Green Tea
To Brew:
·
Place about ½ teaspoon of the loose green tea
into the infuser.
*You can put more or less
depending on how strong you like it or how many cups you brew. The leaves
expand a lot so look at it at the end to see how full the infuser got.
·
Heat water in a pot on the stove or in a kettle
between 140°F - 185°F. Do not use a microwave as it changes the properties of
the water and the tea will not diffuse as well. Do not use boiling water
because it will destroy some of the antioxidants such as catechins.
*I use a kettle to boil the
water. I put about an inch of cold water into my mug, then add the boiling
water to get just below boiling.
·
Steep the tea for about 5 minutes. It is best to
let the tea steep undisturbed. If you move the infuser as it is steeping the
tea will become more bitter.
·
Remove the tea and enjoy!
*I leave the infuser in my mug
the entire time, adding hot water as I drink. The leaves continue to steep and
hot water warms the drink so I can continue to brew and drink more. I often
drink an entire kettle full of water this way.
The green tea I
gave you is Sencha. After having a tea party with about 16 different kinds
of green tea, Japanese Sencha is my favorite type of green tea. This particular
type I ordered on Amazon. It’s about $20 for 16 oz:
Davidson's Tea Bulk, Sencha, 16-Ounce Bag
http://www.amazon.com/Davidsons-Tea-Bulk-Sencha-16-Ounce/dp/B000SAPX8G
Health Benefits of
Green Tea:
·
Green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants.
Specifically, it is rich in polyphenols, a type of antioxidant which has been
called a “wonder nutrient” in terms of eliminating harmful free radicals in the
body. Green tea has 8 to 10 times the polyphenol levels found in fruits and
vegetables, so it’s definitely worth drinking.
·
In ancient China, tea was considered an elixir
and initially consumed for its perceived medicinal properties. Today, more and
more scientific evidence contributes to the belief that tea, indeed, is a
healthy beverage. The following provides a summary of the health benefits associated
with tea:
·
Cancer role - Studies on green tea’s impact on
cancer have been mixed. But green tea is known to aid healthy cells in
all stages of growth. There are some indications green tea may help destroy
cancer cells.
·
Heart Health - A number of recent
studies suggest that tea may help to decrease the incidence of heart attack by
reducing cholesterol in the blood, improving the function of blood vessels and
inhibiting inflammation that can contribute to atherosclerosis.
·
Diabetes - Green tea seems to help keep blood sugar stable in
people with diabetes. Because catechins lower cholesterol and blood pressure,
they can protect against the damage a high-fat diet can cause, Ochner says.
·
Weight loss - Green tea can help increase and
even change your metabolism, so you burn more calories from fat. Studies show
that green tea can also help you keep weight off once you’ve lost it.
·
Bone Health - A study conducted in
Taiwan showed that habitual tea consumption for more than a decade increased
total bone mineral density in both men and women. Additionally, a study among
older women has linked tea to greater bone density and a lower risk of hip
fractures.
*This health information does not come from peer reviewed
sources, so take it for what it’s worth. However, I really do think the history
and use of tea as medicine in ancient cultures proves it’s good for you.
Tips:
·
Loose leaves are preferable to teabags, again
because they infuse faster and are less processed than teabags. If you do use
teabags, continuously dunk them in the teapot rather than letting them float.
·
White tea is also a rich source of antioxidants
so diversify your tea time with white tea.
·
The pantry is a good place to store your tea. Refrigerating
it can result in damage from moisture and odors, and the condensation that
forms when thawing frozen tea will ruin it.
·
Add lemon. Vitamin C makes the healthy compounds
in green tea easier to absorb. Dairy, on the other hand, makes it harder to absorb
the catechins.
Just to clarify, I put at least a little honey in ALL my tea. Not because I have a sweet tooth necessarily, but honey is full of good stuff for you. As are cranberries, which I often also float in my teas (either fresh or frozen whole berries).
ReplyDeleteCranberries! A great idea I had not thought of :)
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