From Japan Times: The Nostalgic and Sweet Life of Kyoto

Reading this article on sweets and tea culture in Kyoto really brought me back, and it made me long to go there again. Well, hopefully next year.  I've been a fan of the article's author, Mariko Itoh's Just Bento and Just Hungry food blogs for quite some time; JustHungry.com holds a coveted spot on my menu bar.

Here, Mariko offers an intro to the different varieties of wagashi, or Japanese sweets, intertwined with notes on its cultural and historical significance, as well as its ties with Buddhism. As she mentions in the article, it's nice to see wagashi making a comeback in the areas of Japan outside of Kyoto.  It's one delicious tradition that will hopefully never fall out of fashion.

Read the article:  The Nostalgic and Sweet Life of Kyoto

FitSugar article: Foods That Help Your Skin

Check out today's FitSugar article on foods that are good for your skin.  Tea is included as an excellent beverage choice, not only for hydration but also for its antioxidant properties.

I've been working out lately(any other P90x'ers out there), and need LOTS of water to stay hydrated.  We just recently started offering pure instant powder teas, which we market for cooking and baking.  They are also great for making iced tea.  My husband has been making me the Organic Rooibos iced tea using old apple juice bottles, which are 64 ounces.

With the powdered teas, it's so convenient because it's instant - just add the tea to water and shake the bottle.  Also, drinking the ground leaves just puts more of the antioxidant rich tea into your system, as opposed to drinking steeped tea.  Give it a try sometime!

Read the article: http://www.fitsugar.com/Foods-Help-Your-Skin-18076021#commentform