Green tea is one of the most enjoyed and healthiest beverages around the globe. If you are a tea enthusiast you may have heard about the health benefits of drinking tea, most probably green tea which is considered as the best anti-aging beverage. In some parts of the world, people believe drinking green tea is “essential.”
What Is Green Tea?
Green tea is obtained by steeping the leaves of a specific tea plant known as Camellia sinensis in hot or cold water. All types of true teas like black tea, white and oolong teas are obtained from the same plant but differ in method of processing. Green tea leaves are not fermented and therefore shine in antioxidants.
Green tea can be brewed both hot and cold and equally enjoyed throughout the world. Cold brewing is a process involving extraction of the flavor by steeping tea leaves in cold water. This method of brewing requires a longer time than hot brew which uses heat to extract the flavor.
History Of Green Tea
The Chinese Emperor Shennong was credited for the discovery of green tea. Some of the leaves from the tea plant blew incidentally into his cup of hot water. The Emperor was inspired by the refreshing taste of this beverage. Before the invention of green tea, tea leaves were chewed for medicinal purposes.
However, cold brewed tea was invented in the 1600s by Japanese when they practiced soaking the tea leaves in cold water for a longer time. They claimed that steeping the tea leaves in hot water influences the flavonoids content and therapeutic effects. Some people believe that Dutch traders introduced cold brewing while others claim that people in Kyoto, Japan were using this technique for a long time.
Green Tea Blends
You can brew the green alone or can enjoy the blend with other plants to reap the unique and characteristic flavors in a single cup of tea. Here are some of the flavorful green tea blends which are packed with nutritive compounds and offer a wide array of health promoting effects.
1. Green Apple Organic Tea is such a refreshing blend with an appealing flavor of green tea and pleasing aroma of mellow apple. Organic Green Apple can be enjoyed hot or cold that may have invigorating effects on the body.
2. Green Passion Organic Tea contains the goodness of green tea with delightful flavors of passion fruits. This amazing passion tea contains blue mallow flowers, marigold petals, Chinese green tea, natural papaya flavor, mango flavor and pineapple flavor. You can prepare it by steeping one large tea bag in 64oz of cold water in the refrigerator overnight.
3. Organic Island Green Tea possesses a grassy flavor of Chinese green tea blended with the fruity flavor of papaya and pineapple. This classic blend is packed with healthful nutrients that rejuvenate your body.
4. Originated from China, the Zhejiang province, this Organic Chinese Green Tea is an excellent source of antioxidants and possesses health promoting effects. The classic Chinese tea boasts an amazing nutrient profile with a refreshing gassy flavor. Brew it hot or cold according to your taste and preferences.
Health Benefits of Green Tea *
Besides unique flavor and taste, millions of people consume green tea because of its health promoting abilities. Both hot and cold brewed tea may help protect heart and brain health, prevent aging, promote weight loss and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
1. Loaded with Antioxidants
Green tea leaves are not fermented like black and oolong tea and therefore contains highest levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants like polyphenols, flavonoid and catechins are natural compounds that fight against free radicals and prevent oxidative damage. Epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant present in tea plants, is responsible for most of the health benefits of green tea. [1]
2. May Improve Brain Health
Green tea may help you keep alert, focused and energized and these beneficial effects are due to caffeine present in tea. Caffeine content is not as much as in coffee, but its levels are sufficient enough to make you alert without causing jitteriness. L-theanine, an amino acid in green tea, helps relieve stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels (stress hormone). Studies revealed that green tea has potential to improve brain health, stabilize moods, enhance memory and cognitive abilities. [2]
3. Green Tea May Help You Lose Weight
Are you really sick of your weight and want to shed some pounds to reshape your body? Well, green tea gives you a plus and will definitely help you on your journey to weight loss. If you take a glance at the ingredients for a fat loss supplement, you will find all of them in green tea. It has the ability to boost metabolism, burn calories and reduce fats especially on abdominal areas. [3] [4]
Studies showed that consumption of green tea enriched in EGCG and antioxidants is greatly associated with increased weight loss. However, remember that no beverage alone can increase weight loss, there should be some lifestyle changes like exercise, physical activities and healthy diet which work in synergism to help you shed pounds.
4. May Boost Skin Health
Green tea, a hydrating beverage, is highly effective for improving skin health and making you look younger. Packed with antioxidants, green tea helps prevent oxidative stress and cellular damage which slow the aging process. It provides hydration to the body leaving a fresh and glowing skin.
5. May Protect Cardiovascular Health
Besides improving brain, digestive and skin health, green tea has beneficial effects on cardiac health. It helps manage blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood glucose levels in the body. Moreover, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the tea help improve blood vessels health, improve blood circulation, prevent clot formation inside the vessels and reduce the risk of diabetes [5] [6]
6. May Reduce Bad Breath from Mouth
Our mouth contains a plethora of bacterial species which contribute to infections and lead to formation of dental plaques and cavities. Catechins in green tea restrict growth of these bacteria, reduce bad breath and improve oral health.
7. May Help You Enjoy Long Life
Green tea is supercharged with antioxidants which help scavenge free radicals and reduce the risk of chronic disease like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. Consumption of green tea is greatly associated with reduced mortality resulting from various diseases.
Is Green Tea A Detox?
Green tea is an excellent source of polyphenolic compounds which possess powerful antioxidant properties and help flush out toxins from the body. Addition of fresh lime juice has added antioxidant effects and it is suggested to consume 2-3 cups of green tea a day to detoxify the body.
Does Green Tea Contain Caffeine?
Green tea obtained from a specific tea plant have small quantities of caffeine like 20-30 mg per cup. This content is much lower than caffeine in black tea and coffee but is sufficient enough to have beneficial effects on the body. Cold brewed tea, on the other hand, contains very small quantities of caffeine and is a better option for people who want to limit caffeine content but still want to enjoy the refreshing cup of tea.
How To Brew Green Tea?
Green tea can be brewed cold or enjoyed hot, the brewing technique is really simple and easy.
Cold brewing: In this technique a large tea bag or loose tea leaves are allowed to steep in cold or room temperature water for a longer time of 10-12 hours.
Hot Brewing: It involves steeping the tea bag or loose tea leaves in hot water for 2-3 minutes.
Bottom Line
Green tea is a refreshing and hydrating beverage that is enjoyed most on this planet. It is loaded with antioxidants and other phytochemicals which possess health promoting effects. Try to add this tea in your daily routine to reap the perk of benefits it offers.
* Blog Disclaimer: All content on this blog, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual.
Tuk Tea Company, LLC is not a medical organization, and we can’t give you medical advice or diagnosis. Nothing contained in this blog should be construed as such advice or diagnosis. The information and links to sources should not be interpreted as a substitute for physician consultation, evaluation, or treatment.
We urge and advise you to seek the advice of a physician before beginning any medical regimen. This blog is for the use of healthy adult individuals. This blog is not intended for the use by minors, pregnant women, or individuals with any type of health condition. Such individuals are specifically warned to seek professional medical advice prior to initiating any form of weight loss or regimen related to the information provided.
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