Sakura tea (Sakurayu), or also commonly known as Cherry Blossom tea, originates from non other than the beautiful Japan. Although Sakura flowers are commonly associated with Japan alone, they can also be found in other countries in Asia like Korea and China. Wherever there is sakura, there is bound to be a whole lot of tourists, making those areas popular tourist attractions each spring. And it really is no surprise, because no one can dispute the beauty of these gorgeous pink blooms.
Image cred: pixabay
Sakura tea is a Japanese infusion that is created by steeping pickled cherry blossom flowers in boiled water. The cherry blossom flowers are prepared by being pickled in plum vinegar and salt, and they are then left to dry before being steeped in water to create the perfect Sakura tea. The resulting Sakura tea is a beautiful pink clear herbal tea that tastes slightly salty but also has a subtle hint of earthy and flowery notes. Besides being incredibly aesthetically pleasing, Sakura tea has numerous health benefits as well.
Sakura tea has a high concentration of polyphenol anti-oxidants that are known to fight free radicals that damage DNA causing premature aging. By drinking Sakura tea, there will be less free radicals in your body, and this will slow down the aging process by combating lines, wrinkles and skin dullness. It can help you age gracefully and give you brighter skin and clearer complexion.
If you constantly battle with skin problems like redness, irritation and inflammation, LOOK NO FURTHER! Sakura tea contains nutrients that prevent the production of nitric oxide, which is one of the base cellular chemical compound that causes and aggravates skin inflammation. We all know that the perfect concealer from Sephora covers up the blemishes perfectly, but wouldn’t you rather tackle the root cause? Just think of all the money and time you’d save!
Image cred: Roman Kraft on Unsplash
Sakura tea can also help to lighten uneven skin pigmentation that is caused by sun exposure by inhibiting the production of melanin. It also cleanses the skin of toxins to leave your skin bright, healthy and happy.
Much like other teas, the nutrients like flavones found in Sakura tea can help reduce the risk for heart disease. It lowers your LDL cholesterol levels (bad cholesterol) and keeps your heart healthy and safe from cardiovascular diseases.
Sakura tea is rich in antioxidants which reduces the body’s free radicals. By doing so, it reduces acne, minimizes puffiness, reduces your dark eye circles and keeps your face silky smooth like a baby’s butt.
The antioxidants also stimulate healthy hair growth, reduce dandruff, add shine and give you softer and better moisturised hair. It’ll be like you are in a hair commercial whenever you swish your hair *everything is in slo-mo*
Image cred: Lesly Juarez on Unsplash
Tannins in our food are what causes stains and these make our teeth appear yellower (sobs). A protein found in tea will create a natural chemical barrier that protects your teeth from discoloration. Combine this with your regular tooth brushing habits and you’ll regain those pearly whites in no time! Also, tea can change the pH in your mouth and that may be the key to preventing cavities from forming. It also does not erode your tooth enamel (protective coat) unlike other beverages.
If you do not add any sweeteners or sugar substitutes to your Sakura tea, it is virtually calorie free - which is great news for those seeking to lose weight or simply to manage their weight better. We really understand the woes of the weight loss journey, and sometimes water just won’t satisfy that craving for any sort of flavour you might have. Sakura tea is a very good and healthy substitute, for it has subtle salty and flowery notes that dance on your tongue! You could always add fruit slices to snazz it up a little and ultimately, you will feel refreshed and energized.
The benefits of Sakura tea are endless, it might lead you to believe that it is a miracle drink. It reduces the risk of stroke, cancer, mental illnesses, improve the immune system, lower blood pressure, and protects your vision. However, please be advised that tea is not a substitute for medicine, it merely complements it to speed up your healing process and provides your body with the nourishment it needs.
Fancy yourself a cup of Sakura tea? Nilufer Tea is releasing the new tea: Sakura tea. Catch a taste of spring and experience flowers dancing in your mouth with this new and beautiful tea. Feel fancy and healthy with just a sip and you definitely won't regret it!
You would think that making instagram-worthy healthy dishes are difficult and very time-consuming, but in truth, that doesn't have to be the case. There are so many simple recipes online that consist of ingredients that are bright and colour, giving the dish itself a vibrant colour that increases your appetite and even make you fall in love with healthy food.
