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Green tea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bancha (, coarse tea) Lower grade of Sencha harvested as a third- or fourth-flush tea between summer and autumn. AkiBancha (autumn Bancha) is not made from entire leaves, but from the trimmed unnecessary twigs of the tea plant. Kamairicha (, pan-fired tea) Kamairicha is a pan-fired green tea that does not undergo the usual steam treatments of Japanese tea and does not have the characteristic bitter taste of most Japanese tea. By-product of Sencha or Gyokuro Kukicha (, stalk tea) A tea made from stems, stalks, and twigs. Kukicha has a mildly nutty, and slightly creamy sweet flavor. Mecha (, buds and tips tea) Mecha is green tea derived from a collection of leaf buds and tips of the early crops. Mecha is harvested in spring and made as rolled leaf teas that are graded somewhere between Gyokuro and Sencha in quality. Konacha (, (coarse) powdered tea) Konacha is the dust and smallest parts after processing Gyokuro or Sencha. It is cheaper than Sencha and usually served at Sushi restaurants. It is also marketed as Gyokuroko () or Gyokurokocha. Other Matcha (, powdered tea) A fine ground tea made from Tencha. It has a very similar cultivation process as Gyokuro. It is expensive and is used primarily in the Japanese tea ceremony. Matcha is also a popular flavor of ice cream and other sweets in Japan. Tencha ( , milling tea) Half-finished products used for Matcha production. The name indicates its intended eventual milling into matcha. Because, like gyokuro, it is cultivated in shade, it has a sweet aroma. In its processing, it is not rolled during drying, and tencha therefore remains spread out like the original fresh leaf. Genmaicha (, brown rice tea) Bancha (sometimes Sencha) and roasted genmai (brown rice) blend. It is often mixed with a small amount of Matcha to make the color better. Hjicha (, roasted tea)
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A green tea roasted over charcoal (usually Bancha). Aracha (, raw green tea) Half-finished products used for Sencha and Gyokuro production. It contains all parts of the tea plant. Shincha (, a new tea) First flush tea. The name is used for either Sencha or Gyokuro. funmatsucha (, instant powdered tea) Milled green tea, used just like instant coffee.Another name for this recent style of tea is "tokeru ocha," or "tea that melts."

Other green teas

Green tea from Ceylon Kahwah

Research and health effects

Main article: Health effects of tea Green tea contains a variety of enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, sterols, polyphenols, carotenoids, tocopherols, vitamins, caffeine and related compounds, phytochemicals and dietary minerals. Numerous claims have been made for the health benefits of green tea based on chemical composition, in vitro and animal studies, though results in humans have been inconsistent and few clear benefits for humans have been demonstrated.[16] There is also evidence suggesting consuming large volumes of green tea, and in particularly green tea extracts, may cause oxidative stress and liver toxicity.[17] A 2012 systematic review concluded the evidence that green tea can prevent cancer "is inadequate and inconclusive" but with some evidence for a reduction in certain types of cancer (breast, prostate, ovarian and endometrial). Green tea may lower blood low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels, though the studies were of short duration and it is not known if these effects result in fewer deaths and evidence does not support green tea reducing coronary artery disease risk. Several randomized controlled trials suggest green tea can reduce body fat by a small amount for a short time, though it is not certain if the reduction would be meaningful for most people.[18] One study has found that certain catechins found in green tea taken at levels many hundreds of times greater than what could be obtained from even very high tea consumption may actually damage DNA.[19] These results are only relevant for those taking such amounts of the catechins in pharmaceutical formulations. Similar results from unnatural concentrations of other antioxidants including vitamin E and vitamin C have also been demonstrated in human trials. Further, more recent studies and those done in countries outside the US, such as Japan have found green tea consumption to result in decreased risk of many cancer, cardiovascular disease, and dementia including Alzheimer's.[20][21][22] Green tea may interfere with the anti-cancer drug Bortezomib (Velcade) and other boronic acid-based proteasome inhibitors.[23]

Production
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Growing, harvesting and processing

Green tea is processed and grown in a variety of ways, depending on the type of green tea desired. As a result of these methods, maximum amounts of polyphenols and antioxidants are retained, giving maximum green tea benefits. The growing conditions can be broken down into two basic types those grown in the sun and those grown under the shade. The green tea plants are grown in rows that are pruned to produce shoots in a regular manner, and are generally harvested three times per year. The first flush takes place in late April to early May. The second harvest usually takes place from June through July, and the third picking takes place in late July to early August. Sometimes, there will also be a fourth harvest. It is the first flush in the spring which brings the best quality leaves, with higher prices to match.

