
January 2010 Newsletter
Happy New Year!
Matcha
Matcha is comprised of powdered tencha leaves, which are grown under a shady covering for several weeks prior to harvest. Much like gyokuro, this process forces the leaves to rely on nutrients stored in their roots, pulling it up to the leaves, and thus resulting in a sweeter, more savory brew. The leaves are then powdered with a stone mill. Traditionally, Matcha plays an integral role in Chado (Japanese tea ceremony), as an elixir to help reach inner zen. However in present-day Japan, using Matcha in baked goods is becoming increasingly popular, as well as latte drinks and frozen desserts. Adding Matcha into your food is an easy way to introduce vitamins, fiber, and polyphenols into your everyday life style. There are several grades of matcha, which can range from extravagant sweet ceremonial types to food grade. It is important to understand which grade will best suit your need: for instance, drinking a food grade matcha can be a miserably bitter experience. Likewise, baking cookies out of matcha that can cost 50 dollars an ounce is a waste, since most of the subtle elements will burn off.
Matcha Recipes
	Matcha Frosting (with red bean filled chocolate cupcakes!!!) Cheryl over at the famous Cupcake Bakeshop has a recipe for a beautifully green cream cheese frosting. Since this is a no heat recipe, a higher grade like GTT Matcha Premium would do wonders. > Recipe: Adzuki Filled Chocolate Cupcakes with Matcha Green Tea Frosting
	Matcha Biscotti (with crystallized ginger) Heather at Sprinklebakes.com has a recipe for something delectably crunchy. Although she uses a matcha milk mix, that can easily by subtituted with our Sweet Green Tea! > Recipe: Matcha Biscotti with Crystallized Ginger
Here's some recipes that we demonstrated at the Winter Fancy Food Show!
Matcha Trail Mix 2 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp water 1 tsp Shiki Matcha 1cup salted nuts /2 1cup pretzels, broken/2 1. Heat sugar, water, and matcha over medium heat in a large skillet. 2. Bring to a boil. Once the micture thickens, remove skillet from heat and add mixed nuts & pretzel bits. 3. Stir with a wooden spatula until the syrup dries and a light green crust forms on the nuts. Enjoy!
Matcha Rice Krispie Treats 6 cups popped rice cereal 10 oz marshmallows (1 bag) 3 tbsp butter 1 tbsp Shiki Matcha 1. Melt butter and marshamllow over medium heat in a large saucepan. 2. Once completely melted, remove from heat and mix in cereal and matcha, until well incorporated. 3. Pour the mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking dish and let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Recommended Products
	Sweet Green Tea - this is a blend of sugar and matcha. It's great iced or hot, but it does magic in cupcakes. Perfect for those who want a light matcha flavor and color without the flavor punch.
	Shiki Matcha - this is what we call our 'student grade' matcha because tea students use it for practice. Super versatile and delicious in cookies, cakes, and smoothies.
	Green Tea Terrace Matcha Premium - we recommend drinking this matcha or using it in no-heat recipes like smoothies and frosting. It's very elegant in flavor and smooth.
Tea Flower of The Month
	The tea flower of the month is Suisen, or Daffodil.There are many variants out there, but for tea time decor, a simple one is preferred. The suisen came from China before the 1200s, and the name means "water hermit". It is a very fragrant flower, and is very popular not only in chado (tea ceremony) but in kado (flower arrangements) as well.
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