Japanese black tea is a drink, but did you know that it is also a valuable food?
It's hard to imagine eating tea leaves as they are, but they actually have elements that have a beneficial effect on the human body.
What are the benefits of eating Japanese black tea leaves?
We have also compiled ways to enjoy tea leaves, such as in sweets and tsukudani, as well as important points to keep in mind.
There are nutrients that you can't get just by drinking Japanese black tea.
The reason why it is good to eat Japanese black tea leaves has to do with the nutrients they contain.
Japanese black tea contains many vitamins, but the only vitamin that can be ingested is water-soluble vitamin C. Vitamins A and E are "fat-soluble vitamins" that are difficult to dissolve in water, and even when brewed, most of them remain in the tea leaves and cannot be absorbed into the body.
According to research, about 70% of the nutrients, including vitamins, remain in the tea leaves of Japanese black tea. The amount of nutrition you get just by drinking tea is much less than you might think.
Increase the nutritional value by turning it into a sweet treat!
Many people may feel uncomfortable eating black tea leaves. However, not only can tea leaves be used in a variety of dishes, but there are also many ways to eat them as is.
A typical example is sweets such as cookies and cakes that have black tea leaves kneaded into the dough. Because they are finely chopped, they do not remain in your mouth, and you can fully enjoy the flavor of the black tea in addition to its high nutritional value. Edible tea leaves are also sold, but it is also fine to chop up commercially available black tea or powder it in a mill. It's nice to have sweets that are both delicious and good for your body.
"Japanese black tea tsukudani" - the perfect accompaniment to rice
"Rice accompaniments" are posted in large numbers on recipe sites.
Examples include tsukudani, which is made by boiling used tea leaves in soy sauce, sugar, sake, etc. until all the water has evaporated, and furikake, which is made by stir-frying them in a frying pan.
Not only is it fragrant, but the slightly bitter umami flavor spreads in your mouth as you chew it. Why not try making it with your own combination of ingredients such as sesame seeds, kelp, bonito flakes, and dried small sardines? It's also recommended as a snack to go with alcohol.
Although it has great nutritional benefits, be careful about how much you eat!
The fat-soluble vitamins contained in Japanese black tea remain in the tea leaves even after brewing, so the effect of ingesting them by eating the tea leaves is very great.
However, one thing to be aware of is that black tea also contains caffeine, a nutrient that helps reduce fatigue, wakes you up, and increases your concentration. However, if you eat a lot of it at once, it can cause symptoms such as increased heart rate, tremors, insomnia, and dizziness. Be careful not to eat too much tea leaves, as this can lead to excessive caffeine intake and can have a negative impact on your health.
Even a small amount will provide plenty of nutrition, so please drink in moderation and enjoy this "edible tea."
Next time, perfect for the hot summer! "Iced Japanese black tea" >>
