Foodie Blogroll

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Cold Brewed Coffee and Okinawa Black Sugar

A while back I won some Rockin' Coffee on Gina's Blog Simply Life. Now I'm talking way back in November, and I am so bad I never mentioned it until now. I did send her a thank you email for it and told her I loved it. I was able to choose what coffee that I would like. I picked the Ethiopia, medium-dark roast. The coffee is organic and Artisan micro roasted in New England. This is a perfect gift for me because I love coffee so much and I really enjoy trying new kinds. I like to get whole bean so I can and grind it myself. I usually drink just one cup a day, (but it's a really large cup), if I have to warm it up too much I end up not finishing it. I make it it my espresso coffee maker so it forces it through the grounds. I sometimes use a French Press if I want to feel special. Another one we have tried is the Vietnamese coffee...which my daughter has started drinking, and Cuban coffee...which is what started me using cream in my coffee. But My husband doesn't like the same coffee as I do, he likes it weaker, or I should say a lighter roast. Coffee gives him heartburn...
So I make his coffee in the Tody cold brew coffee maker. It has a special filter, just add the grounds (a little coarse grind not too fine) add 8 cups cold water, we use our filtered water, and let it set for 12 hour before draining it into the caraft that comes with it. It is supposed to keep the acid in the beans, if you let it go much longer than 12 hours the acid will start to release into the coffee.
It will make this coffee concentrate that will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. It works for him, he doesn't get heartburn from it and because you add it to water then heat it up you can make it as strong as you like. It is a nice thing to have in the fridge too. If you want to make a frappuccino or an iced coffee drink, or a coffee dessert that calls for some espresso or brewed coffee. Just take it out and use it. I hear this is a popular way to make coffee in New Orleans. Sometimes they'll freeze it into cubes and then make it in a pan on the stove top, adding sugar and milk. Have you ever had coffee like this?
The next thing I have for you is some Okinawa Black Sugar. I picked some up yesterday so I haven't had a chance to use it yet. After some research I found out a little information. It is popular in Taiwan, Japan, and China and is used in ginger tea...that sound great to me I love ginger tea.

Here is what it said about it on Amazon: Product Description Made in Taiwan with sugar with Raw "black" sugar from Okinawa, which is famous for its raw pure sugar crane. Its high mineral content makes it so dark brown that it is known in Asia as Okinawan Black Sugar. Black sugar is non-centrifugal in that it is made by boiling all the elements of sugar cane. Black sugar has a strong sweetness and characteristic harshness. Many studies have been done on black sugar, it is believed that black sugar decreases the level of cholesterol and the neutral fat in blood and increases our resistance to stress. Most of all black sugar is very rich in potassium and works to lower blood pressure.
I didn't pay that much for mine, I just paid $3.00. I guess I like to try different sugars as well as coffees. I have tried the Mexican pure cane sugar, and palm sugar. Are any of you familiar with black sugar? How have you used it? Please feel free to share what types of sugar you used and what kinds do you like best!! Thanks, and now I am off to the beach!

35 comments:

  1. Hi Lindsey, this is all new to me. The only sugars I've tried are white and brown so this opens up an interesting new world.

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    1. Hi Lindsay, I found it ineteresting. I'll be sure to post what it tastes like when I use it!

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  2. This sounds absolutely nice Lyndsey I love coffe!!:)

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    1. It is good coffee, and the cold brew is great.

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  3. I have not tried both the coffee or the black sugar before, strange I have not seen it here....now you got me curious! I drink mostly 3-in-1 coffee as I am too lazy to brew from scratch:P

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    1. Not sure what 3-in- 1 coffee is, but I love a good cup of coffee.

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  4. Wow! Black sugar? I have never seen this before, I will have to keep my eyes open - will you let us know what its like?

    Can you drink the coffee straight from the carafe?

    I hope you are well.

    Pru

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    1. First time I saw black sugar too, I had to get some to try it...I'll be sure to let you know.

      You can drink the coffee straight from the carafe if you like it really strong.

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  5. Thanks for your useful recommendation on black sugar and where to find it!

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    1. Sure, it's fun to find out about new- to - you things.

