Can We Make Tea of Hibiscus Flowers?

Yellow Hibiscus flower

We just went to the farmer market, we interest in Hibiscus flowers. There are plenty of colors, some of them are peach, purple, pink and many more.

I took pictures of three flower colors from three different plants. The colors are yellow, red and orange. Look so beautiful.

Flowers grow in tropical and warm temperate regions. They grow in America too, but it is said that they will not survive during winter or colder temperature.

From reading, genus Hibiscus has several hundred of species. Quite plenty compared to other genus.

Red flower

In addition to their beauty, Hibiscus flowers, leaves and plant parts may be processed to be a tea. Healthy tea.

Honestly, I never tried it. Some literature said that we just dry hibiscus (flowers, leaves and plant parts) properly, then be used as a tea like other commercial teas.

Hibiscus tea also called as herbal tea or a tisane, French for “herbal infusion.” We can make it for hot tea or ice tea.

Orange color

It is said that Hibiscus tea has several health benefits, they are:

- Lower blood pressure

- Improve liver health

- May reduce body weight

- Contain antioxidant to improve healthy cells

- Decrease blood fat and blood sugar

Can we drink Hibiscus tea every day? The answer is yes, but no more than 15 cups of tea per day.

Over drinking of Hibiscus tea may cause nausea and headache. In case of diabetes patients, too much drink of Hibiscus tea could lead to sudden drop of blood sugar.

Do you have Hibiscus flowers and ever drink Hibiscus tea?

Why do People Make and Eat Salted Duck Eggs?

Salted duck eggs are ready to eat

When I was a college student, I always eat salt duck eggs. I thought it is because salt eggs contain highly energy and protein.

In reality, duck eggs are better than chicken eggs in term of protein content. 9 grams of protein for a duck egg and 6 grams for chicken eggs.

The salted duck egg is a Chinese traditional food, and then well known in South East Asian countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Why do People Make and Eat Salted Duck Eggs, not chicken egg? The answers are:

- Texture of duck eggs absorbs salt (brine) easier than chicken eggs

- A duck egg is tastier

- A duck egg is fresh longer

- A duck egg contains Omega-3 fatty acids more than chicken eggs

- People who allergic to eggs are prefer duck eggs than chicken eggs.

Cooked salted duck eggs

We can find salted duck eggs in almost Asian groceries (Chinese, Vietnamese, Thailand), here, in America. The salted eggs are cooked, and ready to eat.

Some people use cooked salted duck eggs as food flavor. They also use it as a condiment. Tasteful.

Wrapped salted duck eggs

In addition to protein, one salted duck egg also contains 1 gram and 9.6 gram of carbohydrate and fat consecutively. All these 3 nutrients are good for skin and muscle cares.

Sure, duck eggs are rich in vitamin (B12 and A) and minerals (selenium and iron). Selenium is good for hormone production. Iron used to increase oxygen contents in blood cells.

However, if you concern with highly salted and cholesterol, you should eat no more than one salted duck egg in a day or avoid at all.

Recently, I myself very rarely eat salted duck eggs, may be just two or three times in a year.

Have you taste salted duck eggs?

Have You Try to Freeze Strawberry?

Strawberry, red and sweet

Strawberry is one of my favorite fruits. I just buy them in enough amount to consume for several days.

Since we consume bought strawberries in a proper time, thus, they are in good condition and tasted fresh.

Off course, they are abundance during spring seasons. Mainly local productions. We could find strawberry all seasons, but they are imported ones.

Based on my own experienced, imported strawberries are varied in term of taste, freshness and overall quality.

I just read in an article that we can freeze strawberry, then can be used to make many foods as we know, a jam as an example.

Washing strawberries in the glass bowl

We can use frozen strawberries to make like following foods:

- Pie

- Compote

- A chocolate dip

- Cobbler

- Cake

- etc

My readings said that before freezing, strawberries are washed by clean water. Then put them into plastic bags (freezer bags).

We may freeze strawberry up to 2 months in a freezer, and some said that strawberries are safe to be consumed even after 12 months.

Honestly, I never freeze strawberry, thus never eat 12 months frozen strawberries.

Have You Try to Freeze Strawberry? How long in freezer is safe to be consumed?

What is Original Use of Pantheon in Rome, Italy?

Pantheon in Rome, Italy around 1700’s (credit to Google)

My previous article was about Parthenon with title: What is Purpose of Parthenon in Athens, Greece? 

I mentioned that “the Parthenon is a classical style, a Doric order form. 

