Archive for category: Sir Jason Winters Blog

When we sit down to enjoy a meal or a snack, chances are we aren’t thinking about how our body processes and uses that food. 

So what happens to our food after we enjoy its taste, chew it up, and swallow it? What is the process that makes it all happen, and why could we need a supplement to make this process work better?

Our digestive system efficiently breaks down the food we eat at a molecular level to be used as nourishment for every cell in the body. Here is how our digestive system accomplishes this process and how we can help it do its job more efficiently and effectively. 

The Process of Digestion

The digestion process starts when we put food into our mouths, chew it up, and swallow it. Our salivary glands secrete an enzyme called salivary amylase. This enzyme kicks off the digestion of starches and converts it into maltose that begins the breaking down of food into smaller molecules. 

Once you swallow your food, it travels down the esophagus into your stomach, where there are gastric juices, including hydrochloric acid. These stomach acids and enzymes, chemicals that break things down, break foods down even more where they then travel to the small intestine. 

Along with enzymes that our pancreas secretes into the small intestine, our food keeps broken down into smaller and smaller components that our cells can use.

What are Amylase, Protease, and Lipase?

Several digestive enzymes in our body sort out and convert our foods into the elements that our bodies need. Here is a breakdown of each:

• Amylase: This digestive enzyme in your gut breaks down the starches in food by interacting with the amylase enzymes that naturally occur in your salivary glands. Saliva helps to convert the starches into carbohydrates and turns them into maltose.Another type of amylase enzyme called pancreatic amylase is secreted from a duct in your pancreas and into your small intestine. While in the small intestine, the amylase converts the food molecules into glucose, a form of sugar your blood cells can use directly.We can also find this enzyme in certain foods. Some foods high in amylase include cauliflower, onions, celery, and turnips.
• Protease: These enzymes break down proteins and convert them into amino acids. The three most common protease enzymes are pepsin, chymotrypsin, and trypsin. The peptic acids that are within your stomach interact with these enzymes to further break down proteins.Foods that contain naturally occurring protease enzymes include pineapple, papaya, mangoes, bananas, whole grains, and honey.

• Lipase: The fats and oils are converted through the digestive enzyme lipase. The pancreas releases lipase into the small intestine to break down fats.The lipase enzyme and bile from your liver interact to convert the dietary fats into fatty globules, which are then converted into fatty acids and glycerol. These high-energy producing molecules are used throughout the body via the blood and the lymph nodes.Foods that contain lipase include avocados, beans, nuts such as almonds, cashews, chestnuts, sprouts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds, 

There are other enzymes as well for specific kinds of food. One well-known one is lactase. Lactase breaks down the lactose in milk so our bodies can use it. If we do not make enough of this enzyme anymore, that’s how we get lactose intolerance.

In short, amylase, protease, and lipase are the three main digestive enzymes to help us digest the three macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Why would we need to supplement them? 

Because our bodies seem to be great at performing the complex digestion process on its own, you may ask yourself why there is any need to take digestive enzyme supplements.

One of the main reasons for taking digestive enzymes in supplement form is modern diets. Processed foods can be harder to digest and don’t contain many nutritional benefits. Poor quality food can cause inflammation and end up taking its toll on the immune system, and eventually the digestive system and its enzymes.

If our bodies don’t get the proper nutrition from the foods we eat, it can lead to health concerns. By taking a digestive enzyme supplement with meals, you might ease conditions such as:

• Arthritis
• Constant Fatigue
• Food Allergies
• Crohn’s Disease
• Celiac Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

A digestive enzyme supplement can aid the body in breaking down the foods and protect the body from the kinds of malabsorption. Lactose intolerance is a type of malabsorption. It means there’s food that our bodies think it can take in, but cannot because it can’t break it down. 

If enzymes cannot do their job right, our other organs may not be able to handle what slips through. This is the other side of malabsorption. We could take something in that isn’t fully broken down and our other organs can’t handle it.

For instance, digestive enzymes help the liver work more efficiently and stimulate the body’s immune system to reduce inflammation that can lead to arthritis and certain forms of cancer.

