What is Purple Tea? This obscure tea is quickly gaining popularity. Purple tea was first discovered in India, and in Yunnan, China, initially cultivated in Japan and Sri Lanka, but Kenya is currently the lead cultivator. When the C. sinensis plant produced purple leaves, these were cultivated and bred so as to maintain that quality. In doing so, it was discovered that these leaves produce a rich violet colored tea, with a flavor reminiscent of green tea (though more earthy and a bit sweeter). The leaves from these cultivars are rich in purple and red anthocyanins, antioxidants which are also found in purple foods, such as blueberries, blackberries and acai. The concentration of these antioxidants are responsible for the unique purple color these leaves yield.

Known as the “miracle tree” Moringa is listed as a cure for 300 ailments in Ayurveda. It is considered a superfood, due to its rich nutrient content. Moringa provides more fiber, vitamins A and C, and protein than Matcha. Matcha doesn’t provide any protein, whereas Moringa provides all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein - a rare thing for the plant world. It is also an adaptogen. Adaptogens are a class of botanicals that increase endurance, energy and concentration, aid the stress response, and regulate other systems and functions (i.e., blood pressure and blood sugar) without a single bit of caffeine!

Matcha is green tea that has been ground into a fine powder and blended into hot water, rather than steeped. But leaves for Matcha are subject to specific growing conditions: namely, shade. The plant is protected from the sun, and light is carefully controlled, leading to a unique production of plant chemicals (caffeine, antioxidants, flavonoids, etc) which contribute to its unique flavor. Descriptions vary from sweet, creamy and full-bodied to vegetal, wheat-grass-like and bitter. This partly has to do with preparation, but in the end Matcha really is an acquired taste. Perhaps this bitterness is why Matcha lattes and desserts are so popular, but adding cream and sugar counteract its health benefits. So, you want something with Matcha’s health benefits but not a fan of the taste? Good news! There are plenty of Matcha alternatives! Purple tea and Yerba Mate are two caffeinated teas chock-full of antioxidants but lack the bitterness of Matcha. Moringa is caffeine-free, yet energizing alternative that also comes in a powder nearly identical to Matcha. Its flavor is reminiscent of Matcha, but with sweet undertones.

This blog is a no-nonsense (but lighthearted) resource for everyone who is interested in herbal teas and the science behind them. We will go in-depth on the various herbal teas available in our shop, and also will explore the world of matcha, antioxidants, superfoods and how these can all be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle. We will also share our experiences from traveling the world to try and discover teas, as Vientiene and I have been doing for the last four years. We have had some fun and interesting experiences that we will be sharing with you. As part of this, we have some yummy tea recipes, both for cooking with your tea and also for making ideal tea accompaniments.