Green Tea Please!

[Wa Muhammada]

Green Tea Please!
By Gul

Tea is the world’s most popular drink (after water) so it’s not surprising that there are so many types to choose from! In the 17th century, tea was enjoyed mainly by women. Whilst men socialized in coffee houses, ladies would invite friends round for afternoon tea, and would brew their loose tea leaves in boiling hot water.

Winter is coming, and with it comes extra kilos, flu and chilly evenings. It is tempting to laze around in your bed, wrapped in a blanket, and give into the temptation of hot chocolate, coffee or chai. We tend to put on extra kilos in winters since we tend to lay off our outdoor sweat session and would rather curl up in bed with a book in hand.

Incorporating green tea in your daily diet helps you get a lasting source of natural energy full of antioxidants. Among the different types of tea, green tea is one of the richest natural sources of antioxidants. Not only is it a good source of energy but a reliable source of proper hydration in winters. While we usually opt for hot beverages as a way for hydration in winters and are likely to end up drinking a cup of coffee, we need to keep in mind that such drinks are diuretic and high in calories.

Green tea is a calorie free drink which helps you feel fuller, and in turn helps you avoid those high-calorie drinks that you are better off without in the first place. Green tea can help you lay off those pantry raids and be thankful for it by the end of the winter. It keeps your body hydrated without getting too much sugar in your system.

History of Green Tea:

For many years in ancient China, tea was a costly drink, consumed only by royalty and the wealthy. However, following the fall of the Mongolian Empire back in 1368 AD, the whole population of China began to experience the wonderful consumption of tea, including the much-prized green tea.

In the early 1400s BC, Chinese seamen roamed the seas and took with them their green tea to ward off the illnesses that plagued European sailors, such as scurvy. This amazing tea became a trade-good eventually, sought after for its delicate taste and health giving benefits, and found its way around the world.

It was however, during the Ming Dynasty that the drinking of tea became more than simply a royal or higher class activity. The Ming Dynasty lasted from 14th through the 17th century AD and accounted for a great deal of development and innovation in the growing and brewing of tea.

Health benefits of green tea:

Modern research has suggested that this type of tea has a lot of health benefits including antioxidants and lower levels of caffeine. Indeed, the Chinese have been using tea for its health benefits for centuries. It has been used to improve mental sharpness and it has helped with circulation.

Weight loss: First things first, green tea contains properties that can help to increase your metabolic rate and burn fat in a short time. This means that, together with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle, green tea can help you try and lose weight. If you swap sugary and fizzy drinks for hot or iced green tea, you can save thousands of calories a year!

Keeps blood pressure in check: Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

Protects heart: A study found that one of the active compounds in green tea is as effective as aspirin in keeping blood platelets from clumping together. This results in improving the circulation and may prevent hardening of the arteries. Drinking green tea regularly helps protect the heart against a range of medical conditions including heart attacks and strokes.

Controls cholesterol: Green tea reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.

Keeping diabetes at bay: Green tea apparently helps regulate glucose levels slowing the rise of blood sugar after eating. This can prevent high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage.

Wards off depression: The green brew can also have a calming effect on your mind. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and is beneficial for tea drinkers. According to researchers, theanine also helps reduce anxiety.

Skincare: Green tea can also help with wrinkles and signs of ageing. This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Recent studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage.

Stops tooth decay: The compounds contained in green tea kill bacteria found in the mouth, stopping them from attacking your teeth. In this way, green tea helps prevent cavities and gum disease, as well as decreasing the chances of inflammation.

Savour your green tea in style:

Green tea comes in different forms such as powder, leaves and tea bags. Tea bags were first invented in 1908. When tea bags were originally invented over 100 years ago they were made from silk. This quickly changed to paper and when tea became really popular in the late 20th century companies started to change the shape and overall look of their tea bags. Today, most people find it much easier and more convenient to buy tea bags. Tea bags come in all shapes and sizes today. Pyramids and circles are both tea bag shapes you can find on the supermarket shelf.

