green tea and loose green tea can yield many benefits
What is ? Camellia sinensis

You would think that the definition would be self-explanatory – it’s tea that’s green. But that doesn’t really cover it.

All teas whatever their color whether they are white teas, black tea or green teas come from an evergreen tea called Camellia sinensis which is related to the . The plant itself is very ornamental and it thrives in warm areas and the tropics, though it also grows in mountains and high altitudes. One of the Chinese green teas ‘Hsüeh-ch’a’ is reported to thrive as high as the snow line in the Lingchiangfu Mountains.

How was discovered, or at least, the legend

Loose was first discovered in China approximately 3,000 years ago. Although the exact way in which was discovered is likely more of a legend than fact, the same story continues to circulate even today. In fact, the story about how was discovered adds to the mystique and charm of this Chinese tea.

It begins with the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty being at a campsite with some of his men. He took a walk one day near the forest’s edge while his men remained behind to boil water for dinner when suddenly, a huge gust of wind blew through the campsite, causing leaves from a nearby Camellia sinensis plant to fall into the pot of water. Instead of wasting the water by throwing it out, the men left it with the leaves inside.

Returning to the campsite, the Emperor was advised of the incident and being an herbalist, he decided to taste the concoction, finding it refreshing, which was the day that loose was created. Over many years, other Chinese herbalists noticed that in addition to the wonderful flavor, benefits also existed specific to health.

With tea being a vital part of the Chinese lifestyle, it was common for people to drink one to five cups a day. Herbalists and men who practiced Chinese medicine saw that people who drank were healthier than those that drank another kind of tea or no tea at all. With the soothing flavor and belief that contained medicinal properties, word quickly spread to other countries and its popularity grew.

green tea tablets and green tea dietary supplements can lead to many green tea benefits. benefits

While people were learning of all the benefits of , healing components still needed to be identified and understood. Approximately 15 years ago, really captured the attention of medical doctors, researchers, and scientists, leading to intensified research. Findings from hundreds of targeted studies confirmed what ancient Chinese herbalists believed – this type of tea is flavorful and calming but it also provides some major benefits.

With each new publication releasing more and more information about to the public, sales started to skyrocket. It is always best to drink the highest quality loose leaf available but new formulas make it easier for people on the go or those that do not drink tea to enjoy the same benefits. As a result, tablets and supplements were developed, which offer the same healthy properties.

contains powerful antioxidants known as polyphenols that prevent disease but also fight existing disease. These antioxidants have been proven to stop the development of high blood pressure, heart disease, and many forms of cancer. While additional research is needed, it is also believed that benefits include the battle against Alzheimer’s disease.

Because of the processing method used to make , caffeine levels are low. Therefore, people can enjoy in the morning with breakfast, relax with a cup prior to going to bed, and drink several cups throughout the day without feeling jittery. Loose is not only delicious and effective, but also 100% safe. Whether using extract in another type of beverage or food, taking tablets, or making a cup using loose leaves or bags, the results would be the same, as long as the tea is of high quality.

How is prepared

green tea leaves, loose green tea, and green tea benefits is the least processed of all the leaves and it is steamed rather than oxidized. By contrast, black tea is leaves that have been oxidized. The freshly harvested leaves are steamed immediately which prevents them from fermenting and preserves the rich green color. They are then dried by hot air until they are crisp which preserves the flavor and seals in the flavor which is very close to that of the fresh leaf.

In the wild tea plant can reach a height of around ten meters or thirty feet, but on tea plantations they are cut back hard to about three feet. There are two reasons for this the height is perfect for the tea pickers to take the leaves from the plant without destroying the plant as tea picking is a highly skilled job. Also the leaves are present all the year around and the pruning encourages new growth to maximize tea production.

The sub-species C. sinensis assamica or Assam tea can grow to over fifty feet in height. All tea plants belong to the Camellia sinensis species, but visually they can be very distinct. The rainfall, altitude and local humidty affects the shape and the size of the tea leaf, but generally these are cosmetic differences. The distinct and unique flavors of green, black, white and oolong teas develop from the processing method rather than where they have come from.

The Chinese believe that the new green shoots are the very essence of spring, they encapsulate birth and growth. has always been the tea of choice in South East Asia partly for its mild fragrant fresh taste but also because of its beneficial phytonutrients. In fact the Chinese drank as a medicine for hundreds of years before it became a popular beverage. As the tea is not fermented it retains its health giving properties which are broken down when tea is oxidized. has the lowest caffeine levels of all the teas.