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One would normally associate pairing good food with fine wines… but with tea? Actually, the concept of tea-food pairing works similarly to wine-food pairing. Like wines, quality teas can have a wide range of flavour, smell, acidity, body and texture muchly depending on where and how they were produced. Hence, if a good pairing between tea and food is made, the characteristics of a tea can interact with the flavours of food to greatly enhance and accentuate the taste of the food, thus increasing the enjoyment.

There is no exact science to which teas go well with which kinds of food but a good general guideline would be to pair teas with food which either have similar characteristics or have complementary characteristics. For example, unoxidised green tea with its smooth grassy taste would go well with seafood as it washes down any fishy aftertaste. Another example would to have an Oolong tea with its more toasty flavour to go with grilled chicken. The whole fun of tea-food pairing is to treat it as an adventure to explore and experiment with how different attributes of the various teas and food interacts and serve to heighten each dining experience you have.

Here’s some general guidelines to kickstart you in your experiments

* Green teas eg. Dragonwell – lighter flavoured food such as seafood dishes

* Oolong teas eg. Tie Guan Yin – grilled dishes, white meats such as chicken

* Red teas eg. Assam, English breakfast – full flavoured food such as red meat

* Black teas eg. Pu-erh- Dishes with higher oil and fat content such as curries, cream based pastas, sweet desserts

Have fun pairing!

Green tea has many health benefits. Which is the better option: beverage or green tea supplement?

The best known green tea benefit is that you get anti-oxidants when you drink it. Anti-oxidants go through your body uniting with free radicals (oxygen atoms that have lost one of their electrons) and preventing their chain reaction of cellular damage.

It also helps with weight loss. Green tea contains compounds such as caffeine and EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) that increase the metabolism, prevent fat storage, burn fat, block absorption of dietary fat, and regulate glucose levels.

It is true that caffeine has a bad reputation due to side effects in some people, including insomnia and upset stomach. But caffeine helps burn fat and increases your metabolism.

Green tea contains only half the caffeine that coffee does, and it contains catechins, which bind to caffeine, suppressing the side effects. Green tea gives you the benefits without the side effects.

Besides helping with weight loss, green tea supplement can help reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases like high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.

Drink tea or supplement?

Some people enjoy drinking tea. It is not only nutritious and soothing, it is enjoyable.

Others don’t care for the tea, but want the benefits, so they take the supplements. Either way, each person will need to decide what works best for them and their lifestyle.

Advantages

Some people prefer the convenience of a supplement. Some people do not like the taste of tea or the trouble of brewing cups of tea, so supplements are easy for them to take along with any other vitamins they take daily.

Disadvantages

Green tea supplements are made from lower grade leaves than the green tea used for brewing. This means you could have more contaminants in them when they are processed, which could be dangerous when consumed in large amounts.

Taking too much of the green tea supplement may cause tumors and liver toxicity. Those who drink green tea instead of the supplements seem to reap all the benefits that green tea offers, without the dangers of overdosing.

Recommendation

If you feel green tea supplement is for you, choose one that that is standardized for its polyphenol content. If you take aspirin or other blood thinning agents, be aware that consumption of a lot of green tea may make bleeding worse. If you decide that supplements are best for your lifestyle rather than drinking the tea, be careful you don’t overdose.

For unbiased reviews of green tea supplements, visit Amazing Green Tea — an info-site dedicated to help you discover your next great gourmet green tea, oolong tea and white tea.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julian_Tai

Undoubtedly you’ve heard of green tea. But white tea? What is that?

White tea is getting more and more attention so it’s appropriate to examine what white tea is, exactly, and how it compares to green tea.

White tea is minimally processed, just like green tea. It is harvested just before the buds open and the buds still have white hair on them, thus the name “white tea.”

White tea has a sweeter, lighter taste than green tea. Like green tea, you should steep it in water that is below the boiling point.

White tea has slightly less caffeine than green tea (15 mg as opposed to 20 mg). The varieties of white tea include:

*White peony.
*Golden moon.
*Silver needle.
*White cloud.
Such poetic names.

White tea even has a more polyphenols (antioxidants) than green tea does. Here’s a list of all the wonderful things antioxidants do for you:

*Inhibit growth of cancer cells

*Reduce high blood pressure.

