What Is Green Tea?
Green tea is a beverage made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, which is the same plant used to make other types of tea including black or oolong teas. However, unlike other types of tea, green tea doesn’t undergo the same oxidation and withering processes, giving it a unique flavor and antioxidant profile. Instead, green tea is made by steaming or pan frying, then drying the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
For thousands of years, green tea has been used for its medicinal properties in China and Japan. Today, it’s widely used for its purported ability to help increase alertness, promote weight loss and alleviate headaches and digestive issues–and, of course, for its pleasing taste. Green tea and its components have also been recently studied for their ability to protect against conditions like heart disease and cancer.
