Matcha is having a good year. If you are unfamiliar with Matcha, it’s a powdered green tea made famous by Japanese Zen monks. It has been used for centuries to create a sense of calm and focused alertness in both meditation and mindful living. We’ve been seeing all kinds of recipes lately using Matcha in sweets, hot drinks, and cocktails. Matcha is also showing up more and more in coffee shops and cafés. Even Starbucks now features a Teavana Green Tea Latte made with Matcha (and a whopping 40 grams of sugar per 12 oz cup). Though I’m familiar with traditionally brewed Matcha, which creates a naturally creamy, frothy, sweet, umami, and tremendously satisfying cup of opaque green tea, I was inspired by the Americanized recipes using Matcha. I set out to make an Arogya-style Matcha Latte, made with homemade almond milk and our ceremonial grade Matcha.
Read More›With so many delicious and healing herbs in the world it would be hard for me to choose a single favorite, but without a doubt Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, would be high up on the list. Lately, Tulsi has been an herb of choice for my morning quart of tea, which I feel helps me get through the day with ease and sustained energy. If you haven’t tried Tulsi, which we feature in our Calming De-Stress and Detox blends, the taste is reminiscent of mint, clove and fennel. With a delightful aroma and a host of medicinal properties, Tulsi is a wonderful herb to get to know.
Read More›For many, green tea is the gateway to cultivating a love for fine teas. Black teas remain classic and time-honored as they are the teas most ingrained in our culture thanks to the influence of the British. Oolong is a class of teas that finds itself in between Green and Black teas, in terms of flavor, caffeine content, color, and oxidation level.
Read More›I recently returned from a trip to central Brazil, far from the rain forest, and days from the beach, in a savannah-like region known for its national park, hundreds of waterfalls and quartz crystal deposits. There’s nothing like escaping the cold of winter to a warm climate! Though it was challenging to leave behind the sun, waterfalls, fresh mangos and papayas, I was able to bring back something that is as easy to enjoy here as it is in Brazil; a recipe called Muesli Viva, or “raw muesli”. It’s a combination of rolled oats, soaked nuts and seeds, rehydrated dried fruit, and whatever seasonal fruits are available. Muesli Viva makes a wonderful breakfast, hearty snack, or healthy dessert. I’ve been enjoying this treat in the mornings and whenever I need a nutritional boost.
Read More›