TEA TECHNOLOGY

Green Tea and High Blood Pressure

2010-10-04T21:21:00.000-07:00

How Does Green Tea Lower High Blood Pressure?

Tea enables blood vessels to relax. Tea has caffeine but unlike coffee it doesn't give you the jitters, it actually relaxes you and your blood vessels and lowers blood pressure naturally. Just add a cup or more to get the great health benefits of green tea.

Tea Lowers Blood Pressure Without Side Effects
Tea also inhibits the ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) and lowers blood pressure without the nasty side effects, of a high pressure medicine.

Tea Relaxes Muscles Around the Blood Vessels

Tea inhibits the release of an enzyme called ACE. ACE works by starting a reaction that causes the tiny muscles surrounding the arteries to clamp down, making the arteries smaller and so driving up BP. Preventing this reaction is the miracle of green tea health benefits. If you can lower BP naturally why take a drug that has horrible side effects.

Tea and Resveratrol
Tea has antioxidants, polyphenols and catechins, Resveratrol benefits have shown to lower high blood pressure and helps with diabetes, cancer prevention, heart health and slows the aging process, green tea and antioxidants prevent aging by protecting the cells but resveratrol slows the aging process by affecting the four mechanisms of aging.

THE FOUR KEY MECHANISMS OF CELLULAR AGING

* DNA Damage
Resveratrol protects against the million or more hits that our cells take every day from environmental stresses. And these hits can cause typo's in the cells reproduction.

* Genetic Regulators
These regulators determine whether it is time for a cells life to be over, cancer cells never die and that is the difference between regular cells and these out of control cells.

* Mitochondria Production
The mitochondria help us create energy as we age these mitochondria decrease in number.

* Accumulation of AGE Proteins
Advanced Glycation End products (AGE) proteins are like the dirty oil in your cars crankcase.

http://www.resveratrol-and-anti-aging.com Allen Partch has been studying nutrition for over 30 years and enjoys helping people have better health. Any questions call Allen at 1888.340.4425 You may use this article if you include this bio-box.

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Herbal Tea - Tea Time for a Healthy Life?

2010-08-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

Image Source : http://www.fotosearch.com/FDC106/900358/

Herbal teas have been around for thousands of years already but its rebirth in the Western world only happened in recent times. In Eastern countries however, the perceived powers of herbal tea has never waned and many Asians view drinking herbal tea as part of their regular routines.

What are Herbal Teas?
Also known as ptisans and tisanes, herbal teas are either fresh concoctions or packed tea bags produced from the extracted liquids of certain plants. Flowers and leaves are boiled in water. Roots and seeds can either be processed similarly or allowed to simmer on a stove. Herbal teas can also be sweetened if so desired.

Types of Herbal Teas

Persimmon - This herbal tea is often used as a health drink and a supplement of vitamin C. It is not however a good choice for drinkers who are intending to diet as well.

Raspberry - This is a popular flavor for teas and its commercialized version is sold in various establishments. Raspberry herbal tea is said to help in alleviating diarrhea.

Birch - There are several varieties of this particular herb, although all can be consumed safely. Birch herbal tea is usually drunk hot and may aid people suffering from headaches and rheumatic problems. It may also help in treating fever and reduce the painful symptoms of kidney problems. Lastly, birch herbal tea can be used for oral hygiene.

Blueberry - A popular ingredient in cakes, this herb can also be used for brewing tea although it possesses a slightly bitter taste. It's said to help people with kidney problems as well.

Sassafras - Drink this only for enjoyment. Although many people claim that it has blood-thinning properties and can help cure bronchitis, consult a doctor first before consuming it for medicinal purposes.

Tips on How to Brew Your Own Herbal Tea

Using Flowers and Leaves - Place the flowers or leaves inside a heated tea pot or jar then slowly pour boiling water. Replace the lid of the pot or jar to keep the mixture from evaporating and leave it untouched for fifteen minutes. Afterwards, uncover the container then strain. Each cup of water would require either 3 tsp. of freshly brewed herbs or 1 tsp. of dried herbs.

Using Seeds, Roots, or Stems - Cut roots and stems into tiny pieces and then grain them into powdery bits. Take 1 ounce of the concoction and pour it into a pot of water (approximately containing a pint) before boiling. Allow ten to twenty minutes to pass before straining once more. Add sugar if necessary.

Possible Concerns about Herbal Tea
Taking any herbal tea produced by any unlicensed manufacturer can lead to various complications. The following are possible dangers you might suffer from when consuming herbal tea that hasn't been declared safe by appropriate regulating bodies.

Containing Harmful Ingredients - There are several herbs that will increase rather than reduce the risks to your health. Comfrey, for instance, when consumed excessively can cause liver problems. Lobelia can be as addictive as smoking, while pineapple weed (and occasionally disguised as chamomile), may cause extreme reactions from individuals with certain allergies.

Misidentification of Herbs - In the above situation, there could be a deliberate attempt to mislead consumers about the efficacy and benefits of the company's herbal tea products. For homemade herbal tea however, an unintentional misidentification is when a problem arises. The comfrey, for instance, no matter how dangerous, is still comparatively safer than the foxglove, which is similar in appearance but infinitely more dangerous.

If you intend to brew your own herbal tea, make sure that you're using the right herbs and following instructions to the letter. Research about the properties of each ingredient to ensure that there's no possible harmful side effects.

Side Effects - Herbal tea can also have dangerous side effects when taken together with certain medications, vitamins, and food supplements. Thus, it's very important that you consult a doctor first before taking any herbal tea if you're already under medication.

Herbal tea may an ancient and long-standing custom for many, but this doesn't mean you can't partake of its benefits as well. Of course, research well and make sure that you're drinking a herbal tea product which has the seal of approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If it does, however, then all we've to say is "kanpai" to your health!

