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For years, green tea was consumed almost exclusively in Asia.
For centuries, green tea has been used by Chinese herbalists to
treat many health maladies from menstrual difficulties to
headaches. In China and Japan, most people drink green tea all
day long.
However, here in the Western world it has gained popularity
only in the last few years. There are many ways to enjoy green
tea, and many things to learn about it. There are several
differences between green tea and other types of tea.
Processing =96 Green tea comes from the same plant as black tea,
but it is processed differently. Green tea, however, is not
fermented like black tea.
Green tea leaves are laid out to wither for about 8 to 24 hours
after plucking to allow most of the water to evaporate. Next, to
prevent the oxidation (fermentation) process, the leaves are
steamed or pan fried. Finally the leaves are rolled and then
dried again, unlike black tea leaves, which are cut.
Flavor =96 Because green tea is in a very natural state, it
tastes more plant like than black tea. Most people describe
green tea as having a somewhat “grassy” taste. It is green and
somewhat pale in color, and can become bitter if over brewed.
Green tea can have subtleties and differences in aroma and
flavor based on the variety of the tea plant and the region in
which the tea is grown.
In addition, there are many flavored green teas. Green teas are
blended with herbs or fruit to create a wide variety of flavors.
Many people who don’t enjoy the taste of plain green tea love
the combination of green tea with other flavors.
Serving method =96 Green tea needs cooler water than any other
tea for proper brewing.
Water for green tea should be purified and heated to about
160=B0F. It can be enjoyed with sweetener, milk or lemon if you
prefer. Green tea can also be enjoyed cold. Keeping a pitcher
of iced green tea in your refrigerator lets you enjoy its
health benefits all day long.
Caffeine Content =96 Green tea contains only about half the
amount of caffeine as black tea. Black tea contains about 40 mg
of caffeine per serving, while green tea contains just 20. In
addition, caffeine in tea has been shown to be less likely to
cause jitters than other caffeinated beverages.
Health Benefits =96 Green tea has received a lot of attention in
recent years because it has been shown in research to be very
effective at preventing many diseases and even in treating
some. The natural anti-oxidants in green tea make it one of the
most powerful health protectors you can consume as part of your
diet. Green tea may be effective in:
=95Reducing your risk of some forms of cancer =96 Many different
studies have supported the finding that green tea can prevent
and possibly even help treat some forms of cancer. The first
interest in green tea’s health benefits resulted from
statistics showing that Asian cultures, where green tea is the
most commonly consumed beverage, have the lowest incidences of
cancer in the world.
Some studies have even shown that green tea compounds can
inhibit the growth of cancer cells, slowing the progress of the
disease. It appears that tea may be most effective at preventing
bladder, colon, rectal, esophageal, bladder, liver, lung,
pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer.
=95Lowering Cholesterol – Tea has been shown to be effective in
lowering LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). It appears that
tea’s anti-oxidants work with HDL cholesterol to help transport
bad cholesterol to the liver, where it can be passed from the
body. Tea also appears to inhibit the formation of abnormal
blood clots, which are the leading cause of heart attacks and
strokes.
=95Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis =96Tea’s anti-oxidants may have the
power to help prevent rheumatoid arthritis. In some studies, it
has even been suggested that green tea may be able to ease
symptoms of those already suffering with this disease.
=95Help Lose Weight =96 Tea’s combination of catechins and caffeine
appear to speed up the metabolism and may help with weight loss.
In addition, it appears that using green tea as a diet
supplement causes fewer instances of jitteriness and rapid
heart rate than other diet supplements. It may also help
regulate insulin in the body, which can be beneficial for
diabetics. Many studies have shown that lifelong tea drinkers
tend to weigh less and have less body fat than non tea
drinkers.
=95Prevent Alzheimer’s disease =96 Studies suggest that tea
drinkers may also be less likely to develop Alzheimer’s
disease. Though the subject requires far more research, it has
also been suggested that green tea’s potent anti-oxidants may
even have the power to slow down the progress of Alzheimer’s
disease in those already suffering.
Most people in the Western world still drink black tea over
green tea. But, as you can see, there are many health reasons
to make green tea a part of your regular diet. Green tea may be
an important way to protect your health and prevent disease.
And, it’s delicious, too!
About The Author: Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon
Tea Company. For more information about tea, wholesale tea and
black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com.
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