This past week I found myself stirring in care for a friend who had just had a colonoscopy a nice batch of Kuzu tea. It would be her first of which she hopes will be many to come. As I made my tea for my friend I thought of the countless, endless times I have performed such for myself.
What care comes over my body just knowing that this magic potion will be delivering its soothing properties to my belly. I stir in a bit of sun from the window, my gaze, a nice tune and the ingredients and my morning begins. I truly feel the difference and the distance I find myself with my body when I am rushed or hurrying and the kuzu tea misses my lips; which by the way is fairly rare.
So, I thought it might be time to reintroduce this wonderful tonic to you all again. Apparently Mercury is in retrograde which means that doing a lot of RE….redo, rewind, revisit, research is part of the climate of the day.
As I mentioned, with my kuzu tea I like to make it in the morning when I first wake up and wander down to the kitchen.
Setting the Intention
Setting an intention for your tea is a nice way to begin. Of course we don’t always have the luxury to create the “ambiance” for a morning opening but in our own minds we can take a moment to be deliberate. We can open ourselves to the day internally with a bit of time spent acknowledging ourselves and the day. Perhaps this is with a bit of stretch in the morning, a yoga pose or two or just siting for 5 minutes with a journal. At times I might take my kuzu tea and drink it while I am setting my intention of the day. However you begin, know that this is a practice that will become a ritual in the manner that is personal and best to you. Don’t stress over it, just begin.
Tools
Here is what you will need in the kitchen.
1. a pot
2. spoon (preferably wood)
3. bag of kuzu (Starch) (also called Kudzu-Japanese arrowroot)
4. umeboshi plums (with leaves)
5. water
6. small bowl
7. Tamari
Directions are simple and easy to follow.
First. Prepare Kuzu- Take 1-2 Tablespoons of kuzu. Place in small bowl. Add a bit of cold water and stir. This will break up the kuzu piece that will probably come in chunks. With the spoon break up the pieces and stir until becomes liquid.
Second: Umebosi Plums- Place a 1/2 cup of water or less into the pot. Take bits of umeboshi plums and leaves. You don’t need a large amount – possibly a half to a 1/4 of a piece of 1 plum. Break up with your fingers and add to the water.
Third: Add Kuzu Mixture- I like to add a bit of the mixture into the pot and stir it in. As I see the consistency of the water thicken with the starch I add a bit more and more water. Keep stiring.
Fourth: Stir slowly- Stirring the pot with the mixture is very important. There is a rhythm to it. You will develop your own. What I can say is slowly and deliberately is the way to go. As you do you will see the kuzu tea thickening and changing color from white to opaque. You know it is done when there is no more white to be seen and you have just a nice thick pot of opaque tea.
Fifth: Add Tamari- When you are ready to enjoy it add a little bit of tamari to your cup. Stir into the kuzu tea and enjoy.
I drink this tea in the morning and make a nice cup for bedtime. Kuzu tea is a perfect beginning and ending to my day as I and my belly feel supported and loved.
Hope Kuzu Tea becomes your healthy brew today and for many to come…
In health,
Safara
