TERRACE GARDEN UPDATE : APRIL 2014

Nothing special with my terrace garden this month.
I have unloaded so many pots for new planting.
I have sowed some new veggies seeds this week.
I hope next month all will look better.
Here they are...

South rack : 
garlic chives, ornamental peppers, some seedlings, tomatoes, lettuce for seeds and celery.

South rack

Lettuce for seeds

East row :
Purple eggplants, pakcoy, cabbages, chives, and green okra.

East row; need to be tidying up

North rack :
Broccoli, kale, cabbages, green mustards (after reapeated harvest), green eggplants, chilli peppers and pakcoy.

North rack

West rack :
Garlic chives, kecipir, green mustard, broccoli, kailan, pakcoy, green onion, red okra, celery and cabbages.

West rack

Broccoli

Curled leaved kailan

Pakcoy

Center row :
Soy bean, kailan, peas, melon, basil, ornamental pepper, daikon, and lettuce.

Basil and red amaranth

GARDENING ON THE BALCONY : APRIL 2014

This is the view of my balcony this morning...

Right now I'm having various veggies on balcony.
There is a pot of cabbage remain.

There are Kailan 'Nova', lettuce 'Lollo rosa', lettuce 'Belini', lettuce 'Red Rapid', celery and green mustard (as a volunteer).

This is my 'Lollo rosa'...

'Red rapid' lettuce as a volunteer on kailan pot, but its growth is so stunning.

Lettuce and kailan...criss-cross...

Curled-leaved kailan...

Green mustard as a volunteer on lettuce pot.

Celery, a day after transplanting...

I hope next month they will much better.

KARA WEDHUS PUTIH : FRESH PODS FOR THIS WEEK

Look my kara vines (Lablab purpureus var alba) ...
So thrives...

We can find the flower clusters here and there.

Look... there are so many cluster that full of pods.

I pick some pods every two days.

Not just the pods, the young leaves are also be a delicious greens
We can make so many kind of dishes from the pods.

 

The young pod is really crunchy.
They add more variation in my menu this week.
Thanks GOD.

ROSE TIME : BLACK - RED

Here the new roses in my garden.
It was a gift from my husband, when he attended his friend wedding reception several months ago.
I'm not sure about the name.
Just beautiful...
Please enjoy the beauty...

Have a wonderful week with your roses!

TEA TIME : PART 7

From all the benefit of the tea, we also find the negative side of tea.

 

Here some of the 'black side': 
People who have the disorder kidney function should be aware that drinking tea, because tea is smooth discharge of urine, too much consumption of tea would interfere with kidney function.

Pregnant women should not drink excessive tea, because it will lead to anemia and low iron in pregnant women, can also cause the mother and fetus in the womb of iron deficiency.

Breastfeeding mothers are highly recommended to avoid drinking strong tea because the caffeine in tea will affect the production of milk, so breastfeeding is reduced.
For people who are experiencing a fever, drinking tea is not going to decrease body heat, but on the contrary will increase body heat. It caused theophyline in tea will increase body heat. On the other hand with a cup of tea function body temperature lowering drugs be lost or diminished.
People who suffer from nervous weakness and insomnia should not drink tea.  
The reason is the caffeine content causes sufferers increasingly difficult to sleep and feel restless. 
Tanat acid that's contained in tea will hinder the absorption of iron into the body. When the body is less blood iron deficiency (anemia), synthetic hemoglobin in the body is also reduced, so that the disease was getting worse.
People who suffer from constipation should not consume thick tea because of  tea has astringent effect. Thick tea can cause constipation disease becomes more severe.
After drink tea, children will be stimulated their spirit, their appetite could be diminished, and disturbing the absorption of food, so children will be susceptible to anemia. 
So... don't let the kids drink tea too much.
People with positive heart disease shall abstain from the consumption habits of thick tea.  
The reason is the caffeine content in the tea will stimulate and increase blood pressure. The result is that the heart will beat faster, feeling very unpleasant.

Stay healthy with your tea...., but be wise in consuming tea.
Two cups of tea each day is enough for our health.
Drink more water to compensate for the consumption of tea.
So we can minimize the negative effect of consuming tea. 

I 'm closing this series with this memorable words from WE Gladstone (1865)

If you are cold, tea will warm you
If you are too heated, tea will cool you
If you are depressed, tea will cheer you
If you are excited, tea will calm you

I hope this series is useful for you all.
See you on the next monthly series.
Have a wonderful weekend!

