Camellia sinensis: The health benefits of green tea
Camellia sinensis, from the genus Camellia and the family Theaceae, is the tea plant that produces white tea, green tea, oolong tea, twig tea and black tea. Each tea is processed in its own way, but the oxidation time is different.
Note that there are many
varieties of the tea plant. (1)
Green tea and black tea are
made from the tea leaves, as it is the leaves and the leaf buds used to produce
tea. There are several exceptions. Twig tea is from only the twigs and stems.
White tea is made from the tea needles or the shoots at the end of the
branches.
Camellia sinensis grows in the
tropical and subtropical regions of south and southeastern Asia ,
where there is a minimum of fifty inches of rain per annum. This tea plant
grows as an evergreen shrub or small tree, that has yellowish-white flowers.
The tea leaves range in size
from four to fifteen centimeters in length and two to five centimeters in
width. The younger leaves preferable for green tea, are light green and have
short, white hairs under the leaves. The older leaves are darker green. These
leaves are used for the kind of black tea consumed in the western world. The age of
the leaf determines the tea quality, as the chemical composition changes with
age.
Tea leaves and buds are hand
picked, several times a month. To halt the oxidation process in the Japanese
way, the tea leaves are steamed. When done the Chinese way, the oxidation
process involves roasting the leaves, immediately after picking. Oolong tea used by Chinese restaurants, has a long oxidation process, but the tea that is
oxidized for the longest period of time is the black tea.
Green tea is made from only the
green leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and has a minimal degree of
oxidization. (2)
Traditionally, green tea has
been used in many parts of the world, including Asia and the Middle East and is
becoming increasingly popular in America
In order to make green tea
properly, it is recommended that six ounces of hot water are used, with one
teaspoon of green tea. The tea should be steeped for two to three minutes, but
not overheated or steeped for too long, because it will cause the tea to become
bitter. (4)
The medicinal benefits as recorded in Chinese medicine, include the following:
The medicinal benefits as recorded in Chinese medicine, include the following:
For asthma, green tea acts as a
bronchodilator.
Green tea is used for the
treatment of angina pectoris, coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular
disease.
Green tea leaves and green tea
extract are being researched for their antibacterial action, in
conditions like bad breath and staphylococcus aureus. (3)
Other health benefits include the following:
Other health benefits include the following:
Green tea helps to control
bleeding and is effective in the healing of wounds. It is used to regulate body
temperature, stabilize blood sugar levels and to improve digestion. Note that while there are
numerous other claims with respect to health benefits including its usage in
the treatment for cancer, proper guidance under a physician's care, is always
advisable. (4)
For further information about green tea and its health benefits, please refer to the following web sites, the sources of this article.
(1)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sinensis
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sinensis
(4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea
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