Closer Look On Best Matcha Tea

Green tea has been the most popular drink in Asian countries for centuries. But, in the Western world, black tea has been overwhelmingly more popular than green tea until recently. But, as we have learned more about green tea's unique taste and many health benefits, it has gained popularity all over the world. Green tea, like black tea, comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. The difference between green and black tea comes from how the tea is processed. Black tea is fermented during processing; green tea is not. After the tea leaves are plucked, they are laid out to wither. This lets most of the water evaporate. Next, to prevent the oxidation process, the leaves are steamed or pan fried. Finally, the leaves are rolled before a final drying takes place. After this final drying, the leaves, which still look green, can now be sorted, graded and packaged. The lack of fermentation causes the green tea to look, smell and taste different than black tea.

It typically brews to a pale green colour and has a bit of a grassy flavour and aroma. This lack of fermentation also causes the green tea to have more health benefits than black tea. The fermenting process used for black and oolong teas causes a compound called EGCG to be oxidised and converts it into other compounds. EGCG is a very powerful anti-oxidant, but the compounds it converts to during fermenting are not as healthful. This difference means that this powerful anti-oxidant is in its most natural state; the state in which it provides the most protection to the body. EGCG, like other anti-oxidants, are important to the body because they rid our bodies of free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules that are created abyproduct of our digestive processes. Unless they are eradicated from our bodies, free radicals damage our cells and DNA, causing aging and disease.

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and other plant-based foods like green tea and wine, help us get the anti-oxidants we need to stay healthy. And, EGCG is one of the best and most protective anti-oxidants found in any food. For this reason, cultures who have traditionally consumed large amounts of green tea throughout their lives have been shown to have lower incidences of many serious illnesses including cancer, heart disease and high cholesterol. In recent years there has been much scientific research linking green tea with a longer, healthier life. Green tea has also been shown to aid in weight loss by speeding up the metabolism and increasing the oxidation of fat cells in the body. For years it was assumed that green tea's caffeine was responsible for this ability to aid weight loss. However, more recent research has shown that green tea is more effective at speeding weight loss than other beverages with higher caffeine contents. Researchers have concluded that it is the caffeine in green tea combined with green tea's anti-oxidants that make green tea a better weight loss supplement than other caffeinated beverages.