Salsa Verde - Delicious and Raw

9 medium to large tomatillos (16 - 18 tiny or small) OR 2 medium zucchini*
1 large bunch cilantro
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp salt (or as desired)
1 or more jalapeños (cut seeds out of some or all to decrease the spicy heat: start with 1 jalapeño, seeded, and taste the mixture, then add more chiles as desired.)
1 bunch green onions (optional)

Pulse until in very small pieces
Taste your mixture before serving and adjust the flavors to your liking. Remember, it is easier to add than to subtract when dialing in a recipe.

I made this spicy dish for a Christmas party and it was the belle of the ball. Although it is one of my raw recipes, the omnivores at the party put it on anything and everything - from chips to mashed potatoes to turkey.

This low calorie recipe can really spice up a meal, especially for those struggling with weight loss who find low fat often means low flavor!

*For those who aren’t partial to tomatillos(small green and tomato like), a substitution of zucchini works fine - 2 medium or 3 small should do the trick.

A Short Introduction to Chinese Tea

The tea species Camellia sinensis produces all the varieties of tea, except herbal teas: mainly green, black, oolong, pu-erh and white. The growing season, geographic region and processing of the leaves create the many varieties and contribute to each tea’s uniqueness. The special care given during processing brings out the natural subtleties of flavor and creates a visual aesthetic that is unique to each tea. This is part of the mystique of tea. No two teas are exactly alike. Each growing season creates a unique leaf and taste. (from http://www.generationtea.com/learn.htm)

Chinese tea is healthy in a lot of ways. It is supposed to lower blood pressure, protect the heart, help prevent obesity, prevent tooth decay and increases immunity, etc. The Chinese have been drinking tea for a host of health reasons as well as for enjoyment for thousands of years.

“Research has found scientific evidence that Chinese tea can actually help to prevent cancer. It’s more than just empty talk now. Chinese tea is more than just something to drink. It has in fact become a way of life for many.” (read more at http://chineseteas101.com/allabout.htm)
Below is information I hope will help the beginner in Chinese tea preparation. Keep in mind the cups and teapots are generally smaller than what you may be used to.

This is a yixing teapot:

Brewing tea in yixing teapot: www.jcm.co.uk for brewing oolong, pu-erh, and black tea.

A Gaiwan is like a small tea pot in that it is for brewing tea. It is suitable for green, white, oolong, black, pu-erh.
Brewing tea in a gai wan: www.jcm.co.uk

All kinds of brewing instructions: http://chineseteas101.com/brewingmethod.htm

white teas: store.teance.com/white-teas.html
More about health benefits: www.generationtea.com/health.htm

High Mountain Green	Immortal Peach Hand Tied Jasmine Green	Pu-erh Tea
Monkey Picked Ti Kuan Yin	Jasmine Silver Needle White Tea	Jasmine Pearl Green Tea

Where a blog becomes the most useful is with the combined knowledge of other bloggers and readers. I would like this blog to be very informative, so if you know of other great sites about Chinese tea basics, please leave comments!