Tag: tea

All about Papaya – Nutrition, Uses and Recipes

Papaya is a fruit that’s quite commonly available in all continents of the world during the summer season. Rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, the fruit has many health benefits. The fruit, it’s seeds as well as the leaves are edible and are widely used in South East Asian cuisines. If you don’t prefer eating raw papaya, you can make a variety of dishes, smoothies and drinks and enjoy it the way you like. You can make it into a flavor you like. You just have to spice it up!

Before moving on to the various recipes let us take a look at the nutritional and health benefits offered by papaya.

Protects Heart : As I have already mentioned, Papayas are rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin A. This makes it a wonderful element in a salad as it helps in preventing heart diseases. Vitamin A and C play a key role in oxidation of cholesterol in our body, that is they are powerful anti-oxidants. Moreover, papayas have high fiber content, which also helps in lowering the cholesterol level!

Supports Digestive System and Immune System : Papayas help in improving the digestive heath and they also help in preventing colon cancer. It is also available now in tablet forms to treat digestion related problems! They also help in improving the immune system and prevent common illness like cold, flu, etc.

Prevent Prostrate Cancer : It is widely known that, papaya when taken with a sip of green tea can reduce the risk of prostrate cancer to a great extent!

Traditional Medicine To Treat Malaria : Leaves of the papaya tree are also edible and in some countries, its medicinal value is put to use. They are boiled and used to make tea, s a medicine to treat malaria.

As we have now covered its health benefits and nutritional value, let’s now see some of its other uses.

Substitute Spinach and Black Pepper : The seeds of papaya can also be used for cooking. They are spicy and are used as a substitute for black pepper in many countries. The seeds also help in destroying intestinal worms. The papaya leaves can also be boiled or steamed and cooked as a spinach!

Skin and Face Mask : Papaya is one of the best face masks that help in rejuvenating the skin, heals acne and other skin infections.

Apart from the above mentioned uses and benefits, Papayas can be used to make some of the best dishes. If you like juices and smoothies, sweets (halwa) or salads and salsa, papayas can blend in and create some of the delicious dishes.

Papaya Salsa

For those who like to eat spicy dishes, the best way to eat a papaya is to make a papaya salsa! It is very easy to make as you don’t have to cook. All you need is the ingredients. Mix them, stir them well and they are ready to serve with chicken or fish!

Ingredients:

1 mango or 1 pineapple

1 ripe papaya

1 large red bell pepper

1 avocado

a small sweet onion

fresh cilantro

balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper

How To Make:

Step 1 : Peel the mango or pineapple, avocado and papaya and dice them into small cubes.

Step 2 : Chop the onion, cilantro and the red bell pepper

Step 3 : Now mix the diced fruits, red bell pepper, onion and avocado in a large bowl.

Step 4 : Add two tablespoons of the balsamic vinegar and 2 tablespoons of the chopped fresh cilantro.

Step 5 : Now stir the contents and add salt and pepper to taste.

Step 6 : Let the mix for sometime and after 15 minutes, the Papaya Salsa is ready to serve.

If you are a lover of sweets and desserts, you can make use of the fully ripened sweet papayas to prepare Papaya Halwa.

Here is the recipe for Papaya Halwa, one of the best delicacies to serve during dinner, festivals and parties. It can be served as a dessert!

Papaya Halwa

Papaya Halwa is one of the delicious sweets and is very easy to make. It requires very less ingredients. All you need is a sweet fully ripened papaya and the following ingredients, listed below

Ingredients:

1 fully ripened papaya

2 tablespoons of oil or ghee

1 cup of sugar

2 tablespoons of Almond Powder / Milk Powder / Coconut Powder

1 tablespoon of Cardamom Powder

4-5 Cashew Nuts

How To Make:

Step 1 : Take a fully ripe papaya, peel off the skin and dice it into small cubes. You can also grate the papaya with grater so that it will be easier to mash it.

Step 2 : Pour some oil or ghee in a pan and heat it. Now add the diced / grated papaya in the pan. Keep the stove on low flame for about 15 minutes and stir the papaya often until it is well cooked.

Step 3 : Add the required amount of sugar, and mash the mix with a potato masher. It will slowly lose its opacity and start to release the juices which will it easier to mash it as well.

Step 4 : About 20 minutes later, the color and consistency of the mix will change considerably and it will become thicker.

Step 5 : Now add the cardamom powder and the almond powder/milk powder/coconut powder.

Step 6 : Now let it cook for 5 more minuted on low flame, stir it well and add cashew nuts.

Step 7 : Stir for 2-3 more minutes and the Papaya Halwa is all ready to serve!

If you are looking for a refreshing drink that supplies energy after a tiresome day at work, you can make this quick drink, Papaya-Melon Tango.

Papaya-Melon Tango

Papaya-Melon Tango is a rich source of glucose and provides immense energy after an exhausting day.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of peeled and diced papaya

3/4 cup of peeled and diced muskmelon

1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice

1/4 cup of crushed ice

How To Make:

Add the diced papaya and muskmelon in a mixer along with the lemon juice and crushed ice. Turn on the blender until the mix turns into a smooth liquid and the Papaya-Melon Tango is ready to serve!

The above mentioned ingredients makes 2 glasses of Papaya-Melon Tango.

Place it in a fridge to keep it cool.

February 6, 2015
The Curious Case of Mrs. Hen’s kids!

