The Chinese call their herbal teas Tisanes. These are infusions of various herbs rather than of the tea plant, but they are used in the same way, by steeping the leaves in hot water. There is a long tradition in China of using plants for medicinal purposes, but they have often also been appreciated for their flavor. These teas are now readily available outside of China too. They also offer a delicious, caffeine-free alternative to normal tea, and are believed to have a relaxing effect on the drinker so are ideal for drinking in the evening.

Infusions of Chrysanthemum with or without Rosebuds are often considered to be women’s drinks in China, but they also have a reputation for improving the digestion. Their flowery taste is very different to normal teas, with the Chrysanthemum being particularly prized for its sweet, refreshing flavor, and having been used traditionally to treat fevers and for its cooling effect.

Other flower based teas are also believed to have a soothing effect. They come in a variety of flavors, such as Gongju flower. Some types are also considered to have their own specific health benefits. Carnation tea, an infusion of striking red flowers, is thought to re-energize the drinker, for example. Forget-Me-Not tea is made from equally attractive purplish-blue flowers, and has a mild, almost grassy taste. It is also supposed to have a beneficial effect on the lungs. A more unusual blend is Yunnan tea, which consists of rare flowers from this region of China, where it is commonly drunk. Jasmine tea is one of the most popular blends, with the highest quality varieties being made from just the tiny unopened buds of Jasmine. Its flavor is very sweet, making it an ideal introduction to drinking herbal tea.

Ginseng is another well known herbal tea. It is made from the aromatic roots of a wild-growing plant. The taste can vary quite a bit as different roots will have their own unique properties. They also very a lot in their appearance, and have often been growing for more than seven years by the time they are harvested. Some older roots will be very small and gnarled, while there are younger ones that are quite large. This variation is caused by differences between individual plants and in the growing conditions.

Another interesting variety of tea is Kuding Pearl. This can be a bit of an acquired taste as many people find it somewhat bitter. It also looks different from the other teas described here as it is made from leaves that have been rolled up into large “pearls”. This is a very ancient variety of tea in China, and it is believed to have numerous health benefits and healing properties for a variety of illnesses.

If you would like to try some herbal teas then it is a good idea to experiment with a number of different varieties in order to find out which suit your own tastes. The flower teas are particularly good when you have visitors as they are usually quite sweet and easy to drink, and they add some color to the table. The unusual taste of some of these teas can be off-putting at first, but many people find that when they get used to it they actually enjoy the unique flavors- in the same way that children often dislike tea or coffee when they first try it. Herbal teas are particularly good if you are looking for a healthier alternative to your usual hot drink, as they have no caffeine in them, and the huge range of types and flavors means you will be able to discover one that you enjoy.

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So, do you want to have some added benefits by drinking your favorite beverage? Well, if your beverage of choice happens to be tea you are in luck. Green tea happens to be one of the best teas for you. But, how exactly is green tea made? Well, first the leaves of tea are put into alcohol or something along those lines, and then the leaves are set out to have the remaining liquid evaporate. This makes the extract. The extract is what has all of the beneficial parts in it.

So, why exactly should you be drinking green tea? Well, green tea has a lot of one nutrient called photochemical. This is a substance found in nature that is full of anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants help the body defend against anything that may harm the body. The stuff that harms the body is often called free radicals.

These free radicals are really just something that has an electron that is missing its pair. When an electron is missing its pair, it becomes unstable. This causes the electrons to make many fast reactions, called chain reactions, which are not good at all for the body. Anti-oxidant that is in the green tea help making these reactions stops. These Anti-oxidants can also help with headaches, poor digestion, and cholesterol. Also, studies have proven that these anti-oxidants not only help but also make more room for more anti-oxidants.

There is another thing that green tea helps with and that is metabolism. Metabolism is what helps digest the food and use the energy from the food. It also helps in weight loss. Green tea also contains caffeine, which many people may believe is what helps the metabolism speed up. But that is not the case. In fact caffeine usually raises the heart rate. But with green tea it is just the opposite. The green tea does not raise the heart rate but does raise metabolic rate.

