Let’s Get Cooking... With Tea

Fresco Tea Bar • August 18, 2021

Let’s get cooking... with tea

Tea is not just a relaxing refreshing drink but a great way to add that something special in your next dish. 


It may be a new or foreign concept to some but this practice has been used since the beginning of tea itself. The ancient Chinese used dried oolong leaves with fish before steaming to give the fish a pungent flavorful taste. Tea leaves would be added to a fire source for smoking. In which the meat would take on the rich flavors of the tea accompanied with peppercorns, cardamom and cloves. 


I’m not sure if you want to break out an open flame to recreate this smokey taste but here are a few ideas on how to incorporate tea in your everyday cooking. 


Substitute tea for water

It’s a great way to slightly alter the flavor of your dish without compromising the texture of your items. When you’re cooking rice or grains, noodles, or even oatmeal simply brew your favorite tea leaves and use them in place of water. What’s even better about this tip is that you can honestly use any tea leaves that you want! 


Include tea leaves in a spice rub

Tea leaves are pretty close to herbs, right? So, why not use loose-leaf tea in addition to or instead of herbs like basil and oregano? Sprinkle green or black tea leaves into your favorite recipes or grind them up and use them in your favorite spice rub.


Add tea to your favorite desserts

If you’re still skeptical about using tea in soup or with meat, start off by trying it with dessert! There are so many desserts that are created using milk, so a simple way to do this is by steeping your loose-leaf tea leaves in warmed milk or almond milk. 


Another one of my favorites is  Earl grey tea included into any butter cookie recipe for the perfect tea cookie! 


Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies 

Recipe courtesy of Claire Robinson 


INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons loose Earl Grey tea leaves

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature


Directions

* In a food processor, pulse together the flour, tea, and salt, until the tea is just spotted throughout the flour. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and butter. Pulse together just until a dough is formed. Place dough on a sheet of plastic wrap, and roll into a log, about 2 1/2-inches in diameter. Tightly twist each end of wrap, and chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

* Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

* Slice the log into 1/3-inch thick disks. Place on parchment or silpat lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart (2 probably needed depending on size of sheets). Bake until the edges are just brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks and cool to room temperature.

A Thank You To Our Customers

By Fresco Tea Bar • August 26, 2021
When we envisioned Fresco Tea Bar we knew how we wanted our customers' experience from the drinks, to the lounge areas, to the small details in the bathrooms to make our guests feel like they were on vacation. We wanted our guests to have a place to relax with friends and laugh or take quiet time for themselves. Our upstairs area at the Jeffersonville location was the perfect area for us to create an oasis for our guests to make memories for themselves and their special events. We spent hours upon hours looking for the perfect pieces, making the vibe just right. With each person and each milestone celebrated in the space we hope they walk away feeling the love and care that was put into the space. We wanted to take this opportunity to say, thank you. Thank you for experiencing our business and enjoying yourselves. Thank you for recommending us to new people. Thank you for the smiles, the kind words, the encouragement. We put our whole hearts into our business and it makes our hearts smile to see each and every one of our guests. We Thank you for your support!

10 Beautiful Foods Using Edible Flowers

By Fresco Tea Bar • August 25, 2021
Talk about a lovely ingredient to add into amazing foods and drinks! Edible flowers have been used well let us be honest.... since Adam & Eve? From ancient civilizations, regions and different cultures have use flowers in their food, sauces, drinks and so much more in the culinary world. We typically see edible flowers as garnish on a food plate or dessert at a restaurant as it sets off the plate with the colorful esthetics of the stunning and radiant petals. Check out these amazing foods and drinks using flowers to elevate the taste and the appeal . From cocktails, desserts, soups, salads, appetizers and much more!

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By Fresco Tea Bar • August 20, 2021
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Morning Rituals

By Fresco Tea Bar • August 20, 2021
"The most successful people rise early and set rituals...." Do you have morning rituals that make starting the day easier and more centered? It is no secret that some of the world’s most successful people rise early and have set morning rituals. Benjamin Franklin was a firm believer and adopted somewhat of a strange practice himself. “....I rise early most every morning, and sit in my chamber without any clothes whatever, half an hour or an hour, according to the season, either reading or writing.”
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By Fresco Tea Bar • August 18, 2021
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Cooking with Tea, Earl Grey Cookies, Tea Rub

Let’s Get Cooking... With Tea

By Fresco Tea Bar • August 18, 2021
Tea is not just a relaxing refreshing drink but a great way to add that something special in your next dish. It may be a new or foreign concept to some but this practice has been used since the beginning of tea itself. The ancient Chinese used dried oolong leaves with fish before steaming to give the fish a pungent flavorful taste. Tea leaves would be added to a fire source for smoking. In which the meat would take on the rich flavors of the tea accompanied with peppercorns, cardamom and cloves.
Tea Bath, History on Bathhouses

Rejuvenating Bath... Soak In Tea

By Fresco Tea Bar • August 17, 2021
In some cultures bathing was turned into a form of spiritual cleansing and purifying of the mind like the Japanese. In others cultures bathing was for gathering and forms of social status. Public bathing is not as popular in the Unites States but has become to be more of a private and quiet time to soak the stress away and heal the soul in our home. Known benefits of bathing go back many centuries where different cultures have built and gathered around beautiful bathhouses including this historic Cagaloglu Hamam in Istanbul, Turkey. It was built around 1741 by Sultan Mahmut I, and it was the last built by the Ottoman Empire. The bathhouse has a grand feel with amazing architecture. It was listed in the book ‘1,000 Places to See Before You Die,’
What Is Oolong Anyway?

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By Fresco Tea Bar • August 13, 2021
I think this is one of those questions that all tea newbies ask themselves, “What is Oolong, is it a black or green?” Well besides being my very favorite option it is a unique tea that has a wonderful smooth taste. Oolong tea is a product from the leaves, buds, and stems of the Camellia sinesis plant. The very same plant that is used to make black and green tea. Despite coming from the same plant, black, green, and oolong teas vary widely in taste and color. This is due to different growing, harvesting, and processing methods.
Make A Summer Drink Using Matcha & Watermelon!

Get Your Last Summer Drink In with Matcha & Watermelon!

By Fresco Tea Bar • August 11, 2021
Summer is almost over so before we start seeing pumpkin drinks on the menus lets make a refreshing summer drink by using matcha & watermelon! Get to know your ingridients and the benefits before you sip away!
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