With an amazing lot of activity happening in a day, bachelors or bachelorettes staying alone seldom have time to treat their taste buds right. One day it is a meeting with the boss, another day it is work at home and till the third day you get so tired that it takes an effort to even get up from your bed. And preparing a meal in all this haste seems extravagant and too elaborate an activity to be carried out. And in this rigorous lifestyle of yours, the only thing that suffers is your stomach and more importantly, your taste buds. But we say no more of this! Today let us learn about some new tricks and revisit some old ones about Mrs. Hen’s kids – the eggs.

Eggs are often restricted to the breakfast and that too you seldom have. Eggs are undermined most of the times, but its importance becomes clear when you need some quick fixes to get you jumpstarted. So, let’s start our romantic affair with eggs which should last longer than your relationship with any other human being.

1. The Quintessential Omelet:

This dish comes in handy when your refrigerator is running dry and your patience is running lose with all that hunger. Two eggs is what it takes to quiet down your stomach till the time you can arrange for something heavy or till Dominoz delivers that pizza you ordered. Breaking the eggs, mixing in some spices that you desire, a pan slicked with oil and the battered egg mixture on the pan. Blink your eyes and your omelet is ready. This recipe is heart-rote to everyone so much so that a more elaborate description would be shaming this article. But people might not be aware of the nutrient punch this wonder sphere packs with itself. An egg contains 6 gms of Protein and 70 calories. Now while you rejoice that omelet with toasted bread, let’s move onto our next big egg thing.

2. Eggs with soldiers:

There are times at night when you just crave for something to eat and are bored of the traditional egg recipes. Well in that case we have this amazing recipe for you. If you only have 5 minutes to spare, this recipe will be even more perfect for you. Place 4 eggs in boiling water and cook over low flame for 4-5 minutes. Caution: Do not let the eggs come to a boil. Now remove the eggs from the saucer and peel off the tops of the eggs. Add in some salt and desired spices on the top and eat the newer rgg recipe with bread sticks. Taste bhi, health bhi!!

3. French Toast:

Again. A relatively new and old recipe. Take out that borderline expired loaf of bread from your refrigerator and batter 4 eggs with spices added. Meanwhile, light up the stove and put a pan over with a slick of oil. Dip both the faces of a bread piece deep into the battered eggs such that both the faces are smeared with egg residue over their entire surface. Put it on the pan and cook for a minute maximum both sides. And voila! Your French toast are ready in a jiffy. Soak in 4-5 breads and you will be content for the next few hours to go.

4. Tea Egg:

Now Tea egg might take up some time, but this is nevertheless a newer recipe that people might have heard less about. Tea egg is basically a Chinese snack. Take a few eggs and boil them for 7-8 minutes. Boil them till the point where cracks develop on its surface. Drain the water but don’t peel the eggs yet. This crack-laden egg is then again put to boil in tea or sauce or spices. This dish is also called marble egg because the cracks in the shell create darkened lines with marble-like patterns. Chinese people commonly use a five-spice powder which contains cinnamon, fennel-seeds, cloves and Szechuan peppercorns. The eggs are boiled in the spiced-tea liquid and simmered at medium heat. The simmering allows the liquid to seep through the cracks and attribute flavors to the boiled eggs.

5. Quick Egg muffin:

People with a frenetic paced lifestyle must already be making merry at the name of the dish. The name in itself has quick in it. And you can be sure of one thing; this dish lives upto its name. Egg muffins are like Frittatas just smaller in size. This dish is prepared using scrambled eggs added with fresh chopped spinach and shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese. Whisk the eggs just like you do for an omelet, with spices, onions and spinach if you like. Cook in the microwave oven for 45 seconds and your hunger is done. It’s gone with the sound of the microwave’s beep.

6. Eggs Benedict:

Eggs Benedict is an American breakfast and usually served along with ham or bacon. To make this dish you will have to devote some of your precious time, but the result will have you amazingly thrilled. First you have to make something the world calls the Hollandaise sauce. This is made by whisking egg yolks and squeezed lemon juice together in a bowl till the mixture is thickened and doubled in volume. Put the bowl in a steam bath and do not let the eggs get too hot or they will scramble. Add some froze butter cubes and continue to whisk till the btter melts. Remove from heat and whisk in salt and pepper and cover it. Heat the bacon and toast the English muffins. Cook some more eggs till the egg white is set and the yolk is soft. Lay down the muffin, bacon on its top, the half fried egg on its top and pour the Hollandaise sauce over. Garnish with some salt and pepper.

And there you have it, 6 quick fixes with eggs that are not to be missed.

January 8, 2015
Stay healthy during monsoon

Rains are awaited by all and it certainly creates a wonderful environment. Rainy season is a kind of relief from hot and sunny days. Every single person cherishes the rains. But there are some areas that need our attention. With rains come health irritations like aversions, illness and stomach problems. The level of humidity is increased during the rainy season that affects the digestion. But nothing to get worried about as certain changes in our diet and nourishment can surely solves the problem. So it is very essential to keep an eye on what we eat during the monsoon to stay perfectly healthy.

Drink lot of water: It is necessary to take in extra amount of water in rainy days as the humidity level increases and it becomes difficult for the sweat to get evaporated. Consequently, the body heat is not released properly. It has been also found out that drinking water prevents the various skin problems. As a result it is recommended to keep ourselves hydrated during the rainy seasons. Carbonated and gaseous liquids should be avoided because they can result in indigestion. Drinks like tea can work as a great substitute of it. So during this monsoon do not forget to possess a water bottle with yourself all the time.

