Sure, a can of soda is convenient and delivers an energy boost, but it’s far from healthy. Instead, let an elegant bottle of premium, unsweetened green tea, the only one on the market featuring high-quality stone-ground matcha, do the trick. Iyemon Cha, available in both original and roasted green varieties, is made with organic tea leaves, selected by a master tea blender at the 200-year-old Fujukuen tea house in Kyoto. “Green tea contains numerous beneficial compounds, collectively called polyphenols, that have been shown in research to help protect cells against everyday free radicals and boost the immune system,” says Minh-Hai Tran, M.S., R.D., a Seattle-based nutritionist and dietician. “Higher consumption of green tea has been linked to a lower risk of certain cancers and heart disease. Unfortunately, most bottled tea beverages on the market are simply sugary waters containing little tea. Iyemon Cha is a great, accessible alternative for health-conscious consumers on the go.”
“I was traveling to Asia on a business trip over three years ago when I saw everyone from cab drivers, office workers, and people shopping, drinking bucket-like cups of loose-leaf tea—and it was served at every meal. Drinking loose-leaf teas was clearly embedded in daily life,” recalls Juliette Sussman, founder of Teavalize, an innovative 60-day program designed to boost health by drinking tea. “The connection to teas and health came from women talking to me about how growing up, their mothers taught them the benefits of teas for a long life—and how it can help cut the oil and fat in the foods they ate.” Sussman’s Teavalize system celebrates this simple, healthful ritual, featuring fresh teas from China’s prime tea-growing regions. Just plop a packet of tea (Oolong Boost in the morning, Pu’er Essential after meals) into the infuser and add hot water, and you’re set to go.