green tea mindfulness

Here at KARMOMO, I hope to muse sporadically on how --

Mind & body are interconnected,
and food (or drink) is an important bridge between the two.
Body. Green tea is loaded with flavonoids, anti-oxidants that help prevent cellular damage from the sun, stress, etc. Not only does it have less caffeine than your regular black tea, it is also linked to good outcomes such as healthy weight maintenance & cancer prevention.

Mind. Some people believe that green tea (for similar reasons as above) can also be helpful for memory & learning. More than that, preparing & sipping a cup of green tea can itself be a relaxing and soothing respite from stress and busyness. To that end, here is a simple little exercise/script that you can try:

GREEN TEA MINDFULNESS

Make a cup of tea. Stop everything else you're doing. Wait for the tea leaves to steep into the water. Notice the warm cup in your hand. Look at the golden shade of the tea - can you describe it? Observe the curls of steam rising from it. Breathe in their warm, soothing, grassy scent. Sip slowly. Let it roll over your tongue. Enjoy this moment...

SOME OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY

* Steep green tea in hot water, serve with a slice of ginger & almond milk (my mom's favourite!)
* Make green tea, add lemon slices & honey, and chill for a refreshing iced tea
* Mix green tea (matcha) powder into a healthy green smoothie with mango
* Make noodles and serve them in a green tea broth -- see Mark Bittman's recipe here

Further readings:

Benefits of Drinking Green Tea, Harvard
Green Tea, University of Maryland Medical Center
How to Make Matcha Tea, Teavana

Do you drink green tea? How do you like to have it?
PS. Something to consider incorporating into your morning routine!