Our digestive enzyme supplement 

Sir Jason Winters International is proud to offer our own brand of digestive enzymes in 325-milligram capsules. Our digestive enzymes are derived from both plant and animal sources. Each capsule contains the optimal dose of the digestive enzymes amylase, protease, and lipase to help your body during the digestive process.

The recommended adult dose for our digestive enzymes is 1 to 2 capsules taken shortly before each meal. It is not recommended to exceed six capsules per day.

Of course, before taking our digestive enzymes or any other type of supplement, we do recommend that you speak with your doctor or other health care professional first. 

At this time, we are offering our Digestive Enzyme 325 milligram capsules in 50 count bottles, regularly priced at $10.50 each for just $6.25 per bottle. That is a savings of more than 40 percent per bottle!

We are offering our convenient subscription service for those who want to save an additional 5 percent on their supplement purchase. Sign up for regular delivery either once every two weeks or once a month and get our supplements delivered safe to your home or office. Because this is such a great savings, we are limiting the number of bottles to just 5 bottles per subscription. 

If you’re still trying to determine which of our Sir Jason Winters products are right for you. We do offer our convenient eGit cards. The cards are available for any denomination and never expire. Simply contact us with the recipient’s email and your payment information, and we’ll do the rest!

Give the gift of good health to yourself or someone you love with Sir Jason Winters products today!

Resources

“Prescription for Nutritional Healing: A Practical Reference for Drug-Free Remedies” by Phyllis A. Balch, 2010, Avery Publishing, New York, NY

“Earl Mindell’s New Vitamin Bible” by Earl Mindell and Hester Mundis.2011, Grand Central Life & Style, New Yor, NY.

“Healthy Healing” (14th Edition) by Linda Page and Sara Abernathy, 2011, Healthy Healing Press, New York, NY

You already know how important maintaining your health is. Health is the greatest wealth. One way many people make a deposit in their health account is by taking a daily multivitamin.

We’re long past the days where we thought a multivitamin would replace food in our diets. Instead, a good multivitamin fills in the gaps in our diet caused by improper eating or poor lifestyle habits. If you eat a healthy and varied diet, exercise regularly, and sleep well, adding a multivitamin is an insurance.

There’s a vast ocean of multivitamins out there on the market. It’s almost overwhelming to know how to choose one. Science and regulatory bodies have not provided a standardized formula for multivitamins, but we have a few opinions on what makes a quality multivitamin blend.

What Are Vitamins?

A quick review from the health class is in order. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients our bodies need to function. Fats, protein, and carbohydrates are fuel. They’re macronutrients.

To use a car analogy, macronutrients are fuel and oil. Vitamins and minerals are all the other fluids, special lubricants, and other things you need to make the car run right.

Our knowledge of vitamins is still quite new. Vitamin A was discovered in 1913. Since then, science has found several vitamins we need for our health to thrive. A multivitamin blend lets us top off the tank, so to speak, of these vital compounds.

Reasons to take a multivitamin

Even if you eat nutritious food, it’s likely you’re lacking in something. We use many of the vitamins for repairing damage to the body. Once you reach the age of 40, you need more nutrition to keep up with aging. Chronic health issues can also require higher doses of vitamins. 

Clinical studies have shown that taking a high-quality multivitamin may reduce the development of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer. Their physician may advise those currently under treatment for various types of cancers to take a multivitamin to stay as healthy as possible. 

Furthermore, there are worrying studies that show that plants are getting less nutritious. There are several theories about this, from excess carbon dioxide to the effects of factory farming. If these studies are right and trends continue, eating the standard healthy diet may not be enough.

Can taking a multivitamin put my health at risk?

Too much of anything – even those things which are supposed to be good for us, can end up being a bad thing. Taking too much of any vitamin supplement can have a detrimental effect on health. How do you avoid making a mistake with vitamins?

