A green and lush oasis in the middle of a scorching dessert. A cool breeze on a hot summer night. A bright light in the end of a cold and dark tunnel. Green tea and cholesterol.
For the millions and millions of people suffering from high cholesterol green tea may be that light. You can browse and search the Internet for topics on green tea and cholesterol and would come up with hundred of hits.
Cholesterol, triglycerides, the protein apoB in LDLs, are words dreaded by humans of the modern age. This new century is expected to become the century of medical miracles, the green tea, lowly as it may sound looks very promising as several researches have shown. This could be the decade of green tea and cholesterol.
More good news is it's not just green tea and cholesterol; it's also green tea and cancer. Several studies have shown that the antioxidants are present in green tea. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. Another research done by the University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. In another study by the University of Kansas determined that EGCG may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.
And more good news! It's not just green tea and cholesterol; it's also green tea and high blood pressure. Habitually drinking 5 to 10 cups a day of green tea lowers high blood pressure.
For more that 4,000 years the Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. So it's not just green tea and cholesterol; it's also green tea and depression!
Drinking green also is reported to be helpful with rheumatoid arthritis, Cardiovascular disease, infection, and impaired immune function.
Green tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a good anti-cancer element. Polyphenol limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet.
There's more! It's not just green tea and cholesterol; it's also green tea and weight loss. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a report that found out that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine.
How about green tea and tooth decay anyone? Its bacteria-destroying abilities kill the bacteria that cause dental decay. So it's not just green tea and cholesterol, it's also green tea and bacteria.
Why is it that it's green tea and cholesterol not oolong tea or black tea? As we all know there are 3 types of tea, green, oolong and black. All of these come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. But why green? Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized while black and oolong tea leaves are made from dried or fermented leaves, which causes loss of EGCG.
We should have learned speaking mandarin or fukien a long time ago and got to know green tea and cholesterol lowering the Chinese way.
There is more to green tea and cholesterol, search the web and get to know more of the heath benefits you may get from green tea. Does anyone know how to say green tea in Chinese?
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Green Tea - A very Versatile Beverage
The earliest users of tea are two countries, India and China. Tea also plays a very significant part in social rituals of Japan. In current periods green tea has engrossed a lost of attention due to many health benefits attributed to it. Green Tea is a very versatile beverage and the preparation depends on your preferred taste. There are many recipes to make a wonderful blend but the most prehistoric way if by directly brewing the leaves and drinking the tea. Other than enjoyment, Green Tea also provides energy and vigor. It's a great drink for a lazy afternoon. In smaller doses it actually works wonder as it boosts the energy and reduces anxious feeling. During office tea breaks instead of a normal coffee or tea switch over to Green Tea, so that you are fully energized. You can also keep sipping Green Tea and even loose weight, doesn't that sound cool?
Green tea supplements are especially prevalent in the weight loss industry and in products, which are promoted as containing antioxidants. Obtainable in many forms, the use of green tea for weight loss is believed to be one of the greatest natural 'calorie burning' finds made by science so far. Green tea can allow a person to gain greater overall health; it is not just a case of green tea helping you to lose weight. Sometimes you will find ginseng is mixed with green tea to improve its properties and effectiveness. Considered to be the root of life in China and Tibet, ginseng root brings the vitamin and mineral supplement the body needs during a detoxification period.
People who drink green tea are found to have lower LDL cholesterol levels and higher HDL cholesterol levels. One study conducted in animals suggests that polyphenols may help inhibit the absorption of cholesterol by intestines thus helping in the excretion of cholesterol from body. Green tea has also been found to be beneficial for the liver. It helps control the damaging effect of alcohol on it. People who drink green tea are found to have lower incidence of liver diseases. Nature seems to have a cure for everything if you can find it and the health benefits of green tea are only just beginning to be understood.
Green tea supplements are especially prevalent in the weight loss industry and in products, which are promoted as containing antioxidants. Obtainable in many forms, the use of green tea for weight loss is believed to be one of the greatest natural 'calorie burning' finds made by science so far. Green tea can allow a person to gain greater overall health; it is not just a case of green tea helping you to lose weight. Sometimes you will find ginseng is mixed with green tea to improve its properties and effectiveness. Considered to be the root of life in China and Tibet, ginseng root brings the vitamin and mineral supplement the body needs during a detoxification period.
People who drink green tea are found to have lower LDL cholesterol levels and higher HDL cholesterol levels. One study conducted in animals suggests that polyphenols may help inhibit the absorption of cholesterol by intestines thus helping in the excretion of cholesterol from body. Green tea has also been found to be beneficial for the liver. It helps control the damaging effect of alcohol on it. People who drink green tea are found to have lower incidence of liver diseases. Nature seems to have a cure for everything if you can find it and the health benefits of green tea are only just beginning to be understood.
What Is Green Tea?
You would think that the definition would be self-explanatory – it’s tea that’s green. But that doesn’t really cover it.
All true teas - as distinct from herbal and flower infusions, which tea lovers call tisanes - are made from the leaves of a magnolia-related evergreen tree with the botanical name of Camellia sinensis. Although reaching a height of 30 feet in the wild, on tea plantations, the plant is kept as a shrub, constantly pruned to a height of about 3 feet to encourage new growth and for convenient picking.
Tea plants grow only in warm climates but can flourish at altitudes ranging from sea level to 7,000 feet. The best teas, however, are produced by plants grown at higher altitudes where the leaves mature more slowly and yield a richer flavor. Depending upon the altitude, a new tea plant may take from 2 ½ to 5 years to be ready for commercial picking, but once productive, it can provide tea leaves for close to a century.
Tea plants produce abundant foliage, a camellia-like flower, and a berry, but only the smallest and youngest leaves are picked for tea: the two leaves and bud at the top of each young shoot. The growth of new shoots, called a flush, can occur every week at lower altitudes but takes several weeks at higher ones. The new leaves are picked by hand by "tea pluckers," the best of whom can harvest 40 pounds per day, enough to make 10 pounds of tea.
