Did you know that aside from water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world? Sweet, warm, and soothing, each cup of tea is unique and has its own advantages. For centuries the people of Japan, China, India, Thailand, and many other countries have been drinking green tea, but why? What is so special about a cup full of leaves and water? Well, aside from tasting delicious (when made properly) Green tea has many health benefits, and is very inexpensive. I have been drinking green tea for several years, and I love how healthy it makes me feel. But I’m sure you’re wondering, what exactly is green tea? What makes it different from other teas? Where did it come from? How does it benefit you? Well, let me start with what it is.

Ito En (Oi Ocha) Japanese Green Tea, 16.9-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 12)

Green Tea is simply tea leaves that are not processed the same way that other teas are. Tea comes from the leaves of a plant called Camellia Sinensis (kah-MEAL-e-a sy-NEN-sis) The leaves are harvested and dried, with a different drying process for each kind of tea. Green tea, is not fermented the way Black and Oolong teas are. Instead, the leaves are simply steamed. This process allows the leaves to retain more of their healthy properties than the fermenting process would.

Though no one is sure where green tea originally came from, it has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Some people believe Green Tea was first discovered in India. Some people believe it was first found in China. The Japanese legend, according to Yukihiko Hara, author of the book “Green Tea Health Benefits and Applications (Food Science and Technology)” is that in 2737 B.C. Emperor Sheng Nung discovered the plant and taught his people how to brew it into a medicinal drink.

So why should you drink green tea? Green Tea is Beneficial to your body and your mind. Green tea protects and strengthens your body in several ways. Green Tea contains powerful antioxidants called polyphenols that protect against potentially damaging free radical compounds that naturally occur in the body. Green Tea can also aid digestion, assist weight loss by boosting metabolism, protect against heart disease, reduce the risk of cancer.
Though there is not much clinical research on the medicinal properties of green tea, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that in population based clinical studies green tea seems to prevent coronary artery disease and protect against cancer. Another study by the University of Maryland showed that men who drink green tea are more likely to have lower total cholesterol than men who do not.
Harvard Medical School reports that green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins, which are more powerful than vitamins C and E in stopping oxidative damage to cells
The U.S. National Library of Medicine states that green tea is even possibly effective for reducing the risk or slowing the onset of Parkinson’s disease, and preventing bladder, ovarian and pancreatic cancers.
Green Tea is also good for your mind. Though it does contain caffeine, Green Tea has a smaller amount than most other caffeinated beverages. The small amount of caffeine can reduce headaches and improve mental alertness. Also, because the caffeine content is not high, Green Tea does not have the side effects of other highly caffeinated beverages such as jitters, withdrawal headaches, dizziness, or nausea.

Green Tea is a readily available and inexpensive way to protect against many potentially expensive health problems. A box of green tea at Wal-mart is about 2 dollars for 20 tea bags; that is only 10 cents for each cup of tea. Making a cup of tea takes less than ten minutes. To make a cup of green tea you simply heat boil water and let it cool for about 4 minutes, and pour it over a tea bag. Let the teabag sit in the hot water for three minutes, then take it out and add sweetener if you like. Our health is one of the most important things we have, and drinking one cup of green tea a day is an easy way to preserve such a valuable asset.
Kirkland Signature Ito En Matcha Blend (Green Tea), 100% Japanese Green Tea Leaves, 100 Tea Bags

China to Import Jamaican Green Coffee Beans

Blue Mountain Coffee of Jamaica has exported seventy tons of Blue Mountain Coffee’s green coffee beans for the first time ever. For anyone who has been following the westernization of China for the last several decades there is no surprise that a radical increase in the consumption of coffee follows the increase of many other items and lifestyle choices have been imported from the United States and Western Europe. China has started to import significant amounts of petroleum products driving up the cost of goods for everyone in the world. They have also for the first time in history begun to import more rice than they produce which in 2007 started inflating the price of rice which has been a staple for fighting world hunger and substantially impacted the budget of many world hunger organizations.

Green Coffee Beans and the Growing Coffee Business in China

Although there is an attraction to items from the western world, frequently the items are modified to fit with Chinese taste and culture. I am sure that the Chinese business men who are importing the coffee will find a better way to infiltrate the Chinese culture of drinking tea than has Starbucks and other outside companies from the western world. The long term picture is that no matter how much you are paying for your coffee now it is sure to increase the price at a steady rate over the next several years as China will become the world’s number one consumer of coffee beans.

Green Coffee Beans

igourmet foodies delight

Exploring igourmet website is like a miniature exploration of paradise.  The first time I visited igourmet my mouth started to water from the first view of the home page. Exploring the vast pages of the selection of the best and exquisite foods was a pleasant and heart warming experience.  Anyone who loves great food and enjoys thinking about sampling new foods and trying new recipes will love to peruse the pages of igourmet looking for new tasty bite.

If you spend time watching any cooking shows on the Food Network, igourmet can help you find the rare ingredients that chefs and hosts like Alton Brown include in their tips and in the recipes they demonstrate.

What to try at IGOURMET

In exploring the vegetable and fruit page on igourmet I came across black truffle paste.  Although it is not the same as fresh black truffle, it is a nice way to add an exotic taste to the finest dishes that you prepare.

Igourmet offers several different clubs that allow you to enroll in a membership program and receive a montly package from igourmet with a sampling of their delicious foods.  My favorite of the month club is the Connoisseur of the Month Club.  In this club igourmet sends you food that takes you on a journey around the world so each month you explore the flavors from a different country or region in the world.  Their other clubs include cheese, coffee, tea, salsa and others.

If the movie Chocolat inspired you about the pleasure of drinking chocolate or cocoa, you will find at igourmet the best drinking chocolates of the world La Parisienne Couture Cocoa is just one of the many options that can entice your taste buds.

If you are not the chef or cooking person but love the taste of fine food at home, igourmet has a whole department of prepared dinners, sides, and desserts that will allow you to enjoy a delicious dinner yourself of host a dinner that will have all your guests talking with items like Maryland Crabcakes, Whole Cooked Lobster, or even Chateaubriand.

Please forgive me for only giving you a brief glimpse of all the glory of this great online service, and allow me to take months to explore all the delicious foods that igourmet has to offer.