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Flavored Coffee

maschef — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:00:35 +0000

While some people only drink coffee in order to wake up in the morning, others are very selective about the coffee that they drink. If you fall in the latter category, you should try gourmet coffee. This coffee comes from beans that have been grown around the world and then made into flavored coffee drinks, using special preparation techniques.

These types of flavored coffee are actually causing people to stand up and take notice of this beverage especially as people's tastes evolve. While they start out drinking coffee that has a lot of cream and sugar in them, over time they will put less and less cream and sugar and may even start to drink it black. With all of the different choices of flavored coffee available, maybe it is time for you to try something new.

Brief History of Flavored Coffee

In the 1990s, flavored coffee became very popular. However, this type of coffee can actually be traced back several centuries to the Turks. Over time, a lot of people have developed strong feelings about this type of coffee; either they love it or they hate it and only want to drink naturally flavored coffee.

Flavored coffee is made by adding flavored oils to the beans after they have been roasted and before they have been ground. Another way in which this coffee can be made is by adding liquid flavors to the coffee while it is being prepared, in much the same was as cream and sugar are added.

Types of Flavors

Generally speaking, there are four categories of this type of coffee. The first category includes flavors based upon spices such as clove, cinnamon, anise, and cardamom. Next, there are also some coffee flavors that are based upon fruits such as coconut or raspberry. Chocolate based flavors are the next type with the most common being chocolate mint. Lastly, some flavors are based upon nuts like vanilla, hazelnut or macadamia nuts. Cr

The Wonder Of Chinese Green Tea

maschef — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:17:35 +0000

Have you tasted Chinese green tea? As you all know, green tea is the most popular types of Chinese tea. Many people, not only Chinese, consider it as the best drink for sultry summers. The main reason for this claim is the fact that green tea is cool and fights off inflammation. Many have even claimed that it relieves fever.

Actually, the health benefits of Chinese green tea have been known throughout the world. The Chinese have known about these medicinal benefits since ancient times, as they have been using green tea to treat everything from headaches to depression. A writer named Nadine Taylor in her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life mentioned that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

These days, numerous scientific researches conducted both in Asia and the West is providing hard evidences for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. To mention, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study in 1994, indicating that drinking Chinese green tea lowers the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly 60 percent. Also, it was reported by the researches of the University of Purdue just recently that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

There are other medical conditions to which drinking green tea is reputed to be beneficial. To sum up, these conditions include cancer, cardiovascular disease, infection, rheumatoid arthritis, impaired immune function, and even high cholesterol levels.

What Makes Green Tea Special?

The top secret of Chinese green tea lies in the fact that it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly the said epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is basically an anti-oxidant that has the power to fight and kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue in the body. Studies also revealed that this anti-oxidant has been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and hampering the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter benefit takes on added importance for the fact that the formation of abnormal blood clots, medically known as thrombosis, is the main factor that causes stroke and heart attacks.

Furthermore, the effects of Chinese green tea and the "French Paradox" were highly associated. Researches were in the first place puzzled by the fact that despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a less incidence of heart disease than Americans. The primary answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol. Resveratrol is as polyphenol that restricts the negative effects of smoking as well as a fatty diet. However, in 1997, a certain study reported that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol. And, this somehow explains the lower rate of heart disease among Chinese men even though approximately 70 percent are smokers.

Other Benefits

New evidences that reveal the other benefits of Chinese green tea are now emerging. One of those is the claim that Chinese green tea can help dieters. Researches found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more fats than those given only a placebo and caffeine.

Chinese green tea is also said to prevent tooth decay. Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also fight the bacteria that cause dental plague.

Today, several skin preparations containing green tea, from deodorants to creams, are also starting to appear on the market. This is for the reason that Chinese green tea is found out to be powerful in fighting bacteria that cause skin imperfections.

Iced Tea

maschef — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:18:35 +0000

Americans love iced tea though few are aware that it is an American innovation. This is because tea is an Asian brew and all innovations have been pioneered there. However, iced tea's popularity can be traced to the heat wave of 1904 when tea merchant Richard Blechynden decided to serve tea over ice in a St. Louis expo. The Americans have never looked back since then. They have perfected several methods to make iced tea and even come up with several innovative recipes.