Go for fresh and hygienic foodstuff: Keep in mind to wash every single fruit before eating them. While cooking, the vegetable should be washed thoroughly and steam them to destroy the microbes which are present on them. Filthy and unclean food stuff is harmful for the body and can result in sickness. It is advisable to take in cooked foodstuff rather than eating them as raw. Soups are too very beneficial during the rainy days as it provides the body with needed nutrition. Therefore always try to go for recently cooked food stuff.

Say no to outside food: This particular point is of great importance. You should keep yourself away from eating the street food. Street foods are quite enticing to all of us but they could possibly hold many germs which results in stomach diseases. Hence take a firm decision of not eating out.

Stay away from oily food: It is greatly recommended to stay away from the oily and fatty food items. The digestion in the body gets weaker during the rainy days as the humidity level goes up. Hence the ability of body to digest the oily food items becomes feeble and thus upsetting the stomach. Therefore, try to eat light and less oily food items.

Reduce the consumption of dairy items: The dairy foods have the supreme tendency of getting contaminated by germs. As a result the consumption of the dairy products must be low. It is better to consume curd rather than milk even if the milk is filled with all the desired nutrients. Apart from that, one should try to boil and disinfect the water before drinking it.

Intake of balanced diet: As we know that digestion is weak throughout the rainy days therefore it is advised to eat reasonably. Stop taking in food stuff even when you are not starving. Perfect balanced diet is much needed to stay from stomach problems at the time of monsoon. Fruits such as apples, litchis as well as bananas must be consumed. Along with them include carrots in your diet too. Spice up the food with pepper, turmeric as they advance the resistance of the body and supports ingestion.

Avoid drinking juices: Make sure you don’t drink juices especially from outside as they may apply water which is not filtered. It is greatly recommended to drink at once the juices prepared at home.

Sea food can be harmful: During the rainy season, make sure that you stay away from the sea foodstuff. Give more attention to fishes as well as prawns and greatly avoid eating them as rainy season is the propagating season for them. Even if you are taking in the sea food make it certain about its freshness as well as cleanness.

No spicy foodstuff: There are many people who deal with skin infections throughout this season. It is advisable for them to stay away from the spicy foodstuff, as the spicy items arouse the temperature of the body that certainly results in skin illness and infections. It is better to visit to a doctor if the infection stays for long.

Some more tips: Food items such as barley as well as oats are found out to be very beneficial for the stomach during the rainy season. Garlic is also very valuable as it enhances the immunity of the body. Fruits are considered as the supreme source of energy. But make sure that you don’t eat watermelons during the monsoon. Instead of watermelons try to eat apples, pears more. It is said that taking anything in extra amount is bad for health so avoid doing that.

With the assistance of these advices try to stay healthy and strong during the monsoon and at the same time relish the rains of the monsoon.

July 14, 2014
Do’s and don’ts for diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a sort of chronic metabolic disorder which leads to a failure in converting body sugars, starches and other foods into energy.Generally during the process of digestion the food we take is converted into glucose which is carried through the body by the bloodstream.This glucose is converted into energy by the hormone insulin.But in diabetic people the body does not make enough insulin or it wont make better use of it.Generally there are two types of diabetes.

Type 1:

This type of diabetes is generally known as Juvenile Onset Diabetes.In this stage the body produces very little insulin or no insulin.This can be occurred mostly in children or in the teens.People who is having this type of diabetes need to take daily insulin injections.People who are having this type of diabetes must take balanced diet and and regular insulin injections daily to stay alive.

Type 2:

This type of diabetes mostly occurs for the people between the age of 35 to 40 years.Out of these two type of diabetes type 2 occurs the most for about 80 percent of the diabetics.In this type as though the pancreas produce sufficient insulin but the body cells show less sensitivity towards it.This is occurred mainly due to obesity and the best way to control is to have controlled diet and regular exercise.Some times insulin injections are also needed for this type of diabetes.

Food that must be avoided:

1) Salt:

Salt is the most regular culprit for the occurring of diabetes.As we intake vegetables they contain sufficient salt,so we can reduce the intake of inorganic salt.

Salt

2) Sugar:

Sugar is containing large amounts of calories and carbohydrates.In order to digest this sucrose we need more calcium.So it is better to replace sugar with its substitute like honey, jaggery etc.,

Sugar

3) Fat:

It is better not to take large amount of fats as it is not good for health.In our food we must try to avoid fried items completely.But we must see that the intake of fats must be sufficient for the soluble of vitamins especially like vitamin E.

fat-content

4) From non vegetarians:

It is not advisable to take dark red colored meat completely as the intake of it also leads to diabetes.Going to vegetarian diet is helpful for the people who cant leave the consumption of eggs poultry.But eating fish is good for health and also some of the fats and oils present in it are good for body metabolism.

Avoid non vegetarian

5) Whole milk and products:

Taking in pure milk is not so good for health but we can take low fat milk and milk derived products like yogurt or curd.Milk based products like cheese contains lot of fat and it can be replaced with low fat cottage cheese.

Milk products

6) Tea and coffee:

It is better to avoid decaffeinated tea every day and we can switch to herbal teas instead of it.Drinking two cups is not restricted but more than that is not so good for diabetic patients.

