What Is Green Tea?

Green tea is made from the common tea leaf known as Camellia sinensis which is also used to make black tea. Camellia sinensis has been in use since 500,000 years. It is mainly cultivated in China and India. It was traditionally taken as a refreshing drink and has been consumed in China, India, Japan and Thailand. It is different from black tea because it isn't processed at all and the oxidation of the green tea is minimal. The leaf from the plant is picked and steamed or pan- dried immediately so that it can prevent oxidation or bacterial growth. The excess water is squeezed out by rolling with hand. In this way the flavor gets released. After that it is fired in driers and packed. Since the tea leaf is not allowed to oxidize the natural ingredients in the leaf are preserved. So it is much more beneficial than other teas. When it is brewed it turns the color into light green and so it is known as green tea. Scientists are discovering more and more health benefits of green tea. Like most leaves the main content of the tea leaf is water. Fresh leaves have about 80% of water and the rest of the components are catechin, caffeine and Theanine and aminoacids. Catechin is a water soluble polyphenol, It has six primary catechin compounds. catechin, gallaogatechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and apigallocatechin gallate (also known as EGCG). Apigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant found in the tea helps in protecting cells and DNA from damage. It is the most active component in green tea. It is helpful in controlling cancer cells, reducing the possibility of heart attacks and atherosclerosis. . It is also used as a weight loss product and enhances immune system. It also protects against Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Diabetes, Liver disease etc. While green tea contains 30% to 40% polyphenols , black tea only contains only 3% to 10% polyphenols. There are different varieties of green tea depending on the area and the method of cultivation of the tea. It are brewed using water that is under the boiling point (about 80 - 90 °C), If the water is too hot the tea will turn bitter. Does green tea have caffeine? Like all teas Green tea also contains caffeine. An average cup (6 oz) of it contains approximately 30 milligrams of caffeine. Caffeine is a central nervous stimulant. Decaffeinated is also available, even though decaffeination doesn't result in the 100% removal of caffeine. Possible interactions with medicines are Adenosine , beta-lactam antibiotics, benzodiazepines, propranolol and metoprolol, blood thinning Medications like warfarin, chemotherapy medications, specifically doxorubicin and tamoxifen, anti-psychotic effects of the medication clozapine, ephedrine, Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs. Oral contraceptives can prolong the amount of time caffeine stays in the body and may increase its stimulating effects, .With regard to Phenylpropanolamine it, reduces blood levels of lithium. Caffeine and cold medications or weight loss medications taken at the same time can cause increase in blood pressure and may also cause mania. Now there are green tea pills and green tea extracts are available which are claiming to be helpful in weight loss. Some people do not like the taste of green tea and so these pills and extract comes in handy.

About Author: Anita cherry is a health enthusiast who offers informative tips on different alternatives for health conditions. For more information visit What is Green tea?

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Green Tea and Black Tea: A Simple Cup of Ancient Culture

According to Chinese lore, the first tea infusion was discovered by the legendary Emperor Shennong, who also taught the people agriculture and herbal medicine. The drink was discovered accidentally when wild tea leaves fell into boiling water - when the Emperor tasted it he found it delightful and began the tradition of tea drinking. Written records confirm that the Chinese were drinking this beverage by 1000 BCE, mostly for its medicinal value. By the 7th century CE, tea was drunk as a social beverage for pleasure.

All green and black teas come from the same source, camellia sinensis, the tea tree. The difference in flavor and appearance comes from different methods of harvesting and processing the tea. Green tea is a mature leaf, harvested and pan roasted to preserve the flavor and color. This is the most popular tea in China. Green tea is an important health tonic in Chinese medicine, and is growing in popularity in the Western world. Scientific research has confirmed the antioxidant content of green tea. Antioxidants are sought after to fight the effects of aging and improve the immune system. The mild caffeine content of green tea is energizing, but much less acidic than coffee. Green tea comes in many different grades and varieties. Sencha is a smooth, refreshing Japanese green tea, with a beautiful color and cut to the leaf. Gunpowder is a dark, eye-opening Chinese green tea which is rolled into a traditional pinhead shape. We recommend steeping green tea for 2 - 3 minutes in hot water. Don't boil the leaves! It will become very bitter. Good quality green teas can be steeped several times with the same leaves. Just add a little extra time to each extra brew.

Black tea is most popular in England, Europe, and the United States. Black tea comes from mature leaves, which are then dried in the sun and allowed to oxidize. This process changes the appearance and flavor of the leaves, giving a rich, smooth taste. Many black teas are grown in India, a practice that flourished during the rule of the British Empire, and remains an important activity today. Varieties such as Darjeeling and Earl Grey are traditional British styles of tea that have become very popular in the United States. Black tea has many of the same antioxidants as green tea, though some are lost during the drying process. Still, the health benefits of black tea, especially compared to coffee or soda, are reputed to be excellent. Black tea is versatile, and is the basis of many coffeehouse favorites such as chai lattes - a drink which can be easily made at home by adding some Indian Spice to a strong black tea such as Assam, and then adding milk to the finished brew. For most black teas, we recommend brewing for 3-5 minutes in hot, not boiling, water. Ultimately, the amount of time you steep the tea is a matter of personal preference, and with a little experience you will find the perfect strength for your palate.

