Green Tea Leaf

What are Green Tea leaves?

Green tea leaves are sourced from the Camellia sinensis plant which is also often referred to as tea plant, tea shrub, or tea tree. They contain a diverse range of bioactive compounds that can be highly beneficial to health including polyphenols, vitamins C, E and B2, potassium, magnesium, manganese and zinc. Green tea leaves are also particularly rich in L-theanine, a powerful amino acid widely recognised for its calming effects and ability to support cognitive performance.

Health Benefits:

Antioxidant Action

The catechins in green tea provide potent antioxidant activity, helping to protect cells from harmful oxidative stress caused by free radicals. This is key to preserving good health as oxidative stress is linked to ageing and the development of chronic diseases including cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological diseases.

Supports Cardiovascular Health

Studies have found evidence suggesting that the consumption of green tea can decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Findings indicate that drinking green and black tea may cause a 10-20% reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. The heart health benefits of green tea may be linked to its high antioxidant content as research consistently indicates that antioxidants may have cardioprotective properties that support long term heart health.

Cognitive Benefits

Green tea leaves may support cognitive function and health as research suggests that green tea can benefit memory, attention and focus. This ability to heighten focus and improve attention may be linked to both green tea's caffeine content that enhances alertness and its high levels of L-Theanine that can provide a sense of calm allowing focus. One study even found evidence that drinking two cups of green tea daily was associated with a 54% lower risk of cognitive impairment in individuals over the age of 70.

Weight Management Support

Green tea is suggested to provide support for weight loss and management, and this may be in part due to green teas antioxidant and caffeine content. One study found that following 12 weeks of green tea extract consumption significant weight loss, decreased BMI and reduced waist circumference was observed in women with central obesity.

History:

Green Tea has a long and rich history of use, particularly across East Asia where it was highly valued for its impressive health benefits. Green Tea was traditionally used not only for its medicinal properties to support digestion, promote longevity, and maintain general wellbeing, but also held ceremonial value particularly in traditional Chinese and Japanese culture.

Typical Use:

The most common use of green tea leaves is being brewed to make tea, however green tea leaves also have many other culinary uses and are often incorporated into smoothies, baking, confectionery, and savoury dishes. Additionally, the vast health benefits provided by green tea leaves has led to their use in capsule, tablet and powder supplements, often in the form of standardised extracts.