Warm Your Body, Aid Digestion, and Detoxify!

Ginger tea isfeatured in Februaryin my column. To explain a bit more, first, I put about 5 or 6 thinly sliced pieces of fresh ginger into a small pot with about a cup and a half of water and bring it to a boil. Then, I reduce the heat to low and simmer for 7 to 8 minutes. It's delicious when it turns yellow, but the time is up to you. I simmer it until it reduces to about one cup.

At home, I drink it after meals, and sometimes I'll pour it into a thermos and drink it in the car. And for times when I don't have time to use a thermos, I always keep ginger powder bought at the market in my bag. This is for making instant ginger tea by shaking 4 or 5 times into a cup of hot water. It's easy and convenient, but the main event is still the one made from fresh ginger. That's because I eat the ginger that settles at the bottom of the cup after I finish drinking! How should I put it? It has a slightly soft, plump texture and still retains some of the ginger flavor... it's delicious! I can't imagine how others would react, though.

As is well known, the benefits of ginger tea include warming the body and aiding digestion. In Ayurveda, it's also recommended for detoxification. However, because it's potent, it's said that people with sensitive stomachs should avoid it, and it's best not to drink more than three cups.

Still, perhaps because I drank this all winter, I didn't catch a single cold, and my average body temperature of 36.6 degrees Celsius never dropped. Nowadays, it's said that more and more young women have low body temperatures in the mid-35s Celsius. That's absolutely not good! It lowers immunity, oxidizes the body, and impairs metabolism – there are no benefits at all. So, if you have a low body temperature, please try drinking and eating this.

Enjoy Edible Teas That Soothe the Soul

Now, as for mekab tea, it's probably something that some people know and others don't. I think I first encountered it at a direct sales stand in my weekend home in Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture. It might be sold as a local specialty in areas with fishing ports.

Mekabu is the root part of wakame seaweed, seasoned and dried. It's said to be the most abundant in nutrients like fucoidan, alginic acid, iodine, and calcium among seaweeds.

Fucoidan is said to have strong anti-cancer properties, and alginic acid is rich in water-soluble dietary fiber. It also has effects like suppressing blood sugar spikes, modulating the immune system, promoting intestinal health, acting as an antioxidant, and aiding in weight loss. It's truly a tea with many health and beauty benefits. I used to drink it often on mornings after drinking too much... (with a distant look in my eyes. The reason ismy column last monthread it).

It also seems to improve liver function, which might be why I unconsciously wanted to drink it on mornings after drinking too much (!?). Upon investigation, alginic acid forms a barrier on the stomach lining and prevents alcohol absorption, so it's said to be effective in preventing bad hangovers if consumed before drinking. Therefore, it seems it would have been better to drink it *before* drinking alcohol.

While those effects are welcome, it's easy to make just by pouring hot water, and I love that gooey, viscous texture! Plus, it has a pleasant saltiness, making it a great choice when you're tired, want a change of pace, or even when you're a little hungry since you eat the mekab pieces too. Just like the comforting deliciousness of miso soup, it's an edible tea that soothes the soul.

A "Bomb of Vitamin C" Beneficial for Women

Now, my new favorite tea is rosehip. Rosehip tea is apparently widely known among women as a beauty tea. But a long time ago (was it 30 years ago?), I drank something I thought was rosehip tea, and it was incredibly sour, so I came to dislike it and avoided it until now. Then, the other day, a friend gave me some in tea bags, so I thought, "Since it's here, I might as well try it," and took a sip. Oh, it was delicious. It had a sourness, but also a subtle sweetness. "Huh? Was it always this taste?" I wondered. After looking it up online, it seems the one I drank back then was blended with hibiscus. I don't like strong sourness, and hibiscus is rich in citric acid, so it's quite sour.

Furthermore, I discovered the powerful beauty benefits of rosehip. It's apparently so rich in vitamin C that it's called a "bomb of vitamin C"! Vitamin C has antioxidant properties, boosts immunity, and is essential for collagen production. It's also crucial for strengthening bones. In other words, it's a vital vitamin for both health and beauty. Plus, as the season for strong UV rays approaches, it's an indispensable nutrient. What's even better is that the vitamin C in rosehip is heat-resistant, so it doesn't easily break down when made into tea.

It also contains collagen, iron, vitamins A and E, beta-carotene, calcium, lycopene, and alpha-linolenic acid, which helps maintain soft baby skin. In addition to the benefits of vitamin C, it also seems to promote skin metabolism, improve skin radiance and whiteness, balance hormones, prevent aging, alleviate menstrual pain, and even shrink pores and clear blackheads. It's truly a wonderfully beneficial tea for women.

Knowing these benefits, it would be a waste not to drink rosehip tea! So, after searching online, I purchased a product called "fine cut" from "Provence Garden," where the rosehip pieces are finely cut. I put about a tablespoon of this into a cup, cover it, and wait for 3 minutes. When I remove the lid, the pieces have settled at the bottom of the cup, and the water has turned a tea color – it's ready. The tea itself is delicious, but I actually prefer the pieces. They're sort of sticky and sweet, and tasty (perhaps not for men). Also, since the nutrients are concentrated in the pieces, there's no point if you don't eat them. Therefore, I recommend products where you can eat the pieces over tea bags.

I've only been drinking (and eating) this rosehip tea in the morning and after baths for about 20 days, but I definitely feel like my skin has become whiter, and my pores seem to be shrinking...!? I'm determined, "This is it for my sun protection and skin whitening this summer!" I'm excited. These three types of edible teas that benefit health and beauty – please give them a try!