Chinese Culture >> Chinese Food Articles >> Why Drink Green Tea
After water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world and
there are good reasons for this popularity. One of the most popular forms of tea
is green tea and there are a number of reasons why so many people enjoy this
beverage.
First, green tea is flavorful and there are many varieties of green tea. The
difference between teas is the amount of oxidation that the leaves are exposed
to.
Green Tea is not oxidized meaning the enzymes in the tea leaf are not
exposed to any oxygen found in the air. By contrast, black tea is fully oxidized
and oolong tea is partially oxidized. When dealing with tea taste is a matter of
degree and a function of oxidation.
Green tea comes in many forms and blends and is popular in every country and
culture. Originally produced in China, the consumption and popularity of green
tea spread throughout Asia, India and the western world. With the addition of
flavors and blends like Jasmine, Vanilla, Mint and varieties like Jasmine
pearls, Sencha and Gunpowder, green teas are subtle and appeal to the varied
tastes of tea drinkers.
Green tea has a unique light taste that appeals to a very large number of
drinkers throughout the world and has been popular since tea was first
discovered over 5,000 years ago. It is one of the five basic types of tea and is
recognized by even the most novice tea drinker.
Second, loose leaf green tea has been one of the mainstays of the tea culture.
The highest quality tea is loose tea and premium quality loose tea has gained in
popularity in recent years.
Green tea drinkers enjoy preparation rituals and
ceremonies that add ambiance to the tea drinking experience. Whole leaf green
tea has served as the basis of tea rituals in China and Japan and, properly
served, the tea ritual provides a pleasant experience after a stressful day.
When China was the sea power of the world (1405-1433), tea was among the
indispensable supplies for the seamen. The amount of vitamin C in the tea drink
consumed by the seafarers at that time was enough to prevent scurvy which would
kill many European sailors more than 100 years later, but was essentially
unknown to the medical officers assigned to the fleet of more than 27,000 men on
their round voyage from China to Africa.
Lastly, there are strong indications that drinking green tea (and all types of
tea for that matter) is very healthy for the human body. Throughout the years
tea has been prized for its medicinal qualities and the consumption of tea
became a regular event for most families.
Tea has been used in China as a medicinal beverage to promote health in mind and
body for about 5000 years. The earliest known reference to tea as a health aid
dates back to 2737 B.C. Tea was an expensive beverage in ancient China. Its use
was confined to the wealthy segments of the population.
Only in the Ming dynasty after the fall of the Mongolian empire in 1368 A.D.,
tea drinking spread from the elite to the populace. The first shipment of tea to
Europe in 1606 by the Dutch East India Company was green tea
In 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an
epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of
esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent.
University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea
inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that
drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the
ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
A recent Japanese study, reported by the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA) reported that adults in Japan who drank more green tea had a
lower risk of death from all causes and from heart disease.
In addition, compounds in green tea called polyphenols have been much studied
for possible heart disease and cancer preventive effects. Although further study
may be required to prove absolutely that green tea produces measurable health
benefits, the consumption of green teas throughout history add credence to
recent medical claims.
Tea drinkers have many choices but those that drink high quality loose leaf
green tea can anticipate an enjoyable beverage and tea drinking experience.
About the Author
Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, green tea and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com