Green Tea: The Elixir Of Spring

Spring is associated with the emergence of the color green. Gardens begin to bloom, trees return to life, and neighborhood sidewalks are lined with a birth of lush foliage. This is the season to eat many green and lighter foods to gain balance during the reemergence from winter. This truism can be applied to what we drink as well.

Matcha is a great option for a lighter coffee substitute; a rich and creamy powder that is easy to modify. A morning latte can be crafted by steaming oat, almond, or soy milk and adding vanilla or monk fruit extract for sweetness. For those with a colder constitution, adding cinnamon both during the whisking process and sprinkled upon the foamy top provides some warmth to balance matcha’s cooling nature and helps to tonify Qi and Yang, while boosting metabolism. Matcha’s caffeine content is not overly stimulating and contains natural l-theanine - essential for spring’s representative organs the Liver and Gallbladder. L-theanine can help to keep stress levels low and balanced, and support healthy sleep, focus, and overall immunity with its high antioxidant levels. You can get creative with your morning matcha by steaming in ube extracts, or adding black sesame powder to nourish Yin, Jing, and to counter dryness that often accompanies the winds of spring. Rose matcha with a little honey is also a perfect light and floral drink for the season.

Genmaicha and sencha are both wonderful options to have as a middle-of-the-day boost. Genmaicha is a green tea with roasted popped rice. The astringency of the green tea is balanced with the popcorn aroma of the rice. Sencha is a lighter and brighter blend, often with a bit more astringency, pairing well with an afternoon cookie or apples before dinner preparations. Genmaicha is made from sencha, so their benefits parallel, with only their taste and body varying for each tea drinker’s preference. They both carry similar benefits to matcha and other teas in the green leaf family, including boosting digestion, promoting healthy blood cholesterol through catechins, and supporting overall cardiovascular and metabolic health. Genmaicha and sencha also contain antioxidants and l-theanine, making them another great choice for boosting immunity and helping combat oxidative stress.

Interweaving matcha, genmaicha, sencha, or your preferred green tea into your beverage rotations may help  bring great brightness and peace to your spring. Practice slowing down, sipping, and enjoying the greenery alone or with friends this season. May the color green be abundant for us all this spring!