| In the hot days of summer it is easy to reach for a | | | | The best way to make green tea hot or cold is to |
| soda to help you cool off. However sodas do not | | | | make it with loose leaves. These are easily available |
| really quench your thirst and there are some other | | | | in many grocery stores and most health food stores. |
| healthier more refreshing alternatives. One of the | | | | When making iced tea it is good to steep the tea for |
| most refreshing ways to cool off on a hot summer | | | | about 20-30 minutes. You can just pour the hot |
| day is drinking a tall glass of iced tea and what better | | | | water on it and let it cool slowly. Fast cooling will not |
| than making it green tea? | | | | allow the full taste to come out; so slow cooling at |
| People From the Orient have long known the | | | | room temperature is best. |
| benefits of drinking green tea. In fact so important is | | | | You can also make some good tea pops. Just fill an |
| this drink in these countries that there is special tea | | | | ice cube tray with green tea (cooled) and put |
| drinking rituals associated with this beverage. Japan is | | | | toothpicks in each square and enjoy when fully |
| especially famous for this. | | | | frozen. You can also make regular cubes of green |
| Green tea: Is made from the leaves of the Camellia | | | | tea to add to beverages. |
| Sinensis tree. The best green tea is grown in Japan | | | | If you want to spice up your tea you can add citrus |
| and is harvested in the spring months. Now Australia | | | | peel as it steeps. Anise and chicory are also added |
| is trying to cultivate it so that green tea can be | | | | for a change in taste. Citrus peels are especially |
| available in other months and supply the increasing | | | | refreshing with iced green tea. You can also add |
| need for this beverage. Recent research is revealing | | | | ginger as a real thirst quencher for those hot days. |
| that this tea is particularly beneficial for your health. It | | | | However you chose to drink your green tea it is a |
| is higher in antitoxins than the traditional black tea | | | | nice refreshing change from soda and good for your |
| drunk in the West. Green tea has also been found to | | | | health. It will not only quench your thirst but |
| have vitamin C and fluoride. | | | | rejuvenate you too. As our world grows smaller we |
| Green tea has more of these properties than the | | | | are becoming more aware of different types of |
| traditional black teas because of the way it is | | | | foods and beverages. As more research is being |
| processed It goes through little or no processing | | | | done on this increasingly popular drink we will see |
| (fermenting or oxidizing) this brings out the | | | | even more benefits to our health. It is recommended |
| antioxidants and vitamins but will reduce the stimulant | | | | to drink at least 3 cups or more per day to enjoy |
| quality (caffeine) of this tea. | | | | the health giving properties of green tea. |