ST. PATRICK'S DAY: Celebrate with Green Tea

Kick off your St. Patty's Day celebration with a delicious hot cup of Green Tea! It is known to be a powerful antioxidant and offers many possible health benefits including weight management, skin inflammation, immune booster, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular health. (Meacham, 2023)

The original Green Tea production sources were found in China, Japan and Taiwan. You can now find green tea being produced in every major tea growing country due to its popularity.

There is some caffeine in green tea; however, it is less than black tea and much less than coffee. It can offer a slight caffeine boost without the energy crash later.

"All green teas originate from the same species, Camellia sinensis. To make green tea, fresh tea leaves are briefly cooked using either steam or dry heat. This process fixes the green colors and fresh flavors. Chinese green teas are more mellow and smooth, while Japanese green teas have a heft of rich, vegetal flavors, which come from the preservation of chlorophyll. The general rule is that a cup of green tea contains about one-third as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. Green tea production methods vary, but the focus is always on fixing the green color. Thus, green teas are not oxidized.

To keep caffeine levels low, consider the following:

• Brew your tea properly with the correct amount of water, temperature and brew time.

• Use loose leaf tea. Teabags tend to contain smaller, cut leaves resulting in a faster caffeine extraction.

• Try a green tea blend, which tends to contain ingredients that are naturally caffeine free.

Green Tea Brewing Temperature

Green teas vary in their optimal brewing temperature based on their origin. Japanese green tea leaves are the most delicate and taste best when brewed at 160°F. Chinese green tea leaves can take a little more heat at 175°F. If you bring your water to the boiling point, you will scorch the tea, ruining the flavor. You can use electric water-dispensing pots to heat water to exact temperatures, or you can insert instant-read thermometers to check the water temperature prior to pouring over your green tea leaves. (Harney & Sons)"