Matcha may seem like the newest coffeehouse fad, but the truth is that this green tea beverage has been around for quite some time. This tea’s history dates as far back as China’s Tang Dynasty in the 7th Century, though it was really popularized during the Song Dynasty around the 11th Century. It was during that time when a Japanese Buddhist monk returned to his home country from a stay in China, carrying tea seeds and the knowledge of their proper preparation. These seeds eventually began a Japanese tradition that today yields some of the best matcha in the world.

Matcha has become one of the fastest growing segments of the global tea market, so it should come as no surprise that Houston’s has partnered with vendors who provide it at an exceptional level. One vendor who has made it a priority to offer high quality, traditional tea is Two Leaves and a Bud.

Two Leaves and a Bud is a pioneer in bringing teas and traditions from Asia, to the West. As one of the first to provide North Americans with teas in the pyramid-shaped sachet, this is a company that has become known for setting trends and sharing true magic from the lesser-known parts of the world. That spark is no more apparent than in Two Leaves’ matcha products. Their Nice Matcha and Ceremonial Matcha offer two flavor and application options for both newcomers and veterans to the tea.

Two Leaves’ Ceremonial Matcha has been crafted to delight with the full flavor of 100% organic Japanese green tea, while Nice Matcha is a blend with a little more sweetness (but not too much!) that perfectly complements lattes and smoothies. Often described as having a creamy and vegetal taste, matcha is unique from any other tea in its overall flavor profile. But a huge reason why this green tea has grown so popular is because of everything that it offers in addition to its one-of-a-kind flavor.

The word “matcha” literally translates to “powdered tea,” because at its core, it is a powdered version of green tea. When green tea is nearly ready to be harvested, it is covered in shade to give the leaves opportunity to grow more full with flavor, away from the harsh sunlight. Once plucked, these leaves are placed into cold storage to dry out, then pulverized with stone until all that’s left is a verdant green powder.

Once matcha has reached its silky smooth state, it can be mixed into hot or cold beverages, much like its tea counterparts. However, quite unlike other teas, matcha leaves are completely consumed. Whereas you would eventually discard a tea bag once it has finished steeping, the leaves remain in your mug until you’ve sipped them all up. The result is a far more nutritious and energizing experience.

Because of the harvesting process that it undergoes and because of the way that it’s prepared, matcha provides the body with higher levels of antioxidants and a unique amino acid called L-theanine. It’s health benefits have been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease, reducing total cholesterol levels, and can even help you feel more relaxed and concentrated. Its caffeine levels are also about on-par with an ordinary cup of coffee (almost three cups of ordinary green tea), so if you’re looking for a boost in energy, in addition to a nutritious and delicious drink, you’ve made the right choice.

In recent years, matcha has proven to have far wider applications than 7th Century China ever could have imagined. Besides its booming popularity in lattes and frappes, it has found its way into baking, ice cream, and is even sprinkled on popcorn! There seems to be no limit to the number of ways that matcha can be enjoyed, whether it be in the cafe, restaurant, or just by the chef at home. Matcha has been around for 1,400 years, and Houston’s can’t wait to see what the world does with it next.

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It may be surprising, but iced tea is a fairly recent development relative to its warmer counterpart. Tea itself has been around as far back as the 3rd Century, first recorded in a medical text written by the famed Chinese physician, Hua Tuo. Although the precise origins are unclear, iced tea was born in 19th Century America. While it at first seemed like a mere novelty, the trend took hold when books such as Buckeye Cookbook by Estelle Woods Wilcox and Housekeeping in Old Virginia by Marion Cabell Tyree published recipes that ultimately popularized the beverage nationwide. Even today, iced tea makes up a majority of tea sales in the United States.

There are few ways to better enjoy the summer months than with a refreshing glass of iced tea. With summer officially arriving on June 21st, June has been dubbed National Iced Tea Month. So, we decided to kick-off the celebration by listing the great flavors and forms of the sometimes sweet drink! In the process, you can also get a little more acquainted with the fantastic line of tea brands provided by Houston’s.

Not just any tea can be made into iced tea. There are certain teas that are optimal for making a truly delicious iced tea, and a few certain brands that know how to get the mixture just right.

Black Tea and Green Tea typically come from the same plants, but the process that follows harvest is slightly different. Before the tea is dried, it is allowed to oxidize, a process in which the tea is exposed to oxygen and is turned into a dark tea. The result is a more fruity or smoky flavor.

Mighty Leaf‘s Organic Breakfast Black Tea promises an aromatic and brisk flavor that can either be enjoyed black, with milk, sugar, or even a touch of honey. And of course this robust blend can easily be brewed with iced tea in mind!

Green Tea follows a very similar process as Black Tea, except that it is immediately dried upon harvest rather than put through oxidization. This preserves the tea’s natural taste, making for flavors that are lighter, nuttier, and more grassy.

Numi Organic Tea’s Green Tea is plucked, dried, pan-fried, and steamed to prevent the oxidization process from taking place. Once the tea is curled, it receives a final firing to seal its spectacular flavor. Gunpowder Green follows this process, except that it is instead rolled into pearls that unfold full-bodied flavor for an excellent afternoon pick-me-up.