*Protection against getting a stroke.

*Improved blood flow to the heart.

*Reduce cholesterol.

*Inhibit the formation of blood clots in artery walls.

*Maintains even blood sugar levels.

*Lowers the risk for osteoporosis.

*Enhances immune function and helps fight infections.

*Inhibits the growth of bacteria that can cause gum disease, cavities, and bad breath.

Pace University conducted studies in 2004 that show that white tea is even more effective than green tea in killing bacterial viruses. It’s also especially effective in killing staph infections and killing the bacteria causes tooth decay.

The bottom line is that both teas are comparable and very, very good for you. Pick the one that you like the best and drink up!

If you want more free, fun info before you start drinking up – or if you already a diehard tea drinker – visit my website.

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What is so fantastic about white tea? What is it, what are its characteristics, and how is it made?

Tea has been a popular beverage in both the east and the west for centuries. Europeans have generally enjoyed black tea. Green and oolong teas have been making strides in popularity in the past few years. But white tea remains a bit of a mystery to many of us. What is it, what are its characteristics, and how is it made?

All tea comes from the plant camellia silensis. While there are variations in this plant depending on where it is grown, tea differs mainly it the way it is processed. White tea is picked before the leaves of the plant have opened fully. At this stage the buds are covered with fine white hair, giving the tea its name.

It is largely unfermented. The leaves are picked and allowed to wither, rather than being cooked dry. The proportion of buds to leaves determines the type of tea. White Peony tea, for example, contains one bud for every two leaves. Silver Needles, one of the most prized types of white tea, is made entirely from blossom buds.

It differs from its black and green cousins in that it is not rolled. The fresh leaves are left to wither for a few days, which results in slight. Because it is “uncooked”, the antioxidant levels in white tea may be more potent than in other types of tea.

While there have been relatively few studies on the health benefits, it is starting to be recognized as a potentially great health aid. It contains high levels of catechins, which are known to help lower both cholesterol and blood pressure.

Its delicate sweet flavor is far less stringent than black tea. It does not have the fresh grassy tones of green tea. It has been prized for centuries as the most gourmet of teas, and because it is made from the immature buds, it is one of the more expensive kinds of tea available.

The buds that comprise the majority of white tea are sturdy and robust. To brew a good cup, start with high quality loose tea and clear filtered water. Bring the water to just below the boiling point, then pour over the leaves. Steep for three to five minutes. Drink up! It is a healthful alternative to just about any other beverage.

Ready to explode common myths about this amazing tea? Visit White Tea Information – Six Myths Debunked in the White Tea section of Amazing Green Tea — an info-site dedicated to help you discover your next great gourmet tea.

Copyright © 2007 by Julian Tai. All rights reserved.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julian_Tai

Most people know oolong tea as the kind they are served in Chinese restaurants. Although this type of tea has long been treasured in Asia, it is now gaining popularity in the west.

Although there are many different types of tea, all come from the same plant, camellia sinensis. The leaves of the tree are processed in various ways, giving us the many kinds of tea. Green, black, white and oolong tea are all from the same plant, but are processed differently. This processing affects the flavor, color, caffeine content and health benefits of the different types of tea.

After it is hand picked, oolong tea is shaken slightly to bruise the leaves, then left out in the sun. It is important to the ultimate flavor of the tea that this is done immediately after it is picked. This begins the drying and fermenting process. It is then roasted, traditionally in a hot wok.

Oolong means black dragon. It comes originally from Fujian Province in China. Today there is both Chinese and Taiwanese oolong tea. This tea is semi-fermented, somewhere in between green tea, which is unfermented, and black tea, which is fully fermented. It contains caffeine, but slightly less than either black or green tea.

There is a large variety of oolong tea available. Different fermentation times produce different flavors and textures. Some oolong is flat and straight, some is curly, and some is rolled into tight balls. Often jasmine is added for flavoring. Some varieties of oolong are grassy and light, others are dark and richer.

The darker variety is best brewed kungfu style. Traditionally a very small clay pot is used. Pure water is boiled and poured over the leaves. Allow to steep for just one minute before serving. It is best taken hot.