You can spice up your green tea game by traditional tea go-withs: cardamom, honey, cinnamon, mint or lemon. If you are someone who always finds him/herself running on a tight schedule then it would be wise to stock up your kitchen with Lipton green tea bags since they come with on-the-go tea bags. They come in different flavours which will ensure you don’t get bored easily and keep your morning ritual on point.

Although green tea helps speed up the metabolism, but this by no extent means one can consume 3000 calories and expect green tea to do wonders. A healthy metabolism is a process which requires consistency with food and exercise. Think of green tea as a supplement for your daily fitness goals.

My cousins live on their farm near Layye and I visit there regularly. One of their neighbours grows ‘lemongrass’, which is like Green tea. He’s a v.poor farmer but he’s been increasing his lemongrass crop every year and ما شاء الله hes had a very good yield and he sells it to Peshawar side...he says the Pathans drink this after eating gosht. He gives me bunches as well each time I go and it’s a very good taste الحمدلله

 

[Pakhtoon yum]

Tims doesnt have strawberry muffins. They have blueberry , chocolate and oreo muffins

U missed it then

 

[Suff Shikan]

 

[ghazi52]

This blooming tea is almost too beautiful to drink

https://www.facebook.com/

.

 

[khail007]

i like Green Tea

Sir, IMO most of the Chinese like Jasmine tea ... I remember as a child when my father use to go to China in era (1968-1979), he used to bring Jasmine tea, Chinese ceramic mugs with lids and beautiful Chinese painting on them. He also brings some badges in red colour with Chairman Mao's sculpture on them.

 

[ghazi52]

Coffee course: The 5 types popular in Pakistan
By Sarah Price
August 30, 2019
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2045575/4-coffee-course-5-types-popular-pakistan/

PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Do you love coffee but often wonder what the difference between a cappuccino and latte is? Look no further, because it’s time to get in the know-how about the art of an all-time favourite beverage that makes most of our mornings a little better.

Here is a little fun fact about the origins of coffee. While many of us probably think it was first created in Brazil, it is actually thought the coffee bean was found in Ethiopia. The earliest substantiated knowledge of coffee drinking is from the early 15th century, in the Sufi monasteries of Yemen and spreading to Mecca and Cairo.

Now, coffee has advanced to the mainstream delicious drinks we go to cafes for today. From macchiato to mocha to an Americano, there are a variety of coffee names that some of us may not even know of.

What are espresso based drinks?

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ATLIER COFFEE

These are made with a cappuccino machine that share three common ingredients; espresso, steamed milk and foam. The main differences between them are the proportions within the beverage. Some coffees have extra toppings added to them to complete the taste, such as chocolate on a cappuccino. But in it’s essence, it’s all made up from the three key ingredients.

Espresso (short black)

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/IMAGINATIVE COLLECTIVE

The espresso or ‘short black’ is the foundation and most important part of every espresso-based drink. There is a whole guide in itself on how to create ‘a perfect espresso shot,’ handed down through many generations or experimented with in coffee-culture around the world. An espresso consists of only one coffee shot.

Long black (Americano)

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KELVY JOHNSON

The coffee, commonly and popularly termed as ‘Americano’, is hot water and an espresso shot extracted on top of piping warm water. Fill a cup with two-thirds of hot water and extract one shot of espresso.

5 natural drinks that will help you lose belly fat

Barista tip: Make sure to back-wash the portafilter before making an Americano, otherwise particles from the coffee grinder might be floating around.

Latte

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/EDWARD TANUJAYA

‘Latte’ for short, is an espresso-based drink with steamed milk and micro-foam added to the coffee. It is much sweeter compared to an espresso due to the milk. In the USA and other mainstream cafes around the world, it is common to use a cup instead of a tumbler glass for a latte.

Cappuccino

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/AESTHAMINE

A cappuccino is similar to a latte. However, the key difference is that the cappuccino has more foam and chocolate placed on top of the drink. Extract one shot of espresso into a cup, add steamed milk and 2-3cm of micro-foam on top of the steamed milk. Sprinkle chocolate and you have yourself a cappuccino!

