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Original poster

Green tea - tell me about it

25 replies

AMumInScotland · 14/01/2010 13:17

So I've heard that green tea might (or might not) be very good for all sorts of things, and wondered about trying it.

What's it like? I don't like ordinary tea, but I assume it's a whole different kind of plant?

Does it come in teabags? Not being a tea-drinker in general, I don't want to have to faff about with anything if it can be avoided...

Do I have to drink a certain amount, or every day to have any hope of it being good for me? Or are occasional cups still a bit good?

Enlighten me, Oh wise MNers!

OP posts:
MamaG · 14/01/2010 13:19

You can get it in teabag form - you might prefer the ones with citrus

I use chinese gunpowder tea that comes in leaves (if that makes sense) and i have to use a teapot and a tea strainer. I really like it but not everybodoy does.,

Original poster
AMumInScotland · 14/01/2010 16:59

Thanks - I didn't even know there was more than one sort!

Do you know anything about the health side, or do you just drink it because you like it?

OP posts:
MamaG · 14/01/2010 19:24

Sorry, I just like it!

this might help though

Original poster
AMumInScotland · 14/01/2010 19:49

Sounds like it cures pretty much everything then!

OP posts:
bran · 14/01/2010 19:56

I'm not much of a tea drinker but I really like green tea and drink quite a bit of it. In fact, under the universal rule that if you like something it can't be good for you, I suspect it is probably causing all sorts of damage.

There are only certain brands that I like, some of them are quite bitter, so try a few different ones. My favourite is Clearspring Sencha (in a green box) which is hard to get in a supermarket but is almost always available in a health food shop.

Original poster
AMumInScotland · 14/01/2010 20:22

Thanks - I'll keep an eye out for that one if it's nice.

OP posts:
tiredsville · 14/01/2010 21:05

full of antioxidants and fab for getting the bowels moving in the morning - I speak from experience.

TheLemur · 15/01/2010 10:00

I like Twinings Green teabags with Jasmine from Tesco, otherwise green tea always seems too bitter to me. And I'ld ignore the 'let it steep for 4-5 minutes' at least initially as it will be way too strong. Just whip it out and get yourself used to the taste gradually

diddl · 15/01/2010 16:04

Green tea with lemon-I´m addicted!

I think you need to drink quite a few a day to get any health benefits?

gordonpym · 16/01/2010 07:07

Green tea is full of antiox, but white tea has 25 time more. It's tea with the flower, and the taste is very good. Green tea , like black tea comes in hundreds of type. You just have to try and find one that you like. To get the benefits, do not put any milk in it.
Anyway even black tea is good for you (without milk, the milk proteins kill the antiox), it is just that asian counties drink the green one and more studies have been done on this type. Of course, like for any veg, the fresher, the better.

Original poster
AMumInScotland · 17/01/2010 16:55

Many thanks all - my DH picked up some Clipper brand at the supermarket. Unfortunately, to me it just tasted like weak tea. And since I don't like tea normally, I didn't like this kind either . But, at least DH liked it and will drink it during the week, whih is a good thing as he's trying to cut down on coffee, so at least one of us will be getting a benefit!

OP posts:
bran · 17/01/2010 17:18

I'm not keen on Clipper green tea, you might like another brand better. Or you might never like it at all. It's worth trying a few more types though before you give up.

Original poster
AMumInScotland · 17/01/2010 17:36

Do they all taste, well, sort of like tea though? I think that mught be the fundamental problem for me - to me, any kind of tea I've ever tasted or smelled seemed like dried leaves and perfume . I may have strange taste-buds....

OP posts:
bran · 17/01/2010 19:50

Weeelll, it is tea, so if you don't ever like any tea then perhaps you're a lost cause. I don't like ordinary tea, but I do like Lady Grey, Green Tea, Mint Tea and White Tea, none of which taste like ordinary tea to me. There's no denying that it is a sort of tea though.

JajaT · 18/01/2010 10:43

Green tea doesn't taste anything like "normal" tea IMO - perhaps you should think of it more like herbal/fruit tea. I've seen quite a few selection boxes of various flavours, try a few different ones and you'll find something you like. If you have a Whittards near you they often have tea urns with the "flavour of the day" ... might be worth popping in and trying some.

lordkensal · 22/03/2010 10:20

Green Tea - and Oolong tea have great health benefits and is great at managing weight control.
There is a lot of stuff about weight loss and tea - and this needs to be taken with a pinch of salt (figuratively speaking :-) )

What is known is that Oolong Tea and teas that contain Oolong and Cho Yung can provide the following benefits:

An increase in Energy Expenditure - i.e metabolism increases - research showed that people burned around 67% more calories per day drinking Oolong tea over three consecutive days.
Fat burning increased by 12% over just straight caffeinated water.

Add in all the antioxidant qualities, and other health benefits - and I think if anyone swapped a daily latte for Green Tea they would probably lose weight and feel a lot better!

(see here for more info: www.teaandweightloss.net

Green tea is not a "magic bullet" but it can make you feel more healthy and help with weight management

laurengreyson · 11/03/2015 11:46

Thought you might be interested in this video...

Watch and learn:

  • How green tea is produced.
  • What goes into a bag of real loose leaf green tea.
  • How to spot fresh, high quality green tea leaves.
  • The differences between Japanese and Chinese green tea (production, flavour).
  • The signature characteristics of the green tea flavour
  • Health benefits of green tea
-- Why green tea is good for the mornings
DaisyRaine90 · 12/03/2015 23:19

Just don't mix it with milk Confused lol x

Wadingthroughsoup · 12/03/2015 23:33

If you're not keen on the taste, maybe you could try adding a wee bit of honey to give it a bit of sweetness OP? (Obviously this will only help if you like sweet flavours!)

DaisyRaine90 · 13/03/2015 14:57

You can also get green tea extract, they often add it to dieting aids (like herbal pills) as it works as an appetite suppressant x

specialsubject · 14/03/2015 13:20

no it doesn't. If it did no-one would be fat.

no diet pills work except the ones that make you leak fat out of your backside.

DaisyRaine90 · 14/03/2015 13:22

I didn't say it was a wonder cure but it is a mild appetite suppressant. Emphasis on the word MILD it's also a mild stimulant as it contains caffeine Shock x

specialsubject · 14/03/2015 13:26

...as does all tea. Green tea is chemically the same as black tea, same plant.

fill your stomach with any calorie-free liquid (or any liquid of course) and you will feel less hungry. Could be black tea, hot water, cold water, whatever.

if you like green tea, drink it. But lots of people are forcing it down in the expectation of some effect. There's none.

ragged · 14/03/2015 13:30

It contains as much caffeine as ordinary tea or coffee or similar volume cola. I like the taste & flavonoids, but don't think of it as a low-caffeine drink at all.

jenimad69 · 24/06/2017 07:26

How many tea have you tried? I've read that green tea has a lot of benefits and it can also serve as an anti-oxidant. There's a lot of tea that I can recommend to you for you to try. You can check the list here: comparetea.com/10-types-tea-try-lifetime

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