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How to improve the taste of green tea (tea bags)

We all know that green tea is healthy and all that, but there's one problem. You've probably tried drinking green tea from tea bags and found out it tastes bitter. Who would want a bitter drink everyday. Sort of like taking medicine, isn't it?

But listen: Green tea doesn't have to taste bitter. You can improve the taste of green tea by trying out these practices:

• Temperature is very important. Boil the water and let it cool to prevent the bitter aroma. Add the tea when the temperature is around 60 degree celcius. Too hot a water will bring out the bitterness of the tea. If you've been doing this for a long time, you'll get to learn to estimate when is it time to steep the tea bag in without the use of a thermometer.

• Use only one tea bag per cup of water.

• Try adding sugar or, if you're feeling a bit sosyal, honey. You can also add milk (adding milk is optional; some people think that milk only enhances the bitter taste or green tea, while others think it helps the taste) or lemons.

• Chlorine in water alters the taste of the tea, so you might want to use pure spring water only. 

• Steep the tea bag for about 2 1/2 minutes, which is just enough time to give your tea a balanced flavor.

•  Last, look for quality tea bags! There are lots of tea bag products out there, and like other products, there are good-quality brands and just cheap ones. Good-quality tea bags have a better taste.

As you can see, preparing green tea is an art itself, much more when you preferred it brewed and using tea leaves.

Finally, I have to tell you that drinking green tea is really an acquired taste. My sister, for instance, simply doesn't like green tea no matter how it is finely made. Honestly, I wasn't too keen on it too, but later on I got familiar with the taste, and now, I heavily preferred it than coffee (yes, even mocha-flavored ones).

So I suggest you try it as well, and do not forget the steps I mentioned above. ;)

Green tea: A traditional health drink

Chinese have long since recognized the benefits of green tea, leaves from the plant Camellia sinensis; it has been used as a medicine about 4000 years ago. Koreans, too, incorporate drinking green tea into their daily lives. Green tea, as believed traditionally and spiritually, cleanses the body and gives a calming and soothing experience.

As a morning-coffee people, Filipinos are only just being familiarized with green tea because of endless commercials of bottled tea.

Green tea is a miracle tea, and this is not an overstatement. Health researchers have found not one thing harmful about drinking green tea daily, except sleep difficulty from green tea’s small dose of caffeine.

However, generally speaking, green tea is all health to the mind and body.

First of all, green tea is a powerful antioxidant. It is rich in catechin polyphenols, in particular, epigallocatechin gallate (more commonly known as EGCG). EGCG inhibits cancer cell growth without affecting the healthy tissues in the body.

Harvard conducted a scientific study on the benefits of green tea. iVIllage lists the beauty benefits of green tea.

It also improves metabolism and helps in keeping weight balance.  It lowers cholesterol and high blood pressure, helps against heart and cardiovascular diseases, boosts the immune system, protects lungs from smoking and liver from alcohol, and rehydrates and rejuvenates the body.

Aside from this, Chinese are known to drink green tea to cure headache and depression. Like I said, drinking green tea has a calming effect on the body.

So you probably got overwhelmed with all those facts like I did when I first read them. But here’s the bottom line, green tea is healthy. A few Asian and European countries have known and harvested from these knowledge many years before, and the Internet and television have made this information available to us.

Don't like the taste of green tea? See how to improve its taste.

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Organic soap: Why it's better than commercial brands

Following from my previous post, I'm going to talk about organic soaps, which are all the rage nowadays. There are a lot of emerging brands, small businesses selling this, especially online.

Cyleina tomato soap

Ilog maria carrot soap

Spa ingredients mango soap

Organic soaps are an alternative to market-brand, non-organic soaps. The main difference is that organic soaps are made with natural ingredients, which means that there is little synthetic and chemical ingredients used, or none at all. Instead, organic soaps rely on essential oils (or honey beeswax, you really have to check websites to see what they use), which are rich in vitamins.

Here in the Philippines, most of the organic soaps can be purchased online. (As it happens, I just rummaged Watson and they do have a brand for organic soaps, but one costs more than P100, which is really, really overpriced if you ask me.) Just try Sulit; there are organic soaps that are branded and unbranded, and most of them hand-made.

There's Cyleina, Spa Ingredients, Zen Zest, and Ilog Maria, to name a few.

Normally, organic soaps are made in small batches. The soaps are fused with various herbs and fruits such as papaya, strawberry, mango, kiwi, green tea, carrot, pineapple, and so on. Essential oils are added, as previously mentioned. The good thing about organic soaps is that you can experiment and be creative on what ingredients to use.

