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It is an amazing fact that tea is the second most consumed beverage after water. In Most of the world tea is enjoyed all day. In the U.S.A..tea has not been as popular as it has been in other countries. Before the Boston Tea Party everyone drank tea. In Europe, at that time, green tea was the most prized. Black tea was inferior and thus flavored with milk and sugar.
Teas origins have been shrouded with myth and uncertainty. Chinese Emperor Shen Nung is believed to have discovered tea. It is said that while sipping hot water in his garden, Shen Nung caught a tea leaf in his cup. The taste of his infused water has been greatly enjoyed ever since.
Of the many types of tea, green, black, and oolong, green tea is unique in the way it is processed. Green teas are briefly steamed or heated in hot metal pans shortly after harvesting. This process inactivates an enzyme that would otherwise oxidize and possibly lose its medicinal qualities. The leaves are then subjected to cycles of rolling and drying and "basket fired" to further preserve the active compounds.
The many benefits of green tea surely make it a magical elixir of the herbal kingdom. ßRecent research reveals many of its medicinal actions, including its cardiovascular benefits and its ability to fight germs, dental carries, and especially tumor production. Reasonable amounts of this beverage appear to inhibit several types of cancer, including lung, liver, pancreatic, skin, breast, stomach and esophageal. It may also inhibit prostate and oral cancer as well as leukemia.
Much of green tea's ability to inhibit production of both benign and malignant tumors is linked to a high concentration of Catechin Polyphenols. These polyphenols have antioxidant properties that are known cancer fighters. Green tea also contain other molecules that possess beneficial properties. Green tea provides polysaccharides, flavonoids, B complex's, Vitamins C and E (one cup of green tea can have more Vitamin C than an orange).
How much tea should one drink to reap these benefits? One Japanese report shows that men who drink ten cups of green tea each day stay cancer free three years longer than men who drink three cups or less; women drinking ten cups daily stay cancer free for an average of eight plus years. Other studies suggest that drinking seven cups of tea a day decreases the odds of developing stomach, rectal, and pancreatic cancers by about a third. Yet another study suggests women who drink five cups can inhibit breast cancer recurrence. The studys didn't give the actual cup size, but I think it would be between four and six ounces per cup.
With all these impressive statistics we should be ready to make a really fine cup of tea! Start with a good quality green tea, add one to two teaspoons per cup, use fresh spring or filtered water, and heat to just below boiling-about 180 degrees. It's best to put loose tea in a pot where it floats freely for best infusion. Pour hot water over tea and let steep for two to four minutes. Strain and enjoy this medicinal beverage.
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