Lee Dobbins writes for http://tea.topicgiant.com where you can learn more about different kinds of tea including herbal tea [http://tea.topicgiant.com/Articles/Herbal_Tea.php].

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Mahkota Dewa Tea, an herbal cure-all

2010-08-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

Image source : http://napiture.blogspot.com/

Slamet Susanto, (TheJakartaPost.Com), Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta

Lamuri had a heart complaint and hypertension for some time. The woman from Kampung Bahari, North Jakarta, did not see any improvements, even after consulting specialists several times.

"I started drinking Mahkota Dewa Tea and then I regained my health," she said.

Muhidin Hasan told a different story. The father of three from Plumbon in Kulonprogo regency's Temon district, almost lost his sense of self-worth before his wife: He suffered from erectile dysfunction.

"After regularly drinking Mahkota Dewa Tea, we could resume intimacy in less than a month," he claimed.

These are only two of the numerous people enjoying the benefits of Mahkota Dewa Tea. This herbal concoction is composed of 70 percent Mahkota Dewa, also known as the Crown of God (Phaleria Papuana) fruit, 20 percent green tea (Camelia sinensis) and 10 percent tea parasites (Scurrula cetropurpurea).

The tea is also believed to cure various other diseases and ailments, including cancers and tumors, to reduce the uric acid content in the bloodstream and to burn cholesterol, because it contains the key organic compounds needed by the human body.

The tea blend has been produced as an herbal drug since 2003 by PT Salama Nusantara, which employs 150 farmers in Samigaluh, Kulonprogo. It is licensed by the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and the Ministry of Health, and is certified by the Indonesian Ulema Council.

PT Salama Nusantara director Maryono said that research carried out by Sumastuti of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University (UGM) had found the Mahkota Dewa fruit to contain antihistamines, flavonoids, saponin, polyohenol and other substances with analgesic, anti-bacterial and blood sugar-lowering effects.

Separately, a green tea study by Johannes Guitenburg of Germany's Mainz University indicated that the presence of active antioxidants and anti-carcinogen components in the leaves was effective for the prevention of cellular and DNA damage caused by free radicals, which are connected to cancers and heart problems.

"Tea parasites are useful for cancer prevention," added Maryono.

To maintain a product quality devoid of chemicals, the company's farmers use organic fertilizers in growing the herbs. UGM personnel, acting as advisers and supervisors, conduct regular field checks to make sure that the plants are completely free of inorganic elements.

The herbal mixture is also made according to a strict process: desiccated Mahkota Dewa fruit is blended with green tea and tea parasites at a ratio of 7:3:1; green tea is freeze-dried to maintain its medicinal properties.

"The entire blending process is overseen by pharmacists for quality control," Maryono told The Jakarta Post during a visit to his secondary production site on Jl. Tentara Pelajar in Sebokarang, Wates regency.

The blend is then packaged in ordinary 100-gram plastic pouches, each priced at Rp 20,000, and in the more fashionable 130-gram cardboard boxes, each priced Rp 35,000.

"Though the packaging and content weight are different, they have the same efficacy," Maryono assured.

Export & employment

Two thousand packs of Mahkota Dewa Tea are now manufactured daily. Their marketing is handled by agents in Jakarta and Surabaya, and in major cities across Bali.

"We expect to have more marketing agents in other cities. But we still impose strict requirements to guarantee product quality," stressed Maryono.

Since this year, Mahkota Dewa Tea has been sought by overseas consumers, and Malaysia and Suriname have each ordered 50,000 packages.

"We deliver 2,000 packages to Malaysia weekly. As there are no direct flights to Suriname, we make monthly deliveries to that country," revealed Maryono.

Aside from maintaining strict quality control, job creation is another priority of PT Salama Nusantara in its herbal drug manufacturing business.

In packaging, for instance, the company uses no machines.

"For packaging work, we employ 24 people, while only three are needed with machines. We want to provide jobs," said Maryono.

In addition, farmers are trained to mince and half-dry the Mahkota Dewa fruit, and supply the fruit in this half-processed form.

"In this way, they can enjoy greater financial benefits," said Maryono. "The fruit only costs Rp 1,000 per kilogram. We pay them Rp 10,000 for 1 kg of half-processed fruit, which requires 7 kg of raw material to make."

Maryono said that quite a number of consumers had requested the herbal medicine be produced in syrup form for easy consumption, but the constraint was the liquid tea's shelf life.

"We are studying whether a liquid blend is as effective as our dried product. Otherwise, we won't produce syrup because we use no preservatives," he said.

Maryono started his herbal medicine business because of a personal concern over the presence of various over-the-counter drugs and supplements containing substances hazardous to the health. Many medicinal products and supplements have now been found to contain harmful -- and illegal -- chemicals, preservatives, and additives.

"Consumers should be careful, as some so-called herbal drugs have a high chemical content," Maryono cautioned.

In cooperation with UGM and local farmers, Maryono set up the company in 2003, with hopes that Indonesia would regain its potential in the health market through indigenous herbal medicine production.

Indonesia was known previously for an indigenous herb called Jawa Dwipa but, said Maryono, "it was abandoned although it had already been proven to have positive health benefits".

While wondering why Indonesians relied so much on foreign health products, Maryono noted that several types of drugs and supplements from Malaysia or Singapore, sold at high prices here, were manufactured with raw materials from Indonesia.

The main challenge to Indonesia's herbal medicine industry is the existence of "herbal" drugs loaded with chemicals.

"So we are producing drugs without preservatives or additives to restore the public trust and to prompt consumers to be more selective in buying health products," said Maryono.

Why Buy Organic Tea?