Coffee-Tea

7) White flour and its products:

Replace the flour products with whole grains,wholewheat or soya breads and unpolished rice.As it is very healthy and reduce the fat level in the body.

Soya breads

8) Foods with a high glycemic index:

The food items that contain high glycemic index are white rice, potatoes, carrots, breads and banana as they increase the blood sugar levels.

Special foods for diabetes:

1) Bitter gourd ( Kaakarakaya ):

This is a vegetable that contains high level of insulin dosage and it helps in lowering the blood sugar levels.It has very bitter taste and if we have the juice of three to four bitter gourd every day early in the morning on an empty stomach it can naturally work as a medicine and reduces the blood sugar.It can also be taken in the form of powder by mixing it with water.

Bitter gourd

2) Fenugreek ( Menthulu ):

Many of the people who is having diabetes choose this to control their sugar level.This can be taken in the form of powder by grinding the seeds and mixing it in water.It can also be taken in the form of seeds by soaking it in water and leaving it aside for one night.Few people also take it in the form of chapatis by mixing the fenugreek seeds powder to it.

Fenugreek

3) Indian blackberry ( Nerudupandu ):

This is a type of fruit and is used for controlling the diabetes.After eating the fruit the seed present in it is made into powder and is taken in.It contains glucoside which prevents the conversion of starch into sugars.

Indian blackberry

4) Garlic( Vellulli ):

This is also a very useful in controlling diabetes.This garlic is having potassium and it replaces the potassium that is getting lost during urine.Along with this it also contains zinc and sulphur which are the major components of insulin.Taking daily is better for good health.

Garlic

5) Onion:

Onion is one of the best medicine against diabetes because of its digestive properties.Taking raw onion is more advisable.

Onions

6) Flax seed ( Avise ginjalu ):

Flax seeds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids.These help in controlling the diabetes as they are maintaining the sensitive cell of the membrane that helps in providing insulin and also provide glucose from the cells.

July 7, 2014
Different Varieties of Tea

Tea is a form of drink that is enjoyed by people in so many countries. Its popularity has been increased a lot in these years. People love to have a few sips of this amazing drink when they are tired and want to have some freshness. There are many different kinds of tea available in the market like Black Tea, Red Tea, Green Tea and many more. Even though they offer different benefits and have different features they all are originated from the similar plant-‘Camellia sinensis’. It has been found out that tea also provides so many benefits to the health and keeps the body fit and fine. Among the various kinds of tea that we have, some are listed below along with their features and advantages.

Green Tea:

This particular kind of tea is quite prevalent in the regions of Asia and is enjoyed by the people a lot. China and Japan are the chief producers of green tea. It comes in the marketplace with so many essences and tastes. It includes various vitamins beneficial for the health. It’s a sweet smelling and delightful beverage that is relished by the people from all over the world. It is very helpful in burning fat, reducing the danger of strokes and neurological sickness and improving the level of cholesterol. So green tea is a good blend of taste and health benefits. Further if you want to lose weight this is the tea which you need to start drinking.

Black Tea:

It has been widespread in the marketplaces of Europe and US. ‘Chai’- a very much liked drink all over the world is made from black tea. In India Darjeeling and Assam are the biggest producers of black tea. It is gaining popularity and love for its deep and intense flavors. From children to adults, it is appreciated and liked by all. The greatest amount of caffeine is found out in black tea. It is too beneficial for reducing the amount of strokes and offers a great amount of protection to the lungs too.

White Tea:

As the name suggests it is the cleanest type of tea, it is the purest of all the kinds. It is processed in a slightest amount as compared to other kinds of tea and this kind of tea is produced in the rarest amount. The drinks formed from white tea possess a bright color and taste. It has become so prevalent and common recently. It is quite similar to green tea except its light color and flowery taste. The sprouts of the plants are included in the white tea which gives a way to floral taste. It possesses strong and powerful anticancer characteristics. Antioxidant as well as detoxifying advantages is delivered by white tea.

Oolong Tea:

It is quite popular among the people as the Chinese drink as it basically comes from China. It is dissimilar from the others of its kind. It has very intense and powerful flavor in addition with sugary and sweet smelling fragrance. Oolong tea is a kind of semi fermented tea. It is extensively utilized by the in people as it offers great amount of digestive advantages. It is moreover famous as ‘Wu long’ tea with deep essence and delightful smell. It is also considered as a supplement for the loss in the weight.

Red tea:

It is another tea which comes with purity as the additives are not included in it. It is known for its clean and genuine form with no preservatives. The amount of caffeine is quite low in it. This drink is quite suitable for the people having hectic and occupied routine life. All over the day, it can be consumed numerous times. It acts as eminent drink to quench the thirst. Apart from using it in the various drinks it is also utilized in baking as well as cooking. This tea has a gentle and relaxing effect and is sweeter as compared to usual tea.

Herbal Tea:

It is also known as ‘tisane’ and it usually does not include any caffeine in it. Apart from using it as a drink it is also utilized for various medical advantages offered by it. It is an easy and efficient tea that is available to the people at a very low cost. It is very enjoyable and pleasurable in flavor and provides so many advantages of the herbs. Similar to other drinks, it can be served up as hot and cold both. So it is a very pleasant beverage to enjoy along with its medicinal advantages. Herbal tea is highly preferred in most parts of the world.

