Green Tea Plant: Where is Green Tea Extracted? and How?

Welcome back! Before we get to the nitty gritty details of so many green tea benefits; we tackle on the source of the green tea substance itself.

Grean tea comes from the plant called Camellia Sinensis. The common name for this is "tea plant".

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25766289@N00

This is also where Black Tea, Oolong Tea and White Tea come from.

Camellia Sinensis, a shrub-like plant, is usually grown in tropical climates that has a combination of hot and cool climates and heavy rainfalls. While there are many places in the world that has those characteristics; the best tasting teas are produced on highly elevated mountain regions.

Countries where the green tea plant is vastly cultivated are as follows:

1. India

2. China

3. Sri Lanka

4. Japan

5. Taiwan

6. Kenya

7. Turkey

And many more..

So how does green tea really get extracted from the plant?

- First, the leaves from the green tea plant are hand-picked or machine picked: cultivation and harvesting.

- Then the leaves are lightly steamed before allowing them to dry (drying). This process effectively retains the active properties of the plant. These active properties in the leaves are the ones helpful to our health. Green tea processing retains many of the active properties as compared to Oolong and Black Tea processing.

- For those green tea products found in teabags, a process called shaping occurs. Its purpose is to create a distinctive look in the tea (wll still be recongnized as tea leaves) and to regulate the release of content of the green tea leaves when steamed into a cup.

- There are final steps for drying and post-processing as required.

Here are the details on the extracting of green tea from the plant.

Comments: It is really surprising that complex procedures are being done in order to get the green tea extract that we enjoy today. I think it is based on the fact that the producers of green tea extracts pay attention to detail in order to retain the healthy ingredients from the tea plant. I also learned today that the green tea plant could also be grown on tropical areas; I thought it was only grown on elevated areas and countries with cold climates. But through research, the best tasting teas are indeed cultivated from elevated and cold areas nonetheless.

For more green tea infos, please read these sites:

1. Green Tea Extract

2. Camellia Sinensis

3. The Tea Bush

4. The Source Of All Tea

P.S. A new series of posts are up! If you would like to know 10 Trivia regarding Green Tea, click on this link: http://greenteaphilippines.blogspot.com/p/10-trivia.html

Benefit of Green Tea: It Helps Eliminate Constipation and Regularizes Bowel Movement

Great day to you!

Do me a favor, before you start reading this article, radiate a big SMILE! and be thankful for this new day!

Good!

OK now, for the past several months, I have been talking to a lot of people lately regarding the topic of green tea and its numerous beneficial health effects. In addition to this we also discussed how important it is to include the drink in the everyday diet of Filipinos (as currently we are more of a coffee drinking country).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45040705@N06

Majority of the women I spoke with have constipation and bowel movement problems. I then would say and recommend that they drink green tea such that it encourages bowel regularity. I have experienced its effect, which is why I could proudly testify that they would try it also.

Now how does green tea exactly do this benefit?

In our digestive system, specifically in our intestines, we have these good bacteria that aids the body in its digestion process. The continuous consumption of green tea aids the growth of these good bacteria and improves the digestive process. And, with the increase of good bacteria in the intestines, harmful infections will be lessened, thus making the digestive tract function more properly.

The good thing about green tea improving your body's waste removal function is that your colon will be cleansed. This can help prevent colon cancer in the long run.

To maintain a clean system, I advise you to at least drink a cup of green tea everyday.

Please check out these useful articles:
1. Green Tea is a Natural Remedy for Constipation
2. Green Tea and Constipation
3. Green Tea Colon Cleansing

Till next time,
Carlo

P.S. Kindly press "Like" on the right side of this page to support "Green Tea for a Cause." You could know the details more on what this is all about by visiting our Facebook page.

P.S.2 A new series of posts are up! If you would like to know 10 Trivia regarding Green Tea, click on this link: http://greenteaphilippines.blogspot.com/p/10-trivia.html

7 interesting and "would like to try" products mixed with Green Tea

Happy holidays!

As I was browsing the net, I discovered that more and more products are now added, mixed or themed with green tea. It is really becoming famous on various consumer products.

Here are some of the products with green tea that I'm curious to try.

1. Drinks for Celebrations

You need to relax! Here are some that could help:

Gin with Green Tea

Beer with Green Tea

Sake (Rice Wine) with Green Tea

Vodka with Green Tea

2. Chocolates with Matcha (Green Tea Powder)

Will order these soon from E-bay (if I fail to find these here) since most Green Tea chocolates are from Japan!

Kit Kat

Oreo

Royce

Meiji

Kisses

3. Green Tea Toothpastes and Mouthwash

Ironically, after chocolates in this list, we now have dental products with green tea. Through various research, it was proven that green tea does have anti-bacterial properties. Substances within the tea kill the actual organisms that cause tooth decay. One article is here.

Toothpaste

Mouthwash

4. Hair Products with Green Tea

Conditioner

5. Green Tea Cakes and Pastries

Yummy cakes! Crave and be curious!

6. Green Tea Scent (Perfume???)

Yes. perfume. I was surprised when I saw that this even existed. And it's worth a try.

And lastly,

7. Green Tea Spa

This spa is found in Japan. Green tea is a good anti-oxidant for the skin and has anti-aging properties. Then why not make a pool spa out of it?

