Green tea is one of the main teas in China.
Green tea is made by selecting the new leaves or buds of the tea tree and directly carrying out the processes of fixation, shaping, and drying without fermentation. It retains the natural substances of fresh tea leaves，tasting very good，and beneficial for human. It contains tea polyphenols, catechins, chlorophyll, caffeine, amino acids, vitamins, and other beneficial ingredients for the human body. The green tea soup made of green tea leaves preserves the green style of fresh tea, hence its name, green tea.
According to the records of China's local history books, “Hua yang guo zhi”[1], green tea is a beverage from Sichuan, which is a unique product in China. It is said that in the war of King Wu of Zhou against King Zhou of Shang Dynasty in Chinese history, it was once used by residents living in Sichuan to reward the rebels of King Wu of Zhou's army. That was about 3000 years ago. Another historical material "Tongyue", which was written more than 2000 years ago in Han Dynasty, also mentioned the cultivation of green tea in Sichuan. This is the most earliest description of the cultivation of green tea in the world.
Green tea leaves belong to dark green. It tastes a little bitter, but when the tea is drunk, the aftertaste is sweet. This feeling of first bitter and the day after tomorrow is unforgettable. Perhaps this is why green tea symbolizes gentleman, and why there are so many tea leaves in the world, but so many people only love green tea.
Methods and precautions for making green tea
Lu Yu [2]once put forward his own point of view in “the classic of tea”. He believes that among the water sources for making tea, “mountain spring water is the best raw material for making tea, river water is the second, and well water is not as good as the first two water sources.” The correct green tea brewing can not only make the tea soup taste better, but also more nutritious and healthier. However, the wrong way of making tea may not only lead to the loss of nutrients and the decline of taste but also be harmful to the human body. At present, there are two main ways to make green tea.
1. First pour water at 7 5℃- 8 5℃into the teapot, and then put the tea into the teapot to make tea. This method is suitable for high-grade green tea.
2. Then put the tea into the teapot, and then pour 8 5℃ water for brewing. This method is generally applicable to ordinary green tea.
In fact, the above two tea-making methods are OK. For individuals, it is not particularly different. It is mainly based on personal preferences. But no matter how you make tea, one thing needs special attention. That's the water temperature when making tea. It's better to be between 8 0℃and 9 0℃. And do not directly drink the first pot of water poured in when making tea, after the first times make tea, shake and pour it out. After the second pouring of hot water to make tea, you can drink it directly. It is appropriate to make tea for 3 - 5 minutes each time. In addition, please remember that you can't drink tea when there is no food in your stomach! Drinking tea when there is no food in your stomach is very bad for your health! Some components in tea may directly contact the gastric mucosa without food protection, which will do some damage to it.
The most two famous green tea
West Lake Longjing Tea and Biluochun Tea
West Lake Longjing tea comes from the West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It is the first of China's top ten famous teas. It can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty more than 1000 years ago. Then it gradually increased its reputation in more than 1000 years. By the Qing Dynasty, it had become a famous Chinese tea all over the world. Later, it became the first of China's top ten famous teas. The aroma of West Lake Longjing tea is fresh and refreshing, which has become a local cultural symbol.
Biluochun is a famous tea with thousands of years of history and tradition. It is also one of the top ten famous teas in China. It comes from another famous lake in China, Taihu Lake. It is native to Dongting mountain on the Bank of Taihu Lake, so it is also known as “Dongting Biluochun”. It has a strong taste in the mouth and a sweet aftertaste，it smells pretty good. It is a typical green tea. It is unforgettable after tasting. It is also beneficial to human health. It is also a great health care product.
Epilogue
Green tea is a great drink for the human body. Drinking more green tea has many benefits for people. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that many green tea-producing areas are also famous for beautiful girls. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that green tea is good for the skin. After all, according to some studies, some components in green tea have antioxidant effects [2], which can delay skin aging. So please drink more green tea to keep your youthful face.
Referewnces
[1] Qu, C. (2008). 华阳国志 / Hua yang guo zhi. 时代文艺出版社, Chang Chun: Shi Dai Wen Yi Chu Ban She.
[2] Lu, Y. (1974). The classic of tea. Boston, Little, Brown.
[3] Xing, L., Zhang, H., Qi, R., Tsao, R. and Mine, Y. (2019). Recent Advances in the Understanding of the Health Benefits and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Green Tea Polyphenols. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 67(4), pp.1029-1043.
Comments