Lavender Matcha made easy

I have been drinking matcha more and more.  I find I am really liking it.

Matcha is a stone ground green from the Camellia Sinensis plant- traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies. Matcha is an ancient way to make tea, it goes back over 2000 years and started in China, and the Japanese are the only ones still doing it this way today.

 Matcha is made from a specific tea leaf- not just not any green tea. The leaf is a little larger leaf- they allow it to grow a little larger (no buds or small leaves) but they don't want it to get too large and waxy or glossing and rough.

Matcha comes from tea leaves picked in Japan. They are plucked early to mid-May. 20 days before they pick the leaf, they start to shade the tea. This produces high levels of chlorophyll and theanine levels rise. This gives high level benefits. They steam it for 15 seconds to stop the oxidations and then they dry the tea. They then take out the stem and vein, you just have the meaty leaf- they make it uniform, and they try it again. The tea master tries the levels of tea and then makes his blend. They then grind into

matcha.  They grind with the stone mill. It is microfine. It takes a slow process.

 3 general grades of Matcha- ceremonial- has to to be stone ground, standard, and cooking- ice cream, dusting of truffles

 So many things affect the grade- if the leaf is not fully shaded for 20 days. If it is the second flush and not the first flush, how much attention to de-veining- stems and veins in the tea will affect the grade.

Matcha gives you 100% of the health benefits- you are consuming the leaf. With other teas you may get 20% of the health benefits. Matcha is 10-20 times higher in antioxidants than a really good green tea. High levels of Vitamin B&C and minerals. Theanines are the highest too.

Theanines are only in tea and one kind of mushroom.   Theanine is an amino acid found naturally in the tea plant.   Matcha has the highest levels of theanine. It crosses the blood brain barrier, directly affects your brain chemistry, it helps you to relax and controls stress. It helps your dopamine levels- improves your mood (calmness and happiness). Also stimulates alpha brain levels/cognitive function- makes you more aware, more creative, and lastly boosts immune systems.

I get 90% of my matcha from Ohio Tea.  https://www.ohioteaco.com/search.asp?keyword=matcha

However, one day I  was at Everything Surplus in Wooster and they had Chamberlain Coffee Matcha. https://chamberlaincoffee.com  I was not familiar with it so I did a quick google and decided it was good stuff!!!  They had the 1 oz of matcha for .99!!!  Those 1 oz tins sell on line for $24.  I have to admit I bought 10 tins of matcha.  Chamberlain matcha is from Japan and is a Ceremonial Grade A matcha. 

I take a teaspoon and fill it half way with matcha for an 8 oz cup of tea.

I then add just enough hot water to cover the tea.

I then whisk it together with a hand held frother.

I then fill the rest of the cup of with oat milk.

I then will add a flavor...sometimes it is fresh fruit and sometimes it is a syrup.  Today when I made it I used lavender syrup.

I then froth it all together.

I throw in some ice cubes and I am good to go!!

Psalm 96:3

Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!

 

Smithville Harvest Festival and Market

Fall tea in Smithville, Ohio.

Smithville Community Historical Society had it's Harvest Festival & Market. 

They asked me to do this last year, but I had just had shoulder surgery, so I was really excited to be able to participate this year.  It was a great day to be outside (at least until 2:30pm)

381 E Main St, Smithville.  Right off of Rt 57.

The night before I made my tea concentrates.  Since it was going to be a cooler day, I wanted to do a hot chai.  I ended up blending my own.  I did Harney & Son Indian Spices with Natural Hope's Indian Spiced Chai.   And then for the sugar, I used Pumpkin syrup for the fall flavor.  In the morning I added the hot water and put in carafes. Then at the festival I added oat milk when I served it.

The aroma from these teas are incredible!!!! These are both black teas.

Harney & Sons, Indian Spice is a Black tea, cardamom flavor, cinnamon ground, nutmeg, cardamom spices.

Natural Hope, Indian Spiced Chai is a Organic Orange Pekoe Black Tea, Organic Holy Basil Leaf, Organic Ginger root, Organic Cinnamon bark, Organic Clove buds, Organic Cardamom seeds, Organic Black Pepper.

I then made the butterfly pea tea, aka Purple Palmer.  I love to make the concentrate the night before, it is so much easier! 

