Green Tea

DRINKING five cups of green tea a day can slash the risk of developing certain blood cancers, it is claimed.


Researchers saw the chance of developing such cancers drop by 42 per cent compared with those who drank one cup or less.

Drinking this amount daily was also found to be associated with 48 per cent lower risk of lymph system cancers.

Previous research has shown the tea, drunk in China, Japan and the Middle East, has a host of benefits including staving off cancers, helping the heart, boosting the brain and lowering levels of “bad” cholesterol.

The latest study, carried out at Tohoku University School of Medicine in Sendai, Japan, and published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, looked at the diets and green-tea drinking habits of 41,761 Japanese adults aged 40 to 79.

They had no history of cancer and were followed for development of blood and lymph-system cancers.

The study confirmed the benefits. Researchers also found a reduced risk of blood-related cancers even among obese patients “considered to have higher risk of these”.
Daily Express UK 15th October 2009
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/134079/Green-tea-cuts-cancer-risk

We’re so confident that you will enjoy and benefit from our Charaku Organic Sencha that we will happily mail you a 7gm sample package Free of Charge.

Simply email us at info@tea-charaku.com including your name and mailing address and expect to receive your Charaku Organic Sencha within 14 days. If you feel a family member or friend may like to try our tea you can add their mailing address too.

At long last we can proudly present to you our choice of what we consider the pick of organic Senchas.

It took the grower three years to overcome the difficulties of growing sufficient quantities to market in a completely chemical free and pest free environment.

Our product holds the certificate #6032 with CERES (Certification of Environmental Standards), under the status of organic. Charaku’s Organic Sencha is grown in Shizuoka, the homeland of tea in Japan where most Japanese green tea is produced. Shizuoka enjoys a mild climate, mountain spring water, rich soil and fresh air, perfect growing conditions for tea.

Charaku’s Organic Sencha offers a fresh “grassy” aroma, soothing flavor and mellow after-taste.

Purchase Charaku Organic Sencha from here.

There is sufficient evidence that Japanese Green Tea is good for your health (see Health Benifit ) and claims it prevents some forms of cancer (see Charaku blog March 31 2009 'Green Tea and Cancer Research').

Personally I think that Japanese Green Tea stands on its merits as a very pleasant beverage to relax with. However, I can report my own weight loss achievement of 10kgs in 3 months. How? First you have to want to lose weight and be serious about it. I started by substituting my evening relaxation with a fine Australian Shiraz or Cab. Sav., with a cup of Sencha or Gyokuro, this was easier to do than I thought. Then I doubled my walks with the dog (an American Cocker named ‘Rooney’), and guess what? As you begin to feel the weight loss, the walks become enjoyable. I substituted cookies and chocolate for fruit. Finally, I upped my interest in gardening, the gentlest of all exercise. Persistence is the key. The immediate effect was dramatic, about two kilos in a week, then there was a lull for 2-3 weeks which sets one wondering but soon the weight started to drip off again. The feeling of well-being is worth the small sacrifices I can vouch for that.

Harvest season of 2009 has started in Shizuoka where they’re having humungous tasting sessions in the morning as numerous tea samples arrive from the farmers on a daily basis. Herewith some photo’s of the hand picking taken just a few days ago compliments of Maruyama Tea Products. 2009’s quality green tea will soon be available in our shop.


Our Spring/Summer Specials have been published on line if you’ve missed them. We’re offering a 5 for 4 special on two of our best selling teas + ‘The Green Tea Book’ as an incentive to new members. Existing members who would like a copy of the book please let me know at derek@tea-charaku.com and we’ll ship a copy to you with your next order. Watch out for new developments on our web site over the next few months to facilitate easier shopping for you and a new look page format.

The following is extracted from a recent article featured in the UK's 'Mature Times'

If you know of any ongoing reputable research into the benefits of drinking green tea as a preventative medicine for any form of cancer we would be interested in hearing from you.

"Green tea: a delight to drink – and it’s good for you
By Tony Watts - Editor - 12/03/2009

Scientific research in the last few years – printed in some very august publications - depicts Green Tea as one of those “wonder foods” that can improve our resistance to everything from Alzheimer’s and cancer to cardiovascular disease and obesity.

Japan and China, where the incidence of all those conditions is markedly lower than in Western society, have been big drinkers of the stuff for many hundreds of years. Green Tea is also, speaking from personal experience, a really refreshing drink – and, with no need for milk or sugar, not one to detrimentally affect your waistline either. No wonder huge numbers of us in the West are making the switch from other beverages.
So what can Green Tea do for you?

