Green tea is the most diverse category of tea in China, produced in many regions. Examples include Longjing and Anji White Tea from Zhejiang, Guyu Purple Bud from Huzhou; Biluochun and Yangxian Snow Bud from Jiangsu; Huangshan Maofeng and Taiping Houkui from Anhui, among others. Due to its long-standing tradition, nearly every tea-producing region in the country has its own renowned high-quality green tea. The production of green tea does not involve fermentation, which means that it retains more of its original nutrients, thus having prominent health benefits. However, green tea also has a stronger stimulating effect on the human body, and people who are prone to insomnia or have weak digestive systems should drink less.
Which Kinds of Green Tea Have a Stronger Flavor?
Longjing: The taste is fresh and mellow, with an elegant aroma. The tea liquor is bright green and clear, and the leaves at the bottom are delicate and intact.
Anji White Tea: The taste is light and refreshing, leaving a lingering fragrance in the mouth and a sweet aftertaste. The aroma is fragrant and lasts for a long time. The leaves at the bottom are bright green and the buds can be clearly distinguished.
Lushan Cloud Mist: The taste is rich and sweet, with a lasting fragrance. The tea liquor is bright, and the leaves are tender and uniform.
Huangshan Maofeng: The taste is fresh and sweet, with a clear and long-lasting aroma. The tea liquor is clear and bright, and the leaves at the bottom are young and yellowish.
Lu'an Guapian: The taste is fresh and sweet with a long-lasting aftertaste and a clear and refreshing aroma. The tea liquor is clear and bright, and the leaves at the bottom are green and bright. Among these varieties, the tea plucked before the Grain Rain Festival (around mid-April) is of the best quality, followed by Guapian harvested later, while Mei tea picked during the plum rain season has a more general quality.
Duyun Maojian: The taste is fresh and strong, with a sweet aftertaste, a fresh aroma, and a clear tea liquor. The leaves at the bottom are bright and the buds are stout. Duyun Maojian finished tea has the characteristic of “three greens with a hint of yellow,” meaning the dry leaves are green with a hint of yellow, the tea liquor is green with a tinge of yellow, and the leaves at the bottom are green with a touch of yellow.
Emei Mountain tea: The taste is light and elegant, with a fragrant aroma, a strong and persistent chestnut scent. The tea liquor is bright green, and the leaves at the bottom are tender and uniform.
Gugunao: It quickly sinks when brewed, with a thick and rich taste, clear and bright tea liquor, and yellow-green leaves at the bottom.
Dongting Biluochun: The taste is fresh, thick, and sweet, with a striking aroma, originally named “Scared-to-Death Fragrance.” The tea liquor is bright green and clear, and the leaves at the bottom are bright green, with the characteristics of one young (young buds and leaves), three fresh (color, aroma, taste).
Enshi Yulu: The taste is fresh, sweet, and mellow, with a clear and long-lasting aroma. The tea liquor is clear and bright, and the leaves at the bottom are tender and bright, green like jade. Three greens (green leaves, green tea liquor, green leaves at the bottom) are significant features of this tea.
Benefits of Drinking Green Tea
1. Anti-Aging
The antioxidants in green tea help combat aging. During the process of human metabolism, if there is over-oxidation, a large number of free radicals are produced, which can lead to premature aging and damage cells. SOD (superoxide dismutase) is a free-radical scavenger that can effectively eliminate excess free radicals and prevent them from damaging the human body. The catechins in green tea can significantly enhance the activity of SOD and eliminate free radicals.
2. Radiation Protection
Since tea contains abundant Vitamin A, which can be rapidly converted into vitamin A in the human body. Vitamin A can synthesize rhodopsin, making it easier to see in dim light. Therefore, green tea can not only eliminate computer radiation but also protect and improve vision.
3. Refreshing and Invigorating
After drinking green tea, people absorb a rich amount of caffeine, which directly affects the nervous system and keeps the cerebral cortex excited. Therefore, drinking green tea can achieve the important effects of refreshing the mind and calming the spirit.
4. Lipid-Lowering and Weight Loss
Lipid-lowering and weight loss are important benefits of drinking green tea, as it contains substances such as theophylline and caffeine, which can activate multiple enzymes in the human body, accelerating the breakdown and metabolism of triglycerides, cholesterol, and fats. This prevents fat from accumulating in the body, preventing hyperlipidemia and aiding in weight loss.
5. Prevents Tooth Decay and Freshens Breath
Green tea contains fluoride, and catechins can inhibit cariogenic bacteria, reducing the occurrence of dental plaque and periodontal disease. Tannic acid in tea has antibacterial properties, preventing food residue from breeding bacteria, effectively preventing bad breath.