| What is green tea? | | | | If you wish to brew green tea yourself, make sure to |
| Green tea does not come from a different plant than | | | | follow the directions offered by the manufacturer of |
| "real" tea. In fact, all true teas, including green tea, come | | | | the green tea you purchased. |
| from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference | | | | In the absence of directions, pour cold water into a |
| between green tea the beverage and other real tea | | | | teapot or saucepan. Place it on a stove, set to high |
| beverages, besides the green color, is the way tea | | | | heat, and bring the water to a boil. When the water |
| leaves are processed before brewing. | | | | begins to boil, remove it from the source of heat. Let it |
| Processing green tea | | | | sit two to three minutes, and only then pour it over the |
| Tea leaves are typically processed in some form | | | | green tea. Let the tea steep for as long as three |
| before they are used for brewing into tea beverages. | | | | minutes, then either remove the tea bag, or the loose |
| For most teas other than green tea, tea leaves are | | | | tea leaves. |
| fermented. For green tea, tea leaves are steamed. | | | | Your green tea is now ready for you to enjoy. |
| This causes less oxidation of tea leaves than | | | | Green tea's supposed health benefits |
| fermentation does. As a result, green tea has its | | | | Green tea has long been believed to impart a number |
| unique green tint and it contains higher levels of | | | | of health benefits to those who drink it. It has been said |
| antioxidants than other teas. | | | | to help with everything from curing or preventing |
| Green tea's popularity | | | | diseases (including cancer and AIDS), to burning fat, to |
| Green tea has been most popular in the Middle East | | | | reducing cholesterol and more. |
| and parts of Asia, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, | | | | Modern medicine has produced a number of studies |
| Korea, Japan, India and Thailand. In fact, there are | | | | on green tea's health effects, but these have been |
| numerous varieties of green tea alone enjoyed in | | | | inconclusive, with some reports claiming green tea |
| these parts of the world. | | | | helps with a number of health issues, while other |
| In the Western world, black tea has been the traditional | | | | reports claiming that green tea does not have any |
| favorite of tea drinkers. But green tea is also becoming | | | | particular health benefits. |
| popular there. | | | | What we do know about green tea is that it contains |
| Brewing green tea | | | | a number of antioxidants, and it contains caffeine, |
| Because green tea is a little different from darker teas, | | | | although in lesser amounts than coffee, many sodas |
| it is brewed a little differently than other teas. The | | | | and darker teas. |
| principal difference is the temperature of the water. | | | | But while green tea's health benefits are debatable, |
| Darker teas are usually brewed with boiling water. | | | | there's no reason why this should prevent those who |
| Green tea is brewed with water that is slightly cooler | | | | like green tea from enjoying a cup of their favorite |
| than boiling, but still hot. | | | | beverage. |