So as you can see there are so many kinds of tea which are available now days. Every tea has its own advantages and flavors. Drinking tea is the part of the daily routine and it leaves behind a very soothing and relaxing effect which is required in such as busy routine. In the market you are provided with a great deal of different kinds of tea. So you certainly have many options to select from and enjoy the benefits of that particular type of tea.

June 24, 2014
Tea: A Drink for Every Season

Tea, as evident by the consumption in an average Indian’s household, is most widely consumed drink- after water. Tea is found as an important part in every house and that is what I am taking about today. It is the only beverage commonly available hot or iced for every occasion.

It is not just a beverage for the sake of drinking, but it also has numerous health benefits. Oolong tea and White tea, for example, help in weight control. Black tea helps to reduce stress. Various flower teas help to increase metabolism and reduce stress. There are various reasons to drink a cup of tea everyday and to make your tea experience rich and interesting, here is a list to different type of teas you can try in every season.

Summer:-

We can never give up on drinking tea let it be the 45⁰C heat of summer. For this summer, we have got Iced Lemon tea for you. It is easy to make, cool and refreshing; perfect for a summer evening.

Lemon Iced Tea

Ingredients needed:-

1 Lemon

Sugar to taste

½ cup fresh Mint Leaves

1 Black tea bag

Directions to make:-

Using a vegetable peeler remove bright yellow peel from lemon. Combine lemon and sugar in a medium saucepan with 1/2 cup water and boil. Stir to dissolve sugar. Lower the heat and let it heat for one more minute. Remove from heat and add mint. Cool to room temperature.

Now in 1 cup hot water put the tea bag for 5 minutes. Then remove the tea bag and add the syrup, 1 cup cold water and ice cubes.

Serve in tall glasses filled with ice cubes and a few mint leaves on the top.

Autumn:-

In autumn, there is nothing as delightful as sitting at the balcony in the cold breeze with a hot cup of tea nearby. Cinnamon Apple tea is a perfect tea to sip in the autumn-ish cold morning. As evident from the name, it is an apple based tea and doesn’t need tea bags.

Cinnamon Apple Tea

Ingredients needed:-

½ teaspoon honey

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of nutmeg

1 cup water (boiling)

Directions to make:-

Cut the apples and mash lightly with a fork in the bottom of a mug. Add the dry ingredients on top. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the apples and other ingredients and stir. Let it simmer in the boiling water for about 5 minutes. Top with whipped cream and enjoy.

Spring:-

It is the most interesting season for trying new tea flavors. In the flowery spring, add some new flavors to the life with some flowery drink.

Lavender Tea

Ingredients needed:-

3 Tablespoons fresh Lavender flowers or 1 1/2 Tablespoons dried Lavender flower

2 cups boiling water

Honey and Lemon (optional)

Direction to make:-

To make Lavender tea put the flowers in a teapot or container along with the boiling water allowing them to stay for a good 4 to 5 minutes.
Pour into cups straining if necessary to remove the flower buds. Drink Lavender flower tea with honey and sliced lemon for better taste.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea has a naturally sweet tasting drink with a tinge of apple flavor. It is a good source of Magnesium and is used as a soothing and relaxing herb.

Ingredients needed:-

1 chamomile teabag or 1 teaspoon dried chamomile flowers

1 cup fresh water, brought just to the boil

Optional additions to taste such as honey, lemon, or mint

Directions to make:-

Add the teabag or dried flower to a cup. Cool the just-boiled water slightly (chamomile tea is best when steeped in hot – not boiling – water), and then add to your cup. Let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Its taste and benefits improves with longer steeping time. Remove the teabag or loose tea leaves. Drink it this way or add extras, like honey, lemon, or mint, if you wish.

Winter

Winter, no doubt, is the perfect season for drinking a hot cup of tea every morning and evening. To make winter more healthy and delicious, there is green tea for you to try.

Green Tea

Green tea, with its incredible taste, has many health benefits. Drinking green tea increases metabolism. Also, it helps to maintain a healthy heart. You can also say ‘A cup of Green Tea a day, keeps a doctor away.’

Ingredients needed:-

Green tea leaves- 1 tsp
Water – 1 cup
Honey to taste
Fresh lemon juice to taste

Direction to make:-

Heat 1 cup of water. Do not bring it to boiling point. Switch off before that stage to reduce bitterness. Add 1 tsp green tea and brew it for about 2-3 minutes. If you brew it longer, the tea will taste bitter, so just 2-3 minutes is sufficient. Strain the tea into a cup.
Add honey and a few drops of lemon juice to taste. Do not add milk in this tea. You can use 2-3 fresh mint leaves to get a minty flavor.

So, what are you waiting for? Go make a nice cup of tea for yourself and others. Drink your health and taste at the same time and Enjoy.

June 24, 2014
Long Island Ice Tea – A refreshing cocktail

Cocktail is a drink which is prepared by mixing various alcohols in an appropriate quantity. This does not mean that you need to mix many alcohols together to get your cocktail, it can also be prepared by just mixing one alcoholic ingredient. Today we have so many different varieties of cocktails and Long Island Ice Tea is one of them. It has the reputation of being a mild, refreshing drink which feels like ice tea and gives you a much desired relief. This is the reason Long Island Ice Tea is one of the world’s most preferred cocktails. Go to any part of the world and you will find people loving and talking about this wonderful drink. It is prepared by mixing gin, vodka, rum and tequila. Yes, you have all these in one single drink. Isn’t incredible?