As observed, more and more people these days want to improve their overall health. Green tea is really a power anti-oxidant as more and more products have it. Even Lucky Me noodles has green tea in it!

Some new things to try for 2011!

Till next time,

Carlo

P.S. - If you like this, please press "Like" on the "Green Tea for a Cause" facebook page found on the upper right side of this blog. Thanks.

P.S. 2 - or you may click this link

P.S. 3 A new series of posts are up! If you would like to know 10 Trivia regarding Green Tea, click on this link: http://greenteaphilippines.blogspot.com/p/10-trivia.html

Photocredits:

1. Drinks for Celebrations

http://project-beer-belly.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

http://markrespicio.blogspot.com/

http://community.theknot.com/cs/ks/blogs/knot_tia/default.aspx

http://www.charbay.com/category.aspx?categoryID=642

2. Chocolates with Matcha (Green Tea Powder)

http://thea-lhoes.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

http://www.thechocolatereview.net/2008/04/13/meiji-rich-matcha-chocolate/

http://hyacinthus.wordpress.com/2007/08/24/green-tea-chocolate/

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/01/0116_world_chocolate/source/5.htm

http://www.lauracarey.com/kisses

http://www.travellerspoint.com/photos/stream/photoID/955651/orderByID/

3. Green Tea Toothpastes and Mouthwash

http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Dental_Caries_Prevention_by_Camellia_sinensis

http://nutricentre.blogspot.com/2010/12/gargling-green-tea-to-fight-colds-and.html

4. Hair Products with Green Tea

http://base.store247.my/follow-me-follow-me-green-tea-shampoo-400ml-hydrating-conditioner.html

5. Green Tea Cakes and Pastries

http://levanshop.blogspot.com/

http://www.nazshemah.com/2009/04/yummy-green-tea-cake.html

http://www.roboppy.net/food/2006/11/the_girl_who_ate_more_than_eve.html

6. Green Tea Scent

http://www.rpsoapworks.com/?cat=19&paged=2

7. Green Tea Spa

http://www.upi.com/Features/Public_Health/Slideshow/1492/Japanese-Spa-Industry/

Green Tea Benefits - Green Tea as a Fat Burner and Weight Loss Tea

Next up! This feature of Green Tea as a fat burner came as a surprise to me when I first learned about it. And this is one feature which makes green tea and green tea extract hot commodities these days! No wonder there are thousands of slimming products in the market that has Green Tea as one of their premium ingredients.

So how does Green Tea do the fat burning?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124370018@N01

The fat burning (also gruesomely known as its Thermogenic Effect) effect of Green Tea is believed to be caused by the compound EGCG or Epigallocathechin Gallate. This is the primary anti-oxidant found in Green Tea. It enhances the metabolism.

When we consume Green Tea; these anti-oxidants are released into the blood stream which helps the body absorb calories and convert them directly into muscle or energy.

It also prevents and/or slows down fats from being stored in our body. This is possible because Green Tea delays the action of certain enzymes (chemicals in the body) that cause fat storage.

For some people, the tea causes appetite suppression which controls their overall food intake and aid weight loss.

Comments: The thing I find very attractive for people with regards to a green tea diet is that it gives you the luxury of burning those fats while doing almost nothing! The green tea does its work internally! But sometimes people give this fact as an excuse. Because they know that they have a green tea product that acts as a fat burner; they tend to eat more! I am guilty of that also haha but I'm slowly changing my habits. I also happen to know the best green tea in the market today. (please leave a comment if you want details).

For more sumptuous info, you may check out these sites:

1. Green Tea Weight Loss

2. Green Tea Fat Burner

P.S. - A new series of posts are up! If you would like to know 10 Trivia regarding Green Tea, click on this link: http://greenteaphilippines.blogspot.com/p/10-trivia.html

Origin of Green Tea: How Did It Start?

So how did the discovery of green tea take place? and when?

Good thing it did!

Upon reading several articles I found out that 2 stories stood out. Both are Chinese legends.

1. Leaf Drop

One story stated that in the year 2737 B.C. a Chinese leader and a medical expert, Shen Nung, was found resting under a tea tree while simmering water. A breeze then stirred the branches of the tree causing a few leaves to drift down on the water he was simmering. The resulting drink was found to be refreshing and deliciously revitalizing. After this he introduced and instructed many people to drink the resulting brew and the rest is history, thus tea was discovered!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12126948@N03

2. Leaf Taste

Another story involved a man named Shien Non Shei. He found the tea plant as it is known today. It has been told that he tasted the leaf from the plant and he thought that it tasted fantastic. After which he decided to mix it with water as he felt that it had special medicinal properties. He was right after all!

Comments: There were many other stories regarding the origins of green tea. The discovery is the product of man's unending sense of curiosity. The effect is that many people are now healthier and are saved from major diseases! There you go! I hope I have satisfied your curiosity a bit with regards to the origins of green tea!

For more info regarding the origins of green tea, please check out these links:

1. Green tea origins and benefits

2. Types of tea other than green tea

3. Flavors of tea other than green tea

4. Planet Tea - Green tea

5. Green Tea Revolution

6. Green Tea Guide

7. Green Tea Bits

P.S. A new series of posts are up! If you would like to know 10 Trivia regarding Green Tea, click on this link: http://greenteaphilippines.blogspot.com/p/10-trivia.html