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Origins and Dr Weil brew up a new Matcha tea body scrub | |
UK. Origins has further consolidated its partnership with leading integrative medicine expert Andrew Weil MD, with the launch of a new body product. Dr Weil for Origins The Way of the Bath Matcha Tea Body Scrub was unveiled earlier this week, at Postcard Teas, in London. It will be available nationwide, and in travel retail, from 30 September.
“The Dr Andrew Weil for Origins continues to be one of our most sought-after skincare collections, and we are delighted that our relationship with Dr Weil has flourished,” noted Origins Communications Manager Jessica de Bene at the launch event.
“We are thrilled to share with you a new offering, created in collaboration with Dr Weil. Building on our integrative platform for total body health, the key ingredient of our new product has health benefits both inside and out. We are proud to borrow from Japan’s rich culture a powerful new ingredient: Matcha tea.”
Origins was a pioneer in the exfoliator category, introducing its cult Salt Rub product in 1997. The company has now built on its scrub heritage by combining Japanese sea salt from Okinawa (containing minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium) with Matcha, a potent variety of hand-harvested, shade-grown Japanese green tea.
To further their understanding of the qualities of green tea, guests at the launch event were shown how to prepare and drink Matcha tea, and given a potted history of Chado – literally “The Way of Tea” – by Asako Steward, a Japan Green Tea Association Advisor.
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Tea time: Origins sets the scene for its latest body launch | |
The body scrub borrows from the traditional Chanoyu Tea Ceremony, in that a whisk is provided to whip up the scrub just prior to application. The product should then be applied to damp skin, which is gently exfoliated by the fibres in the powdered tea leaves.
An invigorating blend of oils stimulates the circulation while relaxing the user, claims Origins, thereby restoring the four perfect principles of the Tea Ceremony: wa (harmony), kei (respect), sei (purity) and jaku (tranquillity).
The scrub also harks back to the ancient Japanese bathing ritual of onsen, which harnessed the mineral properties of natural hot spring water.
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Smooth operator: The new exfoliator, complete with mixing whisk | |
“Matcha is made from the finest fresh tea leaves, which are steamed, dried and ground into very fine powder,” Steward explained. “It contains very strong anti-oxidants, said to help prevent and slow the ageing process, and it is also full of vitamins, notably vitamins C and E.
“The Matcha is whisked into hot water and all of it is drunk, which gives the same effect as eating whole tea leaves, that is, getting the whole goodness of the tea.”
Also present at the launch was Brian Tsuyoshi Takeda, President of Muzi tea, the ultra-premium merchandise tea line.
He reiterated: “When we prepare a regular cup of tea and steep the teabag or tea leaves in water, about 80-90% of the nutrients go into the garbage can, when we toss out the leaves, because most of the nutrients in tea are not water-soluble.
“But if we take the most nutrient-rich part of the tea plant, the leaf, and grind it down, you get a super-fine Matcha tea, which has 10-15 times the nutrients of regular tea.”
Green tea is more than a mere drink in Japan; it not only slakes thirst but satisfies a spiritual need too.
“We have learned from our partner, Dr Weil, that folkloric customs from Japanese society create a meditative, restorative, and ultimately enjoyable personal ritual. Our unique Matcha Tea Body Scrub now brings these wellness and therapeutic properties to the Origins customer.“ |
Daria Myers, Origins President |
The way of the tea represents calmness and simplicity based on Zen philosophy,” confirmed Steward. “Matcha was brought to Japan from China in the 12th century by Zen monks. Initially, only men were allowed to perform Chado. Ladies were permitted after the middle of the 19th century.”
She continued: “Chado has strong spiritual significance”¦and every action and motion has a certain meaning. Even when drunk casually, as is more common nowadays, the most important thing is respect. Humbleness and gratitude to each other is essential, and we even pay our respects to the tea wares and the environment.”
The green tea habit starts young in Japan; weak teas are offered to babies from the age of six months. Matcha tea is also given as a gift for celebrations, and drunk on New Year’s Day to promote health and happiness in the months ahead.
Dr Weil has a personal interest in Chado, having been introduced to Matcha tea at the age of 17, when living in Japan as an exchange student. “We have learned from our partner, Dr Weil, that folkloric customs from Japanese society create a meditative, restorative, and ultimately enjoyable personal ritual,” commented Origins President Daria Myers. “Our unique Matcha Tea Body Scrub now brings these wellness and therapeutic properties to the Origins customer.”
Dr Weil for Origins The Way of the Bath Matcha Tea Body Scrub will be priced domestically at £35 for 600g. The Muzi Matcha tea contained in the product – the first in the world to receive organic certification – will also be available in-store (not travel retail) priced at £25 for 30g.
This will be complemented by a Muzi Matcha Tea Set, containing everything needed to start making Matcha tea. The kit contains a ceremonial tea bowl, hand-made bamboo whisk, bamboo spoon and a 30g tin of organic Matcha. It will retail at £75.
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