Over the last few years, there has been an increase in popularity in tea for two main reasons; there are many flavors to choose from and there are numerous health benefits. The favorite flavor is no longer the classic breakfast tea with milk, now there are many new flavors and consumptions habits. You can choose from an abundance of herbal, caffeinated, sweet and unsweetened teas and drink it either hot or cold.

Before you can indulge in this delicious, healthy beverage you need to have the essentials. To boil your water quickly and with ease, use our ThinkKitchen Cordless Kettle. Next, to steep your tea, there are a few options depending on the occasion:  if you are just making one to two cups, use the ThinkTea Tealish steeper as it allows for hands free infusion. If you are entertaining guests, use the ThinkTea glass teapot with removable infuser to steep to desired strength. Finally, if you’re on the go, the Tealish Tritan bottle travel mug is the perfect accessory to keep your tea warm throughout the day.

Matcha tea:

Matcha tea is long associated with the Japanese tea ceremony, but is a quickly growing trend due to its healthy properties and versatility. Matcha tea is a fine green powder that is filled with anti-oxidants that protect against many types of cancer, reduces cholesterol, and is a metabolism booster. This powder is not just limited to steeping in tea; it can also be used in many foods such as smoothies, salads, yogurts, popcorn and ice cream.

Flowers:

Adding flowers to your tea blend is a subtle enhancement that mixes well with the more delicate blends such as green or white tea. It is known as blooming tea; it entices your taste buds as well as your eyes. As you add the hot water it will bloom creating a beautiful display of bright colors, flowers and leaves.

Ready to Drink Tea:

A big tea-trend that is coming into full bloom is Ready to Drink (RTD) Teas. It is a cold brew of your favorite tea that is “ready to drink” and includes all the health benefits of tea. This is the perfect drink for those hot summer days when you are on the go. RTD comes in many flavors so you’ll be sure to find what you are looking for.

You can even make your own cold brew tea for the house with your favorite tea blend. Boil water, use twice the amount of tea and let steep, then add ice and cold water to cool it off. For added sweetness and tang add some orange and/ or lemon/ lime juice to the mix.

Kale is now known as the nutritional powerhouse, or rather the “queen of greens”, and for a good reason too; the benefits we receive from eating kale are more than we can imagine. To start, it is low in calories, high in fiber and has zero fat. It is also high in iron, calcium, Vitamin K, A and C. This means that it is good for our digestive and cardiovascular systems and helps prevent certain diseases.
Eating regular kale can be a bitter shock, so you can start with baby kale for a more subtle taste. You can also train your taste buds to warm up to this bitter taste by mixing some kale leaves into your salad. Wash your lettuce and kale leaves to get rid of the excess dirt and dry it with our easy to use salad spinner. You can also add some fruits and vegetables in your salad for extra health benefits.

Coffee does have health benefits, but when there isn’t an abundance of sugar added, meaning, when it is the most bitter. It is believed that moderate coffee consumption may help prevent type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and liver disease. Brew a rich, aromatic cup of coffee every morning with the Loiret French Press.

We all love the sweet, creamy taste of milk chocolate but unfortunately it’s not the best for us. Thankfully, there is a solution that has you eating more chocolate in your future. Dark Chocolate (minimum of 70% cocoa content) can bring your health a long way, even with just eating one or two pieces after dinner. It can actually improve our health and lower the risk of heart disease. The only drawback is the bitter taste.

There are numerous ways to get some dark chocolate into your diet to ease your taste buds into liking the taste. Start small, using a hand grater, grate some over your morning oatmeal, or fruit bowl for added flavor and nutrients. You can also start using some dark chocolate chips when baking muffins or cookies!

Like a more refined look? The Celebration Dinnerware set set offers a classical white modern look to your kitchen.  Bringing a level of sophistication and elegance; this set is timeless keeping your table looking clean and simple for every occasion.

Are you looking for something bold and not as simple? Not to worry, the Blue Boom Dinnerware set is perfect for you. Its simplicity and soft colors add brightness to your table and show that you can be bold without being overwhelming.

Combining style and functionality, the Derby Blue Dinnerware set will add charm and color to your next dinner party. The blue color is reminiscent of the beach and will immediately bring you and your guests to a sandy paradise.

A healthy lifestyle is associated with eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Sometimes, it becomes hard to make changes to your diet when the selection of fresh produce is not as varied as it is during the warm summer months. But rest assured, we have done the research for you and have found fresh fruits and vegetables with plenty of nutrients that will get you through the winter!

Mushrooms are a staple in hearty winter dishes- they should be your secret weapon when preparing healthy meals. Winter time is when human consumption of vitamin D is at the lowest since a majority of your time is being spent indoors. Not only will mushrooms provide you with your missing dose, the  y will also build your immunity through the cold and flu season. Mushrooms continue to absorb vitamin D until they are consumed. Keep them by a window so they take in as much vitamin D as possible! Try Portobello mushrooms as an alternative to regular meat – a healthy alternative with the same hearty texture as a burger!

Root vegetables are great to incorporate into your diet as they are freshly available year round. Turnips, carrots, kohlrabi and parsnips are vegetables that are inexpensive, healthy and easy to prepare. No need to boil these vegetables – simply chop them up and roast them in olive oil and a little salt and pepper. Cooking them this way will bring out their natural sweetness!

Pomegranates are one of the world’s oldest fruits – and one of the most nutritious! Their seeds are packed with antioxidants and are a great addition to any diet.  Extracting the seeds can be tricky, but well worth the effort. Looking for a quick way to incorporate antioxidants into your diet? Simple sprinkle pomegranate seeds onto your next salad. Not only will it increase the nutritional value, but it will add beautiful color to your plate!