Current Category: Herbs (2 entries)
Posted by Trudi on July 15, 2006
Chinese Parsely (Cilantro) must be one of the most hated and loved food herbs - there is no middle ground. It is widely used in Mexican, Caribbean and Asian cooking and has become popular in most metropolitan areas in the States. In S America and in SE Asia, it is used in everything from salsas and salads to burritos or meat dishes. It is indispensible in the Chinese steamed fish - a must-have dish in any upscale restaurants in southern China. In Thailand, they even stuff it into a Hamburger. Western Europe is probably the only place where Cilantro is generally not very well received.
The Chinese bellieve that Cilantro will increase potency and its usage was dated several thousands years’ ago. The book of Arabian nights which is over a thousand year” old also has a story about the aphrodisiac qualities of Cilantro. These notions may not hold any scientific ground but one thing for sure is that Cilantro does have a quality to stimulate the digestive system and is a proven appetite stimulant.
Posted by Trudi on July 25, 2006
‘Puff Tea’ or “White Hair Oolong” is one of the most highly rated tea in the world. It is mainly produced in Hsin Tzu County in the north western part of Taiwan.
A delicate beverage characterized by its fruity and floral aroma - a result of green leaf cicadas sucking on the tea leaves before they are harvested and fermented. As the infection only happens in a short period during the year, its harvest has to be well timed and handpicked. Supplies of top graded ‘White Hair Oolong” are limited.
The tea has a reputation lasting over a hundred years after it was first introduced to Europe. The Queen of England loved it so much that she named it “Oriental Beauty Tea”. And it has won numerous prizes ever since in all major food exhibitions around the world.
