Yet more evidence that green tea can help maintain your health?

Part of the University of Mauritius, the Centre for Excellence for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research, have carried out a small scale study of the effects of drinking green tea on diabetes. It was carried out on a total of 155 subjects, 77 of who were in a pre-diabetic state. So what is a pre-diabetic state? It is also known as prediabetes and can be followed by the development of type 2 diabetes. Despite the name, diabetes does not always follow. It is difficult to know if you are pre-diabetic as the symptoms are unclear but if you are predisposed to diabetes, you should be checked out by your doctor. Essentially, it shows up a higher than normal level of glucose in your bloodstream. It is not necessary to treat prediabetes using drugs, taking more exercise and shedding some weight often solves the problem.

OK, back to the University of Mauritius study. The pre-diabetic stage subjects were asked to drink 3 cups of green tea each day before eating. No details are given about the type, size of cup or exact preparation method for the green tea thus it is possible that the control of this research was not exact. The other group of 78 subjects drank only hot water before their meals. The study does not state what other controls were in place for the food each group ate or quantities, times and other beverages allowed during the study.

Subsequent testing of the two groups using a variety of immune system bio-markers was claimed to have "green tea reinforced the antioxidant defences of those who had reached the pre-diabetic stage" to quote the team leader.

Make up your own mind as to how valid this study is. At least it was carried out on people rather than mice or in-vitrio cell samples. Even if you don't drink green tea for health reasons, it is an enjoyable drink! In Nature Tea - www.innteas.com

A Life of Tea Growing ...

Ai Lin, since the age of 5 has been living and breathing the Green Teas which her family has cultivated in the hills of Zheijian Province. Since her infant days she knows that life begins at sunset, and ends at sundown; no school or going anywhere but being close to the tea trees every single day of her life for the past six decades. There is no week end, or a break, except the ones offered by mother nature, like a rain storm or the chill of the winter. 

She feels blessed and extremely proud to be part of this natural process that has its roots deep in Chinese culture. She and her family have this ancient connection with each and every tea leaf which is hand picked from the green hills of her home town. It's hard to believe but yes, it is still hand picked one leaf at a time; one by one. She knows for a fact that her father and mother, her grand parents worked the same land, the same way, with the same harvest, the Long Jin Green Tea.

She believes that her teas are not just a drink but a true legacy to her land that can make us feel closer to nature and with each other; therefore happier people. In her own words: We can all share with others something which is pure and really good. She and her family understands that every year they have this commitment and duty to provide China and now the world with this awaited harvest,that she feels so much part of it and enjoyed by millions for centuries.

We are extremely grateful to Ai Lin, to her family and ancestors that have kept the integrity and purity of this magnificent tea and tradition. Despite all the modern reality and technology, life at Shi Hu has not changed much for thousand of years. Ai Lin is a living testament of how what is pure and real may last an eternity. We are indeed so privileged to share this legacy that we hope, will remain as it is for many generations to come.

Thank you, Ai Lin.

Lotus Tea for Breakfast ...

Yesterday was a lovely sunny day but cold. Today is also a blue sky day, no clouds in the sky and just a couple of vapour trails from passing airliners. It is also warmer. So I decided to have a change of tea for breakfast. Instead of the usual jasmine tea or green tea, I had a lotus tea fix.

It is not a cheap tea to drink so I don't regard it as an everyday tea. It is a bit special, the flavour is sweet, slightly nutty and definitely floral. Just look at the leaves ...

In Nature Teas Lotus Tea

In my white teacup, it has a greenish hue and takes only a couple of minutes at most to mash.



So once it was made, I headed outside onto the decking in front of the house, with my lotus tea and toast and marmalade in hand to savour the tea, the weather and the first daffodil of spring!