Kukicha review

I made some Kukicha which is a japanese green tea. Common nick name is twig tea. I got my Kukicha from The Tea Grotto. I put in 2 grams of tea for every 6 oz of water and used filtered water. I ended up steeping it in my cast iron tea pot at 70 degrees F. I tasted the tea every 30 sec. into steeping. What I found was that 1 min. 30 sec. was the perfect blend of grassy freshness without any bitterness. I continued to steep tell 2 min. 30 sec. to tast the developments in the tea. I found that any longer then 2 min. and it started to become bitter.
Dry Kukicha

Kukicha after steeping 

Color of tea. Mind you this is the color afte steeping it for 2 min. 30 sec. Which wasn't the ideal steep. 

Over all I would say It was medium soft body tea. It was grassy, fresh, kelpy, and robust. I love a good japanese green and this kukicha was very enjoyable. 

Nature Along the way

On one of my many walks I came across some interesting plants and thought I would share.
I sat down by some mushrooms to do some reading. This was my favorite one.

I was reading The Silmarillion by J.R.R Tolkien and thought this mushroom was in perfect spirit with the book. 

Not to far from the grassy mushroom covered hill I found an interesting tree that was fluffy. 

I enjoy the color of the leaves.
Not to far from the fluff tree I came across a weird flowering plant with pod like things.

It was hard to get a good picture of this one due to the wind blowing the branch back and forth. Also mind you I take these images with my phone so they are not the highest quality. 

If anyone knows the names of the fluffy tree or pod flowers let me know. 

Lazy Sunday

This morning I woke up and made some Banana Pancakes. They were delicious! I made them form this recipe http://allrecipes.com/recipe/banana-pancakes-i/detail.aspx I ended up using arrow root instead of baking powder due to not having any baking powder.

I also harvested some cucumbers, spicy bells, and jalapeno peppers.

After taking great pride in my home grown veggies I sat down for some tea by candle light. 

I'm enjoying some nice black fig and lavender tea. Nothing to fancy but a favorite of mine. Today has been a good sunday.

Beautiful Matcha Bowl

This Matcha bowl is amazingly beautiful. Its striking black color in contrast with the orange is breath taking. It's currently out of stock but its from yuuki-cha.com.

Quote

"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common - this is my symphony."

-William Henry Channing

I choose this image to match the quote because of its simplicity and being what one needs to be nourished. The plate is a modist banana leaf covered with delicious wholesome indian food. Elegant and wholesome. 

Nature on the way

I found this cool little puff flower thing on my walk home from the library. I'm not sure what it is but it was rather cool looking.

I'm also rather excited that my peppers are growing. I'm adding more to the garden this weekend. I'll be planting fall squash such as pumpkins and acorn. 

One of our little carrots. I hope the root starts getting larger soon. Right now its all top.