All tea plants belong to the same species-Camellia sinensis-, but local growing conditions (altitude, climate, soils, etc.) vary, resulting in a multitude of distinctive leaves. The way the leaves are processed, however, is even more important in developing the individual characteristics of the three predominant types of tea: green, black and oolong.
Green tea is the least processed and thus provides the most antioxidant polyphenols, notably a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is believed to be responsible for most of the health benefits linked to green tea. We’ll talk about EGCG a little bit later, but it is this component of green tea that makes it such a healing and advantageous drink.
Green tea is made by briefly steaming the just harvested leaves, rendering them soft and pliable and preventing them from fermenting or changing color. After steaming, the leaves are rolled, then spread out and "fired" (dried with hot air or pan-fried in a wok) until they are crisp. The resulting greenish-yellow tea has a green, slightly astringent flavor close to the taste of the fresh leaf.
Green tea has always been, and remains today, the most popular type of tea from China where most historians and botanists believe the tea plant originated throughout all of Asia. Why is this so? Perhaps because green tea not only captures the taste, aroma and color of spring, but delivers this delightful bouquet along with the highest concentration of beneficial phytonutrients and the least caffeine of all the teas.
The key to the amazing health benefits that are derived from consuming green tea is that the leaves are steamed which preserves the EGCG compound from being oxidized. Other teas are fermented which breaks down the natural EGCG and takes away from its healing properties.
In fact, green tea has very long and storied history dating back thousands and thousands of years. It can be quite fascinating to know what the Chinese have known for centuries.
All true teas - as distinct from herbal and flower infusions, which tea lovers call tisanes - are made from the leaves of a magnolia-related evergreen tree with the botanical name of Camellia sinensis. Although reaching a height of 30 feet in the wild, on tea plantations, the plant is kept as a shrub, constantly pruned to a height of about 3 feet to encourage new growth and for convenient picking.
Tea plants grow only in warm climates but can flourish at altitudes ranging from sea level to 7,000 feet. The best teas, however, are produced by plants grown at higher altitudes where the leaves mature more slowly and yield a richer flavor. Depending upon the altitude, a new tea plant may take from 2 ½ to 5 years to be ready for commercial picking, but once productive, it can provide tea leaves for close to a century.
Tea plants produce abundant foliage, a camellia-like flower, and a berry, but only the smallest and youngest leaves are picked for tea: the two leaves and bud at the top of each young shoot. The growth of new shoots, called a flush, can occur every week at lower altitudes but takes several weeks at higher ones. The new leaves are picked by hand by "tea pluckers," the best of whom can harvest 40 pounds per day, enough to make 10 pounds of tea.
All tea plants belong to the same species-Camellia sinensis-, but local growing conditions (altitude, climate, soils, etc.) vary, resulting in a multitude of distinctive leaves. The way the leaves are processed, however, is even more important in developing the individual characteristics of the three predominant types of tea: green, black and oolong.
Green tea is the least processed and thus provides the most antioxidant polyphenols, notably a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is believed to be responsible for most of the health benefits linked to green tea. We’ll talk about EGCG a little bit later, but it is this component of green tea that makes it such a healing and advantageous drink.
Green tea is made by briefly steaming the just harvested leaves, rendering them soft and pliable and preventing them from fermenting or changing color. After steaming, the leaves are rolled, then spread out and "fired" (dried with hot air or pan-fried in a wok) until they are crisp. The resulting greenish-yellow tea has a green, slightly astringent flavor close to the taste of the fresh leaf.
Green tea has always been, and remains today, the most popular type of tea from China where most historians and botanists believe the tea plant originated throughout all of Asia. Why is this so? Perhaps because green tea not only captures the taste, aroma and color of spring, but delivers this delightful bouquet along with the highest concentration of beneficial phytonutrients and the least caffeine of all the teas.
The key to the amazing health benefits that are derived from consuming green tea is that the leaves are steamed which preserves the EGCG compound from being oxidized. Other teas are fermented which breaks down the natural EGCG and takes away from its healing properties.
In fact, green tea has very long and storied history dating back thousands and thousands of years. It can be quite fascinating to know what the Chinese have known for centuries.
Tea and Time
Tea and time have something in common. They both begin with letter "T". There is a reason for that. Under that commonality also lies a lesson of life.
To enjoy tea, we need to take time.
First of all, even before the steeping starts, we observe the tea leaves. Leaves from different types of tea come in different shapes, texture and colors. The shapes are typically from the delicate hand rolling. The majority of the workers in a tea garden are women. Imagine how those beautiful girls and ladies pluck the leaves in a sunny spring morning. After the leaves are dried, they hand roll them to form a certain shape and sort them out at the end. Tea is no longer mere leaves but a form of art from beautiful hands.
Second, you pour hot water into the cup. You don’t just sit and wait (and getting bored and even impatient). Watch the leaves unfold and dance up and down slowly. This “agony of the leaves” is necessary for the flavors and nutrients to be released.
Steeping is also about timing. Not too long, not too short. The timing depends on our individual preference in taste.
Finally, we don’t gulp a cup of tea as we do with a can of soda. We sip. Before we sip, we observe the color and the uprising mist of the liquid. We smell the aroma. These are all part of enjoyment of tea.
It all takes time. All the good things in life take time to brew and to enjoy.
Time is the most precious thing. It is also most constant thing as well. We can't get more of it by rushing it. We could potentially lose it if we rush - not only time but also all the great things in life that must be enjoyed with and over time.
A Chinese proverb says it all, “Hurry and impatience prevents the enjoyment of hot tofu.”
You may ask, what about the need for speed and convenience?
