Green tea

Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, after water. Organic black tea is the most popular, but green tea also has its fans.

Organic green tea is a beverage made from the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis shrub, which undergo minimal fermentation. This allows the leaves to remain green and the infusion to have a light green color. Dried tea leaves can be brewed several times, achieving a distinctive flavor and aroma.

How is green tea made and who produces it?

Green tea is a beverage prepared from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Currently, it grows not only in China but also in warm regions of Asia and Africa. The harvested leaves are dried and minimally oxidized. This distinguishes green tea from black tea, which is heavily fermented, giving it a black color.

Currently, approximately 6.5 million tons of tea are produced worldwide each year. The clear leader in production is China, home to the Camellia sinensis . India comes next, accounting for approximately 60% of global demand. Tea is also grown in significant quantities in Kenya, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Turkey.

Properties of organic green tea

Organic green tea undergoes minimal fermentation and processing. This preserves more of its health-promoting substances, including polyphenols, antioxidants, tannins, caffeine, vitamins, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and manganese. Green tea helps combat free radicals, which accelerate the aging process and increase the risk of cancer. It also lowers cholesterol levels and prevents cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart attacks.

Organic green tea's properties also include supporting weight loss. The infusion provides no calories, and the catechins it contains reduce the amount of fat absorbed from food and help convert fat into energy. Green tea stimulates and refreshes thanks to the presence of theine, a substance similar to caffeine. It improves concentration, mental and physical performance. Therefore, it's a great morning drink that will give you energy for work, school, or training.

If you're looking for a boost, you can explore green tea as an alternative to organic coffee and yerba mate . It's also worth remembering that too much caffeine has negative effects. It can cause feelings of anxiety and distraction, insomnia, headaches, heart rhythm disturbances, and physical dependence.

What are its types?

There are countless types of tea. They are distinguished by their place of origin and cultivation method. Climate, soil, sunlight, harvest time, drying and fermentation techniques—these are the factors that give tea its distinct flavor and aroma. Most teas originate from China and Japan.

The types of green teas available include:

• Sencha green tea - the most popular Japanese tea;
• Matcha green tea – grown in a special way – the bushes are shaded for three weeks to stimulate the plant's chlorophyll production. It comes in powdered form and is used in the Japanese tea ceremony;
• Ceylon green tea - grown on the island of Ceylon, on which the state of Sri Lanka is located. Considered one of the best.

How to brew?

Pour boiled water at approximately 60-80°C over the leaves or tea bag and steep for 2-4 minutes. The first brew will be more stimulating. The second brew will have significantly less caffeine.

This is a basic and simple method of brewing green tea. The tradition of drinking tea dates back thousands of years, and during this time, many customs and rituals related to brewing and drinking tea have developed. Differences arise in the amount of leaves and water, brewing time, and the utensils and ingredients used.

Organic green teas at the Żywioł Zdrowia store

Products available in the store include classic organic green teas, teas with various additives, and Japanese matcha and sencha teas. Check out our full range now!