Mocha

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KOLLECTIVE KITCHEN

Mocha is an American invention and a variant of a café latte, inspired by the Turin coffee beverage Bicerin. The term “caffe mocha” is not used in Italy nor in France, where it is referred to as a “mocha latte.” It is a mix between a cappuccino and a hot chocolate, and made by putting mixing chocolate powder with an espresso shot and then adding steamed milk and micro-foam into the beverage.

 

[Nilgiri]

You got a favourite kind of coffee yourself @ghazi52 ?

 

[ghazi52]

Here's how you can make a delicious hot cup of Kashmiri chai right at home

MUBASHAR NAQVI

This rainy season calls for a hot cuppa, and you know Kashmiri chai hits all the right notes

Photos by the writer

Kashmir is not only known for its unrivalled natural beauty — snow-covered mountain peaks, blue rivers and rich culture — but also for its mouthwatering traditional food like rogan josh, dum olav, matschgand, goshtaba, modur pulav, aab gosht and many more.

To wash all the lovely food down, the Kashmiris have a special pink-coloured tea called noon chai which has a creamy, buttery and slightly thick consistency but is thin enough to sip gently.

The word noon means salt in Kashmiri and several other Indo-Aryan languages such as Bengali, Rajasthani and Nepali. That’s why one can easily guess that traditional Kashmiri noon chai will be salty. Yes, if tea can be sugarless then why not salty? However, sugar can be added if one prefers their chai sweet.

The popularity of noon chai across the South Asia region can be guaged by the many names it is known by. Noon chai is also served in many parts of Pakistan as Kashmiri chai, often with sugar and nuts at special occasions, weddings, and during the winter months. Kashmiri people in Pakistan also call it sabz chai. It is also served in Afghanistan, where it is known as shor chai. Pink tea and sheer chai are also Kashmiri chais by another name.

The origins of Kashmiri tea are unknown though it most likely emerged in the area — the green tea leaves used to make it are found in abundance in Himalayan regions such as China, Pakistan, Nepal, India and Bhutan.

There is no specific season or time for enjoying a cup of noon tea, though it is associated with cold weather because of its warming ingredients. It is an integral part of Kashmiri tradition and is consumed at least two to three times daily with accompaniments such as kulchas, sheermaal, Kashmiri breads, kandir tchot and baqarkhanis.

Green tea leaves used in the brewing of Kashmiri tea are a powerful antioxidant and come from the camellia sinensis plant. It inhibits formation of blood clots, and wards off chances of stroke and heart attack.

It is believed in Kashmiri folklore that noon chai is refreshing in the heat while in winters it warms you up. Not only is it nutritious, L-theanine, an amino acid component of the tea helps in reduction of stress and anxiety.

“In Ramazan particularly, when the digestive tract is a bit disturbed due to binging after iftar, sipping a cup of Kashmiri tea can help relieve heartburn, bloating and spasmodic pain in the tummy as it contains cardamom and baking soda,” says Shugufta Sheikh, a senior government teacher in Muzaffarabad.

“It is also a great way to wake up in Sehri,” she adds. “Generally, anaemics should avoid Kashmiri tea as it can cause a drop in iron levels because of polyphenolics in the green tea which function as iron chelators [small molecules that bind very tightly to metal ions] and prevent absorption of iron.

Kashmiri tea is energising, increases mental alertness, reduces headaches and upholds fluid levels in the body. Joint pains are also known to disappear to some extent if a pinch of cinnamon is added to the brew. Similarly, the saffron which is added to the tea can lift your spirits on a cold, miserable day.

“Traditionally noon chai, or Kashmiri chai is served saltish but many people prefer sweet tea. I like both,” says Shaista Rehman, a Muzaffarabad-based youth activist. “Usually, our breakfast consists of Kashmiri tea, omelette and traditional baqarkhani. Though there are number of recipes of Kashmiri tea, I like the one which is made of herbs from the forests of the scenic Neelum Valley.”