The best iced tea is made with black teas that come from Java, Ceylon, China, or Malawi, as well as flavored teas, such as Peach Black Tea, Lemon Green Tea, or even Formosa Oolong or Japanese Sencha. While some prefer it with sugar, others like it without sugar.

Iced tea can also be taken sweet. In this case, superfine baking or bartender's sugar is used. Otherwise, you may prepare sugar syrup on the stove in a 1:1 sugar and water ratio, simmer it for a few minutes, and keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks.

There are two methods to prepare iced tea. The first is the cold steeping method. In this method, dry tealeaf is placed in a clean jug that has an appropriate amount of cold water. The infusion is refrigerated overnight or for at least six hours and then strained into a second jug or container. Sugar or lemon is then added as per choice and served.

The second is the hot steeping method. Tea makers here have the following three options:

Method 1: Use double the quantity of dry tea leaf that you would ordinarily use for hot tea, infuse for 5 minutes, and pour over a full glass of ice. For best results, let the tea cool down before pouring over ice to prevent clouding or creaming down.

Method 2: Double the tealeaf amount, steep for 5 minutes in hot water, and then pour into a container with the same amount of cold water. This dilutes the strong tea and avoids clouding.

Method 3: Steep black tea in boiling water for 5-8 minutes, then strain into a container containing cold water. Add sugar or lemon to taste. If you brewed up too strong a concentrate, do not worry, as it will be watered down when poured over ice. You may also add a little water if you still find it too strong.

Iced tea can also be mixed with lemonade or other fruit juices in a 1:1 ratio. However, while doing so you must make sure that the juice does not kill the tea flavor.

Oolong Tea

maschef — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:31:35 +0000

Oolong Tea is a traditional Chinese tea that is prepared by oxidizing it more than the green tea but less than the black tea. It does not have the grassy taste of black tea; rather it has a very different, indescribable flavor. It is generally brewed strong towards the bitter side, but still has a sweet after-taste.

The name Oolong means black dragon or snake, and has many legends associated with its origin, largely on account of the fact that the tea leaves look like twisted, snaky threads when dried.

Oolong tea is oxidized in a special manner using the following procedure:

* Wilting: Drying in the sun or air to remove a part of the moisture.
* Yao-Qing: Creating more contact surface for oxidization by bruising the edge of the tealeaf.
* Rou-Qing: Tumbling the tealeaves for the next stage.
* Sa-Qing: Frying either by hand (for premium tea) or by machinery (for lesser quality tea). This process is primarily aimed to stop further oxidization.
* Cooling followed by drying to remove excessive moisture.
* Grading and finally Packaging

The best Oolong teas come from Wu-Y

Thermal Coffee Maker

maschef — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:32:35 +0000

For those who love coffee, any implement that can offer coffee around the clock is a great asset. One that qualifies under this label is the thermal coffee maker. This implement is an economical buy which can keep you happy when you need a pick me up. All you have to do is to feed it whatever type of coffee you need, add water and plug it in. This is the only thing you need to do to have a continuous coffee supply day and night.

What Are The Other Advantages Of Possessing A Thermal Coffee Maker?

Cost – the first thing that is great with the thermal coffee maker is that it does not cost an arm and a leg. Though advanced models can be a little pricey, the normal thermal coffee maker is within the reach of anyone.

Size – the size of the thermal coffee maker is small enough to be kept anywhere and since it does not need gas, but electricity to make coffee, it can be kept in any office from where anyone can have as many cups as they want. The capacity of the thermal coffee maker is anywhere between two cups and 12 cups.

Choice – the thermal coffee maker comes in many types and brands, each better than the other. When you go for buying one, you could be overwhelmed by the immensity of the choice you will get in the market. If you are single (or live alone) you could get a coffee maker which has an average size capacity (some 4-6 cups). In this way, if anyone comes, you would not run helter-skelter to manage a few cups of coffee.

Flavor – a good thermal coffee maker will not have the flavor tampered with even if the coffee stays overnight. This is why you should always go for the branded stuff when you buy appliances or sensitive items like camera and all, because these things cannot be compromised with.