Hand rolling green tea after steaming

Green tea is processed using either artisanal or modern methods.[24] Sun-drying, basket or charcoal firing, or pan-firing are common artisanal methods.[24] Oven-drying, tumbling, or steaming are common modern methods.[24] Processed green teas, known as "aracha" are stored under low humidity refrigeration in 30 or 60 kg paper bags at 05 C (3241 F). This aracha has yet to be refined at this stage, with a final firing taking place before blending, selection, and packaging takes place. The leaves in this state will be re-fired throughout the year as they are needed, giving the green teas a longer shelf life and better flavor. The first flush tea of May will readily store in this fashion until the next year's harvest. After this re-drying process, each crude tea will be sifted and graded according to size. Finally, each lot will be blended according to the blend order by the tasters and packed for sale.[25]

Production by country
2006 Green tea production and export (in thousands of metric tons)[26] Country China Japan Vietnam Indonesia World Production 782.4 (80.8%) 91.8 (9.5%) 66.0 (6.8%) 20.0 (2.1%) 968.1 (100%) Export 218.7 (83.0%) 1.6 (0.6%) 26.0 (9.9%) 9.1 (3.5%) 263.5 (100%)

Import of Japanese tea

On June 17, 2011, radioactive cesium of 1,038 becquerels per kilogram was detected at Charles de Gaulle airport in France in tea leaves imported from Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, which was more than twice as much as the restricted amount of 500 becquerels per kilogram designated by the European Union, and the government
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of France announced that they rejected them, which amounted to 162 kilograms.[27] The governor of Shizuoka Prefecture Heita Kawakatsu stated that "there is absolutely no problem when they [people] drink them because it will be diluted to about ten becquerels per kilogram when they steep them even if the leaves have 1,000 becquerels per kilogram," which was a consequence of own examinations of the prefecture.[28] Minister for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety Renh stated on June 3, 2011, that "there are cases in which aracha are sold as furikake [condiments sprinkled on rice] and so on and they are eaten as they are, therefore we think that it is important to inspect tea leaves including aracha from the viewpoint of consumers' safety."[29]

See also
Green tea polyphenols Chinese tea culture Japanese tea ceremony Potential effects of tea on health Reactive oxygen species Yellow tea Korean tea White tea yerba mate ilex guayusa