Kashmiris, living on both sides of the divided state and anywhere in the world equally enjoy its delicate flavour and have at least one cup a day, mostly in the evenings. In Muzaffarabad, the capital city of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, tourists from every nook and corner of the country run around asking for a traditional cup of noon chai, and flock to Madina Market, Main Bazaar and other adjacent areas to enjoy some with a piece of traditional flatbread.

Making a cup of Kashmiri chai is a labour of love but the taste is worth the time and effort. Apparently a cup of homemade-Kashmiri tea contains 115 calories, 9g fat, 35mg cholesterol, 12g carbs, 7g sugars and 9g protein.

Here’s a recipe that makes two cups of noon chai:

Ingredients
4 cups of water (2 cups of cold water)

2 to 3 tsp green tea leaves

Salt and/or sugar (according to your taste)

4 green cardamoms

2 cups milk

A pinch of baking soda or saffron (for the beautiful pink hue)

Crushed dry fruits (almonds and pistachios preferably)

Cream (optional)

Method
Pour two cups water in a pot and make sure that the pot you are using has a broad base. Crush green cardamoms in your hand until seeds come out. Add both the seeds and shell in the water. Add the green tea leaves. Add baking soda or saffron; it will give the pink colour to the tea.

Let the mixture simmer and boil for about 20 minutes until the water is reduced to half. Now add two cups of cold water while it's boiling and stir the mixture. After adding water, let it simmer for five to 10 minutes. While it simmers, boil the milk in another pot (you can add more cardamoms to milk, if you want). Keep stirring the mixture.

Add the tea mixture to the milk. Then add salt or sugar or both, according to your preference. Keep boiling the tea; the more you boil, the stronger the tea will be. Now finally pour tea in cups, add crushed dry fruits and enjoy a hot cup of noon chai.

Mubashar Naqvi is a freelance writer based in Muzaffarabad. He may be reached at mubashar_naqvi@yahoo.com

 

[denel]

My cousins live on their farm near Layye and I visit there regularly. One of their neighbours grows ‘lemongrass’, which is like Green tea. He’s a v.poor farmer but he’s been increasing his lemongrass crop every year and ما شاء الله hes had a very good yield and he sells it to Peshawar side...he says the Pathans drink this after eating gosht. He gives me bunches as well each time I go and it’s a very good taste الحمدلله

I grow lemon grass here as well. More for family use. We brew it together with regular tea or mix with rooibos or even green tea. Lemon grass parts a citrus flavour. Some people - those of SA Malay (Javanese from 400 yrs back ) communities grind it as use it as part of cooking rendang and other dishes.

Now, i sometimes put Sage or oregano into the tea as well. Very helpful for anti-inflamatory properties.

 

[ghazi52]

Weight Loss: Here’s the best detox tea for a slimmer body!

Detox tea is mainly used to detoxify the body, especially the liver, and also helps in weight loss. The main function of this tea is to cleanse out toxins and other harmful substances from the body.

Honestly, not all detox teas work well, therefore, it's important to select a brand wisely when searching for one.

The following homemade recipe is a must try, as it guarantees a 100 per cent cleansing result.

Ingredients:

• Warm water (1 cup)
• Apple cider vinegar (2 tablespoons)
• Lemon juice (2 tablespoons)
• Honey (1 tablespoon)
• Cinnamon (1 tablespoon)
• Cayenne (1 small pinch)

Method to prepare

Mix all the ingredients together by stirring. Finally, take a sip and enjoy.

Reasons why the tea works:

The ingredients in this recipe are used for cleansing the body and when combined together the results produced increase the threshold, which allows an easier and quick weight loss.

Apple cider vinegar is actively known for detoxifying the liver and lymphatic system. It has also shown to improve your digestive system and metabolism.

Lemon juice helps regulate acidity levels as it has an alkaline effect on our body. You would be surprised to know that drinking lemon water or adding this water to drinks and juices helps increase energy levels, improves skin complexion, improves the immune system, and removes toxins from our body.

Cinnamon and cayenne are actually quite therapeutic and helps aid digestion, reduce inflammation and improves metabolism.