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  6. Love the black sugar! It's really nutritious.

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  7. I never heard of black sugar...so interesting Lyndsey...and this cold coffee is sure something that I'd love to try.
    Have a wonderful week :)

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    1. I like trying new things. The coffee is pretty cool ;)

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  8. Congrats! This coffee must be terrific and my favorite is palm sugar but never tried black sugar though...

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  9. I learn something new every visit.
    Rita

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  10. Interesting, Lyndsey! I've never heard of black sugar but bet it's good. I love, love strong black coffee, probably drink too much of it, and think of the coffee in New Orleans, strong and really good. We always said it is the river water that makes it so good. LOL My aunt used French Press, great coffee with it. And, I've never heard of the Tody either. Nor, the ice cube thing. Wow! I have to get out more! teehee!

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    1. Friends of ours from N.O. were the ones that told us about the Tody Coffee maker. They let us try a pot full first then I went on line to find one. I saw a different brand at Tuesday Morning, not as nice had a plastic bottle that it drained into.

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  11. hi lyndsey, i've never seen the type of coffee filter that you have and also the black sugar. At least now i hear something good about sugar. since they are black, so do you think any drinks that mixed with it turn out darker in colour? i usually use cane sugar that comes in blocks to make chinese sweet dessert, that also comes from china.

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    1. I will have to see if it turns the drinks a darker color. I will play with it this weekend. I have the cones of cane sugar that comes from Mexico that I use in hibiscus tea.

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  12. I sure would like to try the black sugar, myself...hope they carry it at Whole Foods! I am a huge coffee fan, and this is all new to me!

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    1. I haven't seen it at Whole Foods, but I'll see if it's at my Asian store. So we'll have to meet for coffee then!! :)

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  13. this sounds very interesting...very informative post !!!!

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  14. I just researched about Okinawa Black Sugar in Japanese. It's basically came from pure sugar cane and they cook it until it turns black. I've never had it before though. I found several recipes but all written in Japanese...

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    1. Thanks for checking into that for me. I think I'll start with making a simple suryp with the black sugar and add it to my ginger tea. I'm not feeling the best...think I picked up something from the kids at school...ginger tea helps.

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    2. Hope you will feel better. I'm still taking medicine for my cough that I got in Japan. It's been 4 weeks and not getting better. Ginger tea helps. Hope you get well soon!

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  15. I have a Nespresso machine which brew coffee thru capsule, when I have American breakfast then I will prepare this coffee otherwise i will prepare nescafe coffee which local here we like this coffee. About the black sugar, I have not seen it here, but I can see this is good sugar, maybe because black means for good health, hehehe ..
    Have a lovely weekend, Lyndser!

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    1. Sonia it sounds nice, I'll check it out. Maybe I should start a new mission...visit others and see how they make their coffee at home...I would love to see that and try it too! :)

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  16. I've never seen a coffee maker like that- good to know!

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  17. I love how there are coffees and coffee makers for all seasons. I tends toward medium-to-mild so I don't hover at Starbucks! Don't know black sugar at all. Fascinating.

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  18. I have not seen black sugar before, a definite must try! I love coffee, so I'm really curious as to how it would blend together! Thanks for sharing!

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  19. I'm a coffe & tea lover but sadly I can't take much as I'm sensitive to caffeine. It gives me sleepless night if I take too much and if I do take one small cup or so it must be early in the morning so that the caffeine wears off in the course of the day. My body's just so fussy! :(

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  20. I actually have tried black sugar before. A family friend brought it back on one of her trips to okinawa. It reminds me of gula melaka, a dark raw sugar from the southeast asian region where I live, though that one comes from palm sugar, not cane. It's great! and healthy at that!

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  21. Wow, this looks very intriguing. I hope I'd be able to find me some of these. Thanks.

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  22. I was first introduced to Okinawa black sugar about 3 years ago and told its very good for health as its rich in minerals, iron, potassium. I was told its especially good to drink around the time of the month to replace lost minerals. I love using it in my tea and sometimes I'll just add it to a mug of boiling water if I don't fancy it with tea. I live in Hong Kong now and it's pretty easy to buy here and it's not expensive.

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