References
1. ^ Green Teas: A (very) Brief History (http://teaguardian.com/nature_of_tea/green_origin.html), teaguardian.com, retrieved 20 December 2010 2. ^ Reich, Eike; Anne Schibil, Valeria Widmer, Ruth Jorns, Evelyn Wolfram, Alison DeBatt (August 2006), "HPTLC methods for identification of green tea and green tea extract", Journal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies 29 (14): 21412151, doi:10.1080/15512160600760293 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080%2F15512160600760293) 3. ^ Quality Basics 1: Various Plants, Various Qualities (http://teaguardian.com/nature_of_tea/nature_of_tea1.html), teaguardian.com, retrieved 20 December 2010 4. ^ Tea & Cardiovascular Health (http://teaguardian.com/health/cardiovascularhealth.html), teaguardian.com, retrieved 20 December 2010 5. ^ Green tea's cancer-fighting allure becomes more potent (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/08/030805072109.htm), sciencedaily.com, 2003 6. ^ Dulloo AG, Duret C, Rohrer D, Girardier L, Mensi N, Fathi M, Chantre P, Vandermander J (1999), "Efficacy of a green tea extract rich in catechin polyphenols and caffeine in increasing 24-h energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans" (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/70/6/1040), Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 70 (6): 10405, PMID 10584049 (//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10584049) 7. ^ a b USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods, Release 2.1 (2007) 8. ^ Health Benefits of Tea (http://teaguardian.com/health/healthbenefits.html), teaguardian.com, retrieved 21 December 2010 9. ^ The History of Tea Tea Bags and Makers (http://inventors.about.com/od/tstartinventions/ss/tea.htm), Inventors.about.com, 2012-04-09, retrieved 2013-01-13 10. ^ Dattner, Christine; Boussabba, Sophie (2003). Emmanuelle Javelle, ed. The Book of Green Tea (http://books.google.com/books?id=jY9UJlq0hpkC). Universe Books. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7893-0853-5. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 11. ^ The History of Tea (http://www.green-teas-guide.com/history-of-green-tea.html), Green-teas-guide.com, retrieved 2013-01-13 12. ^ green tea production: roasting (http://teaguardian.com/nature_of_tea/green_production_roasting.html), teaguardian.com 13. ^ Heiss, Mary Lou; Heiss, Robert J. (2007). The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide
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Green tea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 13. ^ Heiss, Mary Lou; Heiss, Robert J. (2007). The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide (http://books.google.com/?id=3NBtM5aAAGgC&pg=PA179#v=onepage&q=). Ten Speed Press. pp. 179185. ISBN 1-58008-745-0. 14. ^ Illustrated explanation of the process for producing gyokuro tea (http://www.ippodotea.co.jp/en/tea/gyokuro_03.html), Ippodo-tea.co.jp, retrieved 2013-01-13 15. ^ About the effects of the shading process, and the components of this tea compared to others (http://www.ippodo-tea.co.jp/en/tea/gyokuro_02.html), Ippodo-tea.co.jp, retrieved 2013-01-13 16. ^ Cabrera C, Artacho R, Gimnez R (April 2006), "Beneficial Effects of Green Tea--A Review" (http://www.jacn.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=16582024), J Am Coll Nutr 25 (2): 7999, PMID 16582024 (//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16582024) 17. ^ Lambert JD, Sang S, Yang CS (April 2007), "Possible controversy over dietary polyphenols: benefits vs risks" (http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/crtoec/2007/20/i04/html/tx7000515.html), Chem. Res. Toxicol. 20 (4): 5835, doi:10.1021/tx7000515 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1021%2Ftx7000515), PMID 17362033 (//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17362033) 18. ^ Johnson, R.; Bryant, S.; Huntley, A. L. (2012). "Green tea and green tea catechin extracts: An overview of the clinical evidence". Maturitas 73 (4): 280. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2012.08.008 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.maturitas.2012.08.008). PMID 22986087 (//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22986087). 19. ^ http://www.newswise.com/articles/cancer-biologists-find-dna-damaging-toxins-in-common-plant-basedfoods 20. ^ "Benefit of drinking green tea" (http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/benefit_of_drinking_green_tea). Harvard University. Retrieved 2013-10-05. 21. ^ "Green tea may lower heart disease risk" (http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Heart_Letter/2012/December/green-tea-may-lower-heartdisease-risk). Harvard University. Retrieved 2013-10-05. 22. ^ "Mounting Research Shows Green Tea May Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease" (http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/17042/20130701/green-tea-alzheimers-disease-dementia-antioxidantsmemory.html). Medical Daily. Retrieved 2013-10-05. 23. ^ Golden EB, et al. ; Lam, P. Y.; Kardosh, A.; Gaffney, K. J.; Cadenas, E.; Louie, S. G.; Petasis, N. A.; Chen, T. C. et al. (2009). "Green tea clash with bortezomib suggested" (http://ecancer.org/news/414.php). Blood 113 (23): 592737. doi:10.1182/blood-2008-07-171389 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1182%2Fblood-2008-07-171389). PMID 19190249 (//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19190249). Retrieved 26 July 2013. 24. ^ a b c Heiss, Mary Lou; Heiss, Robert J. (2007). Hardcover, ed. The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide. Ten Speed Press. pp. 5669. ISBN 978-1-60774-172-5. 25. ^ Green Tea Processing (http://www.o-cha.com/green-tea-processing.htm), O-cha.com, retrieved 2013-01-13 26. ^ Current situation and medium-term outlook (ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/Meeting/013/K2054e.pdf), Intergovernmental Group on Tea, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, May 2008, p. 9 27. ^ " ." (http://www.asahi.com/special/10005/TKY201106180245.html) (Japanese) Asahi Shimbun. 2011-06-18. Retrieved 2011-06-19. 28. ^ " ." (http://www.asahi.com/special/10005/TKY201106180410.html) (Japanese) Asahi Shimbun. 2011-06-18. Retrieved 2011-06-19. 29. ^ "23." (http://www.caa.go.jp/action/kaiken/d/110603d_kaiken.html) (Japanese) Consumer Affairs Agency. 2011-0603. Retrieved 2011-06-19.

Further reading
Evans, John C. Tea in China: The History of China's National Drink. Greenwood Press, 1992. ISBN 978-0-313-28049-8 Lam, K.C./Lam, K.S. The Way of Tea: The Sublime Art of Oriental Tea Drinking. Barron's Educational Series, 2002. ISBN 978-0-7641-1968-2
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External links
Green Tea (an overview from the University of Maryland Medical Center) (http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/GreenTeach.html) Green Tea's cancer fighting potential (audio interview) (http://www.scientistlive.com/European-FoodScientist/Q&A/SLAM%3A_Green_Tea%27s_cancer_fighting_potential/22907/) WebMD review about the health benefits of green tea (http://www.webmd.com/foodrecipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea) Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Green_tea&oldid=584625756" Categories: Chinese tea Dietary antioxidants Green tea Japanese tea Monoamine oxidase inhibitors This page was last modified on 5 December 2013 at 02:24. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

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