The Least Processed of All Teas

The healthy benefits of green tea accrues to the fact that it is less handled and processed of all the leaves gathered from the Camellia sinensis bush. Here is and excerpt from the www.whfoods.com website.

Green tea is the least processed and thus provides the most antioxidant polyphenols, notably a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is believed to be responsible for most of the health benefits linked to green tea. Green tea is made by briefly steaming the just harvested leaves, rendering them soft and pliable and preventing them from fermenting or changing color. After steaming, the leaves are rolled, then spread out and "fired" (dried with hot air or pan-fried in a wok) until they are crisp. The resulting greenish-yellow tea has a green, slightly astringent flavor close to the taste of the fresh leaf.

Camellia sinensis
is a relative of Magnolia. It flowers. Commercially it is kept to
a 3 foot height, althought it grows much taller. It is said that plants grown at
higher altitudes make for the finest teas.

Loose weight now

It seems a lot of people are now turning to green tea to loose weight. Although
you may not get a six pack, you very well could loose your love handles. The following information came from the greenteaweightloss.org website.

Green tea becomes an active ingredient in many weight loss products. When health benefit varieties of green tea are listed, weight loss is not usually first on the list ,As research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition "Consumption of green tea produced thermogenesis and increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation" in humans.Green tea, as an active ingredient used in many of the top weight loss products when weight loss products claim they contains natural ingredients, green tea is nearly always in the list.

Brew your own green tea

If you need a how to on brewing a cup of green tea, here is an article I pasted from About.com.

How to Brew a Cup of Green Tea

Producing the perfect cup of green tea is a tricky process. If not handled properly, those same polyphenols that provide health benefits can ruin the flavor, making the tea taste "gassy." It's particularly important not to overbrew. While it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions for each variety of green tea, here are some general instructions:

Use one tea bag, or 2 - 4 grams of tea,* per cup.
Fill a kettle with cold water and bring to a boil.
After unplugging the kettle, allow it to stand for up to 3 minutes.
Pour the heated water over the tea bag or tea, and allow it to steep for up to 3 minutes. If using a tea bag, remove the bag.
Allow the tea to cool for three more minutes.
*One to two teaspoons, depending on the variety of green tea you are brewing.

A recipe for Green Tea Dip

Here's another great recipe from www.o-cha.com
Green Tea Dip and Spread

Ingredients:
3 green tea bags
1 cup reduced-fat cream cheese or ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons finely minced fresh chives or basil leaves
Directions:
Place tea bags in a heatproof glass or ceramic container that holds more than 1 cup. Bring 1 cup of water to a not-quite boil and remove from heat immediately. (Water that has come to a boil should be cooled for about 1 minute before using.) Pour water over tea bags and allow the tea to steep for 3 to 5 minutes.


Remove tea bags, squeeze out liquid and discard. Allow tea to cool to room temperature. If not using immediately, refrigerate (covered) until ready to use. (Depending on the temperature of the room, tea left standing eventually will develop mold.) Allow refrigerated tea to come to room temperature before using.


Place cheese and minced herb in a blender and mix on medium-high speed to blend thoroughly. Continue blending until mixture is smooth. Gradually add small amounts of the tea concentrate until the mixture is spreadable, as desired.


Transfer the tea-cream cheese mixture to a covered container and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow flavors to meld. Bring mixture back to room temperature before using, either as a spread for toasted bagels or bread at breakfast; as a spread for crackers, sandwiches or wraps; or as a dip for vegetable crudites and toasted tortilla chips.


Makes 18 tablespoons.
Nutrition information per tablespoon: 31 cal., 2 g total fat (1 g saturated), 1 g carbo., 1 g pro., 0 g dietary fiber, 39 mg sodium.

(Recipe from the American Institute for Cancer Research)

Recipe for Green Tea Tiramisu

The following is a recipe from http://www.o-cha.com/
Green Tea Tiramisu
Ingredients:
9 oz marscarpone cheese
3 oz sugar
4 pieces yolk
8.5 oz whip cream
4 oz water
3 oz syrup
0.5 oz matcha green tea powder
0.5 oz gran marineir
Directions:

Knead the marscapone cheese until it becomes creamy.
Beat sugar and yolk until it becomes fluffy.
At first, add 2 tablespoons of (2) into (1) then later, the rest of (2) also add into (1).
Whip cream until foamy consistency.
Combine (3) and (4).
Pour (5) into the mold and put on the green tea cakes which are already cut into 1/4 inch and cover with syrup. After that pour the rest of the syrup into it and repeat the same.
Finally, strain green tea powder with powder sugar for garnish.

Be careful drinking green tea with following drugs

If you take any ot the following drugs, you should talk to your doctor before drinking green tea or taking tea extract.
Adenosine
Antibiotics, beta-lactam
Aspirin
Benzodiazepines
Beta-glockers, propranoiol and meoprolol
Blood Thinning Medications
Chemotherapy
Clozapine
Espphedrine
Lithium
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Oral contraceptives
phenylpropanolamine

This information came from the www.umm.edu website.

The Online Store of Generation Tea

Here is a list of tea and gift products from
Generation Tea online store.


Accessories
Antique Yixing
Biazong Tea
Black Tea
Cups - Guaywans
Favorite Pickings
Gift Tea
Green Tea
Herbal Tea
Oolong Tea
Oolong-Taiwan
Organic Tea
Pue-erh Tea
Specials
Tea Bags
Organic
Tea Extracts
Tea Tins
White Tea
Yixing Teapots
Collectors Gallery

Visit Generation Tea Store

Click the Generation Tea site on the right of my blog and order you some premium
Chinese Tea online. Not only do they have green tea available, but they also white,
black, and yellow tea. They also have tea extracts. You can purchase tea from Generation Tea that come from different provinces. If you would like herbal, tea not made from the Camellia sinensis plant, it is also available.

It's good for you, suprisingly good for you

Many claim that green tea has many health benefits because of its antioxidant properties .
Some say it helps unclog arteries, lowers your cholesterol, effectively reduces inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease, help control sugar in diabetics, helps
prevent liver diseases, boost metabolism and reduce fat therefore loosing weight, and
helps fight placque and fights dental cavities. Many studies must be performed before the
Scientific community accepts these findings.

Green Tea has quite a history.

People have been drinking tea for a half million years. The Chinese and Indians were the first to cultivate tea. Green tea, just as black tea and oolong tea come from the plant, Camellia sinensis, which is botanical speak for Chinese camellia. So the plant is native to China and is rumored to have all kinds of health benefits such as reducing cholesterol levels and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.