What is green tea

Green tea traces its origins to China, where it has been consumed for nearly 5000 years. Over the centuries, tea has become a beverage appreciated in all corners of the world. Available in countless varieties, it appeals both through its unique aromas and its numerous benefits. In this guide, you'll discover all the important information about green tea as well as multiple tips to appreciate its virtues and flavors.

Green tea: a tea to be consumed without moderation

Green tea is the most consumed beverage in the world, after water. Calorie-free but rich in antioxidants, this drink is full of health benefits. Finally, a little pleasure you can enjoy without guilt! All teas come from a single tree: the Camellia Sinensis. It's then the drying and manufacturing process that allows to create different types of teas. Green tea is therefore a specific variety, which undergoes very short oxidation. It thus retains a large proportion of beneficial ingredients, much to your body's delight. Lower in theine than its cousin black tea, it is a true reservoir of antioxidants that help boost your metabolism. A drink to be consumed without moderation at any time of the day!

The different types of green tea

In the green tea category, hundreds of varieties can be counted. The majority of them come directly from China and Japan. To distinguish the different types, we must first separate two major classes: Chinese green tea and Japanese green tea. These two teas are prepared and consumed differently.

  • Japanese tea: The production of Japanese green tea is characterized by fermentation being stopped immediately after harvest. Roasting is done with water vapor and thus allows to keep all the best ingredients from the leaves. The two most common Japanese teas are Sencha and Bancha green tea. The first is renowned for its excellent health benefits and is distinguished by its subtle flavor and slightly bitter taste. It is the tea richest in antioxidants! Bancha green tea is also popular and has the particularity of being rich in iron. Recognizable by its yellow color when brewing, it offers a lighter taste. Finally, matcha green tea is also widely consumed. It takes the form of a fine powder and is traditionally prepared with a whisk.

  • Chinese tea: To make Chinese green tea, the process consists of heating the leaves in a wok at a very high temperature. This step completely destroys the enzymes that trigger oxidation. Longjing tea is a highly renowned variety among green tea, distinguished by its rather sweet flavor and refreshing properties. Gunpowder green tea is also among the prized categories. It is a tea rolled into small pearls, which releases a very fresh and thirst-quenching taste.

When to drink green tea?

Green tea is a pleasant drink to enjoy throughout the day. It allows you to stay hydrated while enjoying a delicious flavor. However, to best benefit from its properties, consume it at the right time! Green tea isn't necessarily recommended in the morning if you're looking for an energizing drink that gives you a real boost. Lower in theine than black tea, it will be less effective to boost you upon waking. Green tea is ideal to consume throughout the day. Before meals, it helps reduce your hunger by expanding your stomach. After lunch, it will be ideal to help you digest. But be careful, preferably don't drink it while eating as it prevents the body's iron absorption. Even though it's lower in theine than black tea, drinking green tea before sleeping can cause sleep disturbances. If you're very sensitive, avoid this type of drink in the late afternoon or reduce its theine content by first rinsing the leaves with an initial infusion that you'll discard.

Which green tea for weight loss?

Drinking tea accelerates weight loss, as part of a balanced diet. This draining drink also helps calm hunger sensations. Its numerous antioxidants have a beneficial effect on fat distribution and lipid absorption. To best benefit from its properties and to optimize the fat-burning effect, prefer Japanese tea as a slimming green tea. Its manufacturing process best preserves all the benefits of tea leaves.

Why drink green tea?

This beverage has been popular worldwide for many years. Drinking green tea offers a comforting, convivial, and warming aspect, but its multiple health benefits should also be noted. Rich in antioxidants, it acts beneficially on your metabolism. Often favored in detox diets, it contains no calories but provides real advantages for your skin, mind, and body.

How to prepare green tea?

To enjoy a good tea, it's important to start by choosing a good variety but also to take care in its preparation. Ideally, opt for organic green tea, in loose form. To prepare green tea, strictly follow the instructions indicated on the package. Water temperature and steeping time are indeed essential criteria that allow you to better appreciate all the flavor of your drink. Purists recommend drinking it without sugar but don't hesitate to enhance your cup with a bit of lemon, cinnamon, or ginger according to your taste.

What are the benefits of green tea?

The benefits of green tea are numerous and can be appreciated through daily consumption. It's mainly the antioxidants it contains that play a major role. Tea is known to reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. It stimulates the brain and concentration thanks to the theine it contains. It's also worth noting its significant impact when you're trying to lose weight.

Green tea or black tea: what are the differences?

Whether it's green tea or black tea, they come from the same tree but differ in their manufacturing process. Green tea is the one that undergoes the shortest oxidation. Thus, it retains most of its antioxidants. Black tea, on the other hand, is a fermented variety. It keeps longer but offers less richness in beneficial ingredients. It is also higher in theine. We also notice a different taste for these two varieties.

Origin of green tea

The origin of green tea dates back nearly 5000 years in China. Many legends surround its appearance. The most famous features the divine emperor Shennong, who allegedly discovered it by chance when a tea leaf fell into his cup. Long remaining a luxury product, its democratization was slow and progressive. Gradually, tea broke free from China's borders, then Asia's, to become a widely consumed beverage across all cultures.

Which green tea to buy?

You'll find a wide variety of green teas in stores. To enjoy their benefits, it's important to choose them well. So if you're wondering which green tea to buy, avoid supermarket tea bags: you should opt for quality green tea. A good tea comes in whole leaves, which will expand once wet. You can recognize lower quality by broken leaves reduced to dust.

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