Automation – some coffee makers will have an automatic setting which will ensure that the coffee is ready by a certain time that you should feed it with. It is wonderful to get up in the aroma of fresh brewing coffee. The automatic coffee maker is one of the most popular models for making coffee. Each one of the above reasons could be the reason for buying the thermal coffee maker.

Gourmet Coffee

maschef — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:18:35 +0000

Congratulations. You've decided to enter the world of gourmet coffee. It's a world where the coffee is the tastiest and freshest possible, where the beans have traveled from the coffee fields to the roaster to your mug as quickly as humanly possible. It's a world where you can shop from coffee dealers from all over the world. You'll find beans from Africa with their red wine flavors, for instance, or Central America with their smooth acidity and easy drinking taste. What's more, whatever gourmet coffee you choose, you can be sure that our master roasters will accentuate the exquisite flavors and aromas of each and every blend.

That means your gourmet coffee will arrive at your door with the insurance that all varieties will have consistent quality bean after bean. You see, coffee roasting is as an art. Our roasters know that each coffee bean is an individual, possessing a different size, shape, color, and density. Each demands unique roasting heat and timing to draw out its full flavor.

You can find much more than just gourmet coffee here, too. As all coffee aficionados know, the key to brewing these coffee blends is the right machine. There are still the old-fashioned drip machines, which are one of the easiest types to use for beginners and coffee experts alike. Of course, for the hard-core experts we have the old-fashioned presses and hand brew machines, which are back in favor. Then you have the newest technology, the pod coffee machines. These are like a European coffeehouse machine, infusing hot water through coffee pads. And then for espresso lovers, there are pressurized steam espresso makers.

Make sure, whatever machine you use, to also shop for the proper filter to put between it and your gourmet coffee. The best filters are gold, nylon, or some other permanent filter material. That's because permanent filters allow most all of the flavor molecules from the coffee grinds to make it into the water.

Our gourmet coffee store also houses one of the best ways to get the best flavor from your blend: bean grinders. Coffee grinders release the bean oils and aromas at the moment you make your pot of java. It's like getting a fresh cup from a coffeehouse each and every time your brew.

With all of this selection-from gourmet coffee to machines to grinders-you won't need to go anywhere else to stock your kitchen with the best products available. You'll have all of the products you need to wow your guests come dessert, and wake yourself up in style each and every morning.

Three Health Advantages Of A Vegetarian Diet

maschef — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:24:35 +0000

While many people lament the nutritional disadvantages of a poorly planned vegetarian diet, few stress the health advantages of adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet. In this article, I will cover the major three nutritional advantages of becoming a vegetarian.

The first major advantage of a vegetarian diet is increased heart health. Vegetarians, on average, consume more nuts (often as a supplemental form of protein). Nuts contain "good" fats, such as omega-3 and omega-6. This promotes good heart health by reducing "bad" cholesterol and unclogging arteries.

In addition to nuts, vegetarians also consume more soy milk (often to replace milk), which reduces "bad" cholesterol and has been linked to good heart health.

The second major advantage vegetarians enjoy is increased skin health. In addition to consuming larger quantities of nuts (which contain healthful oils), vegetarians tend to consume more fruit and vegetables, which are rich in essential vitamins, including A and E, which are linked to good skin health.

Fruits and vegetables also contain high amounts of fiber, which helps flush toxins out of the body, further contributing to better skin health.

The last health advantage vegetarians enjoy is an increased natural consumption of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are foods that help prevent cancer by destroying free radicals. Vitamin C and Vitamin E, two strong antioxidants, are commonly found in vegetarian meals.

Vitamin C can be found in berries, tomatoes, citrus fruit, kale, kiwis, asparagus and peppers.

Vitamin E can be found in wheat germ, seed oils, walnuts, almonds, and brown rice–all foods that are commonly a part of a well-balanced vegetarian diet.

So what does this all mean for you as a prospective vegetarian?

It means the popular mythology about vegetarian diets is false. Not only can a vegetarian diet be nutritionally sufficient, but it can also affect better skin health, prevent cancer, and increase your heart health.