• Avoid overdoing it with megadoses – High doses of certain vitamins can end up causing health problems, and sometimes, can even be toxic. Overdosing on Vitamins A, D, E, or K are especially dangerous. It’s best to stick to a multivitamin that provides as close to 100% of the recommended daily requirement unless told otherwise by your doctor. 
• Check the Expiration Date – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires a best by or expiration date on all health supplements and vitamins. This date reflects the maximum efficacy of what you are taking.
• Discuss your current state of health with your doctor – Before taking vitamins or any health supplement, we always recommend speaking with your doctor or other healthcare professional. If you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications for a chronic health issue, certain minerals or other ingredients may be contraindicated. 
• Avoid taking your multivitamin with milk or dairy products – The calcium in milk and other dairy products can slow your body’s ability to absorb certain ingredients within multivitamins. It is also a good idea not to take your multivitamin after taking an antacid or with other calcium supplements. 

Are there any side effects?

Most people will not experience any side effects when taking a multivitamin. Some side effects that can occur include an upset stomach, headache, or an unpleasant or unusual aftertaste. 

If you notice any allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling, after taking a multivitamin, discontinue using it and seek medical attention immediately.

Signs of a quality multivitamin

At Sir Jason Winters, we think that any multivitamin that claims to be one a day may not be enough, depending on the nutritional intake you get from your diet. Some vitamins, like B and C, are used up within hours of taking them. That’s why we’ve balanced the nutrient amounts in Sir Jason Winters Multivitamin & Mineral Formula to be taken anywhere from 1-3 times a day safely. If you take one consistently, your body will have constant access to what it needs to grow your health, repair damage, and improve your vitality.

Another thing we do is take a food-based approach to our multivitamins. Science discovered vitamins, but taking synthetic vitamins isn’t the best option. Our bodies are designed to get nutrition from food, not labs.

Our blend contains food-derived vitamins and minerals along with a complete food-based complex including fruit and vegetable blends and spirulina. Also included are powerful antioxidants such as green tea, grape seed, and red raspberry, along with an impressive list of herbs and enzymes.

Each 90 tablet bottle is regularly priced at $24.95; however, right now, we are offering it to our customers at tremendous savings at just $12.75 per bottle. That’s almost half off our regular price! 

If you are interested in an additional 5% savings for your vitamins, we also offer our convenient subscription service. Have your Sir Jason Winters products delivered straight from us and safely to your door every two weeks or once per month. With a deal this good, however, we have to limit quantities to just five per subscription.

If you are thinking of a gift for that special someone but don’t quite know which of our products is best, Sir Jason Winters offers eGift cards in any denomination you wish. Just provide us with their name, email address, and your payment information, and we will deliver it to them whenever you wish.

Resources

Harguth, Anne. “Why Take Vitamin and Mineral Supplements?” Mayo Clinic Health System. The Mayo Clinic, 3 July 2018. Web. 20 May 2021.

Matta, Ph.D., Jaime. “Breast Cancer and DNA Repair Capacity: Association With Use of Multivitamin and Calcium Supplements.” Docksci.com. Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ponce, Puerto Rico, National Institute of Health (NIH-PA) Archive, 12 June 2013. Web. 19 May 2021.

Mindell, Earl, and Hester Mundis. Earl Mindell’s New Vitamin Bible. New York: Grand Central Life & Style, 2011. Print.

Wua, Su-xi, Xuewei Jianga, Yu-ying Liub, Lin-feng Chenc, and Jun Taoa. “Effects and Mechanisms of a New Multivitamin on Chronic Metabolic Syndromes and Aging.” Docksci.com. China Hospital of Changsha University of Science and Technology, 5 May 2017. Web. 19 May 2021.

When Sir Jason Winters was first diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of cancer in 1977, he refused to accept that there was little to nothing he could do about it. Refusing to accept the grim prognosis from his doctors, Sir Jason began researching some of the world’s oldest traditional remedies. 

It was during that period of research and interacting with traditional healers from around the world, three herbs emerged as being consistent toward helping to regain his health and push his cancer into remission.

Because of his success, others who were suffering from cancer and other health issues sought out Sir Jason for information on how they could help themselves. 

Those herbs became the foundation of what was to be Sir Jason Winter’s Teas and our Tribalene formula. Let’s look at the goodness of each of these powerful herbs in turn.