Eating healthy and yet be able to instagram your food doesn't have to be difficult. Rosie Hatch, a renowed author with her own cookbook, Rosie's Rustic Kitchen, has shared with us 3 simple recipes that uses many fruits and vegetables that give the dishes a sprig of colour but a whole lot of health benefits. They are not difficult to make and the ingredients are relatively easy to find.
While these recipes are centered around the theme of pink, you can always add customisations that suit your palette and even add a myriad of colours to your dish. So without further ado, read on for these fantastic recipes that will probably turn you after a health nut after the whole process.
Who knew watermelon makes a great salad topper? Perfect for Spring or Summer, this vibrant dish is a hostess’ dream. Simply add your ingredients to the platter then drizzle with your favorite vinaigrette dressing. Serve alongside your favorite entrée, or keep it as a meal in itself. Watermelons are refreshing by themselves, so imagine adding them to your salads, and you will get a whole lot of yum!
INGREDIENTS
½ watermelon or personal size watermelon
2 cups spinach
1 cucumber
Blueberries
Fresh mint
Goat cheese
Dressing of choice
INSTRUCTIONS
On a platter or in a bowl add fresh spinach. With a spiralizer, make noodles using a cucumber and add to the top. Slice watermelon in to cubes and add to salad along with blueberries and crumbled goat cheese. Top with mint for garnish and your favorite dressing. Enjoy!
You can even customise it with other bright fruits such as strawberries for that rich red-pink, or even rockmelons for their cheerful yellow.
Making pasta pink is easier than you think! Just cook your normal pasta al dente (works with spaghetti, penne, or even shells!) then toss in a beet paste for a few minutes. Beet contains juices that have a natural vibrant and bright red-pink colour, making it a common ingredient for colouring foods. Merging the beet paste with the pasta will allow the pasta to absorb the pink color, as well as give it a hint of exotic flavoring. Serve with parmesan and your favorite sauce!
INGREDIENTS
½ lb farfalle pasta
2 roasted beets
½ cup almond slices
Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves
Olive oil
Salt
Pasta sauce of choice
INSTRUCTIONS
Cook pasta until al dente, and set it aside. In a food processor, add beets, almonds, chopped garlic, a dash of olive oil and salt and pulse until it resembles a pesto. Toss the pasta in the sauce until thoroughly covered. Serve as is or rise off to just get pink pasta then serve with grated parmesan and your favorite pasta sauce.
Beets can be used in just about anything, and here’s proof. In this recipe, you upgrade your usual hummus into something prettier and also healthier, simply from adding beets. With great nutrition value and a ton of health benefits, your already-great hummus will get an even greater boost. This zesty hummus has all the makings of the perfect dip for your vegetables because it has the familiar flavor of classic hummus but with an earthier flair due to the beets. Try it with crackers, cucumbers or even carrots. Nothing can go wrong with hummus!
INGREDIENTS
1-15oz can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and cooked
3-4 roasted beets, precooked
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp tahini
1 tsp salt
1 garic clove chopped
Olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS
In a food processor add all ingredients except for olive oil. With the processor running slowly pour in olive oil a little at a time until you get a hummus-like consistency. Serve with vibrant veggies!
Great Britain is a nation of serious tea-drinkers, with tea drinking a regular ritual for the entire country. Tea is entrenched in the British way of life and has been an indelible part of British culture for more than a few hundred years. It’s synonymous with England as with the royal family and iconic red telephone booths. And whether the British take their humble cup of tea with milk, sugar, both or black, it’s clear that all of them have a fondness for its flavour. Join us as we delve deeper into some classic English tea brands!
Image cred: Twinings
With 300 years of innovation, creativity and masterblending expertise, Twinings is one of the oldest tea companies in the world but Twinings tea keeps changing with the times. The reliable British tea brand has an incredible heritage as well, with ten generations of the Twinings family at the helm and the British Royal Warrant since 1837. To them, tea is treated with great reverence because tea is more than a drink and has been part of their lives and the lives of generations of tea lovers. Equipped with the Great Taste Award, Twinings strives to ensure the perfection of your multi-sensorial tea drinking experience at all times.