Oolong tea contains antioxidants, which are important to good health. While it contains fewer of beneficial compounds such as EGCG than green tea, it has far more of them than does black tea. This tea accounts for just a small percentage of all of the tea consumed in the world. It is renown in China for its weight loss effects. Try some today for a new tea experience!

Among all tea types, Chinese oolong tea has the highest level of aromatic oils and therefore is the most fragrant. The Iron Goddess tea especially is renown for its intoxicating aroma. For further information, visit the Chinese Tea Shop at Amazing-Green-Tea.com

Copyright © 2007 by Julian Tai. All rights reserved.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julian_Tai

White tea was created in Fujian province China, and is mostly harvested in Fu Ding and Zheng He County. It is the tea that is the less processed making and the most natural one.

But, what is white tea? Most tea aficionados know that all tea comes from the same source: the Camilla Sinensis tea bush. Whether a tea leaf winds up in a cup of green, black, or oolong tea depends entirely on what happens after it is plucked. Black tea derives its dark color and full flavor from a complex fermentation process that includes exposing crushed tea leaves to the air for a strictly defined number of minutes.

White tea is made from immature tea leaves that are picked shortly before the buds have fully opened. Of course, an exotic appearance alone doesn’t explain white tea’s sudden surge in popularity. The secret lies in what happens after the buds are plucked. The tea takes its name from the silver fuzz that still covers the buds, which turns white when the tea is dried. The secret lies in what happens after the buds are plucked. Tea leaves destined to be sold as white tea undergo even less processing than green tea leaves. Instead of air-drying, the unwithered leaves are merely steamed.

The output is limited and precious because Fuding white tea only uses the new tender bud in the spring. While Chinese tea drinkers have been hip to white tea’s benefits since the Ming Dynasty, until recently it was virtually unknown outside of Asia. Today, everyone from chefs to medical researchers is praising white tea’s delicate flavor and purported health benefits. Market researchers predict consumers will soon share their enthusiasm, turning white tea into one of the hottest new food trends.

Studies indicate that leaving tea leaves so close to their natural state means that white tea contains more polyphenols, the powerful anti-oxidant that fights and kills cancer-causing cells, than any other type of tea.

Summery of white tea benefits:

1, protect nerve cell, to be possible to help to the brain damage and the senile dementia sickness;

2, Can understand in the adjustment the brain nerve to transmit material density to cause the patients with high-blood pressure to reduce the blood pressure;

3, Have the eliminating nervous and the sedative effects.

4, Improve the learning capability and the memory

5, Improve the feminine menstrual period syndrome

6, Enhance the anti-cancer drugs curative effect

7, Lose weight, protect the liver

If you fancy finding more information about organic Chinese natural herbal products, please visit http://www.chineseteaandherbs.com

We simply wish to share valuable healthcare knowledge with people. Of course there are also many products you can buy online, if you wish.

http://www.chineseteaandherbs.com/knowledge_xx.asp?id=53

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Wang

When you receive the Seal you will begin to take better care of your health. One thing you can do is start drinking more green tea, which has been found in a recent study to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

A much higher proportion of Western people develop prostate cancer than those people on Asia. When environmental factors are considered, consumption of green tea may be an important factor.

People in Asian countries drink a lot of green tea, much more than in Western countries. This new study finds that these dietary habits may be causing the lower incidence of prostate cancer among Asians.

The Japan Public Health Center conducted a Prospective study with two phases begun in 1990 and 1993. It followed nearly 50,000 men from ages 40-69 until the year 2004.

The men were questioned about how much green tea they drank. Green tea did not cut the risk much for localized prostate cancer. However, it was found to lower the risk of advanced prostate cancer.

And how much lower the risk of prostate cancer depended on how much green tea the men drank. The more they drank, the lower their risk of developing advanced prostate cancer.

The lowest risk of getting the disease was for men who drank more than 5 cups of green tea a day, compared with the highest risk for those who drank less than 1 cup per day.

Green tea has a host of other health benefits too. Along with fighting the spread of cancer, it can help you fight the spread of your waistline. It burns fat quicker and even suppresses appetite.

