FitSugar

These Are a Few of My Favorite Leaves: Tea-Inspired Fragrances

BellaSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:01:03 -0700

I loved tea parties as a little girl, and just a whiff of Celestial Seasons Sleepytime (which has soothed many a tummy ache and tastes great with ginger snaps) is enough to make me smile and breathe a sigh of relief. That's why, when I want to feel really comfy, I turn to tea scents - they're the chunky cable knit sweaters of the fragrance world, with the added bonus of going with any outfit and being comfortable to wear no matter how high the mercury in your thermometer goes.

My personal favorite for instant relaxation is perfumer Christopher Brosius's Russian Caravan Tea ($60), which is designed to smell like "smoked black Indian tea, bergamot and the hint of shelves full of old books." I'm also eagerly anticipating Dior's new tea scent, Escale a Pondichery, which is coming out this Fall and is supposed to be a true tea scent. While I'm waiting for the new Dior, though, I've put together some other lovely tea scents for you to sniff out - hopefully one of them will smell like happiness for you, too.

What's the Deal With Catechins?

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:30:00 -0700

I know the word catechins sounds like a furry underwater sea anemone, but it's actually a type of flavonoid, which are compounds known for their antioxidant properties. Soy products, wine, citrus fruits, and tea are great sources of flavonoids. They're big in the health world because they're believed to help lower cholesterol, prevent cataracts, and have anti-cancer abilities. Catechins have been linked to a reduced risk of stroke, heart failure, cancer, and diabetes. When combined with regular exercise, catechins have also been shown to delay some forms of aging. This healthy compound can be found in green tea, black tea, Oolong tea, beans, grapes, apricots, apples, red wine, and chocolate. So be sure to include these in your diet. And don't forget to exercise, either.

Source

Five Beautiful Uses For Green Tea

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:00:36 -0800

FitSugar is always telling me all the reasons I should substitute green tea for afternoon coffee – there are just so many great benefits of this beverage. High in antioxidants, it can help protect skin against UV damage and keep a complexion clear in the process with just 10 ounces a day. But are there any uses for green tea in homemade beauty remedies? You betcha.

Green Tea Leaves: While picking up a bag is easier, breaking up tea leaves to create the pouch can cause some of the valuable essential oils to evaporate. Add approximately three teaspoons of loose tea to a 16-ounce bottle of room-temperature water and allow it to steep for one to two hours. Then, strain the tea into a clean spray bottle and discard the leaves. The remaining liquid can be stored in the fridge and spritzed on your face for a refreshing alternative to water.

To see three other ways to use green tea in all its forms, read more.

Green Tea Liquid: Before sitting down to sip a cup of already-steeped tea, put a little tea to the side. Then, blend it with one of my favorite products, baking soda, instead of water to give a little breath-freshening flavor to DIY toothpaste or swish it in lieu of mouthwash.
Green Tea Bag: If you have splotchy, irritated skin, take a used (cooled) tea bag and make a compress to help the redness go down. The same goes for cuts, scrapes, burns, and puffy eyelids, too.
Green Tea Powder: Green Tea Powder (available at health-food stores or online) is a great addition to smoothies, homemade green tea ice cream . . . and your favorite DIY face masks! To moisturize dry skin, mash 1/2 banana before adding one tbsp. honey, one tbsp. plain yogurt, and one tsp. green tea powder.

Source

Why Do You Drink Green Tea?

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Green tea must currently be the most studied beverage on the planet. Another group of studies just came out showing that the brew reduces the brain plaque buildup that can lead to Alzheimer's. Green tea, with its high antioxidant count, also helps ward off certain cancers, helps fight HIV, protects the skin against UV damage, and boosts your metabolism. There are just so many reason to drink green tea, but for me taste would not be among them. I need to cut the grassy taste with jasmine petals or toasted rice, like genmai cha.

With all its wonderful side effects, I am wondering . . .

