Green Tea and its Properties
What is green tea? | Green tea and its properties | How to drink green tea | How to prepare green tea | Where to buy green tea
Green tea has been a popular beverage in Asia for centuries, forming part of the culture and traditions of China and Japan, and even being used in the treatment of various diseases due to its health-promoting properties.
Read on to learn all about green tea and its properties, its origin, and some helpful tips on how to prepare it.
What is green tea?
Green tea is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves of this plant are the same as those used to make other types of tea: white tea, blue tea (oolong tea), black tea, and red tea (pu-erh tea).
China and Japan are the main producers and consumers of green tea , each with a distinct production process that results in distinct flavor profiles. Japanese green teas are steamed and have a more delicate, vegetal, and herbaceous flavor, while Chinese teas are fired in large woks, resulting in more robust green teas with a roasted, nutty flavor. In this short guide, you can learn more about the different types of green tea.
RELATED INFORMATION
Introduction to Chinese Dragon Well Green Tea
Green tea and its properties
Green tea has a wide variety of health benefits, which is why it has been used for centuries in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine. In recent years, green tea has been the subject of numerous scientific studies focusing on its health benefits . These are the most important conclusions:
- Helps keep your heart healthy
- Accelerates weight loss
- Bone health
- Improves brain function
- Reduces blood sugar
1. Helps keep your heart healthy
Green tea is packed with antioxidants known as polyphenols and catechins, which may protect heart health. These antioxidants improve blood circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots and heart attacks. Tea polyphenols may also help reduce high blood pressure and regulate blood sugar levels . Green tea also helps reduce bad cholesterol , or LDL, which has been linked to various heart diseases.
One of the most significant studies on green tea's heart-health benefits was conducted in Japan on more than 40,000 adults. The results showed that people who drank at least one cup of green tea a day had a significantly lower risk of death from heart disease.
RELATED INFORMATION
2. Accelerates weight loss
Green tea is known for helping you lose weight faster. In fact, it's one of the ingredients you'll often find in diet supplements or pills.
This is because the catechins in green tea increase energy levels by speeding up metabolism and improving liver function . By increasing metabolic rate, the body burns fat stores more quickly, which means faster weight loss . Essentially, green tea accelerates fat oxidation. These tea catechins also help the liver convert fat into energy, which can help boost athletic performance and endurance.
Secondarily, tea is an excellent weight loss aid when used as a substitute for sugary soft drinks and energy drinks.
RELATED INFORMATION
3. Bone health
As we age, bone health problems become more common. Osteoporosis, a severe weakening of the body's bones, is due to a metabolic imbalance that causes slower formation of new bone tissue. Animal studies have strongly suggested that green tea may promote bone formation . In these animal studies, bones showed increased bone mass, volume, and thickness. Other studies in people have shown that regular green tea drinkers have higher bone density than non-drinkers.
4. Improves brain function
Green tea contains theine and L-theanine. The theine in green tea acts as a stimulant differently than coffee, releasing it in a more controlled manner in the body and maintaining its effects for longer without causing the jitters associated with the caffeine in coffee.
L-theanine is an amino acid that increases the activity of the GABA neurotransmitter, having anxiolytic effects and increasing dopamine, which leads to relaxation and improved concentration. Theine and L-theanine have been shown to work together, producing a much milder and more distinct effect than coffee.
RELATED INFORMATION
5. Reduces blood sugar
Maintaining low blood sugar levels can be difficult. Nowadays, due to the high amount of sugar in the food and drinks we consume, it's easy to develop insulin resistance and even diabetes.
Green tea can help the blood manage glycemic loads and control blood sugar levels . This means more consistent energy levels and helps prevent blood sugar spikes.
RELATED INFORMATION
How to drink green tea?
Green tea is a very beneficial beverage, but it's important to keep in mind some factors to get the most out of it.
It's not recommended to drink green tea on an empty stomach, as the caffeine and catechins can cause minor stomach upset. We recommend drinking your first cup after breakfast or lunch.
Green tea contains caffeine, and although its effect isn't as stimulating as coffee's, it's best to drink your last cup of green tea of the day about two or three hours before bedtime to avoid insomnia. Even if you find it too stimulating, we recommend trying low-caffeine green teas like kukicha or genmaicha .
It is highly recommended to drink green tea before exercising , helping it to be more effective, since green tea improves endurance and concentration, in addition to speeding up your metabolism.
How to prepare green tea?
These green tea preparation tips refer to loose leaf bulk green tea, powdered green tea, such as matcha tea, has its own preparation method .
1. Use loose tea
Many people who are new to tea drinking do so by trying the tea bags sold in supermarkets. We understand, it's quick and easy. The problem is that these bags don't contain quality tea leaves. Green tea bags contain dust and tea leaf residue that don't offer the authentic flavor and aroma of a tea made with whole leaves.
If you prefer roasted flavors, we recommend trying Chinese green teas such as Gunpowder or Dragon Well , while if you prefer vegetal and sweeter flavors , you can try Japanese green teas, such as Sencha or Kukicha .
2. Adequate water temperature
Green tea should generally be brewed at a temperature between 70 and 90°C. Japanese green teas are more delicate and should be brewed at between 70 and 85°C, while Chinese green teas can be brewed at temperatures between 75 and 90°C.
The best way to monitor the water temperature is to use a kettle with built-in temperature controls or a tea thermometer . If you don't have one, simply boil the water in a pot over the stove. Remove the water when it begins to boil and let it sit for 1 or 2 minutes before adding it to the kettle.
3. Correct infusion time
This is the part where most people get into trouble. You choose your favorite tea, add the right temperature of water, and then wander around the house, check your phone, or do whatever chores you want. The result is a tea that takes 10-15 minutes to steep and tastes incredibly bitter.
Just like cooking, preparing tea requires a little care . Tea leaves are delicate and can burn if steeped too long. To make a perfect cup of green tea, letting the leaves steep for 2-3 minutes is enough.
A little tip: Loose green tea leaves can be re-infused a couple of times, so when you remove the tea leaves from the water, let them dry so you can use them again later.
4. Add extras
Some people don't enjoy the herbal or roasted flavor of green tea. Fortunately, adding some flavorings is enough to adjust the taste.
It's very common to add a few drops of lemon juice or fresh sliced lemon. You can also add a little honey to make it sweeter, or a little cinnamon. Green tea with ginger is delicious, and the mint makes it very refreshing.
Where to buy green tea?
You can buy green tea at any supermarket or big box store, but it will generally be of low quality. We recommend purchasing loose-leaf tea in bulk from specialty tea shops.
At Replantea, we have a wide catalog of high-quality, organic green teas , available in bulk and free of chemicals, sugars, and other additives.
Share