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Matcha Latte
··· Nov 08 2010 · By ···
In an ongoing effort to consume less coffee (because of various not-great effects it has on me), I’ve discovered matcha. At first, I thought it was just any green tea ground up (like the gunpowder J grinds in the pestle and adds to smoothies sometimes), but after more research, have learned it’s green tea grown and processed in a very specific way. Because you are consuming the whole leaf (as opposed to just the “broth” of steeped leaves) you enjoy substantially more of the many beneficial nutrients of green tea. Some of the other positive effects (thank-you, Rebekah, for motivating me to give this yummy drink a try): improved metabolism, digestion, calmness, clarity, and concentration – no wonder this was/is the zen monks’ drink of choice!
I have not tried matcha simply whisked with hot water. My preparation of choice is a matcha latte, following this basic recipe and sweeten with a little agave. It’s surprisingly delicious in a very unique way and I do find it provides a steady stream of calm energy (Note: I used 2 tsp for a latte today and found the effects to be a bit jittery so I think 1 tsp, maybe heaping, is enough.) I love making it in a clear mug because the creamy green color is fun!
Matcha can be quite expensive. We are fortunate to have a wonderful asian market here in San Rafael (good selection including always fresh produce and Excellent customer service) that offers a 1 oz. canister, imported from Japan, for $6.99 which is a great bargain.
While I am not following a strict and elaborate method, filling the kettle, sifting the tea powder, heating and foaming the (soy) milk, waiting for the water to boil, and blending it all together is a nice time to slow down and mindfully reflect on the four basic elements of the Japanese tea ceremony:
Matcha is the tea that is used in the well-known Japanese tea ceremony which was established by Zen-master Sen-no-Rikyu in the 1570s. The ceremony follows four basic principles:
- Harmony (wa)
- Respect (kei)
- Purity (sei)
- Tranquility (jaku)
Leather Bike Saddles
··· Nov 03 2010 · By ···
I have quite an attraction for leather bike saddles. Why? Well, they are comfortable as heck once they are broken in, they will last a long time if cared for properly, and they are just so darned cute.
My personal saddle clutch includes a vintage Brooks B-15, a Brooks B-17, and a vintage B-66. I use the B-15 on my Crystal singlespeed bike. I ride this one most often, and have been happy with the ride for the most part. I have been thinking of sturdying it up a bit by punching some holes in the sides and lacing it up. I could do it like this but I don’t really think that using a drill to make the holes is the best way. Here is a better “photographic discussion” from McBomb over at flickr. Using a punch is such a better way to work holes into leather. Anyway the sidewalls on the B-15 are pretty flimsy, and lacing it up should put some additional firmness in the seat (which it really needs).
The B-17 is mounted on my Gary Fisher Mt. Bike currently, although it is supposed to be Dorothy’s saddle. I picked it up when we were living in Boston on the sale rack at EMS. It really needs (as they all do) a good oiling, or treating, or whatever leather gets coated with to keep it nice and moist. Well, not moist, but to keep it from getting rough and dried. So that’s gotta be done so they are all good to go for the winter, which in the Bay Area means rain.
The B-66 was a bargain at $25 so I picked it up from an online auction and haven’t done much to it except find a nut for one of the spring mounts, and conditioned the leather. The B-66 has a little larger seat area than the B-15 and B-17 so it would be nice on a cruiser or maybe on the Mixte when I get that bike rolling. Dorothy doesn’t much like the B-66, she’s had it on her Gary Fisher before. I have a feeling it’s got something to do with the springs. They are kind of weak and old, and the saddle does shift around under you a lot and it finds a way to dig in a little bit. The sidewalls are a little weak on the B-66 as well, so this saddle might be improved by lacing as well. A perfect seat to for guests who want to take a bike ride around San Rafael.
I looked around a bit on the old internet, and really didn’t see a good list of leather saddle manufacturers all in one place, so I thought I would start a list of some companies, old and new, who have built, or do build leather bike saddles. Some of these companies aren’t around any longer, others are bringing Taiwanese and Chinese manufacturing know how into new versions of leather saddles. And through it all, Brooks continues to make saddles much the same way they always have. So here’s that list.
- Brooks – England
- Wrights – England – I haven’t really found a good article on Wrights.
- Ideale – France – Check this photo history of some Ideale Saddles
- Fu Jih (Tops) – Taiwan – If you have some money and want to buy a case of these, here is where you begin
- Imperial Products – Taiwan sold under the marque Gyes. You can get one at Crow Cycle, and for the price, (around $60) why wouldn’t you?
- Persons – USA – I like the saddles here. They most closely match various Brooks models, but are (or at least were) priced quite a bit less. It appears that they have exhausted most of their stock of the majority of their leather saddle lines. I still don’t know where these are manufactured.
- Selle An Atomica – USA – These guys have done their science, and have created a patented cutout and laminating process that makes the saddle comfortable for long rides, reduces numbness… Be sure to watch their video at the bottom of their home page.
I am a viewer of “How It’s Made”, and caught an episode the other day that had a segment where they went to Brooks, and showed how they make saddles. Here is a version of it with a Russian (???) narrator. Enjoy!