Green Tea – More Than A Summer Drink
There are days when the summer heat has you worn out and nothing will quench your thirst like a tall glass of iced tea. Can you just taste it? Well you are not alone. In 2021, 3.9 billion gallons of tea were consumed in the United States. It is the most popular non-alcoholic drink, after water. Most of it in the Southern and Northeastern states. Of that about 15% was green tea and less than 5% were oolong or white teas. That means about 80% of the tea we drank was black tea which is made by fermenting the green tea leaves. The fermentation process makes the tea taste less bitter and have a less astringent taste that comes from the tannins in the tea leaves. That may explain who so many people reach for black tea over the healthier green tea option.
Tea, as a beverage, has been around over 5000 years. Historical records report that Chinese Emperor Shen-Nung, who was called, “The Divine Healer”, is said to have ‘discovered’ tea as a drink when several leaves from a nearby plant blew off and landed in his pot of hot water, creating the first brew, back in 2737 B.C. You may recall from your history class how tea was a major contributor to the freedom of the United States from British rule after Britain enacted the tax on tea. This began the rebellion based on ‘taxation without representation’. On December 16, 1773, as a show of protest, a group of colonists dressed as Native Americans dumped 300 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. The popularity of tea really took off in 1904 with the invention of the tea bag here in the United States. There is more to those green tea leaves than just the refreshing drink they make.
Did you know that green tea has shown, in scientific studies, to have an ability to inhibit cancer cell activity, remove toxic chemicals, and stimulate enzymes that strengthen the immune system? That is thanks to the catechins in green tea (Camellia sinesis) leaves. The primary catechin in both green and black tea is Epigallocatechin gallate (ECGG). Catechins have been shown to significantly inhibit the replication of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and, as a potent antioxidant, it acts like an anti-inflammatory in the body. Catechins may be the primary active constituent in green tea, but you will also find alkaloids (caffeine), and the tannins mentioned before that give the tea that astringent/bitter aftertaste.
Like most foods, not all teas are grown and processed equally. Many commercial brands of tea contain elevated levels of pesticide and plastic residue in their tea bags. The brands to avoid are Lipton, Tetley, Celestial Seasonings, Teavana, Red Rose, & Twining. There are many brands that care deeply about the health benefits that come from their tea. Some of the most popular that you can trust are 365 Whole Foods Market, Allegro Tea, Arbor Teas, Eden, Frontier Co-op, Mountain Rose Herbs, Numi, Stash Tea, Traditional Medicinals, and Yogi. Always choose certified organic tea and, if you really want a more full bodied flavor, buy the organic loose leaf instead of tea bags.
If you want even more of those health benefits that come from the catechins in your tea consider adding a citrus juice. Studies have shown that citrus juices enhance the bioavailability of the catechins/antioxidants, by more than five times, while the addition of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) showed a sixfold increase in the retention of catechins after digestion. Ideally, a 50-50 blend of citrus juice and green tea would provide the optimum opportunity for the absorption of the catechins in the intestines. Lemon ranked highest among citrus fruits followed by orange, lime, and grapefruit. Where you choose a prepared citrus juice or the fresh fruit, make sure you choose organic. Stay away from citrus juices with added sugar and do your best to avoid adding sugar if you are making your tea at home. I know that sweet tea is really popular here in North Carolina but the sugar being added has been highly processed and most likely bleached – but that’s information for another blog. Start by weaning yourself off all that extra sugar by asking for a 50/50 unsweet/ sweet tea blend and then increase the amount of unsweet tea as you go. Also, keep in mind that there is a big chance that the tea bags restaurants are using are more than likely on the list of teas to avoid simply because they are less expensive. Consider making your tea at home and bringing it with you in a reusable glass container.
If you’re into herbal teas, either commercial blends or you like to blend them yourself, consider adding Camellia sinesis. Green tea brings herbal formulas together with its unifying energetics. You can use it as the foundation for your blend, for its action/condition specific qualities, as a catalyst or for it’s energy signature. Green tea finds the blends common ground as a starting place and brings together all the different aspects of the same whole into harmony like no other herb. To really get the health benefits of the catechins in green tea you can drink an equivalent of three to eight cups of fresh brewed tea per day or an organic supplement containing 200-2000 catechins daily.
Now you know – green tea is more than just a refreshing summer drink. Enjoy!
References
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Staughton, J. (2020). Fermented Tea: Benefits and Side Effects. Retrieved from the Organic Facts website at https://www.organicfacts.net/fermented-tea.html
Tea Fact Sheet – 2022 (2022) Retrieved from the Tea Association of the USA, Inc. website at https://teausa.com/14655/tea-fact-sheet
