Asda Green Tea

We all know how good green tea is for us: it contains antioxidants, which are supposed to reduce the risk of different kinds of cancer. "Normal" (black) tea also contains antioxidants, but not as much as in green tea, and green tea does not contain much, if any caffeine.

Health benefits
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These are sketchy, but according to a BBC News article, some compounds in green tea "inhibit AH (aryl hydrocarbon) activity". Apparently, the AH receptor is important in the development of cancer. Also, green tea has been found to lower cholesterol levels and to reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Similar compounds are also found in grapes (and red wine), broccoli, and cabbage.

According to "greentea.com", green tea may be helpful in treating cancer (please, please don't stop taking any drugs you've been prescribed and just drink green tea! Go see your doctor!), and it has been shown that drinking 5 or more cups of green tea a day has slowed the rate of progression of breast cancer in women. Apparently, this is caused by a catechin found only in green tea, "EGCG".

Also, green tea has been shown to be useful for weight loss. It has diuretic properties (which I don't need... I'm always up and down to the loo!) which apparently helps you lose weight. I can't really comment on how effective it is for that, because I'm not looking to lose weight... but I'm not putting any on!

There are differences between types of green tea, too, but still, why are we all not drinking it by the bucket load?

Any dangers?
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Thanks to COOOEEE for the information here. The information in the following section is included with her permission.

Tea can interfere with certain drugs including some antibiotics, antiulcer drugs, sedative drugs and theophylkline for asthma. It can also prevent iron absorption.

Drinking too much can cause dizziness, palpitations, irritability and insomnia.

If you're being prescribed drugs (particularly the above ones), it might be best to consult your doctor before you start drinking this or drink more.

How does it taste, smell and look?
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This particular green tea is scented with jasmine, though the package is not explicit in saying this. If you are a regular green tea drinker, I don't think you'd be disappointed with the taste, as they go together beautifully. If you've ever tried jasmine tea, it is quite similar to this.

With it being green tea, you'd expect it to be green, no? I would say it's more yellow or amber, though it depends how long you brew it. If you're using a blue cup, it does look quite green, so if you really want green green tea, use a blue cup!

A few years ago, my mum got quite into drinking peppermint tea. I think it really smells! This put me off "alternative" teas, so I just stuck to regular. I don't think green tea smells bad - it's quite pleasant really. I don't particularly notice it any more though.

How to make
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I find that with other brands of green tea, you have to be very delicate with it. That is, you can not leave the tea bag in for more than 3 minutes or it goes terribly bitter, and you cannot use freshly boiled water, or it goes terribly bitter again! Because of this, I would not allow anyone else to make green tea for me without specific instructions, in the past. My dad, still, cannot make a good cup of green tea for me! It always tastes foul. I think this is what put him off it too, because he can't make it right! The trick is to put a little bit of cold water into the cup before you add the hot, to not touch the tea bag until you remove it and to remove it after 3 minutes, and not a second longer. This way it won't be bitter, just refreshing and delicious! Oh, and you normally wouldn't add milk (I've never tried it, it might be interesting!) and you can add sugar or honey if you prefer it sweeter, though I don't.

With Asda green tea, I've found that you can leave the tea bag in longer than 3 minutes or even add freshly boiled water, and it still tastes fab! Really! I do, admittedly, leave the tea bag in a little longer sometimes, as I forget about it, and still it tastes lovely. This was a big surprise the first time I did it, because of my experience with other brands, but now I don't worry about it.

The price
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OK, green tea is a little more expensive than black tea. This particular one isn't so bad, with it being Asda's own brand, at 67p per box of 20 bags (50g). This is good value, compared with the same from Twinings (green tea with jasmine), costing £1.18 for 50g.

The packaging
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The tea bags come in a not particularly offensive box. It doesn't look horrible when I open the cupboard and see it! See the picture below for what it looks like.

The tea bags themselves (they package the tea!) are rectangular in shape and work perfectly well!

All in all
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If you're looking for a nice green tea, I don't think you can go far wrong with this one. It's yummy and doesn't cost too much!

Thanks for reading!