Green Tea - Why Drink It? - By: Allison Thompson, Posted on: 2007-11-17

Apart from water, Green Tea is a beverage that is more widely consumed than any other in the world today. In fact for centuries now this particular beverage has been part of both the dietary habits of Japanese and Chinese cultures. However in recent years more and more people have begun to see what health benefits they can gain from drinking it as well.

Today if you want there is not just green tea a person can choose to consume but there are many other varieties as well including Darjeeling etc. However many prefer to consume green tea simply because the taste is far more subtle and refreshing than others. But what you should also know is that the green teas produced in Japan and China are made in very different ways which results in their flavors being different as well. In Japan the tea leaves one they have been picked will be steam dried in order for them to retain their flavor and the essential properties that makes this particular beverage so healthy. Whilst in China they prefer to dry their tea leaves once picked in an oven.

There are many benefits to be had from drinking green tea but it does have some disadvantages as well. The main one being is that it can cause insomnia in those people who drink large quantities of it because it contains caffeine. But certainly the benefits of drinking it far outweigh the disadvantages.

Many people drink green tea simply because it contains high levels of minerals and vitamins as well as being a great anti-oxidant agent. Whilst the thiamine found in this particular type of tea is that it seems to have a calming effect on the brain and would make a much better beverage to drink than coffee. This is because although it does contain caffeine the levels in green tea are not as high as those in coffee.

Green tea contains not only high levels of minerals and vitamins in it when brewed and drunk but it also contains high levels of polyphenols as well. This is a chemical which is renowned for having good anti oxidant properties and which help the body to remove unwanted toxins and substances easily. Because of this many people who are trying to lose weight will include green tea into their dietary requirements.

In order to get the most out of your green tea it is best to buy the packs of the tea leaves rather than those that come in tea bags. Simply because by placing the leaves directly into the water you are allowing the tea a chance to release all the properties that are beneficial to your health and well being. Today however the biggest challenge a person will be faced with when it comes to drinking green tea is choosing which variety they wish to consume. As you will soon discover there is not just one type of green tea a person can use instead there are many.

However when first choosing to include green tea in to your dietary requirements it is better if you choose one of the more well known varieties such as Sencha which comes from China. Not only is this tea affordable in price but it comes with a flavor that a person who has never drunk green tea before will find palatable.

Whilst a green tea that you might want to consider trying and which comes form Japan is known as Myou-Kou. This tea again has been steamed rather than fermented in order to ensure that as much of its properties are retained. However compared to say Sencha this one is much thicker and has a stronger flavor to it. So actually what green tea you choose to drink will be down to your own personal preference.

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