Green Tea is a Panacea if we brew it the way it should be. To preserve the goodness of any tea it is important to know right brewing process. Black, Oolong, and Green tea are the three basic verity of tea. This article is mainly on green tea.
Green tea normally produced by steaming the leaves in large vats thus prevents the leaves from changing color and greenness is preserved. The leaves dried in ovens and may be crushed. The entire manufacturing process preserves useful antioxidants and other components. Antioxidants help to fight against free radicals that being produced in our body during our normal activities and habits. Due to change in lifestyle and atmospheric conditions, formation of free radicals seems to be higher. Green Tea acts as a Panacea.
Chinese might have started drinking tea 5000 years back but its benefits are known to world much after that. Now numbers of tea drinkers are growing because it is said to have health benefits like lowering Cholesterol, Boosting Immune System, Weight Loss and helping to Prevent Cavities and Tooth Decay etc. Tea may be second most popular drink in the world but very few know about its health benefits. To know more about it I spent about an hour in net and now let me share the information.
Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea contains components like poly-phenols such as catechins (a powerful antioxidant), and flavenoids, in addition to vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C. It enhances the immune system due to high concentrations of poly-phenols and flavenoids.
There are four primary poly-phenols in green tea and known as catechins. Catechins considered as main component to reduce incidence of cancer, tumors, mutations, oxidation by active oxygen, lowers blood cholesterol, inhibits increase of blood pressure, inhibits increase of blood sugar, kills bacteria, kills influenza virus, fights cariogenic bacteria etc. Flavonoids strengthen blood vessel walls, prevents halitosis.
Vitamin C reduces stress, prevents flu. We get lot of it from citrus fruits. Vitamin B Complex aids carbohydrate metabolism. Vitamin E acts as antioxidant and regulates aging process. So, it is a must for the persons who refused to become old.
r-Amino Butyric Acid, GABA, lowers blood pressure. Drinking green tea represses angiotensin II that leads to high blood pressure. L-theanine is one more amino acid in green tea known for deep muscle relaxation and helps to have sound sleep.
Poly-phenols and polysaccharides in green tea are helpful in lowering blood sugar if we take care diet and stress level.
Fluoride prevents cavities to protect tooth. According to researchers at Pace University in New York City, addition of green tea extract in mouthwashes and toothpastes should help to kill both bacteria and viruses. It also kills the microbes that cause sore throats. Green tea found to be more effective in killing viruses than black tea.
My Point of View -
## Brewing
My first cup was a very bitter one because water was too hot and socking time was more than 5 minutes. Require some practice. Water should be hot but not boiling. Socking time may be 2 to 3 minutes. Filter it by a fine strainer immediately. Do not make excess and keep it with leaves otherwise it will be very bitter in taste.
Tea bag is easier to use but I do not get it where I live. I use loose green tea from Nilgiris. Loose green tea may be used several times by adding small quantity of fresh tea. I normally brew it in a flask with measured quantity of hot water and filter it after 2-3 minutes. Tealeaves remain in the flask for further brewing.
Like lemon tea? No problem, add lemon to make it Lemon Tea.
Green tea is also good for making Iced Tea. In this case, add half the quantity of hot water to the same quantity of tea you normally use. Filter it after brewing by a fine strainer and cool it. This liquor is very strong. Add remaining one-fourth quantity of water as Ice-cubes which will melt immediately and after that add rest of ice to make it ice-cool. Drops of lemon in it make it an exotic drink. I call it “Tea on the Rocks”.
## Comments
Tea is an elixir to prevent many ailments. If the claims are true than Green Tea is not only a Stimulant but will also help to prevent many diseases. So, let me continue to sip Green, Black or Red tea. I have to keep my black and Red tea option open because Green Tea is not easily available where I live.
Caffeine contain in green tea may be much less than that in Coffee but it still helps to stimulate.
They say tea produced in cooler atmosphere has better aroma than that produced in hotter place. May be this is correct because Darjeeling Tea has much better flavor than Assam tea. Recently I have tried Chinese Green Tea and that has better aroma than the quality I get from Nilgiris.
Tea has many health enhancing qualities if we preserve its goodness when we brew it. Boiling tea powder in milk and sugar is not the right brewing process to preserve its useful component. Tea normally available in Indian restaurants and homes is a tasty high calorie beverage. I doubt its health enhancing qualities. I too consumes typical Indian Chai everyday but made it a point to take 3-5 cups of green or black / red tea.
My wife never throws used tealeaves. She mixes it to the soil of rose plants. She learned it from her parents and claims that it helps the plant to remain healthy. May be the remains in tealeaves killing the bacteria and insects to keep it healthy. However remember - tealeaves with milk do not help.
Have a Nice Cup of Tea and Enjoy Your Day.
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Jan 2004