Green Tea is a healthy beverage that includes properties known to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. 

Green tea is energizing and tastes great, but did you know it can also help you live longer? That’s what studies are showing. One study conducted by Ohsaki National Health Insurance in Japan and published in the Journal of American Medicine Association found that Japanese adults who drank green tea regularly were nearly 42% less likely to suffer from stroke. Not only that, green tea has been shown to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and most cancers. 

If you’re not drinking green tea then now is the time to start! Today, we’re going to talk about how you can maximize the health benefits of drinking this potent beverage, plus share some exciting new green tea blends that you have to try from Natteas collection. 

What are the health benefits of green tea?

Green tea has many possible health benefits, including: 

• Reducing inflammation
• Protecting and repairing cells
• Boosting brain function and mood
• Burning fat by increasing metabolic rate
• Reducing bad breath
• Preventing type 2 diabetes
• Preventing cardiovascular disease

When selecting your green tea, lower-quality brands are often filled with less-than-healthy ingredients, including excessive amounts of fluoride. At Natteas, we carry only high-quality natural and organic ingredients with fruits and botanicals that are high in antioxidants.

How are green tea leaves harvested?

Green Tea is heated in a pan or by steaming and then dried in order to keep its vibrant green colour.

Green tea leaves come from the Camellia Sinensis plant, and the Yunnan Province in China has over 260 of the world’s 380+ varieties of this plant. After harvesting, they are quickly heated in a pan or by steaming and then dried. This prevents the oxidation that turns the green leaves brown and changes their flavour.

Depending on the plant variety and the harvesting process, your green tea leaves may appear more yellow or light brown. Their flavour can also vary depending on the plant and harvesting process. You’ll often taste notes of grassy and earthy tones, or sometimes sweet, buttery, nutty, toasty, seaweed-like, and herbaceous. 

Caffeine comparison: Green tea vs. coffee vs. matcha

• Natural green tea contains caffeine, so you don’t want to drink too much before bed. When you compare coffee and green tea, coffee contains about three times as much caffeine. For example, 100 g of coffee is about 40mg caffeine, whereas the same amount of green tea contains just 12 mg. 

When you compare the caffeine content in matcha, it has just over two times as much caffeine (and calories) as the same amount of green tea. 

Healthy adults can safely ingest around 400mg per day in caffeine or just 100mg per day for adolescents. Most people find drinking 3-5 cups of green tea per day provides the most health benefits. So don’t be afraid to drink those extra cups throughout the day!

How to drink loose leaf green teas

Be sure to wait after boiling before steeping your green tea leaves, as steeping green tea in boiling hot water can release more bitterness and astringency.

For best flavour and health benefits, here’s how to brew high-quality loose leaf green tea:

• Water temperature: 85 C (or boiled water left to cool for 2 minutes)
• Water quality: fresh, filtered, or spring water
• Water quantity: 236 – 295 mL per teapot
• Tea leaves: 1 teaspoon or 2 grams per 236 – 295 mL of water

Let your leaves steep in hot water for about 2-3 minutes. Keep a lid or cover over the water, then strain the leaves out and serve. You can add sugar, honey, or milk if you wish, but it’s unnecessary and adds extra sugar and calories. 

A common rookie mistake is to steep your green tea in boiling water. If you steep your leaves in water that is too hot, you release more bitterness and astringency. Be sure to keep it around 85 C.

Shelf-life of green tea leaves

When you open a package of loose leaf green tea, consume it within six months for maximum freshness. You can extend the life of your open tea for 1-2 years by storing your tea in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Keep it away from light, excess moisture and other fragrant foods like coffee or spices. 

Unopened bags of loose leaf tea can last 10-20 years when properly stored.  

Healthy green tea blends

Green tea isn’t just green leaves anymore. You can boost its nutritional benefits and flavour by blending it with other flowers, spices, and ingredients. Here are some green tea blends we have in stock this season:

Jasmine Dragon Tears

Jasmine with Flowers

Shanghai Lychee Jasmine

How to choose good quality green tea

How do you know you’re buying fresh, high-quality green tea? Here are some signs to look for:

• The tea smells grassy, light, and fresh
• After steeping, it should smell intensely aromatic
• You’ll recognize the distinct green tea taste and feel. 

At Natteas, we’ve scoured the globe to pick the freshest green tea leaves and blend them with your favourite flavours to produce a high-quality tea you will enjoy. Browse through our green tea collection  to choose the blend that speaks to you.