Chai Recipes

Chai on Ice

Like your chai on the "rocks"? Then try this recipe and cool those hot days down with an Iced Tiger Spice Chai® latte.

 

1. Add 3 Tablespoons of David Rio chai to about 2-3 ounces of hot water or milk/milk substitute and stir.
2. Pour over a cup of ice. Some of the ice will melt from the hot water.
3. Add another 1/2 cup of water or milk/milk substitute and a little more ice.
4. Stir and serve.

(You may also prepare a pitcher of chai ahead of time, keep chilled, then stir and pour over ice when servin

 

Ice Blended Chai

Cool down with a delicious ice blended chai made with David Rio's Tiger Spice Chai® and share with friends and family.

 

1. Start with 1/2 cup milk.
2. Add 5 Tablespoons of powdered chai.
3. Add about 8 oz. of ice.
4. Blend well until smooth.
5. Top with whipped cream if desired.

Variation: Try adding a shot of your favorite flavored syrup, espresso or chocolate powder.

 

Blended Chai Smoothie w/Fruit

Add your favorite fruit to your favorite David Rio chai for this delicious iced blended smoothie! Try addingToucan Mango for a tropical twist!

 

1. Start with about 1/2 cup of water or milk/milk substitute.
2. Add 4 Tablespoons of chai.
3. Add one banana (or use 1/4 cup of blueberries or any other fruit of choice).
4. Add about 8 oz. of ice.
5. Blend well until smooth.

Variation: Use David Rio's Toucan Mango Chai and fresh mangoes for a delicious, refreshing treat

Good News For Coffee Drinkers

Recent research shows that coffee is beneficial not only for the profit of those who commercialize it but apparently for our health too.

Yes, it has been discovered that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of diabetes, colon cancer and Parkinson. It's also good for headaches and even for your teeth. Indeed, coffee does make one's teeth "yellow", it does increase one's blood pressure, the cellulite and so on.

According to a Canadian study, drinking one or two coffees per day is absolutely harmless, and even beneficial. And this is also valid for pregnant women. Also, there is another amazing news. After having analyzed the data referring to 126,000 people within a period of no less than 18 years, Harvard researchers have calculated that, unlike those who do not indulge in the habit of coffee drinking, those who enjoy their coffee cup(s) every day have a much lower risk of getting diabetes type 2. According to a statistical report, those who drink 4 to 6 coffee cups each day have 28% lower risk of getting diabetes than those who drink only two or one cup of coffee. Also, especially in women, drinking three coffee cups per day reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 24%. But unfortunately for those who already have cardiovascular diseases, drinking coffee is no longer recommended for them.

Coffee drinkers are 80% more protected from Parkinson disease than non-drinkers. At the same time, the chances of getting hepatic cancer are still 80% lower and the chances of getting kidney stones are 50% lower than of those who don't drink coffee.

Observers from Harvard Medical School have stated that coffee makes you more attentive, energetic and more able to drive on long distances.

Coffee has more fibers and antioxidants than orange juice. Nutritionists always tell us that we need fibers in order to be healthy and that antioxidants help us remain young and free from diseases. And in this respect, some Spanish experts proved that coffee does indeed contain a high level of antioxidants and fibers, and therefore it is very good for us. In fact, they have discovered that one cup of black coffee has a higher level of polyphenols and fibers than any other drink in the world. Also, coffee helps us keep our lips moisturized, especially cappuccino does have this effect. A short time after ingesting about 150grams of cappuccino, the salivary secretion is being stimulated and also the functions of speaking and diction are improved.

A cup of coffee can also improve one's mood. According to Cardiff experts at the University of Wales, a cup of coffee not only improves the brain's work capacity but it also makes us feel better.

Coffee is not an impediment for having dreams during the night. Many people say that they cannot sleep if they have a cup of coffee in the evening, which is only natural. Coffee keeps us awake and alert, with our attention very sharp, and this is the very reason why in fact people drink it. However, according to recent studies, although if we drink a cup of coffee in the evening we might have troubles falling asleep, it does not affect our dreaming ability or sleeping sound. Not even if we drink seven cups per day.

Coffee does not affect our stomach, it does not cause acidity. Gastric acidity is one of the most unpleasant diseases and has a multitude of cause, starting from eating spicy food to stress. Fortunately, contrary to the popular belief, coffee consumption is not at all related to gastric acidity.

Coffee can cure herpes. According to Japanese researchers who tested about fifteen types of coffee, this substance contains an ingredient which destroys the cells infected with the herpes virus.

Most importantly, coffee does not create addiction. There is a big difference between coffee drinking and doing drugs. Many years ago, World Health Organization has established that there is no evidence that coffee might be addictive or compared to drug addiction. In fact, a recent study has proved that no matter what the quantity, caffeine does not activate the brain's reward circuit like amphetamines or cocaine do. And the symptoms coffee drinkers experience in its absence, like headaches, sleepiness, lethargy have absolutely no connection or resemblance whatsoever with those experienced by drug addicts during their withdrawal period.

