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Tea: Not Just for Drinking
by Kellee Terrell
Green Tea Fourth of July Smoothie
Red strawberries, white frozen yogurt and blueberries make this green tea smoothie a patriotic treat for a hot July night. Makes two 12-ounce smoothies
2 cups frozen vanilla yogurt
1½ cups frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
2 green tea bags
Brew tea in 1 cup of hot water and allow to cool to room temperature. Gently squeeze the tea bags before discarding them. Combine strawberries, blueberries and yogurt in a blender and pulse several times. Turn the blender to the puree setting and gradually pour in the tea while the smoothie is mixing until it reaches desired consistency. Serve immediately.
Per 12-ounce serving: 296 calories, 9 g total fat, 5 g saturated fat, 30 mg cholesterol, 123 mg sodium, 54 g total carbs, 4.5 g dietary fiber, 42 g sugar and 9 g protein.
Creamy Mint Tea and Cucumber Dip
This creamy spread is perfect for the lactose intolerant, thanks to Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese. If you are averse to soy products, substitute light cream cheese. The garnish of fresh mint enhances the tea’s subtle mint flavors. Serve this dip with baked pita crisps and fresh vegetables for a healthy and refreshing summer snack. Serves 6 to 8.
2 bags Clipper Organic White Tea With Peppermint
1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
8 ounce Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese, plain
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced
Brew the tea bags in 1 cup of hot water. Steep and cool in the refrigerator until chilled. Gently squeeze the tea bags before discarding them. Combine Tofutti, tea and mint in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Transfer the Tofutti mixture to a bowl and stir in the diced cucumber. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. The mint flavors will become stronger with time.
Per 2-tablespoon serving: 86 calories, 20 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 541 mg sodium, 37 g total carbs, 0.3 g dietary fiber, 9 g sugar and 4 g protein.
Log onto Reid’s blog, Life Chef’s Food for Life (lifechef.blogspot.com), for more recipes and tips on healthy living.
GREEN LIGHT
While numerous studies verify green tea’s health benefits, those who drink it often complain about its taste. “Many claim that it’s bitter, but that’s because they are boiling the water [and the liquid becomes] too hot,” says Rona Tison of tea manufacturer Ito En. “Water temperature is crucial.”
Tison shares these tips for the perfect cup of green tea:
- Make sure you have a good tea leaf or tea bag that is stored in a dark container away from sunlight or moisture. We store ours in a container with a lid or in the fridge.
- The water doesn’t need to be super hot. Make sure the water is between 175° and 195°. Any temperature hotter than that burns the leaves, which gives it that bitter taste.
- Share it with your friends—tea is about relaxing and being sociable.
- Don’t have time to brew a fresh cup? Not a problem. RH recommends Ito En’s Oi Ocha ($1.50, 16.9 fl. oz.). It’s Japan’s No. 1 selling bottled green tea and is gaining popularity in the states. It’s a perfect substitute for sugary sodas loaded with high fructose corn syrup, which docs believe plays a key role
in this country’s obesity epidemic. Tison says: “With the natural progression of people moving away from sodas, it makes sense that people want to drink something that is refreshing and tasty minus the chemicals and sugar.”
We say, “Ahhh!”
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