Red Clover

Red Clover, which is known by its botanical name, Trifolium praetense, is a member of the legume family. With its sweet-smelling red flowers, this common herb can be found growing in fields around the world, though it originated in Asia. Over the centuries, it migrated West. 

For centuries, red clover has been traditionally regarded by herbalists and traditional healers worldwide as a blood purifier and detoxifier. These are just some of the reasons Sir Jason included this powerful, tonifying herb as an essential constituent in our herbal teas and both of our Tribalene tablet formulas.

Indian Sage

Almost everyone knows of sage as a spice in cooking stews, soups, and meats. Sage or Salvia officianalis is excellent when added to teas and other beverages. Sage has been used since ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman times for cooking and medicinally to help reduce inflammation, eliminate toxins, and aid in digestion. Today, it is widely believed that sage contains powerful antioxidants that can promote good health both inside and out. Sir Jason also believed that sage possessed many of the important qualities he was looking for in his own health, and he included Indian sage in many of the products that we offer.

Chaparral

Through his research to find powerful herbs that could help his health, Sir Jason Winters found that Indigenous people living in the desert Southwest and in Mexico used a specific herb on an almost daily basis. Chaparral (Laurea tridentata). 

Traditional Native American healers and folkloric herbalists used the ancient chaparral plant to help shorten the duration of cold and flu and address many other health issues. These health issues may range from distress in the digestive and intestinal tract to painful menstruation and chronic skin irritation.

In the book, “The Sir Jason Winters Story: Killing Cancer”, it is written that the seeds and aerial parts of the chaparral plant contained a substance known as NDGA or Nordihydroguaiaretic acid. After noting that plants near areas used to test nuclear weapons contained NDGA and that this substance helped protect the plant and the animals that fed on it from many of the effects of radiation. Several research studies were conducted on chaparral over several decades. The research scientists saw that the NDGA in the chaparral plant seemed to extend life in the research animals and had the potential to deliver the same benefits in humans.

Herbalene or Special Spice

During his quest to improve his health, Sir Jason also found what he was looking for in the writings used in traditional Chinese medicine or TCM. These herbs are a part of a stimulating and adaptogenic formula known in ancient texts as Fu Jeng. Fu Jeng acts to normalize the various systems within the human body. Studies conducted on this formula found that it actually increased the strength of the other herbs that it was added to by as much as 27 times. Sir Jason Winters later came to call this combination Herbalene or Special Spice.

Cayenne

It’s hard to imagine that a common food herb like cayenne pepper or Capsicum annum is also an effective healing herb in its own right. Herbalists and traditional healers in the Americas and later throughout the world realized that cayenne added heat to foods and medicines and served to relieve pain. Cayenne acts as a sort of activator for the systems within the body so that other herbs in an herbal formula could be more effectively utilized. 

Tribalene Daily Tablets

Each tablet in both of our Tribalene formulas contains the very same herbs found in our Sir Jason Winters herbal teas, with Cayenne added. If you don’t have the time to sit down for a relaxing cup of our delicious herbal tea, our Tribalene tablets can be the perfect solution. Just take a single tablet before every meal and one before bedtime.

We are currently offering both varieties of our Tribalene tablets at significant savings to our customers. If you want to save even more on each bottle, take advantage of our bi-weekly or monthly subscription service and save an additional 5%. That’s enough of a savings; you can feel good about giving both our formulas a try. Plus, by having Tribalene delivered to your home, you can stay safe in these uncertain times.

Resources

“The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants” by Andrew Chevallier, 1996, Dorling Kindersley Limited, London

“School of Natural Healing” by Dr. John R. Christopher, 20thAnniversary Edition, 1996, Christopher Publications, Springville, UT

“The Complete Writings of Dr. John R. Christopher”, (http://online.snh.cc/files/2100/HTML/100hs_red_clover__trifolium_pratense.htm ) web.