One of the most popular version of the Long Island Ice Tea which is high in demand is the one in which there is an equal proportion of the gin, vodka, tequila, triple sec and rum mixed with the one and a half parts of the sour and some cola to give it a color of ice tea. Long Island Ice Tea is then served on the rocks or poured over the glass containing ice. In other variants the sour mixed can be replaced with the other available options such as the lemon juice and the cola can be replaced by the actual ice tea. Even if this drink has the name of the Long Island Ice Tea, it generally does not contain any tea in most of its variants.

According to the International Bartenders Association, Long Island Ice Tea is one of the contemporary classics drinks that is widely loved and appreciated. One of the basic advantages with the Long Island Ice Tea is that we can make it stronger when required by just increasing the concentration of the alcohol in it. A normal Long Island Ice Tea has 22 percent of alcohol concentration in it. Some of the people love to have it with a high level of alcohol concentration in it. It helps them to relax and attain a much desired pleasure. Some people like to go for the extra-long version of this drink which has even more percentage of the alcohol in it. Whatever variant of this ultimate drink you choose it is surely going to sooth you with its ultimate taste and fine aroma.

If you want to prepare it on your own you will have to get the following ingredients. 1.5 cl each of vodka, tequila, triples sec, rum and gin. 3.0 cl of gomme syrup, 2.5 cl of lemon juice and the cola to give it the much desired ice tea color. Just add all the above mentioned ingredients in a highball which should be perfectly filled with the ice. Stir it gently and then decorate it according to your wish. And now your drink is ready to get served. Add a straw and get the taste of this wonderful cocktail which will surely help you to get rid of the worries and will helps you in relaxing.

There is a conflict so as to how this drink came into existence and who actually coined the termed Long Island Ice Tea. The major conflict is between the claims made by person named as the Robert Rosebud Butt and an Old Man Bishop who was from Tennessee. According to the claims made by Robert Rosebud Butt, he is the person who gave the world the so called ‘Long Island Ice Tea’. In the year 1972, one day while working as a bar tender at the Oak Beach Inn resort located in Long Island, New York he tried to make a new sparkling drink that includes the triple sec and came out with the recipe of this drink and named it as Long Island Ice Tea. Many people say in support of Robert Rosebud Butt that yes he is the person because of whom we have such a refreshing alcoholic drink today.

This is one story. Another section of society believes that the Long Island Ice Tea was first prepared long back in the 1920s by the famous ‘Old Man Bishop’ was lived in Long Island community located in the Kingsport, Tennessee. It was the year of probation. After he made this drink for the first time, his son Ransom Bishop made some changes to the drink with the maple syrup and the whiskey to give it a much relishing taste. For years now we had the debate of where the Long Island Ice Tea was first prepared. Is it Tennessee or is it New York? This question is still unanswered but one thing is for sure, who so ever invented it, did a wonderful job. The name Long Island Ice Tea can be found mentioned in the literatures that were written in the year 1961 and so people believe that the later mentioned story is more appropriate.

June 18, 2014
Beat The Booze : Curing Hangover At Home

Partying hard is something that comes naturally to youngsters these days. It is the new trend that is gaining momentum all over the world. But it comes with its own bag of after-effects. And the worst of them all is a hangover and due to this, after an awesome evening of indulgence, it is hard to keep that awesome feeling going in the morning.

Hangover is the experience of various physiological and psychological effects following consumption of alcoholic beverages, and is characterized by severe discomfort, that may last more than 24 hours. It is caused due to accumulation of alcohol inside the body and occurs when intoxicating effect of alcohol begins to wear off the next morning. The symptoms include headache, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea, stomach problems, sweating , dry mouth etc.

When you wake up the next morning after partying, your main aim is to cure the piercing headache and the lingering hangover. Normally, you just pop in a powerful painkiller or some other medicine to curb the headache, without knowing the side effects. And the condition becomes worse, when you are a regular party- goer because you can’t just pop in those tablets day after day. This is where natural remedies have a role to play.

There are some easy food items in your kitchen which help to cure that hangover without any worries about side-effects. They even detoxify your body by removing toxins from your liver, and thus reduce the effect of those hard drinks. So using these simple home remedies for curing the hangover is very beneficial for you as they don’t harm your body.

Water :

Drinking water is one of the best cures for a hangover,as it rehydrates the body which is dehydrated by the alcohol. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to treat that hangover.

Tea:

Being mostly water, tea is a great agent for rehydration. Green tea is a great source for detoxification of body as it is packed with anti-oxidants. Also, ginger tea can be used to cure a hangover because ginger has long been used to treat nausea and stomach sickness, which are one of the symptoms of a hangover. By combining 10-12 freshly cut ginger root pieces with 4 cups of water, this ale can be quite effective for curing a hangover.

Apart from this, milk thistle tea can also be taken as it cleanses the liver of the harmful toxins in alcohol. To make milk thistle tea, add a tablespoon of milk thistle seeds to a cup of hot water and have it.

Coconut water :

coconut water contains potassium which will help you feel better in no time if you are suffering from a hangover. It also hydrates your body much more effectively than simple water.

Juice:

Tomato juice is a great cure for hangover as long as it is not Bloody Mary induced, as it acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and replenishes the lost nutrients in the body. Orange juice is also a great way to cure a hangover as it raises your blood sugar levels and helps to lose some of the symptoms. But, you should skip acidic juices (like orange juice) if your stomach is upset and have apple juice instead.