Over all, this secret tea recipe contains all the right compounds to improve your health and enhance detoxification.

Raw honey is an optional ingredient. The best part about this ingredient is that when added to drinks honey serves as a natural sweetener, as it is rich in nutrients and provides our body with a boost of antioxidants.

 

[jamahir]

Green Tea Please!
By Gul
...
Winter is coming, and with it comes extra kilos, flu and chilly evenings. It is tempting to laze around in your bed, wrapped in a blanket, and give into the temptation of hot chocolate, coffee or chai. We tend to put on extra kilos in winters since we tend to lay off our outdoor sweat session and would rather curl up in bed with a book in hand.

Some one tell this woman, Gul, that women look good with some extra kilos on.

@Zibago @Mentee @Bilal9

As for the topic at hand, last year I drank a Japanese green tea that cost me more than two hundred rupees.

 

[messiach]

My doctor said green tea also causes damage to liver. Maybe low quality or over boiling or just excess consumption! He says most about teas on media is propoganda for big businesses to sell their products. Tea with milk is probably the safest, tastiest and best.

Weight Loss: Here’s the best detox tea for a slimmer body!

Detox tea is mainly used to detoxify the body, especially the liver, and also helps in weight loss. The main function of this tea is to cleanse out toxins and other harmful substances from the body.

Honestly, not all detox teas work well, therefore, it's important to select a brand wisely when searching for one.

The following homemade recipe is a must try, as it guarantees a 100 per cent cleansing result.

Ingredients:

• Warm water (1 cup)
• Apple cider vinegar (2 tablespoons)
• Lemon juice (2 tablespoons)
• Honey (1 tablespoon)
• Cinnamon (1 tablespoon)
• Cayenne (1 small pinch)

Method to prepare

Mix all the ingredients together by stirring. Finally, take a sip and enjoy.

Reasons why the tea works:

The ingredients in this recipe are used for cleansing the body and when combined together the results produced increase the threshold, which allows an easier and quick weight loss.

Apple cider vinegar is actively known for detoxifying the liver and lymphatic system. It has also shown to improve your digestive system and metabolism.

Lemon juice helps regulate acidity levels as it has an alkaline effect on our body. You would be surprised to know that drinking lemon water or adding this water to drinks and juices helps increase energy levels, improves skin complexion, improves the immune system, and removes toxins from our body.

Cinnamon and cayenne are actually quite therapeutic and helps aid digestion, reduce inflammation and improves metabolism.

Over all, this secret tea recipe contains all the right compounds to improve your health and enhance detoxification.

Raw honey is an optional ingredient. The best part about this ingredient is that when added to drinks honey serves as a natural sweetener, as it is rich in nutrients and provides our body with a boost of antioxidants.

 

[HannibalBarca]

My doctor said green tea also causes damage to liver. Maybe low quality or over boiling or just excess consumption! He says most about teas on media is propoganda for big businesses to sell their products. Tea with milk is probably the safest, tastiest and best.

Everything in excess is bad...

 

[Bilal9]

Some one tell this woman, Gul, that women look good with some extra kilos on.

@Zibago @Mentee @Bilal9

As for the topic at hand, last year I drank a Japanese green tea that cost me more than two hundred rupees.

I have been accused continually to favor expensive 300 Taka teas and coffees in Dhaka. Guilty as charged. But the point is that sipping these expensive beverages once in a while keeps this chai culture alive and tells entrepreneurs that we support these places with exotic foliage and decor. Plus I leave generous tips too - why cheat hardworking wait-staff?

Like @jamahir bhai, I prefer my women a bit rounded out (but not obese) - there are 'ideal' weights for all women. Skinny 'all-bones' women who starve themselves are doing no good to their health.

By the way - Bangladesh' seven layer tea is world famous (Srimangal area in Sylhet, where many tea gardens exist).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Color_Tea

Some Tea and Coffee houses around Dhaka's better neighborhoods...

Latitude 23

North-End Cafe

Bistro Gusto

Banglar Mishti (Bengali Mithai place that serves Tea and Coffee as well)