TEA & BEVERAGES

The only other beverages that need be consumed are green tea, bancha (kukicha twig), or jasmine tea. Ten Ren tea company is a reputable provider of the best quality teas in this country. ] I feel the best teas to use are loose, bulk type teas, not tea bags. The healthiest teas are: Teng Ting Oolong green, Ten Wu green, Dragons Breath green, and Puchong green. When purchasing tea be sure to buy one of the top quality varieties (these will be a little more expensive but worth it). Bancha tea is made from the fermented twigs from the regular tea plant (Chamellia sinensis). It is caffeine free and has a nutty delicious flavor. I have found that coffee drinkers like the flavor. One of the compounds we can look to in tea to explain its health promoting effects is polyphenols, or catechins. These are the compounds responsible for teas ability to inhibit cell proliferation and tumor growth, along with possessing teas antioxidant actions. It is also known to possess antimutagenic action. Tea naturally has a small amount of caffeine in it, however when fermented into “black” or what is considered regular tea in this country, the caffeine content is markedly increased. Studies have shown tea to lower cholesterol levels and decreasing atherosclerosis. High in fluoride and tannins tea is beneficial for our teeth and bones. In the Far East it has been used for its radio-protective and chemo preventive actions. The daily dosage can be from 6 - 10 cups daily. In cases of cancer one could take two tablespoons in a quart of hot water for 20-30 minutes covered then drink. Tea water should never be boiling! It will make the tea bitter. In the Orient, a tea ceremony is often preformed. Some of the important elements of this ceremony are: setting aside an ample amount of time to relax and enjoy the tea, and having the appropriate clay teapot to steep the tea in. These pots actually season with use, and impart a deeper flavor to the tea. Traditionally, a small amount of tea is placed in the pot and water poured in. This is allowed to sit for only 30 seconds or so then poured into the teacups or carafe, the tea is not drunk but used to rinse the leaves and to warm the utensils. A carafe is often employed so that the steeping process can be halted for an entire pot of tea. The warming water is then poured off and more water is added to the pot. Steep for as long as your taste desires, I like it lighter so I only steep for a minute or two. You can re-steep the same pot of tea several times.