2010-08-18T03:27:00.000-07:00

Source Image : http://www.organicfood-now.com/organic-tea/

Organic tea has been growing in popularity in recent years, as the organic movement as a whole has grown. Brands that specialize in organic tea, such as Rishi Tea, Choice Organic Teas, Organic India, and Numi Tea, have been growing in popularity, and even mainstream tea companies whose products are available in supermarkets have begun to add more organic offerings.

Why is buying organic tea important?

The main two benefits of buying organic tea are avoiding toxic chemicals in your tea and protecting the environment in the areas where the tea is grown.

Toxic Chemicals:

Many people are not aware of it, but the production of tea can involve harmful and toxic chemicals used as pesticides. Most tea is grown in countries like China and India that have lax environmental standards when compared to the standards of countries like the United States or countries in the European Union. When used carelessly, these chemicals can contaminate teas and pose health risks to people drinking the tea. Tea, especially green tea, is promoted for its cancer-preventing properties, but many of the chemicals used in its production are known toxins or carcinogens.

Even when the finished tea is safe for human consumption, the use of these chemicals can can cause health problems for people who apply the chemicals, and also for people who live in nearby areas that can become contaminated by chemicals. Buying tea produced in this manner can thus contribute to environmental contamination and health problems.

Nutrient Pollution from Fertilizer:

In addition to the problem of chemicals that are outright toxic, conventional agriculture can damage the environment through its over-use of fertilizer. Growing tea requires application of fertilizer because organic matter is constantly being taken away as tea leaves are harvested. But the application of synthetic fertilizers can acidify soils and contribute too much nitrogen to runoff, which can damage the ecosystems in streams, rivers, and bays downstream from the region where the tea is grown. Not only does this damage ecosystems, but it can harm the fishing industry as well.

Organic fertilizer does not completely solve this problem but it greatly reduces it.

What does organic certification mean?

Organic certification varies depending on the certifying organization, but in general, it requires that tea (or whatever product is being certified) is produced without using synthetic chemicals, including fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Organic certification prohibits the use of GMO's (genetically-modified organisms), and requires that the land has been maintained in a state free of synthetic chemicals for a number of years. The certification includes record keeping requirements to ensure that organic and non-organic materials are kept separate.

The USDA certifies products as organic in the U.S., and there are a number of other certifying agencies in other countries.

Organic agriculture is not perfect:

Organic agriculture is a move in the right direction but it is not an instant solution to all environmental problems. Some companies have falsely marketed their products as organic in order to sell them for a higher price, so it is important to verify the certification of teas you buy. Organic agriculture can still have negative impacts on the environment, and organic certification does not address the question of fair wages for workers as fair trade certification does.

Is organic tea more expensive?

Sometimes organic tea is more expensive, but the prices of teas are highly variable and many organic teas are comparable in price to non-organic teas. There is little reason not to buy organic tea nowadays. As more people shift to buying organic tea and organic products in general, we will be able to start addressing more environmental and public health issues as we clean up the earth's ecosystems and keep toxic chemicals out of our environment.

Alex Zorach has an M.A. in statistics from Yale University, and is an avid tea drinker and the creator of http://RateTea.net/, a website committed to sustainability, where anyone can rate and review teas, and where you can read more about organic tea, including listings of organic teas and more detailed discussion of the environmental and health issues relating to how tea is produced.

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Coffee or Tea: Enjoy Both in Moderation for Heart Benefits, Dutch Study Suggests

2010-08-15T21:11:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily.com— Coffee and tea drinkers may not need to worry about indulging -- high and moderate consumption of tea and moderate coffee consumption are linked with reduced heart disease, according to a study published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Researchers in The Netherlands found:

* Drinking more than six cups of tea per day was associated with a 36 percent lower risk of heart disease compared to those who drank less than one cup of tea per day.
* Drinking three to six cups of tea per day was associated with a 45 percent reduced risk of death from heart disease, compared to consumption of less than one cup per day.

And for coffee they found:

* Coffee drinkers with a modest intake, two to four cups per day, had a 20 percent lower risk of heart disease compared to those drinking less than two cups or more than four cups.
* Although not considered significant, moderate coffee consumption slightly reduced the risk of heart disease death and deaths from all causes.

Researchers also found that neither coffee nor tea consumption affected stroke risk.

"While previous studies have shown that coffee and tea seem to reduce the risk of heart disease, evidence on stroke risk and the risk of death from heart disease was not conclusive," said Yvonne T. van der Schouw, Ph.D., study senior author and professor of chronic disease epidemiology, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. "Our results found the benefits of drinking coffee and tea occur without increasing risk of stroke or death from all causes.

Van der Schouw and colleagues used a questionnaire to evaluate coffee and tea consumption among 37,514 participants. They followed the participants for 13 years for occurrences of cardiovascular disease and death.

Study limitations included self-reported tea and coffee consumption, and the lack of specific information on the type of tea participants drank. However, black tea accounts for 78 percent of the total tea consumed in The Netherlands and green tea accounts for 4.6 percent. Coffee and tea drinkers have very different health behaviors, researchers note. Many coffee drinkers tend to also smoke and have a less healthy diet compared to tea drinkers.

Researchers suggest that the cardiovascular benefit of drinking tea may be explained by antioxidants. Flavonoids in tea are thought to contribute to reduced risk, but the underlying mechanism is still not known.

Co-authors are: J. Margot de Koning Gans, M.D.; Cuno S.P.M. Uiterwaal, M.D., Ph.D.; Joline W.J. Beulens, Ph.D.; Jolanda M.A. Boer, Ph.D.; Diederick E. Grobbee, M.D., Ph.D.; and W.M. Monique Verschuren, Ph.D. Author disclosures and funding sources are in the study.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by American Heart Association.