Honey and lemons:

Have a classic hot drink of honey and lemon mixed with water, as it replenishes fluids and sugar lost to hangover. Lemon replenishes the vitamins you need and honey has fructose which competes with alcohol metabolism, which in turn helps to expel alcohol from the body. For curing a hangover, boil 1 cup water and mix honey and lemon juice and have it several times a day.

Bananas:

When you are drunk, lots of potassium is lost from the body and eating a banana will surely give you a giddy-up and go, as it is loaded with potassium.

Potatoes with milk :

Eating potatoes is another way of replenishing the body’s potassium levels, and if taken along with milk, there is a great boost to your calcium levels as well. Thus, this is a perfect combo to reduce the hangover.

Apart from this, you should have foods which are light and easy to digest, like rice, soup or toast. Eating something solid will help to cure the headache and stomach problems. If you have a very bad headache, you can also compress your forehead with an ice pack, or just rinse a washcloth under cold water and put it on your forehead for some time, to get significant relief.

So if you take these natural things to treat your hangover, then it will be easier for your body to endure those cocktails and hard drinks. Keeping all things apart, most of all, you should follow the mantra of “prevention is better than cure” in your life. Excessive drinking may be curable at first, but it can cause long term effects if consumed like an everyday affair. So controlled drinking is advisable for all-the-time-hangover-stricken people in the first place, blended with these simple and fruitful home remedies, which nullify the extremely harmful effects of alcohol on your body by its cleansing and detoxification.

June 5, 2014
Bring Out the Teapots!
Every time I come home to Assam for the holidays, I notice just how much the Assamese people love their tea. It is that first warm sip in the morning that gets them going for the day – and not without reason. Regarded for thousands of years in the East as a key to good health, happiness, and wisdom, tea has finally caught the attention of researchers in the West, who are discovering the many health benefits of this potent elixir. But before you start chugging, making sure that your “tea” is actually tea. “Tea”, in layman’s language, is the name given to a number of brews. But “real” tea, according to experts, includes only four varieties – green, black, white, and oolong – all derived from Camellia sinensis, a shrub native to China and India. Anything else, like herbal “tea” for instance, is an infusion of a different plant and isn’t technically tea.

Katherine Tallmadge, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, says, “There doesn’t seem to be a downside to tea. I think it’s a great alternative to coffee drinking. First, tea has less caffeine. It’s pretty well established that the compounds in tea – their flavonoids – are good for the heart and may reduce cancer.” Indeed, teas have been studied to be chock full of the powerful antioxidants called flavonoids, the most potent of which (known as ECGC) may help prevent cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries.

Experts suggest that to maximise the benefits of tea and minimize the calorie and sugar content, it is best to brew your own rather than buy it bottled. Here are a few simple recipes to help you get started on that journey down tea lane.

Green Ginger Tea

Green tea is a wonderful beverage. But if you’re not familiar with a few basic techniques, you can wind up with a tea that’s grassy, bitter, or just too strong. Don’t worry, though – with patience and practice, you’ll perfect your own recipe. Here’s a simple one for you to try out.

Ingredients:

(Makes one cup)
- 1 tsp. (or 5 g) green tea leaves
- Ginger or dry ginger powder
- 1 cup water
Directions:
- Place the green tea leaves and the ginger (or ginger powder) in a tea strainer or sieve.
- Fill a non-reactive pot or pan (glass or stainless steel) with water. Heat it to about 180°F. You can either use a candy thermometer to watch the temperature or simply keep an eye on the water to make sure it doesn’t boil.
- Place the filled tea strainer or sieve into an empty mug or cup.
- Pour the heated water into the mug, over the tea leaves.
- Steep the tea leaves for 2 – 3 minutes but not any longer, or else your tea will become slightly bitter.
- Remove the tea strainer from the mug.
- Let your tea cool down for a few moments and enjoy your perfect cup of green tea.
Lemon Black Tea:

Here’s a blend for those of you who love a lemony flavour. You will notice that unlike the almost overpowering sourness of the commercial lemon teas, this brew has a subtler, more restrained in its lemony taste. But it’s still got the tang!

Ingredients:

(Makes 1 cup)
- 1 tsp. black tea leaves
- ½ tsp. dried lemon peel
- ½ tsp. coriander seed
- 1 cup water
Directions:
- Heat water to about 180°F.
- Add the black tea leaves, dried lemon peel, and coriander seeds.
- Steep for about 10 minutes.
- Strain out your tea; discard residue.
- Let cool for a few moments before serving.
White Tea

Containing up to three times as many antioxidants as green tea, this least-processed tea is arguably the healthiest of all teas. It has a mild and sweet flavor that is velvet-like in smoothness, and has none of the grass-like flavors some green teas can produce. The best white teas come in loose-leaf form. Like green tea, white tea is best brewed with pure water that is very hot, but not boiling. Follow the steps below to make sure your white tea retains all its fine qualities while brewing.

Ingredients:

(Makes 1 cup)
- 2 tsp. white tea leaves
- Pure water
Directions:
- Bring water to a boil and remove from heat.
- Warm your spotlessly clean teacup with hot water. Pour away the water.
- Add the white tea leaves
- Fill the cup with pure water. Cover and steep tea for about 5 minutes. For stronger flavor, steep for a few minutes longer. Re-steep the leaves once or twice to extract all the nutrients.
- Serve as it is, unadulterated. Pouring milk or sugar will drown out the already subtle flavour of the tea.
Traditional Oolong Tea

Preparing Oolong tea correctly is an art. While the ritual can be very detailed and complicated, here is a simplified recipe for your daily cup.

