Green Tea: A Cup Full Of Spirit

I want to share one of my favorite habits with you: the preparation and consumption of Green Tea. I remember back in the days when I started preparing and drinking it with my best friend on a regular basis, and I never stopped to think about why, until today. I am actually drinking a cup as I write this article!

In a Nutshell

Green Tea has a variety of health benefits that coexist with its spiritual benefits. It contains 1/5th the amount of caffeine that coffee contains, adding alertness to your day without feeling jittery. This leads to a relaxed state of focus only paralleled by a meditative state. Studies have uncovered what is going on under the hood of this amazing spiritual plant, however the Eastern and Western literature are different in terms of its effectiveness, largely due to the West’s lack of a spiritual component (surprise surprise). Let’s dig into this further and see what we find.

Green Tea Origins

Green Tea is processed from the leaves of the plant Camelli Sinsensis. This same plant produces Oolong and Black Tea as well, but under a different withering and oxidation process.

Green Tea originated in ancient China. Since its inception, its production has spread to other countries in East Asia, including Korea, and today’s most prolific producer of the ceremonial tea, Japan. Many Chinese books were written about Green Tea, including a book titled (in English) Record of Drinking Tea for Nourishing Life, written by Zen priest Eisai in 1211, that suggests drinking green tea may positively affect 5 vital organs in the body.

Japanese Quality

Tea seeds were first brought to Japan in the early 9th century by the Buddhist monks Saicho and Kūkai. In Japan’s early adoption of Green Tea, it was privilege of Buddhist monks and the elite; After some time it was advocated for all people in Japan to drink it for its health benefits.

Although Green Tea originated in ancient China, the Japanese have certainly been accredited with producing the highest quality Green Tea. The most exclusive Green Tea in Japan is called Gyokuro.

Gyokuro is grown under shade for three weeks prior to plucking. The shading technique imparts a sweeter flavor, and produces a particularly rich color thanks to the higher amounts of chlorophyll in the shaded leaf. Gyokuro tea is associated with the Uji region, the first tea-growing region in Japan. It is often made using smaller-leaf cultivars of the tea plant.

More than 40% of Gyokuro is produced in Yame. In the National Tea Jury in August 2007, Yamecha held all the ranking positions from 1st to 26th as the best Gyokuro. How about that for quality!

What is Matcha?

If you are like me, at one point or another, you have wondered what Matcha Green Tea is and why it is different. Matcha Green Tea is shaded before plucking. The plucked and processed leaf is called Tencha. This product is then ground into a fine powder, which is what we know as matcha.

Because the tea powder is very perishable, matcha is usually sold in small quantities. It is also typically more expensive. Matcha is a type of tea used in the Japanese tea ceremony, and is prepared by whisking the tea with hot water in a bowl, until the surface is frothy. But beware: If the water is too hot, the tea may become overly bitter.

Steeping & Brewing

The suggested serving size in 0.6 cups of water is about 1 teaspoon of Green Tea. Word of WARNING: Different Green Teas have different levels of quality that can be identified by where it was produced, and how it was produced. Lower quality teas should be steeped hotter and longer, higher quality teas cooler and shorter, but typically it is encouraged you steep it multiple (2-3) times.

Steeping the tea too long will cause the tea to release an excessive amount of tannins, a naturally occurring compound in tea that causes a bitter taste and unpleasant mouthfeel. To get a good steep, try warming the steeping container (cup or pot, whatever you prefer) beforehand to prevent fast cooling. To get the most out of your tea session, you may gradually add more water to the cup while drinking the tea as well.

Western Research, Eastern Benefit

Western (European and United States) research have been unable to conclusively prove that Green Tea prevents certain types of cancer or leads to meaningful weight loss in obese adults on its own (Although some studies have implicated some impact in these areas). They have not, however, researched the effects of Green Tea for people leading healthier lifestyles (This is an important point because if the subjects aren’t leading healthy lifestyles, Green Tea alone can’t save them anyway).

In contrast, a study performed on 40,530 Japanese adult subjects over a course of 11 years revealed that regular Green Tea consumption (5 cups or more a day) were less likely to die in a number of scenarios, including:

All causes: 23% lower in women, 12% lower in men
Heart disease: 31% lower in women, 22% lower in men
Stroke: 42% lower in women, 35% lower in men

Beneficial Compounds

Green Tea contains the right amount of caffeine (1/5th the amount of coffee as previously mentioned), which can can improve various aspects of brain function, including mood, vigilance, reaction time, and memory.

It also contains amino acid L-theanine, a compound that increases the activity of GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter), which has anti-anxiety effects. It also increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain.

Last but not least, Green Tea contains a catechin (natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provide other benefits) called EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate). These substances can reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. These free radicals play a role in aging and many types of diseases. EGCG is one of the most powerful compounds in Green Tea. Research has tested its ability to help treat various diseases. It’s indeed the key compound that gives Green Tea its powerful medicinal properties!

Spiritual Tea

You may have heard of Ceremonial Green Tea (matcha, remember?). The ceremony itself is a clean and peaceful ritual that invites guests to cleanse themselves of the day’s stress and focus on mindfulness.

Participants are invited to focus on gratitude for the simplicity of the ceremony. It’s a beautiful and tranquil way to shed the anxieties of everyday living and reorient yourself to what’s important.

Feel free to create your own tea ceremony. I personally have a Green Tea with my spiritual practice every morning, and it just wouldn’t be the same without it! It adds a calm alertness to your prayer–meditative state that can only be felt.

In Sum

Tea has been used for medicinal purposes in China and Japan for thousands of years. It has since spread around the world and is widely available in different strains and qualities. Japan produces the best Green tea, hands down. It has a range of possible health benefits: To help you feel better, lose weight, and lower your risk of chronic diseases.

The health benefits are compelling, but the spiritual component to Green Tea (and tea in general) is most inviting. I encourage you all to do your research and add tea to your regimen, particularly Green Tea. Cheers!

In a Nutshell

Green Tea Origins

Japanese Quality

What is Matcha?

Steeping & Brewing

Western Research, Eastern Benefit

Beneficial Compounds

Spiritual Tea

In Sum

References

By moneymarvmediagroup

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