A popular tea brand in England, Yorkshire Tea promises a proper brew of pure and simple tea. The tea giant is literally a cheeky Yorkshire family business that likes to do things properly. Since 1886, the Yorkshire gang has gone to great lengths to make tea, from tasting thousands of teas a day to thinking about the water you’ll brew it with at home, because it makes a proper difference. As tap water in various English regions contain loads of naturally occurring minerals, water is hard with a large concentration of calcium and magnesium salts. Hence with a few clever tweaks, Yorkshire Tea concocted a tea blend to balance that out, allowing customers to enjoy a proper brew, wherever they live. Yorkshire Tea also trades responsibly and has since earned the British Royal Warrant, as an official supplier to the Prince of Wales.
With a heritage of 175 years, you can be sure that Tetley is dedicated to perfecting the perfect cuppa. As the largest tea company in United Kingdom, Tetley offers several blends of black and green teas in both regular and decaffeinated version. Iced tea blends are available as well, uniquely formulated to minimise cloudiness upon refrigeration. What’s more, Tetley has even designed brilliant no-mess products such as Easy Squeeze tea bags! Brew your tea then pull the strings to squeeze the tea bag so then all the flavour drips into your cup and not everywhere else.
Launched in Britain under the name ‘Pre-Gest-Tea’, grocers eventually abbreviated the tea brand name to PG. ‘Tips’ was then added to the name to highlight the fact that PG tips only uses the top two leaves and bud of each plant. People have consumed PG Tips tea since the 1930s, hence PG ensures that all their tea is Rainforest Alliance certified at all times.
With a wide assortment of terrific teas and ingenious pyramid bags (which acts like a mini teapot), PG might just be the nation’s favourite tea. We’re also really impressed with their ‘Perfect with Dairy Free’ range, a blended black tea that’s supposed to taste great with dairy-free alternatives such as soy, almond or oat milk.
We all know that bright yellow label– Lipton has a commanding presence in the global tea market. The brainchild of Sir Thomas Lipton, the brand has been creating little Lipton tea moments with consumers worldwide since 1880. Did you know Lipton was the first tea brand to create tea bags and print brewing instructions on tea bag tags? Samples of tea were placed in small silk bags and sent to customers in the past and customers presumed the entire bag was to be steeped in hot water and voila, the convenient tea bag style was born! Besides, Lipton is also Rainforest Alliance certified, supporting green growers to ensure goodness and sustainability in their teas.
Whittard of Chelsea was founded in 1886 by Walter Whittard. He filled his first shop, from floor-to-ceiling, with the world’s finest tea, coffee and cocoa. Whittard of Chelsea may be an international retailer of various hot beverages but the tea company is famous for their tea (and for good reason)! Walter’s brave new brews of the olden days are now time-honoured classics and the brand continues to improve and introduce new blends on a regular basis. Expect specialty teas in luxurious packaging from all over the globe, from the classic English Breakfast tea to decadent loose leaf versions. Whittard is so confident that you’d love their stuff, they’ve come up with a Taste Guarantee – if anything fails to meet your expectations, you’ll get to return the item for a full exchange or refund.
Image cred: Clipper
Clipper may not be an age-old tea master like the others above, but Clipper was definitely the UK’s first Fairtrade tea company. These tea fanatics pride themselves on bringing you natural, fair and delicious teas that are beautiful inside and out. All Clipper blends, unbleached tea bags and packaging are also said to be artificial-free, rejoice!
Founded in 2006 by two tea addicts, Teapigs makes a huge fuss about drinking real tea with whole leaf, whole herb, whole berries and spices. Not the tea dust you’ll find in regular paper tea bags. Teapigs believes that the tea in regular bags has been chopped and manhandled, so by the time it reaches your cup, almost the original tea flavour is lost. From crop to cup, all Teapigs tea are handled with gentle care and love in nice, biodegrable mesh tea temples, to maintain each drop of that precious tea flavour.
After so much talk from us, which British tea brand are you most inclined to try? We’re so spoilt for choice!
