What IS this stuff anyway? (Green Tea)
By Modestah
@Modestah (11179)
United States
January 26, 2008 10:42pm CST
okay so I have read on mylot the wonders of green tea, and I've had it at restaurants before and have enjoyed a cup or two when we go out to eat in an asian style restaurant....
so while shopping in the commissary today I see a box labeled green tea (with aluminum coated bags for freshness) and decided to purchase (hey I could stand to lose some weight and improve health etc too)
I was excited to relax to my fresh brewed and steeped tea - that was a pale pale green - only I caught a whiff and it smelled oddly like spinach. then I took a sip- eh? and another, oh. It tasted just like spinach! I think my green tea was spinach water!!! I could not bring myself to take another sip.
is the green of green tea spinach? or did I buy a really funky version of the stuff and get jipped?
6 people like this
11 responses
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
27 Jan 08
Well, others have pretty much covered the benefits of green tea that I know of and the fact that no, it is not from spinach :)
I will add however that I'm not a big tea drinker at all but will occasionally drink ice tea - I've gone to mixing half regular tea and half green tea but will also now and then drink a bottle of already made ice green tea.
Greatest deal though - I found tablets that contain green tea so can swallow that with no taste at all and still get the benifits of the green tea.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
27 Jan 08
I got mine at Walmart. I checked to see how much I paid but the price is gone off the bottle but knowing me it couldn't have been more than a few dollars (5 tops). I really do notice a difference when I remember to take them - it's like my system is being cleaned out.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
29 Jan 08
Er... did you just say... spinach?!
Holy no!! :P
Green tea doesn't taste like spinach. I think you got ripped off.:PP
@humbleme (1004)
• India
27 Jan 08
Hello Modestah,lol no green tea is not made from spinach,but
its the same tea leaves from camellia sinesis plants,only the difference lies in processing of the leaves as the black tea leaves are made from fermented leaves so black tea leaves haslesser medicinal values on the other hand green tea leaves are made by steaming process therefore these leaves contains the EGCG compounds which is a powerful antioxidant and claims to prevent cancer cells.Also green tea is effective in lowering LDL Cholesterol level,rheumatoid arthritis, infections etc.Thanks.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
27 Jan 08
thank you for the well informed and thoughtful response - my son told me that he thought that the green tea was from the "raw" leaf.
I have never had green tea in a restaurant that tasted like this - my daughter says no mom, not spinach it tasted like asparagus. now I like both spinach and asparagus I just was not expecting to be drinking them - I wonder why the odd flavoring of this particular green tea.
We are going to be eating out at a polynesian restaurant tomorrow in celebration of my daughter's 13th birthday - I will have tea just to refresh my memory of how it ought to taste.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
27 Jan 08
I do not think green tea is in the spinach family. It could have been they we * cancer by reducing the growth of cancer cells, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol levels, cariovascular disease,infection,and impaired immune function. It also reduces lowers total cholesterol and improves good cholesterol. It is too bad that it grows in China and it was not until the last 300 years that we Westerners have had the benefits. It seems that the good stuff grows in sub tropical and tropical countries.
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
27 Jan 08
I thought green tea was a chinese tea ??? I bought a small box of Lipton Green Tea to try it and I like it ok but it doesn't turn a real dark green color or anything and I didn't think it tasted like spinach, so I'm not sure what kind you had. Didn't sound too great that's for sure.
@hotchocolate (849)
• Philippines
27 Jan 08
i dont know about the origin exactly but im pretty sure its not from spinach :) ican read you the benefits though, i was scanning through it in MenHealth magazine awhile ago...
1) Tea enhances: boosts circulation
2) Tea saves you from stroke, it helps keep you arteries smooth and clog free
3)Tea reduces Cholesterol
4)tea detoxifies
5) Tea lifts, improves mood with theanine
6) Tea rejuvinates
7) Tea fights diabetes
8) Tea is fat free
9) Tea stimulates, keeps you alert
read these in MH philippines nov 2005
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
27 Jan 08
i dont know either if it is..but what i have known is that it is green tea is made up of dried herbal leaves grounded and and packed..while black tea was fermented..
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
27 Jan 08
While I don't know alot green tea, I do drink it often. I have never had any which tasted like spinich or asparagus! Apparently you picked up a 'bad batch' or bad brand. My daughter-in-law (Asian decent and relatives) told me that there are various grades of green tea, having to do with when it was cut (spring versus laters) and whether it is tips or whole leaves. She recommended the TAZO brand as a good one in the states. I have that brand and when made, the tea is a very pale green and DELICIOUS! As posters before me have pointed out, green tea has numerous health benefits!
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
27 Jan 08
I Love green tea. Its been used as a medicine in China for 4000 years. It will fight cancer cells and reduce risk of some cancers by 60%. Its a delicious flavour and a good healthy drink.
I drink green tea every day, and wouldn't want to be without it.
