Getting to know your tea better
“It is healthy, all green, full of vitality
Invigorating, refreshing, relaxing
Makes us energetic, lively, happy
Thanks to the different varieties!”
Background
The origin of green tea began in China, tracing back to 2737 B.C. Green, black, and oolong teas all come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, but are prepared using different methods. To produce green tea, leaves from the plant are steamed, pan fried, and dried. Green tea as a beverage or dietary supplement is promoted for improving mental alertness, relieving digestive symptoms and headaches, and promoting weight loss. Green tea and its components, including epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), have been studied for their possible protective effects against heart disease and cancer.
Distinguish you tea
Genuine teas
Depending on how tea leaves are processed, you get many varieties of the beverage.
* The rich flavour and dark colour of black tea comes from the process of oxidising the leaves after plucking. Its caffeine content is less than half of coffee.
* The same leaves can make green tea, which is less oxidised than black tea. It has a lighter flavour, less caffeine and is rich with natural antioxidants.
* White tea is the least oxidised of all teas.
* Herbal tea is of two kinds. One is black tea mixed with aromatic spices, best known as masala chai. The other kind is actually an infusion of natural herbs and spices.
Fake teas
These are usually used tea leaves, which are dried, then mixed with low quality tea dust and other leaves, and then sprayed with artificial colour to look like fresh tea.
Steeping, brewing and serving
Steeping, or brewing, is the process of making tea from leaves and hot water, generally using 2 grams (0.071 oz) of tea per 100 millilitres (3.5 imp fl oz; 3.4 US fl oz) of water (H2O) or about 1 teaspoon of green tea per 150 ml cup. Steeping temperatures range from 61 °C (142 °F) to 87 °C (189 °F) and steeping times from 30 seconds to three minutes.
Steeping too hot or too long results in the release of excessive amounts of tannins, leading to a bitter, astringent brew, regardless of initial quality. The brew’s taste is also affected by the steeping technique; two important techniques are to warm the steeping container beforehand to prevent the tea from immediately cooling down, and to leave the tea leaves in the pot and gradually add more hot water during consumption.
Health effects
Regular green tea is 99.9% water, provides 1 kcal per 100 mL serving, is devoid of significant nutrient content (table), and contains phytochemicals such as polyphenols and caffeine.
“It’s the healthiest thing I can think of to drink,” says Christopher Ochner, PhD.
Green tea’s biggest benefit? “It’s all about the catechin content,” says Beth Reardon, RD, a Boston nutritionist. Catechins are antioxidants that fight and may even prevent cell damage. Green tea is not processed much before it’s poured in your cup, so it’s rich in catechins.
Topmost green tea health benefits:
Glycemic control
Green tea consumption lowers fasting blood sugar.
Cardiovascular disease
GA meta-analysis of observational studies reported an increase in one cup of green tea per day was correlated with slightly lower risk of death from cardiovascular causes.
Hyperlipidemia
Drinking green tea or taking green tea supplements decreases the blood concentration of total cholesterol (about 3–7 mg/dL), LDL cholesterol (about 2 mg/dL), and does not affect the concentration of HDL cholesterol or triglycerides.
Weight loss
Sorry, but no drink or food melts the pounds off. Although some evidence suggests that the active ingredient in green tea, EGCG, may help you drop a few pounds. “All things being equal, if you sub 1-2 cups of green tea for one can of soda, over the next year you’d save over 50,000 calories,” Ochner says. That’s more than 15 pounds. Just don’t swamp it with honey or sugar!
Relaxing Ritual
Sipping tea helps you slow down and relax. A natural chemical called theanine found in green tea can provide a calming effect. But perhaps the biggest benefit, which you get right away, is just taking a tea break.