Unlike commercial, non-organic soaps, organic soaps are perfectly harmless to your skin; your skin will feel nourished and smooth without all the chemical stuff. (Note: an exception is when you have an allergy to the main ingredient used, i.e., almonds, so obviously you should not use that soap variant.) It also solves specific skin problems such as rough or spotty skin.

Fruit masks: Food for your face

I'm a big fan of organic products, and even more of raw, organic fruits and veggies. We've all heard of the benefits of eating fruits to a healthy and beautiful skin, but did you know that you can also use these produce as facial fruit masks? The really good thing about a facial fruit mask is that it is natural and does not contain chemicals but can still give you that smooth skin you see in commercials.

Here are the things you have to know about a facial fruit mask:

• You can try different fruits such as apples, bananas, grapes, and avocados. There are a lot of fruits to choose from. Strawberries can be used for oily skin, bananas for moisturizing, papaya for removing dead skin cells. The list goes on.

• A facial fruit mask has a lot of wonderful benefits. First, it contains a lot of vitamins and minerals. Also, the mask serves to gently exfoliate the skin to remove black heads and dead skin cells and, at the same time, hydrates the skin. It can also be used to fight wrinkles.

• A facial fruit mask is also good for acne and blemishes. These masks are all natural and safe, so you won't have to worry about outbreaks. These nourish and heal the skin and help control oil excretion on your face.

• Generally, you need to mash the selected fruit into a pulp (try using a blender) and apply it all over your face, especially on problem areas. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then wash with warm and cold water, respectively.

• You can add other ingredients in your facial fruit mask such as honey, oatmeal, sugar, or clay powder.

ESSENTIAL INFO when applying a facial fruit mask:

• Avoid using metallic bowls or spoons since metal oxidizes (i.e., spoil) the fruit.

• Always read up on the fruit to use for your mask, especially if you are looking for a specific effect, e.g., you are looking for a solution to flaking skin, in order to obtain maximal results. Also, avoid acidic fruits because these might cause allergic reactions.

• Apply the mask immediately after preparation or, at most, within the day.

WHAT TO EXPECT from using fruit masks: Healthy, smooth, and glowing skin. I know that there are a lot of convincing products out there, but you should really give facial fruit masks a try because these are all natural and healthy. 

PS: Do not eat your fruit masks. :(

Causes of acne you didn't know about

Do you wonder about the zits that recur only on particular spots on your face? When pimples appear on certain spots only, it is likely that they are not caused by heredity or insufficient facial cleaning but habits.

If you want to know what causes them, observe the parts of your face where they appear.

Around your mouth

There are claims that toothpaste froth causes acne because of fluoride, and some people swear by this, saying that changing brands solves the problem.

You can read about a dermatologist's observation in Fluoride Action Network and a more detailed article in Real Acne Help.

To be fair, though, a general consensus is still lacking regarding the role of toothpaste in causing acne, as it is more popularly used as treatment. Chicago Tribune wisely sums up this issue.

What to do: Switch brands or try a non-fluoride toothpaste for a few days and observe if there are any improvements.

Cheeks

If you have unsightly blemishes on your cheeks, one of the first things you can do is think about how you sleep: do you lie with your cheeks against your pillows or hands? 

What to do: Make sure that your hands are clean (or better yet, try another sleeping position) and your pillows regularly washed. Facial skin is so sensitive to dirt that even a little amount can cost you pimples. 


Also, check your cell phone. Is it clean? Cell phones pick up bacteria from your hands, food, and places or things (such as a table or bag) where you place your phone. Also, the mere skin friction caused by using cell phones may cause pimples (called "acne mechanica"). Know more about acne mechanica in AcnetNet.

What to do: Sanitize your phone. Simply get a cloth, dub it with alcohol and wipe the casing of your phone. Use cotton buds to reach the in-between spaces.

Forehead

This is already a general knowledge but might as well include this in the list.


Pimples in the forehead are likely caused by contact with bangs. Hair gets all kinds of dirt and pollution from outside that may be transferred to the skin. Hair products may also be a factor.

What you should do:  Tuck your bangs behind your ear or wear bobby pins, clips, or a headband.

If you already have pimples on your forehead, don’t irritate them further by trying to hide them using your bangs. The pimples will get redder and bigger, and it may cause scarring. Believe me, it's better to risk embarrassment for a few days rather than having pockmarks.