Yes, they are some times our friends. They are the propellers of civilization and evolution from nomadic to agriculture to industrial society. Mankind invented automobiles, aircrafts and spacecrafts to move from A to B faster. Fast foods have become a part of our diet in the past decades as more and more families have two working parents and more and more people are into sports, travel and adventures. The faster pace of living demands speed and convenience.
But there is a limit. Overdose of speed and convenience can and have already hurt our quality of life. Recent years have seen increased health problems such as obesity and cancer. More people and families are suffering from stresses of all kinds. Our physical and psychological well being does not improve even though economically we are better off.
It may be time to slow down a little bit and to get back to the basic of life. Tea can help in many ways with its powerful healing power and the lesson it teaches us about time and timing.
To enjoy tea, we need to take time.
First of all, even before the steeping starts, we observe the tea leaves. Leaves from different types of tea come in different shapes, texture and colors. The shapes are typically from the delicate hand rolling. The majority of the workers in a tea garden are women. Imagine how those beautiful girls and ladies pluck the leaves in a sunny spring morning. After the leaves are dried, they hand roll them to form a certain shape and sort them out at the end. Tea is no longer mere leaves but a form of art from beautiful hands.
Second, you pour hot water into the cup. You don’t just sit and wait (and getting bored and even impatient). Watch the leaves unfold and dance up and down slowly. This “agony of the leaves” is necessary for the flavors and nutrients to be released.
Steeping is also about timing. Not too long, not too short. The timing depends on our individual preference in taste.
Finally, we don’t gulp a cup of tea as we do with a can of soda. We sip. Before we sip, we observe the color and the uprising mist of the liquid. We smell the aroma. These are all part of enjoyment of tea.
It all takes time. All the good things in life take time to brew and to enjoy.
Time is the most precious thing. It is also most constant thing as well. We can't get more of it by rushing it. We could potentially lose it if we rush - not only time but also all the great things in life that must be enjoyed with and over time.
A Chinese proverb says it all, “Hurry and impatience prevents the enjoyment of hot tofu.”
You may ask, what about the need for speed and convenience?
Yes, they are some times our friends. They are the propellers of civilization and evolution from nomadic to agriculture to industrial society. Mankind invented automobiles, aircrafts and spacecrafts to move from A to B faster. Fast foods have become a part of our diet in the past decades as more and more families have two working parents and more and more people are into sports, travel and adventures. The faster pace of living demands speed and convenience.
But there is a limit. Overdose of speed and convenience can and have already hurt our quality of life. Recent years have seen increased health problems such as obesity and cancer. More people and families are suffering from stresses of all kinds. Our physical and psychological well being does not improve even though economically we are better off.
It may be time to slow down a little bit and to get back to the basic of life. Tea can help in many ways with its powerful healing power and the lesson it teaches us about time and timing.
Tea: Ordering Green Tea Online
If you’ve started to become a green tea enthusiast, no doubt you’ve realized that there are an overwhelming number of green teas from which to choose. Just the number of green teas varieties in China are too many to list. You may have an interest in trying them all – but that will take you quite a while!
Most green tea is grown in China and Japan, but there are other countries that grow delicious green tea, as well. Sri Lanka produces a Ceylon green tea that has a full body and is somewhat pungent with a nutty or malty flavor.
India produces Darjeeling green tea that combines the bright and grassy flavor of other green teas with the muscatel flavor that gives black Darjeeling teas their distinct flavor. India also produces Assam green teas, which are medium bodied with a bit of a honey flavor.
Excellent green tea is also produced in Vietnam, though few Americans are aware of it. Green tea from Vietnam is decidedly different from green tea from other Asian countries, as it is quite a bit stronger. Vietnamese green tea will taste strong to the point of bitterness at first. However, if you hold Vietnamese green tea in your mouth, the flavor will mellow considerably.
Korea also produces an excellent green tea. Korean green tea from the first pluckings can be some of the most delicate and light of any green tea in the world.
In recent years, even Australia has begun producing green tea. Though little of it is exported outside of Australia, the country is said to be making strides in their tea production and quality. They produce some familiar varieties of green tea like Jasmine flavored green tea.
Kenya produces green tea too, and theirs is said to be fruitier and more floral than many other green teas. Green tea from Kenya is new to the American market, but can be found from a few tea companies. The best Korean green teas are grown in Hadong, where all of the tea is produced entirely by hand.
If you’d like to try a wide variety of green teas from many different countries, you’ll likely need to find one or more online tea stores to do business with. By ordering tea online, you have the whole world of tea at your fingertips without ever leaving your own home.
Even with online ordering, you may have some difficulty locating some of the most obscure green teas, but you’ll certainly have a wider variety of teas available than simply shopping at local tea stores.
You can do your own research to determine some of the green teas you’d like to try and then search for companies that carry them. Or, you can choose one or two of the best online tea companies and begin by sampling what they have to offer.
To ensure that you get the best quality in your green tea, it’s probably wise to choose the latter method. While one good tea company may not have every variety of green tea you’d like to try, you can be assured that you’re getting the best quality tea by only doing business with the most reputable tea purveyors.
Buying sample collections of tea online is a great way to try several varieties without spending a lot of money. Once you’ve sorted out your favorites, you can purchase these in larger quantities.
Some tea companies make sampler packs with a combination of green tea along with black, oolong and white teas. Others will offer a sample that consists strictly of multiple varieties of green tea.
If you choose your online tea companies wisely, you simply can’t go wrong. The best loose tea purveyors work with the best tea gardens in the world to ensure that they have only the finest teas for their customers.
Take the time to ensure that any tea company you buy from has a good reputation and offers a money back guarantee. This guarantee ensures you that if you ever receive a tea that is not of the quality you expect, you can return it – no questions asked.
A good online tea company can be your best ally in the quest to discover many of the world’s green tea varieties. The best tea shops will continue to add new products to their lines, but will only add those that provide the best quality in tea.
