Health & FitnessAlternative MedicineGreen tea: a delight to drink – and it’s good for you Green tea: a delight to drink – and it’s good for you
By Tony Watts - Editor - 12/03/2009
Scientific research in the last few years – printed in some very august publications - depicts Green Tea as one of those “wonder foods” that can improve our resistance to everything from Alzheimer’s and cancer to cardiovascular disease and obesity.
Japan and China, where the incidence of all those conditions is markedly lower than in Western society, have been big drinkers of the stuff for many hundreds of years. Green Tea is also, speaking from personal experience, a really refreshing drink – and, with no need for milk or sugar, not one to detrimentally affect your waistline either. No wonder huge numbers of us in the West are making the switch from other beverages.
But if you think that it’s a question of going into the supermarket, getting a packet and popping a bag in your cup, think again. That's only half the story. There are more types of Green Tea than you can shake a stick at – each of them with different qualities - and the way in which it is made has been refined over the centuries into a fine and very exquisite art.
If you really want to enjoy the full experience of Green Tea, you need to do a little research - and be prepared to take some pains!
For instance, the Japanese Tea Ceremony, ‘Sado/Chado’, is an art form in itself and a huge part of the experience. Also called ‘Cha no yu’, it was originated in China, formed by 'Shuko Murata taking in Zen spirit', and was refined by Sen no Rikyu in 16th century. Cha no yu has a profound meaning in that every single element is part of an occasion shared between the host and the guests. Cha no Yu is not just the ceremonial way for ‘making and drinking tea’. Through the ceremony, you are meant to feel Zen spirit, find beauty in simplicity, and learn and appreciate harmony with nature and the people around you.
A new website - linked below - not only tells the history of Japanese Green Tea, but also explains how best to make it, the different varieties available, some of the beneficial effects on health claimed for it... and you can even order it online and join a club of fellow green tea aficionados.
So what can Green Tea do for you?
A whole series of independent research studies have suggested that Green Tea can have some very worthwhile health benefits – links to some of the articles on the BBC website are at the bottom.
With a unique harmony of sweet and astringent flavour, Green Tea contains rich natural nutrients. One of these has the ‘antioxidant effect’ - reputedly keeping the skin healthy and preventing diseases.
When levels of activated oxygen rises in the body, it can lead to a range of diseases as well as age the skin. Green Tea contains Catechin (or Tannin, a bioflavonoid), and Vitamin B, C, and E, which can work as antioxidants. So regular consumption of Green Tea can help you to prevent diseases and keep your skin healthy.
It is widely known that too much cholesterol (especially LDL cholesterol) can block blood vessels, which may cause cardiac infarction (heart attack) and cerebral infarction (stroke). Catechin contained in Japanese Green Tea blocks the formation of LDL cholesterol and is helpful in preventing those serious diseases.
Another effect that Catechin in Green Tea is believed to offer is its quality of reducing fat in your body.
The bioflavonoids and fluoride contained in Green Tea can also help to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. You can even gargle with Green Tea after brushing your teeth to kill germs and prevent bad breath. In addition, it is said that gargling with Japanese Green Tea can prevent influenza and the common cold, and relieve symptoms such as a sore throat, cough, and nasal congestion.
Like black tea and coffee, Green Tea contains caffeine, which can cause nervousness or an over-excited state. However, an amino acid in the tea, Theanine, tempers the effects of caffeine - inducing the curious state of feeling alert and relaxed at the same time.
A brief history of Japanese green tea
It is generally acknowledged that the first Green Tea was brought from China, the birth place of Green Tea, to Japan in the 8th - 9th century. At that time, many Japanese Buddhist monks studied in China, and consequently they learned new cultures and knowledge that contributed to ancient Japanese society.
They brought a kind of Green Tea, which was drunk as a medicine in Chinese Buddhist temples, back to Japan. Some ancient records indicate that the first batch of tea seeds was brought by Buddhist monks, Saicho in 805 and Kukai in 806. Another record shows that a Buddhist monk, Eichuh, dedicated a Green Tea to Emperor Saga in 815. The emperor encouraged the cultivation of tea trees, but Green Tea was reserved for priests and the aristocratic classes at that time.
The Shogun was so impressed by the medical effectiveness of tea that he encouraged the cultivation of tea, which helped it to be spread among Samurai (warriors) and priest classes. It was used mainly as a medicine or stimulus for training in Zen Buddhism or staying alert in battle. Today, Japan produces about 90,000 - 100,000 tons of Green Tea a year and is the second largest green tea producer after China. The yearly consumption of Green Tea per capita in Japan is 650 grams, the largest in the world.
If you like Green Tea, join the club!
One of the producers of the finest quality Green Tea is Charaku, and on their website they suggest that those who appreciate it join a club, where you will receive regular newsletter to keep you informed of events, meetings and trips.
The tea they provide is sent to you direct from Japan, to ensure its freshness. Local importers, say Charaku, seldom understand the ideal storage requirements of Japanese Green Tea.
You can find out more by going onto the first link below. Enjoy!