“Back To Eden” by Jethro Kloss, (Complete Kloss Family Edition) 1939, Woodbridge Press, Santa Barbara, CA

“The Herb Book” by John Lust, 1978, Bantam Books, New York, NY

“Herbal Medicinals: A Clinicians Guide”, Lucinda G. Miller, PharmaD, BCPS, and Wallace J. Murray, editors. 1998, Pharmaceutical Products Press, Binghamton, NY

“The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine: How to Remedy and Prevent Disease with Herbs, Vitamins, Minerals and Other Nutrients” by Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D, 1986, Keats Publishing, Lincolnwood, IL

“Planetary Herbology” by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., 1988, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, WI

“The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicine” by Matthew Wood, 1997, North Atlantic Books, Berkley, California

Green tea is by far one of the world’s most popular drinks, and with good reason. While drinking green tea is great to enjoy any time of day, making it a part of our skin and body care has incredible benefits, too. 

Cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers, both large and small, have discovered green tea’s benefits in soaps and skin products for all the health benefits that the leaves of Camellia sinesnsis, or the tea plant, contain. 

Green Tea Contains Powerful Antioxidants

Our bodies are continually being bombarded by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that both occur naturally in our bodies and from other factors in our environment. Those factors can include sun exposure, smoke, radiation, or other pollutants. These can all cause damage through oxidation and directly affect our health and how our skin looks. 

Antioxidants are molecules that prevent the oxidation process. Green tea contains catechins, which are water-soluble antioxidants. These include Epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, Epigallocatechin (ECG), and Epicatechin (EC). These protect from the damage caused by free radicals. 

While we briefly touched on just a few of these uses in our previous blog post, Green Tea In Your Life & Around Your Home, here are several more ways that you can make yourself feel better both inside and out. 

Green Tea Cleansing Toner

Because of its natural astringent properties, using green tea as a toner can soothe and gently exfoliate your skin. Green tea is also loaded with Vitamin B2 and Vitamin E that can further benefit your skin’s health.

• Brew a cup of Sir Jason Winters Green Herbal tea (G.H.T.) using one or two tea bags.
• Take a couple of fresh mint leaves and add them to the tea. 
• Allow the tea and mint to steep as long as it takes to reach room temperature. Squeeze the liquid out of the tea bags and mint.
• Place this mixture in a spray bottle. Amber glass is the best, as it will keep out light that can break down the mix. Store in the refrigerator to keep it super cool and refreshing.

Green Tea Soap

Because green tea leaves contain properties that can help naturally and gently slough off dead skin cells, soap makers love putting it in their homemade soaps. Here is a simple way to craft your own soap that will make you feel super self-sufficient and help nourish your skin.

For this, you might save tea leaves you have used from past cups of tea so that they can be re-used in the soap recipe.

• 2 cups of Castile or other gentle soap
• 1 cup of steeped green tea leaves (Note: You may also use Sir Jason Winters Classic Herbal Tea for additional soap making options.)

1. Soak the grated soap in a bowl of water until it is softened. Using a slotted spoon, scoop out the soap flakes and place them in a second bowl.
2. Add the green tea leaves to the bowl, mixing gently and just until they are incorporated into the softened soap.
3. Place in a sieve or colander and allow them to sit for 20 -30 minutes to get out excess moisture.
4. Pack the soap and tea leaf mixture into soap molds, miniature gelatin molds, muffin tins, or miniature bread loaf pans. 
5. Allow to dry thoroughly. This drying time usually takes anywhere from 8 hours to overnight or as long as two days.

Green Tea Bath Salts

Since ancient days, adding scents and skin-softening ingredients to the bath can feel like an absolute indulgence. In Istanbul, Turkey, the baths or hammams are a delight for the senses that are enjoyed as often as possible. You can create a similar experience for yourself in your own home’s comfort with this bath salt formula that incorporates green tea.

You will need:

• 2 cups of Epsom Salts
• ¼ teaspoon of glycerin
• 10 to 15 drops of your favorite essential oil such as lavender or eucalyptus
• ¼ cup of strong green tea. 

Mix the ingredients together and add to your bathwater. Allow yourself to soak your cares away.

Green Tea Facial Mask

This mask can not only help rejuvenate and moisturize your skin but can also help whether your skin is prone to acne or if you’re trying to fight off the effects of aging. 