TEA TIME : PART 6

TEA SET AND TEA TRADITION

Every country has a special tea tradition.
There are breakfast tea and afternoon tea on western, ocha in Japan, and many more.
In Japan, the tea ceremony simply referred to as ocha (tea). 
The term ocha no keiko could mean learning practice serving tea manners or etiquette learning as a guest in the tea ceremony.
Tea is not just poured with hot water and drunk, but as an art in its broadest sense. 
Tea ceremony reflects the personality and knowledge of the host.

 

In China, the presentation of drinking tea is not accompanied by a dish of food.

Chinese people really notice the taste and aroma of the tea.  
They also like to compare one type of tea with other teas. 
The tea leaves is put to cover the base circle pot.
Teapot placed on the larger bowl, then pour boiling water to overflow.  
The water will overflow was accommodated in a large bowl. 
Then the pot was closed about two minutes.
Water poured into a glass of tea and then transferred to a bowl.  
After removing the water of tea, sipping a cup of tea aroma as a mark of respect to the host has been serving tea. After that, then the tea can be  drunk.

A tea set (tea ware) is a set of dishes sold in a group for use at afternoon tea or a formal Tea Party.
For daily use, people prefer to use a mug.  
The main wares are tea pot and cups.
A Chinese tea set used to serve guest which contains the following items; teapot, tray, cups and sieve (strainer).
In the tradition of drinking tea in China, there are two containers are used. A glass and a bowl. Glass serves to inhale the aroma of tea, while the bowl serves tea to drink water.

 

At this time, tea ware was made of porcelain, glazed ceramic, glass, enamel or crockery.
It is important to understand that these ancient tea sets were not the creamer/sugar bowl companions we know today. 
Western tea set usually consists of tea pot, cups with saucers, creamer pot and also sugar pot.

 

A strainer is often used when tea is made with tea-leaves in a teapot. 
Some teas, especially green teas and delicate oolong teas, are steeped for shorter periods, sometimes less than 30 seconds. 
Using a tea strainer separates the leaves from the water at the end of the brewing time if a tea bag is not being used.

Tea set for 'Teh Poci'

On Java tradition, we can find term 'teh poci'.
This tea is a distinctive aroma and taste somewhat 'Sepet' (a little bit bitter).
The dish is served with sugar beverages and more fitting stone drunk while still warm rather hot.
When brewed tea into a special hot water in the earthenware pot, the aroma becomes a typical so-called 'Teh Poci' served with rock sugar.  
Teh means tea, and poci means teapot.
That makes it feel to be like that because when the tea is brewed hot, porous earthenware which was reacted with tea and give rise to distinctive aroma. 
In this pot, steam hot tea stuck in a hard ceramic wall so that any type of tea, the scent will not be damaged.

How about your special tea tradition!
Have a nice weekend with your tea!

TEA TIME : PART 5

Tea is usually served in so many variety of beverages.
Hot or cold, also in so many flavor.
The most popular is hot tea.

Hot tea is usually served on the formal ceremony or Tea party.
It's served plain, sweetened and sometime added with honey or creamer.

Iced tea...is really fresh on the hot day...

Lemon tea ...so fresh...

Herbal tea... black or green tea with clove, lemon grass and ginger...
Aromatic and also refreshing...
It's good to relieve cold...

Milk tea... so delicious...
In Malay tradition, there is Teh Tarik; traditional tea with milk.
In Indonesia, especially in Padang's culinary, we can find a traditional spicy tea 'Teh Telor'; tea with egg, milk and some spices then blend it, it looks like a spicy milk shake.

Which beverage is you favorite?
Do you have your own style tea beverage?
I'm sure in every place there are special beverage that made from tea.
Please share...
Next we will talk more about tea tradition.
Have a wonderful tea time.

TEA TIME : PART 4

Indonesia currently ranks number eight on the list of largest global tea producers.
Approximately 65 percent of the Indonesian tea production is exported. 
The main countries of export destination are Russia, Great Britain, Holland and Pakistan. 
Various tea products from tea factories in Indonesia be in the form of loose leaf tea, tea bag, tea filter, instant tea and ready to drink (RTD) tea.
In some Asia countries there are stick and pressed tea, but both of them are less popular in the world.

Teabag
Tea is packed in a small bag that is usually made ​​of paper with a rope. 
It's better for single serve, just for a cup of tea each bag.
Tea bags are very popular because it is practical to make the tea, but the tea lover usually do not like the taste of the tea bag.

Tea filter
Tea is packed in a small bag that is usually made ​​of paper without a rope.  
The bag is usually made from osmofilter paper.
We can brew  faster and easier.
Tea filter is very popular because it is practical to make large quantities of tea and produces a more concentrated than tea bags. 