As your favorite tea company’s line broadens you can trust that you’re extending your knowledge of the world’s tea without sacrificing the quality of tea you drink.
Discovering green tea is quite a healthy adventure. While you’re finding out just what green teas appeal most to you, you can rest assured that you’re consuming one of the healthiest beverages in the world. Green tea is not only delicious, but has some very important health benefits.
In study after study, green tea has been shown to prevent disease and protect health. Lifelong tea drinkers have lower body weights and are less likely to suffer from heart disease, high cholesterol and cancer. Some studies even indicate that green tea may be able to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
So, go on your search for your favorite online tea shops. They can be your partner in traveling around the world to discover the many healthy and delicious green varieties of green tea!
Most green tea is grown in China and Japan, but there are other countries that grow delicious green tea, as well. Sri Lanka produces a Ceylon green tea that has a full body and is somewhat pungent with a nutty or malty flavor.
India produces Darjeeling green tea that combines the bright and grassy flavor of other green teas with the muscatel flavor that gives black Darjeeling teas their distinct flavor. India also produces Assam green teas, which are medium bodied with a bit of a honey flavor.
Excellent green tea is also produced in Vietnam, though few Americans are aware of it. Green tea from Vietnam is decidedly different from green tea from other Asian countries, as it is quite a bit stronger. Vietnamese green tea will taste strong to the point of bitterness at first. However, if you hold Vietnamese green tea in your mouth, the flavor will mellow considerably.
Korea also produces an excellent green tea. Korean green tea from the first pluckings can be some of the most delicate and light of any green tea in the world.
In recent years, even Australia has begun producing green tea. Though little of it is exported outside of Australia, the country is said to be making strides in their tea production and quality. They produce some familiar varieties of green tea like Jasmine flavored green tea.
Kenya produces green tea too, and theirs is said to be fruitier and more floral than many other green teas. Green tea from Kenya is new to the American market, but can be found from a few tea companies. The best Korean green teas are grown in Hadong, where all of the tea is produced entirely by hand.
If you’d like to try a wide variety of green teas from many different countries, you’ll likely need to find one or more online tea stores to do business with. By ordering tea online, you have the whole world of tea at your fingertips without ever leaving your own home.
Even with online ordering, you may have some difficulty locating some of the most obscure green teas, but you’ll certainly have a wider variety of teas available than simply shopping at local tea stores.
You can do your own research to determine some of the green teas you’d like to try and then search for companies that carry them. Or, you can choose one or two of the best online tea companies and begin by sampling what they have to offer.
To ensure that you get the best quality in your green tea, it’s probably wise to choose the latter method. While one good tea company may not have every variety of green tea you’d like to try, you can be assured that you’re getting the best quality tea by only doing business with the most reputable tea purveyors.
Buying sample collections of tea online is a great way to try several varieties without spending a lot of money. Once you’ve sorted out your favorites, you can purchase these in larger quantities.
Some tea companies make sampler packs with a combination of green tea along with black, oolong and white teas. Others will offer a sample that consists strictly of multiple varieties of green tea.
If you choose your online tea companies wisely, you simply can’t go wrong. The best loose tea purveyors work with the best tea gardens in the world to ensure that they have only the finest teas for their customers.
Take the time to ensure that any tea company you buy from has a good reputation and offers a money back guarantee. This guarantee ensures you that if you ever receive a tea that is not of the quality you expect, you can return it – no questions asked.
A good online tea company can be your best ally in the quest to discover many of the world’s green tea varieties. The best tea shops will continue to add new products to their lines, but will only add those that provide the best quality in tea.
As your favorite tea company’s line broadens you can trust that you’re extending your knowledge of the world’s tea without sacrificing the quality of tea you drink.
Discovering green tea is quite a healthy adventure. While you’re finding out just what green teas appeal most to you, you can rest assured that you’re consuming one of the healthiest beverages in the world. Green tea is not only delicious, but has some very important health benefits.
In study after study, green tea has been shown to prevent disease and protect health. Lifelong tea drinkers have lower body weights and are less likely to suffer from heart disease, high cholesterol and cancer. Some studies even indicate that green tea may be able to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
So, go on your search for your favorite online tea shops. They can be your partner in traveling around the world to discover the many healthy and delicious green varieties of green tea!
Tea: How Do You Drink White Tea?
Tea is the world’s most popular beverage, next to water. But, some people are still fairly new to tea drinking, and are still learning the popular varieties and deciding which ones are they like best.
One of the tea varieties that’s most popular today is white tea. White tea comes from the same plant as black and green teas, the camellia sinensis. What makes white tea different is when it is harvested and how it’s processed. White tea is harvested much earlier than other teas, before the leaves are fully open.
At this point in the growing process, the tea buds are still covered by fine white hair, which is why it’s referred to as white tea. Unlike other types of tea, both buds and leaves are used in white tea. White tea undergoes very little processing, and is not fermented.
The leaves are simply steamed (or occasionally fired) and then dried. Sometimes, tea harvesters will even steam the leaves right in the field, and then let them dry in the sun.
Fewer people are familiar with white tea in part because over the years there’s been far less white tea grown and processed than other teas. In fact, many years ago white tea was reserved for use at the highest tea ceremonies, and was considered tea for the elite.
Even today, less white tea is grown in the world than other types of tea. However, as it gains popularity, it’s likely that more of a tea garden’s harvest may be devoted to white tea. However, at least for now, white tea is rarer than black and green teas, and therefore more expensive.
White tea is a very healthy beverage. Because it undergoes very little processing, white tea retains its anti-oxidants. In fact, it’s estimated that white tea contains an even higher and more effective anti-oxidant level than green tea. There have been very few studies on white tea’s ability to prevent and help treat disease.