You will need:

• The contents of 2 or 3 tea bags of Sir Jason Winters Green Herbal Tea 
• 1 Tablespoon of raw, unfiltered honey
• ½ teaspoon of lemon juice

Mix the contents and gently apply them to your face. Allow it to remain on your skin for 10 -15 minutes. Thoroughly rinse off the mask and pat dry. Apply your favorite moisturizer. Note that this mask is excellent while relaxing in the bath!

Green Tea to Soothe Tired Eyes

With so much of our lives being lived in front of screens of one kind or another, it’s no wonder that our eyes get tired and sore. According to a recent study submitted to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the caffeine in green tea was shown to help reduce dark, puffy circles under the eyes.

• Save two Sir Jason Winters Herbal Green Tea and place them in a small container in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
• When you are ready, sit back and place the refrigerated tea bags over your eyelids and relax for 10 to 20 minutes.

Do this whenever you need to rest your eyes. The tannins will soothe your eyes and help ease puffiness, while the polyphenols will help undo the damage from the sun and other environmental factors that contribute to premature aging.

Green Tea Moisturizer & Under Eye Cream

You can also take advantage of green tea’s goodness in your moisturizer as well. Rather than infusing green tea in water, you can gently heat skin-nourishing oils such as extra virgin olive oil, jojoba, or rosehip oil instead. This lotion creates an excellent base for a moisturizer on your face and body.

• 1 or 2 green tea bags
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive, jojoba, rosehip, sesame, or other skincare oil.
• 3 Tablespoons shea butter.
• Add several drops of your favorite pure essential oil as desired. Lavender oil is excellent, as are rose, sandalwood, or jasmine. Add this only after the base of green tea, oil, and shea butter cools.

If you want to make this into a more stable under-eye cream, add about1 teaspoon of grated beeswax or beeswax beads.

Gently heat the skincare oil on low heat. Add shea butter and optional beeswax until it melts. 

Add green tea bags and allow the mixture to cool. Remove the tea bags and add essential oils. Mix, then place into a glass bottle or jar. Apply to your face and under-eye area as desired. You don’t have to refrigerate this moisturizer; however, it’s best to keep it out of direct sunlight and in a cool, dry place.

Resources

“Beauty and the East: A Book of Oriental Body Care” by Wendy Bounaventura, 2001, Interlink Books, Brooklyn, NY

“Almond Eyes and Lotus Feet: Indian Traditions in Beauty & Health” by Sharada Dwivedi & Shalani Holkar, 2005, Harper Collins, New York, NY

“Nature’s Secrets for Health & Beauty” by Minoo Glnazar, 1998, Minoo Publishing, Los Angeles, CA

“The Book of Green Tea” by Diana Rosen, 1998, Storey Books, Pownal, VT

At Sir Jason Winters, our love of tea is certainly no secret. We know that tea can be a significant part of preparing your favorite meals, as well as being one of the most healthful things to make a part of your daily routine. Tea as an ingredient in marinades, brines, and sauces can give your favorite dish an added level of taste that’s both savory and sophisticated.

Tea Is a Natural Meat Tenderizer 

There’s no reason to suffer through a meal of tough meat. Tea is one of the most inexpensive, all-natural solutions to turn each bite into a tasty morsel.  

When you brew a strong cup of tea, you may notice that if you let it steep too long, the tea can have a bitter taste. The bitterness comes from naturally occurring emollients within the tea called tannins.

While we have talked about tannins before here on our blog, for a quick recap, tannins are a class of polyphenols contained within the leaves of many pants, including the Camellia sinensis plant that green and black tea comes from. 

The tannins found in tea can help draw out the natural juices found within the meat and make them more juicy and tender. If you’ve ever marinated meat in wine, it’s a similar effect. Many wines also contain tannins.

Whether you are looking for a marinade or brine for your favorite meats, like chicken, pork, beef, seafood, or even tofu, tea can take all of them to a whole new level. 

Using Marinades Safely

When it comes to putting your marinades and brines to use, according to Emily Gatrell, author of “Marinades for the Rest of Us,” there are just a few things you need to remember:

• Always marinate food in the refrigerator. Never at room temperature or outdoors. 
• Only use glass or plastic containers or sealable plastic bags to marinate meats. Metal and glazed pottery can react to acids in some marinades, and chemicals can leach into your food.

