The Matcha Alternatives Blog

Your new favorite source of information about antioxidant-rich teas and tisanes

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The Health Benefits of Teas and Tisanes

Posted by Stephany Morgan on

The almost innumerable health benefits of tea vary in effect depending on the type of tea or herbal tea. Each does different things, and of course actions vary on how much tea you consume, the brewing temperature, the preparation method and how frequently you drink it. To give you an idea of how amazing herbal and true teas can be, I've given a brief summary of different health benefits attributed to these fantastic plants, looked at the tea vs coffee debate, and defined some of the more jargony chemical terms that every tea lover has seen but may not understand. 

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The Health Benefits of Teas and Tisanes

Posted by Stephany Morgan on

The almost innumerable health benefits of tea vary in effect depending on the type of tea or herbal tea. Each does different things, and of course actions vary on how much tea you consume, the brewing temperature, the preparation method and how frequently you drink it. To give you an idea of how amazing herbal and true teas can be, I've given a brief summary of different health benefits attributed to these fantastic plants, looked at the tea vs coffee debate, and defined some of the more jargony chemical terms that every tea lover has seen but may not understand. 

Read more

Japanese and Chinese Green Teas: A Brief Introduction

Posted by Stephany Morgan on

If you love tea, you may (or may not) know that green tea is most famously produced in Japan and China. The practice of drinking green tea for medicinal purposes began in China and the first recorded use was 4,000 years ago! This Spotlight introduces Japanese and Chinese green teas, the main health benefits of green tea in general, and how to drink it. 

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Japanese and Chinese Green Teas: A Brief Introduction

Posted by Stephany Morgan on

If you love tea, you may (or may not) know that green tea is most famously produced in Japan and China. The practice of drinking green tea for medicinal purposes began in China and the first recorded use was 4,000 years ago! This Spotlight introduces Japanese and Chinese green teas, the main health benefits of green tea in general, and how to drink it. 

Read more

Tulsi Holy Basil: An Ancient Tea for Modern Times

Posted by Stephany Morgan on

Tulsi Holy Basil is a famous herb and tisane in the herbal medicine philosophy of India called Ayurveda. True to its title as “adaptogen”, Tulsi can be taken safely as a tonic (a fancy way to say drinking a tea or tisane for health purposes) over long periods of time and has virtually no side-effects. Holy Basil revitalizes, increases endurance and energizes, yet contains no caffeine. Furthermore, it contains phytochemicals that exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and has even shown protective action for human blood lymphocytes by reducing chromosomal damage due to radiation. It's a pretty incredible tea!

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Tulsi Holy Basil: An Ancient Tea for Modern Times

Posted by Stephany Morgan on

Tulsi Holy Basil is a famous herb and tisane in the herbal medicine philosophy of India called Ayurveda. True to its title as “adaptogen”, Tulsi can be taken safely as a tonic (a fancy way to say drinking a tea or tisane for health purposes) over long periods of time and has virtually no side-effects. Holy Basil revitalizes, increases endurance and energizes, yet contains no caffeine. Furthermore, it contains phytochemicals that exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and has even shown protective action for human blood lymphocytes by reducing chromosomal damage due to radiation. It's a pretty incredible tea!

Read more

Ultimate Guide to Brewing Tea and Tisanes

Posted by Elizabeth Taeed on

The difference between a great cup of tea and something that is best for watering plants is down to three key factors: time, temperature and quantity. Always make sure your tea doesn't over- or under-brew, that your water is the right temperature (some teas taste best in boiling water, whereas others will burn), and that you have used enough tea (to your taste!). Each tea and tisane is slightly different, so follow the below instructions carefully and you will have a gorgeous brew every time.

Read more

Ultimate Guide to Brewing Tea and Tisanes

Posted by Elizabeth Taeed on

The difference between a great cup of tea and something that is best for watering plants is down to three key factors: time, temperature and quantity. Always make sure your tea doesn't over- or under-brew, that your water is the right temperature (some teas taste best in boiling water, whereas others will burn), and that you have used enough tea (to your taste!). Each tea and tisane is slightly different, so follow the below instructions carefully and you will have a gorgeous brew every time.

Read more

All About Antioxidants Part 2: A Chat with the Herbalist

Posted by Stephany Morgan on

Welcome to Part 2 of our series on antioxidants! Antioxidants have long been touted as powerfully healthy compounds, yet the specifics remain unclear. Studies that look at the effects of tocopherols, beta carotene and vitamin C (antioxidants) have often found little difference between the antioxidant intervention, and the placebo. But that isn’t the whole story. These look at the effects of isolated antioxidants, or in some cases, combination supplements (that are still isolated, just combined in a capsule). While this is a great way to control for variables, it doesn’t give you a real world picture. We understand that the action of antioxidants prevents free radical damage, and have observed that those who eat a diet rich in antioxidants have fewer incidents of disease. Whether it is from other phytochemicals in the foods being eaten, teas being enjoyed, etc., or from their antioxidant content, perhaps the need to differentiate that is moot. This post is a Q&A of the big questions about antioxidants, we hope you enjoy!

Read more

All About Antioxidants Part 2: A Chat with the Herbalist

Posted by Stephany Morgan on

Welcome to Part 2 of our series on antioxidants! Antioxidants have long been touted as powerfully healthy compounds, yet the specifics remain unclear. Studies that look at the effects of tocopherols, beta carotene and vitamin C (antioxidants) have often found little difference between the antioxidant intervention, and the placebo. But that isn’t the whole story. These look at the effects of isolated antioxidants, or in some cases, combination supplements (that are still isolated, just combined in a capsule). While this is a great way to control for variables, it doesn’t give you a real world picture. We understand that the action of antioxidants prevents free radical damage, and have observed that those who eat a diet rich in antioxidants have fewer incidents of disease. Whether it is from other phytochemicals in the foods being eaten, teas being enjoyed, etc., or from their antioxidant content, perhaps the need to differentiate that is moot. This post is a Q&A of the big questions about antioxidants, we hope you enjoy!

Read more