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now, you have heard that tea, and green tea in particular,
is actually a health drink. The East has historically
known the benefits and effects
of green tea (tea is a caffeine-containing beverage).
But the American public has recently embraced this tea
from the East. So much so that restaurants, hotels, stores,
and tea and coffee houses all across the country are carrying
their "brand" of green teas. They are also being
found in American homes as well for active and leisurely
lifestyles: on the way to work, after a workout, or when
you entertain guests. Well, what's all the rave about
this green leaf? |
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"With
the new found interest in green tea, Asian tea sets
are being more sought after." |
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Staying Younger
One of the most exciting health developments of the nineties
has been the discovery of the extraordinary anti-aging
properties of green tea. Epidemiological observations
have shown that people in green-tea consuming countries, mainly
Japan and China, have very low rates of cancer. In Japan, women
who teach the tea ceremony, and thus drink more than the average
amount of extra-strong green tea, are noted for their low mortality
rate and longevity; deaths from cancer are especially rare in
this group.
Since blood sugar tends to increase with age, accelerating aging
by crosslinking with proteins (glycation), the ability of green
tea to lower serum glucose levels is extremely important as
part of its anti-aging benefits. Some would argue that tea's
ability to lower blood sugar, and thus insulin levels and glycation,
is its most important anti-aging property.
| Research
aimed at finding the active compounds in green tea revealed
that its protective effects are due chiefly to catechins.
Powerful polyphenolic antioxidants, catechins are astringent,
water-soluble compounds that can be easily oxidized. They
are a subgroup of flavonoids, weak phytoestrogenic compounds
widely available in vegetables, fruit, tea, coffee, chocolate
and wine. The antioxidant potential of both green and
black teas, as measured by the Phenol Antioxidant Index,
was found to be significantly higher than that of grape
juice and red wines. |
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Green
tea is manufactured from fresh, unfermented tea leaves; the
oxidation of catechins is minimal, and hence they are able to
serve as antioxidants.
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Protecting
Against Cancer
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Green tea
has a high content of vitamins and minerals. It contains
ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in amounts
comparable to a lemon. Green tea also contains several
B vitamins which are water soluble and quickly released
into a cup of tea. Five cups of green tea a day will
provide 5-10% of the daily requirement of riboflavin,
niacin, folic acid, and pantothenic acid. The same five
cups of green tea also provide approximately 5% of the
daily requirement of magnesium, 25% of potassium, and
45% of the requirement for manganese. Green tea is also
high in fluoride. A cup of green tea provides approximately
0.1 mg of fluoride, which is higher than in fluorinated
water. |
Scientific studies have shown very strong evidence that green
tea (which contains high levels of polyphenols) may help lower
blood pressure and therefore reduce the risk of strokes
and heart disease. Further, green tea consumption is also
linked with the prevention of many types of organ cancer including:
lung, colon, esophagus, mouth, stomach, small intestine, kidney,
pancreas, and mammary glands. Green tea may also prevent skin
cancer, when used both topically and orally. It has also been
linked with helping the liver to rid the body of toxins.
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Tea vs. Coffee
| In
a study comparing tea and coffee, both beverages had similar
effects on alertness, but tea produced more consistent
levels during the day and appeared to have a more gentle
reviving effect. A cup of regular green tea has about
half the caffeine as a comparable cup
of regular brewed coffee. |
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In a study in which participants drank tea and
coffee continually all day in the same amounts, both beverages
produced similar effects on alertness, despite tea’s lower
levels of caffeine. In addition, those people drinking tea said
they got to sleep more easily, and rated their quality and actual
sleep time as being better than those drinking the same number
of cups of coffee. Together with other research conducted on
caffeine and sleep, these studies suggest that tea provides
the potential beneficial effects of caffeine on performance
during the day without disrupting sleep at night.
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Beauty Tips and Remedies
Brew 1/2 cup of unscented green tea leaves
in 1 quart of boiling bottled water for at least 10 minutes.
Strain the leaves and set aside. Cool the liquid and refrigerate.
This solution will keep in the refrigerator for approximately
10 days.
For
Puffy & Fatigued Eyes:
Soak cotton pads in the cold tea brew and lay them on
your eyes. Keep the pads on your lids for about 10 minutes.
You will feel a cool soothing sensation. You can also
refrigerate your used tea bags and lay them on your
eyes. Try not to open your eyes. |
Facial
Beauty:
Mix one teaspoon of fine cornmeal with cooled chamomile
tea to form a gentle scrub. Let dry, then gently rub off.
Not for sensitive skin.