It’s that time of the year again, the day dedicated to the most important woman in your life, your lovely mother. The woman who knows what you love to eat, what weird habits you have, your pet peeves, your dreams and ambitions and above all the woman who loves you unconditionally. Doesn’t’ she deserve the best on this special day? If you’re looking to spoil your mom this mother’s day, we have here some of the best things to do with your mom that’ll leave her feeling happy with glee.
You can’t possibly go wrong with Gardens by the Bay; what mom wouldn’t love seeing flowers. Better yet, what mom doesn’t love taking cute photographs with pretty flowers and uploading it on their Facebook page? They are even having a special Tulip event at the flower dome. Tulipmania showcases a colorful flower display with a plethora of different tulips along their garden trail. Fun fact: did you know tulips originated from Holland and is the national flower of the Netherlands? Go check out this beautiful display with your mom, you can even embark on a free guided tour to learn more about tulips.
Event details:
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2018 - Sun, 13 May 2018
Time: 9.00am - 9.00pm
Location: Flower Dome at Gardens by The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
If you are looking for something more zen and calming to do with your mom, why not try an art jam session at this local art café! You don’t have to be good in painting (art is subjective after all) Just bring your creativity and go nuts with the canvas. All the materials will be provided by the café and you even get a complimentary drink. The serene environment is great place to bond with your mom, laughing about how ‘terrible’ your paintings are.
Details:
Price: $35 nett per person for 2.5 hours and this includes a complimentary beverage
Location: 139 Selegie Road, Singapore 188309
Contact: 6884 6855
www.cupsncanvas.org
Opening hours:
Monday (CLOSED)
Tuesday - Friday: 11am - 10pm
Saturday - Sunday: 10am - 10pm
If you still haven’t thought of a gift for your mom, fret not! Nilufer tea is now selling customizable porcelain tea mugs which make the ideal present for all tea-loving moms. The mug will come with 3 sachets of Nilufer tea in a basic gift box.
Instructions for customization:
The words aren’t just limited to names, the sky is the limit! Just check in with us if you have any queries. You can also get her an additional tea gift set or tea pot to go with her new mug. In this case, more is definitely more.
You can shop for the mug and other Nilufer tea gifts at https://nilufertea.com/shop/
Take your mom out for a fun-filled evening at the park to enjoy some melodic classical music. It’s an annual event organized by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra featuring pieces such as Tchaikovsky’s Polonaise and Gardel’s Por una Cabeza, and later on in the evening, guest vocalist Taufik Batisah will join for Me & Mrs. Jones and P. Ramlee’s Ibu. So roll out your picnic mats and break out the sandwiches for a chill evening in the park.
Details:
Date: 13 May 2018 (Sunday)
Time: 6pm
Venue: Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, Singapore Botanic Gardens
More details can be found on their website https://www.sso.org.sg/families/sso-classics-in-the-park-mothers-day-concert
If you have a keen interest in improving your fitness, flexibility and core strength, why not bring your mom along with you! Partner Yoga is a great bonding exercise and it is guaranteed to bring you lots of joy and laughter as you both struggle initially to get the right poses and balance. Yoga is a great exercise to train your body and calm your mind. It relieves stress and you shed some calories along the way too! Mats, towels and other equipment will be provided so just come in comfy attire like a tank top and leggings and a water bottle and you should be set!
Details:
Price: $38 per pair
Date: 12 May 2018 (Saturday)
Time: 10am – 11am
Venue: The Yoga School, 65 Chulia Street, #39-01/08, Singapore 049513
At the end of the day, we love our moms and it shouldn’t just take mother’s day for us to appreciate them. Every day should be mother’s day, so what are you waiting for? Go give your mom a hug and a kiss and make sure she knows how much you love her. We only get one mom after all!
Image Credit 100% @ Nilufer Tea
The term ‘April showers’ has never been so relevant when you think about the annual bloom of sakura, or cherry blossom in the English language. Although it only blooms in particular countries such as Japan and Korea, the beauty of the small delicate pink flowers has become so widely popular that many travel from all over the world simply to witness the Sakura showers.
The Sakura disappears from our sight in 2-3 weeks until next year’s blooming. How then, do we remember it? How might we pay complete and truthful homage to the bloom that has mesmerised the world? Driven by this idea, our tea herbalists at Nilufer Tea have come up with a commemorative way to keep and honor our memory of this beautiful flower.
