Green Tea

Do you know that green tea is being harvested from the camellia sinensis plant, which is also the same plant that provides the other types of tea such as black, oolong and white. The difference between the various teas is their level of oxidation, which is achieved during processing. For example, black tea goes through the most oxidation which is why it is the darkest variety of tea. Green tea is steamed shortly after its harvest which stops oxidation in its tracks. In addition to a light color, green tea features a higher level of antioxidants than varieties of tea what have been oxidized longer.

The tea leaves are light green in color and harvested when young. One characteristic of green tea leaves ready to be picked is the presence of white hairs on the underside of the plant. On average, green tea has around 15 milligrams of caffeine. To get an idea of how much that is, one cup of drip coffee has between 115 and 175 milligrams of caffeine. Black tea contains around 40 milligrams. Recently there has been a great deal of attention paid to the possible health benefits of drinking green tea.

This kind of tea contains a high level of protective antioxidants. Antioxidants may eradicate harmful free radicals in the body. One of the specific antioxidants found in green tea is called EGCG. EGCG may play a supportive role in cardiovascular health and cancer prevention. This type of tea may also help encourage healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, boost the immune system and even encourage weight loss. Some experts think that regular consumption of green tea may increase your metabolism and the ability of your body to shed those extra pounds.

Because green tea is potentially beneficial for so many reasons, there are even supplements in capsule form that you can take. These supplements are helpful for individuals who don't like the taste of this tea. However, if you like black tea you will probably enjoy green as well. As compared with black tea, green tea is much lighter both in color and taste. It has a fresh, light flavor with what some may describe as a touch of citrus. You can find some herbal tea blends that combine tea with citrus fruits like lemon and orange for a burst of sunny flavor. If you prefer sweet tea, honey is recommended as a sweetener as it goes well with the flavor of the tea and is more healthy than refined sugar.