Java Green Tea Capsules For Fast Weight Loss

2010-08-12T01:53:00.000-07:00

Image Source : http://cempaka-nature.blogspot.com/

The Indonesian island of Java is famous for its towering volcanoes, green fertile valleys and for its tea. Java's volcanic soil is rich with minerals and the high rainfall and cool climate combine to make perfect growing conditions for tea. Tea gardens adorn the green slopes of the highlands in the west of the island and the tea grown here is of a consistently high quality. The clean air, the simple processing of the tea and the methods of growing and harvesting ensure that the tea retains both its flavour and its goodness.

Scientific research has revealed that green tea has several health benefits, and so growers are particularly careful to ensure that their tea remains as pure and natural as possible. The high antioxidant and phenol levels in Java green tea are said to help prevent heart disease, ward off some types of cancer and help skin that has been damaged by the sun.

In addition to these health benefits, Java green tea is widely valued as an aid to weight loss. unfermented tea, unlike the black fermented variety is called 'green' and speeds up the body's metabolism so that it uses more energy for faster weight loss, and helps prevent absorption of fat.

When scientists realised the many benefits associated with the consumption of Java tea, they went on to develop Java green tea capsules. The capsules capture the concentrated goodness of Java green leaf tea in a form that is easy and convenient to take. Many people recognise the benefits of green tea but do not want to change their drinking habits from black tea or coffee. Java green leaf tea capsules are ideally suited to them, enabling them to adopt green tea as part of their diet, without having to change their habits.

For more information on weight loss and Java tea visit the java tea information page.

For more information on the weight loss benefits of the Green Tea Diet visit: http://www.naturalpharmacy.co.uk/JavaGreenTea/index.html

Mike Smithers

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Benefit of Drinking Green Tea

2010-08-10T22:08:00.000-07:00

Image Source : blog.sierratradingpost.com

Green Tea has become a popular beverage recently mainly due to media coverage regarding the health benefits. Chinese have been drinking the tea for many hundreds of years due the healing abilities and use it to treat headaches and even to help prevent cancer. Many studies are coming out recently and they have shed light on more and more benefits surrounding health. Here are some of the benefits you can gain from drinking green tea regularly.

Lowers Cholesterol
If you suffer from high cholesterol than green tea can be a possible help with reducing your risk of heart attacks. The tea has been found to reduce the levels of LDL which is the bad form of cholesterol. Thus reducing the blood clotting within the blood vessels as the catechins within green tea will reduce the LDL. This will keep your bodies bad to good cholesterol ratio at an optimum level.

Weight Loss
The tea will help the thermogensis process in our bodies, which is the rate the body burns calories. This is done by the polyphenols in the green tea that oxidize fat. The result is the metabolism rate is increased and this will result in faster weight loss. The tea is a low calories drink when compared to the normal drinks we take for breakfast for example. Drinking tea instead of coffee will reduce your daily intake of calories.

Healthy Teeth
Fluoride is good for the teeth and as green tea has a lot of fluoride in the tea. Fluoride kills bacteria in the mouth which causes plague and will help maintain healthy teeth thus preventing general tooth decay. Coffee on the other hand will stain our teeth yellow color, so changing to green teeth will improve your teethes condition.

Prevention of Cancer
Free radicals are one of the causes of cancer and by drinking tea and getting the benefits of the antioxidants it will reduce these in our bodies. Free radicals as mentioned cause cancer and aging of our bodies. Polyphenols in the green tea will hunt for the free radicals and prevent the formation of unstable oxygen caused by free radicals. Free radicals will then damage healthy cells and is linked to cancer, heart attacks and even strokes. The tea will prevent the birth of abnormal cells in our bodies.

Conclusion
The tea has many benefits as mentioned above such as reducing cancer, heart attacks and reducing low cholesterol which are some of the bigger kills in the world today. So drinking a couple of cups a day will greatly reduce your risks.

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What is Green Tea Powder?

2010-08-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

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Green tea powder is made from the whole leaf of the Camellia sinensis plant. Often it will include the veins and stems of the leaf. It is milled from the leaf to make a powder. This powder can be used for making mixes for baking, cooking and even soaps and candles as well as drinks. It is also used in some cosmetics.

It is believed green tea powder was invented in China in the tenth or eleventh century. Through Buddhism it spread to Japan. It came to be called Zen by the Japanese. A sixteenth century tea master (Sen no Rikyu) put together the rules of the renowned tea ceremony. It was specified that matcha was the only tea to use for this ceremony. Matcha green tea comes from Japan.

A few weeks before the tea bushes are harvested they are sheltered from direct sunlight while at the same time this causes slowing of the plants growth. This results in the leaves turning to a darker shade of green. It also is causing the production of amino acids. This gives green tea powder the sweeter taste and a vivid green color.

These leaves are known as tencha after they are laid out flat to dry and then they are crumbled. These leaves are continually protected from the sun. They are then made into a fine ground powder. If it comes from Japan the green tea powder is known as matcha.

Green tea powder can be purchased in many markets world wide. It is used in many recipes today to give a wonderful flavor to such things as cookies, cakes, puddings, ice cream, milk shakes, smoothies, lattes and of course tea. Even some alcoholic beverages today have included it in their drinks.

Green tea powder presents numerous health benefits. The research that has been conducted around the world has revealed this fact. It can be used as a weight loss supplement as part of your weight loss plan. It also increases the metabolism rate helping the body to burn more fat thus another way it can aid in weight loss. It contains the same free radical fighting antioxidants as the tea. It is credited with aiding in cancer prevention, reducing blood pressure and reducing blood sugar levels.

It does not matter if you are enjoying it in your favorite bake goods or in a delicious drink; the health benefits of green tea powder are enormous. This form is just another way the benefits may be included in your diet for better health.

Green tea is a great tasting and healthy way to lose weight. To get more information about green tea, go to http://www.green-tea.best-info-online.com/ and learn how green tea can help you lose weight. For additional weight loss tips go to Weight Loss For Real People and get reliable information for achieving weight loss.

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Introduction To Black Tea

2010-02-05T00:19:00.000-08:00

In recent years, new emphasis has been placed on the therapeutic benefits of drinking tea. Of course, there are many different varieties of tea that a consumer can choose from. As a result, unless you've really studied the issue, you may not know one kind of tea from another.

If you're in the dark about black tea, you're certainly not alone. A number of people are unfamiliar with this unique, soothing beverage. However, once you learn about black tea, you may be tempted to trade in your daily cup of java for a mug of tea. Let's take a closer look at what makes black tea so special.

A Geography Lesson

To truly understand the black tea phenomenon, you must first know a little geography. Black tea flourishes at high altitudes, such as those found in the Himalayan Blue Mountains. Assam, which boasts more than 800 estates specifically geared toward the cultivation of tea, constitutes one of the world's largest tea producers.

This black tea can be mixed with African teas or Ceylon teas in order to produce English or Irish tea. This blending often occurs in European cities such as Hamburg or Amsterdam. However, unblended teas are also quite popular-such teas are known by the term "single estate teas."

The tea leaves are sorted, then go through natural fermentation. Through this oxidation process, the tea leaves change from green to black. The next step of the process involves the packaging of the tea, which is then given a brand name. In recent years, black tea has become the world's most popular beverage, whether served hot or cold.

The Phenomenal Effects of Black Tea

One of the key reasons for the phenomenal popularity of black tea is its soothing nature. Anecdotally, tea drinkers have been saying for years that black tea can help calm unsteady nerves-but now there's scientific research to prove the point.

Scientists at the University College London, in a study published in the journal Psychopharmacology, discovered that black tea can reduce the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in the bloodstream. The study showed that black tea-drinkers were able to cut their stress levels faster than individuals who consumed a tea substitute.

The study examined 75 young men were divided into two groups and monitored for a period of six weeks. One group drank a caffeinated tea mixture that was fruit-flavored and made up of the components found in black tea. The second group received a placebo that contained caffeine and that tasted like tea, but that did not actually contain tea.

In addition, the two groups were subjected to stressful situations-the possibility of joblessness, an accusation of shoplifting, or a nursing home incident. Group members then had to prepare an oral response and state their case before a camera. As they were subjected to the stressful incident, researchers measured their cortisol, blood pressure, and blood platelet levels.
The scientists found that these situations resulted in significant increases in blood pressure and heart rates for both groups. Nevertheless, nearly an hour after the situation had died down, the tea-drinkers experienced a nearly 50 percent drop in their cortisol levels. The group that had taken placebos saw only a 27 percent decrease in their cortisol count. The tea drinkers also reported being more relaxed than the non-tea drinkers did.
As researcher Andrew Steptoe told the news media, "Drinking tea has traditionally been associated with stress relief, and many people believe that drinking tea helps them relax after facing the stresses of everyday life... Although it does not appear to reduce the actual levels of stress we experience, tea does seem to have a greater effect in bringing stress hormone levels back to normal."

Steptoe added, "This has important health implications because slow recovery following acute stress has been associated with a greater risk of chronic illnesses such as coronary heart disease."

Meanwhile, according to a USDA study, consumption of black tea can lower bad cholesterol levels and can cut the incidence of heart disease for individuals who are at risk. In addition, a number of studies have indicated that consistent consumption of black tea can protect the body against numerous human cancers.

Some Final Thoughts

It would be wrong to call black tea a miracle cure. Drinking the beverage does not guarantee that an individual will be protected for life against serious illness. However, there is a vast amount of research to suggest that black tea has numerous therapeutic benefits for those who consume it regularly. Making black tea a habit can provide a protective effect against heart disease, cancer, and stress-related illness.

As a result, you might consider giving black tea a try. There seem to be no significant negative side-effects associated with drinking it, and there's plenty of evidence to suggest that it can be a healthy alternative to other beverages.

Reference :
http://www.articlesbase.com/

Oolong (Wu-Long) Tea and Its Health Benefits

2010-02-03T20:28:00.000-08:00

Oolong tea found its place on European and American markets quite recently, however, it was known for centuries by famous tea masters in China and Japan as a great source of health and a very delicious and refreshing beverage with strong specific aroma. In modern times, oolong tea is earning its fame in our countries for its low caffeine content and its excellent properties to stimulate fat burning processes in our body. Moreover, oolong tea is claimed to combine the best qualities of both black and green teas. Is this true?

Oolong tea first was produced in China in the epoch of the Ming Dynasty – about 400 years ago. The specifics of oolong tea production is processing tea leaves right after picking. First, newly picked tea leaves are placed to rest under the sun, then they are being bruised and shaken on the air in order to fasten oxidation, and then they are left to dry. About 2 hours later, the leaves are being roasted, a little fermented and possibly scented with various fragrances. As a result we receive a therapeutic tea with beautiful flavor.

You can find a great variety of modern oolong teas, starting from lightly-fermented leaves and ending with dark semi-fermented leaves, starting from dark Floral Ti Kuan Yin and ending with delicate Tung Ding Jade Oolong. A great deal of oolong teas available in today’s market are enriched with various aromas and flavors, including jasmine, orchid, vanilla, almond, grapefruit, peach, orange and other fruits.

Oolong tea is claimed to have a lot of therapeutic properties for your health, however, not all popular myths about the benefits of this tea are scientifically proven. There is a great interest of scientists and medical researchers to this popular herbal remedy, and below you can see a summary of the most recent scientific findings connected with the effects of oolong tea on people’s health.

* The researches leaded by Dr. K. Yanagimoto from the University of California demonstrated that oolong tea is an excellent antioxidant, that is why it can assist in fighting with such diseases as arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, skin cancer and many other problems connected with aging. Oolong tea can increase antioxidant level in your body in a natural way.
* There was a great deal of studies on the effects of oolong tea on fat burning and weight loss. Experts from the University of Tokushima School of Medicine (Japan) proved that regular oolong tea consumption can stimulate fat burning process, and specialists from the Suntory Research Center in Japan found that drinking oolong tea can help lowering the fattening effects of the carbohydrates we receive with food.
* A research of the specialists from the Department of Nutrition, University of Tokushima and the Suntory Research Center resulted in finding scientific evidences that oolong tea can increase metabolic rate in men and energy metabolism in women.
* The researches which took place in Aichi Medical University proved that drinking oolong tea can help in lowering our LDL (bad) cholesterol level, and polyphenols, containing in oolong tea, have positive effects on our arteries and must be considered a good support for the function of our cardiovascular system.
* Oolong TeaAlso, Japanese scientists reported that drinking 3-4 cups of oolong tea a day can assist in fighting with eczema.
* Another group of Japanese scientists from Shiga University of Medical Science discovered that regular drinking oolong tea can help to get rid of skin problems and improve skin color in short periods of time.
* Experts from the Department of Dentistry at Osaka University claim that oolong tea is very effective for strengthening our teeth enamel and preventing tooth decay.
* Finally, a study publicized in 2004 in the scientific periodical Antioxidants & Redox Signaling found that regular consumption of oolong tea can result in stronger immune system and improved abilities of our body to resist various inflammatory diseases, including cold and flu.

Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.

Reference : http://guide2herbalremedies.com

The Pleasures Of Black Tea

2009-09-14T20:50:00.000-07:00

It is easy to overlook how prevalent tea is in our modern lives. It is when we come across the amazing statistics that tea is the number two most consumed beverage it the world and it has been so for a long, long time that we start to understand how central to our lives drinking tea is. That fact is made even more powerful when we know that the number one most consumed beverage in the world is water.

One reason that black tea in particular has reached such phenomenal levels of acceptance and enjoyment around the world is warm and rich taste. With so many others to choose from, if you made it your passion to discover new tea flavors, varieties and to enjoy teas from as many places around the world as you could, that would be a quest that would take a lifetime to complete.

Black tea is by far the most common tea most of us enjoy because that is the kind that is commercially sold in grocery stores in the form of tea bags. But few people know that the only difference between green and black tea is in how they are handled after the picking process is complete. The drying procedure for green tea is somewhat less complicated. But even though the drying process for black tea is more involved, it makes the resultant product stronger and more able to be stored without losing its freshness.

It adds to the fun and enjoyment of drinking quality black tea to know a little bit about where it comes from and the culture and type of environment the tea was produced. The soil, weather and many other factors of different parts of the world have a big impact on both the flavor of the tea and the vitamin content of it as well. So learning a little bit about black tea origins can help you even in shopping for commercial tea.

For example, Lapsang Souchong is a Chinese tea as is Yunnan and Keemum varieties. You might see this distinction when you read the ingredients panel on the side of the next box of black tea you buy. These teas have a wonderful smoky flavor because pine fires are mostly commonly used in China to dry the tea leaves to prepare them for sale and consumption by you and me. The Chinese take great pride and care in how they prepare the teas they sell so much so that they won't even let the leaves be broken as they cure them to become the tea we enjoy in our cups at home.

Let this first step of understanding Chinese tea be your introduction to learning all you can about where your tea comes from, how it is prepared and what kinds of flavors you can expect. You might try out Assam tea from India, Darjelling form the Himalayas, Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka as well as teas from Kenya, Malawi, Zimabwe and even as close as Hawaii.

Each of these teas will have a unique flavor and aroma and its great fun to find out which ones will become your favorites and even indulge yourself in becoming a bit of a tea snob by wanting the teas you enjoy the most each day. That's ok because tea is so good for you and such a great beverage that you can sample and enjoy so much variety, all from the comfort of your cozy home and your cozy teapot.

REFERENCE :
If you are interested in learning more about tea then please visit us at http://www.TeaCollection.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_J_Carter

THE PROSPECT OF INDONESIA TEA AS A FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGES

2009-09-10T23:43:00.000-07:00

Introduction

Tea is a refreshing beverage ingredients long known. Some of the content of chemical compounds in tea can give the impression color, taste, and smell peminumnya satisfactory. Be the first tea of delicious refreshments.

Armed with a long fact that tea is used as a medicine and a means of meditation in religious rituals, research in the last decades of the 20th century shows evidence that tea can keep your body health.

As a means of health habits tea daily would be more useful than incidental consumed as a means of treatment, therefore, directed the tea is more suitable as a functional beverage rather than as a drug.

Some types of tea drinks can meet the functional requirements and the effort that must be taken to make the tea as a functional beverage presented in this paper.

BEVERAGES / FUNCTIONAL FOODS

In general, the rate of food / beverage of nutrition and ability to satisfy their appetites. In recent years, assessments are developed to the function of food / drink in regulating the biological metabolism. Foods that can fulfill the function referred to as food / beverage functional.

Inuba, 1988 cit. Oguni, 1996 states that functional foods could meet the needs of the body in improving the following things.

1. Biological defense system of the body, such as reducing allergies, immune system activation, and enrich the lymph system.
2. Disease prevention system, such as the prevention of high blood pressure and diabetes, prevention of congenital metabolic disorders, and prevention of tumors.
3. Healing system diseases such as controlling blood cholesterol, prevent blood aggregation and regulators "hematosis".
4. Rhythm control system / physical movement, such as stimulation of the central nervous system and peripheral, control and input food absorption.
5. Inhibitory system aging, such as controlling the formation of fat peroxides.

AS THE FUNCTIONAL DRINK

The main compounds contained in tea are catechins, which is a relative of condensed tannins are also close called polyphenols because of the hydroxyl functional group possessed. In addition, tea also contains caffeine alkaloids together with tea polyphenols to form a refreshing taste. Some vitamins are contained in tea include vitamin C, vitamin C, vitamin B, and vitamin A which, although allegedly due to decreased processing activities can still be utilized by peminumnya. Several types of minerals are also contained in tea, especially fluoride which can strengthen the tooth structure.

Because the content of these compounds, especially the content katekinnya, tea seems to be called the functional beverage. Some facts are proven through research, among others (Oguni, 1996) as follows.

1. Tea will enhance the body's biological defense system against cancer.
2. Tea prevent diseases, such as controlling diabetes and high blood pressure.
3. Tea help cure diseases such as preventing increased blood cholesterol.
4. Tea can manage the physical movement of the body by activating the nervous system because kafeinnya content.
5. Tea catechins are strong antioxidants and to inhibit the aging process.

Because the five functions that must be fulfilled by the functional food in the tea, the tea into the potential functional beverages seems no doubt.

THE PROSPECT OF INDONESIA AS A FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGES

Catechins which dominates ± 20% weight of dried tea is the main substance that causes tea qualify as functional beverages. This compound contained more in the top of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis)

assamica varieties compared sinensis varieties (Yamanishi, 1995). Fewer black tea contains catechins than green tea because of the processing process to intentionally oxidize catechins improve color, taste, and aroma.

Because the soil and climatic conditions of the environment, almost 100% of tea plant in Indonesia is C. assamica sinensis varieties. Shoots of tea plants produced 80% is processed into black tea, while the rest is processed into green tea. Black tea is produced mainly by the large country estates and a large part of private estates, while green tea is produced mainly by the private tea factory which supplies the raw material received from the tea estates of the people. Some large private estates also produce green tea. Almost the entire production of black tea, and vice versa Indonesia exported almost all green tea consumed in the country after further processed into tea fragrance. The last few years green tea had already entered the export market.

From the above description, it appears that green tea that Indonesia is a unique product because the tea is processed from the top of C. sinensis var. assamica. Compared with Chinese green tea, green tea different from the raw material Indonesia (C. sinensis var. Sinensis) but equal in the processing process, ie panning system (enzyme inactivation with hot air). In contrast, Indonesia is very different tea with Japanese green tea because of different raw materials and processing (Japan steaming systems, ie enzyme inactivation with steam heat). Because of this uniqueness, the special green tea more potent Indonesia allegedly became functional beverages. Even the Indonesian black tea made from C. sinensis var. assamica catechins which contain higher than sencha (Japanese green tea).

From both these tables, it can be seen that in terms of raw material, fresh shoots of plants C. sinensis var. assamica tea Indonesia has big opportunities for functional beverage supply.

Tea processing will affect the presence of catechins in tea shoots. In the processing of black tea consisting of _ pelayuan stage, scrolling, and the oxidation of polyphenols ensimatik, drying, sorting, and packing _ catechins very real decline occurred.

Decreased levels of catechins during the processing of green tea is not as much as occur in the processing of black tea. This is possible because since the beginning has tried to oxidation enzyme inactivation during the heating process or pelayuan. The next stage is scrolling, drying, sorting, and packaging.

From the study of changes in size during the processing degree catechins in green tea, it appears that the greatest decline occurred in the drying stage and scrolling to be compounded if the enzyme inactivation during pelayuan imperfect stage.

Efforts to improve the enzyme inactivation during processing of green tea is a necessary step taken to bring Indonesia into the green tea functional beverages with high levels of catechins. Observations on some green tea products from processing plant material made from tea buds showed that people katekinnya lower levels when compared with the levels of tea catechins fresh shoots. In addition to enzyme inactivation caused by a less than perfect, chances are low levels of catechins are also due to the quality of the crude raw material (old leaves).

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGES TEA RICH catechins

By looking at the potential of raw materials of tea in Indonesia, Indonesia opportunity to produce functional beverages rich tea catechins wide open. Opportunity is already used by engineering berkatekin processing high tea and a prototype design processing equipment (Bambang, 1996; Bambang, et al. 1999, Bambang et al., 2000).

The basic principle of engineering high berkatekin tea processing is the process of enzyme inactivation better with steam, followed by a strong milling process and fast, and ended with a continuous drying process short. This process is expected to maintain the maximum catechins contained in tea shoots, although the conventional dry tea appearance (form twisted curls) will not be found.

Production engineering of functional beverages rich tea catechins can also be done through plant breeding efforts and actions agronomist in the garden. Acquisition of new clones clone-rich catechins and caffeine strongly supports the poor success of this program, as well as some measures that could spur agronomist biosynthesis of catechins and caffeine suppress production.

REFERENCE :
http://www.ipard.com/art_perkebun/

PROCESSING OF BLACK TEA

2009-06-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

1. Transportation of fresh shoots
a.Do not press too leaves
b.Avoid iron or a sharp
c.Avoid the sun blazing in time (3 hours)
d.Do not pile leaves in the time
e.Fresh leaves withered of immediately after arriving at the factory

2. Wet sorted & Scrolling
a.Cutting , torn or withered leaves Injuries
Fluid cells (fenol)---- leaves brown
b.Temperature 32oC
c.Control temperature:
-with separate repeated scrolling
-discount pack tea break

Start the process of scrolling dirt separation
Tools:  GLS (great silver leaf)
 BLC (barbara leaf conditioner)
Scrolling 4-5 x (triplex "CTC" machine)
I, II, OT (open top), 30-60 minutes
III PC (press cup), 15-30 ' sortasi stack & tea
IV RV (rotor vanne) discount fine sieve (Dobbs;
wet sorted), 3-4 x

