Green tea
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The caffeine in green tea
Drinking green tea is largely considered a healthy alternative due to its herbal properties. However, it does fall under the category of caffeinated beverages. Is green tea good for you and how much is too much green tea?
Japanese teas
These are considered good for health, as the leaves are not oxidised for a long time, as in traditional tea. In Japan, green tea is drank regularly with meals, as it is known throughout many parts of Asia as a healing property, due to its catechins which can help to control bleeding, heal wounds, control blood sugar and aid in digestion.
Health benefits of green tea
These catechins contain most notably egcg or epigallocatechin gallate. This is a potent antioxidant which is known to help prevent cancer. The egcg in green tea when combined with caffeine products such as traditional tea or coffee can help to increase the metabolic rate, thus helping the drinker to lose weight. Green tea, when combined with coffee or caffeine as an alternative to tea, can help you to burn calories as you drink it at regular intervals.
How to make and prepare green tea
The Japanese drink green tea in small cups together with their meals. Asian tea is served in cups at mealtimes as it is generally considered to aid digestion.
There are various types of green tea, but to prepare the best green tea, (whether you prefer a traditional china green tea or a decaf green tea), follow the instructions below.
Preparation of green tea
Take the finest green tea leaves and place in a warm tea pot.
Boil the kettle and pour into the teapot as required.
Brew for around 3-5 minutes.
Pour into a tea cup.
Enjoy the drink.
Caffeine and health benefits
Green tea provides a refreshing change to traditional tea sources. A normal cup of tea contains caffeine, or tea extract in large amounts. However, green tea generally contains less caffeine and the finer the green tea leaf, the stronger the health benefits will be.
Recommendations
It is recommended that you consume no more than 5-10 cups of green tea per day, as this can produce a high level of caffeine.Excessive green tea consumption can result in dehydration, therefore (possibly) causing headaches.