Hundreds of years ago, before innovative processing methods were developed leaves were simply set outside where they dried in the sun.  After drying, leaves would then be stored.  Thanks to the creation of Chinese green tea, it is now the favorite of all tea varieties in the world.

While black tea soon followed and was a welcomed choice, green tea is still the most valued.

Production of Green Tea

Green tea is a great choice and for people from Asia, they depend on this type of tea, as well as other varieties such as Chinese black tea as a part of life.  Even people in westernized worlds love green tea with the most of it coming from China or Japan.

While tea from Asian countries is excellent, green tea is also grown in India and Sri Lanka.  Interesting, the flavor of green tea has a distinct flavor depending on where it was grown and processed.  For instance, green tea that is grown in India and Sri Lanka is less common but delicious.  In fact, most people have no clue that tea is even grown in these countries.  Even so, after you sip a cup of green tea from either country, you would be impressed.

Green Tea from Sri Lanka

Green tea grown in Sri Lanka is known as Ceylon, which grows in the highlands of the country covering only about four square miles of land.  Tea from this part of the world has full flavor with a malty or nutty undertone.  Unlike other varieties of green tea, Ceylon tea is bright colored and bold.

You would even find that the leaves of Ceylon tea are much darker prior to being brewed and once brewed, the tea is darker and richer.  This type of exotic tea is made in the same way as green tea from China and the leaves have the same size and shape as many Chinese green tea varieties to include gunpowder green tea.

While tea from Sri Lanka is delicious, it accounts for only a very small amount of tea exported.  However, with such great response to this herbal tea, it is expected that production levels will rise.  Now, if you have had Chinese and Japanese green tea, once you taste the flavor of Ceylon tea, you will likely be surprised at the difference.

Green Tea from India

Green tea produced in India comes in two types, which includes Darjeeling and Assam.  Both are considered healthy tea that provides wonderful flavors, making them very popular.

With Assam tea, it is grown in the northeast part of the country right on the Burma border.  In this region, loose black tea is also grown, producing more than 1.5 million pounds annually.  However, for Assam green tea, this is a newer option but many people find it favorable.  This tea is medium bodied with great flavor with a hint of malt and a slight touch of honey.

When brewing Assam green tea, you would not taste any bitterness.  For this reason, it makes an excellent all-around choice.  Now, for black tea, most often it is blended with other teas rather than served alone whereas Assam green teas are standalone and not blended.

The other type of Indian green tea is Darjeeling, which has to grow at 4,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level.  At this height, temperatures are cool with a slight mist.  These qualities coupled with soil that drains well results in an amazing and distinct flavor of green tea, which people find relaxing.

In fact, people from Great Britain prefer Darjeeling black tea, often used for afternoon teatime.  The first tea colonies in India were actually started by the British as a means of supporting production of tea from Asia.

The Darjeeling region of India has long been great for growing tea and to experience the fields, tourists can enjoy a tram ride up the Himalayan, looking at the gorgeous crops that grow in tea gardens.

Throughout the entire world, Darjeeling is one of the largest of all regions that produce tea yet when it comes to green tea; it holds only a small portion of the market.  One thing for sure is that this type of green is that it is unique, different from green tea grown anywhere else.  This type of green tea has a hint of flower and it has a milder body than black tea produced in Darjeeling.

With a grassy flavor as well that you would expect from green tea, Darjeeling tea is often characterized as being musky.  After being brewed, the tea is lighter in color than black tea from this region, actually having a soft aroma and amber color.

Although Sri Lanka and India do not grow as much green tea as China, finding high quality Indian or Ceylon teas is a little more challenging.  The good news is that these types of teas are becoming increasingly popular so they are not as hard to find as they were five years ago.  If you shop around for various tea companies in the US, some do carry both options.

If you want a different, richer flavor with green tea than what you get from China or Japan, then perhaps you should reach further and try Ceylon or Indian green tea.

Not only is green tea light and refreshing, it has also been rated as one of the healthiest of all teas.  Again, while it might take more work to find Ceylon or Indian green tea, the time spent is worth it.

Green Tea Varieties

For one thing, Chinese green tea comes in a wide range of varieties.  The different flavors are the result of the oxidization process but with green tea, no oxidization is done, which means enzymes in the loose green tea leaves are never exposed to oxygen.  However, if you were to look at Chinese black tea, the process involves full oxidization whereas oolong tea only goes through a partial process of oxidization.  Therefore, the type of flavor and even medicinal properties are based on how much oxidization the leaves go through.

You will also find that green tea comes in a wide range of textures and flavors, depending on the process, as well as the country of origin.  For instance, green tea comes from China, a variety enjoyed in Asia, India, and westernized countries.  Chai green tea is also very popular.  In addition, you might consider different blends and flavors such as Jasmine tea, Jasmine Pearl tea, Gunpowder Green tea, Sencha, Mint, and vanilla, each unique and delicious.

Appealing Green Tea

Because all green tea is light and refreshing, it has a huge following all over the world.  Even though tea in general was discovered more than 5,000 years ago, there are just five basic varieties most recognized and used to produce all the different flavors.

For many people, loose leaf green tea is a staple of daily life.  While you could purchase tea bags, the best green tea or other tea would be in the form of loose leaves.  Today, tea is enjoyed as a daily beverage, as well as for entertaining friends or gathering with family as a ritual.  Even in China and Japan, tea is an important part of life, enjoyed after a hectic day but also used in tea ceremonies.

