

Everything else that we serve as “tea” is strictly speaking an “infusion drink” and therefore only “tea-like”. This includes everything that we colloquially refer to as “herbal tea” or “fruit tea”, although there are of course also mixtures of dried fruits and herbs, which we also call “tea”.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s “real tea” or “infusion drink”: the shelves are full of the most diverse types and flavors. In the trade, tea compositions with imaginative names are lined up box after box: “Strawberry Cheesecake”, “Peach Panna Cotta”, “Blueberry Muffin” or “Unicorn Tea” are just a few examples of tea types that definitely do not contain what they are supposed to be are named. Wouldn’t be so appetizing to serve a brewed cheesecake in a cup, would it?
But what’s in it if there’s no muffin or unicorn swimming in the teapot?

Flavor additives are not always synthetic

Anyone who immediately thinks of “chemistry” when they think of flavored tea should read the list of ingredients carefully. A tea with added aroma is not always a mixture of synthetically produced flavors.

The classic “Earl Grey”, for example, is flavored with bergamot essential oil, provided it is of good quality, and many other flavored teas do not require any artificial additives by using natural, highly aromatic ingredients such as citrus peels, spices and dried fruits or essential oils. But this is usually not the case and a supposedly healthy tea quickly becomes a “chemical cocktail”.

What is what: natural, nature-identical or artificial?

Flavorings are roughly divided into three groups and must be declared on the list of ingredients:
Natural flavorings: This includes everything that is produced from plant, animal or microbiological raw materials by distillation, extraction or other processes; for example vanillin from vanilla beans.
Nature-identical flavorings: The name can be the same, such as “vanillin”, but there is a manufacturing process behind it that does not use natural raw materials, but runs completely synthetically. From a chemical point of view, however, such flavoring substances are identical to the substances of the same name of natural origin.
Artificial Flavors: This group includes all flavors that do not occur naturally in food. Some of these are modeled after natural flavors, an example is ethyl vanniline. However, many are often quickly recognized as “artificial”. Just think of the colorful variety of aromas, which with names like “green apple” or “banana” only taste remotely like their natural counterpart.
In addition, there are the aroma extracts already mentioned, which are declared as such by name, for example essential oils and also smoke and smoke aromas.

How much aroma is allowed in the tea?

Many flavored tea blends in particular smell (and taste) very strongly of artificial flavorings and have very little to do with the natural ingredients. In Europe, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is responsible for testing flavorings and setting maximum levels. After successful approval, your panel of experts assigns an “E number” to the additive. Important to know: natural flavorings also have E numbers.

For all these E numbers, it is regulated by law that only as much ends up in the finished food as is harmless to health. But if you buy good quality food, you can do without such additives. And, to be honest: does tea really have to taste like cake?

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