Veggie Sandwich

maschef — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:00:35 +0000

Makes: 1-2 Servings

Ingredients:

2 English muffins, split and toasted
1/2 Avocado – Mashed
1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 Purple Onion – Chopped
2 Tablespoons Ranch Dressing
2 Tablespoons Sesame Seeds
1/2 Small Tomato – Sliced

Directions:

1. Preheat oven.
2. Spread mashed avocado over open-faced english muffin halves.
3. Add tomato, onion, sesame seeds, and cheddar cheese.
4. Place muffin halves on sheet and bake in oven.
5. Add dressing, close sandwiches and serve.

Vegetarian Statistics

maschef — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:28:35 +0000

Many nonvegetarians and some vegetarians alike question whether being a vegetarian really makes any difference at all. Some bring up blurry ethical situations to make it impossible to see a vegetarian lifestyle as ethical.

If you are a prospective vegetarian for ethical reasons, but aren't sure whether or not a vegetarian lifestyle is truly a more ethical choice, here are some statistics from EarthSave to help you make your choice (for or against):

1. Over 1.3 billion human beings could be fed each year from the grain and soybeans that go to livestock in the United States.

This means that the entire population of the United States could be fed (without losing any nutritional value) and there would still be enough food left over to feed one billion people.

In a world where millions of people die each year of starvation, that type of food excess and inefficiency could be considered unethical.

2. Livestock in the US produces roughly 30 times more excrement than human beings. While humans in the US have complex sewage systems to collect and treat human waste, there are no such systems on feedlots. As a result, most of this waste leeches into water.

This means that large-scale, massive production and slaughter of animals is not only unethical, but it also causes serious environmental degradation.

3. It takes 7.5 pounds of protein feed to create 1 pound of consumable hog protein; and it takes 5 pounds of protein feed to create 1 pound of consumable chicken protein. Close to 90% of protein from wheat and beans is lost to feed cycling.

This means that an enormous amount of resources are dedicated to producing wheat and soy just for the purpose of feeding it to animals, which will be slaughtered as "a source of protein"–even though they only provide about 1/5 of the amount they consume.

Not only can the production of meat be considered an injustice against animals, but it can also be considered an injustice against human beings, as well as the environment in general.

Coffee Tables

maschef — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:21:35 +0000

Coffee tables may not be the most expensive furniture in your home or office, but they definitely can make an impression in your living room or lobby. The room can benefit from a coffee table because it could enhance a room's theme and save space with its "extendable" spaces or double storage with hidden drawers.

A coffee table reflects the owner's taste in décor. The most common tables are rectangular with four legs, sitting about two feet from the ground. Some traditional tables are also available in square or rounds with different sizes. The majority of coffee tables are made of glass, wood and metal. Some are designed with drawers for storage, while others save space by implementing hidden storage. Other models have shelves underneath, which are used to hold books and magazines.

Choosing a coffee table will depend on a room's theme, budget, size, shape and materials. While some people can make their own tables to fit their needs and tastes, others have no time or skills to make their own furniture.

Material

For this reason, you need to identify the types of coffee tables available in the market. The first thing you need to consider is materials as tables are made in wood, glass, metal, aluminum, plastic and other materials too. Check out your living room or office lobby and determine what kinds of materials will be perfect for the theme of your room.

For traditional settings, wooden and glass tables can add elegance to the room, while modern themes can add style from coffee tables made of aluminum, metal, plastic, glass or a combination of these materials.

Size and Shape

The size of the table will depend on the space available in your room. For an office lobby, a rectangular table will give visitors a place to put down their things, while a circular table can hold magazines and books. The shape of your coffee table depends on your taste. However, be aware that some shapes could add depth to the room, while others can give the room a more spacious look.

Function

The most important factor in choosing the table for your living room is functionality and flexibility. Some tables are designed to save space by adding extra storages or giving you the option of relocating the tables with a set of casters or wheels. Others 'nest' in to one another to save space when not in use.

Regardless of the type of coffee table you choose, you should never clutter up the table because it will only look untidy. The idea of coffee tables is to organize your living room in style and function – so choose wisely.