Ingredients:
- Good quality oolong tea from a company you trust
- Water Boiler
- Teapot with a built-in strainer
- Ceramic drinking cups
Directions:
- Bring water to rolling boil, then rinse and warm up the tea set.
- Add oolong tea leaves to the teapot. Tea leaves take approximately 5 percent of space in the teapot.
- Pour rolling boiled water (212°F) into the teapot.
- Use the cover to push away the white floating bubbles.
- Cover the teapot and steep for a couple of minutes. Pour the tea into the cups.
- The last few drops are the richest in flavor. They should be carefully and evenly distributed across all cups.
- This tea is as much enjoyed for its aroma as its taste. Remember to smell before you sip.
Now that you have the recipes down, go brew yourself a cuppa. Sip your way to health!
May 31, 2014
Coffee or tea which is better?

In order to set off good start for the day, everybody wishes to drink a nice hot cup of coffee or tea. Ofcource the choice of the drink varies between different households and individuals. Most of the adult men and women feel that it is tea which actually energizes their body and makes them ready to carry out the work planned for the day while the younger generation prefers coffee.

Coffee is a beverage which is prepared from the roasted seeds of the evergreen shrub called coffea. Once the coffee berries are ripe, they are collected and dried and processed. The seeds inside the berries are then collected and roasted in different temperature, depending upon the flavour, taste and colour required before being grinded and brewed to create the final product. Coffee plantation takes place around the world but major contribution is given by Africa, Latin America followed by Southeast Asia. Research states that coffee cultivation originated in Arabia during the 15th century, where coffee was associated with both religious and rebellious political activities. According to Ethiopian culture it’s believed that Kladi, who was a goat herder, had first found the seeds when he noticed that his goats became excited after consuming the beans. Some of the Arabian culture attributes the discovery of coffee beans to Sheik Omar, who was known to have the ability to heal the sick and was exiled to a desert near Ousab. There he found the berries but were bitter in taste so he tried to roast them so it turned hard. It’s believed that Omar then boiled the berries to soften the seed which resulted in creation of a dark liquid. The liquid, when he drank it, it revitalized him sustained him through the period of exile. When Omar came back home, he had bought with him this miracle drug and that how coffee was introduced into Arab and travelled through Egypt and Yemen. Today coffee is considered an important agricultural product and also is regarded as an important export commodity.

Tea on the other hand is prepared by simply mixing tea leaves into boiling water. Tea is considered to be the second best preferred drink after water. It’s cool and astringent flavour is what attracts so many people, making it the world’s most widely consumed beverage. Tea is considered to have its origin in china where it was used as a medicinal drink. According to the Chinese legend, the discovery of tea was done by a Chinese inventor named Shennong who invented a tea shredder. During the Tang and Qin dynasty, the popularity of tea was at its peak and also had spread to other regions of Japan, Korea and Vietnam. The Portuguese were introduced to tea when they were in china during the 16^th century. The cultivation of tea together with jasmine and mallow gave it a distinct taste and aroma. During the 17^th century, the British started consuming tea and also introduced it in India. The practice of drinking tea in Britain was only seen during special occasions like marriages and anniversaries and religious festivals. It was mostly consumed by the royals as tea was expensive and could not be afforded by all. This gave rise to tea smuggling which made tea available for the lower section of the society as well. By the 19^th century, tea was consumed by all the sections of the society. When the British had captured India, they wanted to cultivate tea and in order to do that they sent Robert Fortune to china to get some tea seeds. However the plan to cultivate them in India failed due to different weather conditions. However they later found that regions like Assam and the Northeast regions of the country could house the cultivation of this crop and so using the Chinese techniques of cultivation created a tea market in India from where tea was exported to other parts of the world. The price of tea in Europe began to fall with large import of tea from India.

After knowing so much about both the beverages we still don’t find ourselves in a position to decide which one’s a better choice. So in order to make our task a little simple let’s see which one’s better when it comes to our health and growth. Tea can be of two types, black or green tea. However both theses goods contain a high level of antioxidants called flavonoids. Antioxidants are chemicals which protect tissues from oxidants. Oxidants may damage cells and reduce the immunity. According to a survey done by American Dietetic Association, one in five adults in America prefer tea to other beverages; however these people gained 20 times more antioxidants than non tea drinkers. Other than the benefit of receiving antioxidants, drinking tea also helps in reducing cholesterol levels, blood clots and helps fight inflammation, cancer and various allergies. Green tea is considered the very healthy and is responsible for reducing breast cancer and death rates due to heart diseases.

Researchers claim that like tea, coffee also contains antioxidants and helps in lowering the risk of liver and colon cancer and diabetes. Some people believe that coffee might not be good for the heart, however it’s not been proved till now and further study in this field is required. Since caffeine content in coffee is high, it’s not recommended for pregnant women and even overdose among youngster may not be a healthy option.

So according to me tea wins the battle to be a healthy choice when compared with coffee. But this does not mean that coffee can be completely rejected. Controlled quantities of coffee can be consumed for a healthy living.

May 29, 2014