Questions and more questions about Bamboo Leaf Tea

I get emails all the time about  the tea and how to get the most out of your order.  Once people know all of the great benefits that Bamboo Leaf Tea has to offer they want to optimize their use so here are a few tips on brewing the tea and taking supplements.

How much tea do I need to use per cup?

1 tsp of tea is sufficient for 8 oz of water.  If you like your tea strong you may want to use more.  When I make ice tea for the markets I use double the amount of tea because I know I am serving it on ice and the ice will melt.  Bamboo Leaf Tea has a light, sweet flavor so if you are switching from coffee or black tea you may want a stronger flavor.

If I were to describe the flavor I would do it in this way.  Do you remember as a kid lying in the grass on a summer day, the grass has just been mowed and you are looking up at the sky and finding shapes in clouds?  You have nothing that has to be done, no homework, no job, no responsibilities.  Your two best friends are lying next to you and a soft breeze is blowing the air just enough so that you are neither cold nor hot.  Your body is relaxed, the ground is completely and totally supporting you.  The three of you are laughing as you pick out funny shapes and tell jokes.  Life is easy, it is fun, and all is well.   That is my description of the flavor of Bamboo Leaf Tea. 🙂

How long should I steep the tea?

The standard answer is 3-5 minutes.  If you would like to use the tea more than once then the second time boil the tea for a minute or two.  For a third cup boil the tea for up to 10 minutes.  When there stops being any color to the water you have dissolved all of the nutrients and can start again.  Bamboo is very fibrous and so cooking it opens up the plant and allows the nutrients to be accessible.  Bamboo is one of only two teas that can be used in an expresso machine and this is because the leaves will withstand the high temperatures.

What is the best way to store the tea?

I like to refrigerate all of my teas.  Bamboo has a beautiful green color and that will leach out if exposed to sunlight.  It is best to store any tea in a dark, cool place.  Freezing the tea will destroy any nutrients that are sensitive to freezing so I prefer refrigeration.  If you would like to re-use the tea leaves later on simply store them in the refrigerator and boil them in water for a second cup of tea.

What are other uses for the tea?

The tea leaves can be ground up and used in cooking or added to baked products.  I am always adding supplements to my kids pancakes or eggs.  In Asia bamboo charcoal is often added to bread for it’s medicinal properties.  This is called sweet bread and is of course black.  The tea can also be used in hair rinses, bathing, soaking hands and feet or adding to a pets water bowl.  (there are some past blogs on different uses)

How much silica is in one cup of tea?

Each cup of tea has 350 mg of silica per cup.  That is based on using 1 tsp of tea per 8 oz of water.  That is the amount recommended in supplements.  Of course I drink lots of bamboo teas and there is no upward limit.  Silica is flushed through the system and excreted through the urinary tract.  Often times when we are taking supplements starting off with a larger amount for at least 30 days brings the system back into balance and then we can cut back to a maintenance amount.  Silica deficiencies affect almost every adult in the US and relate to chronic problems with teeth, bone density, and cellular strength.  Silica is a basic element that we all need for so many functions of our body and yet we get almost none in our diet.

Is there caffeine in the tea?

Bamboo has no caffeine in it.  There are several blends that I make that have caffeine:  Green tea + Lemongrass, Breakfast Black, Chai or Medicinal Chai, and a little in Peppermint Patty.  These are great teas for the morning routine.  Way better than coffee!

How can I take the powder supplement?

Most of us know how to take a capsule but incorporating powder supplements into our diet is another twist.  The benefit of buying the supplement in powder is that the price is usually cheaper, you aren’t ingesting the  capsule material, and you can easily increase the amount that you take.  However a lot of people have never taken powders so here are some ideas.

1  Mix the powder in a smoothie.  The easiest smoothing base is banana, spinach, and almond milk.   The best part about the smoothie is that you can add all of your supplements in and take them at the same time.  Here is a link to 15 ideas for smoothies.

2 Mix the powder into your breakfast.  You add the powder to your morning eggs or even pancakes.  The flavor doesn’t really change just a new twist on Green Eggs and Ham.

3 Mix the powder into yogurt, applesauce, or pudding.  Chia makes a great raw pudding.  You can mix chia with almond milk and add your supplement and some flavoring like vanilla.  Let the mixture sit for about an hour and enjoy.  Here is a link to a chia pudding recipe.

Are the capsules vegetarian?

Yes the material used to make the capsule is a vegetable product.

How many capsules do I take a day?

I recommend taking 2 capsules three times a day.  This is equivalent to 1 tsp of powder per day.  I like to break up the process so that the body has a silica intake throughout the day.  If you start your day with caffeine it is best to wait a couple of hours before taking any supplements as the caffeine will inhibit your body’s ability to absorb nutrients.