Morning Drinks - I like them a latte!
I am big on morning rituals. I remember a time when a morning rush was my norm - leaving just enough time for necessities before flying out of the door. Once I realized how much better my day flowed when my morning had a slower pace and a smoother roll - I was sold. There really is something behind the newspaper and cup of coffee in the morning. Swap coffee for a mug of Matcha or Chai & you're speaking my language!
Matcha is my favorite tea in the mornings. Matcha comes from camellia sinensis (the tea tree) and the picked tea leaves get ground down to a powder. Often, matcha-specific tea trees are shade grown, which means the nutrient density is boosted as the chlorophyll in the plant needs to move into overdrive with less sun exposure. It also means the plant is pulling more nutrients in from the soil. It has an earthy but light taste and is excellent for blending into warm or cold elixirs. Here are just a few of the benefits of Matcha green tea:
1. Very nutrient dense because you are consuming the whole tea leaf
2. Highest anti-oxidant count across all green teas
3. Caffeine binds to tannins in the tea making the release slower and contributes to increased concentration and mental acuity.
4. The main polyphenol, EGCG, is beneficial for metabolic health and can have positive effects on high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.
My go-to recipe for a matcha latte:
1 tsp Mizuba Tea Co matcha
1 cup hot water (just before the boil)
1/2 cup unsweetened alternative milk (almond, coconut, flax, soy, etc.)
1/3 scoop of Vital Proteins Beauty Greens Collagen (boosts the latte by providing wheatgrass, spinach and collagen)
Optional: 1 teaspoon honey (if the taste is too earthy for you but I opt to add the least amount of sugar possible)
Blend on high for 10 seconds!
Sip slowly & intentionally
Now let's talk Chai. Another fantastic drink to start the day with, Chai has amazing spices alongside benefits of the black tea. Black tea comes from the camellia sinensis tea tree and differs from green in that it has been oxidized. This variation of tea has shown benefits for inflammation and may also contribute to insulin sensitivity. The following spices are typical in a Chai blend and have a host of amazing healing properties:
Cardamom: antioxidant with potential to control blood pressure.
Cinnamon: blood sugar regulation and high antioxidant capacity.
Cloves: anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and pain relief
Nutmeg: relaxing, antibacterial, and mineral rich
Ginger: improves digestion, stimulating, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory
Black Pepper: encourages digestion and appetite, antioxidant, heart protective
Turmeric (perfect drink to sneak some in): anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, boosts digestion.
Here is a fool-proof recipe for a satisfying Chai:
1 tsp Chai mix (I really like Blue Lotus Chai w/ Turmeric)
1 cup hot water (just after the boil)
1/2 cup unsweetened alternative milk (almond, coconut, flax, soy, etc.)
1/2 tsp of unrefined, cold pressed coconut oil
Optional: 1 teaspoon honey (if the taste is too spicey for you but I opt to add the least amount of sugar possible)
Blend on high for 10 seconds!
Sip slowly & intentionally