With tea drinking becoming more and more popular, we thought it would be a great idea to run a series of articles on the topic. So heres our first, a little information about Green Tea or Camellia sinensis. When I started doing some research on the topic I didnt even realize that teas had scientific names, although I guess it makes perfect sense given the fact that they are plants after all.
Green Tea is grown predominantly in China and Japan. It is made from the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The tea itself has a long history of various uses and health benefits. It is said to reduce high blood pressure, build bone density and aid digestion. It is high in anti oxidants and has low levels of caffeine.
Its interesting to note that green tea, oolong tea and black tea all come from the Camellia sinensis plant. It is the oxidation process that the leaves undergo that makes the difference. Green tea is only slightly oxidizes, so it has a delicate grassy or hay like flavor.
Here in Sarasota, Local Coffee and Tea have daily tea tastings at their Marie Selby Botanical Gardens location. You can also look them up on the web at www.localcoffee.com. They are an excellent resource and have a great selection of teas to taste and purchase.
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