Green Tea: Health Benefits and Wellness Properties

Green tea is a type of tea that undergoes no fermentation, making it one of the freshest and most natural tea varieties. It is the preferred choice for summer drinking due to its refreshing taste and ability to relieve heat and thirst, as well as its detoxifying and fire-clearing medicinal effects. Although there are many beverages available today, green tea retains an important place in people's diets thanks to its unique flavor and natural characteristics. Beyond drinking, manufacturers also produce green tea-flavored foods that are widely popular.

There are many varieties of green tea, with the most famous being Longjing, Biluochun, and Maojian.

(1) Longjing Tea. Longjing is considered the pinnacle of green tea. It originates from the Longjing, Meijiawu, and other areas in the West Lake region of Hangzhou. Its main characteristics are fine, tender leaves shaped like sharp swords, a clear and emerald green infusion, and a taste that is initially bitter followed by sweetness.

(2) Biluochun. Biluochun comes primarily from the Dongting Mountain scenic area in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, surrounded by mountains and waters with a long history of tea cultivation. Hence, it is also called Dongting Biluochun. Its features include curled leaves, tender leaf texture, white downy tips at the leaf apex, a bright green and clear infusion, and a fragrant aroma with fruity notes.

(3) Maojian. Maojian is another famous tea, produced in the Dabie Mountain area of Xinyang, Henan Province, hence also known as Xinyang Maojian. Xinyang is one of China's eight major tea-producing regions due to its abundant Maojian output. Its characteristics are slender leaves with white downy tips, a pale green infusion, a rich and mellow aroma with a hint of roasted chestnut, and the ability to retain fragrance after multiple infusions.

The above introduces only the three most famous green teas; in fact, there are over a dozen other varieties with excellent flavor and health benefits. The health benefits of green tea have been recognized and utilized since ancient times. Its main health functions include clearing heat and detoxifying, resisting cancer cells, reducing body fat and cholesterol, beautifying and aiding weight loss, protecting against radiation, and strengthening teeth.

Green tea is cold in nature and sweet in taste. Regular consumption can clear heat and reduce fire, calm the mind and brighten the eyes, cleanse the stomach and intestines. The tea pigments in green tea promote the breakdown of cholesterol, reduce cholesterol accumulation in the body, effectively prevent hypertension and other conditions, and provide relief for dizziness caused by certain illnesses. Additionally, the polyphenols in green tea can help prevent cancer. Moreover, lipopolysaccharides and vitamin C in green tea are important substances for radiation protection and beauty care. In recent years, many toothpastes have added green tea extract because green tea contains fluoride, which helps prevent tooth decay.

References

1. Cabrera, C., Artacho, R., & Giménez, R. (2006). Beneficial effects of green tea—a review. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 25(2), 79-99.

2. Khan, N., & Mukhtar, H. (2013). Tea and health: studies in humans. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 19(34), 6141-6147.

3. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Green Tea. Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/green-tea