Part 2: Green Tea

As you may recall, I, Master Amanzi, have decided to help clear up some confusion about the different types of tea. As my once-exiled student pointed out to me, it is not clear the difference between green tea and oolong, or what exactly makes an herbal tea herbal (and not actually a tea at all—but we shall address that later.)

I have already explained to you about white tea, which is one of the more rare and expensive teas. Today, I shall impart a bit of knowledge unto you about green tea.

Like white tea, green tea is made with the leaves of Camellia sinensis bush and has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. However, unlike white tea, green tea leaves are roasted or steamed before they are dried. This allows for a bit more oxidation to occur, creating a stronger and slightly more bitter flavor. Green tea is extremely sensitive to heat, so it must be brewed at the right temperature and for the right amount of time, or it will not taste as it should. For this reason, it is the most difficult to brew correctly.

While it has a bit more caffeine than white tea, green tea still is one of the less-caffeinated teas. It has a more earthy flavor and a woody aroma. Green tea is extremely popular in China and Japan and is widely known for its health benefits, helping to prevent the occurrence of many maladies and diseases, including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, and impaired immune function. This is due to the large quantity of catechins, a type of antioxidant in the tea leaves themselves.

There is much more to know, but I shall not overburden your Tea Apprentice mind today. Next time I shall teach you a bit about Oolong Tea.

Until then, drink your tea: become your tea. And always remember to enjoy your stroll down the Path to Perfect Tea.

Learn More about the Other Types of Tea:
White Tea
Oolong Tea
Black Tea
Rooibos Tea
Yerba Mate Tea
Herbal Tea

Tags: Green Tea, Informational, tea info, tea leaves, Tea Types

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 14th, 2008 at 6:19 pm and is filed under Green Tea, Health, Informational, Tea Types. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.