However, since white tea’s anti-oxidants are similar to those of green tea, about which much research exists to suggest health benefits, it’s assumed that white tea carries those same benefits. Green tea’s anti-oxidants have been shown to fight diseases like cancer, heart disease and high cholesterol. In addition, white tea has been shown to boost your immune system, improving your body’s ability to fight diseases, particularly infections.
So, What Does It Taste Like?
White tea is paler in color and has less aroma than black and green tea. Its flavor is light and slightly sweet. You won’t find a white tea with the bold flavors you can find in black and green teas. If brewed properly, it has no bitterness and no after taste. In addition, it lacks the grassy flavor that you often find in green tea.
How to Brew
You’ll brew white tea in much the same way as black or green tea. Use fresh, cold tap water, or filtered water. Put the water in a clean tea kettle and put it on the stove to heat. While the water is heating, put hot tap water into your teapot to warm it up. Bring the water to a boil and then remove it from the heat for sixty seconds.
White tea should be brewed with water that is somewhere between 170 and 185° F. By bringing the water to a boil and then letting it sit for one minute, you should ensure just the right temperature for white tea.
During this sixty second lull, remove the hot tap water from your teapot and add the white tea leaves. White tea is less dense and compact than black and green tea, so you’ll need to use more. Begin with two teaspoons per cup as a starting point, adjusting to your taste.
White tea should be steeped for about 5-8 minutes, depending upon your taste. It will be pale; don’t expect it to gain the color you’re used to seeing with black tea. Read the steeping directions carefully, white tea’s steeping recommendations can vary greatly. There are even some white teas that should be steeped for up to 15 minutes.
Because of its slightly sweet flavor, it’s recommended that you not sweeten white tea. In fact, tea connoisseurs suggest that white tea be consumed without any additives for best flavor. In addition to being delicious hot, white tea is also very good iced.
As you experiment with white tea, you’ll find varieties you particularly enjoy. Some will have a bit more of a flower flavor and some will be fuller bodied than others, though none will match the body of a black or green tea.
As you get to know white tea, buy just a little of a variety until you decide whether or not it’s right for you. Since white tea (particularly in loose form) is so expensive, it’s not wise to buy a large quantity until you know whether or not you’ll like it.
White tea is available today in bag form and ready to drink bottles, as well. However, nothing matches the flavor of brewing a cup of white tea at home from loose tea leaves and drinking it while it’s still steaming. Give white tea a try; you’re sure to love its sweet and refreshing flavor.
One of the tea varieties that’s most popular today is white tea. White tea comes from the same plant as black and green teas, the camellia sinensis. What makes white tea different is when it is harvested and how it’s processed. White tea is harvested much earlier than other teas, before the leaves are fully open.
At this point in the growing process, the tea buds are still covered by fine white hair, which is why it’s referred to as white tea. Unlike other types of tea, both buds and leaves are used in white tea. White tea undergoes very little processing, and is not fermented.
The leaves are simply steamed (or occasionally fired) and then dried. Sometimes, tea harvesters will even steam the leaves right in the field, and then let them dry in the sun.
Fewer people are familiar with white tea in part because over the years there’s been far less white tea grown and processed than other teas. In fact, many years ago white tea was reserved for use at the highest tea ceremonies, and was considered tea for the elite.
Even today, less white tea is grown in the world than other types of tea. However, as it gains popularity, it’s likely that more of a tea garden’s harvest may be devoted to white tea. However, at least for now, white tea is rarer than black and green teas, and therefore more expensive.
White tea is a very healthy beverage. Because it undergoes very little processing, white tea retains its anti-oxidants. In fact, it’s estimated that white tea contains an even higher and more effective anti-oxidant level than green tea. There have been very few studies on white tea’s ability to prevent and help treat disease.
However, since white tea’s anti-oxidants are similar to those of green tea, about which much research exists to suggest health benefits, it’s assumed that white tea carries those same benefits. Green tea’s anti-oxidants have been shown to fight diseases like cancer, heart disease and high cholesterol. In addition, white tea has been shown to boost your immune system, improving your body’s ability to fight diseases, particularly infections.
So, What Does It Taste Like?
White tea is paler in color and has less aroma than black and green tea. Its flavor is light and slightly sweet. You won’t find a white tea with the bold flavors you can find in black and green teas. If brewed properly, it has no bitterness and no after taste. In addition, it lacks the grassy flavor that you often find in green tea.
How to Brew
You’ll brew white tea in much the same way as black or green tea. Use fresh, cold tap water, or filtered water. Put the water in a clean tea kettle and put it on the stove to heat. While the water is heating, put hot tap water into your teapot to warm it up. Bring the water to a boil and then remove it from the heat for sixty seconds.
White tea should be brewed with water that is somewhere between 170 and 185° F. By bringing the water to a boil and then letting it sit for one minute, you should ensure just the right temperature for white tea.
During this sixty second lull, remove the hot tap water from your teapot and add the white tea leaves. White tea is less dense and compact than black and green tea, so you’ll need to use more. Begin with two teaspoons per cup as a starting point, adjusting to your taste.
White tea should be steeped for about 5-8 minutes, depending upon your taste. It will be pale; don’t expect it to gain the color you’re used to seeing with black tea. Read the steeping directions carefully, white tea’s steeping recommendations can vary greatly. There are even some white teas that should be steeped for up to 15 minutes.
Because of its slightly sweet flavor, it’s recommended that you not sweeten white tea. In fact, tea connoisseurs suggest that white tea be consumed without any additives for best flavor. In addition to being delicious hot, white tea is also very good iced.
As you experiment with white tea, you’ll find varieties you particularly enjoy. Some will have a bit more of a flower flavor and some will be fuller bodied than others, though none will match the body of a black or green tea.
As you get to know white tea, buy just a little of a variety until you decide whether or not it’s right for you. Since white tea (particularly in loose form) is so expensive, it’s not wise to buy a large quantity until you know whether or not you’ll like it.