Some other benefits that have been discovered is the aid in treating acne, raises the immune system and can fight plaque, and even helps fight cancer.

So, now you are probably thinking that you should go and buy some of this green tea. Well, since there is actually some caffeine you may want to ask your doctor if you should be drinking the tea. But generally the caffeine levels should be fine.

You can usually purchase green tea at about any retail store, or even your local pharmacy.

So, go out and find some green tea and start living healthier.

Tea has long been held to have medicinal benefits among Asian and Indian communities. As far back as the 12th century, it was being written about in the “Book of Tea”. This work, by a Zen master, describes how tea was believed to influence some of the major organs in the body, perhaps most importantly the heart. Green tea was also commonly drank to promote healthy urinary function, to cure indigestion and beriberi, and even to improve the functioning of the brain. Tea was considered to be a universal health drink that could treat many diverse symptoms.

Tea drinkers today can turn to more scientific evidence to validate the health benefits they may be getting from their green tea. There have been numerous attempts to substantiate the traditional medicinal role of tea, although the work from the lab has not yet been mirrored by the results from human trials. The most interesting finding, above the potential impact of green tea on cholesterol levels and mood disorders, is the discovery of a possible activity against cancer.

Cancer is caused by genetic mutations which affect the controls that normally regulate cell growth and division. If there are mutations in enough of these regulatory genes, then there will no longer be limitations on the division of affected cells. They will multiply uncontrollably.

Experiments in mice have discovered a beneficial effect on the size of tumors in many parts of the body, including cancers of the skin, liver and stomach, which have been found to shrink when the animals are given tea. This can either be in a solution of water or as its direct pure form. Green tea has even been demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on unborn mice exposed to it through their mothers.

Preventative powers have also been attributed to tea, which could be important for medicine due to the large numbers of regular tea drinkers, and the ease with which tea can be bought. There are around thirty tea producing nations, and many more that import tea from them. Tea is considered to be the most commonly drunk beverage around the world. The preventative ability of tea is again thought to work against many forms of cancer. This includes lung and breast cancer, as well as various cancers of the digestive system.

The reason why tea should have this effect on cancer development is as yet unclear. One theory involves the antioxidant catechins which it contains. Antioxidants are believed to reduce the damage which is done to DNA by oxidants that are produced through enzymatic activity in the body. Green tea, especially, is known to contain high levels of catechins. According to initial laboratory tests, these antioxidants could be preventing the damage that causes cancer, reducing tumor growth and making tumors less likely to develop.

The antioxidant theory of cancer prevention is currently the most popular. Studies into antioxidant activity have been conducted in many labs. While the evidence is clear that antioxidants can help prevent damage to cells, and that tea contains antioxidants, evidence that incontrovertibly links the antioxidants in tea with an activity in the body of the tea consumer that prevents gene damage has not as yet been forthcoming.

Despite the encouraging evidence that has so far been gathered, there is as yet little proof of a role in cancer prevention for human tea drinkers. Conflicting results have been found by different studies. It may be that the uncontrollably varying environmental factors such as diet and chemicals in the home could be masking the effect of green tea by causing wide variation between human trial participants in their exposure to cancer-causing factors in their everyday lives. A large study in the Netherlands, for instance, found no evidence of a link between tea and cancer prevention. In China, however, researchers found that men who drank tea had a significantly reduced rate of stomach cancers when compared with those who did not take tea.

Since the evidence is currently so inconclusive, the FDA does not support the claim that drinking tea can have any beneficial effects in reducing cancer or in preventing heart disease. A similar position is adopted by many governmental bodies and academics, but the debate still continues in scientific circles. Some researchers have directly attacked the FDA’s position, stating that they found an important reduction in fatal heart conditions in those who regularly drank at least three cups of green tea a day. The search for a medicinal effect of tea continues, with the possibility of a treatment in the form of pills or a cream containing green tea being investigated now.

Herbal teas of Chinese origin are really not true teas, in that they are infused with herbs and are not derived of the Camelia Sinensis plant form. Steeping them, allows the herbs to be pulled from them.