The Purple Palmer for this event was made with Natural Hope's Moringa Mint, lavender and Mint blend from Oregon, and dried butterfly pea blossoms.

I take part of the concentrate and freeze it, that is my ice for the day and it also does not dilute the tea at the festival.

That day I add more water and the lemonade to finish the tea.

Moringa Mint Tea is Organic Green Tea, Organic Spearmint leaf, Organic Chamomile blossom, Organic Moringa leaf, Organic Lavender buds.

I tried to give my table a fall feel with some pumpkins and leaves.

I had my books to sell as well.

There were about 20 of us vendors there.  A nice variety of people and items.

I had peach iced tea and the Purple Palmer.  The chai was hot.  I sold all of them as 12 ounce drinks for $4.  Once again the Purple Palmer was the big seller of the day.

I saw some high school friends, which was super fun.  Meeting people is so much fun when you are doing these events.  

My friends Amy and Carol showed up- my favorite stalkers ever!!!  It always feels great to have people come out and support you and say hi.

Another friend showed up and said, I came just to see you.  That was great to hear!!

But one lady in particular just made my day.  She said that I didn't know her, but she felt like she knew me.  She said that she was reading my book.  I asked it if it was the tea book.  She said no, it was one of the Christian romance books I wrote a few years ago.  She said it was so good that she could not put it down.  That was one of the nicest things for her to say!  She said that she just wanted to encourage me to keep writing. 

That reminds to me share things with people that would encourage them.  When I think something nice about someone, I should say it!  I should not be embarrassed to compliment someone or wonder what they would think, I should share with them.

The sweet girl in the photo below was drinking my tea in one of the little tea cups I was selling.  I let her pick out a cup.

I was the only one who braved the weather without a tent, lol.  When I talked to the other vendors, we all agreed I should be okay, the rain was not coming until later on.  

I was good until about 2:30...but the lady beside me was nice enough to let me know that the rain was coming.  I was able to get most put away before it rained.  And it wasn't bad, since we ended at 3pm anyway.  Also, it didn't rain hard, it was more of a drizzle.

The other neighbor came over beside me stood over me with an umbrella as I filled my containers with the left over tea.  The vendors are so great at this event.  And I find that to be the case at most events.  People are so kind and helpful!

Psalm 96:3
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!

Travelin Tom's Coffee, Chai

I made my first trip to a 720 Market event.  This one was Oct 5th in Hartville, Ohio.

720 Markets are so fun! Each month they are in a different city.  They have been around since 2016.

https://www.eventsby720.com/about/?ao=myaccordion&ai=1

It was a beautiful day to be out and about!  I loved walking around and seeing the vendors.  Tom's was a new one for me.  I was not familiar with this traveling truck.

It is really cute.  This would be a perfect size for me.  I thought it was great.  I wasn't huge and I could manage a truck about that size...maybe you should look for me to come to a city near you with my tea truck, lol.

The concept is great though.  They bring the drinks to you.  You can schedule an event with them.

https://travelintomscoffee.com/local-site/travelin-toms-coffee-of-canton-oh/

"The delicious, mobile coffee truck that brings you the caffeination inspiration you need. We deliver signature coffee products—like our Nitro Cold Brew and Caramel Frappe—to any occasion or festivity. And for those who don’t like coffee, we offer a variety of delicious Hot Chocolates, Energy Drinks, Lemonades, and Teas." from the website.

I went for the iced chai.  They use a Chai Syrup and it was nice.  I would have liked maybe a little more spice, but it was okay.

I am giving them 4 tea cups out of 5.  The lady who waited on me was super kind and patient.   I paid in quarters and she was about ready to say I was good when I was digging out the last .50.  She was patient as I decided what I wanted.  The prices were okay.  The chai was good.  I would go back.

 

Hartville had this building painted, I thought it looked great.  The artist, 

eyerusssss

, (https://www.instagram.com/eyerusssss/) did a great job.  I know I always say it, but I wish more businesses painted the brick walls with fun art.

Eyerusssss has painted in Canal Fulton, Umbrella Alley, and other places.

The fall decor was fun and festive, I can't wait to see what they do with the winter season!!!

Future 720 Holiday Markets coming up...

If you have never been, I recommend finding a Saturday and going.  There are a lot of great vendors.  And you can see fun parts of maybe a new city.  Hartville had a lot going on.  It was a blast.

Psalm 96:3
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!