With all these benefits, it looks like it is worth drinking it, yet each organism is different and we must keep that in mind and have a balanced approach even in coffee drinking.

Other tips for using old coffee grounds

1. Soften and add shine to hair. When washing your hair, rub coffee grounds through wet hair and rinse. For brown hair, coffee grounds add highlights.

2. Use coffee grounds as an exfoliant for skin. Pat on skin, massage over skin, rinse.

3. Add coffee grounds to your skin mask beauty routine.

4. Make homemade tattoos (temporary) with henna and coffee grounds.

5. Fertilize plants. Old coffee grounds are nutrient-rich for plants that thrive in an acidic soil.

6. Add used coffee grounds to the pots of indoor plants.

7. Work used coffee grounds into your garden soil before seed planting. After your plants start to emerge, work in coffee grounds near the plants. Used coffee grounds are said to repel snails and slugs as well as adding nutrients to the soil.

8. Increase your carrot and radish harvest by mixing seeds with dry coffee grounds before planting the seeds.

9. Use coffee grounds to repel ants.

10. Keep cats from using your garden as a kitty box by spreading used coffee grounds and orange peels throughout flower beds.

11. Deodorize a freezer. Place a bowl with used coffee grounds in the freezer to remove unwanted odors. Add a few drops of vanilla to coffee grounds.

12. Rub coffee grounds on hands to get rid of smells from chopping or cutting up pungent foods.

13. Make a used coffee grounds sachet. Fill old nylons or cheesecloth with dry used coffee grounds. Hang in closets to absorb odors.

14. When you need an abrasive cleaner, coffee grounds can be used. Be careful of any surfaces that might stain.

15. Remove furniture scratches with wet coffee grounds.
16. Got a fireplace? Sprinkle wet coffee grounds over the ashes to keep from becoming engulfed in the plume of dust ashes create when you need to remove them.

17. Dye fabric, paper or Easter eggs. Simply add used coffee grounds to warm water and let sit a bit to create a dye.

18. After you give your dog a bath, rub coffee grounds through the coat of your pet. Coffee grounds are said to repel fleas.

19. Keep bait worms alive by mixing coffee grounds into the soil before you add worms.

20. Grow mushrooms on old coffee grounds.

Coffee Recipes

Photo from Hamilton Beach website

Almond Coffee Cream
2 teaspoons coffee, finely ground to a powder
1/4 cup skim milk
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon salt
low-calorie sugar substitute (equal to ¼ cup sugar)
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup finely chopped almonds
4 ounces nondairy whipped topping, thawed

Dissolve coffee in milk and set aside.

Add the salt to the egg whites and beat until foamy. Gradually add the sugar substitute and continue to beat until the mixture forms stiff, shiny peaks. Blend in the coffee/milk mixture, almond extract, and chopped almonds.  Fold in the dietetic topping.

Spoon into individual parfait glasses. Garnish with additional chopped almonds if desired. Freeze until firm.

Serves 6

Ice Cream Parlor Mocha Sodas

½ cup hot water
8 teaspoons coffee, finely ground to a powder
2 cups milk
4 scoops chocolate ice cream
1 quart club soda
sweetened whipped cream or prepared whipped topping

Place hot water in a medium-sized pitcher. Add coffee and stir until dissolved. Stir in milk.

Place 1 scoop of ice cream in each of 4 ice cream soda glasses.  Pour coffee/milk mixture equally into each glass. Fill glasses almost to brim with club soda.  Top with sweetened whipping cream or prepared whipped topping.

Serves 4

Profiterols with Coffee Rum Sauce

The Puffs:

1 cup butter
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups boiling water
2 cups all purpose flour
8 eggs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Bring the water to a boil in a medium-sized, sauce pan.  Add salt and butter and stir until the butter has melted. Reduce the heat. Add the flour and beat the mixture until it comes away from the sides of the pan and forms a smooth ball in the center.

Remove from heat and add eggs, one at a time, beating well.  Using a dessert spoon, shape the puffs and place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 8 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees F and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes.

Remove puffs from the oven and let cool. Slice off the top of each puff and fill the cavity with cream.

Arrange puffs in the shape of a pyramid. Pour Coffee Rum Sauce over them and serve.

Serves 8

The Cream:

2 cups heavy cream, whipped
4 tablespoons strong cold coffee
sugar to taste

Slowly add the cold coffee to the whipped cream, and fold in well. Sweeten to taste.

Coffee Rum Sauce:

1 cup sugar
1-½ cups (12 oz) strong coffee
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons cold coffee
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons rum

Slowly melt sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly.  Gradually add strong coffee, continuing to stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.  In a small bowl stir the cornstarch into the cold coffee and combine with heated mixture. Cook combined ingredients until they boil and thicken. Remove from heat.  Add butter and rum. Stir until butter melts. Let cool to room temperature.