Make an exfoliating paste using chamomile tea and
powdered milk. Rub on skin, let dry, and then rub off
before washing. |
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For Minor Cuts
& Scrapes:
Apply the cold tea brew with a pure cotton pad onto
minor cuts or abrasion. Leave the cotton pad on the
affected area for at least 5 minutes. Repeat, and do
not wash off. This procedure can be repeated up to four
times a day. |
Hair
Treatment:
In a small saucepan, warm (don't boil) 1/2 cup
olive oil, 2 teaspoons fresh ground lavender, and dry
contents of 2 peppermint tea bags. Massage into scalp
over damp hair. Cover hair with shower cap to keep heat
in. Sit in the sun, if possible, for 20-25 minutes. Shampoo
and rinse hair. Repeat this once a month to nourish and
strengthen hair. |
Sunburns:
Apply a piece of cotton cloth that's been soaked in
the cold tea brew to the sunburned area. Leave on for
about 15 minutes, or until the burned areas begins to
cool. You can repeat this treatment up to four times
a day evenly
spread out. Don't forget to carry some
SPF lotion next time you're in the sun. |
For
Tired Feet:
Soak your feet in the cold tea brew for about 15 minutes.
This is a great way to treat your feet after a long day
of standing, walking, or running. You can also try soaking
your feet in a concentrated Peppermint Herbal tea brew
for an aromatic soak. |
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Types of Tea
Of historical note, tea is nearly 5,000 years old and was
discovered, as legend has it, in 2737 b.c. by a Chinese emperor
when some tea leaves accidentally blew into a pot of boiling
water. In the 1600s tea became popular throughout Europe and
the American colonies. Since colonial days, tea has played
a role in American culture and customs. Today American schoolchildren
learn about the famous Boston Tea Party protesting the British
tea tax - one of the acts leading to the Revolutionary War.
During this century, two major American contributions to the
tea industry occurred. In 1904, iced tea
was created at the World's Fair in St. Louis, and in 1908,
Thomas Sullivan of New York developed the concept of tea in
a bag.
All tea comes from the Camellia sinensis bush, a small flowering
evergreen, native to China and India which is related to the
common camellia. During manufacturing of green tea, preservation
of the intact green leaf is of utmost importance. Green teas
are not fully fermented like black teas, or partially fermented
as oolongs. Instead, the tea leaves are plucked, steamed or
pan fried (which removes the fermentation enzymes), rolled,
and then dried. This process yields a chemical composition
in green tea similar to the fresh tea leaf.
Tea is harvested after each flush - the sprouting of the top
two leaves and bud. The top two leaves and bud are hand plucked
and then processed into any of the four types of tea, which
are Black, Green, Oolong, and White. Most common
teas you see in stores are a variation of the first three
tea types.
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Black
tea is withered, fully oxidized and dried.
Black tea yields a hearty, amber-colored brew. Some
of the popular black teas include English Breakfast,
and Darjeeling.
Green tea skips the
oxidizing step. It is simply withered and then dried.
It has a more delicate taste and is pale green / golden
in color.
Oolong tea, popular
in China, is withered, partially oxidized, and dried.
Oolong is a cross between black and green tea in color
and taste.
White tea is the least processed. A
very rare tea from China, White tea is not oxidized
or rolled, but simply withered and dried by steaming.
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Healthy Lifestyle
In Japan, tea
ceremony
is a traditional ritual influenced by Zen Buddhism
in which powdered green tea is ceremonially prepared by a
skilled practitioner and served to a small group of guests
in a tranquil setting. The Japanese, as well as the Chinese
and Koreans, have revered the experience of serving and drinking
tea as much as the tea itself.
Asians believe how you consume tea will help in healthier
digestion and ultimately balancing the bodily feng
shui. Hence, tea
sets have been an essential part of the culinary and entertaining
culture of Asia. In the West, the British have incorporated
tea time as part of their daily ritual.
Green tea is more popular than ever in America today. Currently,
there is a re-awakening of interest in tea as many Americans
seek a more positive, healthy lifestyle.
Fine hotels throughout the United States are re-establishing
afternoon tea services. Entertaining guests with tea is also
finding its way into the American way of life. With the new
found interest in the consumption of green tea, Asian tea
sets are being more sought after.
Porcelain
Tea Sets
Influenced by beautiful Yixing tea pots and Chinese porcelain,
Johann Bottger of Germany introduced
porcelain around 1710 to
the West.
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Cast
Iron
Tea
Sets
Tetsubin (cast iron) were originally used for boiling
water to provide heat and humidity in cold weather. When
infused tea drinking became popular in Japan during the
mid 19th century, Tetsubin were viewed as status symbols.
Enameled interior retains heat well. |
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Earthenware
Tea Sets
Early in the sixteenth century, the potters at Ishing,
a few miles up to Yangtze from Shanghai, became famous
for tea pots. Tea sets made from clay mixture are known
as Chinese Yixing tea sets. |
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