Green Tea Time

There no doubt about it that the finest green teas come from Asian countries. Chinese green tea is among the best in the world. For thousands of years, Asians, particularly the Chinese, have known the benefits of green tea for a healthy body and mind. Now that the news has spread to the rest of the country, there are many options for you to consider when choosing Chinese green tea.

China is the birthplace of tea. It was there that tea was accidentally discovered by Emperor Shen?Nung over 5,000?years ago. Ever since its discovery by China, tea was used only as a green tea for centuries. Hence China produces the world’s finest green teas.

The tea leaves used for green tea are steamed or pan-dried immediately after picking, arresting bacterial growth and preventing oxidation. Then they are rolled by hand to squeeze out excess moisture and to release flavor enzymes. The leaves are finally fired in large driers and packed. When brewed, then turn a light green color, with a flavor that is sometimes delicate and somewhat tangy.

As with any green tea product, there are different varieties you can find when looking for Chinese green tea. Here are just a few:

* Young Hyson: The name of this Chinese green tea means “before the rains” It is prepared using young leaves twisted in a long, thin style. The flavor is more full-bodied and pungent that other green teas. It has golden liquor with a hint of sweetness.
* Temple of Heaven Gunpowder: Gunpowder Chinese gree tea gets its name from the appearance of the leaves, which are rolled tightly into small, round pellets. The tight roll helps Gunpowder remain fresher longer than other teas. This example, “Temple of Heaven,” has a sweet and slightly smoky character.
* Zhejiang Mao Feng: This is a popular Chinese green tea, a table-tea for enjoying that healthy everyday cup. Grown in an old established tea garden in southern Zhejiang province, this tea has a good taste and a rich green color. It is a very strong tea with lots of mileage per pot.

And those are only a few of the many varieties of Chinese green tea that can be found. Simply put, however, Chinese green tea is the best in the world as is generally agreed upon by most people. It can be found in loose form as well as in tea bags. When steeping your tea, take care not to overstep as it will lose some of its healing properties. But know that when you choose Chinese green tea for your health, you are making a good choice!

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