As tea is thought to have originated in China, the country is home to some of the world's oldest tea ceremonies and tea houses. Many kinds of tea, including green tea, started in China. This type of tea is the least processed of all the varieties of tea and thought to be one of the healthiest beverages in the world.
Green tea is often touted as the healthiest tea. It is chock full of polyphenols and antioxidants that help to boost brain and heart health. Green tea is considered one of the least processed true teas as it does not undergo oxidation. Leaves are harvested and immediately dried and rolled.
China produces some 40% of the world's tea weighing in at 2.4 million tonnes. It's primarily grown in the provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong, and Zhejiang. While it's the biggest exporter and grower of tea, China produces some of the best teas out there including Lapsang Souchong, Keemun and Green Gunpowder.
Teas that are unhealthy include comfrey, kava kava, black, and other teas. A warm cup of tea is a refreshing and soothing drink.
Health Benefits: Japanese Green Tea Has More Antioxidants
One of the primary health benefits attributed to green tea is its high concentration of immune-enhancing antioxidants. Japanese green tea contains more antioxidants than Chinese green tea, with 60% antioxidants compared with Chinese green tea's 12–16 percent.
Drinking tea is a regular part of Chinese culture and many people drink tea instead of other drinks with their meals. Doing this daily helps improve many peoples' mental and physical health.
The most popular Chinese tea, Long Jing, is light, fresh and has a subtle toasty note. On the other hand, Indian green teas are more robust and dark, giving a strong yellow infusion. However, studies showed that strong Indian tea, may in fact, have more antioxidants than lighter Chinese Long Jing.
Drinking tea every day is a healthy habit that may benefit your health in various ways. Not only is it a low-calorie drink, but black, green, oolong and white teas contain unique compounds like flavan-3-ols that support heart health.
There are many places in Australia that are suitable for growing tea. The tropical rainforest region of Far North Queensland has been its natural heartland, and is where the majority of our tea is grown. In fact, it's estimated that Nerada produces approximately 85-90% of all the tea grown in Australia.
China is not only the world's largest tea producing country but is also the leading exporter. It exports over 300,000 metric tons of tea annually to the global market.
What attracts consumers to green tea is its unique representation as a 'superfood'. Superfoods are those food items that are exceptionally nutritious and good for one's health. Green tea has garnered attention as a superfood because of its antioxidants rich quality.
Both green and black tea contain high levels of antioxidants when brewed and can help prevent cell damage. However, the tea with the highest level of antioxidants is Hibiscus tea. When brewed, hibiscus tea has over 400% of the antioxidants found in green or black tea.
Green tea is proved to lower LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides, which means it is good for the heart. Green tea is very beneficial for heart health as it reduces the risk of heart disease and death from heart stroke or attack.
Simple Green Tea
Sticking with the pure tea idea, green tea gives you the perfect boost to start the day - without the harsh hit of caffeine that you get from a coffee. Green tea also kick starts your metabolism and helps you to increase natural fat burning. So, it's perfect to have before your morning workout.
People with heart problems or high blood pressure, kidney problems, liver problems, stomach ulcers, and psychological disorders, particularly anxiety, should not take green tea. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also avoid green tea.
Ginger Tea is super easy to prepare and can benefit you in a variety of ways. Having ginger tea on an empty stomach can strengthen the digestive system, soothe nausea and provide relief from a scratchy throat. Just boil 1 cup of water along with 1 inch of grated ginger.
If you do prefer black tea, though, which is healthier: plain black tea, or Earl Grey? The answer is Earl Grey, which has the added benefit of bergamot oil, the source of bergamottin, a phytonutrient that beat out two dozen other phytonutrients last year in a test of human stomach lining protection.
Longjing tea, literally translated to dragon well, is one of the best and most popular Chinese teas. It is a type of pan-roasted green tea. After roasting, the leaves should be emerald-colored, broad, flat, smooth, and brittle.
The most natural and the most common of all Chinese teas is Chinese green tea. It is popular not just in China but also all over the world. Green tea comes with a myriad of health benefits including combating diabetes, heart issues, and obesity.
Other than water, green tea is the most commonly drunk beverage in China. Chinese produce more green tea than any other kind of tea (black, red, green, white). About 80% of the world's green tea is grown in China. Green tea is generally the least processed form of tea.