White tea is available today in bag form and ready to drink bottles, as well. However, nothing matches the flavor of brewing a cup of white tea at home from loose tea leaves and drinking it while it’s still steaming. Give white tea a try; you’re sure to love its sweet and refreshing flavor.
Secrets of green tea
The western world may recently have awakened to the benefits of green tea, but it has been around for centuries in China and Japan as the beverage of choice for the classes and the masses alike. The Chinese and Japanese have always believed that a regular intake of green tea means a longer, healthier life. In the early 1990s, scientists proved this belief to be true when a survey of 3,000 Japanese women showed that those who drank green tea lived longer than those who did not.
Now I come to the 'healthier' part. Continued research has also proved that green tea actually offers protection against cardiac ailments, liver disorders, and acts as an antibacterial agent for the immune system. The reason for this is the presence of strong antioxidants in green tea. Essentially, green tea contains a group of chemicals called catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). That's a mouthful, but EGCG is a very powerful antioxidant that hinders the growth of carcinogenic cells and even, according to some researches, kills cancerous cells without damaging healthy tissue. EGCC also lowers LDL or 'bad' cholesterol levels, and reduces the risk of blood clots, which in turn reduces the risk of thrombosis, the leading cause of cardiac attacks and strokes.
Doesn't that seem an awful lot for one antioxidant to do? But I haven't finished. Green tea also contains caffeine, vitamins like E and C and several minerals. Caffeine, as the world knows, is a mild anti-depressant that stimulates the skeletal muscles and assists muscular contraction, while the vitamins and minerals hinder the ageing process.
And I haven't even told you about the weight loss benefits of green tea yet. In plain terms, green tea burns fat, lots of it. In fact, it has what are scientifically called thermogenic properties, which means it actively promotes fat oxidation.
In fact, a Japanese study conducted on two separate groups of men of similar size (based upon body mass index and waist circumference) has shown that if all other conditions like diet and calorie intake remain equal, people who ingest a greater amount of polyphenols present in green tea will lose more weight than those who ingested a lower volume of polyphenols.
Now I come to the 'healthier' part. Continued research has also proved that green tea actually offers protection against cardiac ailments, liver disorders, and acts as an antibacterial agent for the immune system. The reason for this is the presence of strong antioxidants in green tea. Essentially, green tea contains a group of chemicals called catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). That's a mouthful, but EGCG is a very powerful antioxidant that hinders the growth of carcinogenic cells and even, according to some researches, kills cancerous cells without damaging healthy tissue. EGCC also lowers LDL or 'bad' cholesterol levels, and reduces the risk of blood clots, which in turn reduces the risk of thrombosis, the leading cause of cardiac attacks and strokes.
Doesn't that seem an awful lot for one antioxidant to do? But I haven't finished. Green tea also contains caffeine, vitamins like E and C and several minerals. Caffeine, as the world knows, is a mild anti-depressant that stimulates the skeletal muscles and assists muscular contraction, while the vitamins and minerals hinder the ageing process.
And I haven't even told you about the weight loss benefits of green tea yet. In plain terms, green tea burns fat, lots of it. In fact, it has what are scientifically called thermogenic properties, which means it actively promotes fat oxidation.
In fact, a Japanese study conducted on two separate groups of men of similar size (based upon body mass index and waist circumference) has shown that if all other conditions like diet and calorie intake remain equal, people who ingest a greater amount of polyphenols present in green tea will lose more weight than those who ingested a lower volume of polyphenols.
Sipping Tea to Get Rid of Insomnia
We are living in a 24/7 society where everything is fast-paced and life is run with the push of a button. But the irony of it is that at the end of the day, when your mind and body ache to retire for a much needed rest, sleep becomes elusive.
While some people can sleep and snore as soon as their bodies hit the bed or even as their heads rest on a bus seat, others find it very difficult to keep their eyes shut despite of their tiredness. There is more to sleep than just lying in bed and closing your eyes, then opening them the next day. Sleep is a dynamic activity. It is something goes on while you're asleep, such as regeneration of the brain and consolidation of memories.
Most people experience having insomnia from time to time. But if insomnia lasts for a month or longer with no relief, it becomes chronic insomnia. People with chronic insomnia can often get help for their condition from a doctor, therapist, or other counselor.
Modern technology, however, has come up with a number of sleep aid products to help sleep problems. There's an herb-scented “insomnia relief” face mask, a specially rigged pillow with soothing music, or a bracelet massage for your wrist as you lull yourself to sleep. Some people who can't sleep with a light on may opt for eye masks. Light on the eyes affects the biological clock in our brain, which drives wakefulness or might make for a disturbed sleep.
There are white-noise generators aimed at providing stimulus control. These replicate the sounds of sea waves or waterfalls at a constant low level and mask other noises that may be picked up by the brain. These sounds actually help promote calmness and eventually, better control over one's emotions and thoughts.
Aside from these sleep aid products, mushrooming around the country are several rent-by-the-minute sleep aid services such as “snoozing suites” or “catnap rooms” that are available for weary travelers and shoppers. Getting a good night sleep requires several sleep cycles consisting of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and the four stages of non-rapid eye movement sleep. Each complete cycle lasts about 90 minutes. Should this pattern get interrupted, drowsiness will be experienced the next day.
Inducing a comfortable and restful sleep is a matter of personal comfort. Some kids can manage by hugging a teddy bear, while there are adults who get by listening to a relaxing music. Other sleep aid treatments are more common such as a glass of warm milk before going to bed. Milk is known to contain trytophan, a chemical that helps induce sleep. Another beverage that is good for dealing with sleeplessness is Chamomile tea which is an herbal alternative that is considered safe and approved by FDA. Getting regular exercise in the morning can help induce sleep in the evening. Do not engage in any strenuous activity before bed time. While relaxation and meditation can tame intrusive thoughts and tension, acupuncture, on the other hand, is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat insomnia. Avoid worrying as it hampers a good night sleep and allows you to produce stress hormones that can make you awake.