Café Mexicano

4 teaspoons chocolate syrup
½ cup heavy cream
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon sugar
1-½ cups strong hot coffee

Put 1 teaspoon chocolate syrup into each of 4 coffee cups.

Combine the heavy cream, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar and whip until it forms soft peaks.

Stir remaining ½ teaspoon cinnamon into the hot coffee.  Divide the coffee evenly between the 4 cups and stir each to blend the coffee with the chocolate syrup.

Top each cup with the spiced whipped cream and serve immediately.
 
Serves 4

Coffee Alexander

1 cup cold strong coffee
1 cup coffee ice cream
2 oz. Brandy or Cognac

Pour all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Serve in champagne or wine glasses. Garnish each with a coffee bean.

Serves 2

Come say hi!

We will be at the Mission Save-On-Foods on Friday, Sept. 28 and Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10:00am - 2:00pm doing a demo of our coffee.

If you can't make it out to see us on those days come out to Coopers in Winfield on Sunday, Sept. 30 from 10:00am - 2:00pm.

Come out to say hi and have a cup of java on us.

Hope to see you there


Colin and Harry

Coffee Vs. Energy Drinks

Photo from Teresa Webb (Pinterest)

There are quite a few differences between coffee and energy drinks, from their preparation to their chemical content. But there's one thing that they share in common and that is, a reputation for being bad for health. Read more to learn about these 2 popular beverages and which one is truly bad for your health. 

For anyone who has spent hours peering at a computer screen or working late at the office, coffee is a savior. You are dog-tired and oh-so-weary but just one cup of joe and suddenly things don't seem so bad. It's the ideal beverage for solitary musings and quiet reading. It's a great social drink for hanging out with friends and meeting new people. Coffee wakes you up in the morning, de-stresses you during the day and is the perfect after-dinner dessert beverage. And there are so many options to choose from! Lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, decaf, etc. whatever your preference, sweet or bitter, there's a coffee for you. With such accolades, no wonder it's the most consumed drink in the world. 

And then there's the energy drink. The miracle drink that raises your energy levels to the maximum and keeps you active throughout the day. Energy drinks are touted as a healthier option to soft drinks and a better energy restorer than water. It is a very popular drink choice among youngsters and the "hip" crowd. Both coffee and energy drinks have come under fire for their numerous risks as opposed to their benefits. 

Coffee vs. Energy Drinks - Caffeine Content 

The hidden villain being argued over in the "coffee vs energy drinks" debate, is caffeine. This is a substance of chemical origin, crystalline in appearance. It is a natural product found in seeds, leaves and fruits of the coffee plant, tea bush and the kola nut. This little white powder, like other white powders, is actually a drug, albeit a legal one. Caffeine acts as a nerve stimulant, it activates and charges up the nervous system. And it's present in large and small quantities in most foods and beverages. 

The properties of this powder have sparked off infinite arguments and debates. Is caffeine good? Is it bad? How much is good? How much is bad? For starters, caffeine has its good and bad points. It strengthens muscles and increases stamina. It quickens the body's metabolic rate and functioning, so fat burns quicker. Caffeine makes other drugs and medications work better and faster, like painkillers. Above all, caffeine is to your brain, like a nitro booster is to a car, a good kick to jumpstart your system.

It speeds up your thinking, your physical reflexes, reduces feelings of tiredness and drowsiness and increases your capacity to do more work, both physically and mentally. On the flip side, there's a limit to your caffeine tolerance and when you cross the limit, caffeine can harm you. Too much stimulation can cause your brain to get all jittery and on edge. Difficulty in sleeping and concentrating are just a few effects of being over-caffeinated. 

On an average, your caffeine amount should be between 150 mg-300 mg per day. Above 400 mg is considered high and above 1000 mg is an abnormal or dangerous amount of caffeine to consume per day. Below is a comparison of the amount of caffeine in coffee vs energy drinks, based on some popular energy drink brands and coffees. 

Energy Drink	Caffeine Content (mg)			Coffee
Red Bull (8.2 oz)	80		64	Espresso Coffee (1 oz)
Rockstar (16 oz)	160		0.3	Decaffeinated Instant Coffee (1 oz)
Monster (16 oz)	160		150	Starbucks Grande Caffe Latte (16 oz)
Ammo Energy Shot (1 oz)	171		109	McDonalds Small Coffee (12 oz)
Jolt Energy Drink (24 oz)	280		143	Dunkin' Donuts Coffee (16 oz)

It's easy to see that both coffee and energy drinks have high levels of caffeine. A 16 ounce serving of either coffee or an energy drink and you have already touched 150 mg, which is the lower limit of your daily recommended caffeine intake. Some energy drinks have alarmingly high levels of caffeine like Cocaine with a whopping 288 mg caffeine content in an 8.4 oz can! The danger here is in over-consumption. It's easier to chug down 2 cans of a chilled energy drink than 1 steaming cup of coffee, especially in the afternoon or evening. And while gaming, watching movies or working out, energy drinks are the beverages of choice. From the caffeine point of view, coffee and energy drinks are tied in content but the risk of an overdose is with energy drinks. 

