It's so cold outside, and the stuff coming out of the sky is what we've come to call a 'wintery-mix.' Sadly not enough for a snow day, but enough that my steaming cup of green tea is just exactly what I need at this moment. Finally a 'guilty' pleasure that's nothing to feel guilty about.
Most people know that green tea is packed with antioxidants, and is generally a good beverage of choice, but there's a whole lot more to the goodness of the green than that. It speeds metabolism, cleans your teeth, works as an anti-depressant, and can help prevent some forms of cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. Get the most out of your cup by following these tips:
- Don't make your tea with water that is too hot, it kills some of the antioxidants, and will make the tea taste bitter. Keep the water it between 160-160 degrees.
- Do not pair your steamy bev with dairy. I know some of you like a dab of milk or cream in your tea, but dairy makes it harder to absorb the antioxidants from the tea.
- Drink caffeinated. That's right, small doses of caffeine actually have many health benefits, and decaffeinated tea often looses some of the nutritional value of the tea leaves.
- Quality matters. Wonder why green tea can range in price so much? Lower grade leaves are often broken pieces. Which results in a less-sweet taste, less freshness, and lower saturation of the benefits in the leaves.
whoa, thank you very much for posting this! It is going to be so helpful when I order green tea at the store! Very Extraordinary!