With regards to sleep aid pills, always discuss the nature of your condition with your doctor before taking any sleeping medications to avoid side effects and drug dependency.
While some people can sleep and snore as soon as their bodies hit the bed or even as their heads rest on a bus seat, others find it very difficult to keep their eyes shut despite of their tiredness. There is more to sleep than just lying in bed and closing your eyes, then opening them the next day. Sleep is a dynamic activity. It is something goes on while you're asleep, such as regeneration of the brain and consolidation of memories.
Most people experience having insomnia from time to time. But if insomnia lasts for a month or longer with no relief, it becomes chronic insomnia. People with chronic insomnia can often get help for their condition from a doctor, therapist, or other counselor.
Modern technology, however, has come up with a number of sleep aid products to help sleep problems. There's an herb-scented “insomnia relief” face mask, a specially rigged pillow with soothing music, or a bracelet massage for your wrist as you lull yourself to sleep. Some people who can't sleep with a light on may opt for eye masks. Light on the eyes affects the biological clock in our brain, which drives wakefulness or might make for a disturbed sleep.
There are white-noise generators aimed at providing stimulus control. These replicate the sounds of sea waves or waterfalls at a constant low level and mask other noises that may be picked up by the brain. These sounds actually help promote calmness and eventually, better control over one's emotions and thoughts.
Aside from these sleep aid products, mushrooming around the country are several rent-by-the-minute sleep aid services such as “snoozing suites” or “catnap rooms” that are available for weary travelers and shoppers. Getting a good night sleep requires several sleep cycles consisting of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and the four stages of non-rapid eye movement sleep. Each complete cycle lasts about 90 minutes. Should this pattern get interrupted, drowsiness will be experienced the next day.
Inducing a comfortable and restful sleep is a matter of personal comfort. Some kids can manage by hugging a teddy bear, while there are adults who get by listening to a relaxing music. Other sleep aid treatments are more common such as a glass of warm milk before going to bed. Milk is known to contain trytophan, a chemical that helps induce sleep. Another beverage that is good for dealing with sleeplessness is Chamomile tea which is an herbal alternative that is considered safe and approved by FDA. Getting regular exercise in the morning can help induce sleep in the evening. Do not engage in any strenuous activity before bed time. While relaxation and meditation can tame intrusive thoughts and tension, acupuncture, on the other hand, is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat insomnia. Avoid worrying as it hampers a good night sleep and allows you to produce stress hormones that can make you awake.
With regards to sleep aid pills, always discuss the nature of your condition with your doctor before taking any sleeping medications to avoid side effects and drug dependency.
Teas And Your Health
There are many teas that have been drunk throughout the ages. They are basically infusions of plants, usually the leaves and sometimes the flowers, by boiling them with water. Teas can be drunk hot or cold and are used for a variety of ailments. Teas of different sorts are drunk worldwide.
The official tea that we drink is the second most popular beverage and grown in the mountainous regions of China, India, Sir Lanka, Vietnam, Nepal, Georgia, Japan, Kenya, Malawi and Taiwan. The tea we drink is taken from the top leaves and the buds of the Camellia Sinensis tree. These leaves are specially dried and then crushed for maximum flavor.
Tea is a mild stimulant, with small amounts of caffeine. It has far less than its counterpart coffee. It also has small amounts of vitamin A, B2, C, D, K, and P. there are also trace amounts of some minerals. Overall it is good for your health. It is recommended that about 3 cups of tea and more should be drunk a day to get the healthful qualities of this beverage.
There are 4 common forms of tea are:
Black tea
White tea
Oolong tea
Green tea
Black tea is the most common form of tea and is known as the famous “English tea” as this is drunk predominantly in Britain and the Western world. This tea is drunk hot but can also be used to brew the famous iced tea. It is made from the leaves of the tea plant and is completely fermented. This results in its darker color. It is more of a stimulant than the other teas and a more intense taste. Sometimes it is drunk with lemon but most commonly with milk.
White tea comes from the bud of the tea plant. It undergoes little or no processing (fermenting or oxidizing) this brings out the antioxidants but will reduce the stimulant quality of this tea. Because the buds can only be harvested in the spring season this tea is not so common and fairly expensive.
Oolong tea is fermented more than green tea but less than black. Research has shown that this tea helps the digestive system and is good for metabolism.
Green tea is also not fermented like white tea but is made from more mature leaves so is much more common and affordable. This tea was predominantly drunk in the Orient namely Japan and China, but is gaining new ground in the West as research is showing the beneficial properties of this form of tea. Again it has more antitoxins (flavonoids) and is less of a stimulant. Added to this it has vitamin C and fluoride.
Tea Houses are becoming very popular especially in fashionable areas of Europe like Paris. As more research comes to light we will hear more about the benefits of this popular drink. So the next time you relax with a good refreshing cup of tea you can rest assured that your favorite beverage is also good for your health.
The official tea that we drink is the second most popular beverage and grown in the mountainous regions of China, India, Sir Lanka, Vietnam, Nepal, Georgia, Japan, Kenya, Malawi and Taiwan. The tea we drink is taken from the top leaves and the buds of the Camellia Sinensis tree. These leaves are specially dried and then crushed for maximum flavor.
Tea is a mild stimulant, with small amounts of caffeine. It has far less than its counterpart coffee. It also has small amounts of vitamin A, B2, C, D, K, and P. there are also trace amounts of some minerals. Overall it is good for your health. It is recommended that about 3 cups of tea and more should be drunk a day to get the healthful qualities of this beverage.
There are 4 common forms of tea are:
Black tea
White tea
Oolong tea
Green tea
Black tea is the most common form of tea and is known as the famous “English tea” as this is drunk predominantly in Britain and the Western world. This tea is drunk hot but can also be used to brew the famous iced tea. It is made from the leaves of the tea plant and is completely fermented. This results in its darker color. It is more of a stimulant than the other teas and a more intense taste. Sometimes it is drunk with lemon but most commonly with milk.