Green tea can also help if you are diabetic. It can help regulate your blood sugar by lowering it. And along with lowering blood sugar, green tea can also lower your cholesterol and ward off the common problem of heart disease.

And that is not all it lowers for you. It can also lower your blood pressure, another indicator of impending heart disease. And it can lower your risk of having a stroke.

Green tea is also considered an effective anti-aging remedy. People who drink tea are known for having younger-looking skin. And it can give a boost to your immune system to protect you from all the common little ailments.

There is one more important common ailment green tea helps fight. That is tooth decay and bad breath. The tea kills the bacteria that are trying to rot your teeth. So your breath will not smell nearly as bad as that of most other people.

When you are sealed you will begin to take care of your health. One thing you can do is switch from the coffee you are now drinking to tea. If you replace all your coffee with green tea every day you will take a first step toward better health.

Tea protects you from numerous diseases, including the most common killers, heart disease and cancer. Tea is not a substitute for appropriate medical treatment but if you start drinking more tea now you just might never need the treatment.

When you are sealed you will understand just how valuable life is. God will promise you eternal Life in Heaven and also a longer and better life here on earth when you receive the Seal.

And now Jason would like to invite you to get your FREE report Are You Making These Mistakes as a Christian? and “Get God’s ‘Seal of Approval’ and Get the Victory Over Evil”

Jason Witt

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Witt

You may be asking how drinking this Tea every day can help you lose weight and burn fat? Well, this information will try to answer your question and you may just walk away with a completely new outlook on drinking tea. You may have seen Authentic Wu-Yi Tea talked about on CNN. It seems as though people wanting to lose weight are flocking to this slimming tea.

You may be familiar with green, black, and white teas. Oolong tea is most oftenly referred to as Wu-Yi tea. The tea is harvested from Mt. Wuyi Shan in the Fujian Province of China.

Asians have been drinking this chinese slimming Tea for over 400 years due to its natural slimming effect and other wonderful health benefits. In fact, drinking tea has been a traditional Chinese practice since its known discovery and still used to this modern day. Because of its natural qualities of fat burning, no wonder so many people trying to lose weight are flocking to Wu-Yi tea.

So what is it in oolong tea that actually helps you lose weight? It’s called “polyphenol”. What is polyphenol? It has a high natural concentration of polymerized polyphenols. These polyphenol compounds have been clinically proven (Suntory Research Center in Osaka, Japan) to activate the enzymes that cause triglycerides to dissolve fat (lipolysis), producing fat-burning effects. When enzymes becomes activated, this in turn can speed up your metabolism! When you can increase your resting metabolic rate, you can enhance the function of fat metabolism and thus controlling weight gain. Wi-Yi Tea may improve metabolism which facilitates weight loss through natural body processes.

Authentic teas should not contain additives or preservatives Wu-Yi Tea.

This tea has been also scientifically studied that may protect against the risk of heart attack, cancer, strengthening bones, aging, tooth plaque and decay. These are other benefits aside from fat burning. The standard slimming effect is 2 cups daily. You can drink the tea hot or cold depending on your enjoyment.

With so many health benefits Wu-Yi Tea may provide, this should definitely be a consideration to include the tea in your everyday lifestyle. For hundreds of years and to this day Chinese tea continues to be part of the chinese culture for health benefits and to help lose weight and keep it off. As always, consulting your doctor for weight loss should be done.

To Learn More About Burning Your Fat and Losing Weight, go to http://www.fatlosstricks.com/wulongtea.html . It just might save your life or the life of someone you love.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Freida_K

Most orthodox teas are produced in China, Sri Lanka, Darjeeling and Assam. They represent about 31% of world tea production. An additional 25% is green and oolong tea. This means that about 55% or over one half of all tea produced is processed by the orthodox form of processing.

Therefore about 45% of teas are processed by the CTC (Crush, tear and curl) method of production. CTC describes the use of machinery that mechanically chops up both leaves, buds and stems without discrimination as to the quality of the end product. CTC produces tea that is finely ground and low in quality. All the leaves, buds and stems are ground down to an equal size, mostly dust and fannings, and are mainly used in tea bags filled with lower quality tea.

When the CTC method is used to produce lower quality bagged tea, usually only one infusion is possible.

