a whisk a day…and often two…

Full disclaimer on this work of art.  I captured this photo from a sign on the door of my favorite tea shop in the East Village, here in the heart of Manhattan.  There was no artist signature, so unfortunately I can’t give credit to where credit is due.

It reminds me of my new found love of tea, and especially my daily ritual with matcha.  Matcha?  Direct from Japan, the tea leaves are grown in the shade to increase chlorophyll content. The leaves are then handpicked, steamed, dried and ground into a fine green powder.  Have you tried it?  I’ve never been a green tea drinker.  In fact, just within this past year I’ve gone from grocery store tea bags to various loose leaf teas, thanks to my teacher and owner of Physical Graffitea.  Who knew how different the flavor could be between loose leaf and bags?  Anyway, my tea guru (and others) will tell you that one glass of matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green tea in terms of its nutritional value and antioxidant content.

Everything Ilana (the owner) told me about matcha is true…

You’ll soon not care about your daily coffee, you’ll reach for your matcha instead…

You’ll enjoy the ritual of using the little bamboo whisk while preparing your matcha…

You’ll love a matcha in the afternoon…no more over stimulation, sleep depriving effects that coffee can provide as you enter your evening…

You’ll feel energized and focused with every drink…

There’s probably many ways to fix matcha, but I use my cute little matcha whisk to mix the powder with a little water and then add warm non-fat soy milk with a squirt of agave for sweetening.  Oh, and another full disclosure – real matcha is pricey.  Make sure you purchase from a reputable tea dealer.  Just like so many things in this world…there are knock-offs out there too. I almost look forward to running out of my matcha just to return to her little tea shop.  It’s always enjoyable to head to the East Village…not only do I get to learn more about tea, but one never knows who they may run into…well…because it’s New York City!

Cross-posted over at Vision and Verb –  where a collaborative group of like-minded women from all over the world share their passion for photography and the written word.  If you have a moment, have a look over at our Shoppe.  We’re raising funds, through KIVA, in support of men and women around the world looking to start their own small businesses.  We’re making a difference and changing lives!  You can too!