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A Flower Garden of Your Own

I absolutely adore flower gardens. Whenever I want to relax and view nature in one of its most beautiful forms, I sit in or near a flower garden. Smelling the aromatic fragrances of roses always instantly improves my mood. Do you have a flower garden on your property? If you don’t currently have a flower garden, consider starting one this summer. If your knowledge about flowers is limited, visiting a local home and garden center is a great idea. An expert at this kind of business establishment can help you pick the varieties of flowers that grow best in your part of the country. On this blog, I hope you will discover the easiest types of flowers to grow in a backyard flower garden. Enjoy!

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A Flower Garden of Your Own

3 Things That Make Matcha Tea Unique

by Amelia Sutton

The drinking of tea has been part of many cultural traditions throughout history. There are many different types of tea, but few can offer the unique flavor and health benefits of matcha. Matcha tea is characterized by its distinct green color and savory flavor. These characteristics are a direct result of the growing and processing method of matcha tea leaves.

Learn more about the things that make matcha unique so that you can appreciate the value of this ceremonial tea in the future.

1. Matcha Leaves Are Grown in the Shade

The plants used to make most tea varieties are grown in sunny fields. Matcha is unique because the plants used to make matcha tea are grown in the shade. Keeping the plants protected from direct sunlight helps to increase the green chlorophyll production within the leaves. The increase in chlorophyll is what gives matcha tea its green color.

Increased chlorophyll production can also increase the naturally occurring antioxidants, flavanols, and sugar found within the leaves. As a result, the flavor profile of the matcha tea made from these leaves takes on a more pleasing essence.

2. Matcha Leaves Are Steamed

Only the very best shade-grown green tea leaves are picked and used to create matcha. Most tea leaves are simply dried after being plucked. Matcha tea leaves are steamed within hours of being picked. The steaming process helps stop oxidation, which can cause leaves to lose their vibrant color.

Steaming matcha leaves also allows them to retain the sweet, grassy flavor that matcha tea is known for. This sweet taste is typically followed by an umami aftertaste that can't be found in any other tea variety.

3. Matcha Leaves are Not Steeped

Traditional tea is steeped in hot water. Tea leaves are placed into a wire basket or bag, then dunked in hot water to allow the flavor of the tea leaves to infuse the hot water. This is not the way that matcha tea is prepared.

Instead of being steeped, matcha is whisked directly into the hot water itself. After being steamed and dried, matcha tea leaves are deveined and the stems are removed. The remaining leaf material is then ground into a fine powder. The whole tea leaf (minus the stem and veins) is consumed with each sip of matcha tea. It is the inclusion of the whole leaf that gives matcha tea its distinct and rich flavor.

For more information, reach out to a ceremonial-grade matcha supplier near you.

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