Whether you choose green tea or black tea, you will be participating in one of the oldest and most revered cultural practices in human history. Modern technology has yet to improve upon the simple pleasure of steeping leaves in hot water, but it has made tea and tea culture accessible to people all over the world. Exotic and unique teas, once the exclusive province of Chinese kings and emperors, are now available for everyone to enjoy and reap the natural health benefits.

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Green Tea - A Comparison To Black Tea

Tea is the common name for the evergreen Camellia Sinensis plant, found widespread throughout Asia, as it has been for many thousands of years.

Tea has many forms, but the most widespread variation of tea is 'Green Tea', this is one of the least processed variations which gives a fresher beverage.

Although Green Tea is more widespread, western cultures adapted one called 'Black Tea' after Tea was introduced to the west in the 1800's.

Black Tea

Black tea (while being a very popular drink) is the most highly processed form and thus has an overall lower quality.

Black Tea does have health benefits though, in fact almost all of the health benefits you can find about Green Tea are available in Black Tea, just in a diminished quantity which furthers lessens with the addition of milk.

In fact, a recent study completed just this year proved that (based on a sample size of more than 4,800 men and women over the age of 65 over a period of 14 years) people who regularly consume tea have a lower decline in cognitive function (tea drinkers will keep a healthier brain at later ages) when compared to non tea drinkers.

As one major comparison of the health differences between Green and Black Teas, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) currently lists Black tea as a Group 3 Carcinogen.

These days most people are aware that smoke, or rotting organic particles can have a negative effect on cancer, but many people also do not realise that Black tea is produced by oxidising tea leaves (that is, allowing them to rot for a period of time).

While it has not been proven in humans, Black Tea (in the form of a concentrated injection) has been shown to cause cancerous growths in mice.

This is nothing to worry about, as the amount you would need to consume would be extravagant in comparison to an injection in mice, but as a personal preference of mine - if it has any risk, steer clear.

Green Tea, you're not always getting what you pay for at the supermarket.

Now what you have to be aware of, is that while a couple of pounds/dollars for a pack of 20 Green Tea Bags might be expensive compared to the common '160 Black teabags for a couple of pounds/dollars', you are mostly paying for an inferior product.

Some people may argue against this, but the more well known Black Tea brands, who sell 'Green' tea in bag form are selling you an inferior product at an extortionate price.

Many supermarket brand teas source their Green Tea from China and to minimise the price the older and lower quality leaves are used.

To add to this, Black Tea is mixed in as a bulking agent, which results in a brown/yellow tea, sometimes with only a slight hint of green, or in other cases, not a hint of what you would expect from a 'Green' tea.

To get an idea of the quality differences try buying a packet of this supermarket grade stuff and see what it's like - It's as if you mixed old grass with common Black Tea right?

Ok, now go ahead and purchase a proper Tea, preferably from a brand you can't find in the stores. For a guarantee of higher qualities you want to look for a Japanese Tea Store and pay a price of at least £4* per 100g (that's right, but even then you're more likely to pay £7* or more per 100g for higher qualities with better taste). * Or the equivalent in your currency.

Sencha is the most common type of tea in Japan and from personal experience I can vouch for the quality you get.

If you are thinking that you might buy Green Tea online (rather than buying in store) then you should research Japanese Sencha.

A high quality Green Tea product should result in a cloudy dark green colour, with a fresh taste and sweet aroma. If the end result is Yellow / Brown / Black, or tastes too bitter then one of two things have occurred:

Either the quality of the tea is not good, or you have tried to brew Green Tea as if it were Black Tea.

What's the difference? Surely if they're both Tea then you would brew them the same right?

No, the flavour produced from Black Tea can't really 'spoil' if you brew it incorrectly, whereas Green Tea can easily spoil.

Differences in brewing.

Black tea brewing would usually go like this:

1. Boil the kettle
2. Put the teabag into the cup
3. Pour boiling water over the teabag
4. Serve with milk / sugar

Sencha is a good example of what a Green Tea brewing session involves:

1. Boil the kettle and leave for 30 seconds
2. Pour the water into your cups and leave for 30 seconds
3. Pour from the cups into the teapot and leave for 30 seconds
4. Pour back into the cups
5. While leaving the water in the cups for 1 minute 30 seconds (up to 2 minutes 30 seconds) add a heaping teaspoon of Sencha into the teapot, per cup
6. Add water from the cups and leave to steep for 1 minute to 3 minutes (premium grade Sencha can take as little as 40 seconds)

This does the following things:

• Preheats both the cups and teapot before the tea starts to steep, meaning that there are no quick temperature changes which would otherwise spoil the taste.
• Cools down the temperature of the water, as boiling water will scald the leaves and result in a bitter yellow tea.

Upon first discovering Green Tea Bags ( to be more precise - Sencha Tea Bags) in my parent's cupboard many years ago I proceeded to make many mistakes and wrong assumptions which I have mentioned above.

Although I would not recommend supermarket brand Green Tea, it is a good starting point for someone with an interest, or someone who can't make a quick jump and needs a 'transition phase' from the taste of Black to Green.

Tea is one of the best drinks you can consume, especially if it's Green Tea, why do you think it's the second most consumed beverage behind water itself?

So why not give your body a treat and try out a good Japanese Green Tea instead of gorging on sodas and coffee.

For more information about Green Tea [http://www.premiumgreentea.co.uk], the health benefits of Green tea, the Japanese Tea Ceremony or even Brewing information please visit the website at www.premiumgreentea.co.uk [http://www.premiumgreentea.co.uk]

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