Let's Have The Green Tea Facts!
Here are the Green Tea facts
– all about a wonderful health giving drink.
Firstly, All teas come from the same plant; the internationally loved Camellia Sinensis.
It is a shrub native to Asia and can grow up to 50 feet if not pruned carefully. Green, white and black teas are classifications that come from the amount of oxidisation that takes place in the leaves.
This amount is determined by the processing of the leaves.
The tea plants are grown in large plantations in neat rows where they can be tended carefully.
The new green leaves at the tops of the shrubs are plucked by hand by pickers who traditionally collect these in baskets slung over their backs.
The baskets are emptied into vehicles that take them to the sheds where they are processed. Here they are ‘withered’ in the sun and then ‘bruised’ by hand to begin enzymatic activity.
Then the leaves are steamed only a little to prevent any more than a very little oxidisation.
Green tea leaves are the healthiest due to the lack of fermentation and oxidisation.
The anti-oxidants they contain are well preserved and these give the great health benefits. Green teas taste green - grassy and fresh.
Studies have shown and more are in progress, that green tea has the ability to effective in preventing cancer of the skin, oesophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas, lung, bladder, prostate and breast.
Read about the other health benefits that are being attributed to green tea.
Green tea contains chemicals known as polyphenols; the major group being catechins. The most important of these is EGCG (epigallocatechin-gallate). EGCG inhibits the spread of damaged cells and actually rejuvenates and revitalises cells.
Green tea is such a healthy addition to your diet – you only need 4-6 cups a day to make a wonderful difference! Get brewing!
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