Japanese Matcha Green Tea for Health
It is said that drinking Japanese Matcha tea blesses one with a feeling of tranquility, good health, happiness and a long life.
Matcha first began its rise in the popular Japanese culture through Zen Buddhist Ritual in the 12th Century. By the 13th it has also been embraced by Samurai Warrior Culture, and thus the foundations of the tea ceremony were laid.
Many people are surprised to discovered that matcha comes from the same plant as black and green tea (Camelia Sinensis), and is the world’s most nutritious know natural beverage.
When you drink Matcha tea, you are actually eating the leaves, fueling your body not only with it’s natural caffeine (which provides an invigorating 6 hour energy boost with no crash), but also with the nutrients inherent in the beverage.
What are the nutritional elements in Matcha? Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, E, K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron ,ZINc, Copper, Protein, Fibre, Antioxidants, Beta Carotene, Chlorophyll and other trace elements in minute quantities.
Green Tea For Healthy Skin Care
A recent Science Daily article noted that tea extract can heal skin that has been damaged by radiation. The study was done on cancer patients who underwent radiation therapy that caused skin damage. It showed that the tea extract worked on the cellular level of the skin to reduce inflammation and toxicity. Both black and green tea extracts worked well, although green tea proved more effective, at least in some patients.
This is good news for tea lovers who are concerned about the health of their skin. And even if you are not much of a tea drinker, you can purchase skin care products that contain tea extract to take advantage of its natural properties. There are also a number of health drinks that contain green tea extract as an ingredient, and you could include them in your diet if you prefer.
Of course, the skin care properties of green tea have been known for some time by natural health enthusiasts, but it was not until relatively recently that the scientific establishment has documented findings that agreed with the advice doled out by traditionalists.
Another special property of black and green tea is that they contain natural compound known as catechins, which are natural antioxidants. Catechins are highly present in the Camellia sinensis plant, which is the source of various tea products, including green tea and black tea.
Antioxidants are effective chemical compounds that counter the effects of free radicals on skin. Free radicals, which are highly reactive oxygen molecules, cause damage to the skin proteins that keep your skin smooth and elastic. When these proteins are damaged, your skin becomes prone to wrinkles. Antioxidants are able to absorb and heal the effects of free radicals on skin, and thus slow down some of the visible signs of aging.
The catechins found in green tea and black tea are only one type of naturally occurring antioxidants. Caretenoids, coumarins, and indoles also belong in the antioxidants group and in fact they are all more common than catechins. All of these natural chemical compounds are found mainly in plants. That means that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables would provide your body with a healthy supply of antioxidants that can help you keep younger-looking skin for much longer. Supplementing such a diet with green tea intake can prove even more effective.
Green tea has also been shown to be an effective cancer preventative. Therefore by consuming it you are not only keeping your skin young and fresh, but possibly prolonging your lifetime as well.
Yerba Mate, South America's Herbal Tea
Tea is most commonly associated with Asia. And it’s true that the majority of tea comes from China, India and other countries in that area. But there are other countries that have the climate, soil and expertise to produce a fine tea.
In recent years, South Africa has been on the radar with the rising popularity of Rooibos. Delightful as it is, Rooibos is not a traditional tea. It’s not made from the Camilla Senensis plant. Another plant makes for a great tea, and this one is cultivated in South America: Yerba Mate.
Produced from the Ilex Paraguariensis tree, part of the holly family, it makes a fine herbal tea. Grown in Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil it is a South American wonder. Each country has its own distinctive style of Yerba Mate tea. In Brazil, the leaves are toasted, yielding a stronger taste. In Argentina, the cocido is a fine breakfast tea.
Like other herbal teas, it has many of the great health benefits of a traditional leaf. It provides a relaxing drink while aiding digestion. And it still has many of the antioxidants that are helpful in warding of cancers.
Even in bag or loose leaf form it still makes for a great brew. It can be a very fine, almost powdery substance, though. The leaves are dried, then crumbled into a very fine brown-leaf tea mixture. So, if you don’t care for bits of herb in the liquid, filter well. The tea can even be prepared in a French press.
It’s easy to obtain in bag form, but for a more traditional South American brew there’s an alternative preparation method. Instead of a teapot, a gourd and a bombilla is used. The gourd (called a mate) is used in place of a cup, and the bombilla is a metal straw that gives the smooth herbal a nice little tang.
Fill the gourd 3/4 full of herb, then pour cold water over them until they’re wetted but not drowned. Let them soak for a few minutes. While you wait, heat a cup of water to about 82°C/180°F, then add enough water to fill the gourd. Steep for a few minutes. Then insert the bombilla filter end down into the liquid and sip. Arriba!
In the traditional social setting, one person typically takes the role of preparer and server and has the first sip. Then the gourd and straw is passed from one person to the next. And you thought only the Japanese had tea rituals!
Pick up a gourd and bombilla and have some tea South American style.