Many consider green tea to be one of the healthiest beverages out there. But Americans may prefer to get their caffeine fix from coffee. An estimated 85% enjoy a cup or two every day. The caffeine jolt, however, could be too much for some, causing them to feel jittery and lose sleep. Not only is green tea healthier, but it also has about three times less caffeine than coffee.
Should you switch to green tea from coffee? Check out the health benefits that green tea offers to decide which is best for you.
Green tea 101
Green tea has a long history dating back to about 3000 BC in China. Its beginnings as a medicinal beverage led to green tea becoming one of the world’s most popular drinks; the global tea market is now worth over $300 billion.
Green tea is an unoxidized tea that comes from the camellia sinensis plant. It grows in Asia, primarily in China and Japan. The tea leaves are plucked and then heated to prevent oxidation and preserve catechins, a natural flavonoid compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Leaves are then rolled and dried, though the processing method can differ depending on region.
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There are six tea types:
Non-fermented green tea
Lightly fermented yellow and white tea
Semi-fermented oolong tea
Fully fermented black tea
Post-fermented dark tea
Green tea is the most widely consumed tea and has the most health benefits, making up around 20% of the global tea production market.
Water temperature and steeping time vary by tea type. The ideal way to prepare green tea is to steep it for around three minutes using water at a temperature of 180 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Your tea could become astringent from the release of tannins if you use water that’s too hot. Consider an electric water kettle that allows you to set the temperature for the best results.
A cup of green tea has between 15 to 48mg of caffeine per 8oz serving. The caffeine content goes up if you steep past three minutes, but goes down if you reuse the tea bag.
What happens to your body when you switch from coffee to green tea?
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I’m a coffee and tea lover. A typical day used to start with one or two cups of hot, steamy coffee. Then, I would switch to green or herbal tea and water to stay hydrated. But I began to notice that I was getting jittery, and my stomach wasn’t feeling so great, even with just one cup of coffee.
I decided to swap out coffee for green tea to see what would happen to my body. I wasn’t as jittery anymore, but I still had focus.
If You Aren’t Drinking Green Tea, You’re Missing Out on These 8 Benefits
