Green Tea Leaves
The number of research articles and web pages describing the beneficial health effects of green tea is growing at a good pace. As a result, green tea is fast becoming a much-favored beverage in many parts of the world, even in places where tea has to be imported.
Behind the fame of this wonderful brew lie the leaves of the humble tea plant scientifically called as Camellia Sinensis. The various grades and brands of green tea result from the different ways in which the tea leaves are processed. While it is impossible to describe the different ways in which tea leaves can be processed in a short article, the importance of green tea leaves can be brought out at this point.
A fresh brew of green tea obtained by soaking the leaves in hot water will preserve almost all of the health benefits and medicinal properties so widely associated with the drink. Speaking of which, we need to briefly gloss over the amazing health promoting properties of green tea.
As shown by a vast number of valid scientific studies, regular consumption of green tea leads to significantly reduced cancer incidence. This is substantiated by the fact that the chemical compound called EGCG (short for Epigallocatechin gallate) found in all varieties of green tea can bring about the destruction of cancer cells while leaving surrounding normal cells unaffected.
Natures Magic Leaves
The brew also possesses a number of other medicinal properties including its ability to control high blood pressure, lower the levels of LDL or bad cholesterol, alleviate symptoms of arthritis, reduce and stabilize blood sugar levels, etc…As with the case of its anti-cancer properties, the catechin, EGCG, is responsible for most of these positive effects. Moreover, EGCG is a potent biologically active anti-oxidant that serves to reduce the levels of harmful chemical species formed during normal metabolic reactions.
The grade and quality of green tea produced depends in large part on the way in which the tea leaves are processed, the age of the tea plant, and on the amount of sunlight which the leaves receive prior to their harvest. Typically, leaves from older plants are used to make thicker brews compared to leaves from young tea plants (less than fifteen years old).
Satisfied with your cup of green tea? Good, but wait before you throw out the used green tea leaves into the garbage can- for even these leaves can be put to a variety of uses! The used green tea leaves can be exploited as a good fertilizer for plants.
Used green tea leaves can be soaked in water for a couple of days and then this “tea water” can be used to water your plants! Sun- dried green tea leaves (after giving their brew, of course) can be put in the refrigerator to clear foul smells and to purify the air inside.
You can buy the next packet of green tea leaves from the market, happy with the thought that you are getting a value-added pack of green tea!
