What is Matcha Tea?

What exactly is matcha tea? I have tried many teas but must admit I have never had matcha.  I found some interesting information about the antioxidant properties of this tea over at matchasource.com.

So why and how is matcha so much better for you than other teas?  

Firstly the whole leaf of the tea plant is used with matcha.  The entire leaf is ground to a bright green powder and the whole thing is ingested.  Matcha literally means 'powdered tea'.  And by the way, the brighter green the powder, the better the quality of tea.

Secondly, although matcha comes from the same plant as all other teas it is grown slightly differently.  The final few weeks before harvesting the plants are covered with opaque sheeting to prevent light getting to the leaves.  This encourages the plant to start pumping out huge amounts of chlorophyll and amino acids.  These are the chemical compounds that prevent aging and chronic diseases.

You would need to drink at least ten cups of regular green tea to consume the same amount of antioxidants as one cup of matcha as illustrated in the graphics below.

 I have now added matcha to my daily routine by adding it to my morning jasmine tea.  

Are you a matcha drinker?  How do you take yours?  Before you go, leave a comment below... 

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What is the Surprising Taste of this Peony Tea?

This post is a little different than the usual post.  I'm still painting flowers and I've been lucky enough to have the house full of peonies all summer long.  I love to have the real thing in the house for inspiration, and I admit I don't always throw out a bunch of flowers just because they begin to fade and drop their petals.  I love the soft colors of wilting blooms and often leave them until only the bare stems are left in the vase. All those petals just seem too pretty to throw away. So what to do with all the faded petals?

I remember making rose petal tea as a kid.  I loved making lotions and potions with things I found in the garden, but I had no idea if peonies were edible or not.  A quick Google search told me peony petals and leaves are safe to ingest and have been used for centuries in China in teas and salads.

I put about twelve dried petals into a cup and poured hot but not boiling water over the top and let them seep for a minute or so.  I can't say my cup of peony tea was too flavorful. but after reading about it's antioxidant properties I'm keen to try a store brought, professionally made, peony tea.

I noticed the teas contain both the leaves and the petals so I'm guessing it's the leaves that make the stronger taste and the petals that add the fragrance which would be why my cup of petals were rather bland.

Below are the top three peony teas that made my list.  Has anyone tried these brands?  If you have I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Drop me a comment in the section below and I will respond.

Oh and the surprising taste?  Davidson's suggest their white peony tea tastes of chocolate...

Davidson's: White Peony Tea

Davidson's white peony tea - Wonderfully light with "chocolate" undertones, picked at its peak for ultimate flavor.  Chocolate?  I must put this one on my shopping list.

Higher Tea: White Peony

White peony tea by Higher Tea is made with unopened tea buds to give a sweeter taste.

Steven Smith Teamaker: White Petal

This small batch tea is made from chamomile petals and Chinese Osman thus flowers.

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