Coffee Vs. Energy Drinks - Benefits 

Ultimately coffee and energy drinks have the same purpose. Both serve as legal stimulants and powerhouses of energy. Both can help an individual's sense of concentration and reaction time. But there are some additional benefits of coffee over energy drinks. Coffee reduces the risk of a number of diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type 2 diabetes and cancer. It helps medicines work faster, due to its caffeine content. It helps prevent occurrence of heart problems and liver related issues. Now one can argue that the caffeine in energy drinks could do the same. But energy drinks also contain refined sugar and other ingredients, as well as very high caffeine levels. And the tendency to overindulge is more in case of energy drinks. In fact the labeling of most energy drinks advise limited or moderate consumption and a minimum age limit. Energy drinks can also be mixed with alcohol, a dangerous combination, as a mixture of both beverages can dehydrate the body severely. 

Aggressive advertising tends to promote energy drinks as a substitute for water, which is definitely not true. The bottom line in the coffee vs energy drinks comparison is this: both are safe, good for health and great beverages, when enjoyed in moderation. And of course, there's nothing like water for the human body.

Nutrition Facts for Coffee

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages all over the world. It is derived from coffee beans and caffeine is its major component. Here are some interesting nutrition facts for coffee.

What's your idea of pleasant morning? I like to enjoy my morning sitting in balcony or garden reading daily newspaper with a sip of steaming, refreshing coffee in a cheerful atmosphere. I am sure; most people start their day in a similar way. Coffee is one of world's most frequently consumed beverages. It is popular not only for its amazing smell and taste, but for its stimulation properties. Coffee is derived from coffee beans, which are roasted, ground to powder and dissolved in water. Coffee can be taken in hot or cold form such as cold coffee. You can choose to have coffee with sugar and milk or without them. Coffee usually comes in a wide variety such as regular, drip, instant, brewed, espresso and decaffeinated. You must be curious to know about many nutrition facts about coffee, your favorite beverage.

Nutrition Facts

Caffeine is the main component of coffee. Average caffeine content in various types of coffee is as follows:

• Espresso-100mg
• Drip coffee-115-175mg
• Instant-65-100mg
• Brewed-80-135mg
• Decaf, instant-2-3mg
• Decaf, brewed-3-4mg

Other compounds found in coffee are carbohydrates, lipid, vitamins and minerals. Besides this, there are more than thousand compounds likely to present in coffee. The qualities and quantities of these compounds may vary depending upon processing of coffee.

Coffee beans are likely to contain abundant quantities of three major polysaccharides. Out of them, galactomannan and type II arabinogalactan are dominant in coffee beverage. There are mainly two types of polysaccharides such as digestible and indigestible. The indigestible form is known as dietary fibers. Coffee beans are known for having a large quantity of dietary fibers. However, they are not passed onto coffee beverage consumer due to roasting, grinding and brewing of coffee beans. Coffee beans have abundant amount of phenolics, which are able to bind to dietary proteins and fibers, possessing significant nutritional benefits.

General nutrition facts for coffee include about 0.01g of total fat, 0mg cholesterol, about 1mg of sodium, approximately 14mg of potassium, about 0.01g of total carbohydrates and nearly 0.04g of proteins. This amount is for serving size of 1 fl oz. Coffee with sugar and milk, if served 10fl.ozs, contains about 1gm of total fat, about 5mg cholesterol, approximately 70mg sodium and nearly 16gm of total carbohydrates. It consists of 4% calcium. Coffee consists of numerous trace minerals such as Niacin, Thiamin, Magnesium, Phosphorous, folate and Manganese.

Possible Benefits

Coffee is known for several health benefits. Caffeine present in coffee is mild stimulant and shows effects on central nervous system. It enhanced and alters mood as well as increases alertness. Caffeine is found to be effective for decreasing muscle pain and augmenting pain-reliving ability of other drugs. It also boosts athletic performance and endurance. Consumption of coffee can help to lose weight, improves normal glucose metabolism and burn excess calories.

• Reduced risk of gallstone disease
• Decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease
• Reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes
• Enhanced cognitive performance
• Analgesic enhancement
• Cardioprotective
• Antioxidants present in coffee are beneficial for health
• Reduced asthma attacks
• Reduced risk of cancer such as esophageal, oral and pharyngeal cancer.

Have you had your cup of coffee today?

Colin and Harry