Healthy Green Tea at the Gourmet Fusion Store

At Gourmet Fusion we love green tea, as not only is it a great pick me up in the middle of the afternoon, it is also now very well known for its anti-oxidant properties.

Today I saw a report that the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has published research showing that green tea could be beneficial in the treatment of uterine fibroids. The research carried out at Meharry Medical College in Nashville has shown that green tea extract can eradicate fibroid lesions in lab animals, and shows great promise as a treatment in humans.

Clinical trials will begin soon, and we hope that they prove successful, as this could lead to the self-treatment and self-management of this condition by millions of women.

Gourmet Fusion carries four types of green tea in its Leaping Lotus store in Solana Beach, and also online.

Jasmine Petal, our most popular tea, is available as a loose leaf tea in a cylinder, and also in biodegradable tea sachets.

Our other green teas - Orange Sencha, Tropical Goji Green, and Tamayokucha Extremely Green Tea are all available in biodegradable tea sachets.

We also carry some of these teas in a convenient tea traveller size, ideal for those on the go.

All have a slightly different flavor, but all have a great taste. Why not try them all and see which you like best?

More Benefits of Blueberries

Blueberries are always on the top of everyone's list when we think of super foods, and they are a great antioxidant, but recent research has shown yet another benefit.

According to the findings published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, blueberries may be associated with improved learning and word recall, and may be of potential benefit to older adults at risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

We love blueberries and always use them as a topping for cereal at breakfast time, and they make a colorful addition to fruit salad. If you cannot find fresh blueberries, benefit can also be obtained from frozen blueberries, and preserves, such as Gourmet Fusion's organic blueberry preserve from Spain that can be found in the Gourmet Fusion store at the Leaping Lotus, Solana Beach.

Pomegranate Tea

We have now added Pomi-Berry tea to our range of organic teas, available in the Gourmet Fusion store. Our Two Leaves and a Bud Pomi-Berry is a blend of pomegranate and herbal berry blend.

Research has shown that pomegranate is one of the top foods when it comes to high levels of disease fighting antioxidants.


Our tea blend is a combination of berry blend, forest berries, pomegranate, apple, lavender and hibiscus to create a balanced, sweet but relaxing herbal blend. Finally, chamomile and lemongrass complete the flavor making it a great after-meal tea.

This yummy drink contains no caffeine, and the biodegradable tea sachets are large and mug-sized, so you can steep them in a big mug without losing any of the flavor. Full of leaf herbs, flowers and large fruit pieces, you can watch the leaves open and infuse in your mug.


Available in boxes containing 15 tea sachets, Pomi-berry can be found online and at the Gourmet Fusion store at 240 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach, California.

Super Food Strawberries

If, like me, you love strawberries, the good news from the California Strawberry Commission is that they fall into the group of super foods that improve health and longevity, and are full of cholesterol-lowering antioxidants.

A recent study published in the scientific journal, Metabolism, carried out by the University of Toronto, confirms existing evidence that strawberries are one of the world's most nutrient-rich foods. It showed that the antioxidant power in strawberries can improve and maintain the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering diets. High cholesterol is known to contribute to heart disease, and including antioxidant-rich strawberries in a healthy diet is a behavior change that is simple and delicious to make.

Here is the US, we are fortunate that California strawberries are grown and available year-round across the country. One serving, about a cupful, or eight strawberries, is not only rich in antioxidants, it is low in sugar (containing about 50 calories), and also an excellent source of vitamin C.

The recipe for the delicious Summer Strawberry Daiquiri shown above, and of course, Paula Deen's Cream Cheese and Pecan Stuffed Strawberries, have been featured in earlier issues of our blog, and are great ways to use summer strawberries. However, if you are looking for the best healthy option, it's advisable to eat the strawberries without the addition of alcohol or cream cheese!

Pomegranate & Orange Juice

I read a report recently based on research carried out by the University of California, Los Angeles which ranked 10 beverages by their levels of disease-fighting antioxidants, and pomegranate juice was the clear winner.

The top ten list went as follows:

1. Pomegranate juice
2. Red wine
3. Concord grape juice
4. Blueberry juice
5. Black cherry juice
6. Acai juice
7. Cranberry juice

8. Orange juice
9. Tea
10. Apple juice

Well, if you are like me, and rarely eat pomegranates, trying to incorporate them into anything sounds a challenge, so I began to consider the places I know where pomegranates are a common fruit, and immediately thought of Morocco. It was in the book, Cooking at the Kasbah by Kitty Morse, that I found this recipe, and not only does it include pomegranates, but also orange juice which comes in at number eight on the list, so I guess this is really full of antioxidants. It is non-alcoholic, and ideal for the long, hot summer days ahead.

Ingredients (Serves 1)

• 1 pomegranate
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• Sugar to taste
• 2 teaspoons orange-flower water (available in some supermarkets and liquor stores, and also Middle Eastern markets)
• Fresh mint sprigs for garnish

Method

1. Fill a large bowl with water. Cut the pomegranate in half lengthwise. Holding the fruit under the water, break it apart, separating the seeds from the skin and white pith. The seeds will drop to the bottom of the bowl, while the pith will float to the surface.
2. Transfer the seeds to a colander or strainer. Rinse, removing any remaining bits of skin and pith.
3. In a blender or juicer, puree the pomegranate seeds with the water.
   
4. Strain through a fine-meshed sieve, pressing the puree with the back of a large spoon to extract as much liquid as possible.
5. Transfer to a container and stir in the orange juice, sugar, and orange-flower water.
6. Serve over ice cubes and garnish with a mint sprig.