Blue tea, not green, is the new health fix in Mumbai!
Don't look now, but your
tea has just changed colour. It's also way more healthier than you might have
imagined! A new movement that has been giving competition to your morning
green, is seeing folks in the city sip on a fresh new beverage -blue tea. A
Thai variety -also known as Butterfly Pea (it's made from dried butterfly pea
flowers) -is packed with antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory and helps prevent
skin ageing. Here's more on the fad...
READY FOR PURPLE TEA, TOO?
Having originated in India
and now found only in Kenya, rich and healthy purple tea has recently earned
the title of `the world's healthiest tea' and is set to become the rival to
green tea in Mumbai, too. A tea research institute says this anthocyanin or
`ox-blood' tea was a native of Assam, is high in antioxidants and has higher
medicinal properties than green and black tea. “What's very nice about this
variety is that it packs a much lower caffeine content than black or green. It
is also apt for Indian tastebuds as it it is stronger chai, and has a lovely
sweet, fruity taste, which also makes is a nice meal-ender. In fact, they
should start serving a variety like this post a meal, at restaurants, too.
People have been a little rigid with their teadrinking habits, but it's nice to
see that changing now.They're realising that having three cups a day gives the
right amount of anti-oxidants that one needs,“ says tea expert Kavita Mathur.
WHY BLUE IS RED HOT
A caffeine-free option,
blue tea is slightly sharper than a chamomile and works well for mornings. “So,
many people are switching to this,“ reveals tea sommelier Snigdha Manchanda.
It's like a medicinal brew really -a kaada or sorts, like what we would have in
Ayurveda.“ The tea is a visual delight, too. “Earlier, it was green then it was
white and now this....what next, red and yellow? These teas are also healthy ,
popular and made from leaves that are processed differently ,“ she adds.
4 The number of recommended
cups of tea to drink, per day
TEA FACTS & TRIVIA
The composition of tea
depends on its botanical variety, where it orginiates and how it's processed.
Tea can rev up the
metabolism and have a weight loss effect.
The art of tea reading,
called tasseography, is popular.
KEY BENEFITS OF BLUE TEA
Packed with antioxidants
that boost the immune system Detoxifies the liver Keeps skin glowing
Strengthens hair and prevents hair fall Improves eyesight
TREND-SPOTTING: GO FLORAL IN YOUR GLASS OR CUP
So, you love to savour the
aroma and aftertaste of tea and like to pair certain teas with foods, too.Now,
try a fad that has become popular of late -by adding floral elements to your
cuppa. The flowers are not just used to add flavour to different dishes,
they're also increasingly making a splash behind the bar in mocktails and other
liquid concoctions. Indian culture has seen this happen, with rose petals in
kulfis, ras malais and other desserts. But with this fad, you can also add tea
to spice marinades, rubs and into gravies to complement oily or spicy fare.We
suggest a chilled hibiscus infusion for a morning or post-workout pick-me-up!
Or simply add a few jasmine tea pearls to your warm cup and watch them unfurl
for a relaxing brew.
OTHER GREEN TEA REPLACEMENTS
SAKURA TEA
Another must-have is the
exotic Sakura (Cherry Blossom) tea, a Japanese infusion with real
flowers.Called sakura-yu, the fragrant brew is salty and floral. The faintly
pink tea is light on the system and in Japan it is enjoyed at weddings and
other festive occasions in place of the usual green tea.
BT16FEB16
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