Everything You Need to Know About Green Tea

Whether you’re a green tea enthusiast who enjoys multiple cups a day or you’d rather stick to a traditional brew, you’ve probably heard about green tea, or rather, the many health benefits provided by the hot beverage. Originating in China, the type of tea is sweeping the nation, and more and more homes and offices in the UK will find boxes upon boxes of a plethora of types and flavours gracing the kitchen cupboards – but how much do you actually know about the herbal concoction?

We’ve put together an ultimate guide to green tea, featuring all the facts, figures and histories so you can learn a little more about your favourite tipple – or perhaps even persuade you to try it for yourself!

History

Much like the discovery of some of the world’s greatest inventions including penicillin and x-rays, green tea is said to have been invented by accident. It was during the reign of legendary Chinese emperor and herbalist, Shennong, who was resting in his caravan whilst travelling when a few green tea leaves fell into the hot water the Emperor was drinking. He continued to drink the water, supposedly without noticing the dark colour it had become, but claimed he felt more refreshed than ever, and ordered soldiers to prepare multiple teas a day, consisting of hot water and green tea leaves. This drink was referred to as ‘Cha’ by Lu Yu in The Classics of Tea, and the people of China have been enjoying the beverage for many centuries to this day.

What is Green Tea?

Many types of tea are derived from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, but what makes them different is how the leaves of green, black, white and oolong are processed. When making black tea, leaves are mechanically broken down before wilting or oxidizing, whereas green tea is less oxidized and contains more natural antioxidants. Most green tea leaves will also experience a heat treatment once they are harvested, by either steaming or pan-frying to lower the caffeine content and create a smooth overall flavour.

5 Health Benefits of Green Tea

• There’s not much that is more satisfying than the sense of relaxation you feel when drinking a cup of tea. This feeling of ease is caused by the catechins, which affect the central nervous system and bind to specific receptors in the brain for a calming effect. Green tea has a lot of catechins.
• Drinking green tea can lower body weight and decrease the amount of body fat that you have, although a balanced diet and regular exercise will also help.
• Epigallocatechin gallate, or what is affectionately known as EGCG, is being extensively studied for its ability to prevent or treat various diseases, including cancer. Multiple studies have shown positive effects of preventing lung, skin, prostate, breast and intestinal tract cancers.
• Green tea can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels, making you less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, a disease that has increased by epic proportions of late, and now affects approximately 400 million people worldwide.
• Given that green tea can help you to ward off a variety of illnesses, it only makes sense that it can also statistically make you live longer. A study of 14,000 elderly people in Japan found that those that drunk the most green tea were 76% less likely to die within six years.

You can read more about the health benefits of Matcha green tea in particular in our recent blog.

5 Facts About Green Tea

• Drinking green tea before exposure to the sun can help you to avoid skin damage thanks to its antioxidant properties.
• If you’ve noticed a slight bitterness to green tea, that’ll be because it is rich in Tannins, a type of antioxidants that’s good for you.
• There are over a thousand different varieties of green tea.
• The most expensive green tea is the King of Green Masa Super Premium tea, of which a 750ml bottle will set you back an eye-watering $3,000. The quality of this tea is outstanding.
• Green tea doubles as a household cleaner and can make those grimy bathroom tiles sparkly again in no time, whilst also contributing a fresh scent.

Just Add Flavour

If you’ve tried to persevere with green tea but have eventually concluded that it’s just not for you, do not despair, as there is a plethora of flavours on the market, each bringing a subtle yet distinguishable taste to the beverage. Lemon, mint, pomegranate, mango, raspberry, honey, seaweed, avocado, apple and pear are just some of the flavours available, and it’s definitely worth experimenting until you find the one that’s right for you.

Whatever your preference, we have an extensive range of oriental teas for you to browse today, including tea bags, cold drinks and even green tea-flavoured Oreos and Kit Kats! There’s never been a better time to jump on the green tea bandwagon so that you too can reap the health benefits. Those that enjoy oriental foods can browse our website by product, country of origin or occasion and access those favourite brands from holiday or home that might not be readily available in the UK.