 

Brewed tea (loose leaves tea)
This is the best tea for the tea lover.
Teas packed in aluminum foil, and some time wrapped in plastic wrap or paper. 
Tea dosage can be adjusted according to the taste.
Tea strainer is used so that the tea does not come floating swallowed . 
In addition, the tea can also be included in the pre-brewed tea bag .  

 

Pressed Tea
Tea pressed so solid for the purposes of storage and ripening.  
Tea that has been pressed to have shelf life longer than ordinary tea leaves .


Tea sticks
The tea is packaged in a stick of thin aluminum sheets that have tiny holes that serves as a tea strainer


Instant tea 
We can find so many instant tea on powder form.
Milk tea, honey tea or lemon tea...
Living-shaped tea powder dissolved in hot water or cold water .  
First coined in 1930 but not produced until the late 1950s . 
Instant tea that has no vanilla flavor, honey, fruit, or mixed with milk powder .

Ready To Drink Tea (RTD)
There are so many  Ready to Drink (RTD) tea on various package, such as Returned glass bottle (RGB), Ultra High Temperature (UHT), Pouch, PET Plastic Bottle, and also PET Plastic Cup.
Tea flavor is maintained for the use of PET Aseptic Cold Filling Technology. Indonesia's first technology for category Ready To Drink (RTD) PET Plastic.  
After the UHT process, the tea packed in the cold in the room and aseptic equipment to prevent contamination and ensure the product remains sterile. 
Tea beverages were processed through the technology will Aseptic Filling for sterile results, superior taste and preservative free.  
Packed with practical ergonomic packages, so we can drink tea anytime and anywhere.

Which tea is your favorite?
It's bout up to you...
Next we will talk about various serving of tea drink.

TEA TIME : PART 3

HOW TO BREW THE TEA 

To get the best benefits and flavors of tea, we have to brew tea on the exact time and temperature.

 

The tea tasted a little bitter when drunk which is a separate pleasure from tea.
As well as changing the potency of the antioxidants, the steep's temperature and time greatly effects the taste, especially on white and green teas.  
Camellia sinensis naturally contains tannins, which are brought out in higher quantities with the tea's exposure to hot water for longer periods. 

Black, oolong and green tea

 

Black Tea
Water for black tea is usually added near the boiling point of water. 
Many of the active substances in black tea do not develop at temperatures lower than 90 °C (194 °F).
Lower temperatures are used for some more delicate teas. 
In black teas, the tannins are part of the natural flavor, as they tend to be rich and bolder.
The temperature will have as large an effect on the final flavor as the type of tea used. 

 

The most common fault when making black tea is to use water at too low a temperature.
Black teas are usually brewed for about four minutes and are usually not allowed to steep for less than 30 seconds or more than about five minutes. 
When the tea has brewed long enough to suit the tastes of the drinker, it should be strained while serving.


Green Tea
Green tea is rich in vitamin C, and of all teas contains the highest levels of polyphenols (flavonoids), which are known for their antioxidant properties.
Water for green tea, should be around 80 to 85 °C.
The higher quality of the leaves, so we only need lower temperature. 
Hotter water will produce a bitter taste, but in so many place bitter tea is appreciated. 

Green tea is steeped in boiling water for 15 minutes.
Because of its delicate qualities, green tea should be steeped using less than boiling water, taking care not to oversteep which can cook the leaves and spoil its subtle characteristics.  

Traditional green tea after brewed, could be re-brewed

For high-quality green tea, we can added hot water as many as five or more times, depending on variety, at increasingly higher temperatures.
Green tea will lose its flavor faster than other teas, so it's recommend that we purchase smaller quantities more frequently.

Oolong Tea
Oolong teas should be brewed around 80 to 100 °C, and the brewing vessel should be warmed before pouring in the water.  
For best results, spring water should be used as the minerals in spring water tend to bring out more flavor in the tea. 

 

High quality oolong can be brewed multiple times from the same leaves, and unlike green tea, it improves with reuse. 
It is common to brew the same leaves three to five times, the third steeping usually considered the best. 


White Tea
As a premium or delicate tea, white tea is usually brewed on the temperature about 70 to 80°C for about five minutes.  
We can added hot water as many as five or more times, or we call it re-brew.
However in white and green teas, which tend to be more delicate, the tannins frequently give the tea a bitter taste which is commonly thought of as unpleasant.

			How do about your brewing tea method?
			Every place have their own method on brewing tea. Cause they have their own taste on tea flavor. Next we will talk more about the form and presentation of tea.
			Have a wonderful tea time!