Hack Your Tea: Maximising the Green Tea Benefits

Sharon Moore May 28, 2014

It’s no secret that green tea is a super food. It’s one of the best nature has to offer. Numerous studies have linked green tea consumption with a wide range of health benefits, from faster metabolism to improved cardiovascular health and lower risk of diabetes and cancer. And if you’re trying to shed some pounds, this wonder drink is a great addition to your diet.

But how do you ensure you’re getting the most out of your green tea?

Fresh is better.

Over time, the essential oils in tea can break down. This does not only affect its nutritional profile but also its taste, so it is best to buy it from a store with high turnover. Fresher tea leaves have a higher antioxidant content. Once bought, make sure to store your tea in an airtight container and place it in a cool, dry place. Under this condition, your green tea can stay fresh for up to two years. Whilst it won’t make you sick after it passes the expiration date, but tea will taste best if you use it within six months. Refrigerating it can result in damage from moisture and odours, and the condensation that forms when thawing frozen tea will ruin it.

Choose the loose-leaf variety.

Tea needs room to expand and release its entire flavour. So it is better to use the loose-leaf variety than the tea bags. They also infuse faster and are less processed than teabags. What’s more, tea bags may inhibit the extraction of vitamin B9, which is crucial for brain function. You may consider using a ‘tea ball’ to make preparation of the loose-leaf variety easier. And if you prefer tea bags, choose larger ones.

Heat up.

The temperature of your water is essential to maximising the health benefits of tea. Black teas require boiling water (212 degrees) to steep, while green, white, and oolong teas need it a bit cooler (170-180 degrees) because they contain fewer tannins (the polyphenols that give wine or tea an astringent taste).

Opt for spring or filtered water.

Just like the temperature, the type of water you use is also important. Since a cup of green tea is mostly water, choose the type which doesn’t affect the taste of your tea. The pH level, minerals and compounds present in water may affect the taste of your tea.

Get the right servings.

If your tea has bigger leaves, you will need 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons. But if you’re looking for stronger flavour, add more.

Brew it right.

How you brew your tea makes a difference on the ECGC content and antioxidant potential of your cup of tea. Research shows that the longer your brew the tea the more you get out of it. The optimal time seems to be about 3 to 4 minutes in boiling water. However, powdered tea seems to give out its antioxidants much faster than other forms of tea. You can add a heaping teaspoon of tea for every 8 ounces of water, and you can use a batch 3 or 4 times.

Squeeze some lemon juice.

Apart from enhancing its flavour, adding lemon to your green tea increases aluminum absorption up to 10 times. By adding a splash of lemon juice, you maximise it’s the power of catechins – the powerful antioxidant in green tea.

Don’t forget your cup of green tea today to boost your health!