PRODUCTION
Perfecting the processing of green tea has taken centuries. Nevertheless, the process consists of 3 basic steps:
1) Fixing (“kill-green”)
This process stops natural fermentation and growth processes within the leaves without damaging them. Techniques include steaming the leaves, manually pressing them in a hot vessel, and roasting. This process provides the foundation for the next stage.
2) Rolling / Shaping
The leaves pass through hot and cold rollers to flatten them, allowing the leaves to be shaped and enhancing the flavor of the tea.
3) Drying
Drying stabilizes the final moisture content of the leaves, stops fermentation, prevents the development of mold, removes the grassy taste of the leaves, and develops the tea’s aroma. Methods include sun drying, heating in a vessel, and hot-air drying.
Due to its shorter processing time, green tea retains more of the plant’s natural flavor than other types of tea. More than 85% of the theine, 50% of the chlorophyll, and most of the vitamins are retained.
STORAGE
Due to the processing methods used to preserve their natural character, the leaves are exposed to the natural reduction of enzymes through oxidation and are more perishable than other types of tea.
Green tea is best stored in a cool, dry place in an airtight container or even in a refrigerator. Refrigeration is recommended as it can improve the flavor of the tea and extend its shelf life. Tea that is stored under refrigeration should not be kept in a heated environment after being removed from the refrigerator, as this could cause the tea to deteriorate.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Chinese tea is traditionally associated with many health benefits, ranging from a general sense of well-being to almost miraculous healing properties. To the average Western consumer, green tea is particularly interesting because of claims regarding weight loss and cancer prevention due to the antioxidants it contains. Each individual should assess the accuracy of such claims for themselves.
Although Traditional Chinese Medicine has cited evidence of its medicinal properties for centuries, relatively little modern research supports these claims. More recently, even the extent to which antioxidants may contribute to disease prevention has been questioned.
We believe that every food product can have both positive and negative effects on health to some degree and for different individuals. We do not recommend drinking tea specifically for its health benefits. We believe tea should be enjoyed primarily for its wonderful taste and for the experience of sharing tea with yourself or with friends.
We mention the benefits traditionally recognized by Traditional Chinese Medicine in relation to green tea:
– Tea catechins have antibacterial and antiviral properties
– Helps regulate cholesterol and high blood pressure
– Helps eliminate bacteria in the oral cavity and digestive tract
– Tea catechins and polysaccharides may help lower blood sugar levels
– Improves circulation
THEINE
It is often said that tea contains more theine than coffee contains caffeine. The opposite claim can also be heard. Considering the different types of tea and coffee, as well as the ways in which they are processed and prepared for consumption, both claims should be taken into consideration.
How much theine do tea and coffee contain?
According to a detailed study published by the British government in 2004, tea contains 40 mg of theine, instant coffee 54 mg, and ground coffee 105 mg per serving.
It is generally believed that Chinese green tea contains less theine than black tea. A large number of studies and discussions suggest that this may not be the case. In fact, green tea may contain more theine than black tea.
Most black tea exported to the West comes from India, and the Camellia assamica plant used to produce Indian tea contains more theine than Camellia sinensis, the species used to produce Chinese tea. It also appears that the oxidation process used in the production of Chinese black teas tends to reduce theine rather than increase it, as was previously believed. When comparing Chinese green tea with Chinese black tea, the theine content of Chinese green tea appears to be higher than that of Chinese black tea. Both teas contain less theine than Indian black tea, while all types of tea have significantly lower levels of theine than coffee.
(Note: We use the term “Chinese black tea”, which is commonly used in the West, to describe the tea known in China as red tea. The true Chinese black teas, known in China as post-fermented teas, are mature teas such as pu-erh tea.)
If you are sensitive to theine, there is a way to reduce its level. The best way to prepare tea is by using the traditional Chinese Gong Fu Cha method (“preparing tea with great skill”). This highly controlled preparation method is characterized by the use of small teapots and multiple infusions with very short steeping times of just a few seconds. This method enhances the flavor of each type of tea and reduces the amount of theine compared with Western-style tea preparation. In Gong Fu Cha, the first infusion is used to rinse the leaves and is discarded, so it is not consumed. The first infusion also washes away a significant amount of theine, which is highly soluble in water.