Super Simple Tea Marinade

Every good recipe starts with the basics. If you’re new to marinades, this recipe is a great place to start, and you can use it for up to two pounds of beef, pork, or chicken.

Ingredients

• Brew approximately 1 ½ cups of Sir Jason Winters Green Herbal Tea and allow to cool. A strong infusion may require 2 tea-bags.
• 2 teaspoons stone-ground mustard
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 Tablespoon marjoram
• 1 Tablespoon oregano
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Combine the tea and herbs with a whisk. Add olive oil and whisk until it has the consistency of a light salad dressing. 

Pour over meat in a large baking dish, plastic container, or sealable plastic bag and allow to marinate for several hours or overnight. You can marinate for up to 24 hours for larger or tougher cuts of meat.

Remove the meat from the marinade and discard. Grill or broil the meat to your preference.

Lemon Pepper Tea Marinated Chicken

Ingredients

• ¾  to 1 cup of brewed black or green tea
• Juice of 1 whole lemon
• 2–3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked and ground
• 1 sprig of rosemary or 1 Tablespoon of dried rosemary
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or cutlets 

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and combine well. Place marinade in a sealable plastic bag along with the chicken and seal the bag. Allow the contents of the marinade to coat the chicken completely. Place the bag with marinade and chicken into the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.

Grill or broil your chicken until done, and serve with your favorite side dishes, basmati, or wild grain rice.

Ginger Peach Green Tea Marinade 

• 2 Tablespoons of freshly grated ginger
• 1teaspoon of ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon of sea, kosher or pink salt
• Sir Jason Winters Green Herbal Tea (GHT) using 1 or 2 tea bags to make 1 cup of tea
• 3 Tablespoons of peach preserves
• 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar

Mix ginger, pepper, salt, and peach preserves together in a small bowl. Set aside. Make a strong infusion of Sir Jason Winters Green Herbal Tea, enough to make 1 cup of liquid. Hold back approximately 4 tablespoons of prepared marinade.

Place 1 to 1 ½ lbs. of meat into a glass or plastic dish or into a sealable plastic bag. Place the meat and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 -2 hours for meat, or just 30 minutes for fish or other seafood. Remove from marinade and discard any remaining liquid.

Broil or grill meat to preferred doneness, brushing the reserved marinade over the meat while cooking occasionally. The meat should be tender with a taste that is both sweet, spicy, and delicious. Served with your favorite sides, such as grilled vegetables, rice, or baked potato, you’ll have a meal to remember!

Black Tea & Soy Marinated Tofu

For those who prefer non-meat options, this recipe, which can be used with tofu instead, is delicious!

Ingredients

• 1 four-ounce package of extra-firm tofu
• 2 black or green tea bags for a strong infusion of approximately 1  cup of liquid. 
• 1Tablespoons of regular or reduced-sodium soy sauce
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger or 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

 Directions

Place tofu in paper toweling or a dish towel and place a weight on top of it for 10 minutes to remove excess liquid. 

Make a strong infusion of tea to make 1 cup of tea. Add all other ingredients to the tea. Remove pressed tofu and slice into 10–12  pieces. Place in a glass casserole dish or baking dish and cover with marinade mixture. Allow tofu to sit in the marinade mixture for 2 to 8 hours or overnight. To incorporate the full flavor into the tofu, be sure to turn the pieces over halfway through the marinating process.

Bake on a baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray or lightly brushed with olive oil at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until the tofu slices are firm and golden brown.

You don’t have to limit your tea-infused dishes to those presented here. If you want to explore even more healthful and delicious dishes that incorporate tea, be sure to check our past blog entry, “Cooking with Tea.”

Resources

“Marinades for the Rest of Us: Easy & Delicious Marinades” by Emily Gatrell, 2020 Relevant Daearen, 

“Flavorize: Great Marinades, Injections, Brines, Rubs, and Glazes” by/ Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe, 2015, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, CA

“The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook” by Gloria Bley Miller, 1980, Simon & Schuster, Inc. New York, NY