Green tea is one of the oldest and most popular drinks in the world. Green tea originated in China over 4000 years ago and has since been consumed in China, Japan, India and Thailand. Green Tea comes from a plant called Camellia sinensis ("sinensis" means "Chinese" in Latin). It a small tree, an may even be called an evergreen shrub. Usually, when it is cultivated for its leaves, it is grown to the optimum height of 2 meters. Tea grows at very high altitudes and is one of the many plants that grow in the Himalayan ranges. The flowers of this tree are have about 7 to 8 petals, are white to yellow in color and grow to about 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter.
How to Brew Green Tea
Usually a measure of one tea spoon of green tea leaves to a cup of water is taken. But, different types of green tea have different brewing times and are brewed best at different temperatures. The common trend is that lower the quality of tea, it is steeped in hotter water for longer durations. As the quality of tea goes up, it requires cooler water and shorter duration for brewing. However, high quality teas are typically steeped in water multiple times, mostly 2 or 3 times. Green tea has to be with the right brewing technique depending on the quality of leaves.. Else, it gets an overcooked flavor that is astringent and bitter.
The Medicinal Benefits of Tea Known in Ancient Cultures
Tea has been known to have medicinal benefits since the time it was discovered. In fact, you will find references to tea in the ancient cultural medicines from China, Tibet, Japan, India, Thailand and Nepal. It has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes including regulating body temperature, healing wounds, controlling bleeding, regulating blood sugar and promoting digestion. In fact, you may be surprised to know that a treatise on tea has been written in the year 1191.
In the book Kissa Yojoki (Book of Tea), authored by Zen priest Eisai, a number of health benefits of drinking tea are listed. Tea is explained to have a very positive effect on the health of 5 of our vital organs, one of which is our heart. Some of the medicinal benefits of tea listed In this book include:
Quenching thirst
Preventing fatigue
Acting as a Stimulant
Preventing indigestion
Curing blotchiness
Easing the effects of alcohol
Curing the disease beri beri
Improving Urinary functions
Improving Brain functions
In part one, numerous physical aspects of the tea plant are described including the shapes of tea plants, tea flowers, and tea leaves. Expert advice is also provided on how to grow tea plants and how to process tea leaves. In part two of the thesis, the medicinal properties of green tea are highlighted. In fact, specific dosages of tea are prescribed for treating individual physical ailments.
To learn more about the equipment needed to brew Loose Leaf Tea and how to use it, see out Tea Equipment section
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Green tea is one of the oldest and most popular drinks in the world. Green tea originated in China over 4000 years ago and has since been consumed in China, Japan, India and Thailand. Green Tea comes from a plant called Camellia sinensis ("sinensis" means "Chinese" in Latin). It a small tree, an may even be called an evergreen shrub. Usually, when it is cultivated for its leaves, it is grown to the optimum height of 2 meters. Tea grows at very high altitudes and is one of the many plants that grow in the Himalayan ranges. The flowers of this tree are have about 7 to 8 petals, are white to yellow in color and grow to about 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter.
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