All
  • All
  • Products
  • Articles
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • Conversations
  • Social

Green Tea

Green Tea Broth
healthy recipes

Green Tea For Dinner? Let Us Explain . . .

If you're already drinking green tea, then might we suggest slurping it in some soup?
by

If you're already drinking green tea, then might we suggest slurping it in some soup? Aside from its hefty dose of antioxidants, a green tea broth can ward off colds and even help boost metabolism. Rather than cooking with an animal or vegetable broth, use herbal green tea in soup to fortify noodles with an earthy flavor — perfect in a dish like udon soup. Because its flavor is subtle enough that it won't overpower a recipe, the options to use green tea in place of a broth are endless.

While you're brewing, you can further boost your dinner by using some of that green tea to steam your chicken, too! Instead of filling your steamer with water, fill it with green tea. By the time dinner is complete, your kitchen will be filled with a rich aroma, and your body will appreciate the extra dose of antioxidants and antiviral properties this superfood has to offer.

Source: Flickr user jseto
Why You Should Drink Green Tea
Holiday Living

3 Reasons to Drink Green Tea This Winter

Coffee may have its place as a healthy beverage, but green tea is often touted as the miracle drink for your mug.
by

Coffee may have its place as a healthy beverage, but green tea is often touted as the miracle drink for your mug. That's especially true with busy holiday schedules; here's why you should drink the green stuff regularly this holiday season.

Weight-loss wonder: For many, the holiday season is the worst time for maintaining diet goals. During the season of indulgences, then, every little bit helps. Drinking green tea regularly has been shown to help suppress appetite and increase your metabolism — both of which can help you save or burn a few calories while you celebrate this season.

Sickness prevention: Nonstop shopping, traveling, and socializing can mean the combination of cold-inducing pathogens and a weakened immune system, so give yours a boost with green tea. Several studies have shown that green tea has antiviral properties; one study found that taking green tea catechin capsules helped prevent health-care workers from catching the flu, and another found that Japanese schoolchildren who drank green tea for six days a week or more were less likely to catch the flu.

Stress relief: Curling up with a warm beverage can be relaxing, especially when the rest of your day is hectic, but drinking too much caffeine has its downsides. Too much caffeine can lead to anxiety, stress, and trouble sleeping, so if you find yourself running out for a coffee break or having friends over for a cup several times a day, switch to green tea. Not only does green tea contain only half the amount of caffeine than a normal cup of coffee, but many people also say green tea's fresh, grassy flavor helps them relax.

Matcha Ice Cream
recipes

Scream For It! Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream

On a seemingly normal Winter day, my friend and fellow ice cream addict Alisa excitedly mentioned that her neighborhood grocery was now carrying Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream in the freezer section.
by

On a seemingly normal Winter day, my friend and fellow ice cream addict Alisa excitedly mentioned that her neighborhood grocery was now carrying Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream in the freezer section. "Jeni's Splendid what?" I asked her, not having heard of it before. "Only the best ice cream in the whole wide world of ice cream!" she swooned. Like a Looney Tunes cartoon, it was as though her pupils had turned into ice cream cones.

Even though it was 40 degrees outside (not conducive weather for ice cream), it was only a matter of minutes before we made an outrageously expensive purchase of seasonal ice cream flavors like Dark Chocolate Peppermint and Sweet Potato with Toasted Marshmallows. Upon the first spoonful of the organic, grass-fed ice cream, I knew I wouldn't mind paying $12 a pint for this fluffy, creamy stuff that puts the frozen food section to shame. Just ask my fellow YumSugar editors how many animated twirls I did around the office when we received a special package from Jeni's recently. So, I preface this ice cream recipe with this declaration: even though Summer's over, it's always Jeni's ice cream season.

This particular recipe uses Jeni's ice cream base with the addition of matcha green tea powder. The matcha is present but not overwhelming and offers a slight grassy, roasted flavor to the cream. It is undeniably Jeni's in character: so fluffy like marshmallows and light like whipped cream, you'll wonder where the whole milk went. I mean, really, how does she do it?

Garnish the ice cream with candied ginger for a spicy punch and brown rice puffs for a contrasting bit of crunch.

Are you ready to bring the recipe home?

Matcha Marshmallows
recipes

Matcha Marshmallows: A Sweet, Pillowy Treat

When we received canisters of the Republic of Tea U-Matcha ($18), our eyes lit up as our imaginations brewed all the possible matcha-flavored recipes we could create.
by

When we received canisters of the Republic of Tea U-Matcha ($18), our eyes lit up as our imaginations brewed all the possible matcha-flavored recipes we could create. Thus far, I've made matcha tea three ways and matcha salad dressing. Nicole gets a serious surge of excitement over shortbread, which inspired her take on matcha shortbread. As for me, marshmallows are my most coveted sweet, which means I had to develop this recipe immediately.

Instead of the more commonplace addition of vanilla extract, add a matcha slurry of the tea whisked with a little water. The mallows are coated in a vibrant jade powder, made of confectioner's sugar, cornstarch, and matcha. As for the flavor, those who love matcha and green tea will find these pillowy treats don't skimp out on the roasted, earthy green tea flavor. If the bitterness of matcha's a bit much for you, feel free to scale back to the amount listed in the recipe.

