2005 Spring - Intro - Aojiru - Chinese Black Tea - Korean Tea - Therapeutic Tea
Therapeutic teas—new blends soothe body and soul
coordination by Tomoe Kim
It makes little difference how careful you are: with so many processed foods on the market today, each of us unconsciously ingests a multitude of artificial additives. Even the most basic supermarket items contain colorants, flavorings, and preservatives. When these substances accumulate in our bodies they can cause food allergies and lead to poor health.
"What we need in our diets is something to purify our blood and organs," says tea culture researcher Noriko Fukuda. "This applies not only to artificial additives but to stored calories and nutrients as well. The key to overall health is to stimulate blood circulation and cleanse the body."
Ancient flora, new uses
Fukuda has developed a line of therapeutic teas designed to purify the body and promote both physical and mental health. Her teas blend leaves and flowers that have been prized as medicines since ancient times; some of them are also known for their ability to enhance the body's innate curative powers.
One of her most popular therapeutic teas is Genki Rin-Rin Cha (Vitality Tea), a safflower-based blend with field horsetail, rosemary, and dried Chinese matrimony vine berries. Drink Genki Rin-Rin Cha if you're looking for restored energy and improved memory. Safflower is rich in vitamin E and linoleic acid; field horsetail promotes circulation and cleanses the intestines; rosemary, as the ancient Greeks apparently understood, improves memory; and berry of Chinese matrimony, the wonder rejuvenator, infuses the tea with a touch of sweetness.
The eyes have it
For tired eyes Fukuda has Refresh Eye containing chrysanthemum, ti kuan yin oolong tea, and Chinese matrimony vine. These ingredients all support liver functions, which ultimately relieves dry, tired eyes. Interestingly, these herbs also reduce fever, which makes this tea effective in eliminating the heat generated in the body after consuming too much alcohol (another cause of bleary eyes).
If you compare the ingredients of many highly fragrant, flavored teas sold today, you'll find they contain artificial fragrances. The herbs and medicinal plants Fukuda uses to formulate her teas, however, contain absolutely no agricultural chemicals or additives. In fact, most have passed Japan's stringent regulations regarding the use of agricultural chemicals. And the one ingredient she imports from China is the famed oolong tea grown under strict supervision on the cliffs of the chemical-free biosphere reserve of Wuyishan in Fujian Province.
Fukuda proposes that before selecting a beverage, we should consider the current state of our health. Do you need to promote circulation, enhance liver function, or relieve eyestrain? Based on the properties of each ingredient, you can choose the therapeutic tea blend best suited to your body and give yourself a boost.
Fukuda's therapeutic teas are available at Hikushi, 4-28-8-304 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; tel. 03-5333-3185.
Articles from the 2005 SPRING issue:
Kateigaho International Edition Issues:
2005 SUMMER - 2005 SPRING - 2005 WINTER
2004 AUTUMN - 2004 SUMMER - 2004 SPRING - 2004 WINTER
2003 AUTUMN - INAUGURAL ISSUE
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