A recent news item has convinced me Indian chai has arrived. According to the report, a government office has declared green tea as its official beverage. While I am against orders that infringe on the rights of an individual, this one has left me pleased.
Unlike black tea, a cup of green may not be sufficiently stimulating, but it calms you, clears your mind and focuses your thinking. Ever since tea was discovered 4,000 years ago in its green form, it has been consumed for its medicinal properties. It is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is a powerful anti-oxidant. Besides checking the growth of cancer cells, it can check cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease. Other benefits of long-term consumption of green tea include weight loss and healthy teeth.
The goodness of EGCG was discovered indirectly and recently, in 1997, when scientists attributed the French Paradox — fat-rich diet but low rate of heart disease — to resveratrol, a polyphenol that reverses damage caused by fatty food and smoking, found in red wine. EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol — perhaps why Japanese smokers and green tea drinkers have low incidence of heart disease.
Green tea, unlike black or oolong, is processed by steaming, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidised. The question: how many cups in a day? The jury is still out on that but three to four cups can have the desired effect.
Cucumber and green tea sandwiches
Crush green tea leaves and mix with cream cheese. Add salt and ground pepper. Slice cucumber finely and chop some ice lettuce. Butter slices of toast and spread tea mix. Place cucumber slices and lettuce and top with a slice of toast. Cut into small squares and serve.
