Green tea is one beverage that is known to every person looking to lose weight. But that's not the only reason for the widespread popularity of this 'super drink'. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, which help burn fat, fight diseases, reduce stress and fight the process of ageing. But developing the habit of consuming green tea can take some time. Since most of us in India are chronic chai addicts, who need a hot cuppa with a generous addition of milk and sugar to kickstart our day, shifting gear to green tea can be an uphill battle. To ease out the transition, we spoke to Ashok Mittal, Director of TeaMonkGlobal, a company that specializes in sourcing finest teas from India and has recently added fruity flavours to help one adapt to green tea easily.
The whole idea is to make the experience of having green tea more exciting. "After we exhausted all kinds of spices like cardamom, cinnamon and mint, we thought of introducing fruity flavours. We finally picked up three new variants - lemon, lemongrass and orange. We don't use any artificial flavour. Pure, natural lemon, lemongrass, orange peel and pieces of dehydrated orange are used to add a punch of flavour to tea," he says.
Well, adding green tea to your lifestyle is half the battle won. It is very important to know the proper method of heating, brewing and having green tea. "Preparing of green tea is as important as drinking it. You must note the three most important elements of green tea preparation - right quantity of tea leaves, right temperature and right brewing time," he mentions. :
"Use 2 grams of green tea leaves with 1 mug (200ml) of hot water to prepare green tea.
Boil water, take it off the stove and let it sit for a minute. The ideal temperature should be around 90 deg C.
Pour water on the tea leaves and brew it for exactly 2 minutes. Over-brewing will make the tea bitter. Since, green tea leaves are not fermented, they characteristically leave a bitter aftertaste if over-brewed. Use a sandcloth to sift and enjoy the taste of green tea to the fullest," adds the tea connoisseur.
Speaking about a few unspoken rules of having green tea, Mittal says "The best time to sip on a cup of green tea is 35-40 minutes after a meal, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner." Never have green tea right after your meal, for it can hinder the absorption of nutrients into your body properly and cause indigestion too.
"Personally, I enjoy green tea without any food pairing. To maximize the effect of green tea on your body, have it without any food pairing. You will feel light, refreshed and awakened. "Green tea is known to add weight loss, so it is best to have it without any food but you should have one glass of water after every cup of green tea to keep your body hydrated.
Green tea is high on natural plant based compounds such as tannins and flavonoids. But they can add toxicity to your body, if consumed in large amounts. "Limit your green tea intake to 2-3 cups a day," advises Mittal. You must also avoid green tea late in the evenings as the caffeine can disrupt your sleep pattern. Excessive consumption can also increase your stress levels.
So drink up, the right way, to reap maximum health benefits from green tea.
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