Green Tea – Pick-Me-Up From China

Green tea, also known as green tea, unlike black tea, is not fermented, meaning the tea leaves are not crushed by rollers and then oxidized in a humid environment. In the case of green tea, the picked tea leaves are only briefly heated, then cooled again, then usually rolled or pressed and completely dried in a hot-air oven. This process is very gentle and protects the ingredients in green tea.

Use

Green tea originally comes from China. Today the most important growing areas are China, India and Sri Lanka (until 1972 Ceylon).

Season

Green tea is available all year round.

Taste

Depending on the duration of the brewing time, the tea tastes different. If you let it steep for just a short time, it has a fine, tart taste; if you let it steep longer, it develops a tart, bitter taste.

Use

Green tea is primarily drunk. It is also used, for example, in the trend recipe Bubble Tea. It is now also used for cooking and for the preparation of desserts.

Storage

Store green tea in a dark, dry, cool place – preferably in a well-sealed container. This way the tea doesn’t absorb any foreign odours. It also stays fresh for a long time, depending on the type of green tea, from six to 18 months.

Nutritional value/active ingredients

Unsweetened green tea is calorie-free. Green tea also contains valuable secondary plant substances. Green tea contains caffeine – but it is present in green tea in a bound form and is therefore only released into the body slowly. Also, read our post about the effects of matcha tea.

What does green teas do for you?

Many studies have shown that green tea extract can promote weight loss, blood sugar regulation, disease prevention, and exercise recovery. It can also help keep your skin and liver healthy, reduce blood fat levels, regulate blood pressure, and improve brain health. It can be consumed in capsule, liquid, or powder form.

How is green tea different from normal tea?

Both green and black tea are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The key difference between the two is that black tea is oxidized and green tea is not. To make black tea, the leaves are first rolled and then exposed to air to trigger the oxidation process.

What is green tea made from?

Green tea comes from the plant Camellia sinensis. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all made from the same plant but are prepared using different processing methods. Green tea extract contains polyphenols. These include the most active type, epigallocatechin gallate.

What happens if I drink green tea everyday?

Green tea is packed full of health-promoting compounds. Regularly drinking green tea can help you lose weight and reduce your risk of several diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Drinking three to five cups of green tea per day seems to be optimal to reap the most health benefits.

Who should not drink green tea?

Precautions. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under the age of 2, and people with kidney disorders, heart conditions, stomach ulcers, and psychological problems should also avoid taking green tea. People with glaucoma, anemia, liver disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes should also avoid it.

What is the best time to drink green tea?

Green tea contains caffeine and L-theanine, both of which can enhance alertness and attention, which is especially beneficial in the morning. Also, drinking this tea before exercise may increase fat burning and reduce muscle damage.