Oolong Tea is different from Black Tea and Green Tea because it comes from a completely different plant. However, it can hold certain characteristics from these two teas since it goes through some level of oxidization. The extent of oxidization can vary widely, making Oolong a versatile kind of tea. Oolong Tea is also typically rolled into a variety of shapes that give it even more flavor and aroma possibilities.

ITO EN has taken the Oolong sensation and put it into an easy on-the-go can that is meant to be enjoyed cold. The company has taken full advantage of the tea’s semi-oxidized properties to make an exceptional flavor somewhere between Black and Green Tea.

Herbal Tea, oddly enough, is not actually a tea at all, since it does not come from any particular tea plant. It’s actually a combination of leaves, roots, flowers, and pretty much any plant that isn’t tea. However, the way Herbal Tea is enjoyed places it firmly in the “tea” category, and we’re sure happy it does because it makes for an excellent iced tea.

Two Leaves and a Bud offers the Organic Better Belly Blend, which takes full advantage of Herbal Tea’s wide range of available resources while providing a healthy cup of joy! Ginger, fennel, crisp mint, calendula, and apple join forces to bring us a refreshing tea whether hot or cold.

Fruity Tea is without a doubt a favorite amongst iced tea drinkers. Often bringing out favorite flavors like lemon, raspberry, apple, or even pomegranate, iced tea just can’t go wrong when paired with something a little sweet.

Bigelow understands that tea drinkers aren’t always in love with cold or hot tea, which is why Lemon Lift has been created to accommodate the best of both worlds! With just the right amount of lemon and a dash of spice, you’ll soon be wondering why you ever settled for lemonade.

Tea Concentrate isn’t exactly its own form of tea, but it is just one more way that you can enjoy a wonderful iced tea on a hot summer day. There’s no denying that when you’re looking to make a large batch of iced tea or you simply don’t want to go through the work of brewing your own, Tea Concentrate can be a quick and easy lifesaver, and you don’t need to sacrifice flavor to use it!

Island Rose Gourmet Tea offers its award-winning Tea Concentrate in a form that made the iced tea style famous. Southern Style Sweetened Tea marries Black Tea Concentrate with natural cane sugar for a flavor that is bound to impress even the most discerning sweet tea drinker.

Of course, many of the brands listed here offer a wide range of teas, whether they be made for that sweet, cool summer treat or the hot morning cup we all rely on. We encourage you to explore the Houston’s website to better acquaint yourself with the products we offer and to learn even more about the world of tea.

The post Iced Tea Meet You – Choosing the Right Iced Tea This Summer appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Image courtesy of Pixbay

What is Matcha?

Matcha is primarily a powder made of ground green tea.  Coming to the United States from Japan, it is one of the primary ingredients in a Japanese tea ceremony or chado meaning “the way of tea.”  The highest quality of matcha is also called ceremonial matcha to honor the ceremony.  The tea powder is made in a very particular fashion including a fine sieve, exact boiling water temperature, and a specific way to whisk with a specially designed bamboo whisk.  All of this is to create a perfectly mixed and frothy green drink.

Matcha is made from green tea which is full of antioxidants because it uses the entire green tea leaf rather than just stepped leaves. It is made through a meticulous process including growing the plants in shade, hand picking primarily the top leaves, steaming them, air-drying the leaves, and finally grinding them into a fine powder.  The leaves are also de-veined and the stems are removed before the powder is made.  You can see how this process will create a very high quality product.

What is so great about Matcha?

Having the entire leaf also allows for more of the antioxidants and amino acids like L-Theanine to be present in the drink.   All of these claim to help protect against heart disease and cancer while also detoxing and boosting your metabolism because you consume the entire leaf.  Some studies even say it will help prevent aging.  The L-Theanine that produces a feeling of “alert calm” which is a great way to get the same caffeine buzz of a cup of coffee without the accompanying jitters.

As with regular green tea it also contains catechins which are said help boost belly fat-burning.  It is a great additive for anyone who is looking for help to lose a little weight.  However, it helps to remember that a green tea latte with extra pumps of vanilla will probably counter act any weight loss effect.

Hot Matcha Mint Chip, Image courtesy of Dr. Smoothie

More than just tea

Some say that the new interest in matcha could show a lifestyle change for our society, a transition including the mindset and time it can take to make the tea.  The time and process it takes to make traditional matcha can be much like a meditative practice as it is meant to be in traditional ceremonies.  A traditional Japanese ceremony is meant to combine the inner and outer worlds through various actions that must be done precisely.  The principles of chado are harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.  Sounds a lot like meditation doesn’t it?

While the original way of making matcha is still popular, and quite the experience, customers have found new ways to order it at their local coffee shops and restaurants. David Rio offers Power Chai® Matcha and Tea Frost Japanese Matcha. This makes a prefect drink for customers who want a new flavor but don’t have time, or inclination, to learn the ceremony.  Customers who just want to brighten their daily smoothie can add a scoop of supplement like Matcha Green Tea Premix by Add a Scoop Supplements.  Other chefs have put matcha in muffins, ice cream and cocktails.  They find the subtle flavor of matcha can add umami to a dish to round it out with a hint of green.

You’ve met your matcha

Tevana director of tea development Naoko Tsunada said, “We experienced double digit sales growth last year of our Organic Imperial Grade Matcha.” So, it is time to see if adding a little matcha to your menu could help sales.

Call your sales person today to get more information or place an order.

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