We all have perhaps read tons of literature on the net, magazines and tabloids singing paeans to the health benefits of green tea. But in spite of knowing how good it is for our health, we still have problems incorporating a cup of green tea into our daily routine on regular basis. We are just not able to get the same “kick” from it as we get from black tea or coffee. For most of us, especially the beginners, it is a conscious effort to drink it as a food supplement rather than be drawn to it for its taste. Most tea drinkers new to green tea actually find it too watery at first. More so if they have been hooked to coffee or black tea before trying green tea. Green tea, in contrast, is rather subtle and light flavored. It does take time to develop a taste for it, but it sure has its own exquisite flavor. Once you develop a taste for it, you would actually prefer it over other strongly flavored drinks.
To prepare a good cup of green tea is a deft art. Unlike black tea, it must not be boiled. Too high a temperature or over brewing can cause the tea to turn astringent and bitter. The polyphenols present in the tea can destroy its flavor and make it taste too “gassy”. The trick is to steep it at a mild temperature to draw out its soft natural sweetness. Spring water best complements the natural smoothness of green tea. It is usually brewed without milk as milk casein can blunt the tea’s health benefits and alter its taste.
More than just a tea, green tea is a versatile kitchen item which can blend sumptuously with other food items to produce mouth watering delicacies. You can make green tea ice creams, green tea latte, sponge cakes, soups, stews, salads and numerous other dishes. A green tea preparation can be a nice finishing dish on your menu as it cleanses the palate and aids digestion. However, one thing you should be careful about is not to pair green tea with strongly spiced dishes as green tea’s faint flavor is overshadowed by such strong flavors.
Japanese Gyokuro pairs well with fresh fruit and pastries while sukiyaki and beef stew are ideally followed by Sencha. It may be blended with floral fragrances like jasmine, lychee, and chrysanthemum to make a wonderful dessert item. A chilled green tea punch is a perfect way to beat summer heat; it cools, refreshes, rejuvenates, and nourishes your body at the same time.
Incorporating green tea sensibly into your diet plan can help achieve your health goals in a “tasty” way. Green tea desserts satiate your food cravings on one hand, and rev up your metabolism on the other. A quicker digestion helps you burn more calories and thus aid weight loss. It is a wonderful substitute for those bland weight loss diet plans which are too tasteless and boring to follow.
Green tea also makes an effective diet supplement for children and the elderly. It is completely natural, light and safe health supplement which can be easily blended into one’s everyday meals. Green tea shakes and punches can be garnished with lemon, honey, vanilla, mint, or frozen cherry cubes to make mellow summer treats for children.
Green tea adds nutrition as well as taste to the dish. Its normal flavor profile can be described as fresh, grassy and green. However, some varieties are more astringent while others are sweeter. You can explore and experiment with different brands and varieties of green tea available at your grocery store to pick out the variety that best suits your taste. You can actually experiment with this wonderful food item to create new, interesting recipes of your own.
Reference List:
