A number of things come to mind when one thinks of wine: a romantic evening, a relaxing day, a great accessory for a bath and a lovely drink for a much needed light buzz after a long day at work. It is the ultimate 'adult drink', the grape-based drink that goes well with virtually anything! Personally, I enjoy a light fruity moscato over red wines because I like sweeter flavours so herbal wine is definitely on the other spectrum of my taste scale. There has to be a logical reason behind the very existence of this subset of wine. And I am nothing if not adventurous so I gave it a chance and did my research (of course), and to make it more fun, I wanted to look into DIY wines. It won't be the easiest process but it is certainly highly rewarding! It isn't everyday you get to serve DIY wine at your cocktail parties, no?
Getting the poor elephant out of that tiny room, herbal wine is definitely far less common than the traditional grape wines and they are simply herb-based wines. Herbal wines are either a dry-herb infusion or a fresh-herb infusion. The former infuses at room temperature and for a longer period of time, while the latter infuses in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
On the archaeological record, the earliest wine-making activities go back to as far back 6,000 years ago across the globe. It has been used as a populist medicine that stimulates the nervous and circulatory systems and offers a strong boost to digestion. All types of herbs are used to achieve these results, as well as offering other health benefits such as improving one's mood, promoting internal movement, cleansing the organs and supporting various bodily system functions. Apart from the numerous health benefits, did I mention it actually tastes fragrant, floral and light? Much like a spring/summer breeze on a nice sunny day by the ocean. You're welcome for that spark in your imaginary dreamscape.
Now, moving on, I will share the process of making DIY wine or home-brewed wine and a recipe for you to kickstart at home. Your resulting wine should taste like a cup of quality tea with a slight alcoholic taste; basically the wine version of herbal fruit tea.
Simply put, the fermentation equation for an aspiring winemaker is as follows:
Sugary liquid + yeast (and the occasional friendly bacteria) + time = delicious fermented beverage (Christensen, 2013)
Fermentation is what turns a regular fruit like grapes into an alcoholic beverage. Yeast is required to transform the sugars in the juice/liquid into ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide (a by-product). The total duration for complete fermentation can take up to 3 weeks. Deliciousness and perfection takes time and cannot be rushed!
Note: every recipe follows this basic procedure:
Once you have your equipment and ingredients ready, the creative process is relatively fun and easy. When you become more confident in mixing fruits and herbs, you can wean off known recipes and experiment on your own to find your very own creation. Here is a recipe to get you started on your wine-making journey:
Image cred: photo-nic.co.uk nic on Unsplash
Blackberry-Hibiscus Wine
If made right, this home brewed wine should taste almost like an herbal fruit tea and you'll be the talk of the party no doubt! Watch out wine stores, DIY wine just might be the next big thing.
With the Christmas season upon us, Christmas markets and pop-ups can be found all over the place. And we could be found at Shop Wonderland last Saturday 2 December 2017.
Nilufer Tea and special yoga wear
Holding the first-ever Christmas market, Shop Wonderland has done a fantastic job in arranging for various brands to come in and show their arts and products. We were honored and glad for having the opportunity to be involved in this amazing event.
Perk by Kate
Lucy and Mui
Wood and Lead
Being a cafe on normal days, Shop Wonderland has transformed the inner space into an area of festivity with the beauty of different brands and a large Christmas trees. With most holidays, you must have drinks, and that is why Shop Wonderland set up a gin bar outside the shop to bring the seasonal spirit beyond their shop.
It was heartwarming to see so many brand ambassadors sharing what they love, and even the brand creators themselves came down personally to be at their booths and sharing the fruits of their labour with everyone. It was clear that many people have put their heart and soul into the event.
Shop Little Man
If you have missed us at Shop Wonderland, fret not because we will be having another Christmas market soon! So stay tuned here, our instagram and our facebook for more information in time to come.
Meanwhile, you can still get out tea gift sets here. Nothing says blessings better than organic herbal teas for the wellness of your body and soul.
If you are a scavenger for good deals and artisan goodies, then you need to keep your 2 December free. Why, you ask? That's because on 2 December 2017, from 10am to 6pm, Shop Wonderland is holding their very first Christmas Market! You will see self-made entrepreneurs from all walks of life coming together to showcase their goods and share their passion through small trinkets that you can get for yourself and your loved ones, or even for the Christmas gift exchange with your colleagues or at parties.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbyT6JYHFEl/?hl=en&taken-by=shopwonderlandsg
If you follow their Instagram and our Instagram, you will find that we, Nilufer Tea, will also be part of the Christmas festive market! Not only are we bringing you the joys of our organic herbal teas, we will also be bringing you quality yoga wear by Liquido.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcAMOyKj3S1/?hl=en&taken-by=liquidoactive
Originated from Australia, Liquido takes pride in providing only the best quality apparel, not just for yogis, but for every active person. Designed by Brazilian designers who are inspired by the brightness, sunshine and tropical setting of Brazil, the bold patterns and bright colours bring joy and excitement as you exercise and do yoga. If you are a person who prefer something that is minimalistic, you can still find your perfect fit at Liquido as they also have a line that is dedicated to simpler designs and solid colours.
While you can shop online, there are simply too many designs for one to fathom and the additional shipping fees may not be worth your budget. That's where we come in! We have filtered out some of the best designs for your selection and so all you need to do is to come down and get your quality yoga wear.
Of course, our usual suspects will be there. With such cooling weather bestowed upon us at this time of the year, what is better than cosying up with a cup of comforting warm herbal tea? We will be selling our range of organic herbal teas for your delightful tea parties and Christmas dinners, so come on down to get some!
Of course, besides Nilufer Tea, you can also browse other booths that are going to share their wonderful collection of items. For instance, you can get your cute mugs and accessories from The Little Drom Store, beautiful lingerie from Perk by Kate, and also something for the guys at Shop Little Man. After all, Christmas is a season for everyone!
For hesitate no more! Mark your calendars and keep your 2 December busy by visiting Shop Wonderland. And if you need a little more convincing, some cakes should do the trick:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb_BIpiHWQ4/?hl=en&taken-by=shopwonderlandsg
Shop Wonderland
134 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068600
And as usual, if you are a busy bee, you can also buy our teas here.
While the sugary goodness of a doughnut seems to be the obvious choice for a quick breakfast or snack, the harms of a doughnut far outweigh the momentary sweet thrill that your brain craves. On the other hand, while herbal tea may not be everyone's number one choice, it will leave you feeling energetic, refreshed and optimised to do your best. Not only are herbal teas the healthier option, they come in a wide variety of flavours such that you would surely be able to find something that you like. Still thinking of herbal teas as weird concoctions of strange brown liquid that you might get from a TCM practitioner? Read on to open your mind to the natural sweetness of teas, especially floral ones, and the benefits they provide as opposed to the sweet deception of doughnuts.
Image cred: Sabri Tuzcu on Unsplash
Teas such as lemon tea help to detoxify your blood helping to stave off fatigue and lethargy. If your tiredness is due to poor sleep, teas with ingredients such as chamomile, valerian or lavender help to relax, leading to a better night of rest and better productivity in the morning. The sugar in doughnuts gives you energy in the form of empty calories. Empty calories are calories that do not provide you with any kind of nutrition – they are just plain energy. While this sounds amazing at about 3pm when you are trying to continue working or studying through your lethargy, it really does not benefit you much. The sugar found in doughnuts will give you a quick pick-me-up but it also leads to an inevitable sugar crash a few hours later. Herbal teas on the other hand do not work as quickly as sugar does but they target your body’s deficiencies and impact your overall health.
Image cred: pixabay
The truth is you won't stop at one doughnut, would you? Once you have had one, you definitely get the urge to polish off the others in the box. Poor self-control aside, there are scientific reasons for this craving. Consuming sugar releases the same chemical – dopamine – in the brain as taking drugs. Since your brain feels rewarded by the sugar, it is no surprise that you begin to crave more and more of it. With increased sugar intake comes a whole host of problems such obesity and insulin resistance. Replace sugary food with a flavourful cup of tea and not only will you be reaping a whole slew of benefits, your craving for sugar will drastically decrease. With teas, there is no danger of addiction especially if you are careful to choose teas made of organic ingredients and with no added caffeine or sugar.
Image cred: Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash
It has long been thought that saturated fat is the leading factor of clogged blood vessels but recent studies show that there is also a strong association between heart disease and added sugar consumption. The Havard Health Blog discusses a 15 year study on the effects of sugar on health and reports people who took more than 25% of their daily intake of calories as sugar are twice as likely to die from heart disease. While having a doughnut once in a while won’t kill you immediately, it is important to take note of your daily sugar consumption in order to stay in the pink of cardiovascular health. Teas such as green and white tea help to reduce the risks of such diseases.
Fortify your skin with specially selected teas made of ingredients such as rooibos, ginger and peppermint for clearing the skin and giving it a glow. Even though the chocolate-glazed-rainbow-sprinkled fried piece of heaven looks beautiful to you, once it passes through your mouth it is as not pretty and wrecks havoc on your skin. Sugary doughnuts cause a massive change in your blood sugar levels which leads to inflammation. This inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin which means your skin is more likely to sag and wrinkle. The more sugar there is in your blood, the faster you age. Teas not only purify your blood, they can also help with your digestive system which in turn keeps your skin looking healthy.
For teas that can keep your youthful skin looking radiant, try the Ginger Rooibos Tea which contains a wealth of anti-inflammation properties!
Image cred: Patrick Fore on Unsplash
With all the dangers of sugar looming in the horizon, you might forget about the immediate harm done to yourself. With the consumption of sugar, you are providing the bacteria in your mouth easy access to energy which in turn does not bode well for your oral health. Some tea ingredients such as ginger, cinnamon and lemongrass are anti-bacterial or anti-inflammatory work to decrease such problems.
You may think that herbal tea will never achieve the sweet pleasure that doughnuts provide, but there are some herbal teas, such as Nilufer Tea, which actually have the natural sweetness graced by the high quality ingredients within the unassuming sachet. With the benefits that herbal teas provide, our quality of health and life can increase and it is definitely worth it to include it into your diet. They definitely taste as good as they look!
Kick start your day with a smoothie to increase fruit and vegetable intake in your diet. Smoothies are nutritional powerhouses that provide you with essential minerals and vitamins. Great as a nutritious breakfast or an energising afternoon snack, smoothies are fun to make and do not have to be as complicated as you think. However, smoothies come with caveats too. Store-bought smoothies may expand your waistline with artificial ingredients and excess sugar. But fret not, I’ve some healthful smoothie recipes to share. Fresh and fuss-free, each recipe packs a ton of flavour and allows you to whip up your delicious concoction in a flash. Here are five basic yet fabulous smoothie recipes to try at home.
My favourite smoothie recipe is a somewhat-strange mishmash of apple, pear, avocado and spinach but when combined together, these ingredients create a luscious blend of flavours. The use of avocado in a smoothie may sound bizarre but be reminded that avocados will give your smoothie a dreamy creamy texture and a boost of heart-healthy fat, so nourish yourself and blend away without fear.
Image cred: pixabay
Makes 1 large glass
Ingredients
Juice the apples and pear first then add the fruit juice, avocado and spinach into your blender. Blend until smooth then add a drizzle of Manuka honey. To keep myself satisfied for longer, a teaspoon of chia seeds and some protein powder are my favourite smoothie add-ins. But of course, feel free to leave any of these extra ingredients out.
Image cred: pixabay
With a medley of berries, half a ripe banana for natural sweetness and some oats for fullness, the Berry Banana Oat Smoothie is the perfect power-packed breakfast to sip on the go. Why, you may ask? Berries are loaded with antioxidants, bananas are a great source of potassium and oats provide soluble fibre – vital nutrients for your digestive tract. It’s easy to prep and berry easy to drink so there’s no excuse for you to skip breakfast anymore!
Makes 1 large glass
Ingredients
For a creamier and frostier smoothie, I use frozen whole fruit to achieve a quick and thick effect. Blend all ingredients until smooth then pour, drink and love. Lactose-intolerant friends may substitute milk with almond, coconut or soy milk for a dairy-free alternative. Oh, and here’s a sneaky tip… Omit the oats to turn your smoothie into a healthier version of a banana split dessert.
Image cred: pixabay
Reinvent the old berry-banana routine and make a fresh, juicy Peach Perfect when peaches are in season. If you tend to get in a rut with the addictive berry-banana smoothie combination (like me), I’d recommend you to give this a go.
Makes 1 large glass
Ingredients
Blend all ingredients until smooth and spark it up with some ground cinnamon for a pinch of yum.
Image cred: pixabay
Beat the heat with a refreshing Tropical Mint Smoothie. Fruity with a fresh finish of mint, this glass of green goodness will have you forget about the weather in a minute. If the green colour scares you, imagine you’re on a beach under a tropical palm tree and let your worries be washed away with the sound of waves. I promise you won’t even be able to taste the kale.
Makes 1 large glass
Ingredients
Blend all ingredients until smooth. I garnish mine with a wedge of pineapple and some coconut flakes to create a virgin green Piña Colada. It’s a definite winner for alcohol replacement. Enjoy!
Image cred: Natalia Dworniak on Unsplash
Stave off colds with Rooibos Tofu, a powerful immune-booster with unconventional smoothie ingredients. It works when you’re tired of bananas or want to cut back on carbs. Red rooibos tea is an excellent base for a smoothie as it produces a herbaceous sweetness, without the caffeine. Protein-rich tofu creates a lovely thick texture whilst frozen grapes and raspberries deliver a deep flavour of additional antioxidants.
Makes 1 large glass
Ingredients
Steep tea for 8 to 10 minutes, discard teabag and chill in refrigerator. Once cool, blend the tea with all other ingredients until smooth and serve cold. Add an optional scoop of protein powder for a tea-rrific workout drink.
You can get your fix of rooibos tea here!
Smoothies are incredibly easy and convenient to make. At the same time, they hold a wealth of rich essential nutrients. If you are lacking time to make a wholesome meal, make a smoothie. It's the next best thing.
A wide variety and selection of herbs and teas
On the 12th of October, Nilufer Tea organised a custom tea brewing workshop in partnership with Prudential. It was held at Shop Wonderland in Telok Ayer street; a cafe known for its whimsical theme and fun flower arranging workshops. Our guests were treated to a delightful meal by the cafe and a flurry of herbal knowledge to bring home. The educational workshop was insightful and enlightened some of our intrigued customers on the wonders of our organic herbal tea and their various ingredients. We also had our tea bags readily packed for sale at the event as well as some samples for the customers to bring home.
Using all 5 senses to learn about the herbs and ingredientsAll the ingredients used in our organic herbal tea were set on display with labels for the guests to see, touch, smell and even taste. (everyone loved eating the dried strawberries and stevia) To kick off the workshop, Leah Yo, owner and founder of Nilufer tea, handed out a very beautiful infographic pertaining to the herbs in the tea bags to all the guests for their viewing pleasure. The handout included the benefits of each ingredient and how they could be of use to any particular sickness of ailment they may be facing. Leah explained each ingredient and how they come together to create the final product.
The guests were eager to get started and each of them were given their own special tea brewing mug that contains a filter to sieve out the tea leaves debris. Leah went around asking them the kind of problems they usually face, if they had insomnia, headaches, if they were often sick, etc. Many guests cited insomnia as their main issue and resorted to medication for remedy. As a result, Leah recommended using chamomile tea as their base because of its relaxing properties. It was so lovely to see a group of real tea enthusiasts getting so excited over brewing their own unique blends of tea.
Participants looking and thinking of the herbs to put into their blends
Participants reading the ingredients and deciding what herbs to use
Guests were instructed to pick one or two main teas as their base, with the choices of rooibos tea, chamomile tea, peppermint tea, black bean tea, lemongrass tea and rose bud tea. One lady in particular was very adventurous and wanted to try three blends but the tea turned out to have a very weird pungent taste (and it was black in colour!), so the lesson is: Blend wisely!! After the guests have scooped the tea leaves and blends into their cups, they proceeded to the herb table to add 2-4 additional herbs for more flavor and health benefits. The handout given to them included suggestions on yummy herbal tea pairings and serving sizes so their resulting tea would taste delicious and smell very fragrant.
Personally, I enjoy fruity flavors most and I usually only drink fruit tea or flower tea so my choices were geared towards the dried strawberries and oranges (I may or may not have eaten a few of them raw sneakily as I was brewing my tea) and of course stevia as a natural sweetener. Once all the ingredients have been scooped nicely into their individual cups, the guests filled up their cups to approximately 3/4 of the capacity with hot water and covered their cups with its lid to steep for approximately 3-4 minutes. The longer you let the the tea brew, the stronger the resulting taste so we usually recommend 3 minutes as a good duration.
While everyone's tea was brewing, Leah answered some of their questions about her tea company and her organic herbal tea. If you haven't already checked it out, our website has an FAQ that answers most questions our customers have about tea. The biggest question of the night was 'Does organic herbal tea cure insomnia?' The answer is no, it only helps alleviate insomnia as well as other types of health problems. It is important to note that tea is not a cure and in no way replaces actual medicine, but it definitely helps with the process of recovery. All the guests were very pleased with the insightful answers provided by Leah and happily shared their own tea habits and stories. It was a really lighthearted and chill environment and it really went along well with the theme of the company and workshop.
When the teas had finished their steeping process, everyone delightfully indulged in their creations and many were so pleased with the taste that they went for seconds! It was a lovely bonding session between strangers. Everyone actually went around and let each other try their tea blend creations to get a taste of different blends. As the guests slowly became more acquainted with the complementary flavors, they could choose herbs and teas more confidently. Overall everyone was very satisfied with their teas. As a treat, Leah gave them all a plastic bag for them to bring home a small portion of the ingredients of their favourite blend to recreate their teas at home for their friends and family.
The guests expressed their thanks and gratitude to the staff of Shop Wonderland as well as Leah for the fantastic workshop. They were very excited to hear directly from the founder of Nilufer Tea that she has a close relationships with the local farmers in Japan that supply her ingredients, they knew our tea was the real deal. Everyone was excited to learn how to place orders for the tea and of course name cards were handed out and details were exchanged.
To end the workshop on a happy note, all the guests brought home a goodie bag from Prudential as well as food and cakes from Shop Wonderland. Who doesn't love extra food? It was a great day overall, and the fun experiences shared by the group will not be forgotten. From us here at Nilufer Tea, we hope the tea and herbal knowledge shared will be with you everlasting!
For any inquiries about events or workshops, drop us a message at leah.y@dymarketing.sg Otherwise, you can get our organic herbal teas here!
