In Chinese society, tea has been playing a very important role in daily living. Actually Chinese have been drinking tea for thousands of years and many ancient medical books have recorded its pharmacological effects, such as body building, weight management, stimulating, urinative, detoxification and pain stabilization. Recent researches also confirmed the health benefits and medical effects of tea. The Department of Pharmacology, the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, has been doing a number of researches on tea, finding that polyphenols in tea are effective in reducing cholesterol and fat, thus helping prevent vascular sclerosis, being anti-aging and strengthening memory.

Catechins in Tea

The main ingredients in tea are polyphenols, caffeine, flavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, carotene and trace elements of minerals, such as zinc, selenium and manganese, etc.

Researches have confirmed that polyphenols can restrain fat building. Also, the catechins in polyphenols contains Epigallocatechin gallate, simplified as ECGG, which is a natural anti-oxidant. It can eliminate free radicals and protect cell membrane.

Catechins can also eradicate bacteria, such as colon bacillus, staphylococcus, and botulinus, etc. and reduce inflammation. Long term absorption of catechins can reduce blood pressure and blood sugar, thus helping to prevent diabetes.

Consistent drinking of tea can also reduce cholesterol and triglyceride in the body, thus preventing cardiovascular diseases. Besides, fat absorbed into human body will first be decomposed and then transformed into cellulites with bile in small intestines. However tea can drive away bile and so prevent the formation of cellulites.

Catechins is maximum in Green Tea

The researches on different kinds of tea for the past ten years by the Pharmacology Department, the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, have proved that catechins are richest in green teas. Say for example, in 100g of Dragon Well tea, the amount of catechins will be 30% to 42%, much higher than 8% to 10% in red tea.

The Department further proved that catechins are correlated with colon inflammation and cancer. Those mice fed with green tea are less vulnerable to colon inflammation. Green tea is also found to inhibit the growth of tumors. In addition, green tea can be anti-aging by its anti-oxidant nature. As a result, experimental mice fed with green tea have been proved to possess the best learning ability.

Brewing green tea

For brewing green tea, more attention has to be paid to the skill. Other than the first brew, water of around 70℃ to 90℃ should be used. Good control of temperature and time can bring the tea to its maximum strength. Usually green tea will be allowed to be steeped a little longer until the leaves all sink to the bottom.

Tea bags containing 2% catechins also have the same pharmacological effect if taken for 4 to 5 cups per day. However as catechins will reduce with time, green tea should be consumed as soon as possible.