Source

Healthy Eating Tip: Cook Pasta in Green Tea

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I was perusing the October issue of Shape and found an interesting tip in one of their dinner recipes. They suggested boiling your pasta noodles with bags of green tea. I thought it was a little odd at first, but then I read that it actually makes your pasta healthier because the noodles soak up the rich antioxidants from the tea. So I decided to give it a try, adding six green tea bags to six cups of boiling water. When I cooked my two and a half cups of whole wheat penne, the green tea added a subtle earthy flavor similar to spinach pasta. Give it a try the next time you make noodles and let me know what you think.

Source

Fast & Easy Dinner: Halibut in Green Tea Broth

partysugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:45:44 -0700

With the inevitable change of seasons, it's time to start thinking about comforting, soothing meals like this halibut.

Served in a shallow bowl with a fragrant green tea broth - so delicious you'll be drinking every last bit - and an assortment of Asian vegetables, this fish dish is filling, healthy, and flavorful. A helping of quinoa acts as a hearty side dish.

To learn the cooking process, read more.

Halibut in Green Tea Broth
From Body and Soul magazine

Ingredients

4 halibut fillets (6 ounces each)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 cup quinoa
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 piece fresh ginger (about 2 inches), peeled and finely chopped
1 baby bok choy (6 ounces), thinly sliced lengthwise
1 cup frozen shelled edamame, thawed
4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced
1/2 cup snow peas, strings removed, thinly sliced lengthwise
1 cup brewed green tea
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 teaspoon honey
3 scallions, sliced on the diagonal
Basil leaves for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Season halibut with salt and pepper.
In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups salted water to a boil. Add quinoa, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside.
Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Cook fillets until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Remove fillets from pan (reserve pan with any oil in it). Place fish in an ovenproof dish and bake 8 to 10 minutes or until just cooked through (a paring knife will easily go through fish).
To pan, add ginger, bok choy, edamame, shiitakes, and snow peas; reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes or until the shiitakes begin to soften.
Add green tea, soy sauce, and honey. Cook until edamame are tender, about 3 minutes longer. Add scallions to pan.
Place some broth and vegetables in each of four shallow bowls. Top with fish fillet and garnish with basil leaves.
Season quinoa with salt if necessary and serve on the side in separate serving bowls.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Come Party With Me: Olympics Viewing - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:00:38 -0700

Like a medal ceremony during the games, the dessert to your Olympic viewing should be rewarding and sweet. During the Summer nothing beats homemade ice cream, so wow guests with fresh scoops of cold, green tea ice cream.

This exotic flavor continues the Asian-influenced theme of the menu. Make the mixture the night before the party and freeze in an ice cream maker a half an hour before serving.

To learn the technique for green tea ice cream, read more.

Green Tea Ice Cream
From Teality

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon mirin
1 tablespoon green tea powder (recommended: Matcha)
1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream

Directions

Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Place the saucepan over low heat and bring to a simmer, then simmer, stirring, for about 5 minutes. Add the mirin to the saucepan, stir, and immediately remove from heat.
Dissolve the green tea powder in about 3 tablespoons of the sugar water from the saucepan, stirring until completely blended.
Pour this mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining sugar water. Add the milk and return to heat, until green tea powder is completely dissolved.
Remove from heat and add cream to the mixture, combining well. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
Transfer the mixture to an electric ice cream maker and churn and chill for about 35-40 minutes, or according to manufacturer's instructions.
The texture of the ice cream should be smooth and thick. You can serve this immediately, or transfer the ice cream to a plastic freezer container and freeze for a firmer texture.

Print recipe with images | without images

Christopher Kane is Our Cup of (Green) Tea

BellaSugarUK — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Brit designer Christopher Kane – who is bringing us the oversize sequin trend this Autumn/Winter – is also upping his ethical kudos. He's going green, in a collaboration with Teavigo – a cult, green tea company.

Green tea is a fantastic beauty and health remedy – it's great for the digestive system, and makes your skin look clearer and brighter. Mr Kane is obviously as much of a fan as we are, and to celebrate he's designing a limited edition bag for the brand.

With super-busy lifestyles being the norm in the fast-paced world of fashion, it’s no surprise that beauty-obsessed fashionistas are reviving their spirits, and skin with this miracle drink.

