Green tea is one of the most common and widely consumed beverages around the world.
This elegant combination of tea leaves, hot water, and a special brewing method results in an infusion that contains antioxidants known to have many benefits for health.
As a green tea lover, you would be fascinated to learn that your favorite tea is now available worldwide. Whether you are looking to buy it from a traditional tea store or an online tea store, every variety of green tea you hanker after is available plentifully.
Put simply, you can find the best-selling flavored and sweetened varieties in the form of powders and loose-leaf available easily.
So you might be thinking what can green tea do for us? Read on below to find out more about this regular beverage.
Without beating around the bush, let us look at the various types of green tea and handpick the ones that you think would be the ticket for a specific occasion or your preferences.
Types of Green Tea
In general, green tea has more than 30 types and they all have their origin in Japan. When it comes to cultivating these varieties, much depends on the environmental conditions as well as the mechanical processes used for desiccating the leaves.
Without beating around the bush, let us look at the top 10 types of green tea and handpick the ones that you think would be the ticket for a specific occasion or your preferences.
Gyokuro
If you’re feeling certain exotic flavors, gyokuro is probably not far from your wish list. This is the highest grade of green tea and is prepared from leaves that are kept in storage for at least three weeks. The longer they are kept, the better the taste of gyokuro.
It’s been said that gyokuro teas have a slightly sweet flavor, which lingers nicely when consumed fresh as well as after its steeping period.
Matcha
The difference between matcha and regular green tea is quite obvious as soon as you lay your eyes on it. Matcha is prepared by scraping off the upper part of the leaf with a small tool.
This will help to make sure that the tea leaves are exposed to less oxidation, thereby maintaining their freshness and nutrients.
Sencha-Kukicha
Here comes the third kind of green tea, which is exclusive to Japan. The leaves used in this preparation are left over by other green teas and skip the steaming process altogether.
The flavor of sencha-kukicha is sweeter than others as it has been allowed to ferment longer than other varieties. This variety also has a slightly woody aftertaste which many find pleasant.
Yabukita
Another kind of green tea is yabukita. This very old variety is also known as shincha, which means first-harvested tea.
However, unlike the sencha and gyokuro teas, this green tea is steamed for a much shorter time than regular green teas. This helps to preserve its freshness and nutrients.
It’s possible to make yabukita by using whole leaves and not by drying the leaves as is done in other varieties of green tea.
Sencha
This is the most popular green tea in Japan. You have probably tasted it in various forms but the real sencha herb is a bud that grows on the first new leaves of the tea plant.
The buds are picked by hand and it only takes this type of tea 3 to 4 days for it to detoxify and oxidize. The sharp, fresh taste of this variety is found in both loose-leaf as well as tea bags.
Genmaicha
This tea is a blend of brown rice and green tea leaves. It is called genmaicha, as it was developed during the times when bamboo shoots were used as fertilizers and hence, placed in paddy fields to protect the rice crop.
The Japanese often use this variety to combat depression and stress after a hard day’s work. Genmaicha also helps to keep your nerves calm during an important presentation or an interview session.
Souchong
This kind of green tea comes from China and is used particularly in Japan for medicinal purposes. The leaves are rubbed together which helps to make it easy to drink, which is why it was originally prepared by people who had difficulty swallowing solid foods or liquids.
Aged Chawan-mushi
This tea is prepared in the same way as other varieties of chawan-mushi and has been aged for anywhere between 15 to 25 years before it is served.
Chawan-mushi is a type of Japanese hot pot dish you may have come across which has a unique broth that has been allowed to steep for a long period of time before being served.
Bencha
This variety of green tea is unique to Japan. The tea leaves are rolled into pellets before they are left to oxidize, which is unlike other varieties.
The flavor of Bencha is stronger than others and you can taste a hint of fresh vegetables mixed in with the herbs. This variety goes really well during hot weather or after you’ve been out on a cold day.
Genmaicha-Kukicha
If you’ve had genmaicha before, you know that it’s a blend of green tea and roasted rice grains. This type is similar but uses kukicha in addition to the rice grains instead of other teas.
Benefits of Green Tea
Here are the top 10 benefits of green tea:
Fends off the chances of heart attack
Green tea has catechins, which are said to benefit the mitochondrial health of the body. Because green tea also contains caffeine, it causes a person to burn more calories than he or she would during exercise.
Green tea can improve cardiovascular health and prevent many diseases like heart attack and stroke.
Prevents cancer
Drinking green tea can help prevent cancer and slow the growth rate of prostate, ovarian and skin cancers, among others.
These are very helpful in improving your overall health as well as your cognitive skills and ability to concentrate on a task at hand. You can also take green tea supplements for these purposes.
Prevents Alzheimer’s and dementia
Multiple studies have shown a link between green tea and preventing memory loss. One study showed that people who drank four or five cups of green tea each day had less memory loss than those who did not drink green tea. This is because the polyphenols in green tea can reduce the damage that plaques cause in the brain.
It can also help prevent Alzheimer’s disease by reducing brain sugar levels, which are caused by a build-up of amyloid peptides that cause cells in the brain to die.
Helps weight loss
If you are trying to lose weight, green tea can be helpful. It contains a substance called epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG. These are the substances that aid in losing weight using tea.
Green tea is also an excellent source of antioxidants that can help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals.
Prevents heart attacks
Many studies have shown that green tea may reduce the risk of heart attack due to its antioxidant properties and ability to increase good cholesterol levels. This is a very important benefit for people who have heart conditions or are involved in strenuous sports activities.
Beefs up oral health
It also helps to prevent oral malodor, and can promote dental health by strengthening teeth and gums.
Boosts brain function
There is an increasing amount of evidence that drinking green tea can improve brain function. A 2014 study showed that drinking three to five cups of green tea each day improved brain function for healthy people who had mild cognitive impairment (an early stage of dementia).
Relieves depression
Studies have shown that a single cup of green tea a day can reduce the risk of depression by as much as 30%. This is because it contains antioxidants called flavonoids which can prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, or noradrenaline.
The caffeine contained in a cup of green tea also has psychoactive effects, and this is thought to be responsible for its antidepressant effect.
Prevents bone loss
Another great benefit of green tea is that it can prevent bone loss. You should drink a cup of green tea each day if you want to boost your bone health.
It counteracts inflammation
Your body uses green tea to counter inflammation and prevent joint pain. The polyphenols and catechins in green tea can help fight off free radicals that may damage your body and harm cells. These antioxidants also speed the healing of wounds, which makes them a very useful ingredient for athletes.
Although the consumption of green tea is not to be taken for granted, it is still widely consumed in Japan. Green tea has been shown to help prevent heart attacks, cancer, and other diseases. A person must drink green tea daily if they want to achieve these benefits from tea. One must also consult a doctor before drinking any type of green tea due to the high amounts of caffeine it has in it.