Usually, these kinds of teas are used by the Chinese for their health benefits. But, they are also liked and used just for their flavors and taste. Presently, these can be widely purchased in the country as they produce thousands of different herbs.

Herbal teas from China give individuals who like to drink tea, many a choice by offering them a health caffeine free beverage. Herbals teas that are geared to be comforters and help you de-stress are teas such as Chrysanthemum and rosebud.

These two types of tea are known as an herbs mostly used by the female sex but, Chrysanthemum tea has been known to help anyone who has digestive problems. This tea has properties that when described has a cooling effect and aids in the reduction of fever. Light and delicate is the taste of the Chrysanthemum tea.

Herbal teas are usually great choices before one goes to bed, in that it will not keep you awake like coffee or soft drinks will.

China has a variety of herbal teas and we cannot fail to mention the flower teas. Teas such as these offer teas that will calm, soothe and have no caffeine. They also have a wide birth of flavors and taste.

There is really quite a nice list of well known teas that are of the flower nature. There is the Carnation tea that is said to restore the bodies energy. The Chrysanthemum we have already gone over. The Gongju herbal tea has the ability to relax the body. The jasmine tea is a sweet one and has no caffeine. Forget Me Not tea lends a welcoming hand to the lungs and has a smooth, but earthy taste. And Yunnan tea is a flower that is known for being rare and has no caffeine.

The Wild New York tea is an herbal tea that works for the individual who is thankful for the place of it’s growth. Due to the terrain in which it grows, the roots of this herb have a particular look to them. The herbs root system is made up of tiny, long lived roots. They can live in upwards of ten years or close to it.

And last but not least we have Kuding Pearl tea. Individuals who have ventured to drink a spot of this tea, claim a very bitter taste. This teas leaves are process into big marble sized pearl shapes. Only a single leaf is needed for it’s healing properties to work. It’s leaves are of very old decent and holds your attention.

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in Chinese culture, and is considered one of the most important necessities of the day. The Chinese have thousands of varieties of tea. Each of the teas can be classified by how it is produced, by its quality, and preparation methods, etc. There are eight “classes” into which each tea can be grouped. These eight classes are compressed teas, flower teas, yellow teas, white teas, red teas, black teas, oolong teas, and green teas.

Compressed Tea

Compressed teas are excellent because they can be stored for a very long time, even decades. These use black teas as the base, which is then steamed and compressed. The compressed tea can take the form of bricks, cakes, columns, and more. Each of them has the characteristics of black tea because that is the base.

Flower Tea

Flower tea is one of the unique types of Chinese tea. Flower tea is exactly that, tea made from dried flowers. There are also “scented teas” that have floral aromas added to a green or red tea base. These types of teas have light to medium flavors. The aromas are medium to strong.

Yellow Tea

Some experts agree that the yellow tea class is the least common type. These teas have yellow leaves and are yellow in color. Yellow tea is normally mild. Some say it is quite refreshing.

White Tea

Some consider this to be a subclass of green tea. White tea, like green tea, does not get fermented during its processing—the tea leaves are simply withered and then roasted. It has low caffeine content.

Red Tea

Red tea is aptly named for its distinctive red color. Red tea is a fermented tea, like black tea, yet has a lower aroma and medium flavor. You can find red divided into three categories. These are Kung Fu, Ted, and Small Species.

Black Tea

Black tea is probably the most full-bodied of the Chinese teas. Black tea is withered, fermented for a long time, and then it is roasted. Black tea leaves are totally oxidized once processed.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is in the middle between green tea and black tea. It is half way fermented. Oolong tea is sometimes called Qing Cha by the Chinese. A standard oolong tea is green with red edges.

Oolong tea is simply withered and spread out before it is slightly fermented. After that the tea leaves are fried, rolled up, and roasted.

Green Tea

Green tea is probably the most natural tea. It is simply picked, dried, and gently fried so that it does not smell too much like grass. Green tea does not get fermented during processing. Some experts say that green tea is the most medicinal of all Chinese teas. Roughly fifty percent of all Chinese tea is green tea. The aroma ranges from medium to high. The flavor of green tea runs from light to medium.