September 2008 Archives

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Do you think tea suits only Indians and Chinese? Do you avoid tea simply because coffee is easier to make? It’s time to do some serious tea thinking then! In contrast to popular belief in some countries, research shows that tea has many health benefits. It boosts immunity and has cancer fighting properties. Therefore, a hot cuppa or two can do you a lot of good and no harm.

 

You must have read about or come across different varieties of tea: black, green, and oolong. White tea is comparatively rare and expensive, and few have heard about it. It comes from leaves of the same Camellia bush as the other varieties of tea; the difference emerges from the way it is processed.    

 

Black tea is the fermented variety, and the fermentation leads to the loss of some beneficial components of tea leaves. Green tea undergoes no fermentation and is obtained by either steaming or slightly heating the leaves. It is a healthier option than black tea. Oolong tea lies in between these two varieties, in terms of processing.

 

White tea is made from the very young leaves and buds of the Camellia plant. The name white tea comes from the fine white hair on the young buds. Some researchers, however, suggest that the name comes from plain boiled water that was served when tea leaves were not available in humble Chinese homes. White tea has traditionally been associated with the elite classes in China.

 

White tea is the healthiest option among the different varieties of tea as it undergoes little processing and no fermentation. It is made by steaming and drying the selected buds and leaves. Its taste is mild and sweet, and research indicates that it has greater cancer fighting power than green tea. Another advantage of white tea is that it is low in caffeine compared with green or black tea. It is also known to prevent skin from sagging. Consequently, reputed cosmetics manufacturers are making a beeline for white tea. A word of caution: avoid white tea if you suffer from stomach ailments.

 

The best way to prepare white tea is to add it to water before it boils. This variety of tea is mainly produced in China and Japan, but Darjeeling in India is also known for it. Fujian Province of China is famous for this type of tea. A variety of this tea is also grown in Sri Lanka. White tea has some interesting names like tribute eyebrow, silver needle, white peony, golden moon, and white cloud. 

 

Given the benefits of white tea, you can slowly take to it to refresh yourself and gain health benefits in the process. Researchers suggest that four cups of green tea per day is ideal for promoting good health. As white tea has more effective properties, just a couple of cups should keep you in the pink of health. Promote tea drinking at home and your workplace, and lots of recharged people are going to thank you!  

 

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Green Tea and Weight Loss

All successful weight loss programs have need of the same two fundamental elements. To lose weight, the body must use less fuel and burn more energy. The connection between green tea and weight loss consists in the achievement of both of these goals. “Filling up” with tea diminishes the possibility of eating or drinking something else that might have a higher caloric value or fat count. Green Tea also helps the body burn energy. One research found that Green Tea drinkers burn as much as 4% more energy than individuals who did not drink green tea. Green tea seems to transform the body into an energy burning machine.

The symbiosis between green tea and weight loss remedy is likely owing to the fact that green tea extract is believed to perform by stimulating brown fat tissue thermogenesis. The thermogenic fat burning properties come from the innate mixture of caffiene, polyphenols, theophylline and theobromine found in Green Tea. Researchers have found that Green Tea extract burns more fat than what would be likely of caffeine alone, indicative of a strong synergistic effect between green tea’s catechin-polyphenol and caffeine content.

The polyphenols found in green tea are essential because of their antioxidant properties, a necessary element when the metabolic rate in the oxidation of fat is greater than before. Obesity researchers wrote in the International Journal of Obesity that “such a synergistic interaction between catechin-polyphenols and caffeine to augment and prolong sympathetic stimulation of thermogenesis could be of value in assisting the management of obesity thus demonstrating that green tea and weight loss go together.”

There’s lately been a lot in the news relating to green tea and weight loss and not only. The benefits of anti-oxidants in cancer prevention are also well recognized. Besides its antioxidant properties, green tea polyphenol seems to aim at the mitochondria in tumor cells, getting rid of the cell before it can get bigger. As a health care product, green tea has shown more potential than black tea in the treatment of obesity and as a cancer-preventing antioxidant agent.

Even so, the bottom line is yes, there is some connection between green tea and weight loss; unfortunately it’s not on the level many would have you believe.

If you have come across this site looking for information regarding green tea and weight loss – yes you have come to the right place. You purchase our green tea products by logging on to the following link Chinese Green Tea Store or Japanese Green Tea Store

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Not many people know that the humble cup of tea can have so many beneficial qualities to offer your health and well being.

Much is written about green tea and the antioxidants it contains that help you fight aging and slow down the onset of fatal diseases. But there are other teas that help you too, you only have to look on the shelves at your favorite store.

The popularity of new varieties of tea is unquestionable, you only have to look at the shelves of your local supermarket to see the wide choice you now have.

The particular health benefits that are often talked about are that tea contains antioxidants which help fight cancer and delay the natural aging process and polyphones which help to fight plaque on the teeth and also increase the flow of your digestive juices.

Green Tea

Green tea now comes in an abundance of flavors, you are really spoilt for choice. Finding a taste that suits your palate should be a lot easier nowadays.

The choice of varieties includes, pure green tea, Jasmine, Peony,green tea and orange, Dragon Pearl, White Monkey and there is even a blend called gunpowder.

The particular health benefits of green teas include a high concentration of antioxidants, so beneficial for slowing the aging process and stopping the damage to your body of the free radical particles that are harmful to your cells.

In addition, research is also identifying green tea as a positive benefit in the fight against cancer, arthritis, cholesterol control. New benefits are being proposed every year it seems.

White Tea

White Tea like the others listed here is made from the same tea plant, it is the method of cultivation that varies. White tea is made by harvesting the very young tea leaves that are still covered in down. The leaves are not fermented. Instead, they are steamed and dried in the sun.

Due to the lack of fermentation, white tea contains a high concentration of chemical compounds, which are known to help fight cancer as well as the antioxidants listed for green tea.

Because the leaves are still downy, the brewed tea has a silver-white appearance. It has a sweet aroma and fresh flavor. White tea varieties include Silver Needle, White Peony, and Jasmine Silver Needle.

Oolong Tea

A unique name and one which I did not think would appear in my local supermarket, but it was there. The flavor of Oolong Tea lies somewhere between the taste of green tea and black tea, rich but not too overpowering.

Oolong tea is known for relieving indigestion problems and lowers cholesterol levels in the body.

Oolong tea is made from large, mature trees and produces a full-bodied taste. The leaves are semi-fermented and after being picked, are left to wither, which removed moisture.

Some varieties of Oolong tea include Jasmine Oolong Tea, Ice Peak Oolong Tea, Hairy Crab Oolong Tea and WUYI Rock Tea.

Black Tea

This is probably the most popular drink in the Western world, certainly in the UK.

Black tea is the most processed of the varieties here, it goes through a full fermentation process that makes the leaves darken to a color that is almost black in appearance.

Black tea can have a variety of tastes including fruity, spicy, flowery of even some would say, nutty.

The varieties of black tea are too abundant to mention here but they include, English breakfast tea, Earl Grey, Ceylon, Lapsang Souchong and variants of each.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea, which is considered a floral tea, has a very aromatic, fruity flavor and is a member of the daisy family. This tea is known for helping aid with toothaches, insomnia, muscle cramps, and can help reduce the swelling of skin irritations.

I hope that this article has encouraged you to try some other varieties of tea. Try several varieties and you may well pick a tea that is the best you have ever tasted.

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