tea

Vanilla Rosehip Hibiscus Cider

With the winter amongst us, I find myself continually wanting to grab a hot cup of anything delicious. Java, matcha, hot water with lemon, apple cider, black tea, green tea, blueberry tea, mulled wine – there are a ton of options for all times of the day and some more simple than others.

This weekend was probably the first where we really felt Winter in the air (lately we have been SO LUCKY with above average temps).  After strolling around the city all day in these cooler temps and almost immediately as I come in from the cold, I find myself looking for something warming and special. A cup of deliciousness to cozy up on the couch with and catch whichever Christmas flick that may be on.

With a ton of apples lying around, I decide to juice them and make homemade apple cider. While healthy and delicious, how can I fancy this up, make it special, make these apples worth juicing. 🙂

I come up with a vanilla bean, cinnamon stick and rosehip hibiscus; in my mind – perfection! This combination could not go wrong.Vanilla Rosehip Hibiscus Apple Cider

A cup of HEAVEN was just how right these flavours were when brewed together. Sweet, warm, rich, extraordinary, a treat for those days when you need that special pick me up.

  1. Juice apples (I used a mix of gala and fuji), remove foam from juice. 6 apples yield about 3 servings
  2. Slice open the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into a large pot; add the scraped pod as well + cinnamon stick
  3. Pour in the apple juice and heat over low-medium heat until liquid starts to simmer
  4. Remove from heat, add the rosehip hibiscus and let steep for 10-12 minutes
  5. Strain cider and serve

Vanilla Rosehip Hibiscus Cider

Keep warm. xx

The Perfect Matcha

Who said you couldn’t have your greens in a warm and cozy cup… Ok not quite… But a good cup of Matcha offers many benefits to help kick off your day. This miracle elixir has been around for over a thousand years and is ever growing in popularity. While the best can be found at small Chinese tea shops, Matcha is easily available at most major tea and coffee retailers, when you are looking for convenience. I’ll often get my fix at Starbucks if needed and on the go. However, nothing beats sitting back and relaxing with a warm cup of greens before starting the day. Finding that moment of peace and calm in a delicious cup is beyond comforting.Matcha

It’s well known that Matcha is a ‘superfood’ we should not ignore. There are loads and loads of benefits that should be well noted and celebrated with each latte you make. Here are a few that are top in my books –

  • high in antioxidants, exponentially more than any other ‘superfood’
  • loaded with catchin EGCg, which is most powerful with cancer fighting properties
  • L-Theanine helps in calming, aiding in relaxation and meditation efforts
  • L-Theanine also produces dopamine and serotonin which enhance memory and concentration
  • a clean energy boost from combined nutrients vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium
  • rich with chlorophyll, naturally detoxifying the body
  • boost to one’s metabolism, helping burn calories
  • natural antibiotic properties that fortify and stregthen the immune system
  • health properties that help fight heart disease, improve cholesterol and lower blood sugar

Making the perfect Matcha is kind of a no brainer, but here you’ll find a few of my special touches. This recipe yields 2 servings.

Matcha & Coconut Milk

2 teaspoons of Matcha, 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened almond coconut milk, 1/2 cup water, drizzle of maple syrup or coconut agave syrup.
Matcha

  1. Whisk the Matcha with a tbsp of water to get rid of lumps and clumps
  2. In a small saucepan, bring the milk of your choice to a simmer over medium heat
  3. Boil water in kettle
  4. Add Matcha and sweetener to simmering milk
  5. Fill mug with half water, half Matcha milk
  6. Enjoy!

Matcha Latte

Matcha On. xx