Alternatively, the orthodox method oxidizes and prepares teas with a focus on the top quality leaves and buds that produce strong, robust flavor and are capable of multiple infusions. The highest quality tea leaves and buds are processed through the orthodox method whereas, the CTC method is associated with bagged tea of lesser quality.

The CTC method is highly efficient as opposed to the orthodox method that is very labor intensive. The CTC method is able to produce more tea at a lower cost and quality and the dust and fannings produced by CTC processing infuse very quickly because of the lower mass the small pieces allow. Furthermore CTC was a savior to the tea bag industry because the lower cost of producing inferior quality tea more than offset the price of the packaging of the tea bag. CTC therefore offset the higher packaging cost of tea bags with the lower quality tea produced by mechanizing the process.

Orthodox tea, on the other hand, avoids the tea bag cost but has higher processing cost – but the result is a higher quality, better tasting tea capable of supporting multiple infusions.

Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea recently placed first and second in the best tea competition at the prestigious World Tea Expo in Atlanta Georgia. For more information about tea, green tea and black tea go to goldenmoontea.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Stout

For thousands of years, tea has been known for its incredible medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Today we know much more about the health benefits of tea leaves, thanks to hundreds of government, university and independent clinical studies.

There are seven commonly available varieties of tea: green, white, black, oolong, pu’erh, roobios and herbal. Each type is prepared differently and offers a variety of health benefits.

Green Tea – Because green tea is made by steaming, rather than fermenting the tea leaves, it is able to retain the powerful antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG has been proven to inhibit cancer cell growth as well as kill active cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It is also effective in lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Also, because green tea contains fluoride, it helps prevent tooth decay by killing the bacteria that causes plaque.

White Tea – White tea comes from the buds and young tea leaves, shortly before the buds have fully opened. The leaves are then steamed and dried with the minimum amount of processing. Because of this, white tea retains the greatest levels of antioxidants and the lowest levels of caffeine than any other tea from the Camellia Sinensis plant (green, black or oolong). It is so effective in ridding the body of free radicals that it is know for its anti-aging and skin-protectant properties. In fact, several top cosmetic companies are taking notice and including white tea in their skin creams.

Black Tea – While most of the EGCG antioxidants are oxidized during the fermenting process of black tea, it does retain a high number of the antioxidants polyphenols and flavonoids. These antioxidants help rid the body of harmful toxins and help to prevent cancer, reduce the risk of strokes and lower cholesterol. Black tea is also known for its therapeutic effects on gastric and intestinal illnesses.

Oolong Tea – Oolong tea is a partially fermented tea and has the flavor and health characteristics of both green and black teas. It contains a high number of antioxidants, which work to protect healthy skin cells and slow down the aging process. It has been said that drinking oolong tea is one of the best ways to fight the effects of aging on the skin.

Pu’erh Tea – This type of tea comes from a large leaf variety of tea plant and can be picked any time of the year. It is processed similarly to black tea. What makes this tea unique is that once it is picked, it is piled and aged – sometimes for as long as 50 to 100 years. Pu’erh tea has been shown to be one of the most effective cholesterol-lowering methods. It also has powerful soothing properties, perfect for aiding in digestion after a heavy meal.

Roobios or “Red” Tea – Rooibos comes from a shrub in South Africa. It is naturally caffeine free – making it a good choice for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Rooibos tea has a high number of antioxidants and studies have shown that it has anti-HIV activity, may protect brain cells from damage, and has the potential to protect the body from tumors.

Herbal Tea – For centuries, herbs have been use as remedies for various medical ailments, and drinking them as a tea is a delightful way to gain their benefits. There are many different kids of herbal teas – each containing a different blend of herbs. Some popular tea herbs are: peppermint for its digestive properties, lemon balm and chamomile for their calming effects, ginger for relieving nausea, echinacea for its immune-boosting abilities, and rosemary for relieving headaches. This is just a short list of the many herbs that can be found in an herbal tea blend, there are many more – each with its own health benefit.

So, no matter what type of tea you decide to drink, you’ll be doing something great for your body. To get the most out of your tea drinking, you may want to have a collection of whole-leaf teas in your pantry, trying to drink at least three varieties per week.