vobyl
Posted on Menopause is a natural process in a woman’s life, but it can
also bring along a range of symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia,
fatigue, vaginal dryness, and more.
While there is no definite treatment for menopause dieticians,
nutritionists and some doctors recommend herbal supplements and hormone
therapy. Herbalists will also recommend herbal remedies for menopause.
vobyl
Posted on The rolling hills of the Kenyan tea
plantation are alive with activity as the women pickers set to work. These
dedicated workers carefully pluck only the two leaves and a bud from each
branch, leaving the rest to grow and flourish. Despite the challenging
conditions, they fill their baskets with up to 60kg of tea per day for 7 days,
rain or shine.
The teas plucked are
carried by reed-woven baskets that are supported by bamboo sticks. Once
it is picked, it is taken to a processing center, sometimes over a distance of
1-2km. There, it is weighed and taken to the factory where it undergoes a
series of processes including withering, cutting, fermentation, drying,
sorting, and grading. This process happens continuously, as the rainy season
causes the tea to sprout quickly.
The small-scale farmers who own these farms
rely on the tea for their livelihood, and their hard work is evident in every
cup. The tea is sweet and full of flavor, thanks to the rich volcanic soil it
is grown in. And, as a bonus, it is completely pesticide-free.
When you drink a cup of Kenyan tea, you are
supporting the women who work hard to bring it to your cup, you are also
supporting the future of these small-scale farmers and their communities. So,
the next time you enjoy a cup of this delicious and refreshing beverage, take a
moment to appreciate the dedication and hard work of the women who make it all
possible.
vobyl
Posted on Discover the Many Benefits of Mukombero: The African Herb with Aphrodisiac, Anti-Aging, and Immune-Boosting Properties
vobyl
Posted on Spearmint (Mentha spicate) is an aromatic herb used for
medicinal and culinary purposes
Spearmint should not be confused for Peppermint Though they
are of same plant family (Lamiaceae)
Both have minty flavor and scent. The main difference is
that spearmint is slightly sweeter while peppermint is slightly has cooling effects.
vobyl
Posted on Did you know that Kenya is the second-largest tea producing country in the whole world and tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water?
To most Kenyans, tea means Chai which is a
the mixture of boiled water, Milk and black tea. But what is tea?
To understand this better we have to go
back to the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and the different processes, it goes
through to produce a different type of teas-one plant many teas-.
Generally, tea constitutes of components
such as L-theanine (an amino acid found to provide a sense of relaxation and stress
relief) Tannins (components that inhibit plaque buildup that causes heart attacks)
Polyphenols (trap free radical molecules,) Catechins (strengthen the immune
system)
ECGC Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (an
antioxidant), flavonoids- powerful disease fighters that help to fight allergies,
carcinogens and viruses) and Amino acids.
From the tea plant (camellia Sinensis) factories
in Kenya produces two categories of teas
speciality teas and Convectional tea. Speciality teas include Black tea, White
tea, green tea, yellow tea, oolong tea and
purple tea and Convectional teas such as
Black C.T.C ( Crush tear curl sometimes known as cut tear curl ) is the normal tea
that is ‘Kenyan chai’.
Few factories produce Matcha teas, Blooming
teas and decaffeinated teas.
White tea.
This is the least processed tea. It is
usually sun-dried.
It includes; silver tips which are
considered to be the healthiest among all teas because it is made from tea buds
(tip) this is where all antioxidants are concentrated.
It is the most expensive tea because of
the tedious process of plucking unlike other teas and its delicate process.
There is a white tea with 2 leaves and a bud
and 1 leaf and a bud.
Green tea
It is unoxidized and most closely resembles
the original plucked leaf. It contains abundant nutrients and oils
It has astringent Flavour
Purple tea
Purple tea is a hybrid of the green tea plant
and a non-tea plant called camellia irrawadiensis (Hu) P.K Barua which is rich
in anthocyanin pigment. So far this tea is grown in Kenya only.
Red/Black tea
This tea is fully oxidized and turns
completely brown with no trace of original green in leaf and can stand the
sloth of milk. It has a sweet Flavour.
Oolong tea
It is processed through less oxidation to enable it to retain the flavour and colour
Taste: aromatic, bright, fresh, smooth and soft.
