Green tea is a popular beverage that is made from the young Camellia sinensis buds. Numerous anti-inflammatory, diuretic, digestive, stimulant, and other qualities make this tea one of the most popular worldwide.
After the leaves are harvested and have undergone a roasting process, their manufacture begins (they are toasted). After that, they are dried, crushed, and rolled. These dried leaves are what you brew with hot water and then consume.
However, this final step is the fundamental one for making the beverage. Since the distant past when it was first discovered as food, green tea has changed its production and cultivation processes, resulting in new flavors and aromas.
The beverage made from Camellia sinensis can be prepared in various ways and with different combinations of leaves. In several Asian locations, there are recipes that provide modifications to flavor, texture, and even scent. For instance, the leaves are typically dried in an oven in China. On the other hand, in Japan, they are cooked to delay oxidation.
Even though there are many more, some of the most well-known types include,
Gunpowder Tea
Due to the way the leaves are prepared, gunpowder tea earned its name. It is among the most well-known nowadays and has Chinese origins. It is typically prepared with mint and has a mildly bitter taste.
Matcha Tea
Like karigane, matcha tea comes from Japan and was traditionally served there at tea ceremonies. Its leaves are ground into a green powder in stone mills. It can be used to make a variety of dishes, including desserts, and is also drinkable hot or cold.
Karigane Tea
Karigane tea is a light-colored, mild-flavored green tea from Japan. It is regarded as one of the best in its category. Due to the leaf’s protection from sunlight before being plucked, its harvesting and production processes are distinctive. This increases theine levels while lowering catechin levels, which makes the beverage sweeter.
Sencha Tea
Reminiscent of fresh green leafy vegetables in both flavor and aroma. Because its name in Japanese means “cooked,” the leaves have already been cooked. It is best consumed cold.
Mao Feng Tea
Excellent Chinese tea with yellow and green tones is known as Mao Feng Tea. It has a pleasant, vegetal flavor and is grown in Zhejiang’s highlands.
How Do I Choose Among Different Green Tea Types?
Everything is up to your palate. Mao Feng, Karigane, Matcha, Kukicha, and Pi Lo Chun are a few tea varieties with mild, sweet flavors.
Others, including Gunpowder, Hojicha, and Bancha, among others, have a bitter, woody, or extremely vegetal flavor.
Additionally, while the majority can be consumed both hot and cold, some, like Sencha, taste better when served hot.
Your preparation time will also influence your decision. Some types of tea, like Bancha, should only be steeped for one to two minutes, whereas other teas should only be steeped for three minutes at most.
Sencha and Gunpowder need to brew for around 4 minutes. The temperature of the water shouldn’t go above 170 degrees Fahrenheit since high temperatures, like boiling water, can reduce the benefits of green tea.
Green Tea Health Benefits
Due to its high polyphenol content, it is a potent antioxidant that fights the free radicals that cause conditions like cancer and diabetes.
- It lowers blood pressure and avoids hypertension.
- It is a potent diuretic that reduces fluid retention, safeguards the urinary system, and promotes weight loss.
- In addition to controlling blood insulin levels, it is a great fat burner and prevents obesity.
- It delays the aging process of the skin.
- Enhances the immunological and cardiovascular systems’ performance.
- Due to its satiety-inducing effects, it reduces anxiety while also being a great brain booster.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians.