Green Tea with Pomegranate Juice--A Healing "Simple Saturday Sipper"

I recently purchased a copy of the "Vegetarian Times Presents: Healing Foods Cookbook" a special issue of the magazine with "150 Ways to Enjoy 25 Foods You Need." All the big superfood players are in this one; from acai to cinnamon, flaxseed to kale and of course green tea in the form of this super-antioxidant blend with pomegranate juice, orange juice and honey making it a perfect healing "Simple Saturday Sipper."

The magazine says "The world's second-most consumed beverage after water, green tea has vast health-giving potential thanks to a substance in it called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Studies show that EGCG lessens the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. It reduces the digestive tract's absorption of cholesterol, lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and interferes with cancer cell growth rates, decreasing the risk of adult leukemia and the spread of breast cancer cells. EGCG also impedes bone-eroding molecules that cause the joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis."

About the drink: "This health-giving beverage is packed with antioxidants from both green tea and pomegranate juice"

Green Tea with Pomegranate Juice

"Vegetarian Times Presents The Healing Foods Cookbook"

(Serves 6 /Gluten-Free)

7 green tea bags

3 cups pomegranate juice

1/2 cup orange juice

2 Tbsp honey

1 medium orange, thinly sliced, optional

Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a large pot. Remove from heat, add the tea bags, cover, and steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags, and stir in pomegranate juice, orange juice and honey. Transfer to teapot and serve immediately, pouring into cups with floating orange slices if using.

Per serving 102 calories, 1g protein, 0g total fat, (0g sat fat), 25g carbs, 0mg cholesterol, 15mg sodium, 0g fiber, 24g sugars.

Delicious, warm and comforting with a sweet-tangy fruity taste--you taste the fruit more than the tea so even if you are not a fan of the taste of green tea, you would probably still like this blend. I did make a couple of changes after forgetting to buy oranges, I subbed some apple cider in and used lemon slices to garnish. The magazine notes that although steeping green tea longer and at a hotter temperature adds a little bitterness, it ups the level of antioxidants. I also recommend that you make sure to squeeze your tea bag into the tea before you discard it to get every bit of the antioxidants and flavor. This drink tastes equally good warm or iced. I will make it again.

Happy Saturday!