Yellow tea
This is a type of green tea that
doesn’t go through the fermentation process instead it goes through fixing and
heaping where it is heated in humid air to give a yellow cast some people call
it ‘sealing yellow’. It has a sweet taste
Benefits of tea
·
Prevent cardiovascular diseases tea
has been said to lower cholesterol thus preventing high blood pressure
·
Helps in maintaining blood sugars
·
Green tea contains fluoride which prevents dental cavities
·
Boosting metabolism taking
green tea after meals eases digestion
·
If incorporated with diet
green tea will help with weight loss
·
Loose green tea has been
used to tone skins some people use it in their bathtubs The polyphenols in the tea helps prevent prematurely
ageing a lot of beauty products in the market are made using green tea e.g., Green tea mask
·
The antioxidants in
this tea detoxifies the liver
·
Tea may block the
formation of plaques in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease and
dementia.
·
White tea is a good
immune booster
·
Green tea is a
powerful stress buster
The beauty of tea is that it can be value-added by blending with
herbs, spices, flowers to broaden the flavours and make it more healthy.
Blending these herbs with teas will ensure your body gets enough nutrients for
a healthy body. These teas can be blended with
herbs, spices, fruits, seeds, roots and flowers.to broaden the flavours.
vobyl
Posted on Different tea varieties, black, green, white, or oolong, are all from the Camellia Sinensis plant. So in some senses, all teas are created equal, but some more equal than the others. That can be the case of purple tea. Start as a natural wild mutation of Camellia Sinensis; it is now mass-produced in Kenya. Loaded with fantastic health benefits, it can be the next best thing in the tea world.
Purple tea is an exceptional variety of tea, mostly produced in Kenya. The natural wild mutation of the Camellia Sinensis plant was first found in China and India. But the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya is well-known for developing drought, disease-free variety, and gradually produce purple tea commercially. They spent 25 years in the development of purple tea cultivar. Purple tea cultivation is essential to the tea market in Kenya and has helped improve the life of farmers in the industry.
Growing in cool conditions at an elevation of 4500 to 7500 feet, purple tea leaves absorb intense sun rays daily. So the tea plants produce a lot of antioxidants as a defense mechanism to fight damage. As the result, the tea leaves contain super high level of anthocyanins and polyphenols.
Purple tea leaf has a distinctive, purple-reddish color. Red and purple anthocyanins, the same component that gives super-food like acai berry, blueberry, or red cabbage its color is found in this tea leaf. Plucked fresh tea leaves go through the process of withering, steaming, rolling, and drying. They contain more antioxidants than other tea leaves, make it recognizable as a true health powerhouse.
Purple tea has a pleasant sweet taste. Tannin bitterness that often associated with black or green tea is not what you would experience from this tea. In dry form, this tea has a dark color, but after steeping, it has a slightly purplish hue.
Due to its light taste, purple tea is easy on the taste-buds with almost no grassiness or astringency. You can enjoy the tea by itself, blend with other teas, or explore adding in flavors of your liking.
The excellent health benefits of purple tea are what set it apart from other teas. It contains a higher level of polyphenols at 16.5%, compared with 10.1% from black tea and 9.1% from green tea. That explains purple tea’s ability to support arteries’ health.
This tea also carries unique polyphenols – GHG. Other types of teas do not have this effective polyphenol. Researchers found that GHG has shown significant results in support of healthy weight loss. This tea leaves have anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. It can prevent us from cold, flu and reduce the risk of liver injuries.
Purple tea is also rich in anthocyanins, an antioxidant that is proved to help fight cancer, boost heart health, and decrease cognitive issues. We all know that blueberry has fantastic health benefits, with 558 milligrams of anthocyanins in 100 grams. But you may not know that the amount of anthocyanins in purple tea is 15 times more than blueberries. That, to some degree, proves the amazing health properties of this tea.
Regular consumption of purple tea is good for our skin, as it improves collagen production. On the other hand, it helps strengthen hair follicles, reduce breakage and thinning of hair. So it is not only great at keeping us healthy, fight diseases but also come with amazing beauty benefits.
Purple tea has stand-out abilities when it comes to weight loss. It contains the unique polyphenols – GHG that helps reducing body fat mass and subcutaneous fat thickness. At the same time, the body leans mass increases. Consumption of purple tea can support weight loss, decrease waist circumference, and improve overall body composition.
Even though it associated a lot with weight loss, it is crucial to find a suitable amount for your body type. If you experience stomach discomfort or any digestive issue when trying it, you need to consult with a doctor to limit intake or avoid it altogether. After all, your health always comes first.
With all the amazing antioxidants and health benefits from purple tea, we wonder how much caffeine it contains. The truth is, it has a lower amount of caffeine compared with black or green tea.
Purple Tea extract from Kenya pesticide-free plantation has about 4.5% of caffeine. Other varieties on the market would have different caffeine content. The manufacturing process and steeping methods will also alter its overall caffeine content.
