Tea for Two? As Long as it's Green!

Two recent large population studies have shown that cancer patients who drink ample amounts of green tea have significantly longer survival rates. No other beverage contains this level of antioxidants. You can replace some of your water drinking with chilled green tea, add lemon, ginger or mint for variety, or add a Chai or Earl Gray tea bag.

Did you know you can cook with green tea?  What a great way to get the recommended amount in your diet.  Replace water or half the liquid called for in a recipe with green tea... for example in baking, soups and stews.

Green tea is unfermented, unlike black teas. White tea is harvested before the leaves are fully open.

DRAGON WELL is the ultimate green tea. It is distinguished by its bright green color.  It has a brisk, full-bodied flavor. The leaves can be added to soups and stir-frys. This tea will cost a little more than other green teas.

GUNPOWDER leaves are rolled in tiny balls that look like the old gunpowder used to. This reduces its exposure to oxygen so it stays fresh longer than other teas. It has a somewhat strong grassy flavor. I like to add almond milk and a bit of Stevia to my tea.

MATCHA powdered tea is made from hand-picked, high-grade Japanese green tea leaves.  Whisk it into warm (not boiling) water) to make it frothy. Matcha works as a dessert ingredient. Scientists at the University of Colorado have found that Matcha has 200 times the concentration of EGCG* compared to commercially available green tea!

Scientists have identified at least one of the mechanisms by which EGCG seems to work to fight cancer: it inhibits a key “signaling pathway,” called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is responsible for transmitting instructions at the molecular level to cancer cells, prompting them to grow and multiply.

SENCHA is the most popular of the Japanese green teas. It has a lightly astringent yet sweet taste. Lesser quality Sencha is called Bancha.

tea_session

How to Brew:

1. Never brew your tea in aluminum pots...actually I don't use aluminum against ANY foods or beverages...acids will break aluminum down. )If you wrap pizza in foil and wait a few hours, you'll see holes in the foil it contacted the tomato sauce!)

2. Use filtered water

3. Remove water from heat when it starts to stir, but before it boils

4. Allow it to cool for 1-2 minutes before pouring over tea

5. Use 1 teabag or 1 tsp. leaves per 8 oz. cup

6. Cover to exclude oxygen

7. Allow to steep for 2-3 minutes if bags or cut leaf, and 15-20 minutes if loose, whole leaf

8. Strain and remove bags

9. You can use a tea bag twice

10. Brew a pitcher at a time (3-6 cups), so you can drink it all day,  or brew a pitcher at night and refrigerate for the next day

*Note: EGCG  is a naturally occurring compound that is found mainly in Green Tea. It is a powerful antioxidant and makes up about 30% to 42% of the content of green tea. Catechins like EGCG are much more powerful than vitamins like A, C and E in defending your body against "free radicals", which do all kinds of damage to the body; speeding up the aging process, causing cancer, triggering Alzhiemers disease and other chronic diseases.

All Green Teas are Not Created Equal

Green tea contains hundreds of chemical compounds that all contribute to its health-filled characteristics. Out of all these epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is responsible for its anticancer activity. Studies show that the development of many tumors is inhibited by EGCG because it has the ability to shut off growth-promoting genes. Inhibition of blood vessel growth to the tumor is one of the key reasons why green tea is a great anticancer agent. EGCG may also act as an antioxidant, seeking and destroying free radicals.

The content of EGCG varies between brands; Japanese green teas generally contain higher amounts of EGCG.

My favorites are Sencha green tea and Matcha green tea.

Matcha (“powdered tea”) is a jewel-green powder made from hand-picked, high-grade Japanese green tea leaves. Whisk it with hot water in a bowl or cup to make this frothy, healthful beverage. Try it in warm Rice or Almond milk for a treat.  Matcha works well added to desserts too.

Sencha is the most popular of Japan’s green teas. It has a lightly astringent taste along with a slight sweetness. Lesser quality sencha tea is called bancha.

Dragonwell (from China’s Lung Ching region) is the ultimate green tea. It is distinguished by its bright emerald green color, brisk full-bodied flavor.  Dragonwell tea from Numi seems to have high anti-oxidant value. This sells for around $30 a pound on Amazon.  There are a lot of fake Dragonwell teas on the market, so it's good to shop carefully.  Many reviewers agree that Numi’s tea is superior as it is made from the tiny tea leaves of Longjing, without the powder that characterizes inferior brands.

How Much is Needed for Health Benefit?

Drink 4 - 5 cups daily to ensure that you are getting an adequate amount of the anticancer boost that green tea provides. Be sure not to green drink tea after 5pm as it may affect your sleep (unless it's decaffeinated).

If that seems too much, you can purchase green tea extract.  Choose a brand that has no alcohol, and other ingredients. My favorite is Tegreen 97®, a high quality decaf green tea leaf extract in capsule form... each capsule equals 7 cups of green tea and contains >95 mg ECGg per capsule!

dragonwell tea

How to Brew

It is recommended that the tea brew for 8-10 minutes. Let boiled water sit for 5 minutes before brewing so as not to ‘burn’ the tea leaves.

For Dragonwell, use about one-eighth of a cup of dry leaves to the pot. Brew exactly as much tea as you intend to consume at one sitting.

Pour in the water and let it brew for three to four minutes until the dry leaves expand and the tea turns green. It will have a nutty flavor. You can then use those same leaves to brew another cup or two or add them to soups or salads!

~ Cheers! ♥