Green Tea

Tea consumption has its legendary origins in China of more than 4,000 years ago. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia.Green tea has been used as both a beverage and a method of traditional medicine in most of Asia, including China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea and Thailand, to help everything from controlling bleeding and helping heal wounds to regulating body temperature, blood sugar and promoting digestion.

Steeping is the process of making a cup of tea; it is also referred to as brewing. Generally, two grams of tea per 100ml of water, or about one teaspoon of green tea per five-ounce cup (150ml), should be used. With very high quality teas like gyokuro, more than this amount of leaf is used, and the leaf is steeped multiple times for short durations, two or three steeping typically. The steeping technique also plays a very important role in avoiding the tea developing an overcooked taste. Preferably, the container in which the tea is steeped or teapot should also be warmed beforehand so that the tea does not immediately cool down.

Here is a recipe for Iced Green Tea:

Ingredients:

# 2 cups boiling water

# 4 regular green tea bags / tea leaves

# 3 inches fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced

# 1 cup cold water

# 1 cup white grape juice (chilled)

# 2 tsp sugar / honey (optional but no-calorie artificial sweetener)

# 3 tablespoons of squeezed lime juice

# Ice Cubes

Method:

1. In a saucepan, combine water, sugar, and ginger. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer for 5 minutes and remove from heat. Then add the tea bags, let stand covered for 3 minutes. Remove the tea bags, then strain and discard the ginger.

2. Remove tea bags from water, squeezing gently.

3. Stir in 2 cups cold water, white grape juice, lime juice and sweetener, stirring until sweetener dissolves.You can also add 4 drops of peppermint oil.

4. Serve over ice or let tea come to room temperature then serve over ice. If you like garnishes, feel free to add some lime wedges to your drink.

Green tea diet beverages were formerly brewed much like traditional hot tea is used today. Sometime this brewed diet tea was served hot, while other times it was served chilled with ice.

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