Green tea is now also known in this country as a stimulating hot drink. Drinking green tea has its origins in China. The Chinese Emperor Shen-Nung loved to drink hot water until one day the wind blew some leaves into it. The water turned slightly greenish. He tasted – and felt revitalized and refreshed afterwards. This story, dated to 2727 BC, is the earliest record of green tea and its effects. Today it is said to have many health-promoting properties. But what is behind the miracle drink?

Invigorating in the morning: green tea instead of coffee

Drinking something first thing in the morning is always a good idea. A glass of water refreshes, stimulates the metabolism and eliminates wrinkles on the face at night. And since our body needs around 2.7 liters of fluid per day to function optimally, we have also done it some good. While coffee used to be the perfect morning pick-me-up, increasing health awareness means that more and more people are reaching for a cup of green tea. The countries of origin of the green tea available here are mainly Japan and China. Shizuoka, which lies west of Tokyo at the foot of the sacred Mount Fuji, is the most important tea-growing region in Japan. The island of Kyūshū with Kagoshima as well as Nara and Kyoto are also of great importance. Varieties such as Bancha, Sencha and Gyokuro come from there.

The most important tea-growing regions in China are in the provinces of Anhui (with Tunxi as a stronghold for green tea), Fujian, Guangdong (known for very good oolong teas), Yunnan, where a green tea with a very distinctive taste grows, and Zhejiang.

Depending on their origin and quality, green tea leaf buds and leaves contain one to five percent caffeine, small amounts of theobromine and theophylline, essential oils and between seven and twelve percent tannins and secondary plant substances.

Green tea owes its stimulating effect to caffeine. Theobromine contained in tea is related to caffeine, has an additional stimulating effect and, like cocoa, has a mood-enhancing effect. One cup of green tea contains around 50 to 70 milligrams of caffeine. The difference to the caffeine in coffee is that the caffeine in tea is bound to tannins and is released much more slowly. The revitalizing effect unfolds somewhat more slowly than after drinking a cup of coffee, but is more long-lasting.

So if you drink one or two cups of green tea instead of your morning coffee, this will ensure that you are sufficiently hydrated and will also keep you awake and mentally alert throughout the morning.

Not only awake, but also healthy drinking with green tea

Green tea is not only a potent stimulant – it can do much more.

Due to its high antioxidant content, green tea helps to reduce the risk of cancer. The antioxidants contained in green tea are approx. 100 times stronger than vitamin C and 25 times stronger than vitamin E.

By having a beneficial effect on cholesterol and fat metabolism, green tea helps to prevent heart disease and strokes. Drinking green tea regularly after a heart attack speeds up recovery.

By limiting the absorption of glucose in fat cells, green tea protects against obesity. It also helps to modulate fat and sugar metabolism. This prevents a rapid rise in blood sugar levels and keeps the metabolism in balance.

Also nice

The health benefits of green tea are probably its most important, but not its only ones. If we drink green tea, it also makes us beautiful.

The antioxidants contained in green tea protect the skin from free radicals, thus preventing wrinkles and skin ageing. It is also being discussed that green tea also protects against skin cancer. But not only do we age more beautifully when we drink green tea, we also do so more slowly: the polyphenols contained in green tea, a special class of antioxidants, effectively combat free radicals and thus slow down the body’s ageing process.

The preparation of the miracle potion

In order for green tea to fully unfold its many benefits, special attention must be paid to its preparation. The most important factors for the health benefits of tea are the infusion time and the water temperature. If higher temperature water is used, certain substances such as vitamins, antioxidants or amino acids are reduced or damaged. Others are dissolved in large quantities in water (e.g. oxalic acid, certain tannins and catechins). Conversely, certain active ingredients are hardly released into the water if the temperature is too low. Depending on the desired effect, water temperatures of 55-80 degrees Celsius are possible. The infusion time is similar to the temperature. A brewing time of exactly two minutes is generally recommended. For therapeutic purposes, the tea can be steeped for up to nine minutes.

The water used to prepare the tea is also crucial for optimum tea enjoyment. The same applies here as for making coffee: good water is an ideal basis for good tea. Tap water is often too calcareous and may also be chlorinated for hygiene reasons. All this affects the fine flavors of the tea.

Switching to mineral water is not recommended. Natural mineral water often contains calcium    Chemisches Element Ca mit der Ordnungszahl 20, Mineralstoff, der zu den Mengenelementen zählt. Unter den Mineralstoffen ha... and hydrogen carbonate. Calcium can also form lime during cooking, which can be recognized by the white flakes in the tea. In addition, when the water is boiled, the hydrogen carbonate contained in the mineral water splits into carbon dioxide and carbonate. The remaining carbonate is a strong base that raises the pH value of the water, making it unsuitable for making tea. It is therefore advisable to filter tap water, which usually has a very low mineral content, before making tea in order to further reduce the limescale content and make the water softer. This allows the aroma of the green tea to fully develop.

The second infusion

Green tea is the only tea that can be brewed twice. For pregnant women who want to avoid caffeine as much as possible, the second infusion of green tea is an ideal way to combine this with full tea enjoyment. Simply pour away the first infusion after a five-minute infusion time and prepare a second one. This tastes somewhat milder than the first and contains only a fraction of the caffeine contained in the first infusion.

Something very special, not just for drinking

With green tea in its many different flavors and its health benefits, you can treat yourself to something really special. A salad dressing with green tea is very popular in Japan.

This is particularly suitable for leaf salad with radish, avocado, carrots and tofu, for example:

For this you need:

1 tbsp lemon juice

½ tbsp white miso

½ tsp white wine vinegar

1 tsp olive oil

1 tbsp brewed green tea

Salt and pepper for seasoning

Now mix the ingredients well and pour over the salad.

A salad prepared in this way not only allows you to enjoy the taste and health benefits of green tea. In addition to the vitamins and minerals from the other ingredients in the salad, you can add an extra portion of liquid to your daily intake – 1.5 to 2 liters are recommended – and enjoy a tasty, refreshing starter.

Sustainable drinking pleasure with green tea

If you choose to drink green tea, you will benefit from many of its health advantages. It is important to note how it should ideally be prepared. This allows the green leaves to develop their full flavor and valuable ingredients are not lost. If you feel like more after a cup of tea, it is also suitable for refining salads – which gives the body an additional hydration bonus and the palate a very special taste experience.