| Much has been made of green tea and the studies | | | | The best tea is shipped in small quantities and some |
| associated with its health benefits. Something of | | | | varieties will only have about 30 tons grown, so you |
| course that the Chinese have known for thousands | | | | have to buy from a good source after the Spring |
| of years. Used for eye health, anti ageing, weight | | | | harvest to get it as fresh as possible or even get it |
| loss and general health maintenance, tea has been a | | | | at all. |
| staple of the oriental diet for centuries. They don't | | | | So how do you know which is the good stuff and |
| just drink tea they eat it! | | | | where can you get it? |
| Tea leaves come from the bush Camellia Sinensis. It | | | | • Find a company (usually on the net) that |
| was originally found growing wild in China on bushes | | | | specialises in tea and don't be afraid to contact them |
| reaching 40ft high. Today we know it as the good | | | | and ask questions. They are run usually by tea |
| old British cuppa. | | | | aficionados who are more than happy to talk tea. |
| 80% of tea consumed worldwide is black and the | | | | • Look for first flush (or lower down the plant) |
| British drink more than most, even though the | | | | 1st or 2nd flag teas. |
| oxidisation process from green to black tea is shown | | | | • LongJin or Dragonwell tea should be sweet and |
| to drastically reduce the amount of health giving | | | | have long hand rolled leaves (broken leaves will leech |
| polyphenols and Vitamin C. | | | | out more caffeine) |
| | | | | • Expect to pay around £10 upward for 125g. |
| The different variations and qualities of tea all come | | | | Expensive? Not so, you should get at least 3 cups of |
| from the same plant and are determined by the time | | | | tea from one pinch and the leaves be so sweet and |
| of picking, and from where on the bush the leaves | | | | long that you can eat them afterwards; or save |
| come from; the sweetest tenderest coming from | | | | them, add more water to make an anti bacterial liquid |
| the first picking called ‘first flush'. | | | | to freshen pongy feet - fantastic! |
| Recent studies show the possibility of reducing the | | | | • Trust your palette, buy a tea you enjoy |
| risk of cancer and arthritis, preventing dental caries | | | | Whilst the health properties remain unofficially |
| as well as having anti bacterial properties, amongst it's | | | | unproven, it is still the healthier version of a cup of |
| other qualities. | | | | good old builders! |