While in Rome, Italy, there is historical building called as Pantheon, classic style, but with Corinthian order form. 

Corinthian order form is quite complex compared to simple Doric order form. It is because Corinthian was developed later on, after 200 years of Doric.

The temple was completed by the Roman emperor around 125 A.D. The building age is around 1900 years old. Very well preserved. 

Based on the word of the Pantheon; Pan means every and Theon mean divinity, thus, initially, the temple serves to worship for every god. 

Moreover, Cartwright (2013) suggested that the temple might be the place where emperor shows his divine and power equal to other gods when he is attending the worship or appear in public. 

Pantheon condition recently (credit to Google)

The initial function of both Parthenon (Athens) and Pantheon (Rome) is serving as a temple. 

Then, the Pantheon is used as the Roman Church, while Parthenon for museum. Both are tourist objects now days. 

In term of architecture, there is similarity for both Pantheon and Parthenon, they have “8
pillars in front of the entrance.”  

These pillars to support a pediment; a triangular element in upper part of front any classical style buildings. 

Have you been visited Pantheon in Rome, Italy?

Reference

Cartwright, M. 2013. Pantheon. Retrieved from ancient /Pantheon/

What Species is Considered as the Best Tuna?

Blue fin tuna, just caught by fishermen

Back to my home country, no best quality of tunas is sold in the market. Why? It is because they are exported, mainly to Japan.

If we really want a tuna fish, we would come to an exporter. We could get the fresh tuna a week later, some times more than a week.

Here, in the America, I don’t know where is the market which sell fresh tuna in southern states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or Florida).

I eat canned tuna only if I miss the taste of fish. I bought in Walmart super market, some times in other groceries. The price is quite reasonable.

I once ordered a fresh tuna from a friend of mind who lives in Hawaii several years ago. Very good quality of tuna, and very expensive.

Canned tuna sold in groceries

Moreover, there are many species of tunas in nature. Several resources said there are 15 species, but known 5 only for commercial, they are:

- Skipjack

- Albacore

- Yellow fin

- Blue fin

- Big eye tuna

Both Yellow fin and Big eye tunas called as “Ahi” in Japanese and Hawaiians. They are look like similar, actually, two different species.

Now, what Species is Considered as the Best Tuna? The Blue fin tuna, it is because its highly quality and demand for certain foods such as “sashimi and sushi.”

The price so expensive, even cost US$ 3.1 million for “a giant blue fin tuna” at Tokyo, Japan fish market auction recently.

What species of tuna have you ever tasted?

What are Strange Signs in Your Neighborhood?

Parking on grass?

I actually saw many “odd signs” in my neighborhood, I just shot one recently. Another sign was taken from Reddit.

In my opinion, the signs are “odds,” but I don’t know with your opinion.

I wonder, why there is a sign “no parking on the grass,” but I saw almost no grass around.

Is it just for kidding?

Promise not to use guns, credit to reddit

I just quote the sign: “My next door neighbor want to ban all guns! Their house is not armed! Out of respect for their opinions I promise not to use my gun to protect them”

Do you know what is it mean? Is it mean: since neighbors want ban all gun, thus neighbors don’t have gun. Then, I need to protect them without using my gun?

Moreover, what are “odd signs” in your neighborhood? Can you explain what do the

signs mean?

Do You Know Different between Dark and Bold Coffee?

A coffee maker

I used to order dark or bold at Starbucks stores or any coffee shops. Honestly, I do not know the differences.

The words “black coffee” refers to coffee without sugar back home country. When early years in America, I used these words, the customer services looks confuse.

They always make sure what I mean with “black coffee.” On that time, I wonder why do they confuse?

Recently, I understand the different between bold and dark coffees. I will not mix these words anymore.

Bold coffee means higher coffee content in a cup of coffee. Another meaning that when brewing coffee, we should make higher ratio coffee to water to get “bold coffee.”

Dark coffee or also called as dark roast coffee refers to how coffee processed. Coffees are roasted to the level of dark. In real, coffee beans look like dark brown.

At dark level, coffees look oily on its surface and heavy weight. The heavy body makes coffees less acidity and less caffeine.

Hot a cup of coffee

One of health benefit to drink low acid and low caffeine coffee is that making our stomach and heart feel comfortable.

My favorite coffee is bold and dark French roasted. I am not brands crazy, I could drink Starbucks, Community Coffee or any local unfamiliar brands. I drink at least two cups of coffee every day.

How about with you? How many cups of coffee do you drink daily? Bold or dark or combined? What is your favorite brand?