"I have a hectic lifestyle and like many people I can find it hard to find the time to take care of myself." admits Christopher "Teavigo fits into my life easily and I feel good knowing that I am taking steps to look after my health."

Teavigo is said to be especially good to help burn fat, as well as improving the health of your heart. Sounds just like our cup of tea!

Source

Foods That Fight Sunburn

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700

Let me start by saying the most effective way to protect your skin against sunburn is using sunscreen and plenty of it – a shot-glass worth – frequently. While a bit of sunlight is healthy, since we need UV rays to synthesize vitamin D, you should wear sunscreen daily.

You can, however, boost your skin's ability to protect itself from harmful UV rays by eating certain foods like tomatoes. Don't worry if you are still avoiding raw tomatoes, the beneficial antioxidant of tomatoes increases when it is cooked and more concentrated like tomato paste. The benefits of tomatoes drastically increase when paired with olive oil. I see an Italian dinner in my near future.

Green tea, super rich in phytonutrients, is a wonder drink when it comes to health. The antioxidants in this tea have been found to block DNA damage from UV light in studies involving human skin cells. You don't need to brew yourself a hot cup of tea to enjoy the benefits of green tea. One of my favorite drinks of Summer is a green tea-lime cooler. It is refreshing.

While you can't eat your sunscreen, you can boost your natural protection. Eat and drink up!

Source

Come Party With Me: Moroccan Dinner - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:00:00 -0700

My Moroccan dinner would not be complete without sweet mint tea. This hot concoction is a common commodity on the streets of the North African country. Although alcohol is not traditionally consumed in Islamic culture, at my party I'll offer guests an alcoholic variation of the tea in the form of a green-tea cocktail. Water - both sparkling and still - local beers, and a couple bottles of wine will round out the drink menu.

For the recipes to both the hot and spiked teas, read more.

Moroccan Mint Tea
From Gourmet magazine

Ingredients

1 tablespoon loose Chinese gunpowder green tea
5 cups boiling water
3 to 4 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
1 large bunch fresh mint (1 ounce)

Directions

Put tea in teapot and pour in 1 cup boiling water, then swirl gently to warm pot and rinse tea. Strain out and discard water, reserving tea leaves in pot.
Add remaining 4 cups boiling water to tea and let steep 2 minutes.
Stir in sugar (to taste) and mint sprigs and steep 3 to 4 minutes more. Serve in small heatproof glasses.

Serves 6.

Print recipe with images | without images

Green Tea Cocktail
From Eat Entertainment

Ingredients

1 oz. green tea liqueur
1 oz. vodka
5 oz. white cranberry juice
1 lime slice or rosemary stick

Directions

Mix the green tea liqueur, vodka, and white cranberry juice, stirring to combine.
Serve in an ice-filled highball glass. Garnish with a lime slice or a stick of rosemary.

Makes 1 cocktail.

Print recipe with images | without images

The Pour un Ete, 100 ml - $135.00	Voluspa Victoria Collection - Fleur de Café Petite Roll-On Perfume - $24.00
Trance Essence - Genie in a Bottle Perfume Oil - Roll On - 3.75ml - $46.00	Serge Lutens Five O'Clock Au Gingembre - $120.00
Costume National Scent Eau De Parfum - $100.00	Barneys New York Route du The (3.4 oz.) - $55.00
Memoire Liquide - No. 314 Cuir Millesime Parfum - 0.5 oz. - $65.00	Carthusia - IO Capri Eau de Toilette - 50ml - $75.00
Parfums de Nicolai - Fig Tea Eau Fraiche - 100ml Spray - $65.00	The Tea Eau de Toilette by L'Aromarine - $18.00
L'Artisan Parfumeur Tea for Two - $95.00	Bvlgari Fragrance Eau The Blanc White Tea, 2.5 ounces - $80.00
Elizabeth Arden Green Tea for Women Perfume Collection - $10.00	Kenzo Eau de Fleur Tea - $55.00
Green Tea with Mint Eau de Toilette - $46.00