3. Fermentation
Purpose : Tea and dark chocolate scent
a.Stages of the process is most easily is spread on the table or shelf (trolly)
b. Modern way: fermenting unit

4. Drying
Purpose is Reducing the water level to 6%
-Kill = stop fermentation enzyme
-Protect the tea from the outside
-To make it easier by
-Tanin (red) to black
-Typically arise tea flavor

Dryer : ECP (endless chain pressure drier) and FBD (fluid back drier)
3 main components:(fan), Heat exchanger and Drier

4. Dry Sorted

REFERENCE :
Zuidar,Sapta.2009.Teknologi Pengolahan Teh.Universitas Lampung. Bandarlampung

THE BENEFIT OF GREEN TEA

2009-05-28T02:33:00.000-07:00

The Benefits Of Green Tea For Dieting - Is Green Tea An Effective Weight Loss Supplement? by Greer Teasley

Green tea is one of the most effective supplements that may be used to lose pounds and keep it off. There are a myriad of benefits of green tea for dieting. Here are what I consider the five top benefits of using green tea for dieting:

Green Tea Can Boost Your Metabolism Did you know that green tea is a natural source of caffeine? Caffeine will aid in raising your heart-rate, therefore, boosting your metabolism. A higher metabolism increases the quantity of calories that your body will burn.

Green Tea Burns Fat Naturally Your ability to burn fat is increased by the boost in your metabolism. You can increase your metabolism on a regular basis by drinking or consuming green tea each and every day.

Green Tea Helps Regulate Glucose Green tea is a natural way for your body to control its glucose levels. After you eat a carbohydrate rich meal, your glucose levels tend to fall quite sharply. As a result, you may feel a very strong wish to get your body's energy levels up quickly. Your natural tendency will be to reach for an item rich in sugar content. You can dodge these cravings for sugar by drinking or consuming green tea, that may help to balance your glucose levels naturally.

Green Tea Is A Wonderful Appetite Suppressant When you consume or drink green tea on a constant basis, you won't feel as hungry between meals. Yur appetite levels will begin to balance out and you can eat less food. This will allow you to lose more weight as you will not feel hungry all the time. In one fresh study, rats were injected with green tea. Those rats ate up to sixty percent less food than the rats that were not injected with green tea.

Green Tea Helps Reduce Calories Here is one way that green tea reduces the amount of calories that you consume. If you simply substitute a cup of green tea for your morning coffee, you may still receive an identical quantity of caffeine. However, if you're like most folks, you don't drink your coffee black. You load it up with sugar and creamer, adding additional, unwished-for calories. So, you can get that same burst of energy and less calories by drinking green tea. You will see a difference next time you step on the scale with this one little substitution.

As you can see, there are many benefits of green tea for dieting. If you are looking for a healthy way to naturally increase your metabolism, which will cause you burn more fat and calories in the process, then please think about exploring this natural weight loss supplement and see whether it is best for you.

About the Author

Would you like to experience the benefits of green tea for dieting absolutely FREE? Find out how you can get a free trial bottle of this natural weight loss supplement at: ==> http://GreenTeaDietarySupplement.info

REFERENCE :
http://www.goarticles.com/

MACHINE OF TEA PROCESS

2009-05-24T23:50:00.003-07:00

witheringthrough

sieve machine

fementation room

drying room

CTC machnine

sieve machine

ABOUT TEA

2009-05-21T19:06:00.000-07:00

History of tea (Camelia sinensis [L.] O. Kuntze)
- Origin: the mountains between Tibet-China Southern
(25-35oLU; 95-line meridian 105o)
- Garden first: PEG. sbl. South West China
- Known since Emperor Shen Nung (2737 BC)
- Astra important areas: prop. Szechwan
- Books suitable planting, processing, and how to cook (780 M)
- Japan, the first tea plant th. 800
(Seeds from China)
- XV century (SHOGUN Yosshimasa), praised
- Century VI, traders Turkey
- XVI century, Europe (BLD, Igg, etc)
- XVIII century, the whole world
1850, the port & KA-Sri Lanka India
1859-1860, Suez canal (far East-West)
- XX century; Assam, Sri Lanka, and Java.
 & China green tea of Japan, the dominant.
- Main tea producers world: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia & Japan.
Botany Tea

THE CHEMISTRY
a. The chemicals
b. The order of chemical
c. Most important compound

Substance
a. Fenol
b. Not fenol
c. Aromatis
d. Enzyme

Substance fenol

Tanin / catechin
- Most important
- No color
- Taste, color, aroma
- Acid derivative error
- 20-30% of leaf dry
- Catechin, epi ~, ~ epi error,
- Epigalo ~, ~ epigalo error,
- Galo ~

Flavanol
- RM catechin almost the same, different
Oxidation at the level of core
Difenilpropan primary
- Mediate activity. vit. P  strengthen
Capillary blood vessel walls &
Stimulate the collection vit. C in
Animal organs.
- Kaemferol, quercetin, & miricetin.

Substance is not fenol
- Carbohydrate (0.75%)
- Pectin (4,9-7,6%)
- Alkaloid (3-4%)
- Protein & as. Amino (1,4-5%)
- Klorofil & other pigment (0.019%)
- Organic acid
- Resin (3%)
- Vitamin P, C, K, A, B1, B2, nikotinat acid, and
- Pantotenat acid.
- Minerals (4-5%)

Substance aromatis
- Faction
- Faction karboksilat
- Fenolat
- Karbonil
- Neutral free karbonil (mostly consisting of alcohol)

Enzyme
- Invertase
- Amilase
- β-glukosidase
- Oximetilase
- Protease
-- Peroxidase
- Polifenol oksidase
- Pektase
- Klorofilase

REFERENCE :
Zuidar,Sapta.2009.Teknologi Pengolahan Teh.Universitas Lampung. Bandarlampung