Either way, these matcha marshmallows are slightly grassy on the nose but taste like a foamy, sweetened green tea latte. Eat the marshmallows alone or toss them in hot milk chocolate or a tea latte. Swirl them into ice cream or frozen yogurt. I'm even dreaming up a Japanese-style s'mores recipe . . . More on that later, but for now check out the matcha marshmallow recipe.

How to Make Matcha Tea
Cooking Basics

3 Methods For Making Matcha

There is something wonderfully ceremonial about making tea, especially matcha, or finely ground Japanese green tea.
by

There is something wonderfully ceremonial about making tea, especially matcha, or finely ground Japanese green tea. Making matcha is a little more complicated than dipping a tea bag into hot water; the emerald-green powder is quickly whisked into a frothy, thick brew. Much like whipping cream, the trick requires a little bit of practice, but we've rounded up a few methods with pictures to help you develop matcha with a beautiful layer of foam.

A traditional Japanese method for preparing matcha calls for a bamboo whisk with superfine tines; however, home cooks can also hack the process using a mini immersion blender or whisk. And while the Japanese take their matcha "green," some drinkers may find the unadulterated mixture too bitter and grassy for their liking. That's why we've included a quick latte recipe for easy matcha drinking. Take a look at three ways to make matcha.

The Traditional Method The Traditional Method The Traditional Method The Traditional Method The American Method The American Method The Latte Method
View 8 Photos
Green Tea Salad Dressing
salads

Match a Bento Salad With Matcha Dressing

Common in Japanese cuisine, bento boxes consist of divided sections of vegetables, protein, and grains that are carefully arranged in an attractive way to amplify the allure of even the most simple food preparations.
by

Common in Japanese cuisine, bento boxes consist of divided sections of vegetables, protein, and grains that are carefully arranged in an attractive way to amplify the allure of even the most simple food preparations. They make a tidy take-to-work lunch, too. This Japanese salad, organized in bento fashion, is a fresh take on a fast, easy, and portable lunch option.

The matcha dressing, which draws the flavors of the raw vegetables and tofu together, makes this salad truly memorable. Inspired by a Republic of Tea employee who experimented with The Republic of Tea U-Matcha ($18) in a salad dressing recipe, it was loved so much that the company decided to print the recipe on a pamphlet, which is included in each canister of the tea. I used U-Matcha Yuzu, a citrus-scented matcha green tea, to heighten the fresh, zingy tang of the dressing; however, regular matcha works well in this recipe too.

U-Matcha plays off of the Japanese term umami, the word used to describe the savory flavor in food. Even though matcha in tea form tastes grassy and earthy, when used in recipes like this salad dressing, it bursts with a flavor that is subtly fishy and sea-like (in a good way!).

The sweet carrots, spicy daikon, creamy avocado, tart cabbage, and crumbly tofu combine with the matcha dressing for a color- and flavor-rich salad that engages all the senses of the palate. Prep all the ingredients first, and place them in separate bowls or plastic containers to make it easier and faster to arrange the salad. Bonus: it's a cinch to store any leftovers for another day. Learn how to whisk a batch of matcha dressing for your next bento salad.

Green Tea May Help You Function in Old Age
health news

Want to Age Better? Swap Your Morning Cup of Coffee For Green Tea

We all know that green tea has many benefits — eye health, sunburn protection, and disease prevention, to name a few.
by

We all know that green tea has many benefits — eye health, sunburn protection, and disease prevention, to name a few. Now, a new study can add another possible benefit to that list: green tea may help you remain functional as you age.

The Japanese study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tracked 14,000 adults 65 years old or older for three years and found that those people who drank at least five cups a day of green tea were about a third less likely to have functional disabilities than those who drank little or no green tea. Even those who only drank two to four cups of green tea a day also experienced a benefit as they aged. "Functional disabilities" were defined as the inability to do basic daily activities or necessities, like bathing or dressing, so the more green tea you drink the more likely you are to be able to stay independent when you're older. The study did find that those who drank green tea tended to have healthier lifestyles overall, but the researchers said a positive effect still existed when diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits were accounted for.

Five cups may sound like a lot, but it's actually a lot less than you think. So, how much tea should you actually be drinking to reap this benefit and possibly remain independent as you age? Read on after the break.

Green Tea and Black Tea Recipes
Green Tea

6 Ways to Jazz Up Tea

When it's cold outside and you want to wake up, what do you reach for?
by

When it's cold outside and you want to wake up, what do you reach for? If it's always coffee, it may be time to take another look at tea. The antioxidant properties of coffee's cousin are high, and there are many more ways to enjoy the hot beverage than just milk and sugar. Want to spice up your daily cup? Here are six recipes to jazz up white, green, or black tea!

Source: Thinkstock

Soy Chai Citrus Honey Green Tea Fruit Tea Green Tea Latte Ginger Green Tea Feel-Better Tea
View 6 Photos
Health Benefits of Different Types of Tea
Green Tea

Do You Know the Health Benefits of These Teas?

Between the tea plant's white, green, black, and oolong offerings and the countless herbal teas offered, we've got many options for drinking in those all-important antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients.
by

Between the tea plant's white, green, black, and oolong offerings and the countless herbal teas offered, we've got many options for drinking in those all-important antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients. But which teas are known for carrying these good-for-you benefits? Take this quiz to see if you know the health benefits of these teas!