Emprimir
Correo Electrónico
 |
Direcciones
Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. Green, black, or oolong, they all come from the same species of plant- Camellia sinensis. The difference is in the processing. Green tea is unfermented, so the least processed. It retains the most antioxidant polyphenols. One of these, a catechin called epigallocatechin gallate or ECGC, is thought to be responsible for most of the long list of health benefits attributed to green tea. And it's quite an impressive list.
Numerous studies have shown that those consuming green tea are at lower risk for heart disease, stroke, periodontal disease, osteoporosis, and a slew of cancers including prostate, ovarian, breast, kidney, leukemia and childhood brain tumors. The catechins in tea prevent…
View Full Recipe at Meatless Mama
.%20A%20recent%20study%20even%20showed%20that%20green%20tea%20inhibits%20the%20influenza%20virus.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EOohlong%20tea%20has%20been%20partially%20fermented,%20and%20black%20tea%20has%20been%20fully%20fermented.%20Black%20tea%20contains%20the%20least%20antioxidants%20of%20the%20three.%20There%20have%20been%20fewer%20studies%20done%20on%20oohlong%20and%20black%20teas,%20but%20they%20show%20similar%20health%20benefits%20to%20green%20tea.%20Just%20keep%20in%20mind%20that%20to%20gain%20the%20benefits,%20tea%20consumption%20should%20be%20part%20of%20a%20healthy%20lifestyle.%20You%20can't%20live%20on%20fast%20food,%20avoid%20exercise,%20drink%20alcohol%20and%20smoke%20and%20expect%20tea%20to%20be%20a%20miracle%20cure.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhile%20tea%20bags%20are%20convenient,%20loose%20leaf%20teas%20produce%20a%20higher%20quality%20cup%20of%20tea.%20Loose%20leaf%20teas%20contain%20whole%20leaves%20or%20large%20pieces%20of%20leaves.%20Tea%20bags%20contain%20tiny%20pieces%20of%20broken%20leaves%20whose%20oils%20have%20evaporated,%20so%20they%20have%20less%20flavor.%20If%20you%20want%20the%20convenience%20of%20tea%20bags,%20be%20sure%20to%20look%20for%20unbleached%20bags.%20To%20use%20loose%20leaf%20tea%20you%20need%20to%20place%20it%20in%20an%20infusor%20or%20strainer.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EUse%201%20tsp.%20of%20loose%20green%20tea%20or%201%20bag%20to%208%20oz.%20water.%20Heat%20the%20water%20to%20just%20below%20boiling%20to%20prevent%20a%20bitter%20taste.%20While%20it's%20generally%20recommended%20to%20steep%20green%20tea%20for%202-5%20minutes,%20to%20get%20the%20most%20benefit%20from%20green%20tea,%20allow%20it%20to%20steep%20for%2010%20minutes.%20%20Black%20tea%20should%20be%20steeped%20for%203-5%20min.%20using%20boiling%20water.%20Oolong%20tea%20is%20usually%20steeped%201-3%20min.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EHerbal%20teas,%20which%20are%20not%20actually%20tea,%20but%20are%20called%20tisanes,%20have%20their%20own%20health%20benefits.%20I'm%20working%20on%20a%20series%20of%20posts%20about%20them%20which%20you%20will%20see%20sometime%20in%20January.%20Herbal%20teas%20must%20steep%20much%20longer%20to%20get%20the%20full%20benefits;%20from%2010%20min.%20up%20to%201%20hour.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20drink%20lots%20of%20herbal%20teas,%20but%20for%20years%20I%20was%20not%20able%20to%20acquire%20a%20taste%20for%20green%20tea.%20Knowing%20its%20amazing%20health%20benefits,%20I%20really%20wanted%20to.%20Alicia%20over%20at%20Vegan%20Epicurean%20gave%20me%20lots%20of%20encouragement%20as%20well%20as%20ideas%20to%20try%20such%20as%20adding%20pomegranate%20juice%20or%20lemon%20and%20ginger%20to%20it.%20That%20really%20helped.%20%20Thanks%20Alicia!%20I%20also%20recently%20discovered%20chai%20green%20tea.%20Chai%20tea%20traditionally%20contains%20milk,%20which%20I%20do%20not%20add.%20I%20only%20add%20a%20little%20honey%20or%20a%20dash%20of%20agave.%20The%20combination%20of%20spices-%20especially%20the%20cloves,%20got%20me%20hooked.%20It%20is%20my%20new%20favorite%20tea!%20The%20spices%20also%20contain%20health%20benefits.%20Cloves%20contain%20eugenol%20which%20is%20anti-inflammatory%20and%20may%20help%20prevent%20digestive%20tract%20cancers.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAll%20true%20tea%20contains%20tannic%20acid,%20which%20blocks%20the%20absorption%20of%20iron.%20If%20this%20is%20a%20concern%20for%20you,%20do%20not%20drink%20tea%20for%20one%20hour%20before%20or%20after%20meals,%20or%20try%20adding%20lemon%20to%20the%20tea%20to%20help%20increase%20iron%20absorption.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ETea%20Review%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAs%20I%20mentioned%20a%20few%20weeks%20ago,%20I%20am%20an%20affiliate%20for%20Mountain%20Rose%20Herbs,%20and%20they%20sent%20me%20this%20to%20review:%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20Oregon%20Chai%20is%20an%20herbal%20blend%20that%20made%20me%20swoon%20with%20delight%20when%20I%20opened%20the%20bag%20and%20smelled%20it.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20Oolong%20Tea%20is%20a%20blend%20of%20green%20and%20black%20tea%20which%20also%20had%20a%20delightful,%20fresh%20fragrance.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThey%20are%20both%20high%20quality%20loose%20leaf%20varieties%20which%20I%20prefer%20over%20tea%20bags.%20I%20adored%20the%20Oregon%20Chai,%20it%20was%20a%20perfect%20blend%20of%20spices.%20I%20am%20sorry%20to%20say%20that%20I%20am%20still%20not%20a%20fan%20of%20plain%20green%20or%20black%20teas,%20so%20I%20mixed%20the%20Oolong%20with%20the%20Oregon%20Chai%20and%20it%20was%20fabulous!%20I%20get%20the%20health%20benefits%20of%20the%20tea%20combined%20with%20those%20of%20the%20spices%20and%20the%20flavor%20is%20addictive.%20Both%20are%20certified%20Kosher%20and%20Organic.%20I%20will%20definitely%20order%20more%20of%20these%20when%20my%20free%20samples%20are%20used%20up.%20I%20am%20very%20satisfied%20with%20Mountain%20Rose%20Herbs%20products%20and%20with%20the%20way%20the%20company%20does%20business.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFinally,%20a%20shameless%20plug.%20If%20you%20still%20need%20a%20Christmas%20gift%20for%20someone,%20tea,%20an%20infuser%20or%20a%20teapot%20make%20nice%20gifts.%20If%20you%20order%20anything%20%20from%20Mountain%20Rose%20Herbs%20through%20a%20link%20on%20my%20page,%20I%20earn%20a%20small%20commission.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EHave%20a%20great%20weekend%20everyone!%3C/p%3E){kind=link}