Historical Details of Tea

From 1405 to 1433, tea was very powerful in China, carried around the sea by seamen transporting it but also using it to last through long, difficult journeys.  It was common for seamen to drink a type of tea beverage that contained vitamin C, which was shown to prevent the deadly disease of survy.  Then 100 years later, it was still used but to many medical officers of European fleets, they were introduced for the first time while taking a trip from China to Africa that involved 27,000 men.

Tea Health Benefits

Numerous current day studies have been conducted showing that all tea, especially green tea is highly beneficial to a person’s health.  While tea has long been used for medicinal purposes, its true value is only recently being fully understood.  In China, tea was commonly used to support a healthy mind and body.  While discovered 5,000 years ago, it was not until 2737 BC when health benefits were first referenced.  During ancient China years, the cost of tea was high, which meant only the rich and famous drank it.

However, during the Ming Dynasty in 1368 BC, the Mongolian empire fell.  With this, tea became available for everyone.  Then in 1606, the first shipment of tea, which was green tea, was sent to Europe by sea from the Dutch East India Company.  Then in 1994, results of a cancer study done by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute were released, showing that drinking green tea daily could reduce occurrence of esophageal cancer by as much as 60%.

Another study done by the University of Purdue also showed that Chinese green tea is actually capable of stopping cancer cells from growing.  You will even find that drinking three cups of green tea daily can help lower high cholesterol while supporting good cholesterol.  Even in Japan, the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that the Japanese had lower risk of death, regardless of cause by drinking green tea.

With so many wonderful flavors, you can choose any type of high quality tea, again choosing loose leaf so you too can enjoy the many health benefits.

Daily Consumption of Green Tea

It has become a popular regimen for one to three cups of green tea to be enjoyed every day.  People that follow a schedule such as this agree that the benefits quickly become obvious.  Some people also understand benefits associated with green tea and love the flavor but because of the caffeine, they cannot drink it.

For people with caffeine sensitivity, drinking green tea causes problems with insomnia.  Therefore, to ensure they get a good night’s sleep, they avoid it.  In addition, we all know that caffeine is addictive so anyone that depends on caffeine would quickly drink green tea daily or take green tea supplements.  In fact, people that love caffeinated green tea also eat foods made of this tea or perhaps purchase products such as green tea lotion or green tea soap.

As more and more people become aware of the many benefits associated with green tea, they quickly begin drinking it more or using various forms.  As you look around at tea companies or other specialty companies, you will be amazed at what you find all of the products providing excellent benefits and if you choose decaffeinated, you would have no side effects.

Caffeine of Green Tea versus Coffee

If you were to compare caffeine in green tea opposed to coffee, you would find they are very similar.  In fact, the Camellia sinensis plant and coffee beans are naturally similar.  Keep in mind that the actual level of caffeine would vary from one plant or bean to another but typically, coffee has slightly more caffeine.  Some people will try different types of green tea with caffeine to see if one does not cause unwanted side effects but if they have no luck, decaffeinated green tea products are available.

Remember that even when you buy decaffeinated green tea at your local store, a very small amount of caffeine would exist.  While most of the caffeine is gone, small traces remain.  Interestingly, based on the tea leaves used, as well as the length of the leaf, caffeine levels would vary.  However, if you do not tolerate caffeine well, you should do fine with a quality decaffeinated product.

Benefits of Green Tea

If you were to look at one green tea benefit after another, you would see that compared to other types of tea, this one is loaded.  For instance, green tea has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and promote a healthy heart.  While coffee is delicious and caffeine levels similar to tea, medicinal properties of tea are far greater than even the best coffee bean.

Burn those calories: Boost your resting metabolic rate

Numerous studies have been done on the Camellia sinensis plant, as well as green tea varieties. Many of the most current studies show that drinking three to five cups of green tea each day not only helps with better digestion but it also helps to raise the resting metabolic rate by as much as 3%. For instance, consuming three cups with a basic metabolic rate of 2,000, you would burn 60 additional calories.

Weight Loss and Green Tea

If you were trying to drop some unwanted weight, 60 calories a day would help you achieve your ultimate goal. Of course, along with drinking this type of healthy tea, you also need to eat a healthy diet and get a minimum of 30 minutes exercise daily. Even so, knowing that three to five cups of green tea daily to lose and maintain weight is exciting.

The benefits of Chinese herbal tea that people in the western world are beginning to realize have been enjoyed by people in Asia for thousands of years. In fact, if you were to compare Americans with Asians regarding incidences of serious health problems, to include heart disease and cancer, you would see that Asians are much healthier. In addition, people in Asian seldom have weight problems whereas America is in the midst of an obesity epidemic.

Fighting Free Radicals

The food we eat is converted into energy but every day the body also battles what are known as free radicals, which are damaging to DNA and cells. If these free radicals are left untreated, they multiply and begin the process of allowing diseases to develop. Other problems associated with free radicals include the cause of premature aging and clogged arteries, among other things.

The best method for fighting free radicals is with antioxidants. In fact, studies show that using antioxidants can actually reduce risk of the development of cancer, heart disease, and stroke, and bad cholesterol levels are lowered. Green tea can help since it contains high levels of antioxidants. Drinking about three cups daily will help prevent disease, stop early aging, and help with weight loss, all while enjoying a delicious, light flavor.