A whole series of independent research studies have suggested that Green Tea can have some very worthwhile health benefits – links to some of the articles on the BBC website are at the bottom.

With a unique harmony of sweet and astringent flavour, Green Tea contains rich natural nutrients. One of these has the ‘antioxidant effect’ - reputedly keeping the skin healthy and preventing diseases.

When levels of activated oxygen rises in the body, it can lead to a range of diseases as well as age the skin. Green Tea contains Catechin (or Tannin, a bioflavonoid), and Vitamin B, C, and E, which can work as antioxidants. So regular consumption of Green Tea can help you to prevent diseases and keep your skin healthy.

It is widely known that too much cholesterol (especially LDL cholesterol) can block blood vessels, which may cause cardiac infarction (heart attack) and cerebral infarction (stroke). Catechin contained in Japanese Green Tea blocks the formation of LDL cholesterol and is helpful in preventing those serious diseases.

Another effect that Catechin in Green Tea is believed to offer is its quality of reducing fat in your body.

The bioflavonoids and fluoride contained in Green Tea can also help to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. You can even gargle with Green Tea after brushing your teeth to kill germs and prevent bad breath. In addition, it is said that gargling with Japanese Green Tea can prevent influenza and the common cold, and relieve symptoms such as a sore throat, cough, and nasal congestion.

Like black tea and coffee, Green Tea contains caffeine, which can cause nervousness or an over-excited state. However, an amino acid in the tea, Theanine, tempers the effects of caffeine - inducing the curious state of feeling alert and relaxed at the same time.

Relevant links:
BBC article "Green tea compound Alzheimer hope"
BBC article "Green tea can block cancer"

For those of you who can recollect the fairytale of Cinderella (it’s coming back to me through a vague mist), there’s an opportunity to slip in an analogy here. Gyokuro is left behind in popularity with Westerners by her, far from ugly, sisters Sencha and Matcha. Maybe it’s because her name is more difficult to get our tongues around than her siblings or just a bad public relations team. Anyway like the prince found the slipper we have discovered a delightful Gyokuro for our members. We found it in Kyoto the old capital and very much the cultural heart of Japan. It’s certified by the Japanese Government as a genuine organic product too.
To remind you of the qualities of Gyokuro here’s an extract from our web site:

“Gyokuro is a type of green tea that is cultivated in the shade for certain period (eg, 20 days in Uji/Kyoto area), which brings out a rich and mellow flavor. Tea leaves for Gyokuro are processed through steaming, drying, rubbing, and sorting. Gyokuro is regarded as the finest green tea and it has a sweeter and less bitter taste than Sencha. Gyokuro is enjoyed best when brewed taking time by using a lower temperature compared to other kinds of green tea, and is typically served for entertaining guests or on special occasions in Japan.”

At US$$21.50 per 100g packet our organic Gyokuro is great value. Stocks are limited. Look forward to our ‘home’ brand Sencha which will be available in March.

Did I die and go to heaven? This is a fabulous day for the men folk of Japan. Today it is the female of the species that pampers her mate with chocolate temptations. Males can just relax and enjoy the attention, for a month at least, next month it’s our turn to reciprocate on ‘White’ Day.
Today my green tea experience will be embellished by that other special gift from nature, the product of the cocoa bean, a sublime combination.

Visitors to ‘Charaku’ may be forgiven for gaining the impression that tea drinking in Japan is a solemn activity and indeed ‘Cha no yu’ (Tea Ceremony), is steeped in tradition and is treated with reverence. However ‘Cha no yu’ is not an everyday experience. On a daily basis we enjoy our tea much the same as westerners enjoy their ‘cuppa’ as a break, for social intercourse and an excuse to pair the taste with different cakes or confectionary.
There’s a lot of fun to be had cooking with green tea too.
Here’s a simple recipe we trialed this week which supplied a delicious accompaniment to our evening, TV. viewing, pot of tea.

‘Matcha’ Cookie
Ingredients
230g plain flour
100g butter
80g sugar
1 egg
2tsp ‘Matcha’ powder

Method
1) Preheat the oven to 170C and prepare a baking plate by lightly oiling or, preferably, use a baking sheet.
2) Cream the butter and sugar together.
3) Gradually stir in a whisked egg.
4) Fold in the flour and ‘Matcha’ powder and mix well.
5) Roll the mixture on a floured board to about 5mm thick and cut to shape with a biscuit cutter or the top of a glass.
6) Bake for 20 minutes

Makes about a dozen cookies.
If you’ve got a Japanese Green Tea recipe that’s tried and tested please share it with us.