White tea comes from the bud of the tea plant. It undergoes little or no processing (fermenting or oxidizing) this brings out the antioxidants but will reduce the stimulant quality of this tea. Because the buds can only be harvested in the spring season this tea is not so common and fairly expensive.
Oolong tea is fermented more than green tea but less than black. Research has shown that this tea helps the digestive system and is good for metabolism.
Green tea is also not fermented like white tea but is made from more mature leaves so is much more common and affordable. This tea was predominantly drunk in the Orient namely Japan and China, but is gaining new ground in the West as research is showing the beneficial properties of this form of tea. Again it has more antitoxins (flavonoids) and is less of a stimulant. Added to this it has vitamin C and fluoride.
Tea Houses are becoming very popular especially in fashionable areas of Europe like Paris. As more research comes to light we will hear more about the benefits of this popular drink. So the next time you relax with a good refreshing cup of tea you can rest assured that your favorite beverage is also good for your health.
All About The Chinese Diet Green Tea: Good For Diet?
Did you know that during the Boston Tea Party, the tea that was dumped into the harbor was mostly Chinese green tea? Well, this delightful beverage has been around for thousands of years and has been part of the Chinese diet since the ancient times. Today, it is highly appreciated for its advantages. As numerous studies have found out, the Chinese diet green tea has a significant number of health benefits.
Origin and Background
As noted, Chinese green tea has been around for thousands of year, approximately 4,000 years. Legend has it that this delightful brew was discovered accidentally by a Chinese emperor. It comes from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis, as traditional black tea and oolong tea. And, for centuries, Chinese medicine has used it to treat headaches, digestive problems, lack of energy, and immune enhancement.
The Chinese diet green tea is actually produced by steaming the fresh tea leaves at high temperatures, leaving a significant part of the nutritional enzyme content intact. Unlike the black and oolong tea, the green tea is never fermented. Instead, its leaves bypass the fermenting process and steamed, baked or pan heated. The leaves are rolled and those tightly rolled leaves have long been considered as a sign of quality.
Chinese Diet Green Tea for Weight Loss
One particular claim that linked the Chinese green tea to diet is its being a miracle tea for weight loss. Well, there is no such thing as a “miracle” weight loss food or drug though, but several indications were revealed that Chinese green tea brings a number of benefits to those trying to lose weight.
It was revealed that green tea extracts are capable of reducing fat digestion by inhibiting digestive enzymes. Other studies have shown that green tea has thermogenic properties, which are probably brought on by the interaction between its caffeine content and catechin polyphenols. As you may know, thermogenesis is the process of the body burning fuel without making chemical energy.
Experts have said that of combined with the other weight loss supplements or techniques, the Chinese green tea could be an excellent addition to your diet.
Other Benefits
There are also other benefits connected with the intake of Chinese diet green tea. One of those is the claim that the polyphenols found in green tea have been shown to inhibit growth of cancer cells. The polyphenols appear to block the formation of cancer-causing compounds, and it is believed that the Chinese diet green tea has the greatest benefit on cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.
The Chinese diet green tea polyphenols are also powerful anti-oxidants. They are even more powerful than vitamin C and vitamin E, and more powerful than that found in many fruits and vegetables. The green tea itself contains vitamin C.
Further researches even found out that the compounds in green tea stimulate immune system cells. In recent years, research has shown that green tea may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. It is even good for the teeth as it contain fluoride that helps fight tooth decay.
Having said all these, I think that now is the right time to brew up a bit of Chinese diet green teas for a beneficial break in your day.
Origin and Background
As noted, Chinese green tea has been around for thousands of year, approximately 4,000 years. Legend has it that this delightful brew was discovered accidentally by a Chinese emperor. It comes from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis, as traditional black tea and oolong tea. And, for centuries, Chinese medicine has used it to treat headaches, digestive problems, lack of energy, and immune enhancement.
The Chinese diet green tea is actually produced by steaming the fresh tea leaves at high temperatures, leaving a significant part of the nutritional enzyme content intact. Unlike the black and oolong tea, the green tea is never fermented. Instead, its leaves bypass the fermenting process and steamed, baked or pan heated. The leaves are rolled and those tightly rolled leaves have long been considered as a sign of quality.
Chinese Diet Green Tea for Weight Loss
One particular claim that linked the Chinese green tea to diet is its being a miracle tea for weight loss. Well, there is no such thing as a “miracle” weight loss food or drug though, but several indications were revealed that Chinese green tea brings a number of benefits to those trying to lose weight.
It was revealed that green tea extracts are capable of reducing fat digestion by inhibiting digestive enzymes. Other studies have shown that green tea has thermogenic properties, which are probably brought on by the interaction between its caffeine content and catechin polyphenols. As you may know, thermogenesis is the process of the body burning fuel without making chemical energy.
Experts have said that of combined with the other weight loss supplements or techniques, the Chinese green tea could be an excellent addition to your diet.
Other Benefits
There are also other benefits connected with the intake of Chinese diet green tea. One of those is the claim that the polyphenols found in green tea have been shown to inhibit growth of cancer cells. The polyphenols appear to block the formation of cancer-causing compounds, and it is believed that the Chinese diet green tea has the greatest benefit on cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.
The Chinese diet green tea polyphenols are also powerful anti-oxidants. They are even more powerful than vitamin C and vitamin E, and more powerful than that found in many fruits and vegetables. The green tea itself contains vitamin C.
Further researches even found out that the compounds in green tea stimulate immune system cells. In recent years, research has shown that green tea may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. It is even good for the teeth as it contain fluoride that helps fight tooth decay.
Having said all these, I think that now is the right time to brew up a bit of Chinese diet green teas for a beneficial break in your day.
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