Green Tea is one of the major types of Tea in China, classified as an unfermented tea. It is made from fresh tea leaves through processes such as fixation, rolling, and drying. Some well-known varieties of green tea include Biluochun, Zhaopo tea, West Lake Longjing, Lushan Cloud Mist, Dawu Green Tea, and Jingu Lu-millimeter.
The Best Way to Brew Green Tea
1. Warming the Cup
To prepare for brewing green tea, place the glass cup in a tea washing basin and pour boiling water over it to clean and warm it up. Alternatively, you can place the glass cup in a glass tea washing basin filled with tap water and heat it on an electric stove to disinfect it at high temperatures.
2. Rinsing the Tea
Next, remove the glass cup and use a tea spoon to add 3 to 5 grams of green tea leaves. Pour water at a temperature of 80 to 85°C (176 to 185°F) into the cup and stir the tea briskly with a tea spoon for three seconds before discarding the rinse water. This step cleanses the tea leaves.
3. Brewing the Tea
Continue by pouring hot water into the glass cup. After waiting patiently for 1 to 2 minutes, the tea is ready to drink. If you find the taste of hot-brewed green tea unsatisfactory, you can let it cool down and then add lemon juice to make a refreshing lemon green tea.
Health benefits of Green Tea
1. Anti-Aging: The antioxidants in green tea help combat aging. Overoxidation produces large quantities of free radicals, which accelerate aging and damage cells. SOD (superoxide dismutase) is a free radical scavenger that effectively removes excess free radicals and prevents them from harming the body. The catechins in green tea significantly increase SOD activity and scavenge free radicals.
2. Prevents Tooth Decay and Freshens Breath: Green tea contains fluoride, and the catechins in it can delay tooth decay and reduce the occurrence of dental plaque and periodontal disease. Tannic acid in green tea has antibacterial properties that prevent bacteria from multiplying in food residue, thus effectively preventing bad breath.
3. Lowers Cholesterol: Catechins in green tea can lower the levels of total cholesterol, free cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Green tea also contains flavonoids with antioxidant effects that prevent blood clots and platelet aggregation, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
4. Promotes Weight Loss: Green tea contains caffeine and theophylline, which can reduce the accumulation of fat cells, thus aiding in weight loss.