Chinese Green Tea

Chinese green teas have enjoyed increasing popularity in the West in recent years, where black teas have traditionally been more popular. Green teas originate from and are grown in several Chinese provinces, and exhibit differing attributes, such as lighter and darker coloring, steamed vs. pan-fired teas, and coastal as opposed to mountain-grown tea leaves. Many green tea manufacturers claim antioxidant and other positive health benefits which cannot be definitively, officially medically corroborated, though that hasn’t stopped millions of green tea drinkers from believing in their beneficial properties.

Chinese Dragon Pearls

Green tea contains polyphenols which are thought to improve health, particularly catechins, which are a polyphenolic antioxidant plant metabolite, and constitute approximately 25% of the dry weight of the fresh tea leaf. The term catechin is also commonly used to refer to the related family of flavonoids and the subgroup flavanols. Clinical studies of humans suggest that green tea can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer as well as beneficially impact bone density, cognitive function, weight loss and digestion (University of Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 1999 study), dental cavities, and kidney stones, though the human studies are sometimes inconsistent. Green tea also contains carotenoids, tocopherols, Vitamin C, minerals such as chromium, manganese, selenium or zinc, and certain phytochemical compounds. In one Japanese study, it has even been shown to prevent HIV from attacking T-cells in a lab test.

Chinese Gunpowder

There is no doubt that drinking green tea can and will benefit you, and there are a plethora of products which have green tea extract, so you don’t have to drink three cups a day, as some suggest. The overall good health of those who drink a lot of Chinese green tea regularly is probably the best proof we have of its special effect on the body, and it’s a good thing that it’s one of the most readily available tonics on the planet.