| Green tea has become a very popular beverage in | | | | variety you try. This means choosing the best of the |
| the Western world. It has been popular in Asia for | | | | year's tea crop and choosing tea that comes from |
| centuries, where it was produced more than 3000 | | | | the best tea gardens. |
| years ago. Today, most green tea is still produced in | | | | There are many tea gardens in the world, and as |
| Asia, though other countries produce green tea, as | | | | with any other product, some gardens produce |
| well. There are literally hundreds of varieties of green | | | | better tea than others. Producing the very best |
| tea, and many different grades of quality within | | | | green tea is labor intensive. If farmers use shortcuts, |
| these many varieties. | | | | it shows in the final product. The best tea gardens |
| Green tea comes from the same plant as black and | | | | pluck the tea leaves by hand and process them the |
| white teas; the Camellia sinensis. Green tea differs | | | | very same day they're plucked. |
| from black tea in the way it's processed, however. | | | | The best tea gardens employ skilled tea artisans who |
| Green tea is not fermented during its processing the | | | | can judge exactly how much steaming time is |
| way that black tea is. Rather, after the tea leaves | | | | needed to get the tea just right. Though the |
| are plucked, they are laid out to wither for about 8 | | | | steaming time varies just from 30 seconds to 60 |
| to 24 hours to let the water evaporate from the | | | | seconds, it's critical that each batch of tea leaves |
| leaves. Next, the leaves are steamed or pan fried to | | | | steamed for exactly the right amount of time based |
| prevent fermentation from taking place. Finally, the | | | | on the size, thickness and softness of the leaves. |
| leaves are rolled and then dried once again. | | | | In addition to choosing tea from the best tea |
| Because of this different processing, green tea looks, | | | | gardens, you should also choose tea that is from the |
| smells and tastes different than black tea. It brews | | | | best pluckings of the year. Each year green tea |
| to a green color and, when unflavored, has a very | | | | gardens will pluck tea from the first harvest in the |
| natural, grassy flavor. The lack of fermentation that | | | | spring until frost. This can mean that the trees will be |
| makes green tea so unique in flavor also makes it | | | | harvested as many as four or five times in one |
| healthier than black tea. | | | | growing season. |
| The fermenting process used for black and oolong | | | | A really good tea farm will produce good tea |
| teas causes an anti-oxidant called EGCG | | | | throughout the summer, but their best tea will always |
| (epigallocatechin gallate) to be oxidized, and converts | | | | be from the first plucking in the spring. |
| it into other compounds. In green tea, the EGCG is | | | | Reputable tea gardens will ensure that tea from |
| left in its natural state. This is important because | | | | subsequent pluckings is given a lower grade than the |
| EGCG is one of the most potent anti-oxidants, and it | | | | tea from their first plucking. In addition, many "first |
| is far more powerful in its natural state. | | | | plucking" teas will be labeled as such. Tea from the |
| EGCG is helpful to the body because it can neutralize | | | | first plucking will cost more than tea from |
| damaging free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen | | | | subsequent pluckings, but will have much better |
| containing molecules that are created as a byproduct | | | | flavor. |
| of our digestive processes. Unless they are | | | | So, if you're interested in ensuring that you buy only |
| eradicated from our bodies, free radicals damage our | | | | the very best green tea, look to your tea shop. The |
| cells and DNA, causing aging and disease. This cell | | | | best tea shops will get their tea from the best tea |
| damage contributes to the development of some | | | | gardens and their stock will be appropriately marked |
| serious illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and high | | | | and graded so that you can tell when you're |
| cholesterol. | | | | purchasing tea from the first plucking. |
| Doctors recommend a diet rich in anti-oxidants like | | | | In fact, many of the best tea shops will notify their |
| EGCG to help us live longer and stay healthy. Asian | | | | customers when the first shipment of the year is |
| cultures, which have consumed large quantities of | | | | received, so that they can buy tea from the first |
| green tea for centuries, have far lower incidences of | | | | plucking as soon as it is available. |
| these serious diseases. | | | | Because the quantity of tea from the first plucking |
| When you start to look for green teas to try, you'll | | | | of the season is limited, you may not be able to find |
| find that there are more varieties to choose from | | | | it all year long. First tea of the season is usually ready |
| than you can even name. Green tea is grown in | | | | for market in May or June. Keep your eye out each |
| almost every region of China, in a large part of Japan | | | | year for the perfect time to buy. |
| and in other countries including India, Sri Lanka, | | | | Buying the best quality green tea needn't be difficult. |
| Kenya, Korea, Vietnam and even Australia! So, you'll | | | | Just be sure to use a quality tea shop that can |
| have a lot of choices in your green tea! | | | | provide you with the best and first plucked green |
| One of the choices you definitely want to make is to | | | | tea each year. |
| choose the best green tea there is, regardless of the | | | | |