Sakura Tea - The Kiss of Spring ($12)
contact us at info@nilufertea.com
Look at our dried Sakura flower blooming beautifully in the water !
Image Credit - 100% @ Nilufer Tea
Sakura mochi and salted sakua tea have been consumed in Japan for a long time, and may even be a traditional food in Japan. Salted sakura tea is more likely considered as an old wives' remedy to stop coughing thanks to its anti inflammatory component. * Sakura Flower used in Nilufer Tea is non salted.
Sakura Tea - The Kiss of Spring ($12)
contact us at info@nilufertea.com
Anti- Aging
If one pays no mind to diet and lifestyle, one will find that they quickly develop dark circles, a saggy chin and a dull complexion. Little do people know – one of the main culprits of aging is the consumption of processed sugar, which easily ruins your complexion and youth!
Targeting this problem, our tea reduces the production of excess sugar in your body by preventing protein from combining with sugars in your body. Left unchecked, these glycated proteins, or Advanced Glycation-End (AGE) products, cause protein fibres in our skin to become stiff and result in dull complexions. In serious cases, AGEs can also lead to the further deterioration of diseases like Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
As such, with Sakura tea, a supple complexion is not the only thing to look forward to. It also further strengthens your immune system against degenerative diseases!
Repair Skin Natural Barriers
Not only does it safeguard your youth, Sakura tea also retains the moisture in your skin. Save yourself the splash of water to your face every night, as Sakura tea will do the trick – from the inside out!
It is particularly recommended for those with dry skin.
Improve Skin Elasticity
As you know, Sakura tea inhibits the accumulation of AGE products, which is damaging to the fibroblast in our skin – a cell in connective tissue that produces collagen and other fibres.
In these many ways, Sakura tea is extremely beneficial to one’s health, and helps contribute to your youthfulness even as you grow older.
Of 200 available varieties of sakura in the world, Nilufer has handpicked two to include in this special tea: the single petal sakura, and the layered petal sakura.
TASTE: A BLEND OF RELAXING FLAVOURS
Using the best of our expertise, we have put together a delicate balance of flavours using natural ingredients that are bound to heal your soul.
For your quick reference, here is the ingredient list:
EXPERIENCE: TRY SAKURA TEA FOR YOURSELF
Sakura Tea – The Kiss of Spring not only pays true homage to the cultural icon of sakura, it is carefully crafted by our best herbalists at Nilufer Tea to delight your tastebuds and improve your quality of life. For any tea lover, this is a must-try!
Sakura Tea - The Kiss of Spring ($12)
contact us at info@nilufertea.com
Subscribe for "Tea of the Month"
We will be running a "Tea of the Month" every month so that you can enjoy the unique seasonal flavours. What will the special ingredient be? Are you curious? Are you excited? Because we sure are! Register with us from here and we will keep you updated.
info@nilufertea.com
Until next "Tea of the Month", stay beautiful and enjoy this gorgeous picture of Sakura showers !
Almost every girl loves pink. The colour is beautiful and radiates gentleness and femininity. But have you ever thought about incorporating the soft colour into your food? How do you do that without the commonly undesirable solution of using food colouring? Rosie Hatch, an author to the book, Rosie's Rustic Kitchen, gave us great recipes for creating beautifully pink desserts. They are easy to make, beautiful to look at, and fun and delicious to eat. So what are you waiting for? Get the pink cracking!
Serve it for breakfast or a healthy treat. This strawberry banana bowl is topped with freshly sliced strawberries and chia boasting omega-3’s, antioxidants and fiber. The inside filling is made with strawberries, a frozen banana and almond milk. Don’t forget to add some edible flowers on top for extra color!
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
In a blender, blend strawberries, banana, almond milk, sweetener and chia. Serve in a coconut bowl and top with strawberry slices, extra chia and edible flowers.
Yogurt parfaits can be served as a healthy dessert or a breakfast snack. Assembly is a breeze and the presentation speaks for itself. Try this recipe out for a yummy way to get your vitamins and nutrients in a pretty package.
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
In small mason jars layer ingredients starting with sliced strawberries on the bottom, yogurt and granola. Repeat the process again omitting the granola and instead topping with a fresh strawberry slice.
