Green Tea Benefits

Green Tea Benefits are in the Cup!

Green tea benefits are becoming attributed to green tea's principle catechin, EGCG (Epigallocatechin 3-gallate). EGCG is a potent antioxidant.

Years of research point to green tea benefits for health, especially for fighting cancer and heart disease. Additionally, other studies have looked at green tea's potential for preventing stroke, reducing the onset of diabetes, and in lowering cholesterol.

Boost your green tea benefits by doing what your mother always told you. Eat your fruit and veggies, go outside and play, and get plenty of sleep. Oh yeah . . . drink all the green tea you want!

Green tea is one of the four major
tea types and the oldest of the teas.

It could be said that all teas start as green tea. It is how the freshly plucked tea leaves are processed that determines the type of tea it will become.

Green tea leaves are not oxidized but rather fixed by either pan firing in a wok (China) or steamed (Japan) to prevent oxidation. Therefore green teas maintain their natural green color and vegetative taste and smell.

Common Green Teas:

Lung Ching:

One of the finest Chinese green teas. The term Lung Ching means Dragon Well. Legend has it, that Dragon Well derived its name from a kindhearted dragon who lived in local wells. A severe drought caused a monk to call forth a lucky dragon. The prayers to the lucky dragon were rewarded with rain that saved the local crops.

Sencha:

The most popular green tea in Japan. Sencha is in such demand it is now produced in China as well. Sencha is machine harvested and steamed and has a distinct fresh aroma and refreshing taste.

Gunpowder:

Gunpowder green tea gets its name because of the fact it resembles gunpowder used in canons of long ago. The leaves are withered, steamed, rolled, and dried into their pellet-like shape. It is commonly sold as Temple of Heaven gun powder green tea.

Does Green Tea Contain Caffeine?

Yes, unless it is decaffeinated. Even then it contains a very small amount.

The caffeine content of tea depends on multiple factors. It depends on the particular tea, how it is brewed, and whether it is loose leaf tea or a tea bag.

In general for loose leaf green teas, a good all around average amount of caffeine in a 6 oz serving is about 22 mg.

Decaffeinated tea is not caffeine free, it still contains around 2-4 mg of caffeine per serving. To be safe, if you must avoid all caffeine, drink herbal infusions except Yerba Mate, which does contain caffeine along with theobromine and theophylline which are also stimulants.

What is the best green tea?

Simply, the one you like!

Try Emperor's Pride Mao Feng Tea if you are looking for a green tea that does not get bitter.