What is Green Tea Made Of?
Green tea is an incredibly popular beverage around the world, due to its health benefits and interesting flavor. It’s an ancient drink with a long history, and is made from the same plant that is also used for black and oolong teas: Camellia sinensis.
Leaves
Green tea is made from the unoxidized leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Unlike most other types of tea, these leaves are minimally processed: their oxidation process is stopped and sealed shortly after the leaves are picked from the plant. This helps preserve the natural flavor of the leaves and the beneficial nutrients within them.
Flavorings
Green tea is sometimes flavored with herbs or other natural ingredients. These are added to the tea to create interesting, complex flavor profiles and often give the tea a health-boosting effect. Common flavorings include ginger, lemongrass, licorice root, spearmint, chamomile, and hibiscus.
Benefits
The antioxidant polyphenols in green tea make it a truly nutritious drink. These polyphenols have been linked to many benefits, such as improved brain health, lowered risk of cancer, and better oral health. It is also said that green tea can help reduce inflammation, improve metabolism, and promote cardiovascular health.
Conclusion
Green tea is an amazingly healthy and delicious drink that is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It is minimally processed, and can contain flavorings to create complex profiles. It is packed with antioxidants, making it a great way to receive numerous health benefits.
