NathanPaulPrince.com
July 2009
Green Tea
Made from the dried leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, Green tea came from China between 4,000- 5,000 years ago. Many Chinese people have been drinking green tea for centuries for all the positive aspects that it brings to your health. This has spread to people worldwide and green tea is now the second most popular beverage in the world. Green tea is said to have many health benefits, including lowering your cholesterol, boosting your immune system and helping to prevent cavities and tooth decay.
Green teas are teas that have been picked and rolled before firing. This stops the veins on the leaves from breaking, preventing the fermentation process, so that the leaf does not turn brown. The brewed tea is pale yellow or green in colour, with a slightly bitter taste.
Researchers at the University of Murcia in Spain (UMU) and the John Innes Center (JIC) in Norwich, England have shown that a compound called EGCG in green tea prevents cancer cells from growing by binding to a specific enzyme. "We have shown for the first time that EGCG, which is present in green tea at relatively high concentrations, inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which is a recognized, established target for anti-cancer drugs, " Professor Roger Thorneley, of JIC, told Reuters.
Numerous scientific discoveries have also linked green tea with remarkable disease preventative properties. Gargling with green tea has been shown to inactivate the flu virus, as has drinking a cup each day to activate the polyphenols (powerful antioxidants) that are also suspected to work well against both the cold and flu viri. As China permits greater access to its interior to scientists, reports grow of entire villages in the green tea growing regions where cancers and sicknesses are statistically lower than the national norm. Though such studies are best classified as emergent, green tea is becoming widely viewed as one of the superfoods of the future.
Black Tea
Black teas are produced by withering, cutting, rolling, fermenting and drying the tea leaves. The infusion can be light or dark in appearance, varying in colour from orange to brown and will usually have an astringent taste. Black tea accounts for about 95% of the world market.
Black tea has a medicinal action that helps fight off tooth decay, sharpens concentration, lowers cholesterol levels and helps relieve diarrhea. Unlike high levels of caffeine found in coffee, the low amounts in black tea promotes blood flow in the brain without overstimulating the heart. The caffeine in black tea sharpens mental focus and concentration, and the trace element fluoride inhibits tooth decay. Black tea also contains abuindant tannins, astringent chemicals and soothing anti-inflammatory effects on the digestive tract.
Oolong Tea
Oolong is a traditional Chinese tea somewhere between green and black in oxidation. It ranges from 10% to 70% oxidation. Oolong has a taste more akin to green tea than to black tea: it lacks the rosy, sweet aroma of black tea but it likewise does not have the stridently grassy vegetal notes that typify green tea. It is commonly brewed to be strong, with the bitterness leaving a sweet aftertaste.
Masala Chai
Chai is an East Indian word that simply means tea. Masala Chai, an aromatic spiced tea, has been the Indian drink of choice for hundreds of years. It is the perfect blend of freshly ground spices (chai masala) like cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom and pepper, added to a boiling pot of loose leaf tea and milk to make a delicious, satisfying and healthy beverage.
Chai stalls are a favorite meeting place to savor a hot, fresh cup (or saucer) of chai and discuss the day's happenings. They are found all over India; from train stations in Bombay, to tiny villages around the country. Chaiwallahs are the chai vendors who serve up hot chai and hot gossip.
Its roots can be traced unmistakably to the Hindu natural healing system called ayurveda in which combinations of spices, herbs and tea were used for their health benefits in serving as a digestive aid. Since its beginning, chai recipes have varied, and today, they differ by region, neighborhood and even by household. Recipes are handed down from generation to generation, so that having a cup of chai does not simply mean enjoying a relaxing beverage, but also experiencing a family tradition.
Benefits of Chai Spices
Cardamom: This spice has many digestive benefits. In addition, it is a diuretic and aid to break up gas in the digestive tract.
Pepper: Its primary benefit is its ability to warm.
Ginger: Some of the many benefits of ginger are stimulation of the circulatory system, relief from bloating, gas and nausea, promoting sweating and relaxation of blood vessels.
Cinnamon: Known to assist in reducing blood sugar as well as having warming properties useful for menstrual cramps and bone aches.
Cloves: This spice will warm and stimulate your system. It has been known to assist with burning calories so it is useful in a program of weight loss.
popular types of tea
